Ch.181Covering the Sky! (4)

#181

The morning report was no different from usual, but today was a bit different.

Raymond, the chief correctional officer, kept Judy and Dexter behind at the end.

“You two have been reassigned to Medium Security Facility Block 4 starting today.”

Judy was flustered by the sudden reassignment, but Dexter, remembering what Carranza had said, replied with a sour expression.

“Don’t tell me it’s about the Block 4 inmate?”

“You seem to already know. Think what you will.”

Raymond didn’t say anything more, and with that, Dexter and Judy left the meeting room.

Only Judy still couldn’t understand the situation, and the only person she could ask was Dexter beside her.

Once the two had exited the building where no other officers were present, Judy was the first to speak.

“Dexter, what was that about just now? What does it mean?”

“You know about the inmate named Camila Carranza in Block 4, right?”

“The wife of the New Lomas Cartel boss, wasn’t she?”

“She’s essentially the one with real power in Block 4.”

“What? But she’s an inmate!”

“It’s common, isn’t it? The officers turn a blind eye, and the inmate handles other inmates through power, knowingly or unknowingly. I heard this whole situation started because that woman and Turner clashed.”

Judy knew well that Turner, who had shown near-fraudulent incitement, had caused problems in Block 4 and was transferred to another prison, but she hadn’t known the inside story. She narrowed her eyes and said:

“That’s… something that only happens in movies, isn’t it?”

“Maybe if Carranza was just some neighborhood thug-level cartel, but they said she was intentionally sent to this prison. It’s entirely plausible.”

Honeygood Correctional Facility had better facilities compared to other prisons, and the warden, Robert Brandon, was extremely favorable and proactive toward both federal and state governments.

Of course, taking good care of inmates’ welfare was just the warden’s personal belief, and he tended to turn a blind eye to such matters as long as they didn’t escalate.

“When I asked the Block 4 officers before, they said they leave Carranza alone to do whatever she wants as long as she doesn’t embezzle prison accounts or supplies, or commit murder.”

“…It feels like we’re seeing the dirty underbelly of our prison.”

“Rather, if someone tries to interfere too much, she’ll raise hell… I mean, cause a riot for sure. So they just let the inmate leader maintain things as long as she doesn’t cross the line.”

Judy, who had once been preparing to become a police officer, showed a displeased expression at seeing collusion between officers and inmates, which was far from the life she had dreamed of.

“Why didn’t the Block 4 officers say anything about this? They just act like they perfectly handle everything themselves.”

“You’re now a Block 4 officer too. Could you tell other officers that because of Carranza, we’re just heavily armed but actually don’t do anything?”

“…Of course not.”

“That’s the feeling.”

Judy thought this was wrong, but since Dexter also seemed to be conforming to this atmosphere, she decided to stay quiet for now.

When the two arrived at Medium Security Facility Block 4, they could feel the characteristic cold, fear-laden atmosphere of Block 4.

“Is Carranza running a reign of terror?”

“Not really. I heard this atmosphere is created because she just likes things quiet.”

As they entered the staff area of Block 4, a man with an impressive build that could rival Dexter’s muscles was looking at them.

“Officer Gable?”

“Just call me Gable. I think I’ve seen you a few times in the minimum security facility, and you were in Block 2, right?”

“You have a good memory.”

“Well, people as big as me aren’t that common. Why don’t you sit down instead of standing?”

The two looked at each other briefly and sat down on the makeshift chairs, seeing Gable’s jovial demeanor that contrasted with his size and appearance.

“It doesn’t seem like you two came to Block 4 by choice. Was it Carranza’s request?”

“Seems that way. But is Carranza really practically the leader of Block 4 inmates?”

Gable nodded at Judy’s question, crossed his arms, and said:

“More like a manager than a leader. The inmates are her employees.”

“You mean Carranza’s relationship with other inmates?”

“She has an exceptional talent for using people. Oh, don’t tell Carranza I said this. I’m telling you because you two might make mistakes.”

“Don’t the others feel bad if they think they’re being used?”

Gable shook his head at Judy’s question.

“What if a senator needed help from an officer like you, asked for a few favors, and then you received expensive gifts afterward? How would you feel?”

“Hmm, I’d naturally feel grateful to the senator, wouldn’t I?”

“The relationship between Carranza and other inmates is exactly the same. Plus, I heard she actually provides direct and indirect help to other gangs or cartels.”

“But… Carranza is inside the prison. How does she do that?”

“She has plenty of communication channels. She just needs one visit, saying something like there’s a gang in this state, this city that needs to be dealt with… and the next day, a rival gang comes in guns blazing. They disappear just like that.”

“That sounds kind of interesting.”

Unlike Dexter who seemed intrigued, Judy frowned as if it made no sense.

“This is strange.”

“You’d better get used to it. All Block 4 officers who got on Carranza’s bad side were transferred to other blocks.”

“What did they do to upset her?”

“Well, they treated inmates like inmates. Deliberately intimidated them, tried to put them in their place.”

“No wonder Carranza didn’t like that.”

“Officers catering to inmates—it’s absurd, but that’s reality. But the hazard pay is quite good, and it’s pretty decent as long as idiots like Turner don’t show up—quiet and manageable.”

Gable then handed them a pen and a folder, asking for their signatures.

“This is paperwork to officially become Block 4 officers. You probably haven’t seen this in Block 2 or other facilities since there’s no hazard pay.”

“Let me see.”

Dexter skimmed through the folder and pointed to one spot, saying:

“Wow, they give an extra $10 per hour as hazard pay. And better medical insurance coverage compared to other officers.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Considering the workload, it’s pretty decent.”

“Dexter, you’re not desperate for money.”

“I’m fine with it. Aren’t you, Judy?”

“That woman, she’s just… something.”

“Hmm, I wonder if Carranza likes female officers.”

Gable looked Judy up and down and said:

“Not to sexually harass you, but Carranza might like you.”

“…Why?”

“Well… you’re rather modest in size. She probably won’t see you as competition.”

As soon as those words left Gable’s mouth, Judy frowned deeply.

“You know that’s a really dangerous statement, right?”

“Sorry, but it’s the truth.”

Gable did look apologetic, but he didn’t apologize.

“You probably know her—she was in the minimum security facility… Ellie, was it?”

“Yes, I know her. At first, I thought she was a model… Wait, are you saying Ellie was originally a Block 4 officer?”

“Back then, Carranza had a favorite officer named Clark, and Clark liked Ellie.”

“So she was sent to minimum security because of that? That’s absurd!”

“Unfortunately, it’s true.”

Gable shrugged, and while the two were signing the documents, an inmate was standing outside the glass window of the staff area.

“Excuse me.”

“Sammy, what is it?”

A well-built inmate stood at the door of the staff area, addressing Gable.

“The boss is looking for them.”

“Who? Me?”

“No, she said to bring the big, handsome officer and the small, cute female officer.”

“I see? Looks like Carranza is looking for you two.”

Gable gestured for them to follow the inmate, and Jesse and Dexter got up and followed him toward the communal cell on the second floor.

“This is just strange no matter how you look at it, isn’t it?”

“Well, we can’t overturn everything. It might be easier to think of it as outsourcing.”

“…Outsourcing through criminals.”

Dexter wasn’t without complaints either, but he preferred to let things run their course rather than stir up a hornet’s nest. Judy, however, remained highly dissatisfied.

When Jesse and Dexter arrived at the communal cell, they immediately looked a bit nauseated upon seeing Carranza’s cell, which had a completely different atmosphere from typical communal cells.

“…Raymond allows this?”

“Oh, you’re here.”

Before their eyes was not a bleak prison cell but a room that resembled a normal home.

“Personal blankets and pillows, bookshelves, a vanity, diffusers, watercolor painting frames, luxury curtains… Is this really a communal cell?”

“Are you that cute officer they mentioned? And Dexter the officer is here too?”

Regardless of what Judy was saying, Carranza glanced at her briefly, smiled lightly, and then greeted Dexter by opening and closing her hand.

“Welcome to Block 4?”

“I didn’t think you’d actually pull something like this. And even move Judy here too.”

“I heard she’s called an angel in the minimum security facility, so I wanted to see how cute she was and asked for her to be transferred here. But she looks rather disgruntled.”

“…I’m not your friend, you know.”

“My, she’s even got a sharp tongue.”

Judy made an uncomfortable face at Carranza’s behavior, which seemed to treat her like a child.

“Before we get to the main point, everyone else go somewhere else for a bit.”

With those words, Carranza gestured for the surrounding inmates to leave, leaving only the three of them in her cell.

“Why did you send the other inmates away?”

“Obviously because I don’t want the people under me to know about this.”

Carranza sat on a makeshift chair and began filing her nails with a nail file from the desk as she spoke.

“Lately, our block hasn’t been the same as before, so I need someone who can help resolve this.”

As Carranza casually tried to put the two to work, Dexter raised one eyebrow.

“Your expression says it all. I’m being sincere. Recently, I can’t get in touch with gangs or cartels around Las Vegas, or even former criminals who had long since washed their hands of the business.”

What Carranza said next was quite interesting even to Dexter.

“The way I manage Block 4 is simple yet… difficult for anyone who isn’t in my position.”

“What is this? Self-promotion?”

When Dexter openly sneered, Carranza made an uncomfortable face and continued.

“Listen to the end. It’s true that lately, my external communication networks keep getting cut off.”

“And?”

“I’d like you to look into what’s going on. At first, I thought it was discord among the inmates because of what Turner said, but it seems more like my influence is diminishing.”

While Carranza was beautiful enough to meet Dexter’s standards, what works with prison inmates is not appearance but rather things that benefit them more.

Carranza’s network of connections, as well as gangs, cartels, and criminals who want to partner with or receive protection from the New Lomas Cartel, are countless.

Even now, many government agents and officials seek out Carranza for information on cartels and criminals within the United States. Carranza’s greatest strength is her collaborators both inside and outside.

However, for some reason, the number of these collaborators has been gradually decreasing, and even the inmates at Honeygood Correctional Facility have been falling away to the point where they no longer feel Carranza’s power.

There’s not much she can do inside the prison with all its restrictions, so she was trying to regain her power through Dexter, who wields considerable influence in the prison.

“I’m not a private detective or police officer. And I don’t think there was any need to bring Judy here for this kind of job.”

But Dexter was busy.

‘I have enough to worry about without getting involved in criminal territory disputes…’

Whether Carranza fought with other criminals or not, Dexter wanted to focus on handling the cases initiated by the General.

Judy also felt like she was being treated as a mere accessory and stood with her hands on her hips, pouting.

“Are you refusing?”

“To be more precise, I don’t understand why we should do such a thing.”

Dexter stared at Carranza and said:

“Is there anything in it for us?”

Though the words were delivered casually as if having an everyday conversation with an acquaintance, Dexter’s eyes were deadly serious.

Carranza, meeting that gaze, stared back at Dexter with an expressionless face and said:

“I thought it was a correctional officer’s job to prevent potential riots in the prison.”

“That riot would be extremely disadvantageous to just one person, wouldn’t it?”

The atmosphere instantly turned cold, and the two began silently glaring at each other.

“Carranza, Dexter, please stop.”

Judy, who had been observing the situation, grabbed Dexter’s arm and pulled him, seeing that things might escalate further.

“As officers, we should certainly minimize the possibility of riots. But we can’t have a conversation like this.”

“You’re right.”

Dexter nodded and said to Carranza:

“What can you offer?”

“Dexter!”

“What do you want?”

Carranza smiled lightly and pointed at herself, saying:

“Me?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

When Dexter openly frowned, Carranza glared at him and said:

“Harsh criticism? That’s a first for me.”

“If I wanted your body, I wouldn’t have said it like that. Tell me what you can offer.”

What was Carranza’s biggest card?

That’s what Dexter was most curious about, and Carranza, who had been glaring at Dexter, answered with a sullen expression:

“I’ll give you the right to ask questions.”

As if she were giving something incredibly valuable, Carranza acted as if she were doing them a favor, causing Dexter to frown.