4: Stealing A Peek

DANIEL

I rubbed my tense fingers and eyed the ton of paperwork laying on my desk. I have been working on the parole forms since morning, and I still have a sizable amount pending.  After my earlier confrontation with Kane, I have seen the fellow roaming around hallways just putting on an act for me.  More than ever, I am determined to unmask him. 

I talked out my plan with Gianna and as always, she was willing and ready to help. She has proven to be hardworking, dedicated, and loyal to me for the eight years I have known her. We do fight sometimes, a boss-friend relationship can be tricky, but we always stick with each other. 

I would have made her my supervisor, but Kane had far more qualifications and experience which was hard to overlook. I am certain that once we are done unmasking him, the position will hopefully be filled by Gianna. 

Glancing at my watch, I realize it's almost five pm, which means the inmates would be getting ready for dinner. It's usually served between half-past five to seven pm.

My excuse for going down to the cafeteria is my monthly check-up routine, but in reality I am just hoping to catch a glimpse of him. 

Perhaps if I see him again, I will be able to figure out what it is about him who intrigued me that much.  I feel drawn to him, wanting to keep him safe.  And it's not just the warden in me speaking, which is scary. 

Hopefully, if I see he is okay, the protective obsession will fade away. 

I left my office fifteen minutes before time. I walked down the familiar, aged hallways, humming lowly to myself. I am trying to distract my mind and ease the excitement which is building up gradually.  I passed some guards on my way who respectfully conveyed their hellos either verbally or by a simple nod.

When I arrived in the cafeteria, I found the inmates on cooking duty setting up the big pots on the service table. I took my sweet time to check around if the basic standards had been met. I deliberately stalled. The first batch of inmates started arriving, and I knew block 1 wasn't so far behind. 

A few minutes later, I looked at the entrance in time and saw Matthew accompanied by a nervous-looking Liam. Matthew placed his hand on Liam's shoulder, and he whispered something, which made Liam raise his head, trying to appear bold. 

I suppressed a laugh, when I saw the poor boy trying his hardest to put on a tough face by scrunching his nose.  He wasn't cut out for this place. He followed Mathew slowly up until they got to the lineup. His focus was sorely on Mathew's back, and if it shifted, it was to the floor. 

Mathew saw me first and greeted me warmly.  Liam just looked startled.  He had the same inquisitive look he had earlier when our eyes held.

I purposely gave him an intense stare, and he lowered his head to my disappointment. I hadn't had my fill of those golden brown eyes.

Did he find me interesting as I found him?  I wondered. I almost flinched at my thoughts, for I was thinking in a way that will put my job at risk.

Relations between inmates and guards are prohibited in all our contracts. A vibration in my pocket distracted me enough to move my eyes from him.  I walked towards the exit leisurely, fetching my phone from the pocket. 

I was almost by the door, when I made eye contact with Gianna. She seemed alarmed. Her whole face screamed disapproval.  I quickened my pace, cursing my impulses. 

Seeing him didn't dampen my interest, as I hoped. If anything, it fueled it. 

Once I was alone in the hallway, I opened the message, which was from Gianna. Be careful, it read.

Gianna had caught on fast, not that I was surprised. She has known me for long, inside and outside work.

I hurried back to my office with one thought in mind. I grabbed Liam's file, and once again went through it. His mug shot, which was attached to his file, didn't do him any justice. He was stunningly beautiful in person. 

With the kind of thoughts I am having about him, it would be hypocritical of me to point this out, but the blatant stares he was getting at the cafeteria, just showed how most wanted a piece of him. Including me.

The kind of attention he is capturing in this place will be quite problematic.