5 - Joana

The prison was a real hole in hell.

Like any place of maximum security, it was located practically in a condominium of its own to stay away from all the surroundings, although it was not like in the movies, where it was on top of a cliff surrounded by the sea. It was in the south of the city, kept in the eyes of all, but without much emphasis on the kind of people who were kept inside.

The facade was simple, with a reinforced gate, high and thick walls, and agents in every corner. There were four guardhouses. Two in the front, one in the back, and one on the sides.

The guards were armed to the teeth, some even wearing helmets that hid some aspects of their appearance. In general, they all boasted a frown, an expression of few friends and a unique coldness.

I had an appointment. Besides, I didn't go alone. I made a point of dragging one of my co-workers, João Vitor, my partner in the office.

He had more experience than me in criminal proceedings, considering that it was the first time I defended someone already arrested, instead of taking the lead by someone who feared prison. João met me at the doors of the prison, sitting against the hood of his fancy car, and eating a doughnut decorated with sugar.

" Why are you eating doughnuts quietly? "I asked in a tone of greeting.

João tilted the brown paper bag towards me, immediately making me aware of the cloying and sticky full of the candy.

"You know I can't resist doughnuts.”

"That sounded obscene, João," I fired, although I really took one of the doughnuts. "Not to mention that it won't be anything elegant to greet people inside with their hands full of sugar.”

"Let them fuck themselves," said João, kneading the bag in his hands. He was a very handsome man, but he liked other men, so we never had anything other than professional contact. The dark hair was rubbing at the nape of the neck, and the blue eyes were intense, shining with total disgust. "I hate having to attend prisons, precisely because of the police and anyone in a position beyond. It makes me feel sorry for these damned bastards and criminals, when they deserved to be here. The police usually suck when locked up with so many despicable prisoners. They become exactly what they try to repress. I hate it.”

"Control this hatred," I asked, licking the remnant of sugar on my fingertips. "I need you to talk to the director, so that he doesn't try to impose some improper proposal for my physical condition.”

"Are you afraid of harassment? "He asked.

"I'm sure about him," I replied softly.

In addition to investigating the case, I had also investigated the director of the prison. Apparently, he had been removed from his previous workplace for being denounced by one of the inmate.

Not only her, but also employees of her workplace. So, considering that I was a public figure, I needed at least one witness in case some shit went wrong.

A long time ago I had learned that the world used to be cruel to single and independent women. My older sister, Jessy, constantly suffered from press harassment. My case was more related to the courts. There were countless times when I had to impose myself so that the men in a rehearsed trial would not try to belittle or diminish me.

The best thing that could happen to the world was feminism. When women came together to seek their rights, for equality. If it weren't for them, I would never even have graduated in that profession, because there was a time when advocacy was directed only at men. As much as many other professions.

But it was still an arduous and complicated path. I never had an interest in the criminalistic area because I understood that the game was very low outside the courts. Being a woman, defending an accused already convicted, was my biggest fear when applying for the public defender's office. That's why I chose to use my influence to have my own office.

In general, my work was directed to lawsuits against or in favor of celebrities. I made a name and a career on top of the famous people who won their causes against persecuting journalists and count fans who lost all judgment by wanting the idol just for him. It was still a criminal aspect, since the entire area of law was very ambiguous in this regard, but it was still a safe zone.

It was only when the maximum security prison came into the focus of my vision that I understood how much I was still unprepared for that kind of thing. I didn't know much about my client. I wasn't sure if he was guilty or innocent. And, depending on the answer I had when interviewing him, maybe my conscience would weigh enough for me to simply abandon the case.

I wouldn't be the first. I was able to study the investigation a few days before making the decision before a judge. I knew that at least six lawyers had abandoned the detaic, and that no trial had been held, keeping him in seclusion in that horrible place.

I didn't have to go in to know that sunbathing should be a relief for all inmates, because that place exuded a cold and dark aura. It should be a nightmare to be innocent and have to get used to it. But then there was a part in the investigation that didn't make much sense. The detack, even though he never had a trial, never defended himself or confirmed his participation in the crime.

He had been arrested two years ago. Caught red-handed after a massacre in some corner bar. The man had been arrested without any resistance, he didn't even need handcuffs.

The police immediately took him to the police station, even if he was injured, and this caused him a few hours later, to suffer from a hypovolemic shock "considering that he had been hit by a shot in the abdomen and had lost blood throughout the time he was in the custody of the civil police.

Even before I finished reading the survey, I already had at least three ideas of lawsuits against the state. A lot of negligence had been done only one night. The man was arrested even in a state of shock, even bleeding, even without any proof. There wasn't even ONE fingerprint of him. The only DNA proof found, to say that he had really been at the bar, were the finger marks left in a dose bun.

Other than that, the man was innocent. All the evidence pointed to that. But the fact that he kept silent, that his lawyers mysteriously abandoned the case, and that the police simply had no interest in investigating further, caused him to be imprisoned for two years.

"What are you thinking? "João asked.

I sighed through my nose.

"That I have a good heart and always get into other people's shit.”

João had a restrained laugh.

"Well, I'd like to say that's a lie, but, Jo, you're an expert in cleaning up other people's shit. Have you ever thought about working as a cleaning assistant? You're already on your way.”

I had a low laugh. The weird prison seemed to suck up to the remnants of visitors' happiness. That place was extremely macabre. I took a deep breath to try to alleviate the strange feeling. I just had to introduce myself to the detaignant, so maybe I didn't even have to come back. I could do everything remotely. I just needed a confession. I just needed to find a witness in his favor, and everything would be done. I wasn't one of the best Brazilian lawyers for no reason. My fame took me to the peak, but only my talent kept me in it.