Читать книгу Taboo 2: - Yoshe - Страница 5

“Good morning, staff,” the warden said, greeting the morning roll call filled with correction officers.

Some officers said good morning as well, and some saluted him.

“I decided to take the time out to talk to you about a serious problem. I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls from the inspector general’s office with allegations of corruption that may be going on in this particular facility. This is unacceptable. These inmates are not your friends.”

The warden continued. “You are not to go beyond the scope of your duties as a New York City correction officer to provide these detainees with anything but what is required within the minimum standards. I’m pretty sure that you know what your job consists of, and you realize that you are here to uphold correction law and adhere to the rules and regulations of the department. If I find out that someone is breaking these rules, I will make sure that you will be removed from this command. Now, keeping your job is your job, and I hope that I won’t have to make that decision for you.”

The warden gave the roll call captain a nod, signaling for him to proceed. The captain began briefing the roll call and then called out names for post assignments. After everyone received their posts, roll call dispersed. A small group of female officers immediately began whispering among each other.

“You know who’s one of the people that the warden was talkin’ about, right?” said CO Watkins. She was the facility gossip queen who made it her business to know what was going on at work.

“No, who?” asked CO Porter, a heavyset female with a pretty face.

“He’s talkin’ about Howell. You know Howell. The one who has Five North steady?” asked Watkins.

CO Harris interjected, “Oh, yeah, that’s Deputy Dog’s fiancée.”

CO Butner laughed. “Now why are you callin’ Deputy Simmons ‘Deputy Dog’?” The other officers snickered along with her.

“Because he’s a dog. Can’t you look at the man and tell that he’s a dog?” Harris asked. “He was messin’ with Howell first, had a baby on her with some officer from C-95, then him and Howell got back together and God knows who else he’s doin’ right now. Damn shame that he—,” Harris began.

Watkins cut her off. “Girl, please! That’s old news! I’m just talkin’ about Howell. Now she has a child of her own. Only the father of that baby isn’t Deputy Dog.”

Porter opened her eyes real wide. She was the new jack of the small clique, having only been on the job two years. “So who is her baby daddy then?” she asked.

“An inmate,” said Harris. Porter and Butner looked at each other in amazement.

“Are you serious?” asked Butner. “How do y’all know this?”

“We just know. That’s been the rumor around here for the past two years. Her son has her last name and everything. If that was Deputy Dog’s baby, then why doesn’t he have his father’s last name, right?” asked Watkins. All the ladies nodded their heads in agreement. “Not to mention, Howell rolls with Captain Phillips, another ho who’s been known to mess around with inmates.”

Porter shook her head. “Those hoes are so scandalous! Why would someone risk their job like that? I couldn’t do it. I need my job.”

Harris gave Butner a pound. “I second you on that. Howell must have some real self-esteem issues. I mean, she’s a pretty girl; why she would want to deal with an inmate is beyond me. Isn’t she and Deputy Dog supposed to be gettin’ married?”

“I heard that, too,” said Watkins. “But I also heard that the inmate she supposedly had the baby by, last name is Gordon. He used to be housed in Five North a few years ago.”

“Girl, I know who you’re talkin’ about!” said Harris excitedly. Porter and Butner looked on. “I remember that inmate. His name is Rasheed Gordon. He was a tall guy with locks in his hair. Nice-lookin’ guy, too. Yes, he was.”

Butner and Porter laughed at Harris. Watkins didn’t. “Please, girl. Gordon, or whatever his name was, was an inmate. I don’t look at inmates in a sexual manner. I am not physically attracted to them at all! I just don’t like them and I dare one of these nasty-ass crooks to try to holler at me!”

Harris rolled her eyes at Watkins. “C’mon, Watkins. You are goin’ really hard right now. If a man is nice lookin’, he’s nice lookin’. Bein’ an inmate has nothin’ to do with it. A man is still a man.”

Watkins turned her nose up. She was adamant about her opinion. “Well, I wouldn’t mess around with an inmate, I don’t care how fine he is, and I damn sure don’t want to be around any officer who fucks with one. If I even see an officer gettin’ too familiar with an inmate, I’m reportin’ them to the inspector general’s office.” Watkins looked down the corridor. Sierra Howell was walking toward them. “Oh, wow, speakin’ of the devil. Here goes the little fraternizer right now,” she whispered.

When Howell arrived in front of the four female officers, she said hello to all of them with a smile on her face.

“Hey, girl!” greeted Watkins, putting on a fake smile. Harris, Butner, and Porter just waved.

“Good mornin’, ladies,” said Sierra. “How’s everybody doin’?”

“We’re fine, Howell,” replied Harris. “So how’s Five North treatin’ you?”

Sierra shrugged. “Eh, it’s okay. I’ve been there for a while now so I’m used to it.”

“You have a son, right?” asked Watkins.

“Yeah, I do. He’s two years old now,” replied Sierra.

“That’s sweet. How is he?” Harris asked.

“Oh, he’s doin’ good, girl. Gettin’ big and gettin’ into everything,” Sierra said with a laugh. “You know the terrible twos.” She paused for a second. “Well, let me go to this search. I’ll talk to y’all later. Have a safe tour, everybody.”

They all waved at Howell and watched her walk off. “That’s a damn shame,” said Harris.

“Inmate-lovin’ heifer,” said Watkins, shaking her head. “So disgustin’.”