Today, the work order didn't come through the usual channels.
Xavier noticed that first. It wasn't routed through inmate labor rotation or maintenance scheduling. It came directly to his profile, flagged as a "technical support request," vague enough to mean almost anything and specific enough to mean someone wanted him there.
Supervisor Arlen was waiting at the junction instead of sending a guard.
"You're getting popular," Arlen said as they started walking. Her tone was light, but she didn't look at him when she said it, eyes forward, pace unhurried.
Xavier glanced down the corridor ahead of them. "That usually ends badly."
"Only if the wrong people are paying attention," Arlen replied. "This is an older section. Systems keep acting up. Nobody likes sending standard crews down here."
