Sophia Carter's POV
The next day was awful. My head was pounding in the morning from lack of sleep, and I'm pretty sure I snapped at three guards this morning. My nightmare from last night was constantly lingering in my mind and it was hard to think of anything else but the memory from last night. Anyway, I can't keep getting n stuck in my head, I have to continue to assure my power in this prison. The more people I have on my side by the end of my sentence, the better. Sure everything is supposedly going well at home, at least from what I've heard from Angelie, but you never know. Plus, now that I know Tammy is hiding some things from me, I have to have eyes everywhere to ensure I am not betrayed and played with. I already have my father's enemies on my back, as well as my own. I need to make sure everything goes according to plan.
Currently, I am sitting in the prison gym about to start a workout session. I can't afford to lose any of my muscle mass while I'm in this place, especially since I have to continuously watch my back for potential enemies. After setting the proper weights on the bench press bar, I lay down on the bench and make sure my hands are well positioned to start my reps.
Right as I am about to lift the bar to start my first set, Mike - the guard from yesterday - walks up behind me and takes his spot as my spotter. "Okay, I guess you can spot me. Thank you so much for asking. I really appreciate it," I sarcastically said. Mike sighs and meets my eyes. "I meant what I said yesterday, you know? So, until you accept my offer, I will prove to you that I am capable of..." he looked around to watch for listening ears. When he was satisfied that no one was listening in on our conversation, he continued. "...working for you. The only thing I know about you is how you got here, but what I don't know, is the why of it,"
Sighing, lifting the bar and starting my first set, I took a deep breath while lowering the bar. "How do I know if I can trust you," I grunted a little. It's already been too long since I've been to the gym - I used to go everyday at the gym in my home. He braced his arms in case he needed to catch the bar, "You don't. That's why I'm trying to prove to you that you can."
Looking into his eyes, I could see that he was telling the truth. I am very good at reading people. I guess it comes with the job. Grunting as I finished my last rep of my first set, I set the bar back on its rack and sat up to look at Mike. "I can see that you're telling the truth there, but you want something out of it. What is it?" His eyes widened. He looked surprised that I knew that just by looking at his face. "I don't want anything out of it. What are you talking about?"
I sighed and looked into his eyes again. "Your forehead, there's sweat that's starting to form there, that's telling me that you're nervous about what I will find out about you. Your lip twitched when you said I didn't know if I could trust you, that tells me that this something you're hiding is something big that possibly involves a gang. Lastly, your eyes told me everything I needed to know. You seemed to be searching for something to look at, which means you were avoiding eye contact with me. That also tells me that this something involves me. Which means you actually do know why I did what I did and how I ended up getting here. Am I on the right track?" I smirked, looking into his eyes again before laying back down to start my second set.
"You gotta teach me how to read people like that someday," he said as he retook his spot as my spotter behind me. "Okay. You got me. Yes, I do know why you got here, well, at least some of it, not all, but I really do need your help. When you didn't let that guy walk over you two days ago, I could see that you were very assertive of yourself. Also meaning that you knew what you were doing. That move you pulled, it's a move only used when you're an advanced fighter. Then, when you crouched down to tell that guy something, I assumed you had something on him. Which also means that you have sources and that you must be powerful, also meaning that you have people working for you in this prison keeping you updated on certain situations. But what I don't know, is who you are. And if you're as powerful as some inmates are assuming, I hope you can help me out of my shit hole that I've accidentally created."
I knew I was right when I said I could get him to work for me yesterday. What I didn't expect though, is for him to be attentive to what happens around him. Smirking up at him, "Depends on what kind of shit hole." He sighed when I was on my last rep and helped me set the bar back on its rack. "I took out a loan last year from some people, whom I didn't exactly know who they were at the time, and the interest rates keep rising. I don't have the money for it, since it goes to my mom who is in the hospital receiving care for her Leukaemia. I am literally about to do just anything to get rid of this debt," Mike explained. "Who exactly did you take this loan from," I asked. He sighed again. Damn this man sighs a lot. "The Black Hand."
Simple. Plain and simple. I don't think he realizes that he's talking to the future Capa of The Black Hand, which is great for me. I can get him to work for me in exchange for the debt he apparently owes us. Wait, I think I remember my father telling me about this guy who used a sob story to get money from our family last year, but I never got the name of the person asking for a loan. I guess it's him.
"Well, I happen to be acquainted with the Italian mafia, so I can probably help you. Though, there is a price that comes with it." He looked skeptical for a moment, but then probably realized I was his best shot of getting out of his debt. "What do I have to do?"
"First, you need to earn my trust. Even if I know some things I can use against you, I'm not one to trust others easily," I said with conviction. I need to be able to completely trust him before I put him on my roster of spies. "To do that, I'm going to need you to look into someone for me."
"Done, who is it?" He said excitedly. Ah. I guess he likes looking into people. That could be useful for future purposes. "Sarah Walter."
Mike looked surprised by whom I mentioned. What he doesn't know is that this is a test. It's a test to see what he's capable of. Sarah Walter, the one who works as a guard at Cape Vincent County Prison, does not exist. It's merely a cover name for Angelie Crawford, one of my best spies. If he can find out anything about her - since her information is very secure - then I'll know that I can trust him. It would also mean that he would be a potentially good hacker for my team.
"You want me to look into the guard, Sarah Walter?" He asked in all his stupor. A simple yes is all I uttered back. "Fine. Done."
"You have 24 hours to look into her, I want her information by tomorrow at dawn." He seemed surprised by the short length of time I'd given him, but determined to make it work.
"Alright."
That's great. Let the games begin.