The Omega Team: Death Sentence (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page A

reports. They promise 90 percent capacity and make sure they hit their goals so the state funnels money to them. Less bodies equals less profit. It’s like a freaking stay in Hotel California. You can check in, but you’ll never check out. I’m sure prosecutors and judges are in on the game, too. Everyone wants their piece. I want those bastards to pay. I want this to stop.”
    He nodded. “What was the bogus charge for Kim?”
    “Dick Templar found snacks in her bunk that she presumably stole from the canteen. That wasn’t the first time this has happened to an inmate. Whenever one refuses his or another guard’s advances or gets close to release, trouble rains down. Kim swore she didn’t steal anything. Huge mistake. Because she tried to defend herself, the warden not only took away her gain time, she slapped another six months on Kim’s sentence.”
    Something passed over his face.
    Hallie tensed. “What?”
    “Losing her gain time must have depressed her.”
    “You don’t believe me?”
    “I’m not saying that.”
    “Sure you are.” She crossed her arms. “Kim might have been down, but she was damn mad, too. She wasn’t a fool. The closer she got to release, the more worried she became that something would happen. She begged me to help her if anything did. I promised I’d fight until she got out of there. She wasn’t alone. She had me. No way would she have hung herself.”
    “Would she have talked with the others there about you helping her?”
    “It took her nearly a year to open up to me. Kim wasn’t a trusting soul. She didn’t blab about stuff.”
    “Hope you’re hungry.” The waitress delivered the food, propped her hands on the table, and leaned toward Chase. “Anything else, hon?”
    He lifted his spoon. “Nope. We’ll let you know if we need you.”
    She giggled. “You better.”
    He watched her jog away then turned back. “Kim must have threatened to expose what goes on there. Otherwise, why would anyone kill her?”
    Hallie pushed her plate aside. “I’m thinking Dick went into her cell to rape her, she fought back, he struck her too hard, or she hit her head, and to cover up her death, he and Edward Zabala hung her from the bars to make it look like a suicide.”
    “Do you have any proof?”
    She laughed helplessly. “If I did, I would have called the police, not the agency.”
    “Have you seen the autopsy report?”
    “No. Have you?”
    “Not yet. I’ll have Jacqui get it.” He crumbled crackers in his chili. “She’s already poked around in the other prison files. Unfortunately, there weren’t any surprise emails that’d blow the lid off what they’re doing. Everyone covers their tracks very well. My guess is Gatekeeper’s CEO read the Miami Herald exposé on Florida prisons and is keeping a low profile so he doesn’t see their name in print.”
    “They’re probably scrubbing everything before staff sends it.”
    “Sounds about right.” He grabbed two napkins from the dispenser and handed her one. “We have to date.”
    Surprise and anticipation bubbled in her. “Huh?”
    He finished his chew and swallowed. “For this to succeed, we have to share info. The only way to do so is to make things look natural. That we’re together at Zephron for a reason, other than to spy. Same holds true when we’re away from work, like here.” He gestured to their booth. “If we don’t, the others may wonder why we’re hanging around each other.”
    He had a point. “Okay.”
    “Since we are dating and want to look like a happy couple, you should eat.” He pushed her plate to her. “Your smile, however, is right on.”
    She was smiling?
    Rattled, she nibbled a fry. “Is your girlfriend going to mind our pretend dating?”
    “Are you asking if I’m in a serious relationship?”
    Talk about direct. “Yeah. Are you? Do you have a wife?”
    He chuckled. “Not the last time I looked. No one I’m serious about either. You?”
    She’d sworn off lasting