"It’s in the solitude of well solitude that I find myself writing this, wasn’t too long ago I cracked that Fanooks head in good... sure got me a beating by the guards but, hell I experienced worse on the out side. I had all this time to think and ponder in the darkness, as I always had. But these early days, the cants from the outside it starts to make you crazy... many of man have lost their minds if not something else in a place like this, and I was about to do whatever I had too to survive these next few years. My encounter with buddy more then living proof of that, but there was more to be done."

Richie sits in solitary, sore from the beating he got from the guards for his little incident with his next door neighbour. The slot in the iron door opens and while he expects a tray of slop a little note is tossed in and the slot left open. The cascading light thru giving Richie enough to read the words on the piece of paper.

Rich... seems you were right was sitting on everything.. what you did made a lot of heads turn, think you’ll see some help on the thing when your out... and don’t worry bout Johnny...least there’s one that will play ball

Richie crumples the paper before he then decides to tear it up and eat it... the slot closing as he returns to the darkness. More time passing before it opens again a couple of salami sandwiches garnished with sweet pickle and mustard. sent thru on a tray instead of the usual slop, clearly a sign that things were beginning to look up even for a mere moment. He happily eats the first bit of good nourishment in god knows how long he’s been locked away.

Some time later instead of the slot that opens its the entire door as two guards walk in. The light blinding Richie at first as he is pulled up to his feet and dragged out. The guards giving him a little sermon but he wasn’t paying attention to any of that shit, more focused on coming to his senses and more importantly what needed to be done. As he is dragged to his cell he hears a few praises from the random cell mates on his block. His senses returned to him as he is returned to his cell.

Richie smirks pleased they didn’t put him with anyone. He begins to settle in, knowing word will come soon and the next phase of the plot of prison survival and profit to begin. He rests for a while before being summed out to join the rest in the chow line.. As he walks to grab his tray he is called Over to a table. His eyes peering over at who it was, and by sight alone to refuse would be a death sentence even for a tough guy like himself.

The guy was a made guy on the other side been a way along time. Was obvious he had his hands in most the rackets going on here, including the ones that my defeated neighbor boasted to have for himself... and that’s what it was all about.

Richie makes his way over to the table shaking the hands of everyone there including the old mafioso, only sitting when he is invited to. The moment he does the others at the table rising and departing elsewhere. As badly as Richie had questions he knew it was better to just listen and fill his plate when he is offered to take part in a decent meal.

“So you cracked Don a good one, blinded him, don’t even think his balls have dropped since... and that’s been a while now.. safe to say you cut down a tree that many of poor guys had fall on them... But he still sells his cigarettes and that toilet wine shit.... I know he’s got more in the cartons, I need you... to destroy that wine factory.... and find out and obviously take the stash of smokes they got hidden.... so?”

Richie listens to the man before he merely just smiles and nods... that alone enough to make the old man at ease before both begin to eat , Richie letting some time place and the meal lighten the mood a little bit before he begins to ask questions.

“Any idea what cells they are making the wine?... as for the smokes got to be with someone trusted... I’ll find the smokes no problem but that vino... this ain’t a small prison”

The old man keeps a stern face and keeps eating before looking up and locking Richie with a gaze he slides over another piece of paper before heavily hinting that this little lunch was over. Richie not foolish enough not to take the hint getting up from the table, free time in the yard he heads to lift some weights finally reading the note. Remembering the cell numbers before he disposes of it. Taking s deep breathe spending the majority of his free time keeping an eye on those he suspected connected to the operations he was seeking out. A familiar and friendly voice approaching him from the side.

“I got that thing you wanted Richie... it wasn’t easy you know... best of luck.... “

Richie grasps the sharp metal object handed to him before he smirks, opting to take it back to his cell and stash it. Waiting a while before he decides to wander the prison a bit. Eager to see the cells this toilet vino was being made. Stopping by the first place he remembers from the number catching the dumb cell occupant pouring smuggled in yeast into the toilet.....Richie face palming before striking the guy in the back of the head, pushing it right into the toilet bowl drowning him in his own creation before he eases back to catch his breathe as he mutters to himself before he takes off..

“That’s one down....”

He makes sure to search the place for the proceeds of the still, taking what he can and in the process destroying any chance of wine being made again. As he makes his way out of the cell the neighbor questions what all the ruckus was, to where Richie slips the man a few clams and a bottle of newly confiscated wine to which all questions cease. He moves onto the next cell in the list dealing with its inhabitant in the same way more or less.

Free time over and he’s returned to his cell before the wait before dinner. Two of the smallest refineries taken out but the larger one still looming, and that other thing as well. Richie tried to read his book finally laying on his bunk, but he couldn’t help but obsess over the job as he had done on the outside.

The cell doors open and all emerge for the last meal of the day, a meal that would surely be interrupted as Richie made his way to the mess hall.. he could already see the guys he insulted conspiring and giving him looks. But much to his surprise he makes it thru the meal. Then afterwards walking with the rest back to the common area it is then where he is pulled aside by one of the fucks he beat earlier

“What in the fuck?..., you want another taste you little.....”

In the moment I could feel something thin but potent wrap around my neck... I actually felt the fuck try to lift me off the ground like he had a rope or some shit... I knew it was a fuckin shoe lace.... And as the skinny fuck came in with the blade I could only kick him back... and as I started to gasp I could hear the voice of the man I had fended off my first day... and with that alone and before I could pass out my head cracked back and for a moment everything dark.

*Richie gasps for breath after falling forward, he tries to sit up knowing the situation is dire his eyes catching glimpse of the fuck holding the shank, the horrified look on his face confusing Richie as he stands up , the skinny assailant retreating before Richie finally looks. Back at the strangler his old neighbour, the force of the hit enough to push the bones of his weakened nose up into his brain. And if it was the first time Richie thought his luck had truly began to change.... Fortunate enough to duck out into a place to clean up before he is caught wandering and is escorted to the common area.... he barely gets a moment to relax before whistles are blowing the body was obviously found.....