Nadine
Two Months Later…
The bruises on Chuck’s ribs weren’t from a yard fight like he’d claimed.Or the dislocated shoulder.Or the broken tibia.Or the dislocated jaw.To say nothing of the other, more private injuries listed in his records from the outside hospital.The kid had been left for dead.Had it not been for his buddy, Jermaine, I have no doubt Chuck wouldn’t have survived.Normally, I’d have Pain take a look at him.Dr.Martinez wasn’t afraid to use his skill and expertise, even though it broke pretty much every rule in several books on many different subjects related to ethics in prison.And in medicine.And God only knew everything else.But Pain had been released a couple months ago and I admitted I missed him.For more than one reason.Especially now, though.This kid was a hot mess.
I’d been working in this hellhole long enough to know the difference between injuries from a brawl and something else entirely.The reddish-purple bruising at his hips had faded to a dark purple turning greenish-yellow over the last few days.Fingerprint bruises.They were on his upper arms and around his neck as well.I suspected there were other injuries.Injuries he likely wouldn’t tell me about willingly.
I watched him through the window before entering the room.As always, since he got back from the hospital two days before, he stared blankly at the wall, silent tears tracking down his face.He would interact if spoken to directly, but he never volunteered conversation.
The door creaked open as I stepped inside, the familiar scent of antiseptic hitting my nostrils.My gaze immediately locked onto the young inmate, Chuck.Yeah.Fight, my ass.I’m sure there wasn’t much of a “fight” to it.
My stomach clenched as I approached, keeping my expression neutral.“Hello, Mr.Smith,” I said softly, offering a small smile.“I’m Nurse Brentner.”
“Call me Chuck.”His voice was monotone and he didn’t look at me, like he was on autopilot, saying something he normally would say but was actually detached from his surroundings.
I’d read his file from the outside hospital, of course.He still hadn’t admitted to the rape, saying simply he’d been in a fight and, no, he didn’t know who did it.As I moved closer, I noticed his knuckles were unmarked.Odd for someone who supposedly threw punches.
“Can you tell me what happened?”I asked, gently probing the bruise on his cheekbone.He winced, and I muttered a quick apology.
“Just a fight,” he mumbled, not meeting my eyes.
I hummed noncommittally.“Well, you’ve got two more days of IV antibiotics.I’ve talked to Dr.Martinez and she agrees we should keep you here at least until you’ve completed the medication.I don’t want to have to stick you twice a day when you can keep that IV intact.We can also give your pain meds by that route.”
Chuck didn’t respond, staring at me blankly.I heard footsteps in the room, turned my head to see who’d joined us, and froze.
“Hey there, Chucky.”Grayson leaned against the door, his shoulder braced on the steel frame.“You ‘bout ready to go back to your cell?I bet if you talk real sweet-like to Nurse Nadine there, she’ll sign you out.”
Chuck trembled, breaking out in a sweat.His gaze darted briefly to the door where Grayson stood, grinning like a maniac.I kept my movements slow and deliberate as I finished hooking up his medicine.
“Oh, Mr.Smith will be in the infirmary for a few more days yet.After the antibiotics, there’s still the matter of his shoulder and the leg he had surgery on.He’s not going to be able to maneuver well in gen pop.Also, given the jaw dislocation, he’s going to have trouble eating.”I smiled kindly at Chuck.“I haven’t talked with Dr.Martinez yet today about her plans for you in the near future, but I don’t anticipate you going back to your cell for at least two more days.Possibly longer.”
Chuck kept his gaze down, not looking at me or Grayson, but the kid was sweating now, having a visceral reaction.I didn’t have to wonder why.Grayson was a creep on most days, but I knew he could get mean.I’d also linked him to several -- at least eight -- prisoner assault incidents.It’s not unusual for inmates to be brought to medical after fights or being ambushed.The strange part was that Grayson was in some way connected to every one of them.What I needed to do was match up the dates and times of each incident with times Grayson was at work.
“Aww.Too bad, kid.I was thinkin’ about decorating your cell.Jermaine won’t be back for a couple’a days yet.Thought we might have a party or something to celebrate your release from medical.”The smile Grayson threw Chuck’s way wasn’t friendly or pleasant.In fact, I was pretty sure it was a threat.
“If you’ll excuse us.”I stood and opened the cabinet above the sink and pulled out some dressing supplies.“I need to redress Mr.Smith’s wounds and look at his shoulder again.It’s not healing the way it should and I’m afraid he might have dislocated it again.”
“I think I should stay.”Grayson didn’t move from his perch, his gaze fixed on Chuck.“Wouldn’t want Chucky boy here to decide he wants some primo pussy from naughty Nurse Nadine.”
I stiffened.“Excuse me?”My gaze narrowed on him.Since I’d started here two years ago, I’d never truly felt unsafe.Like if there was danger, the guard closest to me would absolutely keep me safe.Right now, the closest guard to me was also the threat.
Every employee with direct inmate contact has a body alarm.Kind of like a panic button.If I was in a bad situation, I could hit my body alarm and it would let everyone know I needed help immediately.I needed to push it, but I was frozen, unbelieving he’d actually called me naughty Nurse Nadine.And right out in the open.
“Now, now, Nadine.”The look on Grayson’s face was wholly evil.I knew in that moment he was going to hurt me.Likely rape me.Right here.“I didn’t mean any harm.I was just makin’ sure Chucky here understood what I meant.Don’t worry, though.If he makes a move, I’ll be yourbodyguard.”He emphasized the word body.
The crudeness in everything about Grayson was the trigger I needed.Immediately, I hit my body alarm.Several times, just in case someone thought it was on accident.The alarm sounded and a red light flashed in the halls outside the room, much like a fire alarm, as security protocols were triggered by the audiovisual alarm.
“Oh, God.”Chuck whimpered his prayer.I had an ingrained need to check on the young man, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Grayson.
“You need to leave,” I said, trying not to let my voice waver and failing miserably.
“Step away from the inmate, Miss Brentner.He’s trying to grab you.”Grayson’s smile was oily and instantly made my skin crawl.
“He’s doing no such thing!What are you doing?”This couldn’t be happening.
“I’m protecting you from an inmate who is getting violent.Now please step away before you get hurt.”
Oh, the implications were crystal clear.Chuck was going to die no matter what.The only question was whether or not I died with him.Chuck understood and whimpered in fear.
