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It wouldn’t take them long to learn why, and Lily would be suspected of having something to do with the riots, the escaped prisoners.
The sooner I got her out of here, the better. The better for both of us.
The sentry on duty outside the Supervisor’s office saluted with a fist to his chest before turning and opening the door for me.
I entered and approached the Supervisor’s desk. He stood behind it, looking out on the alien landscape through the large windows.
“Well?” he asked without turning around. “Does the madam have anything to do with the escapes?”
I shook my head. “Negative. She’s clean.”
Very clean.
“A pity,” the Supervisor said. “A guilty party of zero significance could have made this whole issue go away.”
I bristled at him terming her as insignificant but I maintained my cool. Soon, I would be far away from here, leaving the new Supervisor to deal with yet another escape. Then anything he said would be as insignificant as he accused Lily of being.
“We’ve lost multiple prisoners and Prizes,” the Supervisor said. “We cannot allow anyone to know that. Thankfully, with the riot chaos, it will be easy for us to convince the prison that they were killed and did not escape.”
He turned to face me. “We cannot allow hope to spread among the prisoners or they will all be trying to get away,” he said, shaking his head.
“We can convince the majority of the prisoners,” I said. “They are ignorant and know nothing more. But there will be those with informants, spies. They will know the truth and they might seek to exploit our weaknesses.”
The Supervisor nodded. “How do you propose we control these prisoners with the extra resources?”
He took a seat and peeled a Glorian frieshad with a knife.
“I suggest we talk with them and develop a relationship,” I said. “Get them to share their resources with us.”
“How are you going to do that?” the Supervisor said, cutting a slice from his fruit and putting it in his mouth.
“Give them advantages by… overlooking some of their more profitable enterprises,” I said.
I’d thought about this idea a great deal ever since I jumped the original Lead Guard at the way station before he was due to accept his role at Ikmal.
I had no intention of helping Druin consolidate his power, but I would do whatever it took to get Lily away from his clutches.
“Overlooking their criminal activity?” the Supervisor said. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
“With the prison still recovering from the riots, it’s still vulnerable,” I said. “If we don’t act fast, the criminal elite will take advantage and then there will be no way to bring the prison back under control. It’s a risk, but one that is worth taking.”
The Supervisor nodded. “Very well.”
That was a relief. If I wasn’t given the go-ahead to work with Druin, I would have to figure out some other way to escape, some chink in the prison’s armor. But with how tight the guards had locked Ikmal down, it wasn’t going to give us much leeway.
“I’ll get to work on it right away,” I said, turning to leave.
“Hold on there,” the Supervisor said. “You’re new here, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And keen to impress, no doubt.”
I nodded my head.
“In my experience,” the Supervisor said, cutting another piece from his fruit. “It’s always wise to know the people you’re working with. Look them in the eye. Know what they’re thinking. You catch my drift?”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
