Dirty Break (18+)

In Which Old Habits Die Hard

"Absolutely not."

This was the fourth time she had had the words used in that order regarding exactly the same thing just today, although it felt like a million. The constant negativity was making her more determined, if anything. She was a grown woman who knew her mind and not even the law was going to stop her from getting what she wanted.

"Can I ask why?"

"It's ridiculous, that's why. You think career journalists haven't tried before? No offence, Miss Granger, but as determined and hard-working as you are, it's not going to happen for a media graduate just making inroads into the business."

"I accede the fact that it has not been done before, and even that more talented and well-known people than me have tried. That doesn't mean I can't be the one, warden. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get where I want to go. I can't see what difference my being there will make besides the fact that I'll be able to capture something that nobody else has."

"You could be working with somebody to get Prisoner Valentine out. Having failed in the endeavour whilst inside the prison, you're now trying to move the plan outside."

"Was I not treated to a background check as soon as I expressed the slightest bit of interest at visiting the prison? And did that background check suggest anything like a connection to me and Leon Valentine?"

"Miss Granger, you can argue all you want - the point is that it's risk I don't need to take and therefore one I won't. The powers that be will concur with my decision and you will have to find some other way to make that fame you want so desperately."

He'd been grudgingly accommodating initially, but had been getting more and more visibly done with her in the time she had been visiting. It was understandable to an extent; he was trying to get on with his job and she was causing issues that he didn't need. At the same time, it was all publicity for the business that he was the public face of, and he'd been happy enough when they were showing off how clean the prisoners cells were and the variety of meals fed to their inmates on the shitty budget they were given.

"I want to speak to those powers that be, Warden. It may be that they say the same thing you have, at which point I will have to accept defeat and move on. But I feel that as they are making a decision that affects me and my work, they should hear my reasoning before they dismiss it out of hand."

"That's not possible, the board are all very busy people, and they're not going to say anything different to me. There's a risk transporting prisoners as it is, Miss Granger, we don't need to add to it. I've given this all the time and attention that I'm going to."

"I don't like it when people are high-handed with me, Warden. If you were that convinced that what you're saying is the definitive answer, why wouldn't you arrange for me to meet with them so they could tell me to my face. You're going to have to interact with them to tell them about what we've discussed. I've said that if they tell me that I can't do it I'll accept defeat - if they don't then I plan on sticking with this cause until Leon Valentine pulls away from the prison on his way to his appeal."

                                                                     ******************

"Absolutely not. That's ridiculous."

Wow, a double hitter. Lydia could admit that she had worked up a fair bit of hope as every subsequent person fell to her powers of persuasion, but the last hurdle - in the form of three stone-faced men and one woman who looked like she should be on the cover of Vogue - seemed insurmountable. Whereas every other argument had made her idea seem more realistic, the absolute annoyance on the board of governors faces on the Skype call was making it seem more like the stupid idea that the Warden, and her producer, her team and even Andrea had made it out to be.

"We absolutely cannot go around breaking rules because you want your fifteen minutes of fame, Miss Granger. Everything we have in place is to make our day-to-day dealings as safe as they can be for the public, our employees and the prisoners in our care."

Lydia felt like a chastened child, eyes downcast as she reaped the sharp words her stupid actions had caused. It was worse that the warden sat off to her side, silent now that his decision was being defended by those who employed him. It was the beautiful woman who was speaking to her, and that almost made it seem worse somehow, as though Lydia had been expecting her, most of all, to take her side.

"We appreciate that you have followed all of the rules presented to you so far, Miss Granger, and that you are endeavouring to show the prison to be the successful place that it is. But any more meetings for discussions of this nature will lead us to reconsider how we feel about you using HMP Manchester as the backdrop to your TV show."

"Thank you for taking the time to speak with me."

She stood up and left before her eyes could meet the wardens and see what she expected would be triumph in them. She wasn't exactly making friends in her drive to make this TV show the best that it could be. Leon had barely said ten words to her in all the time they had been meeting, whereas all the other prisoners that she had met along the way were more than happy to regale her with stories and please and, on a few occasions, lewd comments that made her blush and, worryingly, remember vividly what it was like to have Leon talking to her like that. He'd been much more reserved on subsequent meetings - she wasn't sure if it was because he had been told off or because he had gotten whatever reaction he had wanted out of her and didn't feel the need to waste anymore breath. He was an enigma, and she honestly couldn't remember thinking that about anyone before. She was pretty used to being able to surmise what people wanted and what they were like; she had very few, but amazing, friends for exactly that reason.

"No hard feelings, Miss Granger. I knew all along they would never go for it and I was really just trying to save you from having to sit there like that and be told off - it's my job and I'm used to it but I'd still avoid it if I could."

Lydia wanted to be horrible, just for a moment, because she felt horrible. She didn't know where the show was going to go next at the minute, and that scared her. She'd put herself forward for this, made a big deal about never getting a shot. She needed this to be a success. But that wasn't the wardens fault.

"No hard feelings, Warden. I'll come up with some other way to wow the viewers. Have a nice day."

The last might have been a bit overkill, along with the syrupy voice and sugar-sweet smile she put on, but the warden obviously took it at face value and nodded at her before going back into the room.

She was already dialling Andrea before the door shut behind him.

"Hey, babe. Are you in town? I could really do with a drink but I have to stick around in case they need my input on anything. God knows I'm not inputting a lot more at the moment. So are you in?"