A City Of Wolves

3. Catalina

In the middle of nowhere rests a place where people who it contained were left to feel forgotten due to a systems demand for each individuals isolation from society. People from all over the country would make up the inamte population. Many were constantly killed, or raped on a regular. Others pledged their allegiance to gangs, or even deeper.
     The mafia.
     This was a female facility and amongst the incarcerated individuals located here, one of them was Catalina Sanchez. A Colombian woman no older than twenty-seven.
She had less than two weeks to come home after serving a five-year sentence for Trafficking.
     When Catalina was first charged, she was facing the following: Armed Trafficking, Illegal possesion of firearm, and illegal possession of drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl which is the most deadliest drug on the market currently. All of which they claimed she had the intent to sell.
     Everything looked dark for Catalina. The police had recovered the gun while she was pushing weight across the interstate. Draper, being who he was, managed to use police influence to recover some of the drugs along with the recovered firearm. He also manipulated her state prosecutor through violent maneuvers and assured threats. The Armed Trafficking was lowered to a regular trafficking. Her gun charge was dismissed and the Armed Trafficking was reduced to a simple Trafficking to which the District Attorney offered her five years. Perhaps Draper had his hands in that.
     She dropped her trash in a nearby bin and made her way outside where she stood beside the woman she developed a friendly connection to during her incarceration.
     The sun was beaming, and the serene scene for once was peaceful. There wasn't much foolishness.
     Alice Waters was her bestfriend under these circumstances. They were almost always together and guarded each others six even more.
     "You excited?" inquired Alice who was still sipping on a cup of iced tea.
     Catalina looked up to the blue skies and took a deep breath.
     "You have two more weeks left until you're a free woman." Alice added.
     "Yes, I can't wait." Catalina answered, "But I try not to think too much about it. It's easier to just live in the moment." She winked at Alice.
     "I bet." said Alice. "I don't know how you do it. I can't stop meditating on it."
     "Try remaining active while you're here. Keep your mind engaged, and trust me, you won't even notice."
     Catalina started walking towards the recreational yard. Alice followed suit. She had noticed immediately that it was quite swole in regards to inmates and every officer from her dorm were out.
     This she had expected.
     Upon arriving at the yard, they maneuvered over to the bench closeby the court to watch the other female inmates play basketball. Alice sat next to her.
     "You never usually come out here to watch them play." Alice asked. "Why today?"
     "I needed some fresh air, Detective." Catalina responded.
     The look Catalina received from Alice was priceless.
     "I was just curious, girl. Damn." said Alice.
     "I know, babes." Catalina was looking around as she spoke. Her eyes caught the very important thing she was looking for.
     An officer came through the breezeway with a bag. It was transparent, not quite like the material used to wrap up the obect within the bag which was her main concern.
     One of the women shot a three-pointer and scored, following up with a cheer. Alice was too busy adulating the girls' abilities on the court. The officer disappeared into the building which was Catalinas dwelling place.
It wasn't long before the officer emerged from the building and looked over at Catalina who still was conversing with Alice at the bench. Their eyes made four for no more than three seconds. The officer nodded and kept it going. Catalina knew that what she needed was taken care of.
     Another three-point attempt, however this time it was a miss.
     Catalina maintained a crooked smile on her face. It was almost over. And that thought motivated her even more.