The Dark Web Murders

PROLOGUE

August 2012 

It was a soft prison, he had been told. Medium security overall, with low security accommodation for selected prisoners. His friend had tried to sound cheerful but the concern in his eyes was inescapable. The unexpected display of feeling, however, had pleased the boy, despite his dire situation. They hugged, the boy tearful.

 "I'll come and see you when I can," his friend had promised, and again trying to allay fears, he added, "Keep your head down, Kevin. Stay out of trouble and you'll serve only half your sentence. You'll be out in three  years." 

The words carried small comfort now. The young man stared        apprehensively through the prison-bus window as Magilligan Prison came into view. He fought panic as his eyes traversed the bleak, lonely landscape,the seeming miles of fences surrounding low, concrete, H-shaped buildings.His breathing began to come in short gasps. Deep breaths, he urged himself.Don't lose control. The hard men are in the Maze.... 

To some extent the thought reflected truth. Prisoners convicted of scheduled terrorist offences had been transferred to the Maze prison, the notorious Maze where the most dangerous IRA and loyalist prisoners were held during 'the troubles', the prison where the IRA inmate Bobby Sands famously starved himself to death. This left Magilligan operating as a  'normal' prison, if normal was a word that might be deemed applicable.According to his friend, who had thoroughly researched the prison and its regime, the life here reflected its low security status. Sports, hobbies,library, education facilities, and excellent health care. "It'll be a breeze," his friend had assured him. 

But as the bus passed through the huge security gates, topped by wire fences and frowned down upon by a dark, ominous watchtower, the young man's resolution wavered, and dread clutched his spirit once more.Trembling, he followed the other prisoners out of the bus as they were marched in single file towards the reception facility to be registered and processed.An aggressive guard shoved him forward as he fell some steps behind. 

"Keep up," the guard snarled. 

Hampered by the handcuffs holding his arms together, the young man stumbled but managed to regain his balance, almost bumping into the large,heavily tattooed prisoner in front of him. The man heard the scuffle and turned round to glare angrily at the slight, blond, blue-eyed prisoner who was struggling to remain upright. The anger dissipated almost immediately,  replaced by a brutish leer. "Yeah, keep up, kid," he rasped. "Feel free to bang into me anytime." And guffawing coarsely, he turned back into the line. 

"Shut it, McStravick," the guard barked at him. "Move on!" 

Unnerved by the lout's crude interest, the effeminate young man was further disturbed by the fact that, given the guard's obvious familiarity with him, this was not McStravick's first time at Magilligan. God! He knows his way around. What if he decides to come after me? 

The line of a dozen or so prisoners was efficiently dealt with by the receiving officers. Systems that had been in operation for some time were now smooth and effective. The staff knew how many committals were arriving and were prepared for them. Almost immediately the group was led into a stark, functional holding room where they were given a cold meal and some drinks. Most of them ate stolidly, heads down, not interested in conversation. McStravick kept staring at the effeminate newbie, trying to catch his eye. Each nervous glance in McStravick's direction earned the young man a view of misshapen teeth as the older offender's lips curled in a lewd and knowing grin. 

After the meal, the young man was subjected to a total body search, as indeed were the other prisoners, and after the necessary documentation to  record his arrival had been completed, he was led into another unprepossessing holding room where there was a television but little else to offer distraction. McStravick tried to get a seat near the young man, but the guard tapped him on the shoulder with his truncheon.