Dirty Break (18+)

In Which Fate May Play a Part

Leon wasn't surprised to see Conor O'Grady grinning at him from the other side of the visitor's table; who else was there to come and see him, now? Still, the sight of his all-but-brother warmed his heart. For a moment he hoped that Conor had come to tell him that Malcolm, the patriarch of the family, was going to get him out. But he knew better, the O'Grady's walked the fine line between legitimacy and crime and that meant that they didn't outright threaten or kill to get people out of prison. They all signed up for the life, they all knew what it entailed. The only time the rules were broken was if they feared someone would let any secrets they knew out of the bag, To that end people knew only what they needed to and wanted to stay in prison because if you had to be broken out you knew you were going to die.

"Alright, brother?" Conor asked as Leon sat down.

"Never been better, Con. The food's something else - you'd have to taste it to believe it."

Conor made a face; he knew all too well what prison food was like - they both did. It was one of reasons that they tried to avoid being caught. Evidently Leon hadn't tried hard enough.

"I'll take your word for it, brother. Any luck, you won't have to endure it for long."

It sounded - as it was supposed to - like a passing hope that Leon might be found innocent, or that the judge might be lenient. Leon knew better, and his narrowed eyes told Conor as much. Conor still grinned back - he was incorrigible like that, impossible to keep down.

"There are things afoot."

"There usually are where you're concerned, Con. What scheme have you dreamt up this time?"

Conor took his time looking around the drab room they were sat in, inspecting it as though he was surprised not to find brocade wallpaper and fine bone china. There was no rushing him when he was in this mood - he would reveal things at his own pace, or not at all. The benefit to that was that the plans that came about under those circumstances were usually good.

"Do you know they're making a TV show here?"

The tone was conversational, but Leon was not deceived and leant forward on his elbows to listen.

"Looks to be a big deal. Two very tasty women stood out in the freezing cold at six o'clock this morning with a full production crew."

"Thanks, Con. What I really need to hear about, stuck in this shit hole with approximately a million disgusting men, is how two women were just outside and you got to talk to them."

Conor flashed the grin that got the ladies then, looking directly back at Leon.

"If there's a way in, brother, there's a way out. I got a business card from one of them - we can find her from that. Then it's just a case of looking to see if there are any skeletons in either of their closets."

"You don't think maybe it was a bit conspicuous, asking a woman for her business card at six o clock in the morning outside a prison?"

"I didn't have to ask, brother. She walked up to me as bold as brass and handed it over."

Conor sounded admiring, which was something that didn't happen often where women were concerned. He liked sex, sure, but interaction outside of that was kept to a minimum.

"That's a long shot if there ever was one, Con. What do you expect to happen?"

"I know better than to expect anything. I'm just creating opportunities and then sitting back and waiting."

Leon was a planning man - he didn't like to leave anything up to chance if he could help it. He couldn't argue with Conor's results however; more often than not, lady luck came through for him.

"You'll let me know if anything comes of it?"

Conor didn't even deign to nod, instead surveying the room again.

"Lot of ugly fuckers in here, Leon. If TV people come calling they're not going to want the face of their show to be one even a mother couldn't love."

"I don't need to be on TV, Con. If them being here creates an opportunity, then I'm all for that. That doesn't mean I want to start raising my profile anymore than it already is."

"You're inside, Leon. Everybody knows who you are and what you're in for - there's no low profile for you ever again, brother. Might as well reap the benefits."

"The benefits being what exactly?"

"Well if those two ladies from outside are thrown into the equation I can name you two right there."

He didn't want to, but after a moment he returned his brother's grin.

"Do you ever think about anything other than where you're going to find your next conquest?"

Conor sobered and held his hand out in aborted attempt to reach out, stopped by the closest guard with a grunted command.

"I'd rather never fuck another woman again than leave you rotting in here, brother. Which is exactly why we're getting you the fuck out."

Conor's laugh forced a begrudging one out of Leon, even as the bell sounded for the end of visiting hour. He could deal with the fear and aggression that was ripe in all prisons, but he hated the solitude that the end of this hour brought. Even if he didn't have to return to his cell straight away, there was only loneliness facing him. He nodded at Conor as a guard came to lead him away, but turned away before he could see him reciprocate.