Dirty Break (18+)

In Which Inroads are Made

Lydia wondered if she'd ever feel as professional as she did at that very moment; power suit and makeup immaculate, MacBook under her arm and coffee in her hand. The condescending looks from the guard at the front desk convinced her that she probably would.

"I do have a meeting with the warden at 8.30." She reminded the sour-faced man, glancing at her watch again. She hated to make a bad first impression, and being late wasn't going to help with that.

"I heard you the first time, Miss. Unfortunately for you, I still have to follow prison protocol - that's what keeps the criminals inside where they belong."

Lydia almost made a comment about the man's job not being that integral to the prison as a whole, but she already felt they had got off on the wrong foot. Instead, she pasted a smile on her face and checked her phone for what felt like the millionth time.

"You know you can't take those in with you, right?"

She turned to the new voice, happier to see a more friendly face than she was to hear that she wouldn't be able to take her laptop in with her. The information packet she had been given previously had mentioned something along the lines - but she was fairly certain that TV shows in prisons were few and far between so she had chosen to interpret the rules as she wanted.

"Not even if the warden grants permission? I'm here to plan a TV show we're going to filming here and I don't want to miss out on any ideas."

"Warden Roberts, at your service. And no, not even I can grant you permission to bring forbidden items into the prison."

Lydia hurriedly put down the coffee she had been nursing and stuck her hand out to be shaken.

"Nice to meet you, Warden Roberts. I'm sorry we missed you at the preliminary shoot."

The man smiled a charming smile at her, and put her instantly at ease - for which she was immensely grateful.

"Duty called, as usual. I can assure you it's a shame on both sides of the equation, Miss Granger. Now, if you'll hand your electronic devices to Luscheck here, he'll keep them safe for you."

Lydia complied, although not with anything that could be called good grace. She drank the last of her coffee as well before binning the cup, sure she was not going to be allowed to take the much needed caffeine in with her. When she finally stood empty handed in front of the service window, Roberts smiled at her.

"Nearly there. I'm sure you understand that we place the utmost importance on security here. Now, if you'll just step forward through the metal detector."

He ushered her forward and waited for her to step through without making a beep. He seemed mild mannered at first, but she was sure there was a core of steel running all the way through him.

"And last but not least, a quick search by my colleague Penny, here."

Before she could so much as raise an eyebrow, Lydia's arms were being lifted until she resembled a diminutive Angel of the North after which she was subjected to a thorough pat down by a lovely looking blonde she might not have minded touching her had there been dinner involved first. Penny gave a nod as she stepped back into the guard's office, leaving Lydia wondering quite what had just happened.

"There you go, see - altogether painless. If you'd like to follow me."

Having decided that she should put aside any pre-conceptions she had had, Lydia was still unsurprised to be led through sickly coloured corridors that spoke of institutionalisation. She was more shocked that they reached their destination without so much of the whisper of an inmate. Ushered in, she took a seat when urged. Roberts took the seat behind his desk and regarded her seriously.