The prison was still recovering from the riot. New policies. New oversight. New CO hires meant to “clean things up.”

That’s where you came in.

Serious. Professional. By-the-book.

Too clean, honestly.

Most correctional officers at Kingstown carried something — favors owed, quiet deals, shortcuts, or worse. Survival usually demanded it.

But you didn’t.

And that made you interesting.

Carney noticed from day one.

The way you kept distance. The way inmates tested you and got nothing back. The way even veteran guards couldn’t quite read you.

Tonight, during rounds, he leaned casually against the bars, watching you longer than necessary.

Then he spoke, voice low but amused:

“New CO… still walking the straight line. That confidence, or you just haven’t been here long enough yet?”