The Inmate Laughed When He Saw The Warden’s V*gina During S*x.

Later, He Was Found Dead

The central penitentiary stood a grim concrete hulk on the outskirts of Wils Bar, as if separating the city from the freedom beyond.

Gray walls with barbed wire overhead caught the last rays of the setting sun, refracting them through barred windows.

The state of Pennsylvania was not short on maximum security prisons, but this one had a particular reputation.

In the last 5 years, it had been the scene of four murders and two warden suicides.

The administration was careful to keep the cases quiet, but rumors still leaked to the local press.

In this concrete maze was Leotis Freeman, serving his six-year sentence.

A 29-year-old black man with broad shoulders and deep set eyes that seemed to see right through a man.

3 years ago, he’d been convicted of armed robbery of an electronic store, a fool’s errand that was supposed to bring quick money to pay off debts.

Instead, it had earned him 6 years in prison, of which he’d already served half.

Leatus knew how to adapt.

In 3 years, he had learned the unwritten rules of prison life, gained the respect of his cellmates, and even made a true friend, Jamal Rockwell.

Jamal was a prison legend, serving a life sentence for a double murder.

Tall with a perfectly shaved head and a long scar across his left eyebrow.

He controlled most of the inside trade in cigarettes and moonshine.

See that new guy? Jamal nodded at the pale boy looking around nervously in the dining room.

He’ll be someone’s doormat by tomorrow night.

Leotus shrugged, keeping his eyes on his food.

None of my business.

Good thinking, brother.

It’s every man for himself.

But you and me, we stick together.

Jamal put a heavy palm on Leotus’ shoulder.

I have new cigarettes.

You can come by tonight.

His friendship with Jamal was an odd stroke of luck.

During his first months in prison, Leotus had witnessed an attempted assault on Jamal in the shower room.

Without hesitation, he intervened, receiving a deep cut on his forearm, but helped repel the attack.

Jamal has since taken him under his wing, which has made life behind bars much easier.

That same day, as the sun set over the horizon and the dim lights came on in the hallways of the central penitentiary, Chenica Mallerie took the night shift at the prison.

The 42-year-old warden had worked here for 11 years.

Tall with an athletic build and a penetrating gaze, she skillfully balanced between strictness and humanity, allowing her to maintain control without unnecessary conflict.

7 months ago, Chenica had first found herself alone with Jamal Rockwell in the back of the laundry room as she checked the inventory log.

Their eyes had met.

A spark had flashed between them, and instead of writing a report, they’d spent 40 minutes in an eager embrace, huddled against the washing machines.

They had met regularly since then, choosing quiet corners of the prison where they could go unnoticed.

In recent weeks, Shenikica had begun to notice special attention from Leotis Freeman.

First, it had been casual glances, then brief conversations, and two weeks ago, something she had never expected had happened.

They had found themselves together in an empty storage room where passion had taken over reason.

Since then, they’d had a few more fleeting encounters, always hurried, always with an eye on their surroundings.

Jamal Rockwell was known for his pathological possessiveness.

He had pictures of ex-girlfriends hanging in his cell, and when newcomers asked about them, he always answered the same way.

Those women are mine forever.

You know what I do with the ones who are really special to me? He once asked Leatis as they sat in a corner of the prison yard.

I soared them.

Here, he pointed to his lower abdomen.

My initials

After 3 months of a relationship, that’s my time limit.

If a woman passes it, she’s mine, and she’ll always be mine, even if we break up.

And how many have you marked like that? Leotis grinned.

Three.

And they all still come for dates, even though I’ve already let two of them go.

You see, they know they belong to me.

I’m in their skin, in their blood.

And if anyone tried to take what’s mine, Jamal ran his finger slowly across his throat.

I’d find them even from here.

Leotus only shook his head then, taking it for a prison boast.

But something in Jamal’s eyes said he wasn’t kidding.

Leotus and Shenikica’s meetings usually took place in the empty technical rooms of the prison or in the laundry room when the other guards were busy with the changing of the guard.

Their dates were short, filled with adrenaline and fear of exposure.

Nervous tension and haste left no time for tenderness or detailed exploration of each other’s bodies.

But on that fateful night, things turned out differently.

Shenica was on duty in the sparsely populated sea block where one of the guards had come down with the flu and the other had agreed to cover her absence for an hour.

She led Leotus to the small staff lounge where there was a couch and a table with a desk lamp.

We have an hour today, Chenica said as she locked the door and slowly unbuttoned her uniform shirt.

No one will be interrupting.

For the first time, their meeting was not marred by a hectic rush.

They could afford not only physical intimacy, but talking, touching, studying each other.

The room was lighted enough to see every detail, every curve of their bodies.

As they lay naked, Leotus noticed the tattoo in Shenikica’s intimate area, two letters,

framed by a simple ornament.

At first, his brain didn’t associate those initials with anyone in particular, but then the conversation with Jamal came to mind.

The realization came suddenly and Leotis couldn’t hold back a nervous chuckle.

What’s so funny? Shenica looked up wary.

Nothing.

Just Leotis paused, realizing that he had almost given away his guess.

He’d never seen tattoos in places like this before.

But it was too late.

Shenica had already noticed his reaction and knew from the look in his eyes.

He recognized it.

recognized whose initials it was.

“It’s an old story.

” She tried to brush it off, pulling on her clothes.

“It’s old nonsense.

” “Of course.

” Leotis nodded, but his eyes showed he understood.

The rest of the meeting passed in tense silence.

Chenica dressed hurriedly, saying she’d heard a noise in the hallway, and they’d better finish early.

Leottis didn’t mind.

His mind was spinning with thoughts about the incredible coincidence and what to do with this information.

Back in his cell, Leotus lay awake for a long time, thinking Jamal was his friend, and learning that Shenikica was dating both of them, he would have to tell him.

But he also realized the danger of such a confession.

Jamal was not the type to forgive such things.

And in her office, Chenica sat with her arms wrapped around her head, gripped by panic.

She knew Jamal’s character better than anyone.

If Leotus told him about their connection and that he had seen the tattoo, Jamal would find a way to get to her, even from behind bars.

He had connections among the guards, short-term prisoners about to be released.

He could organize an attack on her at home, set up a car accident, or simply kill her with the hands of his handlers.

Chenica opened the safe in her office and pulled out a vial of the strong sleeping pills she occasionally took on particularly rough days.

She twirled it thoughtfully in her hands and then resolutely tucked it away in her pocket.

She remembered seeing a note in Leotis’ medical records about a severe allergic reaction to certain drugs, including the one she was holding.

A large enough dose could have caused respiratory arrest.

A plan began to form in her head.

Tomorrow, Leotis would be eating lunch in the prison canteen as usual.

She would be on duty at the same time.

A small distraction, a few drops in his food, and problem solved.

Official theory, heart attack or anaphylactic shock due to accidental contact with an allergen.

Shenica’s hand shook involuntarily.

She had never killed anyone.

But now it was about her life, her future.

There was no choice.

Taking a deep breath, Chenica closed her eyes, trying to gather her thoughts.

Tomorrow she was going to do something she had never thought she would do.

Commit murder.

Leotus Freeman’s body was discovered by warden Anthony Reeves during the morning check-in.

The cell was locked as it should be, and the prisoner was lying on his bunk as if asleep.

But something in his posture alerted the experienced guard.

As he got closer, Reeves saw the slightly blue lips and lack of breathing.

He immediately called a medical team, but it was too late.

Leotis Freeman had been dead for hours.

The news of the prisoner’s death quickly spread throughout the prison.

The administration decided to temporarily shut down all movement between the units.

The medical officer’s initial conclusion was a streamlined sudden cardiac failure.

Deaths were not uncommon in such institutions, so the procedure was automatic.

Call the police, file paperwork, transport the body to the morg.

Detective Antanda Okoy arrived at Central Penitentiary at 10:00 sharp.

A tall black woman of 37 with a short haircut and a penetrating gaze, she specialized in correctional investigations.

In her 8 years with the Wils Bar Police Department, she had solved four murders disguised as accidents in this very prison.

Was the cell locked at night? She asked the warden as she surveyed the scene.

Yes, as usual at 22:00 in the morning when Reeves came to check at 6:30, the lock was intact.

In put on latex gloves and examined the body closely.

No visible signs of struggle, abrasions, or hematomas.

His fingernails were clean with no trace of skin underneath, meaning he hadn’t scratched or struggled.

At first glance, it does look like heart failure or sudden respiratory arrest.

Who was on duty this shift? In asked, continuing her inspection of the cell.

Wardens Mallerie, Thompson, and Woodard.

Shenikica Mallalerie was in charge of this cell block.

The watch commander replied, checking the duty log.

The detective nodded, mentally noting the name.

As Inanda exited the cell, she noticed a tall prisoner watching silently from behind the bars of his cell.

His gaze was fixed on the body the orderlys were carrying out.

That’s Jamal Rockwell, one of the guards explained quietly.

He and Freeman were close.

Jamal’s face was stony, but his eyes were a mixture of pain and rage.

He didn’t take his eyes off the stretcher until it was around the corner of the corridor.

Then he sank slowly to the bunk, clenching his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

And Tand made a note in her notebook to talk to Rockwell later.

The detective spent the next few hours interviewing witnesses.

She started with the cellmates who shared a section with Leottis.

He seemed fine last night, said Clint Baron, a gay-haired man in jail for manslaughter.

Had his usual dinner.

Didn’t notice anything strange.

And you didn’t see him taking any medication or any complaints about his health? And asked.

No, nothing like that.

Leotus was a healthy guy.

No pills, no complaints.

The other prisoners hadn’t noticed anything suspicious either.

Only one, the Ellis, had mentioned that Leotis had been a bit broody the last couple of days, like something was bothering him, you know.

But he’s not one to share his problems.

After the prisoners, it was the warden’s turn.

Chenica Mallerie was calm and professional.

Tall with a straight posture.

She answered clearly and matterofactly.

I made my rounds at 23:30.

Leotus Freeman was lying on his bunk reading a book.

He showed no signs of indisposition.

At 2:00 a.

m.

, I passed by again, and the light in his cell was off.

“How would you characterize your relationship with prisoner Freeman?” And asked, watching the woman’s reaction carefully.

Shenikica held her gaze without blinking.

“Professional! He was no trouble, unlike so many others.

a calm, disciplined prisoner.

Meanwhile, Leotis Freeman’s body was taken to the city morg where

Miles Foster began the autopsy.

Natanda attended the procedure, standing a little to the side and taking notes.

At first glance, everything points to anaphylactic shock, the pathologist said, examining the internal organs.

Lung edema, lingial edema.

But there’s one oddity.

Usually such a reaction is accompanied by visible external signs, rash, swelling of the face.

Not here.

What could have caused this reaction? The detective asked.

Most often, it’s a strong allergen, food, drug, Foster pointed to the tissue samples that were being sent for toxicology.

We’ll have the results in a couple days.

Back at the prison, And requested Leotis’ medical records.

In it, she found a record of a severe allergy to several medications, including a certain type of sleeping pill.

The reactions to these substances were labeled potentially life-threatening.

“Do you have these drugs in the prison pharmacy?” she asked the prison doctor.

“Uh, sure.

They’re standard prescription sleeping pills.

It’s kept under lock and key,” he replied.

“Who has access to the pharmacy?” me, my assistant, and the nurses on duty.

Plus, the shift supervisors have keys in case of an emergency.

In another note in her notebook, Chenica Mallerie as night shift supervisor had that access.

After talking to the doctor, the detective headed to the major crimes unit where Jamal Rockwell was being held.

When he was brought into the interrogation room, Natanda was struck by the mixture of grief and restrained rage on his face.

Leotis was my brother, Jamal said, sitting across from her.

Not by blood, but by spirit.

The only man here I trusted.

When was the last time you saw him? In asked.

In the evening in the dining room.

We had dinner together.

He was normal, just maybe a little brooding.

He said he had something important to talk about, but not now.

Later.

Jamal clenched his jaw.

Now I’ll never know what he wanted to talk about.

Did he have enemies here? Someone who might have wanted him dead.

Everybody has enemies in prison, detective.

But Leotus didn’t have any major conflicts.

Jamal was quiet for a moment, then added, “He wasn’t killed by other inmates, if that’s what you mean.

The cells are locked at night.

It’s either suicide, which I categorically rule out, or he didn’t finish his sentence, but he didn’t.

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the look in his eyes spoke for him.

Or someone on the staff, and finished for him.

Do you have any suspicions? I have eyes and ears, detective, but I don’t do snitching.

Jamal leaned forward.

However, if you find the person who did this, I want to know the name.

In realized that this was not a simple request.

It was a statement of intent for revenge.

She decided to change the subject.

Did Leotus ever mention any health problems? Complained about anything? Never.

He was strong as an ox and careful with his medications.

He was allergic to some pills.

Always checked what they gave him at the nurse’s station.

After talking to Jamal, Antanda reviewed the surveillance tapes.

There was nothing remarkable on them.

A normal evening in prison.

Leotus returned to his cell after dinner.

Later, a guard came by for a few minutes to pick up his tray.

Chenikica Mallalerie appeared twice in the hallway during rounds.

No one entered Leotus’ cell after lights out.

The detective decided to talk to Chenika Mallerie again.

This time, she noticed small details.

a slight nervousness in her movements, an avoidance of direct gaze that contrasted with her earlier confident demeanor.

“Did you know Leotus Freeman well?” In asked, watching his reaction.

“No better than the other prisoners in my cell block.

As I said, he was calm, didn’t cause any problems.

Have you noticed anything unusual in his behavior lately?” Shenica paused for a moment as if searching for words.

“No, nothing in particular.

Where were you between midnight and 2:00 a.

m.

making rounds, checking other units, filling out a log in the duty room? Can anyone confirm that? Thompson came by my place around 1:00 in the morning to pick up the incident log.

In nodded, making notes.

Then she asked the question that had been on her tongue for a long time.

What is your assessment of your relationship with Jamal Rockwell? Shenica’s face flashed with a look of fear which was quickly replaced by professional indifference.

The same as with the other prisoners, strictly professional.

Interesting, Ant said, because it seemed to me that there was some tension.

When you passed his cell today, he looked at you strangely.

Jamal Rockwell is a dangerous criminal with a life sentence for double murder.

If he’s looking at weird, that’s his problem, not mine,” Shenikica replied.

But the detective noticed her fingers clenching on the file folder.

After the conversation, Antanda went to check the prison pharmacy.

Together with the doctor, they checked the availability of medicines against the log book.

Everything was in order except for one detail.

The stock of sleeping pills to which Leottis was allergic was less than it should have been according to the documents.

It wasn’t critical, just a few pills, which could be explained by the usual accounting errors, but it was still noteworthy.

Leaving the prison at the end of the day, Inanda witnessed a strange scene.

In the corridor leading to the exit, she saw Chenica Mallerie standing outside Jamal Rockwell’s cell.

They weren’t talking, just looking at each other through the bars.

There was a mute question in Jamal’s gaze and fear in Chenica’s eyes.

Then she turned away and walked briskly away.

Detective Ananda made a mental note that something was definitely going on between these two and that something could be related to the death of Leotis Freeman.

Detective Ananda Okcoy sat in her office with the case file spread out in front of her.

She methodically went through the witness statements, medical reports, and surveillance tapes.

Something was not adding up.

Leotus Freeman’s death looked like the result of natural causes, but her intuition told her there was more to it than that.

And decided to dig deeper.

She requested access to Central Penitentiary’s electronic system for the past 3 months.

This data was rarely analyzed in conjunction with the facility.

Too much information for day-to-day needs.

But now, the detective wanted to see the full picture.

Looking through the electronic badge logs, Natanda noticed a strange pattern.

Shenica Mallerie regularly used her key card to access technical rooms and isolated areas of the prison at irregular times.

These actions in themselves were not a violation.

As shift supervisor, she had the right to check any areas of the prison, but the frequency and timing of these visits raised questions.

Ant then compared this data with the prisoner movement log and again found a pattern.

Leodus Freeman was often absent from the common areas precisely during the periods when Shenikica visited the isolation areas.

His paperwork listed him as working in the laundry room or the library but in fact according to the electronic markings he was somewhere else in the prison.

Interesting.

Inanda muttered to herself as she took notes.

The coincidences were too frequent to be coincidence.

Even more suspicious was the fact that Shenikica had used her pass to enter a little used wing of the prison the day before Leotus’ death, even though she was not scheduled to be there.

That same day, the results of the toxicology report came back.

Leotis’ blood contained traces of a powerful seditive drug, the very same drug to which he had a severe allergic reaction.

The amount was several times the therapeutic dose.

“This is no longer an accident,” In told her partner, Officer Taylor Leotis Freeman had been poisoned.

“But by whom and why?” Taylor asked the logical question.

“I have my suspicions, but I need more data.

” And decided to talk to Jamal Rockwell, but this time with new information in his hands.

The prisoner was brought into the interrogation room.

“I have reason to believe that Leotus did not die a natural death,” she began, watching the man’s reaction.

“He was poisoned.

Jamal’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t look surprised.

” “I knew it from the beginning.

” “Who?” It’s just a theory for now, the detective replied evasively, deciding to probe a little.

Tell me, do you know anything about a connection between Leotus and any of the prison staff? Jamal frowned, clearly not understanding what the detective was getting at.

Leotus didn’t socialize much with the guards, stayed out of trouble.

Tell me about your relationship with Warden Mallerie.

And changed tactics.

Jamal’s face froze for a moment, but he quickly got over his emotions.

It’s a normal working relationship.

She’s fair, doesn’t nag for no reason.

That’s it.

And leaned forward slightly.

I noticed the way you looked at her after Leotus died.

It was a very personal look.

Jamal was silent for a moment, studying the detective.

Then he decided to change the subject.

You said Leotus was poisoned.

Someone on the staff perhaps.

Entanda nodded.

Someone with access to the medication.

Someone who knew about his allergies.

And you have a suspect.

It wasn’t a question.

We have electronic badge data showing unusual coincidences in the movements of one of the employees in Leotus.

A lot of coincidences.

And decided to test Jamal’s reaction.

It looks like your friend had a secret connection inside the prison.

It worked.

Jamal tensed, his eyes widening.

With who? Wouldn’t you have a clue? Jamal shook his head slowly, but you could see in his eyes that he was beginning to suspect.

Tell me about your women, Jamal.

In suddenly changed the subject.

I hear you have a a special way of marking those who belong to you.

Who did you hear that from? Jamal asked sharply.

“Is it true you mark your women with tattoos?” Jamal looked at her with a long appraising stare, deciding whether to answer.

Finally, he nodded.

“Yes, it’s my way of showing that a woman belongs to me.

Even if we break up, she will always wear my mark.

” “A tattoo with your initials,”

That’s right, Jamal confirmed.

And how many women wear your mark? Three.

All of them know what it means to be mine, he said with a proud possessiveness in his voice.

And decided she had gotten enough information and ended the interrogation.

She had a new lead to follow up on.

The next day, Detective Okcoy met with

Lorraine Embecki, a gynecologist working in the Wilks Bar prison system.

Tall with neat dreadlocks gathered into a bundle,

Becky had a reputation as a professional who was not afraid to tell the truth.

I’m investigating the death of inmate Leotis Freeman, Antanda began after the introduction.

And I need information about warden Chenica Mallerie.

I can’t violate

patient confidentiality without a warrant, the doctor immediately warned.

I have a warrant, and pulled out a document.

This is a murder investigation,

Embecki.

Chenikica Mallerie is the prime suspect.

The gynecologist scrutinized the warrant, then nodded.

What exactly are you interested in? Does Chenica Mallerie have any special markings or tattoos in her intimate areas?

Embecki raised her eyebrows in surprise, but after a pause replied, “Yes, there are a tattoo on the lower abdomen just below the underwear line.

Two letters DR in an ornamental frame.

Pretty professional work done at least 6 months ago.

” Natanda felt her pulse quicken.

It was the missing piece of the puzzle.

This information is critical to the investigation.

Thank you,

Ambecki.

Leaving the gynecologist’s office, the detective already knew what had happened.

Leotus saw Jamal’s tattoo on Sheniqua’s body, realized she was dating both of them, and Sheniqua killed him out of fear of exposure.

But the prosecution needed hard evidence.

And requested an inspection of the prison pharmacy and got the results.

The inventory showed a shortage of several tablets of the very same seditive found in Leottis’ blood.

According to the log book, Chenica Mallerie had last accessed the pharmacy, ostensibly to obtain a first aid kit.

Another important discovery was the surveillance footage.

One of them showed Chenica briefly lingering near a tray of food for Leotis before he was taken to the cell.

The quality of the footage was not perfect, but experts confirmed that she had added something to the food.

After gathering all the evidence, Ananda returned to Central Penitentiary to talk to Jamal.

He needed to know the truth.

Leotus was killed by Chenica Mallerie, she said without preamble.

As the prisoner was led into the interrogation room, she put a drug in his food that caused an allergic reaction.

“We have proof.

” Jamal sat motionless, only the jowls playing on his cheekbones.

“Why?” he asked quietly.

“Because Leotus saw your tattoo on her body,” And answered, and realized that she was dating both of you.

Jamal’s reaction was controlled, but it was no less frightening.

His eyes darkened, his face a mask of cold fury.

He slammed his fist on the table, not theatrically, but with such restrained force that Nanda recoiled involuntarily.

“Shenikica and Leotus,” he said quietly, but there was steel in his voice.

“She slept with my friend and then killed him.

” “According to our sources, yes,” Ananda confirmed.

She was afraid he would tell you about their relationship and that he had seen your mark on her body.

Jamal slowly looked up at the detective.

There was such concentrated hatred in his eyes that Nanda felt uncomfortable.

“She betrayed us both,” he said quietly.

“Lotus was my brother, the only person I trusted here.

” His hands clenched into fists, knuckles white.

“Where is she now?” Jamal asked.

And there was so much menace in that simple question that the guards instinctively put their hands on their batons.

“She’s under arrest,” Entanda answered.

“She’s been charged with first-degree murder.

” “That’s not enough,” Jamal stood up, his massive figure seeming to fill the room.

“She must pay for what she did to Leotus.

” “She will answer to the law,” And said firmly.

“The law?” Jamal grinned.

But there was no hint of mirth in his grin.

You think I care about the law? She killed my brother and she’s going to pay for it every day until I decide she’s had enough.

There was such conviction in his voice that Nanda realized it wasn’t an empty threat.

You’re behind bars, Jamal, she reminded him.

For life.

What can you do? Jamal leaned across the table, his eyes burning into the detective.

You don’t understand how real power works, detective, he said quietly.

I’m behind bars, but my hands will reach her and she knows it.

Tell her, he straightened.

That I will never forget or forgive and that every day she will wake up thinking that this could be her last day.

The guards stepped forward, ready to take the prisoner away.

But in stopped them with a gesture.

I will relay your message, she said.

But know that if anything happens to her, you will be the first suspect.

I don’t care, Jamal replied.

Justice will be served.

My justice, there was still a cold, calculating rage in Jamal’s eyes as he was led away.

And knew it was far more dangerous than explosive anger.

Jamal Rockwell was a man who didn’t make empty threats, and Chenik Mallerie had a lot to fear.

The final stage of the investigation was Sheniqua Mallerie’s final interrogation.

She was led into the police station interview room.

She looked pale and gaunt, but still held her dignity.

“Shenikica Mallerie, you are under arrest for the murder of Leotus Freeman.

” And began in an official tone.

We have all the evidence to prove your guilt.

Chenica stared at the table in silence.

We know about your relationship with Leotis.

We know about your relationship with Jamal Rockwell.

We know about the tattoo with his initials that Leotis saw.

And laid out the printouts of the electronic badge data, the toxicology results, the surveillance footage in front of Shenica.

And we know that you added the drug to Leotus’ food knowing of his allergies.

This is premeditated murder, Sheniqua.

Sheniqua looked up, her eyes a mixture of fear and despair.

Did you tell Jamal everything? She asked quietly.

Yes, he knows the truth.

Chenica turned even paler.

Her hands began to tremble.

How did he react? She asked with difficulty.

He is furious, Nanda answered honestly.

But it’s a cold fury.

He told me to tell you that he will never forget or forgive you and that every day you will wake up thinking that this could be your last day.

Shenica covered her face with her hands.

When she spoke again, her voice was quiet and lifeless.

Then I am already dead.

You don’t know Jamal the way I know him.

He never throws words to the wind and he always gets what he wants.

Tell me what happened.

And said, “Maybe it will soften your sentence.

” “Soften my sentence?” Shenica grinned bitterly.

“Jamal sentenced me the moment he knew the truth, and it will be far worse than anything the justice system can come up with.

” She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.

But you’re right.

I want you to know the truth.

I killed Leotus, and I’m going to tell you why.

I’m listening.

Jamal was the first.

We started dating about 7 months ago.

He’s uh bossy, demanding.

After 3 months, he insisted on getting a tattoo.

Said I belong to him forever now.

Chenikica spoke softly, her voice devoid of emotion.

Then Leotis came.

He was different, softer, more caring.

We started dating 2 months ago.

I knew they were friends, but I thought I could keep it a secret.

She paused, then continued.

That night, Leotus and I had a meeting in the breakroom.

Usually, we were in a hurry.

It was dark, but this time there was light.

There was time.

He saw the tattoo and immediately knew what it meant.

Jamal had apparently told him about his habit of marking women.

Leotus didn’t say anything, but I could see in his eyes that he understood, and I panicked and decided to kill him.

“Yes,” Shenikica replied simply.

I knew that if Jamal found out, he wouldn’t just destroy my career.

He would destroy my whole life.

He has connections everywhere.

He’d get me.

Even if I got fired and moved to another state.

So, you took the sedative from the pharmacy knowing that Leottis was allergic to it.

Yeah, I’d seen it in his medical records before.

I added it to his dinner when I took the tray to him.

He died quietly in his sleep.

I didn’t want him to suffer.

Shenica shook her head.

And now Jamal knows anyway.

And he’ll never stop until he gets his revenge.

So I killed a man for nothing and condemned myself to a life of fear, even behind bars.

You took a man’s life, Chenica, and Tand said stiffly.

A man Jamal considered a brother.

All for fear of exposing a secret that had come out.

Anyway, “I know, Chenica whispered.

And I deserve everything that’s coming.

I admit my guilt.

I killed Leotus Freeman.

Antanda closed the notebook.

The case was solved.

Everything fell into place.

The relationship triangle, the fatal tattoo, the fear of exposure, and finally the murder.

“Shenica Mallerie, you are charged with firstdegree murder,” the detective said formally.

“You have the right to remain silent.

” As Chenica was led away from the interrogation room, there was a look of doom on her face.

She knew that Jamal would never forgive her friend’s betrayal and death, and that sooner or later, he would find a way to take revenge.

As she left the police station, Ananda Okcoy reflected on how jealousy, lies, and fear had woven themselves into a deadly knot that had taken one life and destroyed two others.

Jamal’s cold rage, Shenikica’s doom, and in between Leotus Freeman, whose only fault was that he was with the wrong woman at the wrong time.

In her report, Inand wrote a simple and clear motive.

The murder was committed out of fear of exposure of the victim’s relationship with the suspect and subsequent retaliation by another inmate with whom the suspect also had an intimate relationship.

Justice had been served, but the detective knew the real tragedy was just beginning.

Because Jamal Rockwell’s vengeance was as inevitable as the sunrise, and no prison walls could stop it.