Chapter 31.........Written by Michelle Murray (michellem2@hotmail.com


WENTWORTH: Another day dawned as usual for the inmates and officers of 
Wentworth Detention Centre. The sun shone brightly this morning, casting 
its warm glow on the outside. Myra Desmond's mood though, was less than 
sunny with the deaths of her children. News filtered through on the 
prison grapevine that Heather was improving and Dennis Cruicshank was on 
duty after a few days rest. Heather was still in hospital however. 
Marlene lay in bed this morning puzzled as to why she was feeling 
sickly. She even looked sick; with pale face and sweat breaking out all 
over her face. Other people came down with this lurgy too; Bobbie, 
Alannah and a few others. They all had the same thing the night before - 
coffee. Edna Pearson smiled as she passed Marlene's cell on the way to 
the showers. Her smile was not warm. The previous night, she had managed 
to slip a fungus like substance into each coffe owners jar, thus 
contaminating the coffee. It wouldn't kill them, this time. Behind Edna, 
Rabbitt straggled down the corridor toward the showers.

BLACKMOOR: Meanwhile at Blackmoor there was drama of a different kind. 
Reb had been there one week now and still stood proud much like her  
idol, a certain James Dean. There had been bashings coming from every 
conceivable source, from the screws and from Roo. As they sat in the 
large dim, dining area, Reb sat with Brumby, Spike and Worm Mulligan; 
Jenna was noticably absent. Brumby was fast losing patience with Reb.
"So?" Brumby goaded "when are you gonna put the wind up Roo, next week 
or next century?!"
Reb grabbed the other by the collar of her denim jacket "We strike when 
I say we do! Got it!"
"We have to be very careful, Brum", warned Spike "Craven's not in a good 
mood at all. God knows what he'll do if he suspects something" The 
dining room was patrolled by five officers and they more than often 
assisted an inmate in eating their meal; namely by holding the inmates 
head in a vice-like grip while the other screw poured the foodstuff down 
his/her throat.
"Where the hell is Jenna!?" Reb muttered, half thankful she wasn't here 
to witness the 'assistance' given to one unfortunate female by a bald, 
goatee bearded screw with the physique of a wrestler.

Jenna Sorrel did not attend breakfast that morning, nor would she attend 
lunch. She had squirreled away dry biscuits and cheese spread and now 
snacked on them in her cell. She thought about Reb and longed, for than 
anything to get out of this God-forsaken place. As far as she knew, 
Officer Walters hadn't come on duty as yet and wouldn't be on until late 
this afternoon. She realised she couldn't back out of Reb's plan now 
even if she had wished to. There was no way she could put her face 
outside without encountering other officers, which by now, had dropped 
all pretence of friendliness-except Walters of course. With him, she 
felt safe, but she told herself she must not allow herself to become too 
close to him-nor he to her. The bell signalling the end of breakfast 
rang. Jenna discarded the empty container from which her small breakfast 
came and dashed out of her cell to search for Reb and her friends.

WENTWORTH: News of the mass poisoning reached Ann's office by 9:00am 
that morning and Ann was worried. Most of the women came down with 
gastro-enteric symptoms and some seemed to be almost recovered. In the 
laundry Judy, Myra, Alannah, Marlene and a few others were still able to 
work in peace; since Joan Ferguson was rostered off today. Myra, herself 
felt fine. The others were frightened, that it could happen again.
"OK, it looks like a few of you were poisoned, and I've got a few ideas 
on who it may have been", Myra spoke. Alannah Thomas stood at the 
folding table,a hand still holding her stomach.
"When I get her, she won't be poisoning anybody anymore!"
"Let me handle it, Alannah!" warned Myra. She turned to Judy "mind the 
press, Jude, going to the toot"
"OK, Myra" replied Judy. Taking advantage of Joan's absence Myra strode 
purposefully down the corridor until she came to Edna Pearson's cell. 
Edna was nowhere to be seen, but Bev Baker was.
"Looking for someone, Myra?", Bev smiled. Myra's frown deepened at the 
sight of this monster and she regarded Bev with distate.
"If I'm looking for you, Baker, I'll let you know. As it happens, I'm 
looking for Edna"
Baker was all innonence "I haven't seen Edna. Isn't she in the kitchen?" 
She broke into loud guffaws at Myra's horrified expression. Myra decided 
she would have to wait this out, but not for long.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE: It was not yet lunch and for Ann the day seemed an 
eternity, despite it being Joan-less. She was glad of Meg's support, and 
equally glad that Dennis had recovered. Heather continued to improve as 
well and was expected back in the next few days. The immediate problem 
at hand was this morning's incident of mass sickness.
"Are you going to ask Myra's help?" asked Meg gratefully accepting a cup 
of tea.
"Yes, but I don't know what she'll say.", Ann sighed heavily "You know, 
I was hoping for a peaceful day, even without Joan. Now we've got a 
poisoner on our hands"
"Whatever Myra's planning, she'd better do it fast before someone dies!" 
mused Meg grimly. Ann gravely agreed.

Meanwhile Alannah had another problem concerning the country she had 
escaped not so long ago. She happened to be reading a newspaper and she 
spotted an article concerning a peodophile ring consisting of very 
powerful men apparently targeting a school for young ladies. This 
brought back very unpleasant memories. It is the rec period in 
Wentworth. Alannah is so engrossed in the article she doesn't notice 
Edna slip out of the room. Edna slinks down the corridor to Alannah's 
dorm and enters. She pokes around unil she finds a jar of coffee (quite 
a lot of Wentworth inmates drank coffee), and taking a small spoon from 
her overall dress proceeds to sprinkle a fungi like substance into 
Alannah's jar. When Edna has completed her devious task she smiles and 
scurries out.

BLACKMOOR: The day went slowly for most of the inmates - very slowly. 
They had been at work for short periods and this had occupied Reb's 
mind; and she was glad of it. Now the female inmates had their outdoor 
rec period. Most wandered around listlessly. Reb, however, chose this 
time to study the postions of various officers who watched them from the 
top of the buildings. She memorised the distance of about ten to twelve 
feet; and disconcertingly they carried weapons. Jenna had been given her 
assignment: Terry Walters. It was now that Jenna attempted to seek him 
out and itiniate things, subtly of course. As she wondered the 
corridors, acutely aware that this area was aout of bounds during 
outside rec, Governor Ernest Craven was prowling the corridors as well, 
like some malignant ghost. Jenna swirved around searching for some 
concealment. Seeing none, she quickly faked unconsciousness amazed she 
could be even doing this. She positioned herself against a dormitory 
door, sitting upright, chin slightly lowered, head tilted to the side 
with arms straight down her sides and she closed her eyes.
"This is ridiclous!", she muttered hearing the Governor's footsteps 
coming closer, then miraculously fading as he turned toward the opposite 
corridor. Eyes opened she paused for a moment, deciding it was safe to 
move along. Fortunately she encountered Walters a few moments later who 
had returned from escorting a male prisoner to his section. She was 
amused to see that he was startled by her prescence; he was pleased as 
well.
"What are you doing here!?", he asked gruffly "You know this is a 
restricted area!"
"I just wanted to thank you for your kindness the other day. I didn't 
get the chance..." Jenna trailed off. An awkward silence developed 
between them.
"You'd better get outside. If Mr. Craven sees you..."
"I know. Be seeing you around, Mr.Walters", she replied brightly, though 
both knew what that implied. Quickly she walked away from him, ready to 
report to Reb that Phase 1 was successful.

WENTWORTH: Lou Kelly was her usual belligerent self, she was also scared 
but she wasn't going to let on to the others. Now she stood at Myra's 
table demanding something be done.
"As it so happens, Kelly, I am watching Edna very closely"
"You think it's Edna!?", piped up Rabbitt incredulous that such a 
seemingly harmless woman would do something so terrible. Myra arched her 
eye-brows, her steely glare scanning those she sat with and turning to 
face Lou.
"She is a suspect, but then again, it could be anyone!"
"Don't bloody look at me!", snarled Lou stomping off to sit with Fran 
and Alice at the table across the room. They had their own plans.

The trio of troublemakers hunkered down and spoke in low tones.
"Tonight", hissed Lou "We do Pearson over"
"Yeah!", echoed Alice Jenkins "she won't get away with poisonin' us!"
"You haven't been poisoned you bloody great lump of lard!" insulted Lou. 
Alice wondered at times why she stayed by Lou's side. Edna Pearson 
entered relatively late. Her movement closely watched by three pairs of 
eyes.

HOSPITAL Later that evening: Heather slowly came to, gradually realising 
where she was. Her memory came back. Induction at Wentworth, then the 
horrid attack by Burke; and Dennis...Where was Dennis? If it was anybody 
she needed right now it was him. A nurse stood at the head of the bed 
adjusting the IV drip.
"Dennis", groaned Heather faintly. The nurse turned in Heather's 
direction. She leant over the patient and put a hand on her shoulder.
"How are you feeling?"
Heather groaned again, something the nurse couldn't make out. She 
reached for a spyhgmomanometer and a sthethoscope and monitored 
Heather's blood pressure, of course followed by pulse and temperature.
"Your mother's been here", the nurse was young and softly spoken "she's 
gone now though, but she'll be back in the morning" Officer Pat Slattery 
returned to the room from a toilet break, pleased to see Heather awake. 
Heather acknowledged the nurses statement with a slight nod.
"The Doctor will be in to see you tomorrow morning", the nurse informed 
Heather and quietly left the room where Pat continued to comfort 
Heather.

BLACKMOOR: Reb Kean was bashed a second time. She stood in the rec room, 
absent-mindedly browsing through the few books on a wooden shelf when 
Roo and her cronies strode in. Behind Roo's gang, two officers followed. 
Ian Hardy, a tall officer, fortyish with black hair; and Michael Bagley, 
a bald goatee-bearded man, about medium height and built like a WWF 
wrestler. The same officer who 'assisted' an inmate in the dining room 
earlier that day. Reb tensed ready to face them, and managed to throw in 
two punches; one at each of the two women that approached her. The two 
were thrust back by the impact and landed on the floor. Roo came at Reb 
with a broom; Reb ducked as the handle whizzed above her head. Soon 
replacing the female assailants came Bagley and Hardy, charging with 
batons held aloft. Someone came behind Reb and roughly shoved her into 
the two Officers, or more precisely, their batons. Another prisoner, 
Worm Mulligan stealthily crept to the rec room door during the melee to 
find Brumby or Spike.

Reb's beating continued in solitary for another thirty minutes which was 
absolute torture. She was left unconscious with a swollen face and 
bloody nose. Reb would remain that way for two minutes longer; very 
lucky not to have sustained any serious injury, other than concussion.

WENTWORTH Alannah's Dorm: Alannah looked forward to her nightly coffee 
that prepped her up. She realised that Ferguson would return tomorrow 
and was determined to compensate for the time being. Switching on her 
radio, she turned the volume up to a reasonable level after an OK from 
her cell-mate Judy.
"You want a cup, Jude?", asked Alannah busily filling up her kettle to 
boil some water.
"No thanks, love", replied the large American. After all these 
poisonings, Judy was loathe to eat or drink anything other than the 
meals Wentworth provided. Judy approached Alannah's side of the room, 
paying particular attention to the contents of her coffee jar. Picking 
up the jar, Judy gave it a cursory glance.
"Uh, Alannah...", she put a hand on Alannah's arm to attract her 
attention.
"What's the problem?", Alannah was alarmed. Judy pointed to a greenish 
discolouration among the coffee grandules in the jar. "Oh, I see what 
you mean"
"The poisoner strkes again!", Judy said grimacing. Pointing to the 
contaminated jar Judy spoke again "What say we show that to Myra in the 
morning?"
Alannah was stupefied "but who is doing this, Judy?"
"Myra's looking into it, but she suspects Edna"
"Edna???!" Alannah was dumbstruck at this revelation. From what she 
knew, and saw of Edna, Edna appeared to be a quiet reserved sort of 
woman and she seemed so..gentle. Still, appearances were very deceptive. 
If Judy hadn't told Alannah this, Alannah would have suspected Joan 
Ferguson of the misdeed.

BLACKMOOR: An uneasy quiet fell over the inmates on this warm November 
night. Jenna was dozing when she heard the sound of a key turning the 
lock of her single dorm. Expectantly she sat up and waited for the 
Officer to reveal his or herself. Word had got to her about Reb's 
thrashing and she realised Craven and his Officers meant to break her 
anyway they could. There was a chance that Craven could even order Reb's 
death and then everyone would be back to square one. It also was 
possible that Roo, Craven and company could also target Reb's friends; 
and they included Jenna herself. Terry Walters entered the cell  seconds 
later. After closing the door he approached her bed, perched himself 
close to her. Without a word he reached out and stroked her face with 
one hand; with his left arm, Walters pulled her close.
"They won't lock you in, will they?", Jenna asked him, glancing 
worriedly at the closed door.
"No", he answered running his lips over her face and eyes; his right 
hand running through her hair. Jenna gasped at the prickly sensation his 
moustache caused then relaxed. His kisses were ardent, but gentle; for 
this Jenna was thankful. Her experience with her husband had been 
nothing like this. She found herself responding to his gentleness rather 
than his passion; as she inclined her head, her lips sought his.
"You'd better not get too involved with me. I'm cursed", she whispered 
half joking.
"Rubbish!", he retorted, apparently not getting Jenna's joke. She tried 
to warn him, in a very light manner of course, that if Reb's plan 
succeeded things could get ugly for all. She wondered if Walters would 
be so tender with her if he ever discovered she was part of Reb's plot.
"You've just been given a raw deal, that's all", he spoke again. The 
Officer disengaged himself after a few moments and stood up "Listen, 
I've got to go now. Governor Craven's expecting me"
"Governor Craven?", Jenna's tone held fear "I thought he would have left 
by now!"
"He's got some loose ends to tie up", answered Walters becoming brisque 
"I have to go now. Goodnight, Jenna!"
"Goodnight, Mr. Walters", she replied as he turned his back to her, went 
out and locked the door leaving her feeling the lonliest she'd ever 
been. Tears slid down Jenna's face as she lie back down and pulled the 
blanket around her.

The 'loose end' Walters referred to was Reb Kean. Ernest Craven was in 
the solitary cell, referred to by the inmates as "The Pit" accompnaied 
by Walters and three other Officers. Ian Hardy, Neil Luxmoore, a tall 
man in his late 20's with black hair, lean face with thin mouth and 
glittering dark eyes, who always carried a side-arm as well as a baton; 
and of course, the resident WWF, Michael Bagley. Reb was held in Hardy's 
and Luxmoore's grip as she faced Craven who had his own fun. There was 
another sinister element. Reb had been raped by Hardy and Bagley which 
explained her half dressed state. Craven had arrived shortly after. Reb 
twisted and struggled in their grip. She was pleasantly surprised when 
Luxmoore lost his grip and she promptly elbowed him in the stomach.
"That's you taken care of, Green Lantern!" Reb turned to deliver a kick 
to the prone figure. She immediately froze in stasis as a gun was 
pointed directly at her, despite the gloom. Then all four officers 
re-commenced their attack with far more viciousness than before.

Next Morning: All the Blackmoor Prisoners were assembled in the 
quadrangle. Officers were stationed around them, both on the roof and 
against the quad walls in a skirmish line. The women stood in lines; arm 
lengths apart while Ernest Craven spoke.
"Last night we taught one of you a lesson that she'll never forget. That 
is - if she lives to remember the lesson!", the womens lines were 
roughly put out of order by two officers dragging a comatose Reb toward 
the front of the quad where she was dumped on the ground, as if she was 
a carcass of meat. Craven pointed to the semi-naked form "that is how 
you'll end up if you try anything smart! So, don't try to grow a brain!" 
Half the women could not conceal their horror at the site; but Jenna 
tried valiantly. Her eyes remained glued to Reb, who a few days ago 
seemed so strong and dependable. Now, she looked like a broken doll, a 
poor parody of a female James Dean; only clothed in a jacket and 
shirt....

He used to give me roses.

Well that's Episode 31. Hope you like it. I know Reb's fans will.

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