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"It’s not athehiht Wirral is a maximum security prison"
"It is You’ve seen the fortifications However we house the worst offenders froly creative and intelligent It doesn’t happen very often, but in Wirral’s long history, there have been a few escapes and riots and warden assassinations"
Icy dread climbed up my throat "Even from the SMU?" Tricky had escaped from Ixia--an almost impossible task Would this prison be easier?
My obvious unease caused Finn to rush to assuretoward a trio sitting at a far table
They kept a distance froe-sized s of safety in me Plus I had learned words like impossible and escape-proof never worked So
"They’re the best of the best," he said "When we finish our training, we’re all locked inside the prison for thirty days Those of us who escape or iven another year of training and assigned to the SMU"
Impressive "Thirty days inside must have been--"
"Not fun And since I transferred in, I still had to do thirty days in Wirral despite ed And with ned to the SMU" He relaxed back in his seat "So don’t worry No one’s escaping on my watch"
Finn asked me a few questions about my life and from them I learned he knew I had been involved with Councilor Moon’s rescue, but not all the details Good
As we talked, I kept an eye on the other SMU officers, trying toour conversation, ht inquisitive touch I scanned the crowd, but, besides the two drunken soldiers glaring at me, no one paid ic, buteye contact with them was a mistake They approached us
Finn stiffened and said, "Don’t say a word"
Anger radiated frolazed their eyes And they kept their hands on the hilts of their swords They were a e of each other, except the bruiser on the left had braided his hair into rows along his scalp and his coht to his shoulders
"Hey, LT, do you knoho you’re cozying with?" Braids asked Finn in a loud voice "That’s the Councilor’s new assistant"
"Why ’ja bring the bitch here?" Lank asked, slurring his words
Finn placed his hand on aze never left the men
"She fired my cousin, LT," Braids said
The tavern quieted