“You new?”
The woman looked confused.
“I’m sorry?”
Mack leaned closer.
“I said, are you new?”
The old woman nodded.
“Yes.”
“What’d they give you?”
The woman tightened her grip on her bag.
“Nothing.”
Mack smiled.
“Everybody gets something.”
“I only have my personal things.”
“Then give us your personal things.”
The old woman’s eyes moved toward the guards.
None of them were looking.
She shook her head.
“Please. These are all I have.”
Mack’s smile disappeared.
“You didn’t understand me.”
“I did.”
“Then you understood the question.”
“I can’t give you these.”
The yard became quieter.
I could feel people watching without turning their heads.
Mack reached for the bag.
The old woman held on.
For a second, neither moved.
Then Mack yanked it away.
The contents spilled across the concrete.
The photographs landed face-up.
The old woman gasped and dropped to her knees.
“Please.”
Dina laughed.
“Look at her.”
Coleen picked up the metal box.
“What’s in this?”
“Please give that back.”
That was the first time I saw something change in the old woman’s face.
It wasn’t fear anymore.
It was desperation.
Coleen tossed the box to Mack.
Mack shook it.
Something inside rattled.
“Oh, now I’m interested.”
