Georgie shut the door behind them, “Take a seat, Jas.” He locked it with a thud and stood stoic in front of it with his legs planted shoulder width apart and his arms crossed in front of him.
Jasper moved to a seat in front of the desk and smiled at the man that sat behind it, “Evening, Warden Cooper.”
Warden Cooper was a big man. He was not overweight so much as he was just a big man. His body was stuffed into a leather chair too small for him. His dark skin shined with a hint of perspiration but his clothing fit him perfectly. Overall, he was put together quite well. A sharp dresser, and combined with his height and size, surely he must have spent a fortune on his wardrobe.
The warden stroked his dark mustache and stared suspiciously at Jasper. After a few heartbeats of silence, he said, “Ready to die, Jasper?” His tone was casual. It was as if he asked Jasper if he’d like a cup of coffee. Georgie stood there stone faced, just listening.
Jasper let a wide grin cross his handsome lips. He shifted in his seat a bit, “Now, now warden. We know you’ll miss me when I’m gone. I’m your best inmate. I’m quiet. I don’t throw loud parties and I haven’t shanked anyone since I got here.”
The warden nodded in approval, “That’s true. You’ve been a pillar of the criminal community, but let’s cut to the chase. Your time with us is short.”
Jasper nodded and spread his hands, “It’s your show, warden. What can I do for you while I’m still residing on your death row?”
The warden looked up at Georgie as if he was looking for one final sign that Jasper can be trusted. Georgie gave him what he needed, a simple nod. With a set stare, the warden looked into Jasper’s eyes, “Jasper, your friend here seems to think that since you’ve already got a death sentence, you might be willing to take a few down with you. Is that true?”
Georgie went to speak for Jasper but the warden held up his hand and asked again, “Is that true, Jasper?”
Jasper thought long and hard. The air was still, hanging heavy between the two men. Georgie and Jasper had spoken of this moment in more detail as they headed to the warden’s office but now was the time for Jasper to really make the final decision – the decision as to whether or not he was indeed ready to die. The warden couldn’t offer Jasper freedom of any kind, just revenge and the opportunity to go out in a blaze of glory. Although, the thought of Michelle Lawrence, Georgie’s girl in the eighth grade came to mind, and how Georgie’s plans always panned out.
“It’s true. I’d like the opportunity to take Whitey Smith down with me, warden. I understand he’s given you some shit.” Jasper said, nodding. As soon as Jasper said it was true, the thought of Lauren raced through his mind. He watched the warden’s head slowly nod as a sly grin twisted his full brown lips, but the sound in the room was off. Jasper was thinking of Lauren and how pretty she smelled. He was envisioning her pretty eyes when she blinked, it was the softness of her lashes touching the tops of her cheeks that his mind focused on. He wondered, in that moment, if he would ever have the chance to touch her before he set out to destroy Whitey.
The warden’s lips were moving now and Jasper was nodding. The words were no longer important. Regardless of the plan, the end result was imminent so rather than focus on the large man that sat before him, regardless of his dashing big & tall men’s suit, Jasper focused on his thoughts of Lauren. He’d make it part of the deal. That’s what he would do – he’d make it so he was able to touch her, feel her lips against his, smell her hair and feel her body against his at least once before their plan went into action.
“Warden, one thing … I want to see my lawyer, Lauren Holden.” Jasper had interrupted the man causing him to stare at him confused.
“You going to tell her what the plan is?” The warden looked over at Georgie, “What the fuck? You setting me up?”
Georgie pushed himself off the wall and headed toward Jasper, “Jas, you can’t see anyone. You need to just get the job done. What the fuck are you doing?”
Jasper held his hands up and out, “Gentlemen, this is going to be my last hurrah. I don’t want to see my attorney to talk shop. I just want to thank her for what she tried to do. You can listen in or watch for all I care but I’d like to have a semi-private moment with her before all this shit goes down.”
Georgie figured it out, “Oh I get it. This isn’t about legal action. It’s about the boom.”
The warden looked up, “What are you talking about? The boom?”
Georgie licked his lips and nodded, “Oh yeah, the boom.”
Jasper rolled his eyes up and shook his head, “Guys, this is serious.”
The warden and Georgie were now chanting, “Here comes The Boom! The Boom! The Boom! Here comes The Boom!” In a moment of insanity, they both started gyrating their hips.
Jasper sat, his fingers curled around his chin waiting for them to get it out of their system. He was unimpressed, “You fuck your wife like that? You bet your ass you better keep her away from Whitey.”
The warden’s hands were around his neck in an instant! “Boy, you already dead. Don’t make me end it all so soon.” Warden Cooper was snarling against Jasper’s face as he choked and turned purple. The warden had a grip on him and now he had Jasper’s body up off the floor, his feet kicking and dangling.
“WARDEN!” Georgie yelled to get his attention and snap the warden back to reality. The warden quickly dropped Jasper who crumbled to the floor gasping for breath. The warden paced back and forth trying to calm down. “I want Whitey Smith dead. Set up his conjugal now and get it over with. As soon as his balls are drained, roll out the plan. Now get the fuck out of my office, dead man.”