Cole

Part 6: Intervention

Thursday, 7 am; Carter was still asleep, and Cole was already starting the day. He had slightly slacked off on his training but felt it was necessary. Carter's trial was less than a few weeks away. He was originally sentenced to thirty years for attempting to murder his father based on physical evidence and eyewitness statements, including the alleged victim, that being Jason Wilmington, Carter's father. However, Carter's attorney was able to help secure a new trial for the young inmate in an effort to at least have the attempted murder charges dropped. This case was also very personal for Cole himself; he knew what it was like to be raised in an abusive household by a man whom he had the indecency to address as “father”.

For the most part, Cole's search for help for Carter through the internet was one dead end after another. He sent emails to numerous organizations who assist innocent convicted felons with parole but has yet to receive any response. While navigating through the “Innocence Project” web page, he was oblivious to the arrival of his cellmate, Carter, who had just woken up from his sleep.

Carter: So... is this what you've been doing all those times you haven't been training?

Cole: Shouldn't sneak up on me.

Carter: Innocence Project... for you?

Cole: It's for you.

Carter: For me?

Cole: Too many people are incarcerated for the wrong reasons... and you certainly fall under that category.

Carter: Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it's unnecessary.

Cole: Is a plea agreement on the table?

Carter: No. No, there isn't... or at least, not that I'm aware of.

Cole: Carter, you can't let your dad get away with this.

Carter: What the fuck am I supposed to do? Other than my lawyer, I've got no one on else my side on this. My dad had turned my mother against me, the judge and jury are feeling sorry for that asshole, and the DA's got too much on me. There's nothing I can do but hope for a much lighter sentence.

Cole: But you could still be here for a good while.

Carter: Look, this is really none of your--

Officer Mason: Excuse me, ladies.

Cole: Shit. What now?

Officer Mason: Good morning to you too, sunshine. You have some visitors.

Cole: Who?

Carter: Come to Area A and find out.

Cole: **to Carter** We'll talk later.

Carter: Whatever.

In the past, any visitor who had come to see Cole would speak to him through a phone booth. This time, however, Cole was permitted to be close to his visitors without any transparent barriers between the visitor(s) and himself. Upon arriving in Area A, he entered one of the lounge areas where his visitors were waiting. Looking through the glass, he was surprised to see two smartly dressed females with business attire; it was like seeing two politicians. When both individuals had turned to each other, giving Cole a better view of their faces, it was then that Cole's face lit up with a smile as he turned the knob leading into the room. Jessica Taylor, and Alexia Taylor... Cole's older sisters. Cole had not seen them since his sentencing hearing; over a year. Once his sisters got a good look at their kid brother, the three were immediately engaged in one long group hug.

Jessica: You fucking meathead! Look at you!

Cole: **flexing with left arm** What can I say? Prison is known for guys like me to shape up some more.

Alexia: Lookin good, bro!

Jessica: Shit, maybe I should get a job here...

Cole: Okay, I'm happy to see you but--

Jessica: Okay, okay, I'm not gonna gross you out. But how have you been? How you've been holding up?

Cole: Not too bad.

Alexia: I'm sorry we haven't been visiting or been in contact. But we have the greatest news that we had to tell you in person.

Jessica: In fact, a lot has changed for the past year.

Cole: How?

Jessica: Well, with all the shit that's been happening with George, we finally got a major win over that piece of shit.

Alexia: You know the judge who decided to drop the domestic violence case and ordered Mom to pay spousal support? Well, Jessica was able to prove a conflict of interest as George and Judge Walters have been acquaintances for a long time...

Jessica: We've shown this to the court of appeals, got a new trial, and Mom's won her case.

Cole: Wha-- that's-- that's fucking amazing!

Jessica: Yep, and that means that “dad” now has to pay mom back the spousal support and then some.

Alexia: Hundreds of thousands to be exact.

Cole: I... I gotta sit down. How in god's name did you do this?

Jessica: The benefits of the best teachers for Law School. Your big sisters make one hell of a legal team now. Especially when partnering with Tambers, and Knox.

Cole:.... who?

Jessica: My partners **hands out business card** Tambers, Knox, and Taylor LLP. Our new law firm.

Alexia: That's why we've been out of contact. We've been spending every waking day trying to get the business going. Get shit done and fast.

Cole: **to Alexia** And your working with them?

Alexia: Yep. Private Investigator. We pooled every resource we could to expose George.

Jessica: And it's just the beginning. He's being investigated for bribery.

Cole: FUCK YES! I knew that son of a bitch would get his one day.

Jessica: **sigh** God, bro.... I wish you listened to us...

Cole: I know. You don't have to tell me. I fucked up.

Alexia: Well, we're still thinking of ways to get you early parole. For now, as long as you're on good terms with prison officials, it's a sure step for early release.

Jessica: And I'm definitely gonna make sure you get the best representation whenever a parole hearing is scheduled.

Cole: I'm grateful, but... before you help me, there's someone else that I think you should help first.

Jessica: Who?

Cole proceeded to ask his sisters to help out with Carter's case. After thoroughly explaining the matters, Cole's sisters seemed hesitant to get involved.

Jessica: Okay, I don't know about this.

Cole: You were able to dig up some dirt on George, I'm sure you can do the same with Carter's father.

Jessica: Well, this Carter's best chance is his mother changing her testimony; if she did lie for her husband under oath. Maybe... if she was offered protection in exchange for her, uh... “real” testimony.

Alexia: Cole, why are you so invested in this anyway?

Cole: George O'Conner and Jason Wilmington... it's safe to compare them both.

Alexia: I see.

Cole: Besides, Carter's only eighteen. This whole mess is one lousy start to adulthood. I should know.

Jessica: We'll see what we can do. In the meantime, you take care. We'll be back soon.

After exchanging goodbyes, Cole watched as his sisters departed from the facility. He felt greater sense of hope and empowerment from witnessing how successful they have become in such a short amount of time. As he made his way back to his cell, Cole contemplated whether or not he should tell Carter about this new development, as the latter lacked the enthusiasm to be released from prison.

Cole journeyed back to his cell with the intent of training for the remainder of the day. Given his earlier disagreements with Carter, he thought it would be awkward to ask him to train with him, and thus decided to do so on his own. When arriving back to his cell, he prepared to jog in the public areas of the prison. Preparing to switch out of his overalls, he could hear certain sounds coming from his workout area. Moans and panting could be vaguely heard, and Cole peeked outside through the vertical window portion of the door to investigate.

Astonished, Cole saw Carter on his knees, holding on tightly to the exposed buttocks of another inmate who was on all fours; the former with continuous hard thrusts, coupled with the sounds of pain, pleasure, and heavy breathing. Indeed, Carter was having sex with another inmate. Cole saw that Carter's “consummation” was with Daniel Morris... one of the new competitors for the Goldstone Games and the most recent opponent that Cole defeated. Cole was surprised to see this unfold and opted to leave the cell until the two were finished. After turning around and taking only a few steps away from the door leading to the outside workout space, Cole hesitated. He turned back around, allowing curiosity to play a role. He leaned on the outside door and witnessed Carter taking a moment to remove his prison overalls, becoming fully naked save for his tennis shoes.

The thrusting resumed as Carter, who seemed to have gone from the scar-faced menace to scar-faced lover, pumped into Daniel from behind; the latter remaining on all fours as Carter, in a sweaty mess from the summer heat and the sexual activity, delivered more hard thrusts into his fellow inmate. Cole was just about invested in what he was seeing. It was nearly impossible for him to look away. Looking down he saw his manhood once more, poking the inside of his jumpsuit. He unzipped his overalls and allowed them to fall to his ankles, his stiff cock now peeking through his boxers.

The encounter between the two inmates in Cole's “backyard” lasted for several minutes. Towards the conclusion, Morris was back-first onto the grass with Carter in between his legs, with more thrusting and humping. Despite the drips of pre-cum to the floor, Cole chose to watch; nothing more. Carter's grunts signaled that this encounter had reached a climax... and so did he. As Morris dressed fully, Carter opted to return back into the cell, carrying his attire on his left arm. Cole quickly dressed himself back into his overalls and sat on his bed. Morris was the first to enter the cell ahead of Carter as he and Cole briefly exchanged looks. After Morris left to return to his own cell, Cole got a good look at Carter; the young inmate balancing his overalls over his shoulders as he was dripping sweat, remnants of semen dripping from the tip of his cock, with his notorious grin that could be seen a mile away.

Cole: Pretty smug, huh?

Carter: **looking at Cole's crotch** What you got there?

Cole: **covering himself with a pillow**.....

Carter: You saw us, didn't you? It got you riled up. Come on, let's play.

Cole: I think you've got other things to worry about--

Carter: Oh god, not this shit again....

Cole: You know what? Fine! If you want to be here for a good chunk of your life...

Carter: NO! I DON'T! I want to get the fuck out of here! Get my G.E.D., go to college, major in sports, **sits on the bed**... it's fucking hopeless. He's ruined my life, my mom's life... and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

Cole: Not alone.

Carter: Yeah? You think Googling some help is gonna be enough to get out of this?

Cole: No, it's not. But...

Carter: What is it?

Cole: You're not gonna believe what I just found out.

Carter: What?

Cole would go on to explain that his recent visit was from his sisters. The two had already made an impact by exposing some of the criminal activities of their former stepfather, winning the justice that their family deserved. Cole ultimately decided to reveal to Carter that he asked for their help in the latter's favor of having the attempted murder charges dropped. Upon hearing this, Carter sat next to Cole oblivious to still being naked, but was nevertheless intrigued.

Carter: Your sisters, huh? Do you think they can help me?

Cole: George is going down, I know it. With assholes like your dad, they can make sure he goes down as well. I know they can help you.

Carter turned to Cole to hug him out of gratitude but finally realized that he was still naked, therefore, became hesitant. “That's alright”, Cole said as he embraced the young inmate, signifying how Carter just might have a better chance at freedom... and further validating their friendship. After the exchange, Cole asked Carter to work out with him and shoot some hoops. Of course, Carter excepted the invitation.

The remaining few weeks passed. Carter's trial was underway. Cole did not catch an ounce of sleep the night before, worrying about the outcome. For hours, he did what he could to occupy himself; watch television, work out in his backyard, and resorted to pacing back and forth, wondering if his sisters managed to help him. Suddenly, there was a knock on his cell door.

Officer Mason: You got a visitor. One of your lovely sisters.

Cole made his way to the same visitor's room in Area A. His heavy heart pounding was a strong indication of high nervousness. It was just past 5 pm at this point, and Carter's trial day would surely have ended by this time. “Fuck” he thought to himself. “What if things did not work out for him? What if he has to be here for years? Would it mean by the time I'm paroled, that he would have to stay here and catch hell every single minute of the day?”. He could not help but have nothing but doubts that Carter's ordeal was over.

Cole entered Area A and found he would not need to meet one of his sisters in the visitor's lounge as Jessica was waiting for him near the front desk. Taking a deep breath, Cole approached his sister to hear the status of the case.

Cole: Alright, sis... what's the verdict?

Jessica: Cole, it's uh.... very disappointing...

Cole: ...Oh, god...

Jessica: Yeah, Jessica and I were kind of hoping that this case would um... be a challenging case.

Cole: Huh? What are you talking about?

Jessica: Well... this case proved to be too easy for us. Carter's free.

Cole: What?! No fucking way!

As Cole hugged Jessica, commending her for a job well done, Carter entered the building. The now former inmate greeted Cole with an excited smile and literal open arms as the latter rushed towards him, and the two can be heard screaming in joy as the two once again held one another in each other's embrace, with Carter being bigger and stronger of the two, lifting Cole from the floor.

Cole: You're free, man!

Carter: Thanks to you and your amazing sisters!

Jessica:... and his mother. When Alexia and I managed to convince Mrs. Wilmington to recant her testimony by offering protection for her and letting her know that her son's future was in her hands, she was quick to turn on Mr. Wilmington. Plus, Alexia, being the private detective she is, managed to obtain emails from Mr. Wilmington bragging about about brainwashing his wife to testify against Carter. Once the evidence and testimony was heard, the DA, who apparently does not like to be made a fool of, was quick to decide to drop the charges... same with the judge.

Cole: Fucking A! Congrats, man! And Jessica... I can't thank you enough.

Carter: Yeah, thank you so much.

Jessica: It's my pleasure. Carter has to sign some paperwork, so in the meantime, he can gather his belongings and that's all she wrote. See you in a little bit.

Cole and Carter retreated to the cell that they have shared together for the final time. Cole assisted Carter in packing his personals as the latter fitted himself with casual clothing. With his bags packed, Carter was ready to go.

Carter: That's everything.

Cole: Believe it or not, I'm definitely gonna miss having you around.

Carter: Wow...

Cole: What?

Carter: It was just months ago... you and I the Goldstone Games... what a fucked up way to get acquainted, huh? I never did tell you how sorry I am...

Cole: You don't have to. I got you back, remember?

Carter: ** laughs** Fair enough.

The two engaged in one final hug. As the two were briefly face-to-face, something took over Cole that made him say: “Ah. Fuck it”. To Carter's surprise, the man who had resisted his advances in the past planted a sudden kiss on him with the former holding Cole close as they engage in somewhat of a passionate kiss that lasted for seconds.

Carter: Damn. Now I wish I can stay.

Cole: You're free now. And if the universe should allow it... I'm sure we'll see each other again.

Carter and Cole's moment was interrupted by a knock on the cell door. The Warden entered the cell with Officer Turner accompanying him.

Warden: Well, boys... I hate to ruin whatever tender moment we may be having here, but you Mr. Wilmington can't keep your attorneys waiting.

Cole: **to Carter** You go ahead. Take care.

Carter: Bye.

After Carter's departure...

Warden: Well, look at you... Cole and his Taylor siblings... saving the day.

Cole: Uh... thank you, sir.

Warden: I'm sure you're detecting a hint of sarcasm in my voice, my boy, so I just want to say... I am being sarcastic.

Cole:... Sir?

Warden: Let me explain something to you. The Goldstone Games... it's not like we're parading around these events or even so much as advertising. These events are never to make their way to the public; news outlets, social media, gossipers... you get me?

Cole: Yes, sir.

Warden: First Justin, now Carter. They know about it. And I can't risk this operation being exposed, you understand? And I do have ways to make sure that does not happen.

Cole: How?

Warden: Don't worry about it. Just know I'm keeping a closer eye on you from now on. You have a fight this upcoming Friday. Be ready.

What was supposed to be a night to celebrate turned into a moment that shook Cole.“What did he mean when he said that he had ways to make sure that the Goldstone Games were never exposed?”, Cole wondered. He quickly began to fear for both Carter and Justin as it had become apparent that there was much more to the Warden that he did not know about. The fact that the Goldstone Games even exist is a testament that the Warden was a criminal himself for hosting an illegal prison fight operation regularly. But given the Warden's threats, Cole was left with a burning question that night and for some time to come: “Who is Joseph Parsley? And what is he really about?”

To Be Continued...