Chapter 1

Hannah Daniels was in serious trouble this time. She was used to being on the wrong side of society – she had been there many times before. But this time was much different and much more sobering. As she stood there in the courtroom waiting to hear the verdict and what her future would be, the judge proceeded to castigate her soundly on her history and her more recent actions.

“Miss Daniels, before I read the court’s decision, I want to go back with you and discuss how you came to be in my courtroom today. I want to retrace some of your less than wise choices, and hopefully we can figure out where you went wrong and maybe you will be more careful in the future,” the judge said.

“Yes, your Honor,” Hannah replied. She appeared to be contrite on the surface, but underneath she was only sorry she got caught. In reality, she was bored with the court proceedings and only wanted this over so she could go home and forget about the past couple days she had spent as a guest of the State of Pennsylvania.

“I see by this that you began your wayward habits at a young age. Let’s see ... it says here that you were caught shoplifting when you were fourteen years old. It says here in your file you shoplifted makeup and music CD’s ... approximately $250.00 worth to be precise. Is that about right?”

“Yes, your Honor,” she said.

“And then, at sixteen years old, you were arrested along with three other kids for vandalizing the local high school. Spray painting on the walls, breaking into the office and making a mess of school records and files, and other assorted mischief. You were given some community service for that little stunt. But as we can plainly see, that didn’t stop you now did it?”

“No, your Honor,” she replied.

“Well, Miss Daniels, those childhood days are behind you now. You are considered an adult in the eyes of this court now, and your actions carry more weight. They also carry more in the way of punishment when those actions run contrary to the law. I see that you have been in the court as an adult for both DWI as well as a drug possession charge. Is this right?”

“Yes, your Honor, but the drug charge was just some weed and I wasn’t even smoking it. My friend was smoking it in the car. I tried to explain that to the cop, but “ she said.

“Nonetheless, Miss Daniels, you were the driver of the vehicle were you not? You were therefore responsible for what happened in the car. And as your friend smoked, I am sure you inhaled some of the smoke as well. The officer that stopped you took note that you were impaired and reeked of marijuana smell,” the judge said sternly.

Hannah sat there quietly next to her court-appointed public defender. The judge was right, she’d had quite a career as a delinquent and a criminal. And meeting Tommy that day at the bar probably didn’t help matters any.

Tommy was a very persuasive and disarming man. His likeable nature and cute smile won her over within minutes of meeting him. He was devilishly handsome and seductive and before long, Hannah found herself willing to do just about anything to win his approval. She wanted to please him no matter the cost.

“Miss Daniels, you are here today because you are accused of three counts of breaking and entering and burglary, one count of second degree robbery of the convenience store, and one count of reckless endangerment when you and the young man you were with tried to run from the police. Your cohort, Mr. Duncan, has already been convicted and sentenced for his part in this crime-spree of yours, including a charge of attempted murder of the convenience store clerk. Be very thankful that he got the brunt of the charges ... he will be locked up for a very long time,” the judge said.

The judge then looked over to the jury. “Mr. Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict in this case?”

“We have, your Honor. We find the defendant guilty on all charges,” he said, flatly. That was it. Hannah Daniels had been found guilty and now it was up to the judge to decide her punishment.

“We will take a ten minute recess and then I will render my decision on your sentence,” he said. The judge left Hannah sitting in the courtroom and went back to his chambers.

Ten minutes later the judge returned. Hannah stood up as he spoke, waiting to see what he had decided for her punishment.

“Miss Daniels, you have been found guilty of the charges brought before you this day. I have considered the circumstances of these charges and your past history. I am ready to sentence you. Have you anything further to say before I pronounce sentence?”

“No, your Honor,” she said.

“Very well. It is the decision of this court that you be sentenced to a term of no less than ten years and no more than twenty-five years in Danbury Federal Prison, in Danbury Connecticut,” And with the falling of his gavel, the judge’s decision was final.

The next morning, Hannah was awakened bright and early. “Get up, Daniels. It’s time to transfer you to your new home,” the guard said. She was allowed to eat and wash up before the bus that would take her to Danbury arrived.

It was a two and a half hour ride to reach the Danbury prison. Once they arrived, she was taken into the prison for in-processing.

“Okay line up cons. See these blue lines? Stay between them – if you step over them, there will be hell to pay!” the guard said, pointing to two parallel blue lines painted on the floor. The lines were designed to keep the prisoners from getting too close to the cells that lined either side of the hallways and maybe getting hurt by the other inmates in them.

Once they had all lined up, the guards took them into another room where they would be issued the rest of the few meager possessions they were allowed. The prison gave them everything they would need, but only what they would need.

There was no outside belongings allowed – even their toothbrushes and soap was issued to them. Hannah looked at the orange jumpsuit she was issued with disdain. But she had little choice.

“What’s the matter, orange not your preferred color choice, honey?” the guard sneered at her. “You’d better get used to the color ... you are going to be in it for a long time! Now, get out of those clothes and put it on and be quick about it.”

Hannah sighed and got changed. She was a bit shy about changing clothes in front of all these other strangers, but she just pretended she was back in high school gym class and got it over with.

After she had been issued her bedding and toiletries, she was then taken to a temporary cell where she would stay until her regular cell could be readied.

“Here you go, con. This is your new home until your actual cell is ready. Don’t get too comfortable, it should only take a couple days. In the meantime, the warden will want to talk to you about your stay here and all the rules he has.

I suggest you pay close attention to what he says, too – Warden Taylor is not someone you want to test!” the guard said sternly. And when he finished, he emphasized his words with the harsh clank of the cell door slamming shut and locking.

Hannah looked around at her radically shrank world. Even she would have to admit that she had royally screwed up this time. This was not going to be something she could bat her eyes at or talk her way out of with a cute smile. Dejected and feeling sorry for herself, she made up her bed and laid down on it. Ten years in here was going to be a very long time!

Hannah was awakened rather rudely the next morning by the harsh sound of the small service door in her cell door being unlocked. “Here is your breakfast. Eat it quickly because the warden wants to see you when you are done,” the guard said.

Hannah got up and took the cold metal tray and brought it back to her bed to eat her breakfast. Her meal consisted of oatmeal, toast and butter, milk and juice. She ate quickly as she was told and when she was done, she got dressed and ready to go see the warden.

The guard knocked on the heavy wood door marked Warden Taylor while Hannah stood quietly, her hands in handcuffs attached to the leather belt around her waist, and her ankles secured in leg cuffs.

“Come in,” a man’s deep voice said from behind the door and the guard opened it, ushering her inside. Hannah had trouble walking due to the ankle cuffs, but she managed to make it to the chair in front of the large desk.

Sitting behind the desk was an imposing man. Standing six foot six inches tall and weighing 275 pounds, with the body of a WWE professional wrestler, Warden Taylor was a monster of a man.

“Warden Taylor, inmate Daniels is here, Sir.”

“Thank you guard,” he replied, then he turned his attention to Hannah. “Inmate Daniels, have a seat,” he said, pointing to the chair. As Hannah took a seat, the guard that brought her to the office left, shutting the door behind him and leaving Hannah alone with the warden.

She sat there, nervous and fidgeting with her hands, as he looked through a file on his desk. He didn’t speak for the longest time, he just read the file and looked up at her from time to time. His look was stern and no-nonsense, and Hannah cowered inside from his piercing gaze.

Snapping the file shut suddenly and startling Hannah, he looked up at her and spoke finally. “Inmate Daniels, this is quite a file here. You have a long history of breaking the rules, don’t you?” he said, looking at her.

Hannah dropped her eyes. “Yes sir,” she said softly. If Warden Taylor was looking to intimidate her, he succeeded. Hannah was certainly disquieted and uneasy, sitting there in front of him.

“Well we will see what we can do to help you with that problem. We have plenty of time to work on getting you on the right side of the law ... it says here that you will be with us for the next ten years at least,” he said.