Mapped By Stars

Chapter 1

Vera hated the wait. She hated the unknown. Stacking the files in front of her, she waited for the briefing that she and the rest of the staff was due to have with the Governor of Wentworth. She had heard many rumors over the last few weeks of the "Fixer." The woman who was responsible for ridding an entire prison of all drugs and even more responsible for adding a few more years of sentencing to some prisoners records. She also heard she was a tyrant and too stern with her staff. Stand- off leader. But she wouldn't allow her imagination to run wild before she even meet the woman. 

She did however wonder what qualifications this woman possessed that the Board had chosen to give this new Governor the position over Vera. Vera was acting Governor many months after the transition from Meg Jackson to Erica Davidson and after Mrs. Davidson's release. She had been with Wentworth for years, knew the guards and staff very well, felt they respected her and knew every single prisoner. Some on first name basis. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe the Board thought her emotional heart would be her downfall. 

Part of the reason Vera choose not to take the full position was her home-life. Her mother was an overbearing parent recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. While Vera worked, a nurse took care of her mother. But Vera's nights where filled with rude outbursts, degrading comments and trying to make her mother as comfortable as possible. She honestly didn't feel she could devote enough time to the prison if she was give the full position. She sighed and accepted her position as continuing Deputy Governor.  

The door finally opened and the whispers from the staffs members halted. Vera realized why the woman got the position. She demanded control. Just like she had everyones control and full attention as she slid her chair from the table and sat down. Her hair was slicked back into a tight bun with not a hair out of place. Her uniform was pressed and every pin and lapel in perfect alignment. She laid papers out in front of her and looked across the table at her new staff. Vera caught her eyes. Dark. Filled with secrets but almost calming. 

"The name says it all. Wentworth Correctional Center. It's written all over the building. Its on name badges and on our employment contracts." She continued what Vera thought of as a very well practiced speech. Some of the officers where becoming very uncomfortable as she continued her address in her husky but confident voice. Vera included. Some shifted in their seats or fumbled with papers in their hands. Vera adjusted her weight off one foot to the other.
The new Governor continued giving her plans to basically crack down on the officers since she deemed it their fault for being too easy on the prisoners. It was the officers without a backbone that allowed these women to run this prison and allow for so much contraband and drugs to wiggle their way back into the prison. But with her strict guidance and leadership, her goal was to remove drugs 100% from the facility.  

She rose from the table and dismissed her staff. Vera swallowed hard at what she had just witnessed. The woman was defiantly a woman to respect. And not to be messed with or taken lightly. Vera walked over to her locker, pulled her phone out and called the nurse to check on her mom. Same old same. Complaining about everything and wanted Vera to come pick her up from the nursing home. Rita, Vera's mother, was constantly accusing the young nurse of stealing her medications and her personal nicknacks. Vera apologized to the nurse and ended the conversation. She had to focus on work and couldn't be distracted by her mother.  

She went about her rounds and saw the normal prisoners. On her list of things to do was to check on the prisoner Bea Smith. She had been in solitary confinement for weeks after the trail and death of Jacs Holt. Bea was under a lot of medication and sedatives helping keep her calm. She watched the woman's head nod back and forth as she grumbled under her breathe. She signed off on her chart and left the slots.   

Vera walked into the staff room to check her phone again in case the nurse had left any messages. Another officer, Fletcher, leaned against his locker, smiling at Vera.