For Better And For Worse
Chapter 47

A FEW DAYS LATER.

Prison.

While Krist was showering with several other inmates, they waved at each other. Some have left and five remain. Krist finishes his shower and ties up a towel. Immediately, the five inmates began attacking him. Two of them have bladed weapons, a knife and a screwdriver. Krist starts fighting with them and he ends up defeating them. He grabs the one who is still conscious for questioning.

Krist: Who sent you to kill me?

Orel: no one.

He punches him in the face.

Krist: Don’t waste my time. Who sent you to kill me?

Orel: no one sent us, we just wanted to welcome you.

Krist: well I don’t believe you and I won’t repeat myself more than three times so answer me before I lose my patience.

He doesn’t say anything so Krist punches him in the face with both fists, one after the other. Then he lifts it up by the glues and sticks it to the wall.

Krist (rage): tell me who sent you to kill me?

Orel: it’s Bayoko, he’s the boss who sent us.

Christ: why?

Orel: I don’t know that, I swear, I don’t know why.

He drops it and gets dressed to go to the dining room. Bayoko was very surprised to see him. Krist gives him a nasty look. He joins his friends with his dish. They notice his bruises.

Aristide: my God, what happened?

Krist: Someone tried to kill me.

Leo: what, who did this?

Krist: It was Bayoko who ordered me to be killed.

Olivier: why would he have done that, did he help you?

Krist: I don’t know, I have to ask him first.

Krist gets up and goes to Bayoko’s table. He sits down without asking permission.

Bayoko: you’re still alive, I’m surprised. You seem to be hiding your game well.

Christ: why?

Bayoko: for nothing, it’s just business.

Krist: business! Business for whom?

Bayoko: listen, it’s not against you. I do what I’m asked as long as I’m paid well.

Krist: Who paid you to kill me?

Bayoko: why would I tell you?

Krist: because you ordered me to be killed when I didn’t do anything to you and that’s cowardly coming from a champion like you.

Bayoko: Did he just call me a coward?

Val: yes boss.

Bayoko: well, know that I’m not a coward and for your information, it was the director who paid me to kill you.

Krist: the director! Why would he want me dead?

Bayoko: you just have to ask him. Maybe you flirt too much with his daughter?

Krist gets up and joins his friends.

Aristide: So why did he order you killed?

Krist: You’ll never guess who the order really came from.

Leo: from whom?

Krist: from the prison director.

All: what?

Aristide: why?

Krist: I don’t know but I think the order doesn’t just come from him. There’s someone else behind.

Olivier: who are you thinking of?

Krist: to my father-in-law.

Aristide: why would he want you dead?

Krist: because if I die, his daughter will be a widow and because of her pregnancy, he could remarry her to anyone he wants.

Aristide: even if he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t go that far?

Krist: oh yes. But I have to meet the director to replace out for sure.

After the meal, they return to their cell. Meanwhile, Master Célestin arrives at the prison.

Célestin: hello sir, I would like to see inmate no. 8747.

Guard: I’m sorry, this inmate is not allowed to have visitors.

Celestin: why?

Guardian: I don’t know. The decision comes from above.

Célestin: has it become a law for certain prisoners not to receive visitors?

Guard: I don’t know, sir.

Célestin: Are not all detainees allowed to receive visitors or only this one in particular?

Guardian: Only this one in particular and I don’t know why.

Célestin: this is a violation of his strictest rights. I am his lawyer so I have every right to see him so I ask you to tell the director of this prison that the lawyer of inmate no. 8747 is here before I get impatient and file a complaint against him and its establishment.

Guardian: Wait a moment.

The guard calls the director and tells him of Master Célestin’s threats. The director in turn calls Gauthier.

Gauthier: yes Mr. Hector!

Director: hello Mr. Gauthier. Mr. Krist’s lawyer is here and he is threatening to file a complaint against me if I don’t let him see his client. And if he does that, I’ll be in real trouble so I’ll have to leave him.

Gauthier: how come he is still alive?

Director: In fact, I’m still preparing to kill him.

Gauthier: very good, let him see it and I hope it will be his last visit.

Director: of course. Thank you sir.

The director hangs up and calls the guard back to give him permission to let Master Célestin in.

Guardian: you can enter master.

Célestin: thank you.

Célestin enters and goes to sit in the visiting room. A guard goes to see Krist.

Guardian: 8747, you have a visitor.

Krist and Aristide look at each other. He gets up and the guard handcuffs him before leading him to the visiting room where he meets Master Célestin.

Célestin: a little privacy please.

The guard comes out and closes the door.

Krist: hello master.

Célestin: hello Krist. How are you ?

Krist: I’m fine master and I have a lot of questions for you.

Célestin: I know.

Krist: So tell me everything.

Célestin: Isabelle is doing her best to get better and not to get depressed even if it’s not an easy task. She’s really unhappy, I assure you. It’s like a big part of herself is gone.

Krist: That’s what I feel too. And our baby, I learned that she had been in an accident?

Célestin: yes but she is doing well now and miraculously, your baby is doing wonderfully.

Krist: phew! Finally my heart is at peace. And Stella?

Célestin: she is also very affected by your absence but she is holding on. His classes are also progressing well. Besides, she and I are together.

Krist: I’m happy for her and I hope she will be happy with you.

Célestin: I will do everything to make her happy.

Krist: Glad to hear that. Now tell me why they didn’t visit me?

Célestin: They visited you almost every day Krist, they and your parents sometimes but they are forbidden from seeing you.

Krist: what, but why?

Célestin: I don’t know. When I was there earlier, the guard told me that you are not allowed to receive visitors and that the decision came from the top.

Krist: From the director?

Célestin: yes.

Krist: what does this one want from me?

Célestin: from today, I think you can now receive visitors.

Krist: thank you master. Tell me one thing, is my wife married to someone else?

Célestin: married to someone else, how can you think such a thing? You have no idea what your wife Krist is going through.

Krist: It’s because her father said he would marry her to someone else.

Célestin: I think she would rather die.

Krist: My heart is reassured.

Célestin: you have no reason to doubt her Krist, you have an exceptional woman there, a truly exceptional woman and you don’t know what I would give to have one like her. I’ve had relationships but I haven’t found the ideal woman.

Krist: take care of Stella, she’s an exceptional girl, you can believe me. She had a pretty difficult life and it made her mature and wiser than her years.

Célestin: yes you are right. How else do you spend your days here?

Krist: There is no life more routine and boring than life in prison, I assure you.

Célestin: lots of courage. I have to go.

Krist: thank you master and tell my wife to come see me, I want to see her.

Célestin: Krist too, she only wants that. And I would tell him, count on me.

Krist thanks him and he leaves. The guard takes him back to his cell.

Aristide: so who was it?

Krist: Master Célestin. Imagine that it was the director who forbade me to receive visitors.

Aristide: is that why your wife didn’t come to see you?

Krist: Yes, and I think it will work out now. Furthermore, he also gave me some reassuring news. My wife and baby are doing great.

Aristide: So you’re not going to escape anymore.

Krist: no, no more escape.

Aristide: Praise God.

Krist: Besides, I have to have a little interview with the director.