CHAPTER 16
The silence in SHU was heavier than Viv had anticipated.
No footsteps shuffling down the corridor. No endless chatter of restless inmates.
Just the distant hum of the ventilation and the occasional clang of metal.
Exactly what she needed.
Viv sat on the lower bunk, legs crossed, replaying the morning in her head. Every interaction, every move, every possible crack she could wedge herself into. She didn't yet have the prison's digital network in her hands — or its physical archives — but she was already mapping the sequence: entry points, paper trails, blind spots.
If she could slip a file in, she could slip a file out. If she could slip one out, she could rewrite Pen's future.
Two days into her SHU stay, a guard knocked on her door.
"Phone. Seven minutes. Make it count."
They shackled her wrists before walking her to the caged phone booth.
On the other end of the line, a familiar voice bloomed in her ear.
"Hey, sis," Daphne said, her tone carefully bright. "You sound... quieter than usual."
"I've been in the library," Viv replied smoothly, her voice level.
They both knew there was no "library" in SHU.
Daphne caught on instantly. "Ah. Sorting books again?"
Translation: Are you preparing the plan?
"Rearranging shelves, mostly," Viv said, leaning back against the wall.
Translation: Yes. I'm organizing the sequence before making a move.
Daphne let out a soft laugh that could pass for sisterly fondness. "Still obsessing over getting the perfect order, huh?"
Translation: You're still aiming for Pen's file, right?
Viv's lips curved faintly. "You know me. Can't stand a crooked spine."
Translation: I won't leave loose ends.
A pause. Then Daphne said lightly, "If you need extra bookmarks, I can bring some next time."
Translation: I've got resources. I'll get them to you on the next visit.
Viv replied without missing a beat. "Just make sure they're the right size — you know how picky I am."
Translation: Only bring what fits the plan. No unnecessary risks.
The guard tapped his watch: two minutes left.
"Alright, little sis," Daphne said warmly, masking the steel under her voice. "I'll come see you soon. We'll... talk about those shelves in person."
Translation: I'll visit as soon as possible, keep the cover story tight.
"Looking forward to it," Viv murmured.
Translation: Be ready. Timing will matter.
The line clicked dead.
As the guard escorted her back to her cell, Viv's mind was already spinning through the next moves — and this time, she wasn't just planning alone.
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