These were special inmates. Three had escaped from prisons before. One was a chemical engineer, and another an electrical engineer. Two were Special Forces veterans with combat experience and extensive training who had both committed murders during their last enlistments. One was chosen because he had been known to sell impeccable identification to prisoners who were being released and wanted to start again with no records. Three were killers held in high regard by the major prison gangs that infested the prison system.

Mr. Mundt had never been surprised that Mark Duquesne would seek his acquaintance. In return, he had done a few small favors over a year’s time for Duquesne’s son—small improvements in his facilities, having infractions removed from his record, allowing him to have a cell phone. These were privileges usually reserved for prisoners who snitched on other inmates or provided information about crimes on the outside, but Mundt didn’t care. He considered the favors to be to his own advantage. Doing well for Paul Duquesne only proved that he had power over him. If he could help him, he could harm him. He knew Mark Duquesne was intelligent enough to see that. Mr. Mundt became comfortable and confident in the feeling that he had this very powerful family at his mercy. He began to find new ways to monetize the friendship. Twice he asked Duquesne for large contributions to law enforcement charities that they both knew didn’t exist. On three occasions he asked for large loans and got them, knowing that regardless of what papers he signed, he would never be asked to repay them, because Paul would be in prison forever.

The day came when Mark Duquesne took Mr. Mundt aside and talked to him in the privacy of his billiard room. He handed Mr. Mundt the list of inmates, and when Mr. Mundt understood what he was being asked to do, his heartbeat doubled. He said that this was a big favor, one that could get him into trouble.

Mr. Duquesne had never been unpleasant in Mundt’s presence. This time he said, “I’ll be very grateful if, as my friend, you will do me this favor.” It was said in a quiet, even way.

Mundt said, “It’s not that I don’t have power in the system. For instance, I can pretty much dictate what your son’s life will be like.”

Mark Duquesne said, “Then use the power to help him.”

“I don’t know, Mark,” Mundt said. “That kind of move could be risky for me personally. What keeps a public career viable is reputation.”

“You should know I have audio and video recordings of every moment you have ever spent on my property, my boats and my aircraft, my country houses, and my resorts. Sending copies to certain officials would land you in the same institutions as my son.”

“I can have your son killed in prison.”