“He knocked that guard out, and he’s got two weeks in solitary.”

Rory clutched Ollie’s knee. “Look, he’s not gonna hurt you. Sebastian said he’s not like that and I believe him.”

“I’m not worried about him hurting me.”

“Then what?”

“When you went up to your cell, they handcuffed him, and got him off the floor. I looked at his face, and he looked devastated. He was crying.”

Rory saw the tears in Ollie’s eyes. “You didn’t know those maggots meant that much to him.”

“When I got convicted, I was terrified of going to prison. Knew I had nine years of pain and humiliation in store, and when we first walked in, I saw how some of the men looked at me. Fresh meat that they couldn’t wait to get their hands and whatever else on. But they won’t cross Teddy, and he hasn’t done anything to hurt me. He’s been nothing but nice, and that’s how I repaid him. I took something from him and made him sad. I hurt him.”

“You didn’t know.”

“You’ve got to help me make this right,” Ollie mumbled.

“How?”

“We’ve got to find more maggots.”

“What?” Rory blurted.

“That’s the only way I can make it up to him.”

“I’m not gonna go searching for maggots.”

“Please, Rory.”

“No way.”

Ollie glanced around. “I just need you to keep look out.”

“While you do what?”

“Go through the bins.”

He gestured to the two green barrels at the edge of the yard. Leftover food scraps went into them each day, and they were collected every two days. The smell was a health hazard, and when the wind blew from their direction, only the hardiest stayed outside.

“You screamed at the thought of touching a maggot the other day.”

“I know, they make me feel sick, but for Teddy, I’ll get some.”

“Not to mention, going through rotting food isn’t exactly hygienic.”

“You gonna help me, or what?”

Rory stared, hoping Ollie was only joking with him.

“Fine,” Ollie hissed, getting up.

“Wait, wait.” Rory said. “Okay, I’ll stand watch.”

The guards had their eyes fixed on the soccer match. Ollie and Rory trudged across the yard, trying to look casual, but Rory imagined they had failed miserably.

Rory stood in front of the barrels, and Ollie ducked behind him.

“Hurry up.” Rory muttered.

“What do you think I’m gonna do, search at a leisurely pace.”

Rory laughed, then grabbed his side. “Ouch.”

“Laughing hurts?”

“Yeah, it does.”

He heard a rustle and glanced back to see Ollie putting a plastic bag over his hand. “I doubt that’ll help.”

As soon as Ollie opened the first barrel, the smell intensified. Rory pressed his hand to his mouth, and mumbled, “Oh, my god.”

His eyes burned at the smell, and he blinked back tears.