Upon arrival at Barton Prison, Julian is processed and taken to a cell occupied by a prisoner named Gordon, who soon becomes his lover. However, six months later, a jealous guard sends Gordon to another wing of the prison, separating the lovers. Not to be deterred, Julian sends a message to Gordon via Lanky, another prisoner, which starts a long correspondence between them.<br><br>Through their letters, readers learn more about the two men -- their backgrounds, their secrets, their hopes and dreams. The letters reveal the story of two lovers trapped inside a prison, separated from the world outside and from each other.<br><br>But prison life is hard. There are bashings and murders. There are corrupt prison officers and violent inmates. How can Julian, who comes from an upper middle-class family and is incarcerated for an accident, hope to survive against such odds, especially when he becomes the target of a particularly corrupt and vicious screw?

Letters from the Inside

Anyway, they asked me to recount the incident in as much detail as possible. They asked me about the sexual assault complaint and the bashing. A couple of them were taking notes. Then they asked hundreds of questions, over and over. Trying to catch me out. But I had the truth on my side—mostly—so eventually they were satisfied and said I could go, but that I had to wait in reception in case they needed me again.


I passed Phillips in the corridor and he was looking pretty worried. I kept glancing back over my shoulder at him and watched him go into the governor’s office. We turned the corner and there was Flanders being escorted down the corridor towards the governor’s office. We eyeballed each other. He didn’t wink or smile or indicate anything to me, but I could just tell he was going to give evidence. Call it a sixth sense or something, but after seeing him in the corridor, I knew I was home and hosed.


Chapter 16