Westmoreland was a very particular figure among the prisoners of Fox River, his impeccable record of decades without causing trouble had granted him a unique privilege: he could move through many places in the prison and have close contact with the guards.
Nolan decided to help the old man, and it was precisely for that reason, for the moment he did not know how long it would take him to obtain the locksmithing skill, which meant he would have to stay there several more days.
And considering that it was almost impossible to kill a guard, the real masters of the place, if any of them set their sights on him, he would need backing, that backing would be Westmoreland.
Now the veteran was in the same boat as him, if any guard tried to mess with him, with Westmoreland he could fight back.
The previous day he had intimidated C-Note and, in the process, obtained two packs of cigarettes, his true objective, however, was another: he had to terrorize him with Bowman's death, to ensure that when he needed something from him, C-Note would not hesitate to cooperate.
For Nolan, those precautions might never be necessary, but they had to be there, otherwise any unforeseen event would leave him vulnerable.
As a smoker, he instinctively thought of lighting a cigarette, not far away, Abruzzi approached Michael, accompanied by several of his men.
Michael had been waiting for Abruzzi for a long time, as soon as he saw him he took the initiative: "If you hire me, things will be easier for you."
Abruzzi smiled: "What do you want?"
"If someone could get you out from behind these walls, would you have the means to make that person disappear?" Michael asked calmly.
"Why do you ask?" Abruzzi replied.
"Just curious," Michael answered.
"Where is Fibonacci?" Abruzzi pressed.
"That's not how it works." Michael answered.
Abruzzi said no more, he only stepped back a few paces, his men understood and immediately rushed at Michael.
Michael did not back down, he stood up sharply. "Abruzzi, if they touch me, I'll touch you!"
"Haha," the Italian laughed contemptuously.
A punch landed in Michael's stomach, the engineer doubled over, but he gritted his teeth and charged straight at Abruzzi, returning the blow.
The boss was hit, which unleashed the fury of his subordinates: they dragged him to a side and beat him together.
Nolan, from afar, smiled amused. "What a day for you, Abruzzi, first your men die in front of you, and now a rookie hits you, pathetic."
The fight did not last long, from the tower a guard aimed his rifle and fired two shots into the ground, inches from the group, the alarm sounded and several officers ran to separate them.
Within minutes, the participants were dragged away.
Abruzzi fared better: he only received a warning, nothing more.
"Money really opens doors," Nolan muttered sardonically.
When Michael and the others were taken away, the yard regained calm, as if nothing had happened, Abruzzi let himself fall onto a bench, looking at the sky with a somber expression.
Nolan watched him for a few seconds, he admired that man, there was something magnetic about him, not homo, of course, thanks to Michael's commotion, the moment was perfect, Nolan got up and sat next to Abruzzi without asking permission.
"??!"
Abruzzi looked at him incredulously, doubting his own authority: did these two newcomers have no respect for him?
"Do you want to die, newcomer?" he said in a low voice.
"No." Nolan shook his head and lit a cigarette. "Do you smoke?"
"You have one second to get out of here!!" Abruzzi threatened coldly.
Nolan did not move, he lit his cigarette, took a drag and smiled. "John, tell me something, what is more important to you: your life or avenging Fibonacci?"
Being called by his name, without respect, right after Michael had hit him, enraged him, he was about to get up and tear him apart.
Then Nolan lowered his voice and said: "John, do you want to end up like Quinn?"
Abruzzi's face changed instantly, he understood the insinuation and looked at him horrified. "Was it you?"
Nolan exhaled smoke without answering.
The Italian blinked, processing everything, and then let out a tight laugh. "Interesting… very interesting."
He settled back on the bench and asked: "Give me a cigarette."
That was a real boss, Nolan handed him one without making a fuss.
Abruzzi lit it, took a drag and asked: "Are you with that Michael?"
"No," Nolan replied.
"Oh… then it's even more interesting," Abruzzi smiled. "What do you want?"
"What I want depends on your answer to what I asked earlier."
"Of course, my life," he admitted after a silence.
"If you could get out in a few days, but in exchange you forgot Fibonacci, would you do it?"
Abruzzi thought a long time before answering: "It's very hard… that traitor left me here, how can I forget that hatred?"
Nolan was not surprised. "At least you didn't say it was impossible, for me that's already a good sign."
Abruzzi ignored him and changed the subject: "What do you really ask for?"
"A new identity, real and clean."
"And what do you give me in return?"
"I get you out of here," Nolan said without hesitation. "And if you serve me, I'll give you a glorious future."
Abruzzi burst out laughing, as if he had heard a joke. "You? You're going to give me a future? Do you know who you're talking to?"
Nolan smiled. "I know perfectly who you are, John, and I also know your wife Sylvia, your son John Jr., and your daughter Nicole."
Abruzzi shuddered, his face showed pure bewilderment. "What…?"