the last twenty one years, there were many rumors about prisoner number 685244 in cellblock 432. Some said he was a spy, others claimed they knew him as the head of a Chicago crime family, and still others said he was a pedophile and was isolated for his own protection. The prisoner kept to himself and almost never spoke to anyone. For more than twenty years, he kept his identity secret from the rest of the population. It was not until a new warden took over the facility that things changed. The new warden immediately felt that all prisoners, no matter the crime, were to be treated with respect and dignity, and not just numbers. And so, prisoner number 685244 was now to be called by his proper name; Joey Escalla.
This bit of information spread through the prison population like a brush fire on a dry windy day, and caught the curiosity of an inmate known as Stan (Slash) Genova. Genova had been a member of the Sabrisio family before it was wiped out in the early 60's by what was later rumored to be members of the Giordano Family. What was even more important was the fact that the Joey Escalla who Slash knew, was rubbed out over twenty-one years ago.
Having information about a guy who was supposed to be dead was like gold in a place like this, but first Slash had to be certain. He had to get a look at the prisoner in cell 432.
Over the next four months, Slash concentrated on pulling library duty. He managed to transfer over to the library, and three months after that he managed to get onto the book dispensary detail. Another month passed before he was able to change with a fellow inmate and get to distribute books to those in solitary confinement.
In late April of 1984, Slash was making his rounds in solitary when he came upon cell number 432.
"You want anything to read?" he asked the man in the cell.
Joey Escalla approached the cell door and looked at the books in the cart.
Slash stared at the man on the other side of the bar and thought to himself, "I know this man. His name is not Joey Escalla. I just don’t remember his real name. But it isn’t Joey Escalla."
Joey looked up at the man and said nothing.
After a few seconds, Joey finally said, "No, not interested in any of your books."
Joey returned to his bunk and lay down. Slash stared for a second or two before moving on.
Joey recognized the man.
So after serving over 21 years of his 22-year sentence, he was faced with a problem that might jeopardize his release.
"Can’t have that," Joey thought to himself.
Slash was now consumed with trying to remember the identity of the prisoner in cell 432. He was convinced he knew him but needed to get another look. However, every time he went by the cell, Joey kept his back to him and would respond with a "No, thanks." With Joey not approaching the front of the cell, Slash was denied the opportunity to see him once more.
Joey knew it was simply a matter of time. If Slash found out Joey’s release date was fast approaching, he might escalate his attempts to uncover the truth.
It was two weeks later when Slash was stacking books in the library that three inmates approached him.
"Hey, Slash. What you in for?" asked one of the men.
"What’s it to you?" Slash responded as he turned and faced them. "What you guys want?" Slash asked.
"Nothing. We just want to know what you are in for," another man said.
"None of your fucking business," Slash answered back.
"Rumor is, you go after young girls," the inmate stated.
"That’s bullshit. I don’t do that shit. Someone's feeding you guys a bunch of lies," Slash defended.
"Now why would someone do that?" asked the tallest of the three men.
"Yeah, then what you in for?" they asked again.
"Tax evasion," Slash responded.
"Tax evasion," one of the prisoners stated almost laughing.
"Yeah, tax evasion," Slash answered back making a strong stand.
Slash had been around long enough to know he had to convince them he was no child molester, or it would simply be a matter of time before someone slashed his throat, or he got shanked in his sleep.
"Someone is feeding you bullshit. You want a piece of me? Bring it on," Slash challenged, bracing himself.
Just then, a couple of the guards came into the library. The men stared at Slash and nodded slowly backing off.
"We find out different and your time here is going to come to an abrupt end," one of the inmates told him as they walked away.
Slash knew he had bought some time.
However, two days later three men jumped him in the shower. They had beaten him severely and made sure he knew they would be coming after him again; if he lived through this one. Slash knew, as the guards carried him to the infirmary, that next time he might not be so lucky.
One month and thirty two stitches later he was released from the infirmary. Though the Warden had offered Slash protection in exchange for information on who did this, Slash refused to comment and was sent back to the general population.
Slash knew he had to get to the source of the rumors before someone took it upon himself to finish the job once and for all. As a result, Slash became paranoid about anyone coming too close to him, so he kept to himself as much as possible.
In every prison you have those who belong to a gang or are protected by a gang, those who keep their heads low and avoid any eye contact. Slash had been marked and needed protection; no one protects a child molester. He had to convince the gang lords he was no child molester, and he needed to find out who started the rumor.
After considering all of his options, he decided to approach the leader of the black gang. Italians were in the minority here, so he had to either approach the Hispanics, or go to the folks of a darker persuasion. In any case, he had to make peace before someone killed him. Luckily he happened to know one of the black gang members; someone he had met during some drug negotiations back in Chicago. Though reluctant, the guy vouched for Slash, and he was given a chance to talk to their leader. After some hard talking and an agreement to pay in cigarettes, Slash received protection until the issue was settled.
Word went out he was no child molester and would pay to find out who started the rumor. It would be almost six weeks before the information got to him that it had started in solitary.
Slash instantly knew it had to come from the prisoner in cell 432.
"Well. The guy is running scared," thought Slash. "Guess I'm going to have to visit him once more and give him the news."
It would be another three weeks before Slash got the opportunity to visit solitary again.
Approaching cell 432 he called out, "Hey, you want any books to read?"
"Yeah, sure, what you got?" asked the prisoner as he approached the cell door.
It was not Joey Escalla.
Slash was shocked. Joey Escalla was no longer in that cell. The prisoner now occupying the cell only knew the previous prisoner had been transferred to another cell but didn't know where.
Slash smiled to himself knowing full well it was simply a matter of time before he would find out where the guy going by the name of Joey Escalla was moved to, and time was all they had.
Using the vehicle of gossip and rumors, Joey was able to spread the word that the man known to all as Slash had raped a young child and had gotten away with it. He knew this would buy him some time and maybe eliminate the threat altogether. Joey was pleased when he found out that Slash had been attacked. Unfortunately, he had not been killed, forcing Joey to come up with another plan to avoid any future encounters with Slash. Since he had been a model prisoner, the warden was cooperative in allowing Joey to move out of solitary confinement for the remainder of his stay; now only several weeks away. As