The Slammer

From the author it "Illicity and Covert", "Has Been", "The Hotel Kelly" and many more titles. ---
After a late-in-life adoption, Joe finds himself divorced as a result of a serial philanderer that he can tolerate no more. Now in his fifties as a single parent of a typical teenager who cares only about herself, a fatal event occurs. Following a series of in-school bullying incidents by a schoolmate angry over a crush gone awry, Joe and his daughter find themselves face-to-face with her attacker. While in what they feel is the safety of their car, they find themselves victimized again. ---

The taunting actions of a hateful, angry soul leaves them attempting to seek the protections of the police but rage arrives first. In the time that it takes to put a car in gear, their attacker lies dead on the ground. Joe finds himself on the wrong side of the law and soon suffering the consequences of a momentary lapse in judgement. Years in prison becomes the price to pay for a father who only wanted his child safe. ---

Once incarcerated, life becomes surreal while his daughter offers no appreciation for her father's effort to protect her. What Joe felt was a circle of loyal friends soon turns into a confederacy of abandonment. With the lone exception of his daughter's step-father, Joe must now endure the life of a prisoner and the loneliness of being a convict. ---

The parade of menacing career criminals makes life a living hell, as expected. Some, like Joe, are there as victims of circumstances. The cast of characters crossing his path are mostly to be avoided but there are a few exceptions. While serving his time, there is the occasional con who is friendlier than others but only a rare few are to be trusted. ---

Joe survives a situation he never expected to have to face. However, only he and one other soul know a secret that could have prevented his incarceration from ever happening. As is the case for many behind bars, secrets abound and are held while serving time in The Slammer.