On 8/26/08 about 2:45pm, the phone rang. Much to my surprise the caller ID showed the Correctional Billing System. That could only mean one thing – Darcy Dale Hurley! He is the only one of my half dozen or so pen pals who is on that system. Imagine my surprise after I had pretty much written him off. I took a deep breath and answered it.
It was indeed Darcy. After exchanging the usual congenial greetings, Darcy was quick to ‘apologize’ for not writing or calling for so long. He went on to further ‘explain’ that he had a setback as to his August 1 release and that had been pushed back to the end of December of this year. He explained how depressed he has been over the whole affair. He also explained that he bought a TV and a radio to help get him through these ‘difficult times’. He paused after that one to make sure I heard it. I know what that meant. He spent all or most of the $400 I sent him for the plane ticket on a TV. I just said, Oh it’s good you have a way to pass the time – or something to that effect – and left it at that. He said he was ‘worried’ that I was angry with him. I told no I was not angry with him and that it was good to hear from him again. The truth is, I was angry at one point but have moved beyond that. He also said he went “out to the yard for a bit but got in a fist fight”. He said he only defended himself.
Calls from Correctional Billing are always limited so Darcy said he would sit down and write me a letter explaining the entire thing. And he will have some explaining to do! At no time during the call did I sound anything but supportive. I didn’t lose my cool and confront him with any of these issues. However, it’s now time to turn the tables on him. This time I see clearly what’s going on here.
He will be trying to set me up for another scam. I am going to wager a guess he will ask for a plane ticket again. While I haven’t seen his written ‘explanation’ yet, I don’t believe he will be getting out in December any more than I now believe he was getting out in August. At this point, I will be ready for another pack of lies from Darcy Hurley.
On a side note, I noted that he called me collect rather than use up the remaining balance in the Correctional Billing system. There is still about $38 left there and I will be sure to ask him to use that from now on. Just when I thought this strange story was wrapping up, it appears to be revived.
