“What are we betting?”
Velma removed the paper money from the Monopoly game. “Each hand you win you’ll be given a one dollar bill.”
“Whoever accumulates five dollars first, the other three players owe them five dollars of purchases at our next commissary trip,” Yolanda said.
“That works for me,” Eleanor said.
I glanced one more time at Laura, who gave me a dirty look. I couldn’t help but wonder if Char was right. Was Laura a cop planted to break up Mary’s business? She certainly didn’t look like an undercover cop, but neither did we.
I glanced at my cards. I had two aces, the makings of a good hand since an ace was also down on the table.
We each were given a turn and my three-of-a-kind aces high beat the three-of-kind twos that Yolanda had. I happily took my dollar winnings.
The next round Eleanor smiled as the cards were dealt and she claimed the next dollar when she set down two hearts that used the three hearts on the table. “I wish this was a real betting game,” Eleanor exclaimed. “I have a feeling that I’m going to clean up.”
Eleanor and I both frowned as we made way for our cell much later. “I think Yolanda is a card shark,” I remarked.
“I think you’re right.”
I yawned. “I need to run to the bathroom before lockup,” I said. “Are you coming, Eleanor?”
“I’ll catch up. I need to look for my face lotion.”
Because so many inmates were milling around I felt safe heading to the bathroom alone. The bathroom was empty, and I hurried into a stall.
I had no more sat down when someone knocked on my stall door. “This one is occupied,” I said nervously. All I could think about was that I shouldn’t have come to the bathroom alone.
The wall of the stall began to shake and I bit my fist. I yanked up my pants and pushed myself out.
My heart practically leapt out of my chest when the last stall door opened and Eleanor stepped out. “Why would you do something like that, Eleanor?”
“Do what?” she asked with a puzzled look.
I angrily washed my hands and marched back to my cell, where I readied my bed for lights out. I couldn’t believe that Eleanor would scare me half out of my mind.
When Eleanor joined me in the cell, I turned my back to her.
“What’s going on with you, Agnes?”
“You know what you did.”
“If I knew I wouldn’t have to ask you.”
I sat up and glared at her. “And I suppose you’ll deny that you knocked on my stall door and rattled the walls while I was in there?”
Eleanor sighed. “Why would I do something like that? I know how much on edge you have been.”
“So you swear it wasn’t you?”
“Pinkie swear,” she said.
“Did you see anyone coming out of the bathroom when you were going in?”
“So someone scared you half to death in the bathroom?”
I simply nodded because I was overcome with emotion as tears burned the back of my eyes. “Neither of us are safe here, Eleanor.” I still didn’t want to tell her what had happened in the shower room. I now knew I was a target, but why? Would Crusher go to this extreme? I wasn’t certain, but I learned my lesson. I’ll never go anywhere without Eleanor at my side.
“I’m a little worried about Char,” I finally said. “What if she decides we might be cops, too?”
“I’ve thought about that, but so far she seems to get along with us. We just need to keep her that way. We need to watch what we say, though, with her especially.”
Officer Miller glanced into our cell and said, “Two minutes to lockup.”
“I had no clue you worked nights in the pod,” I said.
“What business is my schedule to you?”
“I didn’t mean any offense.”
Officer Miller didn’t say a word as she walked away.
“It looks like I’ve overstepped my bounds once again. I just haven’t a fix on her yet. She looked like a pushover in quarantine.”
“That’s our first mistake,” Eleanor said. “At this point we don’t know anything about the officers — or the inmates for that matter. Any of them might be the person responsible for the deaths.”
“But how would an inmate have access to the shower area during lockup?”
“That’s a question we’ll have to ask tomorrow. If the warden tells us who was working the night Trudy was murdered.”
The cell doors closed with a resounding slam and the lights dimmed. It was the kind of sound that made my heart ache a little. I couldn’t imagine how anyone could tolerate the atmosphere in the prison for long, especially lifers. Day in and day, out the same routine. The only thing that changes are the jobs you’re given or the comings and goings of other inmates. The food is bland for the most part, fish and chicken the main staples.
I changed clothes in the near darkness and crawled into bed, drifting off to sleep not long after.
* * *
I woke to the glare of a flashlight and I glanced up as the officer moved past. In one of the cells directly across from me a woman waved a roll of toilet paper. I thought that odd, but I settled back in my bunk. Was it possible an inmate could be released during lockup?
“What’s the matter?” Eleanor asked.
“There’s someone waving a roll of toilet paper in one of the cells across from us.”
“Maybe she has to use the bathroom.”
“Bathroom? I don’t recall anyone telling us we could use the bathroom during the night.”
“How could you? They told us so much that I couldn’t even keep track of it all,” Eleanor said.
I clambered out of my bunk and watched an officer open the woman’s cell. The officer then escorted her to the bathroom.
I shook Eleanor all the way awake. “That’s how it happened.”
Eleanor wiped the sleep from her eyes. “How what happened?”
“How Trudy was let out of her cell during lockup.”
“I thought we figured out a guard had to do it. That’s how she was murdered … by a guard.”
“I don’t think so. What if one officer let one inmate out to use the bathroom at the same time another inmate was let out by another guard? It sounds plausible doesn’t it?”
“Yes, except that they must have been taken to the bathroom by the guard. And watched, most likely.”
I picked up a roll of toilet paper. “I’ll find out,” I said as I waved the roll between the bars.
“Thanks for ruining my sleep. I was dreaming about snuggling in bed with Mr. Wilson.”
“Sorry, but we need to widen our scope. We can’t be so one-sided that we miss the real killer.”
“Then all you have to do is find out how an inmate killed Lopez when we were the only ones in the office area.”
An officer approached. “I suppose you have to use the bathroom, too.”
“Yes, is that a problem?”
She unlocked the cell and relocked it once I stood on the outside. I stared at her badge that read “Officer Greer.”
She led me to the bathroom, where Officer Miller stood outside the door. “Make it snappy,” Officer Greer said.
I hurried inside where another inmate stood at a sink.
“I can’t believe they let us both use the bathroom,” I said.
“Shhh,” she responded. “They’ll hear you.”
I wanted to question the inmate, but I knew she was trying to hurry. I hurried myself since I did have to pee. When I came out of the stall the inmate was gone, but a white powder sparkled on the sink. I thought it might be a drug, but I was too afraid to taste it.
“Are you finished yet?” Officer Greer asked as she walked into the bathroom.
I hurriedly washed my hands and flushed the white powder down the sink. That’s all I’d need — to get a drug charge while I was in here.
Eleanor was snoring by the time I returned to the cell. I wanted to shake her awake, but I had alr
eady done that once tonight. It was hard for me to relax because I had something of interest to report. Ah heck, I’ll just have to wait until morning.
Chapter Eleven
Eleanor and I headed to the shower in the morning without incident. “We need to send our clothes to laundry today,” Eleanor said.
We hurried back and bagged up our labeled clothing and put it in the laundry bin. By the time we were in chow hall, the line had all but diminished, and all that was left was thick, pasty oatmeal. None of the inmates we had come to know were at the tables.
“We should have gotten up earlier,” I said.
“If we had gotten up any earlier our cell door still wouldn’t have been open,” she reminded me.
“Yes, and there was a crowd ahead of us.”
“So what did you find out last night?” Eleanor asked.
“Apparently two officers do take separate inmates to use the bathroom at the same time. While I was escorted there last night, the guards stayed outside. I wanted to ask the inmate I saw last night a few questions, but she told me to keep quiet.”
“That makes sense. I’m sure you’re not supposed to be conversing with another inmate on a bathroom run.”
“You’re not supposed to be doing drugs in there either,” I pointed out.
Eleanor’s mouth fell open. “What?”
“I need to find that inmate and ask her a few questions even if she doesn’t want to. I know how to make her talk.”
We walked to the hallway for our work assignments. “It’s about time,” Officer Schulze said. “I was worried that you two decided to fly the coop.”
“Who, us?” I laughed. “It’s not like that sort of thing happens.”
“Let me just say that it’s been attempted.”
“How long have you worked here?” I asked.
“Too long, if you ask my mother, but seriously, ten years.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Go ahead. The warden warned the officers that you would be asking us all a few questions.”
“Did you work the day Trudy Taylor was found dead?”
“Yes, but I didn’t get in until eight o’clock. But by that time the prison was on lockdown. I’m shocked they let me in, actually.”
“I’m certain extra guards were needed.”
“You might say that.”
“Do you ever work nights?” Eleanor asked.
“Only if necessary, like if an officer doesn’t show up. It hasn’t happened in more than six months though. I have higher seniority than most of the other guards.”
“Even Officer Barlow?” I asked.
“She’s been here a year less than me.”
“So did you work here when Warden Blair was in charge?”
“I imagine the other inmates told you wild stories about Warden Blair and Officer Barlow.” She laughed. “I think Barlow spread them, actually.”
“So there’s no truth to them?”
“No. Blair was a straight shooter. He was promoted to deputy director in Kent County. His family lives there.”
“So it’s not true Office Barlow used to be kind to the inmates?”
“Sure she was, until she found out how manipulative they can be. She was suspended when an inmate supposedly escaped on her watch.”
“What do you mean, ‘supposedly?’” I asked.
“Dora Roade was a prankster. She thought it would be funny to disappear for a few hours at lockup. And somehow Barlow didn’t realize it until later. She’s lucky she wasn’t canned because it happened shortly after Warden Geyer’s appointment.”
“That sure would change an officer’s attitude.”
“I know she can come off as harsh sometimes, but she’s a good officer.”
“So what were you told about the death of the beautician?”
“To not discuss it,” Schulze said. “You’ll have your hands full if you think you can sort out that mess.”
“Mess?”
“The inmates all think one of the staff members are responsible and the officers think the same of the inmates.”
“That much I figured out. What’s the policy if an inmate needs to use the bathroom after lockup?”
“Agnes means besides waving the toilet paper.”
“The inmate is escorted there and back,” Schulze said.
“Do the officers wait in the bathroom?”
“We’re supposed to.”
“So if an officer doesn’t, that could provide a window of opportunity that might have cost Trudy her life.”
Schulze’s brow rose sharply. “You say that like you’re not an inmate yourself.”
I sighed. “You know, you’re right.”
“We’re getting into this investigating thing,” Eleanor admitted.
“It’s too bad you didn’t decide to work law enforcement instead of committing a crime.”
“We’ve dabbled in crime solving, but more along the lines of finding a lost dog.” I laughed.
“So what are our work assignments today?” I asked.
“You’re off the hook for today. Your lawyers are here to speak with the both of you about your appeal.”
“Lawyers?”
“Yes, don’t you remember, dear, we arranged for them to meet with us once we settled in,” Eleanor said.
“I’d hate to make them wait much longer then,” I said, although my heart sank. If our lawyers are here, it means only one thing: that our husbands are here, which spells trouble for both of us.
We walked with Officer Schulze and stopped at a door labeled “Soundproof room.” I took a breath as we entered, and Eleanor wiped at the tears that fell down her cheeks at seeing her frail husband, Mr. Wilson, who was seated at a table with my hubby Andrew.
“Have a seat,” Andrew said.
We sat and it took a moment before I could look Andrew in the eye. “I know you must be worr … .”
“Save your breath. Sheriff Peterson gave us the scoop. Even Peterson was shocked that you two would want to be sent here in an undercover capacity,” Andrew said.
“Shame on you, Eleanor, for going along with Agnes’ scheme,” Mr. Wilson chastised.
“You can’t blame Agnes for that. We’re partners and decided it was something we wanted to do. We just didn’t know what we were getting into.”
“Until we got here,” I volunteered.
Andrew frowned. “How is the case going?”
“The warden gave us permission to question the officers yesterday,” I said. “But we’ve only had a chance to question a few.”
“Hopefully today we’ll get through a few more,” Eleanor added.
“Then we’ll be questioning a few inmates who knew the victim.”
I moved my hand across the table and Andrew backed up. “You can’t touch me. I have a reputation to uphold and a wife back home who thinks she’s Superwoman.”
“I hope that doesn’t make me the sidekick,” Eleanor said.
Andrew frowned. “So what is your backstory about how you two wound up here?”
“I robbed a bank.” I winked.
“I stole a car and was the getaway driver,” Eleanor added.
Andrew tried not to laugh, but he was doing a miserable job of it. “It’s no wonder the bank in Tawas beefed up security.” He frowned. “But seriously, you had better hope the other inmates don’t find out who you really are.”
“So far they don’t. We’re doing them all a service by trying to find out who killed the inmates.”
“Inmates?”
Uh-oh.
“Oh, did we forget to tell you that another inmate was murdered, too?” Eleanor asked.
“I want you both out of here and soon,” Andrew said.
“Yes, what he says,” Wilson added.
“We can’t until we’ve solved this case.”
“How goes it with the other inmates?” Wilson asked. “Has someone made you their wife yet, Eleanor?”
“No, my heart and body belongs to Agnes.�
�
I rolled my eyes. “That’s the least of our worries. I’m glad you know now, Andrew. Once this case is solved we want out.”
“I should teach you both a lesson and leave you here.”
“I know you too well, dear. You’d never do that.”
“No, but I wish you had spoken to me about what you planned to do.”
“So you had a chance to talk me out of it?”
“No, so I could handcuff you to the bed.” He winked.
“Oh, my,” Eleanor exclaimed. “It’s getting kinky in here.”
“Seriously though, you’re both in more danger than you know.”
I thought about my shower and bathroom incidents. “I think we’re aware of that.”
“Now that we’re allowed to question the officers, I’m certain we’ll be able to solve this mystery,” Eleanor declared.
“Is there anyone on the inside helping you out?” Andrew asked. “Like another law enforcement officer?”
“Not that I’m aware of, but we’re trying to get chummy with one of the guards.”
“I’m not sure that’s wise; the killer could be one of the guards.”
“I know, dear, but we need someone on our side. The thing I worry about the most is one of the inmates who thinks everyone is a cop.”
“You two should be ruled out,” Mr. Wilson said. “You’re both old enough to be grandmothers to most of the inmates.”
“I’d rather not have you remind me of that,” Eleanor said to Wilson.
He smiled instead of replying, and we stood when there was a knock at the door before Warden Geyer entered. “I wasn’t aware it was visiting hours,” she said.
“I’m her lawyer Andrew Hart and this is my partner Mr. Wilson.”
The warden tried to hide her smile. “Okay then. I wanted to make sure this wasn’t a social call.”
“Our lawyers are working on our appeal,” Eleanor said with a straight face.
“Don’t you all. You can have more time if you need it.”
“We’re done now,” I said as Eleanor and I left the room and closed the door behind us.
Chapter Twelve
“I hope you have Dr. Franks available for us to question,” I said to Warden Geyer.
“Only one?”
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