We raced to our cell to find two officers we’d never seen before tossing items out of our drawers and cabinet. They then overturned our mattresses.
Officer Barlow moved to enter our cell and I protested, “I don’t want her to check our cell.”
The warden came over. “What’s the problem here?”
“These officers have already checked our cell. There’s no need for Officer Barlow to check it.”
“Is that because you have contraband?” Barlow asked.
“No, it’s because you might add some contraband just so we get a charge or sent to solitary.”
“That’s a serious allegation,” Warden Geyer said.
“Since you’ve already been to solitary today, I didn’t think you would mind going back,” Barlow said.
“We were only handing out the food trays,” I exclaimed.
“I sense some animosity here,” Warden Geyer said. “I hope you’re not on a personal vendetta against Barton and Mason for questioning you yesterday.”
“Of course not!”
“Please help with the search in the other cells.”
Barlow stalked into our cell anyway. She wiped her hand over a metal shelf and returned with a banana. “What do we have here? Planning on making a little hooch?”
“You must have planted that!” I exclaimed.
Eleanor shuffled her feet. “I might have brought that back from breakfast.” When I narrowed my eyes at her she exclaimed, “But I get hungry at night!”
“That’s what commissary items are for,” Geyer said.
“Everyone knows you can’t make hooch with bananas,” said Mel from a neighboring cell. “Bananas have potassium. It has to be an acid-based fruit. Google it if you don’t believe me.”
“Yeah, Google it,” Eleanor added as she puffed up her chest. “I knew it the whole time.”
“You can’t be serious. She wants us to Google it,” Barlow choked out.
“I think that would be a good job for you,” Warden Geyer said. “Let me know what you find out.” She turned to us, “Don’t take any more food from the chow hall. And you are to show Officer Barlow the respect she is due or you’ll find yourself in solitary.”
I nodded curtly at the warden, but focused my attention across the pod at the inmate I had seen the night before in the bathroom. At least I knew where to go next. I had a few questions for her.
The officers ended their search, and Eleanor and I cleaned up the mess that was left behind. I frowned to find my shampoo bottle cracked and spilled on the floor. I’d need another trip to the commissary after we questioned the inmates who were still on our list.
Eleanor and I missed lunch because we were distributing trays in solitary. Office Schulze said loud enough for everyone to hear, “Until further notice, your yard privileges are suspended.”
“What?” the inmates called out. “Why?”
Warden Geyer sighed. “Until we find out how drugs are getting into the prison, there will be no yard time. And your time in the commons area will be limited to an hour after lunch.”
I swallowed hard. “This can’t be good,” I said.
“I think there’s going to be trouble, and soon.” Eleanor sighed.
Angry inmates congregated in the commons area. “What are we going to do, Mary?” one of her cronies, Frankie, asked.
“How should I know? We’ll have to bide our time. I better not find out who snitched to the warden.”
“Yes, and we all know who’s chummy with the warden, now, don’t we,” Crusher said, rubbing her fist with her other hand.
I wanted to tell Mary it was all her fault for giving Jana the drugs. “I’m sure it must be a routine sweep is all,” I said. “I’m certain they happen frequently.”
“Except that we’ve never lost our yard time for a spot check before,” Mary said.
Chapter Fourteen
We didn’t stick around, not when the inmates were riled. I moved to where I spotted the inmate I saw the night before. I knocked on the cell door and asked, “Can I speak with you?”
“About?” the inmate asked.
“I wanted to ask you a few questions about the bathroom visit last night. We’ve been trying to find out who murdered Trudy.”
“Come in before Mary sees you. I don’t need her thinking I’m part of your narc squad.”
Eleanor and I hurried inside. “I won’t bother you with any denials since that’s not what I have to say. Is it normal for the officers to escort more than one inmate to the bathroom at night?”
“Not normal, but it happens.”
“What do you know about the day Trudy died?”
“I hope you don’t expect me to know if she used the bathroom that night.”
“Is it possible that two inmates were taken to the bathroom and that’s how Trudy was murdered?”
“But I thought I heard you say to the other inmates that you weren’t convinced an officer didn’t do it.”
“We still have to look at both sides. So if an inmate didn’t do it, would a guard have the time to kill an inmate?”
“Why not?”
“But the other officer would have to be detained if the guard killed Trudy,” Eleanor said, “and they’d have to be unaware of the other officer taking Trudy.”
“I’m sure you could figure this out without me,” the inmate said. “I’d appreciate it if you left my name out of it.”
“Of course. I don’t even know your name, nor will I ask you what it is.”
“One last question,” Eleanor began, “do the officers always stay outside the bathroom when the inmates are in there at night.”
“Your friend saw that for herself last night.”
I nodded in agreement. “Where can we find a Shelly Rhodes?”
“Go up the stairs, first cell on the left. You can’t miss her. Shelly doesn’t have eyebrows.”
We crossed the commons area and climbed the stairs. We were panting hard by the time we reached the second tier of cells.
“Is this Shelly’s Rhodes’s cell?” I called out.
“Who’s asking?” a tattooed woman asked from her bunk.
“I just had a few questions to ask her.”
“Come inside then.”
“We’re trying to figure out who murdered Trudy Taylor.”
“I think we all know that.”
“It was my understanding you and Trudy didn’t get along. Love triangle perhaps,” I suggested.
The inmate jumped up and was in my face. “I’m not like that. Trudy fried my hair when she permed it. It still hasn’t grown back yet.”
I willed myself not to stare at her eyebrow-less brow. “I see. Well, that’s hardly a reason to want the woman dead.”
“I might have jumped her, but she was alive when I left her cell.”
“When did that happen?”
“The afternoon before she was murdered.”
Her cellmate sat up. “I can vouch for Shelly. She never left this cell that night, and reported to the kitchen that morning. She had kitchen duty.”
“And your name is?”
“Macy Jalene, but if the warden comes around asking me questions, we’ll know for sure you’re a snitch.”
“Agnes is not a snitch. She’s been my best friend for years and hasn’t let me down yet,” Eleanor insisted.
Eleanor and I went back down the stairs, but Mary’s muscle, Frankie and Midge, barred our way.
“Could you please move?” I asked sweetly.
“Why, are you planning to speak with the warden about Mary again?” Frankie asked.
“I’d never do that. I don’t even know that much about her drug peddling.”
“You’re going to get us killed, Agnes,” Eleanor whispered.
“Well, I won’t be speaking to the warden again. I only did that so I could question the officers. And we’ve already questioned them about Trudy’s murder.”
Laura pushed her way through. “These two are most likely suffering from demen
tia. I doubt they remember their names in the morning,” she sneered.
“And I thought you were nice when we were in quarantine.”
“Looks can be deceiving.” Frankie laughed.
They moved aside. We had to question the last inmate on our list soon.
I found Yolanda and Velma with Char, who was picking her teeth with a toothpick. “Oh look, your snitch friends are here,” Char said.
“We’re not snitches,” I swore.
“That’s not what everyone thinks. Mary thinks that’s why the spot check happened today,” Char said.
“I wish everyone would quit saying that. I can’t help but notice, Char, that you claim all us first-timers are cops or snitches. What have either of us done that would make you think that?”
Char was in my face now. “You’re too chummy with the warden, for one. Why would she allow you to question the officers like that?”
“Does it matter? Or don’t you care whether they find out who murdered Trudy?”
“And whoever did it also killed Lopez,” Yolanda said.
“Exactly, but for the life of me I can’t understand who would be able to get into the offices to kill her. I mean, if an inmate was responsible, how would she get in there? We were the only ones, and all the officers have alibis.”
“You can’t take them at their word,” Char sneered. “They’d lie in a second, and they stick up for one another.”
“I understand how you feel, but we’re doing all we can.”
“Where can we find Fran Wilson?” Eleanor asked. “She’s the last person on our list.”
“Figure it out yourself,” Char snarled as she strode away.
I sighed. “I shouldn’t have spoken to her like that,” I mused.
“No, but luckily for the moment she hasn’t decided to knock your teeth out,” Velma said. “Of course I can’t say the same for Crusher. Please be careful, ladies.”
“Check out that cell over there,” Yolanda said.
Yolanda and Velma left, leaving us alone. I didn’t like the atmosphere. From the glances thrown our way from the inmates, all of them thought we were snitches.
Eleanor and I went to the cell Yolanda indicated and found an older woman sitting on her bunk doing a crossword puzzle. “I wondered how long it was going to take for you ladies to come visit me.”
“Why haven’t we seen you out and about?”
“I stay in my cell most of the time. I injured my back sometime ago.”
“How?” Eleanor asked.
“Do I really have to tell you?” she asked. “We all know who really runs this place, and it’s not the warden. This pod has its own rules, and Mary is the chief. Don’t forget that. If you cross Mary, you’re done.”
“I believe you, but what do you know about Trudy’s death?”
“Enough to know it was murder.”
“Do you think Mary killed her?”
“You tell me.”
“Well, if all the inmates are locked up, who was the officer that night?”
When Fran didn’t say anything, Eleanor sighed. “We have to know,” Eleanor said. “We were told that Officer Barlow doesn’t work nights.”
“No,” she finally said. “But Officer Barlow showed up early.”
“Thank you so much. We’ll never mention your name to anyone.”
“That’s a promise I expect you to keep.”
We left Fran’s cell and I shook my head. “I guess that’s it then. We’ll never find out who murdered Trudy and Lopez,” I said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Eleanor threw up her arms. “I give up!”
I then lowered my voice. “Eleanor, let’s head to the bathroom. I have to pee.”
Luckily none of the inmates blocked our path to the bathroom. I was beginning to feel quite on edge, but hoped we’d be able to snow them.
We had no sooner entered the bathroom when Mary’s muscle, Frankie and Midge, shoved us further into the room. Mary surfaced from a stall, and her hands slipped to her hips.
“You know my grandmother is from Alabama, born and raised. She taught me how to be a proper southern lady and to always respect my elders. But the both of you are pushing all the wrong buttons. The only good snitch is a dead one.”
“But we’re not … .”
“Save it. Barlow gave us the scoop.”
“Officer Barlow?”
“Yes, she’s been most helpful.”
“Meaning she’s sneaking drugs into the prison for you?”
“That’s quite an assumption. Are you sure there’s nothing else you plan to say to me.” Mary brushed her fingernails against her shirt. “I’ve been known to be understanding.”
Laura rushed into the bathroom and Mary nodded at her as she joined the group of thugs. “Sorry I’m late.” While she frowned as if she was uncertain, Laura continued to stand with Mary.
“If you didn’t want the powers-that-be knowing about your drug business, you shouldn’t have hooked so many of the inmates on that stuff. Jana is in withdrawal because of you, and an officer had no other choice than to report it to the warden.”
“See, we didn’t snitch,” Eleanor added. “It was your doing, Mary.”
“Let me at Barton,” Crusher said from the opposite side of the bathroom, clenching and unclenching her fists.
“Not yet,” I choked out. “You need to know the kind of person Mary really is.”
“You remind me of Trudy a little. A do-gooder to the end, or so I heard,” Mary coolly said.
Officer Schulze hurried into the bathroom. “What’s going on in here?”
“Nothing,” I said. “We’re just talking.”
“Hands off, Mary! I’m certain you wouldn’t care for a stay in solitary,” Schulze threatened.
Mary glanced at her fingernails. “I never put my hands on anyone. You should know that.”
“All of you, out,” Schulze commanded.
They were all ushered into the common area and Schulze ordered everyone to their cells. Inmates filed from the room to comply, but I never even had a chance.
Chapter Fifteen
Crusher came barreling at me. I brought up my hand as if I were going to karate chop her, and I kicked my leg up.
Crusher was almost on me, but … she tripped over my foot. She sailed through the air and landed face first into one of the seats bolted to the floor.
“Ouch!” Eleanor muttered.
When she didn’t move, I shrieked, “I think I knocked her unconscious! Crusher needs help!”
Inmates raced back into the commons area. Officer Schulze shouted for help into the intercom on the wall. Inmates and officers alike flooded the area. Schulze handcuffed me, and Laura asked, “You did this to Crusher?”
“Yes! I just couldn’t take it any longer,” I shouted as officers dragged me from the room to solitary.
I pounded the metal door and winced as my hand began to throb. I had gone and done it now. I had inadvertently knocked out Crusher. I wouldn’t allow myself to feel good about that, although it did make me smile. While she might have sustained a serious injury, I could have been crushed for real.
I felt I had the case figured out, but how will I be able to tell the warden now? When Mary mentioned Barlow telling her I snitched, I knew how Trudy died.
I huddled on the thin mattress pad and rubbed my arms. Would I face an assault charge now?
The sound of the key in the lock startled me and I stood up. The warden motioned me out of the cell. “Keep quiet. I’ll take you through the back way.”
I allowed myself to be led down the series of hallways until we came to the offices. When I walked into the warden’s office, Deputy Director Smith was standing. Eleanor, Mary, and Officers Barlow and Schulze were there, too. Mary was handcuffed.
“Are you okay?” Eleanor blubbered.
“Yes, but why are we all here?”
Warden Geyer walked behind her desk and took a seat. “Barton, what have you found out in regards to the deaths o
f Trudy Taylor and Maria Lopez?”
“I can’t say on the grounds that I’ll be brutally murdered,” I said as I warily glanced at Mary.
“Don’t worry about that now. Mary is heading to the Women’s Huron Valley Corrections Facility when we’re done here.”
“You can’t do that!” Mary screeched.
“I can and I am. You’ll be facing drug charges to add on to your original sentence. Another thirty years from the sounds of the judge I spoke with.”
Mary gnashed her teeth. “I’ll get you, Barton!”
Warden Geyer shook her head. “It wasn’t her. I found out how the drugs were coming into the prison. Your reign of terror is over.”
I smiled. “You might have to add to her sentence, but I’m reluctant to tell you the particulars now.”
“You’re free to talk, I assure you,” Deputy Director Smith said.
“Mary just about confessed that she killed Trudy.”
“I did not!”
“Trudy was tired of your drug peddling, and that’s why you killed her.”
“Mary doesn’t have the guts,” Eleanor said. “All she’s good at is dishing out the orders.”
“That’s true,” I said turning to face Barlow. “You’re the one who killed Maria Lopez.”
“How do you figure that? I have an airtight alibi. You said so yourself.”
“Yes, until I found out you and Mary are in cahoots. She told us how you lied and told her we were snitches. We haven’t snitched on anyone!”
“If you’d tell an inmate like Mary that we were snitches, you’re capable of murdering Lopez,” Eleanor shouted.
“Do I have to stand here and listen to this, warden?”
“Yes, I think you do. I thought you knew better than to bring drugs into this prison.”
“That’s not true! I don’t want to be on their side of the fence," Barlow scoffed.
“Face it,” I said, “you’re caught, Barlow!”
“What possible proof do you have?”
The warden pulled out a bag of white powder. “I found this in your locker.”
Barlow’s eyes bulged slightly. “Why would you go into my locker?”
“I brought in a drug-sniffing canine. I wanted to assure myself that none of my officers were part of the drug trafficking. Schulze, cuff Barlow.”
Undercover Inmates Page 10