Penned In Read online

  “You’re messing with me, right?” Angie tried to push the question, but Ian just stepped away and stood by Estebe. “Men. Go ahead and avoid the question.”

  Felicia stepped closer to Angie. She leaned close and whispered. “Are you two fighting? You never fight.”

  “We’re not fighting.” Angie started to tell Felicia what happened but then the lights went out.

  A woman screamed behind them. Angie could hear rustling as people tried to find out who had screamed. The lights came back on and Angie saw Hope’s bright red face.

  “Sorry everyone, I overreacted. I’m fine.” Hope called out to the crowd.

  “Well, that’s a relief,” Bridget said but her tone seemed mocking. She let the group settle. “First we’ll take a tour of the facility. We have a large gun collection in the gallows room. I think you’ll be impressed. Then we’ll do the general population quarters and finally, we’ll take you to your cells. You can hang out there, or we’ll be having coffee and dessert in the dining room at the end of the tour.”

  “See, Hope, nothing to worry about. We’re just touring a building.” Estebe patted her back like an inexperienced father trying to burp a baby.

  “I have to admit,” a dark-haired man standing near Estebe grinned at Hope, “I’m a little nervous too. Did you know that there were over 13,000 prisoners in this place during the time it was opened, but only ten executions? I think we’re fine. Unless there’s a killer in our midst.”

  “Tad, you always know how to make people feel comfortable. Please excuse my brother. He has a sick sense of humor.” An older woman took Tad’s arm and leaned into the group. “I’m Tamera Johnson. We’re from Boise but have never taken the time to tour the prison. Our uncle, Thaddeus, is here from Utah and he suggested we take a family field trip.”

  Angie stepped forward. “I’m Angie Turner and this is my crew from The County Seat. We’re in River Vista.”

  “I’ve been to your restaurant. A very nice setting for such a small town. It was a surprise when my husband got us dinner reservations. You have quite a following in the area.” Tamera looked around the group. “I don’t think I’ve ever met so many chefs before.”

  “I just started.” Hope explained.

  “Hope is our newest addition to the kitchen. She just graduated from the Boise State culinary program.” Angie smiled at the girl who, apparently, felt uncomfortable being called a chef. “And this is my boyfriend, Ian. He runs the Farmers’ Market co-op in River Vista.”

  “We’re surrounded by food experts. I may just have to bend your ear on this recipe I’ve been trying to figure out. I can’t get it to work like it does at my favorite restaurant.” She smiled and nodded to the guard motioning them into the next room. “Looks like we’re getting started. See you on the inside.”

  Ian moved over so the family could follow the guards. Angie noticed a few couples behind them, but they didn’t seem in the mood for chatting. In fact, it looked like they were waiting for the lights to go down to get a little closer.

  Ian fell in step with Angie. “I think this is going to be an interesting evening.”

  “I think ‘interesting’ is an understatement.” Angie shivered a little as they went through the open iron gate. When they were all in the large hallway, the guard that brought up the rear pulled the bars closed and clicked the locks shut. The sound echoed in the stone room.

  “You are officially residents of the Idaho Penitentiary for the evening. I hope you enjoy your stay.” He called over our heads. “Step forward to the light. Harry Orchard was one of our most famous residents. He confessed to killing over seventeen people, including a former Idaho governor. By the end of his life, he was living outside the prison walls in a cottage he’d built himself. He started a shoe shop and a poultry farm inside the prison.”

  An old sepia photo of an elderly man near a small rock building was posted on their left. A small placard described Harry’s crimes, as well as his more redeeming characteristics.

  “Over here we have one of Butch Cassidy’s boys. Henry ‘Bob’ Meeks wasn’t a long term resident but he tried to make his stay even shorter by escaping. He was shot in the leg, then doctors had to amputate the wounded limb. Later, he tried another method of escape and jumped off the top of a cell house. Finally, he was sent to the asylum.” Bridget told the next story.

  The tour went on like that with each guard giving the story of a different famous resident. Bridget presented the final story. “There were about 250 women incarcerated here over the years. Lyda Southard was convicted of killing her fourth husband with arsenic. Investigators pulled together evidence to support the premise that the other three husbands, a brother in law, and a son were all killed by the same method.”

  “She sounds like a peach of a girl,” Tad called out. “Just don’t eat her apple pie, it’s killer.”

  There were a few laughs but more groans to Tad’s joke. He glanced around at the group and muttered, “Tough crowd.”

  “I think it’s sad when women feel they have no other way out besides murder.” Hope said.

  “Honey, she killed at least five people, including her own child. I think she needed better coping mechanisms,” Nancy said.

  Hope nodded, then glanced at the photo again. “You’re probably right, but it’s still sad.”

  They made their way to the gun collection where the guys were huddled over the display talking. Hope, Angie, Felicia and Nancy grabbed a table in the corner to sit. “I never got the fascination with guns,” Nancy admitted. “My ex-husband was a hunter and he had all kinds of weapons. Most that weren’t good for hunting at all.”

  “Well, if the zombie apocalypse happens while we’re here, we’ll be safe.” Hope touched the stone walls. “Can you believe the prisoners built this building? Now they just make license plates.”

  “I think that’s not quite true. I do some prison mission work, and a lot of the woman who are incarcerated are working on their degrees, so they have job skills when they get out. They need something to count on besides the family or man who led them down the wrong path.” Nancy fixed her pony tail.

  “When do you have time to volunteer?” Angie studied her chef. “Last I heard, you were raising kids and working two jobs.”

  “I only do it one Sunday a month after church. It helps me remember how lucky I am to have what I have. Even if it is crazy at times.” Nancy grinned. “I’m sure the rest of you volunteer too.”

  Hope nodded. “I’m on the college sorority that works with the homeless in town. Of course, I’m going to have to quit when fall semester starts since I’m not a student anymore. Maybe I should check out your program?”

  “Of course, but maybe you could find something where there’s more young people involved.” Nancy glanced over at the men talking about the gun collection. “We’re a bunch of women who aren’t trying to build our lives. You need to be around people your age. You already hang with us in the kitchen way too much.”

  “I like you guys.” Hope countered. “Besides, I do a lot of things with friends my age. I’m just going to miss the structure of college. I got my schedule at the beginning of the semester. I took the classes and as long as I passed, I moved on. Now, no one is telling me what I need to do. Not even my folks. Although my little sister made it clear it’s time for me to leave home so she can have my room.”

  Angie laughed. “Out of the mouths of babes. Do you make enough to pay for an apartment? Rents are pretty high right now.”

  “I have a friend I can move in with. She’s been bugging me about sharing an apartment for years. She’s a checker over at Winco in Meridian.” Hope pointed to the guards who were standing in the corner talking. “Does it look like they’re fighting about something? Do you think something went wrong with the tour?”

  Angie glance over to the doorway where two of the men were definitely in a heated argument. She cou
ldn’t tell what they were saying, but the tone of the voices told her neither party was happy. She glanced at Felicia. “Do you think something’s wrong?”

  Felicia glanced around the room, then leaned into the table to get everyone’s attention. “It’s Halloween season. They probably hate staying late just so more people come during the week. Or maybe it’s part of the show?”

  “If that’s true, they’re really good actors.” Angie heard the low growl come from Dom. He felt the tension in the air just as much as she did. Or he sensed her unease. Either way, it was time to break up the conversation and continue with the tour. “Maybe if we stand up it will look like we’re ready to leave the area.”

  “And maybe pigs will fly. Men only do what they want, when they want.” Hope said, then she slapped her hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “That’s fine. We all can say what we don’t mean at times.” Felicia met Angie’s gaze.

  Angie thought she could read her friend’s thoughts. Hope never said anything mean or sarcastic. Maybe this prison visit hadn’t been the best idea for a team building event. She stood and Dom moved toward her. “Let’s see if we can get this tour going. Maybe if the guards are busy, they’ll stop sniping at each other.”

  “One can only hope,” Nancy called out to the men. “Come on, we’re heading out.”

  Matt ran back to Angie like a little puppy. “You can’t believe the displays they have. They must have every gun ever made and several that they used right here when the prison was open.”

  “That’s awesome.” She watched as Matt ran to Felicia to report the same information. At least someone was having fun. By the time she got there, the men had moved away from each other and she ran into Officer Bridget. “Is everything okay?”

  She sighed, running a hand over her hair. “I take it everyone heard the fight.”

  “Not much, but yeah, we knew they weren’t happy. Is there a problem?” Angie took in the woman’s pale face. She looked stressed.

  “They’ve been at each other all summer. I guess Marty is dating Pat’s ex-wife. I don’t know what the problem is; he divorced her to go chasing younger women. Now he’s all up in Marty’s face like they’re still married. Marty’s a nice guy. Rachel could do much worse.”

  “Relationships are hard, even when they’ve been broken for a while.” Angie was relieved that it wasn’t anything about the tour. “Are we going to be here much longer? I could use a bathroom break.”

  “Sure, that’s our next stop. We’ve got refreshments in the main area. We were going to assign you your cells first, but I think I’ll let these two calm down a bit. I’ll round up the troops.”

  Angie went back to Felicia while Bridget got everyone’s attention. They were down to two guards, Bridget and the guy that didn’t seem to ever talk. Poor Bridget, it must be like working with caged tigers with the two fighting and the other one not speaking. “I’m so glad we work well together.”

  “This group does seem a little dysfunctional.” Felicia nodded. “Did you hear what the fight was about? Rumor has it they are both in love with the same woman.”

  “Basically true.” Angie glanced at her friend. “Do you think we need some kind of non-fraternization policy?”

  “With me and Estebe? You want him to sign something saying we’ll be adults if we break up?” Felicia laughed. “I don’t think he’d ever talk to me again, so you wouldn’t have to worry about a fight.”

  “Are you talking about us?” Estebe asked coming up from behind and putting a hand on her shoulder.

  Felicia jumped and Angie laughed. “Kind of. I was telling her how much I appreciate our team. You guys are great together.”

  Estebe’s gaze darted to the fake guards at the front of the room. “Not all teams work the same way. Sometimes, it’s just a job.”

  “This is the coolest job in the world.” Matt jumped in on the discussion. “Thanks for doing these teambuilding events. I can’t wait for next quarter.”

  “You may regret saying that.” Hope’s gaze narrowed onto Matt. “It’s my turn to schedule and you’re going to pay for this one. How do you feel about knitting?”

  “You can’t make us knit,” Matt looked from Hope to Angie then to Estebe. “Seriously, you can’t be thinking that would be even an ounce of fun.”

  “I like learning new crafts.” Angie said, then she pointed to the doorway. “Looks like we’re moving out. Hope, I look forward to seeing your ideas for the next event.”

  Estebe slapped Matt on the back. “I think I see some payback in your future.”

  “This is a great outing. I can’t believe she’s not having fun.”

  Estebe narrowed his eyes at Matt.

  “Okay so maybe it’s not for everyone.”

  The group moved into the next room. Tables and benches were scattered around the large room. It had a vaulted ceiling and Angie could see three floors of cells circling the area. The tables were screwed to the floor.

  Bridget stopped in the middle of the room. “Welcome to the first great room concept. Prisoners ate, talked, and played games here. There were no televisions of course, but the prison library was just over there in that room. You’re welcome to check out a book, but make sure you get it back on time. The late fees around here are murder.”

  This time the group laughed.

  Tad looked offended. “Sure, laugh with the girl. I’m thinking it’s a matter of reverse discrimination.”

  “Give it up Tad, you’re just not as funny as this pretty little thing is.” Thaddeus Paige nodded to Bridget. “Go ahead young lady. Tell us a story. It’s my first and probably last time in a prison, I’d like to know what it was like for inmates.”

  “Okay, so I’ll tell you about the day in the life. That way you all will be sure to stay on the straight and narrow. I hear that conditions in the new prison set in the desert out south of Boise still run with an old west philosophy.”

  “The last time I was there, it was more like Club Med,” a man called from the back. Everyone turned to see who’d spoken and with the attention totally on him, he blushed. “Sorry, I was joking. I’ve never even had a parking ticket.”

  Angie hoped the rest of the attendees were as clean as this guy. Otherwise, their night in lockup might just turn into a mess. Besides, what kind of criminal would want to be locked up for a night?

  Angie tried to focus on Bridget’s story, but she just couldn’t shake the unease that had overcome her when they entered the facility.

  Chapter 3

  An hour later, they were alone in their row of cells. They had four cells near the guard station, with a walkway overlooking the community room. Each cell had two twin beds so Angie shared with Ian, Felicia shared with Estebe, Hope and Nancy had a cell, and Matt had his own cell.

  “I can sleep half the night in one cot, then move to the second one if it’s not comfortable.” Matt put sheets on both beds in his cell. “Unless someone wants to come share with me?”

  “We’re fine where we are.” Hope said and Nancy chuckled.

  Estebe stood near the bars. “Are you afraid because you’re alone in there? I could have brought one of my nephew’s teddy bears.”

  “Or maybe Dom can sleep with you?” Ian offered.

  Matt smoothed the blanket on the first bed. “How did my joy at being on my own get misinterpreted as me being lonely? I do sleep alone in my apartment every night.”

  “Please, I don’t need to hear about your love life.” Felicia giggled.

  A scream sounded down the hall toward the great room. They all quickly gathered in the hallway. Estebe pointed to the exit near the walkway. “It came from that way?”

  “Are you sure? The sounds seem to echo here.” Felicia glanced down the hallway the other way. She shook her head. “I don’t hear anything that way.”

  “Who has a fla
shlight? Maybe this is our first game of the night? We could be part of a scavenger hunt they didn’t advertise.” Matt returned to his cell and came out with two large flashlights. “Who needs one?”

  Estebe took one, glaring at Matt as he did. “I didn’t bring one. I guess I should have thought this out more closely.”

  “I have one on my phone.” Felicia reached for her back pocket but her hand came back empty. “And my phone is locked up.”

  “I didn’t know they’d take them.” Hope’s voice seemed a little too high pitched.

  As Angie stepped closer, she saw Nancy put an arm around the young chef. “Don’t worry about it. Two flashlights are enough.”

  “Three.” Ian pulled out one from his backpack. “I’m glad I didn’t stuff this in the locker.”

  “Didn’t you guys read the inmate list? It said we could bring up to two flashlights and that we might need them if the power went out during our stay.” Matt shook his head. “I knew we should have had a pre-meeting to make sure everyone was prepared.”

  “Are we going to stand here talking, or go find out who screamed?” Ian nodded to Estebe. “You go first, then Matt, you take the middle and I’ll come around the back.”

  “I’m not staying here alone.” Hope held on to Estebe’s arm.

  “No one’s asking you to. If you want to come, just get between me and Matt,” Estebe said, his voice patient. “Ian was placing the flashlights.”

  Of course, that wasn’t what Ian was doing, Angie could see it in his eyes. But then again, leaving three women behind in the dark wasn’t a great plan either. “Let’s all go. That way, we’re prepared for anything. Dom, come.”

  She clicked the leash on him and stayed back with Ian as the rest of the group made their way down the hall. She waited until Estebe and Hope were out of earshot and leaned close. “You don’t think this is a prank.”

  “Something’s been nagging at me all night. There’s something off about our guards and our guests. Did you see how Thaddeus wouldn’t even look at Tad? That’s strange. And the two couples, they’re just looking for a place to do it so they can tell their friends. They have no interest in the tour. Or the history of the place.” Ian kept shining the light behind them as they kept pace with the group. “And the guards, they’re like an episode of Dive Bar Escapades.”