Life Sentences (17 page)

“I’m as frightened as you are about these.” Chad threw the ‘“kites”’ on the desk. “But, if you transfer, how will we be able to get me out of here?”

Pilar rubbed her forehead. “I don’t think I have a choice. Someone here knows about us and is out to get me. Maybe even blackmail me for money and my job.”

“Blackmail?”

“It’s no secret that I have money. And, I want to keep all the funds I have so we can get a good lawyer.” Pilar circled her arms around him.

He left his arms at his sides and whispered, “What if an attorney, if we get one, can’t get me out? Or, doesn’t have the contacts or enough money to get the governor to commute my sentence.”

Pilar pushed away. “Then, we’ll just find a way for you to escape. After that, we’ll head for Canada.”

“Are you crazy?” Chad yelled. “I tried that before.”

Pilar placed a finger to his mouth to quiet him. “Not with my help, you haven’t. I may have a plan. I’ll tell you about it when I’ve thought it through. We won’t use plan B unless the attorney doesn’t work out.” She drew him close, and they kissed. “Better go,” she said, and released him. Yet, she never wanted to let him go, fearing it would be a long time before she’d embrace Chad again.

“Yeah. I’ve got some planning to do myself.” Chad scrambled out the door.

T
HAT EVENING, BEFORE A
fire, Pilar wrote several entries in her almost-filled journal. If her words were ever read by someone other than Chad, their eyes would burn. Pilar’s deepest desires, fantasies, and plans were vividly penned along with her observations and descriptions of prison employees. Both Whitefeather and Leonard would love to get their hands on that kind of information. It would condemn her at last.

As she jotted down notes about plan B, Pilar decided to collect her jewelry. Once assembled, she would look for a place to sell it without revealing her identity. She needed a trusted buyer who wouldn’t expose her. Anyone dumping large quantities of expensive jewelry in that small community would not go unnoticed. Chad had bragged about his connections on the streets. He’d know the right contact.

When Pilar piled the gathered diamonds, pearls, and what looked like a ton of gold on the bed, her heart raced. She never imagined that a life-long collection of useless pins, necklaces, bracelets, and rings would take her on the thrilling journey that lay ahead. Impending danger made the trek all the more titillating. Pilar giggled when her nipples hardened at that notion. She began to visualize Toronto as a place to live.

L
EONARD MARCHED INTO
P
ILAR’S
office. He kicked the door closed. As he swaggered toward her desk, he dangled a piece of paper in the air and taunted, “Guess what I have?”

“I can hardly imagine. Maybe a Christmas gift?” His boldness concerned Pilar. She followed his every move like a cat hunting mice. What would he do next?

Officer Leonard’s gray shirt, taut against his muscular chest, was pressed military style and tucked firmly into his black slacks which were creased as though just ironed. Pilar fancied him staying that neat even in a fight.

“It’s a “kite”.” He passed the paper in front of her face.

“So?” Pilar backed away from him.

Leonard let out a low, sadistic laugh and displayed straight teeth, their perfection spoiled by too many cigarettes. “It’s a special “kite”,” he teased. He tossed the paper into the air. It floated in slow motion and landed in front of Pilar. Standing tall, back straight as a board, Leonard’s stomach flattened. He must spend hours working out.

Happy her desk separated them, Pilar placed her telltale, shaking hands in her lap out of sight. Chad was upset when he left her office the other day. Had he been that foolish to send a note saying more than he was requesting an appointment?

“Read it.” Leonard placed both hands on Pilar’s desk and leaned across. Pilar felt his breath. “You may enjoy it as much as I do.”

Pilar lifted the paper. The handwriting was as familiar to her as her own. Ice ran through her veins. She read the words without showing any reaction. How much did Leonard know?

Pilar laid the “kite” down and folded her hands together on top of the desk. Her eyes engaged Leonard’s. She said nothing. Every muscle in her body ached. Yet, Pilar would not give in. She must think clearly.

Leonard massaged his hands for a few moments and thensat. “Well?” he asked, no doubt waiting for the frightened reaction Pilar was experiencing, but straining not to reveal.

“Well, what, Officer Leonard?”

He tilted his head to the side. He pushed his fingers through hair as blond and thin as Chad’s was black and thick. Leonard’s frigid stare remained fixed on Pilar’s. “Don’t play stupid with me.” He leaned back in the chair. “You know exactly what that “kite” says.”

“Exactly what does it say?” Pilar took a chance Leonard was only guessing about an affair she was having with an inmate.

Leonard blasted from the chair as though he’d been fired from a cannon. The chair screeched against the floor and slammed into the shelves behind. “You’re involved with a prisoner, and I think I know who it is.” His Kentucky accent became more pronounced with his increased frustration.

Pilar bit her lower lip and smiled at the same time. “Officer Leonard, do you know how many love letters I get in a week?” She tore the “kite” into tiny pieces.

His smirk showed he was ready to make his next move. It was like a chess game, and one of the players would soon yell out “gotcha” instead of “check mate.” “I have copies of that ‘kite’.” He pointed to the pieces of paper in the trash, but continued to stare at Pilar.

Though hoping he hadn’t been that smart, Pilar answered, “I’m sure you do.”

“Where are those other “kites” you’ve gotten? Arethey in the trash, too?” Leonard seemed comfortable in the interrogator’s role.

“I don’t keep them. There’s no need.” When his face brightened like a cartoon character who had just been given a clue, Pilar wished she had kept the other “kites”. She quickly added, “There’ll be plenty more to replace them.”

Pilar stood. She walked around the desk to face Leonard head to head. They were about the same height, so their eyes were level. “What do you want, Officer Leonard?”

He flipped Pilar’s hair. “I want you.”

Pilar’s heart felt as though it had jumped into her throat. She hadn’t expected a sexual proposition. Blackmail seemed more Leonard’s style. Blood pulsated through the veins in her jaw. “I’m not sure what you mean.” She clenched her teeth so hard pain shot into her temples. “But, if that was a pass, you’ve embarked on dangerous ground.”

Leonard tossed his head back and released a self-assured laugh. His mouth opened wide enough to show the dark cave where his tonsils were once embedded. In a sudden jerk of his head, Leonard stopped. “You think you’re too good for me, but you’ll bang a prisoner.”

Pilar’s jaw tightened even more. She must not be defensive. Leonard needed to let off steam. And, she needed to remain level-headed. Several moments passed as the two stared each other down. Suddenly, Leonard grabbed Pilar’s arm. She wrenched it loose. His hand dropped to his side. “You’ll be sorry, Doctor.” His fingers twitchedlike a gun fighter’s. “I have enough evidence in that “kite” to get you canned.”

Gaining confidence by the minute, Pilar jumped at the clue he slipped. Leonard only had one “kite”. “All you have, Officer Leonard, is one among many love letters from fantasizing inmates.” She walked to the door. She placed her hand on the handle and threatened, “What I have is enough to file sexual harassment charges on you.” She opened the door. “However, I won’t tell anyone what happened here today if you stay away from me.” Pilar directed him into the hallway with a sweep of her hand. As Leonard walked by, she leaned toward him so her mouth was close to his ear. “And I had better not hear any rumors, either.”

Crimson flowed from Leonard’s cheeks to the tip of his ears. “This is not over, Doctor.”

Pilar whispered, “Oh, yes, it is.” Then, in a voice loud enough for anyone in the waiting area to hear, she stated, “Thank you for sharing that “kite” with me, Officer Leonard. I’m sure it means nothing. So, don’t worry.”

Leonard’s back muscles tensed when he answered, “Ma’am.” He tipped his finger to his forehead as he did on the first day they met, and headed for the gate.

Jane glanced up and then quickly turned away.

Pilar closed the door. She braced herself against the desk, brushing her fingers through her hair several times. After such a close call with Leonard, what choice did she have? She had to transfer to Scott Correctional Facility.

T
WO MONTHS HAD ALREADY
passed since the encounter with Officer Leonard. No one said anything, and to Pilar’s delight she didn’t receive any “kites” other than those related to medical needs. Leonard had been silenced for now. She had gained the necessary time to take the promotion to medical director at the women’s prison.

Tommy Johnson’s transfer to the trustee camp came up suddenly. Pilar rushed to complete his medical file and forward it. Happy that he was one less person for her to worry about until she was out of Hawk Haven, she sighed, sounding like a hot air balloon. Leaving couldn’t happen soon enough, though it wouldn’t be any too fast if she didn’t let Warden Whitefeather know her decision.

Jane, tears moistening her cheeks, crashed through Pilar’s office door. “I won’t see Tommy anymore,” she wailed.

“Ssshh,” Pilar scolded, cringing at her unabashed confession.

Jane swung her arms as though she was batting cobwebs away. “I don’t care who knows.”

“But I do.” Pilar yanked her further inside and shut the door. “If they think I know about you and Tommy, I’m as guilty as you.”

Jane flopped into a chair. She hit the seat so hard she sounded like a sack of potatoes being dropped. Jane blew her red nose. “I’m quitting.”

“What? Are you insane?” Pilar sat in the chair next tohers. “If you do, they’ll know something’s up.”

“I can’t go on if I don’t see him,” Jane cried, and blew her nose again.

“They aren’t going to let a former employee visit Tommy.” Pilar handed her another tissue. “So quitting isn’t the answer.” Suddenly, Pilar was sucked into the friendship that Jane foresaw would happen the night they had met for drinks.

Jane lowered her head into her hands. “They won’t let an employee visit him either,” she sobbed. “I thought you understood.” She lifted her puffed face. “I never thought I was anything until I met Tommy.”

Pilar understood all too well what Jane meant. But, she also knew that if Jane left, she’d accomplish nothing. “He’s a trustee,” Pilar commented as though that would change everything. “He’ll be paroled soon.”

“How will that help?” Jane slumped further into the chair. She looked small and vulnerable. “This is a small town,” she sniffled. “If we’re caught seeing each other, it’ll be no different. I’ll still lose my job.”

Jane was right. Not only would she lose her job, but her husband and maybe her children, too. Worse yet, she and Tommy were an interracial couple. If they stayed in the Upper Peninsula, they’d stick out like palms at the North Pole. That wouldn’t be the only obstacle to overcome. Tommy, himself, was troublesome. The few times Pilar had contact with him made one thing clear: he wasn’tsomeone to mess with. His unsmiling demeanor pierced her own confidence. He was colder than dry ice. He spoke few words, making each one count, each calculated. What did such an unemotional man, a murderer, really want from Jane? Why had he selected her?

For that fact, what did Jane want with Tommy? His records described Tommy as showing no remorse for any of his actions, even the murder of his rap partner. He wasn’t attractive either, especially with that creepy hair, long, and most often unwashed. He had neither money nor the legal means to get any. He reminded Pilar of a 1960’s hippy throwback, a mean and dangerous one.

“Jane,” Pilar finally said, “remember Tommy is a killer.”

Jane snickered. “And Chad’s not?” She moved to the office door. “I’ll be in touch.” Like a flash of light, Jane was gone.

W
HEN
P
ILAR THREW THE
last towel into a box, she was glad she hadn’t decorated her apartment after all. It was as though that collection of rooms had been rented by an anonymous person. The impersonal aspects of these surroundings did make it easier to move. Even the furniture didn’t seem to matter, although it would eventually be trucked to her new place in the Lower Peninsula. As she made one last sweep of the rooms, the telephone rang. Pilar dove for it, expecting it was Chad. She hadn’t seen or talked with him for several days. She was disappointed when sheheard Jane’s voice.

“I need to see you,” Jane said, more like an order than a plea.

Pilar hadn’t seen or heard from Jane since she left her office almost a month before. Jane had quit her job, and when she tried to visit Tommy, was denied entry as predicted. Pilar’s situation would soon parallel Jane’s. She wouldn’t be able to see Chad, either.

“Why? I can’t help you.” Pilar reached for a glass of wine. She was becoming more dependent on her daily sipping.

“But, I can help you,” Jane said.

Pilar noticed the lake waters had taken on their spring blue-green softness. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Pilar twisted the curtain cord. “I don’t need any help.”

“I can help you get Chad out of prison,” she announced.

Pilar kept her attention on the lake that had become so familiar over the past nine months. She needed to think about what she said next to Jane. She didn’t want to do something stupid. So, for several long moments Pilar only heard Jane’s breathing. “Look, Jane,” Pilar finally said, “I appreciate your concern about my well-being, but believe me, I can handle my own life.”

“I’ll be in touch,” Jane said as she had the last time they were together. Then the line went dead.