Life Sentences (22 page)

Pilar rummaged through the notes she had about people Chad met in prison who could get all the phony ID needed, for a handsome price no doubt. Never mind. Money didn’t matter. She started a “to-do” list.

T
HE TELEPHONE’S RING AWAKENED
Pilar. She snatched her clock. It was three in the morning. Who could be calling at that hour? Maybe it was an emergency at the prison. It wouldn’t be the first time she had to go into work at a strange hour.

“Hello, Doctor Brookstone here.” Pilar yawned.

“You need to be more watchful, Pilar,” the male caller warned. “I know where you were today.”

Pilar bolted upright and shouted, “Who is this?”

“You know what they’re saying about you at Scott? You’re bringing in drugs to those women.”

“What’s the matter with you? Who is this?” She was shrieking now.

The line went dead.

M
ONDAY MORNING AT THE
prison was quiet. The gate officer hardly patted Pilar down. But she was more than thorough with Pilar’s attache. Was she looking for drugs? Perhaps she was part of the scheme to make Pilar appearshady. Pilar watched the less-than-precise rifling through her belongings. What kind of negative signals had she given at Scott? The drug rumor was someone’s way to force her out. It had to be the same person who was after her at Hawk Haven. But, how would they know Pilar’s daily routine? Damn. She wanted this whole thing over. Chad must get prepared, pronto.

The officer handed the attache to Pilar. It was in total disarray. “Have a nice day.” She sounded sarcastic.

“Thanks,” Pilar snatched the case. The quick motion forced the officer to stand back. “I’m glad we can’t take purses inside. After how this looks,” Pilar lifted the attache near the officer’s face, “I couldn’t imagine how my bag would be returned.”

The officer smirked. “Gate two,” she shouted. She clearly enjoyed her brief moment of power.

Pilar gladly left the gated confines without another word, though she searched every face she passed looking for a clue that might identify the caller.

O
NLY A FEW MINUTES
after she settled in her office, an infirmary guard interrupted her. “Doctor Brookstone?”

“Yes.”

“The warden wants to see you.”

“What? Why didn’t she call me?” Pilar sounded irritated. Why hadn’t the warden requested an appointment directly?

“Don’t know. She just called, and …”

“Okay, okay.” Pilar motioned the officer out. “I’m on my way.”

Sharon Cooper’s secretary told Pilar to go right into the warden’s office. Pilar knocked before she entered.

The warden looked up from a file. “Close the door,” she ordered, “and sit down.”

Cooper stayed seated behind her desk. Pilar noticed that the suit she wore was similar to the warden’s others. They showed little imagination, like a uniform. Silly observation at a time like that, but one that could be useful for Pilar. The warden was unwilling to change.

Pilar recalled the many meetings she had with Whitefeather. Would this one be the same? “What can I do for you, Warden Cooper?” If the warden’s lips were squeezed more tightly together there would be nothing but a thin red line marking her mouth.

“I won’t beat around the bush. Remember our recent conversation about rumors I’ve heard about you?”

“Yes.” Pilar couldn’t keep from frowning.

“Well, they’re getting worse. I’m not only getting letters,” the warden fluttered sheets of paper she retrieved from a pile on her desk, “but phone calls saying you are bringing in drugs.”

“I know.” Pilar was resigned to the accusations.

“You know?”

“Yes. I’ve been getting the same letters and phonecalls,” Pilar related in the same matter-of-fact way she handled Officer Leonard. “Makes you wonder how truthful they are, doesn’t it?” Pilar crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap, surprised they weren’t shaking.

The warden tapped a pencil against her desk. “I just want you to know that I have no choice but to keep you under surveillance in order to prove you are not doing anything against policy.”

Pilar’s back tensed as though a steel rod had been wedged down her spine. “Surveillance?” she asked. “Are you going to have me tailed?” Pilar stood. “How about a stakeout team at my apartment? This is absurd.”

“It’s for your protection as well as my satisfaction.” The warden stood, too, and headed for the exit. She opened the door in her usual way, signaling that their conversation was over. “I just want to give you a fair warning.”

Pilar moved within inches of her; their nose almost touched. “You could have trusted me instead.”

Warden Cooper closed the door so quickly it brushed Pilar’s back. Her secretary smirked. Pilar wanted to give her the finger and yell, “Fuck you, bitch.” Instead, she smiled sweetly. The secretary looked away.

A
FTER WORK
P
ILAR ENTERED
her dark apartment. She immediately focused on the phone’s blinking message indicator. Could she have missed yet another call from Chad? She pushed the button before taking off her jacket. “Pilar, it’s Jane,” the harried voice announced. “I’ll call tonight around eight. Be there.” Pilar’s throat tensed as though something was wrapped too tightly around it.

The next message was from Celeste. “Things are moving faster than I had thought. The divorce papers should be served on your father in a couple of weeks.” She sounded cheerful. “I’ve put a down payment on a two-bedroom penthouse unit at Nine-Mile Condominiums,” she chattered on. “Can’t wait for you to see it. Quite posh and liveable. Oh, by the way, did you see that article in the paper about the escapee and that nurse? That isn’t the same Nurse Jane, is it? The friend you told me about? Talk to you later.”

If Pilar hadn’t known better, she would have believed her mother heard Jane’s call. Pilar erased Celeste’s message. How much did she know? Could Whitefeather have called her? Pilar was getting more unraveled by the minute. How much longer could she go on living like that?

Pilar punched the key to retrieve the last message. “Remember I’m watching you so don’t do anything foolish,” the voice from the night before cautioned. She rushed to the window as though he was outside observing her with binoculars. All she saw was an empty yard and the moon rising.

Everything was closing in. Pilar could hardly breathe, as if she were at the top of Mt. Everest without an oxygen tank. She poured a glass of wine and sat on the deckwrapped in Lucinda and Jodie’s afghan and waited for the eight o’clock call.

Though she expected the ring, she jumped when the phone sounded. When Pilar answered on the second ring, she heard Tommy’s voice rather than Jane’s. “We need to talk. You’re fully aware Jane and I know all about you and Chad. If we’re caught and you won’t cooperate, we’ll squeal.”

“What are you saying?” She was unhappy about where the conversation was headed. “I thought you told Chad you wanted to help me get an attorney.”

“I do, but it will take a lot of money.”

“Money’s no problem.”
Shit
. Pilar slapped the table. She shouldn’t have been so eager.

“Money isn’t the only problem. You probably know from the paper the cops are on our tails. So we need to be extra careful.”

Pilar didn’t know what to say.

“We need money for our efforts in this, too.” Tommy’s demand sounded threatening.

“I’m prepared to compensate you, Tommy, but we have to act fast. Someone is trying to get me in trouble — if not kill me.”

Tommy laughed, “Aren’t you being a little dramatic?”

“Maybe so.” Pilar paced in front of the deck door and searched the area for the person watching her. Was it Tommy? He had her unlisted telephone number. Had Chad given it to him? “I still want to get this over so Chadand I can get on with our lives. And so can you and Jane.” There was no movement outside.

“Don’t you worry about us. You just do as you’re told and your lover will be out of prison.” Tommy’s tone was sarcastic rather than sympathetic. Pilar imagined he curled his lip back like a snarling dog.

Tommy explained that part of the money the attorney got went to pay off a judge who would get Chad released. “It happens all the time,” he assured Pilar.

Tommy ended the conversation by telling Pilar, “I’ll call tomorrow night at the same time to give you instructions. I gotta go now.” Then he let out a sigh that was so loud Pilar held the phone away from her ear for a moment until he resumed talking. “I can’t stay in one place for too long, even a phone booth. My picture’s been splashed across the front page.” He chuckled, almost proud of his star status. “I don’t want some do-gooder to see me and turn me in.”

After she hung-up Pilar poured another glass of wine and closed the sliding door to the deck. She caught a hint of a cigarette’s light. She pulled the curtains and peeked through a crack between the panels. The light was gone. She was letting her distrust control her. After all, people were allowed to smoke and walk outside the building.

T
HE WAIT WAS EXCRUCIATING
. Since Tommy’s second call and their planning a meeting, Pilar had been a bundle of nerves. “Where the hell are you, Tommy?” she asked the rearview mirror. “Come on, come on,” she chanted.

To get a better view of the lot Pilar decided to change parking spots. She backed out too fast and sideswiped the car next to her. She quickly wrote a note letting the owner know what happened and how to contact her, remembering as she snapped the wiper blade down on the paper, the threat she’d found on her own windshield. She got back into her car and parked in a space on the other side of the lot.

Every two minutes Pilar checked her watch. She grabbed the makeup pouch tucked inside her purse. Though she knew exactly how much there was, she counted the bills again. “Twenty-five thousand dollars for an attorney is a lot of money. And I’m sure it won’t be all Tommy will want, but if it works …” She stuffed the money back into the pouch.

Pilar tapped her fingers against the steering wheel and chanted in rhythm, “This will be over soon, this will be over soon.” She stopped when she saw a movement in the rearview mirror. Her hands tightened around the wheel. Her heart pumped frantically. There was no way to get enough blood through her veins.

Tommy’s lurid face peered through the driver’s window. “You got the money?”

Pilar showed him the pouch. How smart of her to have left a note by her telephone about their meeting. Just in case.

“Good.” He opened the door and sat in the passenger’s seat. He took the pouch and counted the bills

“Don’t you trust me?” Pilar resumed the finger tapping and searched the parking lot.

“I don’t trust no one.” Tommy sounded so matter of fact. It made Pilar’s hair stand on end.

“Twenty-five thousand, exactly.” His smile was smug when he handed Pilar the lawyer’s address and directions.

She read the information on the piece of paper.

“I’ll ride with you. Jane will follow us in her car,” Tommy directed, jerking his head toward the back window.

Pilar turned around and saw Jane’s car parked several spaces away. Details of its occupant were obscured by the building’s shadow. Only the dark shape of a head was apparent.

“When we get to the lawyer’s parking lot, stay in the car,” Tommy ordered. “I’ll take the cash to him. He’ll see you once I make the delivery. Got it?”

“Yes.” This must be some lawyer. Well, Pilar would go along with the plan, though she was unhappy about how it was being played out. Tommy wasn’t the only person who had little faith in other humans.

“You don’t sound so sure.” Tommy squeezed Pilar’s arm. There would be a bruise.

Pilar inhaled deeply and practically barked, “I’m sure.”

“Good, ‘cause it’s too late for you to back out now. Let’s get outta here.” Tommy let her go, smacked the console andwaved out the window, motioning to Jane.

Pilar waited until the bronze Ford pulled close behind. This scheme might be crazy, but it sure beat escape as a way to get Chad out. They could move to Toronto and start over. They wouldn’t have to be looking over their shoulders for the rest of their lives. She could also stay in contact with her mother.

Pilar took a few deep breaths as she pulled into traffic and headed to the lawyer’s office in Southfield. Jane’s car followed.

Half an hour later, Pilar turned onto I-696 from I-275. Almost there. Soon the ordeal would end. Soon she and Chad would be together. Together, what a wonderful word. She stole a glance at Tommy. His eyes were closed. Could he be dozing? See, how silly she was to have worried. Everything was going to work out fine. With every mile she became happier and more relieved. More certain.

Suddenly, red and blue flashing lights flickered in the mirror, maybe a mile back. A police car, and it was gaining on them. They’d been discovered. But how? Pilar’s heart beat faster and faster, keeping pace with the twirling flashes. Panic replaced euphoria.

The flashing lights sped closer, half a mile, then a quarter. Pilar couldn’t breathe. She choked back vomit.

What in hell were they doing? Had she gone crazy? Abruptly she twisted the wheel. The car veered off the road onto the shoulder. She would wait here for their pursuers. But what would she say?

Tommy awoke with a start. “What are you doing?” he screamed

“I can’t go through with this,” she shouted back. “When the police get here I’ll tell them you kidnapped me and forced me to withdraw the money.”

“What police? Are you crazy?”

“I don’t want to go to prison. I don’t want to lose Chad.” Pilar turned off the engine.

“You’re a whore. Nothing more,” Tommy hissed.

The police car rushed by. The uniformed occupants didn’t even glance at them. Before she felt any relief, a motion in the rearview mirror drew her attention. The sun’s glare distorted the figure’s movement. Jane, advancing toward the car.

Like a flash of lightning, Tommy threw open his door, stood up and yelled to Jane, “Go back to your car and stay there.”

Pilar was paralyzed. How could she get away? She fumbled with the seat belt and pushed her door open.

As suddenly as he’d left, Tommy was back. He reached across his seat, grabbed Pilar’s hair and yanked her head back like a whiplash. “You stupid bitch,” he shouted.