“When I think of somebody doing hard time I think of a guy like that,” Jasper said nodding his head in the direction of a grizzled, tattooed man who looked as if he has seen a lot of living and dying in his life. “I don’t think of guys like that,” Jasper continued, now looking at a slight, middle aged man with wire framed glasses and short brown hair. “He looks like an accountant or a real estate agent.”
“And he may be a murderer or a rapist or a thief. We can’t tell much about people just by looking at their appearance.”
Jasper nodded, agreeing to a point, but still glancing around the chow hall to find better examples that fit his notion of a criminal. The tour leader asked them to wait in the dining hall until all of the inmates left. Then he escorted them to a recreational area which had been cleared out for the students to listen to the inmate panel. Marlee and the students seated themselves on the folding chairs lined up before the long table with four inmates seated behind it.
After a series of opening remarks and announcements, Major Aspen, the tour leader, introduced the inmate panel to the class. Tom was a fifty-year-old man who was doing a five-year sentence for drugs. Terrence was a sixty-year-old man finishing up a seven-year term for sexual contact with a child. Alex had killed his parents and was doing a life sentence. Bradley was the baby of the group; at twenty years of age, he was serving two years for robbery.
“I’m Tom and I’m in for drugs,” began the wiry, bald man. “I’m a veteran and got hooked on heroin in Vietnam. I went to treatment several times when I got back, but never completely kicked it. It’s hard to hold down a job for very long when you’re on heroin. You either can’t concentrate because you need a fix, or you miss a few days because you’re using what you bought, or else there’s a drug test and they fire you. Anyway, I started dealing, which was one thing I told myself I’d never do. I never sold to kids, just adults who knew what they were getting in to. I sold to an undercover cop and that’s how I got busted. After I came back from ‘Nam I really didn’t have much left waiting for me. My wife and kid had left and my parents both died. So I used drugs because I needed to get away from how awful life really was.” He turned to the next person at the table, signaling that he had finished talking.
“I’m Terrence and I got locked up for sexual assault of a child,” said the pudgy man with a crew cut and small, brown eyes. “I pled guilty to the charge but I didn’t really do it. I just plead guilty to get a lesser sentence because I knew they would convict me at trial. The kid and her mother convinced the police I molested her but I never did. They got the wrong guy.” As Terrence was talking, Major Aspen spoke into his walkie-talkie and two male correctional officers came into the room and motioned for Terrance to stand up. They handcuffed him and escorted him out of the room.
“What did I do? What did I do?” Terrence shouted as he was led away.
The major stood and faced the group. “One of the qualifications of talking in an inmate group like this is that the inmate must accept responsibility for his crime. Terrence told us he had done so and we believed him. Then he gets in here today and starts denying he had any sexual contact with the victim. We can’t have someone on the panel who doesn’t acknowledge what they did and accept that it was wrong.”
“Can I ask a question before the rest of the group speaks?” Marlee asked. When Major Aspen nodded, she continued. “Is being part of this inmate panel something you all wanted to do?”
The three remaining inmates nodded their heads as the major began to speak. “It’s a privilege to talk to a group of students. They like to do it because it’s a break from the boredom of everyday life in prison and it gives them a change to interact with regular people from the outside instead of just criminals and corrections officials. We had numerous men that wanted to be on the panel, but we could only choose four. Before and after they come into this room to speak, they’re strip-searched to make sure they’re not bringing in, or taking out, any contraband.” With that declaration, the major nodded to the next man on the panel.
“Hi, I’m Alex and I’m doing life for killing my parents in 1988,” said the average-built Caucasian man with non-descript features and a mild manner. “There’s really nothing I can say that justifies what I did. They were good people. I was into meth and needed money. They wouldn’t give it to me so I stabbed them and took the cash they had in the house along with some things I could sell, like the TV, VCR, and some of Mom’s jewelry. They cut me off a couple years earlier, but would let me come over for a meal and to take a shower once in a while. Mostly I lived on the streets in Sioux Falls and couch-surfed at people’s houses until they’d kicked me out. Mom and Dad lived out in the country on an acreage. I went there knowing I would get money but I didn’t plan to kill them.”
Taking a deep breath, Alex continued. “I took a hunting knife with me just to threaten Dad into giving me some money. He wouldn’t give me anything and called me a loser. He told me to get out and not come back anymore. Mom was crying and I just sort of snapped and stabbed Dad. Then I knew I had to kill Mom because she would turn me in. They were both retired and nobody found them until about a week later when the mail carrier noticed they weren’t picking up their mail. She peeked in the window and saw them. By that time I took off for Denver and was using meth as often as I could. Probably would have died from it if the cops hadn’t caught me and brought me back to South Dakota. I admitted everything right away. No point in denying it. Who else would kill two nice, elderly people?” Although Alex was not crying, he became choked up and unable to speak further. Marlee suspected he had plenty more to say but had reached his limit in the telling of that part of his story.
“Hey, I’m Bradley and I’m in here for home robberies.” The athletic young man was handsome and had his dark, wavy hair styled with gel. His skin was flawless and he looked as if he would have been more at home on a runway than prison. “I got caught when the idiot I was working with left his cell phone behind at one of the houses.” Bradley laughed a bit before he continued, “The cops found the phone and then found him. He rolled over then the cops got me. I don’t have a whole lot of time left in here. I’m going back home to Pierre and work for an uncle who has a used car dealership.” There was something about Bradley that bothered Marlee more than the others on the panel. He was young and cocky. He didn’t seem to have much remorse for his crimes, although he was smart enough not to deny them as Terrence had done earlier. Bradley had even laughed while telling his story, which suggested to Marlee that he was a long way from rehabilitated.
Major Aspen opened the forum up for questions and Paula was the first to speak. “I always hear about rape being a common problem in prisons. Is it a problem here?”
The three inmates looked at the table top and no one spoke at first. After a few moments of silence, Tom started to talk. “Sex among inmates isn’t rare. I’d say about half the guys in here have some sort of sexual contact with another guy. Most of it is agreed upon by both of them. Most of them would say they weren’t gay. They just want the sex. As for rape, yeah, it happens. Especially to child molesters. They’re they lowest of the low on the prison totem pole.”
“But we do everything we can to prevent rape. If we find out about an inmate being sexually assaulted, we take every measure possible to separate him from his attacker,” interjected the major. “We have almost no reports of rape or sexual violence in any given year here at this prison.”
The inmates gave each other knowing glances. It was the administrator’s job to downplay any physical or sexual violence to outsiders. One of the reasons most people in South Dakota were so pro-punishment is that they didn’t fully comprehend what occurred in prison. Being locked up and separated from family and friends was only a small part of the misery.
“Do you have families? Do any of you see your families?” Katie asked.
Tom, the vet, shook his head. “I haven’t seen my kid since he was a baby. I don’t even know how old he is now. I think about him a lot
, but the truth is that he’s probably a hell of a lot better off without me.”
“I never had any kids. Shootin’ blanks they called it, when I was tested one time. My second wife really wanted kids and we weren’t having any luck, so she made us both get tested. After she found out I couldn’t produce, she left me,” said Alex.
“I have four, maybe five kids,” said Bradley. “The fifth one isn’t a sure thing yet. I’m waiting on a paternity test.”
“Bradley, why don’t you tell them about your girlfriends?” suggested Major Aspen, crossing his arms as he looked at the young inmate.
Just when Marlee thought she could not like Bradley any less, he dropped another unflattering nugget of information. “Well, that’s a long story. Hit it and quit it, y’know what I’m sayin’?” he said with a chuckle. “I don’t like to get tied down, y’know? I never make any promises to a girl, but they all think that just because we do it that we’re married. Unless I put a ring on her finger, we’re not together and I can see whoever I want. So I’ve been getting hassled a lot by the Department of Social Services about paying child support for those kids. Since they have different mothers, DSS tries to make it look like I’m a deadbeat dad. Guess I have to go to court on that when I’m outta here.”
After the question and answer session was finished, Marlee and the students walked to the parking lot. “We’re staying in Yankton tonight and will be touring the Federal Prison Camp tomorrow morning. When you get to the motel in Yankton, wait in the lobby until we’re all there so we can get checked in together. Then we’ll have a quick meeting and call in a night.”
Marlee asked Marcus to drive her car from Springfield to Yankton. It was a short drive, but Marlee thought she could best utilize the time making some phone calls and catching up on the status of Roxie’s death. Her first call was to the police department in Chamberlain. She was advised that Detective Ramos was in charge of the case. The dispatcher took Marlee’s cell number and advised the detective would be notified of her call. Marlee no sooner hung up than her phone rang.
“Hello. Yes, Detective Ramos, thank you so much for calling me back. Can you tell me anything about the investigation of Roxie Harper’s death? I’m meeting with my students shortly and I’d like to be able to give them an update if I can.”
After a minute-long pause, Marlee thanked the detective and ended the call. She turned to her assistant and said, “The initial autopsy findings won’t be made available until tomorrow, but Detective Ramos thinks she was poisoned. Roxie had some blue crystalized substance around her mouth, which didn’t appear to be normal food or drink. He doesn’t know if she ingested the poison intentionally or accidentally. Or if someone killed her with poison.” Marlee’s stomach fell as she relayed the information to Marcus. Deep down, she suspected foul play but was hoping maybe Roxie had a medical condition that claimed her life. There was no good solution to Roxie’s death. She was still dead regardless of the reason. A murder; however, was almost too much to process.
Marcus was equally upset as he turned to talk to Marlee as he drove. “Who would poison Roxie? She’s been acting weird on this trip, but not so bad that someone would try to do her in.”
“I have no idea. I guess it’s possible that she poisoned herself, but it also could’ve been someone else. I’m sure there are some facts the detective didn’t share with me. I wonder what else he’s uncovered,” Marlee mused.
Once she finished talking to Marcus about her conversation with the detective, she called Hank Barnaby’s work number and left him a message detailing the information on Roxie’s suspected cause of death. She would’ve liked to talk to the new acting dean in person, as he was a calming presence and had a way of putting things into perspective.
Once the group arrived at the motel in Springfield and checked into their rooms, Marlee held a meeting in the corner of the motel lobby. She encouraged her students to pull their chairs up close and keep their voices low so as not to alert the other motel patrons and the front desk clerk that they were discussing an ongoing death investigation.
Marlee related her conversation with Detective Ramos and his assertions that Roxie’s cause of death may have been poisoning. “Since this is a bit of a difficult place to chat about such a sensitive subject, I’d like to come to each of your rooms and chat with you in small groups, if you don’t mind. There’s no swimming pool here, so there won’t be much to do tonight.”
“Do we have time to go get some food? Supper at the prison was beyond disgusting!” Katie Daniels said and several other students nodded.
“Sure, how about if I wait an hour or so. That’ll give you time to eat and get back here. Remember, don’t go anywhere alone. I’m sure there’s no reason to believe someone will try to hurt any of us, but it’ll make me feel better if you stick together. Okay?” Marlee was back in mom-mode.
After agreeing all of the students and Marcus would go together to get something to eat, Marlee went to her room and pulled the next day’s clothes out of her suitcase and spread them over a chair back in hopes of releasing some of the wrinkles. She found her bottle of rum in the bottom of her suitcase and set it on next to the sink by the plastic cups. Better wait until I finish talking to the students before I have a cocktail, she thought, not at all excited that she would have to wait to have a relaxing drink.
Remembering that she hadn’t talked to Vince since she left home on Sunday, Marlee dialed his home number. After two rings, the phone was answered but it was not Vince’s voice she heard. It was Spud. “Well, hey there! Nice to hear from you. Glad you called to chat,” Spud said in his creepy voice.
“Actually, I’m trying to reach Vince. Is he there?” Marlee asked, hoping to ditch Spud as soon as possible.
“Nope, he has intramural volleyball tonight and then he’s going out for drinks with some of the others on the team,” Spud reported. “So how’s your class going? Do you miss me yet?”
Marlee ignored Spud’s sickening attempt at flirtation. “What time do you think Vince will be home?”
“Late. He said Suzanne was in town and he wanted to see her,” Spud said with a degree of smugness. He was enjoying tormenting Marlee with the fact that Vince would be seeing his old girlfriend, Suzanne.
Suzanne Austin and Vince dated for over two years until she broke it off and moved out of town for another job. Her parents and most of her other relatives still lived in Elmwood, so she visited on occasion. Marlee met Suzanne back when she lived in Elmwood and was envious of her beauty. Suzanne was everything Marlee was not; she was tall, slim, had long blonde hair, and model good looks.
“Marlee, are you still there?” Spud asked with a chuckle.
“Yep. I’ll call him tomorrow. Bye.” With that abrupt ending to the conversation, she turned off her cell phone and slammed it on the bed, watching it bounce three times before coming to a halt near a pillow.
What would Vince be doing with Suzanne? Where was he meeting her? At the bar? At a motel? Was she moving back to Elmwood? Were they getting back together? Marlee’s imagination ran wild as she thought of all types of scenarios, most of which involved her being dumped and Vince and Suzanne reuniting to live happily ever after. She continued to torment herself with thoughts of Vince and his ex-girlfriend until it was time to meet the students.
Marlee started first with the room shared by Dom, Jasper, and Donnie. They were members in the Criminal Justice Club which was founded two years before when a professor was found dead on campus. In order to discuss the case and process their feelings, the students urged Marlee to develop the club, which she did. Mean Dean Green had the final approval on any campus clubs and he denied her petition. Marlee got around that by holding informal Criminal Justice Club meetings at her house, local diners, coffee shops, and other places off-campus and out of the dean’s reach. She knew Dom, Jasper, and Donnie very well, and trusted their judgment. She was anxious to hear their collective take on Roxie and what happened to cause her death.
She heard la
ughing coming from the room before she knocked, then the room went silent. Marlee knocked again and said, “It’s Dr. McCabe.”
Dom opened the door and peered out to verify it was indeed his professor before unlatching the chain lock. “Come on in. We just finished eating but have some fries left. Do you want them?”
“No,” Marlee said laughing, realizing it was the first time in the past couple days she found anything amusing. She sat down in one of the chairs beside the dresser. Donnie was sprawled across one queen sized bed while Jasper was sitting on the edge of the other. Dom pulled up another chair and pulled it closer to Marlee so that he was facing her.
“Basically, I’m here to find out what you guys know about Roxie,” Marlee said. She was also there to make sure they were handling their classmate’s death, but first she wanted to get their impressions of Roxie.
Donnie spoke first, rising from a prone position to sitting upright on the bed as she talked. “Roxie was in several of my classes. We’re both non-trads, so I think we kind of gravitated toward each other at first. She’s quite a bit older than me, but we were both older than the regular students and worked together a few times on group projects. She seemed shy and unsure of herself. That’s why I was blown away by her behavior at the women’s prison. Roxie hardly ever talked except when she absolutely had to, so I found it hard to believe what I was seeing and hearing as she just went off on the inmate panel.”
“Did she ever confide in you, Donnie? Anything about problems or concerns she had?” Marlee asked.
“No, not really. She was stressed about tests and projects and grades like we all were, but nothing out of the ordinary.”
“What about you two?” Marlee looked at Jasper then Dom. “Did you guys know Roxie at all?”
“Nope, but I’ve seen her on campus. Never knew her name or anything about her,” said Jasper.
Murder to Go Page 8
