Wrongly Accused

by Erin Wade

  “You have some guards you need to put in solitary confinement too,” Flo reminded her. “They’re just thugs in uniforms.”

  “What about my bodyguards?” Val held her breath waiting for the answer.

  “They’re all straight arrows,” Flo said, grinning. “You did good on that.”

  Val pushed the video button that allowed them to observe each hallway in the prison.

  “It looks like the inmates are asleep,” Flo muttered. “They don’t know there’s a problem. Look! There!” Flo pointed out a group of two male guards and four women hurrying through the prison hallway. “They’re trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s just a matter of time before they arrive here.”

  “Do you know them?” Val asked.

  “Yeah. Lucky and her three henchmen and two of the most brutal guards in the place. They won’t be easy to subdue.”

  “Can you use a gun?” Val whispered.

  “Yeah, I’m good with a gun.”

  “Rifle or handgun?”

  “Handgun. I can keep it hidden until I need it,” Flo said.

  Val reopened the gun case and handed the woman a Glock and two clips. “It’s loaded. You’d better wear this vest too.

  Flo checked the gun, racked it, and then pulled on the Kevlar vest. “We’re ready.”

  “It looks like we can diffuse this problem by arresting the six roaming the hallways,” Val noted. “They’re our immediate threat.”

  Flo nodded. “We need to split them up. As long as they’re together, we don’t have a chance.”

  Chapter 12

  Dawn pushed the buttons on the control for the central air conditioning. “It’s like an oven in here,” she said as the system kicked on and air started circulating in the small room.

  “We have plenty of water and rations,” Niki said, trying to put on a brave front. “Surely someone will notice we’re unaccounted for in a week or so.”

  “We have no choice but to wait,” Dawn said. “We should get as comfortable as possible.”

  Niki pulled the four sleeping bags from the corner and unrolled two of them. She used the other two as pillows.

  Dawn grabbed two bottles of water from a case and sat down next to Niki.

  “May I ask you a question?” Niki said, looking at Dawn through long lashes.

  “Sure, you can ask. That doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”

  “What’s burking?”

  Dawn laughed out loud and relaxed on her sleeping bag. “During the early nineteenth century, two fellows named Burke and Hare were grave robbers. They excavated graveyard bodies to sell to medical schools. They decided preying on live alcoholics would make their job easier. So instead of digging up corpses they killed bums. A rather large fellow, Burke sat on the victim’s chest, used one hand to cover the victim’s nose and mouth and the other hand to close the victim’s jaw, resulting in traumatic asphyxia.

  “This allowed them to provide a body without digging. It’s an example of homicidal traumatic asphyxia in combination with smothering, now called burking. There have been reports of police custody deaths attributed to this action.

  “If we get out of this, I’m certain the autopsy will confirm my diagnosis.”

  “That’s horrible,” Niki said, sucking air through her teeth. “That’s what they were trying to do to me the night you saved my life. When you started screaming, they stabbed me instead. I know who did it. I was afraid to identify them because I knew they would kill me.”

  They sat in silence, each wrestling with their own demons.

  “I heard you say it was the warden’s fault you’re in prison,” Niki said a few minutes later. “Could you elaborate?”

  “Why not,” Dawn said, sighing. “We know each other’s secrets.”

  Dawn related her story and watched as anger flashed in Niki’s eyes. “Does she know she lied?” Niki asked. “I mean, in her pain and the wreck and all maybe she did think it was you who crawled out of the driver’s side.”

  “I don’t know.” Dawn considered Niki’s suggestion. “Maybe she does feel she told the truth.

  “Anyhow, I wish I knew what’s going on,” Dawn said, eager to change the subject. “This waiting is miserable.”

  “Thank you for having your folks request a visit with me today,” Niki said as she played with the paper on her water bottle. “That’s the first time anyone has visited me since I arrived in this place.”

  “They were glad to do it,” Dawn assured her. “I bet you’ll see a lot more of Flint. He was taken with you.”

  “He won’t be when he learns about the horrible things I’ve done,” Niki whispered.

  “You’ve had some bad breaks.” Dawn traced the back of Niki’s hand with her finger. “That doesn’t make you a bad person.”

  Niki smiled. “You’ve made me a better person. Your faith in me and your help have made the difference. I’ve never had anyone believe in me.

  “Growing up, I was never good enough for my mother. She always found fault. Father doted on me, but he died when I was young, and Mother seemed to hate me even more.”

  “If not for you . . .” Dawn shuddered. “I’d be . . . I hate to think what I’d be. What really matters is that we’re best friends. We have each other’s back.”

  “Yeah, that’s what really matters.” Niki leaned her head on Dawn’s shoulder and feigned sleep. Except that I’m falling in love with you, Niki thought.

  ##

  “We need at least two more guns,” Flo said. “Even one more person could help us lure them into the office and lock them in the safe room until your guards arrive.”

  Val bit her bottom lip. She didn’t want to place Dawn in harm’s way but knew no other way to get the drop on the marauders.

  “Watch them,” she commanded Flo as she keyed in the code to open the safe room door. “We need to move quickly to be ready for them.”

  Val stopped suddenly when she saw Niki asleep on Dawn’s shoulder and the blonde curled around her. She moved to them and kicked Niki harder than necessary to wake her.

  The little spitfire sprang to her feet, fists clenched and feet spread apart, ready to throw a punch.

  “Easy, killer,” Val barked. “We don’t have time for this. I need your help.”

  Dawn wiped the sleep from her eyes and got to her feet. “What can we do?”

  Val led them to the gun safe and handed each of them a Glock. “Do either of you know how to use a gun?”

  “I do,” Niki said.

  Dawn frowned. “I’ve never touched a gun.”

  “Okay, then that makes you the bait,” Val growled. “Sit at my desk. Lucky will lead a gang through the door any minute. Draw them as far into the room as possible. Niki, Flo, and I will be hiding behind the doors and filing cabinets. We must get the drop on them.”

  Loud brawling outside Val’s door made everyone jump into their places. Dawn ran behind Val’s desk, desperately wanting to keep something between her and the women about to enter the office. She fought the urge to crawl under the desk.

  “The doc is mine,” Lucky yelled over the din in the hallway. “I called dibs on her the first time I saw her.”

  “The warden’s mine,” a male voice hollered. “She’s always chewing on my ass. I’ll give her a taste of her own medicine, only more physical.”

  The door swung open. Lucky stuck her head in and then cautiously stepped into the room. She looked Dawn up and down and licked her lips. “Well, well, look who’s holed up in the warden’s office,” she said, sneering.

  Dawn backed up as far as possible, until her back pressed against the window ledge. She tried to speak but couldn’t make her mouth work.

  “You’re scared, aren’t you?” Lucky drawled. “You shouldn’t be. I told you the first day I saw you that you were going to be my woman.”

  “You didn’t tell me you would need a crowd to help you,” Dawn taunted her. “I always thought you’d be woman enough to take care of me alone.”

  L
ucky glanced around the room. “Where’s the warden?”

  “She and her bodyguards are patrolling the prison.” Dawn shrugged. “She didn’t know anyone was on the loose. She thinks you’re all on lockdown.”

  Lucky turned to face the criminals behind her. “Go find them. My ex is with them. She’s a hell of a good-looking woman now. You can have her, Lefty.”

  Mumbling and grousing came from the group.

  “Go on,” Lucky commanded. “You can have the doc when I finish with her. You know I always share.”

  Dawn could hear the complaining and groaning as the five shuffled down the hallway.

  “You’re gonna wish you’d been nicer to me.” Lucky leered at Dawn as she stepped closer. Suddenly, the door slammed closed behind her. “What the hell?” She spun around.

  The butt of Flo’s gun split Lucky’s forehead open as she slammed the gun as hard as she could into Lucky’s face.

  Lucky hit the floor with a loud thud. Val and Flo grabbed the trustee’s arms and dragged the woman into the safe room.

  Dawn watched as blood pooled around Lucky’s head. “She’ll bleed to death.”

  “Nah,” Flo said, closing the door. “We won’t be that lucky.”

  Niki was still crouched behind a filing cabinet. The thought of confronting Lucky had immobilized her.

  Dawn took Niki’s hand and pulled her from her hiding place. “We’re okay.”

  “One down,” Val said, “five to go. She grabbed handcuffs from the gun safe pitching three pair to Flo and sticking a couple in her pocket.”

  “We have all the firepower,” Flo said. “Let’s just mow them down.”

  “How would that look on my record?” Val’s voice reached an octave it’d never heard before. She inhaled deeply as she tried to calm her nerves.

  “Do you have Tasers?” Flo asked.

  “Yes, there in the chargers.” Val pointed toward a bank of electronic weapons. “And tear gas. Pepper spray.”

  “I can use pepper spray,” Dawn volunteered. “It’s saved me on more than one occasion.”

  All four women grabbed Tasers and pepper spray. “Let’s go get us some white trash,” Flo said, grinning gleefully.

  It didn’t take them long to catch up with the noisy hooligans. Flo and Val ducked into a doorway and motioned for Dawn and Niki to do the same. Flo nodded, and Val stepped into the hallway and backed past the three women lying in wait.

  “You take that corridor,” Val yelled so the criminals could hear her. “I’ll go down this one.”

  The renegade guards and inmates turned and sprinted in the direction of Val’s voice, confident they could overpower her.

  When the thugs turned the corner, they met a shocked Val, who suddenly seemed disoriented. “Lefty?” she said to the guard. “What’s going on here?”

  “We’re taking over this dump.” Lefty’s demented laughter curdled Val’s blood. She continued to back away from the group until they were between her and the other three women.

  “Now!” Val yelled as she sprayed Lefty and the lead inmate with a hefty dose of pepper spray. Dawn and Niki did the same to the ruffians closest to them. Flo’s weapon of choice was the Taser. She jabbed it into the necks of the flailing hoodlums.

  The criminals clawed at their eyes as they gasped for breath. Despite all the clawing and twitching, Flo and Val managed to handcuff all five lawbreakers.

  “Damn you, Flo,” one of the guards screamed. “You’ll pay for this, you traitor. I’ll kill you.”

  Flo responded by increasing the voltage on her Taser and shoving it between his legs.

  Dawn cringed at the smell of burning hair and flesh. Suddenly, a team of guards filled the corridor, their weapons drawn.

  Niki sprang in front of Dawn as the guards raised their weapons. “It’s the warden,” the leader yelled, holding up her hand. “Stand down.”

  “Thank God you’re here,” Val gasped. “Put these five in solitary confinement, and I have another one in my office.”

  ##

  After the six rebels had been locked up safely, Val pushed the button that returned control of the cellblocks to the guards. Life went on as usual. No one was aware of the life-and-death battle the warden and her friends had fought during the night.

  Val turned the two crooked guards over to the local authorities for indictment. Lucky and the three inmates involved were serving life sentences. She initiated the paperwork to transfer them to Huntsville, a high-security prison where they’d have no chance to intimidate and molest other inmates.

  Val ordered lie detector tests for all guards and civil personnel at the prison. Flo had given her a list of guards and inmates she had seen abusing other women in the prison. Val was determined that no inmate would suffer at the hands of her employees.

  She called Dr. Reynolds to inform him that Dr. Fairchild and Niki Sears would not be reporting for duty. “They’ll be back as usual tomorrow,” she said. “Oh, and Lance, I’m sending you Flo Menton. Nothing is wrong with her but exhaustion. Please see that she gets three good meals and a lot of rest. I’ll check on her tomorrow.”

  Val rested her head on the back of her chair. The adrenaline was finally draining from her body. She closed her eyes and let images of Dawn Fairchild play across her mind in slow motion. She knew she should get Dawn out of her prison, but she couldn’t bear the thought of letting her go, not seeing her every day.

  ##

  Dawn woke from a deep sleep. She looked at the clock: 7:15. She didn’t know if it was morning or night.

  She tried to recall the day’s events but only had memories of the horrific night she had spent with Niki, Val, and Flo. Had they really saved the prison from an inmate takeover? She turned her head to the left to locate Niki. Her bed was empty. For a moment she panicked; then she heard the sound of running water.

  Niki’s safe. She’s in the shower. Dawn slipped back into sleep.

  ##

  “Wake up, sleepy head,” Niki said as she bounced on Dawn’s bed. “We’ve slept all day and I’m starving.”

  Dawn stretched, and Niki fought the desire to straddle the gorgeous blonde’s waist and kiss her into tomorrow. Niki tried to tamp down the flame that was spreading up her throat and onto her face.

  Dawn scrutinized her friend. “Are you running fever?”

  “No, I’m starving.” Niki darted to her closet and pulled out a T-shirt and jeans. “Let’s go see if we can scrounge up something in the hospital kitchen.”

  Dawn laughed at Niki’s exuberance. “Have I ever told you how much you light up my life?” she said, heading for the shower.

  “No, you never have.” Niki beamed. Maybe, just maybe, she thought.

  ##

  Niki and Dawn talked quietly as they walked down the corridor to the hospital cafeteria. “It looks like the kitchen is still serving,” Niki noted.

  Dawn looked around the lunchroom. “There are a lot of new faces in here. Most of them are armed personnel and younger than usual.”

  “Val didn’t waste any time getting rid of the problem guards,” Niki added. “I wonder if she’s been able to clean out the high-security cellblocks too.”

  They selected their food from the buffet and found a table away from the others. “The food looks delicious,” Niki said as she placed her tray on the table.

  Less than a minute later, two attractive female guards walked toward their table. “Mind if we join you?” one of them said.

  “Actually, you aren’t allowed to fraternize with us,” Niki informed them.

  The other guard laughed. “Other than being too beautiful, what’s so special about you?”

  “We’re inmates,” Niki said.

  “Right.” The guard laughed as she continued to place her tray on the table.

  Dawn looked up. “You really can’t sit with us. We’re prisoners here.”

  The guard picked up her tray and backed away from the table. “Why are you allowed in the hospital cafeteria?”

  “
I’m a doctor and she’s a nurse,” Dawn explained. “We live in the doctors’ quarters. We’re not dangerous.”

  “Our apologies.” The young guard’s half smile didn’t hide her uneasiness as they backed away.

  “I feel like a pariah,” Niki grumbled.

  “We’re living between two worlds,” Dawn said, her brow furrowed. “It’s good we have each other to lean on.”

  They ate their dinner, chatting about the events of the last twenty-four hours. Then they returned to their room. “Want to watch TV?” Dawn asked as they changed into the T-shirts that doubled as their pajamas.

  “Sure. Let’s see if the warden made the news.” Niki pulled on one of Dawn’s T-shirts before searching for the remote. She bent over to look for it under a chair.

  Dawn was surprised and frightened by the feeling that closed her throat, tightened her chest, and spread into her lower abdomen. It took her several seconds to identify the emotion as desire. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from Niki, who looked so damn cute in her oversized T-shirt.

  Dawn imagined sliding her hands up Niki’s firm legs, over her hips, caressing her back, and tangling her fingers in Niki’s luxurious auburn hair.

  “Here it is,” Niki said as she turned around, the remote in her hand. Dawn let her gaze drift from Niki’s legs to her eyes. Niki blushed.

  “I didn’t . . . I’m so sorry. I . . .” Dawn dashed into the bathroom and locked the door behind her.

  What is wrong with me? Dawn chastised herself. Have I been in prison that long? I’ve never been drawn to a woman. Niki’s my best friend. She’s had enough women looking at her like that to last her a lifetime. I’m no better than Lucky.

  Although she had showered earlier, Dawn turned on the cold water and stepped under it. God, this is cold coat, but how could I letch after Niki like that? I don’t think I can face her. She knew exactly what I was thinking. I could see it in her eyes.

  Dawn took her time blow-drying her hair and slipped her T-shirt back on. She sat on the commode lid, trying to think of the right words to say to Niki. She looked at the time. She had been in the bathroom over an hour. She had to face Niki sooner or later.