Carrie kept her answer short and to the point. Her voice was steady, but perspiration dampened her palms.
“What do you think of her?”
“I think she’s… she’s nice.” Why didn’t the old shrew get to the point? Surely this wasn’t just a social call. It had to be some kind of test.
Ogden dropped her feet to the floor, leaned forward, and rested her arms on the table. Her eyes fixed on Carrie. “Jet’s cellmate is being transferred to another institution, and I’m seriously considering moving you in with her. Whadda you think of that?”
Carrie’s mouth dropped open. It probably wouldn’t make any difference what she thought. She composed herself. “Jet already asked me about this and I told her I really wasn’t interested in moving right now.”
“Not interested? Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Ogden’s eyes beaded. “Well, missy, I don’t see that you have a choice in the matter. What I say goes. Do we understand each other?”
Unable to find her voice, Carrie nodded. If they were out on the street, she could probably out wrestle the old woman, but in here, Ogden had the upper hand.
“Nothing wrenches my gut more than newbies who think they still have control. You’ll learn one way or another you don’t make the rules… you follow them.” She stood and moved to the door. With her hand on the knob, she glanced back at Carrie. “I’ll let you know when to get your things together. We haven’t gotten the actual transfer papers yet, but don’t get too comfortable where you are. If you give me problems, you just might find yourself being shipped elsewhere. Evidently the one we’re trading for Jet’s roomie has serious problems playing nice with the gals in the pen she’s assigned to.”
Ogden opened the door. “Someone get in here and get this piece of trash out of my office,” she bellowed.
Another guard sprang to her feet, her face drawn tight. She was obviously new, lacking a name badge, and frightened by the senior matron. Carrie totally understood and accompanied the middle-aged woman without batting a lash. The farther Carrie was from Ogden, the better. Each meeting with the old crone increased an overwhelming desire to bury a fist in her ugly face.
After opening the cell, Carrie’s escort gave her a light shove inside. She’d have to push a whole lot harder than that if she wanted to maintain control in this place, but for once it was nice to sense nervousness in a uniform. Sadly, it most likely wouldn’t take long until she turned as heartless as the others.
Carrie’s mind flashed to the male guard. Did he treat his charges with callous disregard or had that been a sincere look of kindness she saw in his eyes? Why did he keep invading her thoughts and making her stomach flutter? She didn’t even know him. Surely, he was just like all the rest.
The heavy door clanked shut and startled Carrie from her pessimistic thoughts. She’d never get used to that horrible sound. It was so final.
The new guard was barely out of sight when Susanna crawled from the bottom bunk and stood before Carrie with raised brows. “So, what happened? What did Ogden want with you? Are you okay? What did you and Jet talk about? Are…”
Carrie smiled, waiting for the barrage of questions to end. Finally she held up a silencing hand. “What would you like me to answer first?”
Susanna backed up to her bunk, sat, and patted the spot next to her. “You pick. I’m dying to know everything.”
Sprawling rather than sitting, Carrie folded her arms behind her head and stared up at the bottom of her own bed. “Everything started with Jet.” She heaved a sigh.
“What do you mean everything?”
“Jet confronted me today about moving in with her. I thought I had her convinced I was happy right here, but then Ogden somehow got involved. She didn’t mention that the two of them had spoken, but why else would the old hag pick me to be the replacement for Jet’s departing cellmate?”
“Oh no! They’re
“What do you think of her?”
“I think she’s… she’s nice.” Why didn’t the old shrew get to the point? Surely this wasn’t just a social call. It had to be some kind of test.
Ogden dropped her feet to the floor, leaned forward, and rested her arms on the table. Her eyes fixed on Carrie. “Jet’s cellmate is being transferred to another institution, and I’m seriously considering moving you in with her. Whadda you think of that?”
Carrie’s mouth dropped open. It probably wouldn’t make any difference what she thought. She composed herself. “Jet already asked me about this and I told her I really wasn’t interested in moving right now.”
“Not interested? Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Ogden’s eyes beaded. “Well, missy, I don’t see that you have a choice in the matter. What I say goes. Do we understand each other?”
Unable to find her voice, Carrie nodded. If they were out on the street, she could probably out wrestle the old woman, but in here, Ogden had the upper hand.
“Nothing wrenches my gut more than newbies who think they still have control. You’ll learn one way or another you don’t make the rules… you follow them.” She stood and moved to the door. With her hand on the knob, she glanced back at Carrie. “I’ll let you know when to get your things together. We haven’t gotten the actual transfer papers yet, but don’t get too comfortable where you are. If you give me problems, you just might find yourself being shipped elsewhere. Evidently the one we’re trading for Jet’s roomie has serious problems playing nice with the gals in the pen she’s assigned to.”
Ogden opened the door. “Someone get in here and get this piece of trash out of my office,” she bellowed.
Another guard sprang to her feet, her face drawn tight. She was obviously new, lacking a name badge, and frightened by the senior matron. Carrie totally understood and accompanied the middle-aged woman without batting a lash. The farther Carrie was from Ogden, the better. Each meeting with the old crone increased an overwhelming desire to bury a fist in her ugly face.
After opening the cell, Carrie’s escort gave her a light shove inside. She’d have to push a whole lot harder than that if she wanted to maintain control in this place, but for once it was nice to sense nervousness in a uniform. Sadly, it most likely wouldn’t take long until she turned as heartless as the others.
Carrie’s mind flashed to the male guard. Did he treat his charges with callous disregard or had that been a sincere look of kindness she saw in his eyes? Why did he keep invading her thoughts and making her stomach flutter? She didn’t even know him. Surely, he was just like all the rest.
The heavy door clanked shut and startled Carrie from her pessimistic thoughts. She’d never get used to that horrible sound. It was so final.
The new guard was barely out of sight when Susanna crawled from the bottom bunk and stood before Carrie with raised brows. “So, what happened? What did Ogden want with you? Are you okay? What did you and Jet talk about? Are…”
Carrie smiled, waiting for the barrage of questions to end. Finally she held up a silencing hand. “What would you like me to answer first?”
Susanna backed up to her bunk, sat, and patted the spot next to her. “You pick. I’m dying to know everything.”
Sprawling rather than sitting, Carrie folded her arms behind her head and stared up at the bottom of her own bed. “Everything started with Jet.” She heaved a sigh.
“What do you mean everything?”
“Jet confronted me today about moving in with her. I thought I had her convinced I was happy right here, but then Ogden somehow got involved. She didn’t mention that the two of them had spoken, but why else would the old hag pick me to be the replacement for Jet’s departing cellmate?”
“Oh no! They’re
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