First Degree Innocence by Ginger Simpson Page B

have rec time together, and that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
    “Of course.” Susanna rose and hugged Carrie. “I’ll miss our quiet times when it’s only the two of us. I’m not a real warm, fuzzy person, but I want you to know that I feel closer to you than I have to anyone in years.” Her cheeks reddened.
    Carrie backed out of the embrace, swiping a knuckle beneath her welling eyes. “Okay, stop it. You’re killing me here. The feeling is mutual, so let’s stop acting like we’re never going to see one another again.”
    It was true. Susanna had become a good friend in a short time. Maybe their connection was sharing the horrible experience of being sent to prison in what should be the prime of their lives. Laughter threatened to erupt from Carrie at the absurdity of that thought, but she sobered with the reality that there was nothing at all prime about her existence, in or out of prison.
    The sparkle came back to Susanna’s eyes. “You’re right.” She blotted a tear from her cheek. “Jet might win round one, but she isn’t going to win the battle. I just wish I knew if this was only about her flexing her muscles, or if there’s a more sinister motive behind her wanting you in her cell.”
    Carrie cupped her chin and rubbed her forefinger back and forth over her top lip. “I can’t imagine what it would be. I basically accused her of being a lesbian and she denied it. And despite everything I’ve heard from you and the other girls, Jet has been mostly pleasant. There’s just something unsettling about her interest in me.”
    “She has something against this cellblock.” Susanna perched on the edge of her bunk and stared at the floor. “I’ve thought about it until my brain is fried. Why pick on you? You’re new, you know only a few people here, and if you’ve been truthful, there’s no one on the outside that can be of value to her.”
    “It’s true. I’m alone. I already told you I have a father somewhere, but he couldn’t care less about me. Besides, I haven’t seen him in years. If Jet is looking for someone with outside connections, she’s picked the wrong girl.”
    “Damn, then what could it be?” Susanna straightened, her teeth clenched.
    Carrie slowly shook her head. “You aren’t the only one who’s killed a thousand brain cells trying to figure this out.” She grimaced. “I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”
    A lump thickened in her throat.
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    The hallway lights dimmed, throwing odd shadows off the bars onto the cell’s ceiling. Carrie stared at them with hands locked behind her head, still trying to make sense of Jet’s interest in her. Nothing came. She rolled to her side, and hung over the mattress. “Are you still awake?”
“Uh huh,” Susanna answered. “I can’t sleep.”
“Me either. And I’m sick of thinking about Jillian Duke. Feel like talking about something else?”
Susanna snickered. “Sure, let’s make plans for our upcoming trip to the Caribbean.”
“Very funny.” Despite sounding cynical, her mind flashed to white beaches and crashing waves. “Tell me more about yourself.”
“Now there’s an exciting story. What do you want to know that I haven’t already told you?”
“Do you have family? Brothers, sisters? I wish I did.”
    The plastic mattress crackled with Susanna’s movement. “I have two brothers, but I haven’t seen them for a long time. One is older, the other younger. My mother and father divorced when I was in high school, and I lived with my mom. She’s not in the best of health and only comes to visit when she’s up to it. My brothers pretty much disowned me when I got involved with Doug. They tried to tell me that he was worthless, but I wouldn’t listen. As for my dad, he remarried and lives in another state with his new family. I never hear from him.”
    A pang of sadness plucked at Carrie’s heart. There was another connection between them. Both had fathers who had forgotten their