"That's the only way your momma got anyone to fuck her," Grenner taunted.
"Uh-oh," Latisha said, moving away from the two of them. "You shouldn't talk about someone's momma like that."
"Stay out of this, you black bitch," Grenner said as she approached, Dawson right behind her.
"You got something to say, Dawson?" Jan said as she reached Grace's side. "I'll knock your ass back to whatever hole you came out of."
"You dumb bitch," Grace said. "Does your mother even know who your father is, or does he know you as just a squirt after a cheap fuck?" That was all it took for Grenner to snap and lunge at her. They fell back onto the concrete floor while Dawson decided to back away rather than face the bulky Jan Bowen. Grenner landed several good punches before Jan was able to shove her off Grace. Leaping to her feet, Grace readied herself for round two only to be stopped by yelling from near the door.
"Scary and Gage are coming," Lopez said, making a mad dash to her bunk. Grace walked over to her destroyed bunk, trying to slow her breathing down and straighten her shirt, which had become untucked during the melee.
"Does someone want to explain why we're the only ones in the mess hall?" Carey said as she entered. "What's going on?"
"Grenner trashed our bunks, ma'am," Jan said, pointing at the mess.
"I did not," Grenner said, then added, "Ma'am."
Instructor Carey whispered a few words to Gage, who then left the barracks. "Ten hut." The girls snapped to attention. Walking down the aisle, she stopped in front of Grace. "What happened, Waters?"
"Bowen and I walked in and found our bunks like this, ma'am," she said, willing her hands not to curl into fists as her anger refused to ebb. "Grenner did it, I'm sure of it, ma'am."
"Bowen."
"Yes, ma'am."
"What happened?"
"Just like Waters said, ma'am. We were in study hall and came back to put our books away before dinner. Jones was with us. We came in and saw our bunks cut to pieces, ma'am."
Grace watched as Carey walked back up the aisle, stopping in front of Grenner. "And where were you?" the instructor asked.
"Dawson and I were playing one-on-one at the court, ma'am."
"Uh-huh," Carey said. She turned to the other girl. "Dawson? You know nothing about this, right?"
"Right, ma'am," Dawson said.
"Fine," Carey said, walking back down to Grace's area of the barracks. "Report to the mess hall."
Grace looked quizzically at Jan, who shrugged her shoulders. As they were leaving, Instructors Gage and Donaldson entered the barracks and started opening lockers.
"Dinner will be silent," Instructor Mitchell said as they entered the mess hall. "Pick up your tray, get your dinners, sit down, eat, then report to the formation area." Grace picked up her tray and silverware pack, exchanging looks with Latisha and Jan. "Not one word from any of you," the instructor continued, moving a chair to the center of the room and sitting down on it. "I don't even want to hear your forks hitting the trays. I know it may seem impossible for some of you, but you'll survive not talking for a few minutes."
After eating their meals in silence, the girls reported to the formation area where the other three instructors were waiting. "Ten hut!" Carey yelled, startling many of them. "Two pieces of state property were destroyed today, cut up by a knife or razor. Now we've searched your bunks and lockers, but were unable to find it." Carey removed her mirrored sunglasses. "Here's your one chance. Whoever did it or knows who did it, step forward." She waited until the count of three. "I'm not going to begin to tell you how disappointed I am that one or more of you would do this, or that someone is hiding a weapon. Alpha Squad, take a step forward and spread out." The girls of Alpha Squad moved until they were two arms' lengths from each other. "Anyone who commits a crime while here can expect to be treated like a criminal," Carey continued as the instructors converged on the squad. "Hands on the back of your head, fingers laced together, eyes front." The instructors searched the girls thoroughly, going so far as to have them remove their boots lest a small blade be hidden inside.
All four squads were searched, but again there was no sign of a knife or razor. The four instructors huddled and talked at length, then turned to face the girls. "Report to the barracks," Instructor Donaldson said. "Put your bunks back in order, then report to your squad instructor's classroom. Bowen and Waters, throw your blankets and mattresses into the dumpster near the mess hall."
"So what are we going to do?" Instructor Gage asked, settling into one of the chairs in Carey's office.
"I don't know, Sue," Carey said. "It's not like we have spare mattresses lying around."
"Can't we take two from the infirmary?"
Carey tossed her pencil on the desk. "I wish I could, but then we'd be in violation for having less than one infirmary bed available for every ten girls."
"So let them sleep in the infirmary," Gage said.
"Can't," Carey said. "State law mandates an instructor or nursing professional be on site in the infirmary whenever someone is in there."
"So one of us will have to stay in the infirmary with the girls?"
"Every night," Carey said. "Unless someone really gets hurt, and then the nurse could keep an eye on them."
"Carey," Gage said. "I don't want to give up my bed. You know my back hates those cheap mattresses."
"But only one of them is mine," Carey protested. "I shouldn't have to give up my cabin either."
"Think there's any chance we can talk Judith or Marilyn into doing it?" Gage asked.
Carey shook her head. "Not even if we offered them money," she said. "I'll watch them tonight. Tomorrow I'll call and get new mattresses sent up." Carey leaned back in her chair. "It really bothers me that we didn't turn up that knife."
"I know," Gage said. "Unless it's hidden somewhere on the grounds."
"It must be," Carey said. "We turned the barracks upside down and searched every one of them. Unless it was dumped right after the crime."
"I don't know about that," Gage said. "On the street, sure. Knives are as easy to get as candy. Here, though, a knife is too valuable to just throw away."
"Meaning it has to turn up eventually," Carey said. "Let's keep an extra eye on Lauren Grenner and Sally Dawson for the next few days."
"You think they did it?"
"They're as likely as anyone else. Grenner, Bowen, and Waters got into it during PT and the word is that Dawson is Grenner's toad." Carey laced her fingers and put them behind her head. "I'll have Marilyn lean on both of them but I doubt they'll crack. I just want that knife before one the girls gets hurt."
Working together. Grace and Jan hauled their shredded mattresses out to the dumpster while Latisha followed with the blankets, sheets, and pillows. When they finished, the girls joined the rest of Bravo Squad in Instructor Carey's classroom. Knowing the instructors were mad, they sat quietly until Carey arrived.
“There is a weapon being hidden by someone," Carey said. "If you know something, this is the time to come clean." Several seconds passed in silence. "If you think protecting your buddies is the right answer, you’re sadly mistaken." Brown eyes focused on each girl in turn. "If I find out you knew who did this and didn't tell me, I will make you the sorriest girl on the planet." She waited a few seconds more. "All right, Bravo Squad dismissed. Waters and Bowen, stay." Once the other girls were out of the room, the instructor spoke. "Other than suspicions, do you have any proof that Grenner was involved?" Carey asked.
"No, ma'am," Grace said.
"No, ma'am, but she didn't seem surprised by it either, ma'am," Jan said.
"That's not enough," Carey said. "All right. Waters and Bowen, report to the infirmary at 2100 hours dressed for bed."