circumstances where I felt Ms. Hunt might not be rehabilitated to the standard we have become known for,” Pine said carefully. “If she steps out of line, her files can be opened by law enforcement with court approval.”
“What did she do to merit such untraditional probation?”
Pine was clearly weighing how much to tell Lucy. “Well, the terms are public record, so I’m not talking out of line by telling you that. However, the reasons are confidential and sealed. If you suspect Ms. Hunt of a crime, you can petition the court to unseal them.”
Lucy tried another approach. “What can you tell me about Elise’s time here? Were there problems?”
“I can say that Ms. Hunt’s time here wasn’t challenge free.”
That wasn’t helpful. “Would you let me talk to the guard who had the most contact with her?”
“Even if I did, she wouldn’t be allowed to share anything.” Kathy hesitated. “I will tell you this only because I couldn’t prove it and thus it’s not sealed. It’s my personal belief—opinion—not anything I would swear to in court. I believe Ms. Hunt found a way to sneak out. Not impossible, I’m certain—we are a minimum security facility—but I never figured out how she did it.”
“Why do you think so?”
“She had items that she couldn’t have gotten in here. Especially since she had no visitors and no mail in the almost two years she was here.”
“None?”
“Only her court-appointed psychiatrist, who came once a week. And as far as I know, she never gave Elise anything. I know that the girls can smuggle items in here—they smuggle makeup, weapons, drugs, food—but one day Elise came to class with her hair dyed. Not just dyed, but professionally done. Highlights, cut—and she sported a new tattoo. She had one coming in, on the small of her back. This was on her arm. And it was clearly new and professional. It’s like she went out and had her own spa day.”
“And someone in here couldn’t have done it?”
“Not that level of quality. These were two different days, about two weeks apart. I questioned her and she didn’t budge. Lied to my face that she did her hair herself, that one of the girls—she wouldn’t say who because she said she wasn’t a snitch—gave her a kit. Even a top hair professional couldn’t have done that good of a job on themselves. I questioned the tattoo and she said another girl did it—and did give me her name. And it is a girl who has given tats to the girls, even though she’s been forbidden to do so. But the girl’s quality is far inferior to what Elise was sporting. I questioned the girl, and she lied to me. I felt in my gut that she didn’t care if I knew she was lying. My best guess is that Elise left at lights out and returned at shift change, which is right before we get the girls up. She had eight hours to do whatever she wanted.”
“Why did she come back?” Lucy asked, almost to herself.
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Could one of the guards have been helping her?”
“I questioned all of them. I believed them when they said they weren’t helping her.
“Can I talk to them?”
“I’m not going to let you—I have privacy and legal issues to worry about. However, there was one guard who quit and I’m positive it was because of Elise, but she didn’t say so. In fact, she refused to tell me why, and Erica had been here longer than me. She was one of the best I had, dedicated, firm, but kind. I’ll give you her number, maybe you can find out what went on.”
“I appreciate that.” She took down Erica Anderson’s contact information. “Is she working at another prison?”
“I haven’t heard. If that’s all—I have a staff meeting in five minutes.”
“Two things—was there anyone that Elise was particularly close to?”
“Elise made friends easily. But I had the sense that she made friends with people she had a purpose for. She didn’t have a close friend, or someone she confided in, for example. We usually know what the hierarchy is—put a handful of teenagers in a room and by the end of the day it’s pretty clear. Elise was an outlier. She wasn’t in charge, but she was not a subordinate. And the tough girls didn’t harass her like I expected, especially with her attitude.”
“Was she friendly with anyone from the Saints? They’re a defunct gang.”
“I’m familiar with the gang. Yes, actually. Marie Ynez. A good