Academy Murders: Go

Checkers fell off the table in the day room.

“You did that on purpose because you thought I’d win again,” Lala Comberland shrieked.

“If you want to make a federal case of it….” Melanie Logan replied.

“Whatever. You can have it,” Lala said.

Whatever the two women had going on, Kim had kept to herself as best she could.

Melanie walked like a cat and slinked near her.

“You wanna play?”

“No,” Kim replied. It was a quick shut down.

“What are you not into checkers? They’ve got chess.”

“I’m more of a Go girl.”

“Me too! I was just playing to play. We can get—” She used her hands to call for a CO.

“What is it, Logan?”

“My friend and I would like to play Go.”

“You know that game is reserved for tier 2.”

“We are tier 2,” Melanie asserted.

“I’ll check on that,” The correctional officer made a motion to an imaginary radio.

“I’d like to know the status of two inmates. Are they tier 2 yet? No. Roger that. Sorry ladies.”

“Asshole,” Melanie muttered as the CO walked away laughing.

“So, where’d you learn how to play Go?” Melanie asked, curiosity soaking her words.

“I used to play it with my grandfather,” Kim responded.

“Me too! I used to play with my pee-paw sometimes for two days. Doesn’t he know that we’re college educated? Doesn’t he know that we’re more educated than he is?” Melanie referred to CO Renier Rawlins.

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.”

Melanie looked around. She peered at the other inmates playing cards and watching TV. They brought together the minutes they had left trying to sop up whatever bits of recreation they could fill into their days.

“I tell you. They really don’t know what we’re capable of if we just get organized. We won’t have to worry about any of this. Especially you. You’re a celebrity amongst us nobodies. What we have done is further the cause for showing that we can find ourselves in perils away from the job. Some of us just have to realize that if we did it or not, we’re here under the same roof. Oh, look he’s getting the Go board and stones. I guess he’s not that much of an asshole after all.”

“Except we only have ten minutes,” Kim observed.

“That’s alright. We can do more in ten minutes than he can with his significant other,” Melanie said with a smirk.

Kim laughed. It was a light, joyful laugh that she had not expressed in weeks.

“Now this isn’t checkers or chess. This is the oldest game still in existence. 2500 years strong. As we—”

“Remember our time….” Kim pointed out.

“Of course, of course. I’ll set up the board. You’re not a pebble pusher, are you? My grandfather abhorred those kinds of players.”

“Mine, too.”

“You know you’re an inspiration to a lot of us here. That’s probably why no one has tried you…yet,” Melanie mentioned.

With a few moves, Kim had advanced in the game. “I’d like to keep it that way,” she noted.

“That’s it, inmates! Playtime is over.”

The other women journeyed back to their dual cells. Kim looked back and saw that Melanie was holding a Go stone. She smiled and winked at her.

In her cell she had the chance to gather herself.

“Jergensen!”

An email session with her lawyer allowed her some more breathing room.

“I found that we can move closer to a time where you will be out of here and cleared on all charges. We just have to see through to the case.”