facility. We have a large gun collection in the gallows room. I think you’ll be impressed. Then we’ll do the general population quarters and finally, we’ll take you to your cells. You can hang out there, or we’ll be having coffee and dessert in the dining room at the end of the tour.”
“See, Hope, nothing to worry about. We’re just touring a building.” Estebe patted her back like an inexperienced father trying to burp a baby.
“I have to admit,” a dark-haired man standing near Estebe grinned at Hope, “I’m a little nervous too. Did you know that there were over 13,000 prisoners in this place during the time it was opened, but only ten executions? I think we’re fine. Unless there’s a killer in our midst.”
“Tad, you always know how to make people feel comfortable. Please excuse my brother. He has a sick sense of humor.” An older woman took Tad’s arm and leaned into the group. “I’m Tamera Johnson. We’re from Boise but have never taken the time to tour the prison. Our uncle, Thaddeus, is here from Utah and he suggested we take a family field trip.”
Angie stepped forward. “I’m Angie Turner and this is my crew from The County Seat. We’re in River Vista.”
“I’ve been to your restaurant. A very nice setting for such a small town. It was a surprise when my husband got us dinner reservations. You have quite a following in the area.” Tamera looked around the group. “I don’t think I’ve ever met so many chefs before.”
“I just started.” Hope explained.
“Hope is our newest addition to the kitchen. She just graduated from the Boise State culinary program.” Angie smiled at the girl who, apparently, felt uncomfortable being called a chef. “And this is my boyfriend, Ian. He runs the Farmers’ Market co-op in River Vista.”
“We’re surrounded by food experts. I may just have to bend your ear on this recipe I’ve been trying to figure out. I can’t get it to work like it does at my favorite restaurant.” She smiled and nodded to the guard motioning them into the next room. “Looks like we’re getting started. See you on the inside.”
Ian moved over so the family could follow the guards. Angie noticed a few couples behind them, but they didn’t seem in the mood for chatting. In fact, it looked like they were waiting for the lights to go down to get a little closer.
Ian fell in step with Angie. “I think this is going to be an interesting evening.”
“I think ‘interesting’ is an understatement.” Angie shivered a little as they went through the open iron gate. When they were all in the large hallway, the guard that brought up the rear pulled the bars closed and clicked the locks shut. The sound echoed in the stone room.
“You are officially residents of the Idaho Penitentiary for the evening. I hope you enjoy your stay.” He called over our heads. “Step forward to the light. Harry Orchard was one of our most famous residents. He confessed to killing over seventeen people, including a former Idaho governor. By the end of his life, he was living outside the prison walls in a cottage he’d built himself. He started a shoe shop and a poultry farm inside the prison.”
An old sepia photo of an elderly man near a small rock building was posted on their left. A small placard described Harry’s crimes, as well as his more redeeming characteristics.
“Over here we have one of Butch Cassidy’s boys. Henry ‘Bob’ Meeks wasn’t a long term resident but he tried to make his stay even shorter by escaping. He was shot in the leg, then doctors had to amputate the wounded limb. Later, he tried another method of escape and jumped off the top of a cell house. Finally, he was sent to the asylum.” Bridget told the next story.
The tour went on like that with each guard giving the story of a different famous resident. Bridget presented the final story. “There were about 250 women incarcerated here over the years. Lyda Southard was convicted of killing her fourth husband with arsenic. Investigators pulled together evidence to support the premise that the other three husbands, a brother in law, and a son were all killed by the same method.”
“She sounds like a peach of a girl,” Tad called out. “Just don’t eat her apple pie, it’s killer.”
There were a few laughs but more groans to Tad’s joke. He glanced around at the group and muttered, “Tough crowd.”
“I think it’s sad when women feel they have no other way out besides murder.” Hope said.
“Honey, she killed at least five people, including her own child. I think she needed better coping mechanisms,” Nancy said.
Hope nodded, then glanced at the photo again. “You’re probably right, but it’s still sad.”
They made their way to the gun collection where the guys were huddled over the display talking. Hope, Angie, Felicia and Nancy grabbed a table in the corner to sit. “I never got the fascination with guns,” Nancy admitted. “My ex-husband was a hunter and he had all kinds of weapons. Most that weren’t good for hunting at all.”
“Well, if the zombie apocalypse happens while we’re here, we’ll be safe.” Hope touched the stone walls. “Can you believe the prisoners built this building? Now they just make license plates.”
“I think that’s not quite true. I do some prison mission work, and a lot of the woman who are incarcerated are working on their degrees, so they have job skills when they get out. They need something to count on besides the family or man who led them down the wrong path.” Nancy fixed her pony tail.
“When do you have time to volunteer?” Angie studied her chef. “Last I heard, you were raising kids and working two jobs.”
“I only do it one Sunday a month after church. It helps me remember how lucky I am to have what I have. Even if it is crazy at times.” Nancy grinned. “I’m sure the rest of you volunteer too.”
Hope nodded. “I’m on the college sorority that works with the homeless in town. Of course, I’m going to have to quit when fall semester starts since I’m not a student anymore. Maybe I should check out your program?”
“Of course, but maybe you could find something where there’s more young people involved.” Nancy glanced over at the men talking about the gun collection. “We’re a bunch of women who aren’t trying to build our lives. You need to be around people your age. You already hang with us in the kitchen way too much.”
“I like you guys.” Hope countered. “Besides, I do a lot of things with friends my age. I’m just going to miss the structure of college. I got my schedule at the beginning of the semester. I took the classes and as long as I passed, I moved on. Now, no one is telling me what I need to do. Not even my folks. Although my little sister made it clear it’s time for me to leave home so she can have my room.”
Angie laughed. “Out of the mouths of babes. Do you make enough to pay for an apartment? Rents are pretty high right now.”
“I have a friend I can move in with. She’s been bugging me about sharing an apartment for years. She’s a checker over at Winco in Meridian.” Hope pointed to the guards who were standing in the corner talking. “Does it look like they’re fighting about something? Do you think something went wrong with the tour?”
Angie glance over to the doorway where two of the men were definitely in a heated argument. She couldn’t tell what they were saying, but the tone of the voices told her neither
