PART ONE

CHAPTER 1 - IN AND OUT

1995

It was a scorchingly hot Wednesday in July as Jane waited alone at the uncovered bus stop in front of the women's prison in northern Utah.  A white plastic bag sat next to her on the bench.  It looked like a trash bag except for the black lettering which read, INMATE PROPERTY across the side.  Everything she owned was in that bag: two pair of state-issued cotton underwear; a full-coverage sports bra; what was left of a mini-deodorant; a travel toothbrush and toothpaste; and a round handheld vanity mirror.

She could feel the skin on her face and arms beginning to get pink.  'Why wasn't he here waiting for me when I got out?!' she said out loud to no one.

For every minute Jane waited, her anger grew exponentially and by the time the truck pulled up she was livid.

The old Chevy truck with its blown muffler could be heard long before it ever turned the corner and came into view.  Jimmy smiled broadly as he drove pulled up the curb and rolled down the window.

"Hey Sexy...long time no see!" he said excitedly.

"What the fuck Jimmy!?" Jane said, her face red with anger.  "I've been waiting out here burning in the sun for an hour!" even though it had only been about 15 minutes.

Jimmy's smile faded as Jane opened the passenger door, threw her bag on the back seat and plopped into the seat next to Jimmy.  He thought about explaining how he'd gotten stuck in traffic, but thought better of it.  Jimmy knew better than to rile Jane up when he was within arm's reach.

"Take me downtown. I have to check-in at the parole office," she said still irritated at being left to wait in the heat.

He put the truck in gear and headed into town.

Jimmy was nervous about driving in Salt Lake City.  His truck was loud and the tags were expired.  The parole office8 was at the civic center right next to the police station and cops always seemed to know when Jimmy was up to something.  He knew if the police saw him driving, especially with Jane in the truck, they'd get pulled over.

Like Jane, Jimmy was no stranger to being locked up.  It seemed like he'd spent more time in jail than out of it and at his last sentencing the local judge called Jimmy 'a slow learner.'  It was an accurate description.

But this time it was Jane getting out of prison.  She'd spent the last three years incarcerated on a probation violation charge.  According to Jane, Jimmy got off Scott-free even though he didn't actually do anything illegal.  But, since he was with her when she was arrested, Jane blamed Jimmy and tried to guilt-trip him whenever she got the chance.

Jimmy had no intention of going back to jail.  So, instead of pulling into the civic center parking lot, he backed his truck up to a bush in the shopping center lot across the street.

"Really?" Jane asked perturbed.  "You're gonna make me walk now?"

Jimmy dropped his head and shrugged his shoulders as Jane got out of the truck and hoofed it across the street to the parole office.

She walked up to the reception desk and signed the roster.  "Have a seat and we'll call you when your PO is ready," the clerk said.

Jane really hated waiting, but she'd learned from experience that this was not the place to act out.  So she  muffled the inner voice that told her how offended she should be, and found the only empty seat in the waiting room.

Jane looked around, trying not to make eye contact with the other convicts.  She knew she couldn't hide her sense of superiority, an attitude that never worked in her favor with this particular group.  So she kept her head down and practiced in her mind what she would say to the officer.

About 20 minutes later, the door to the back office opened and the parole agent called out, "Jane Adams."

He looked like a drill sergeant - tall and muscular with a high and tight hair cut.  The look on his face gave Jane the impression that he wasn't going to be easy to fool.

"Well you didn't waste any time checking-in," he said without a smile.

"I wasn't sure when I'd get another chance to come in to the city," Jane told him.

"So, you know the drill.  You need to find a place, check in every month, get a job, and stay out of trouble,"  he said.  "Do you have a place to stay?"

"Oh yes," she said smiling and tilting her head to the side in an attempt to flirt.  "I'll be living with my father up in Ogden," she lied.

Jane knew she was going to live at the trailer park with Jimmy, but living with another convicted felon is strictly prohibited.

The parole agent had seen Jane's record and knew she was probably being deceptive.  But he figured he'd catch her at some point, so he let her go on.

"What about a job?  Any plans?"  he asked.

"Well, no - not really," she said.  She couldn't exactly tell him what she and Jimmy were planning.  "My dad is really supportive.  I won't have to pay rent or buy food."

"Uh, no.  That's not acceptable," said the parole agent.  "It's a condition of your parole to get a job and pay your own way.  Living off your dad isn't gonna work. Here's a list of job openings in your area."

"Well, I guess I'll get a job then," she said, still smiling slightly but the contempt was starting to show in her eyes.

"Okay, you've got a month to make it happen," he said.  "Make an appointment with the receptionist for your next check-in.  If you don't want to go back to prison, I suggest you make sure to read and follow the conditions of your parole."