"You wouldn't have to if one of your buddies came forward and told the truth," Carey said, removing her own boots and setting them by the door. "Here, let me help you with that."
"But why punish all of us?" Grace asked, moving her tired hands out of the way so Carey could undo the laces. "You know I didn't do it."
Carey smiled and tugged the boot free. "I never thought you did," she said. "Give me your other foot. Grace, I'm not doing this to be mean. This is more than just finding out who did it. What if I didn't do a test run first? What if it was one of you girls on that rope?"
"I think Grenner did it," she said, closing her eyes as the other boot was removed.
"You think or you know?"
"Think."
"I can't punish her for what you think," Carey said. "Lie down."
Grace waved her hand. "I'll get it."
"Down," Carey said, rising and getting the linens. "You care about the sheet?”
"No."
Carey unfolded the blanket and tossed it over her. "Lift your head.”
"Too tired," Grace mumbled.
"Uh-huh," Carey said, squeezing her hand between Grace's head and the cushion, then lifting and shoving the pillow in place. "Good night."
Blue eyes opened. "Wait. Don't I get a hug good night?" She held her arms out expectantly.
"I think you're taking advantage of this hug thing," Carey said, though she knelt down and accepted a short hug. "Now go to sleep."
"Good night, Carey."
"Night, Grace."
"Hey," Latisha said as Grace entered the formation area. "You won't believe what happened last night."
"What?"
"A bunch of girls started in on Hathaway, saying she's the one that screwed with the rope," Latisha said.
"Did she admit it?" Grace asked.
"Hell no," Latisha said. "But Grenner said she saw Mo near the tool shed yesterday."
Knowing there were a few minutes before the instructors arrived, Grace walked over to where Hathaway and several other girls were standing. "Mo."
"I didn't do it so go fuck off, Waters," Mo said. "I don't give a shit what Grenner says. I was nowhere near the damn tool shed yesterday."
"So why would she say you were?" Grace asked.
"Because she's a ho with nothing better to do," she said, pushing her glasses up on her nose. "Besides, what the fuck was she doing near the shed to see me in the first place?"
"You think I want to spend all day doing PT?” one of the other girls said. "If I thought Hathaway did it, I'd turn her ass in myself."
"No you wouldn't," Rosetti said. "Then you'd be a snitch and I'd have to jump you. I can't stand snitches."
"Fuck that," Mo said. "I'm sick of getting punished for something someone else did. I'd tell Scary and Gage in a second."
"Ten hut."
Everyone fell into formation, apprehensive of what the day would bring.
“Another day, another chance to do the right thing," Gage said, beginning her usual pacing in front of the group. "Are you tired?"
"Yes, ma'am," the group said.
"You think you deserve a break today?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Well this isn't McDonald's!" the short woman yelled. "And yesterday is going to look like a trip to Disneyland compared to today if I don't get some answers, and I mean right now!" She took two more paces, then said, "All right, I hear who did it and you can all go back to the barracks until lunch. You want to protect your friend, your buddy, the one who's got your back, then you can have a five-mile run followed by two trips through the obstacle course and then another run before lunch. How's that sound? A nice relaxing Sunday or a day of hell?"
Oh please, someone narc Grenner out, Grace thought.
"Must be a day of hell you want then," Gage said. "Now move."
Grace set her tray down and dropped into her seat. "Heard anything?"
"Nothing," Latisha said. "Everyone thinks Grenner or Hathaway did it."
Dipping her French fry into a dollop of ketchup, Grace shook her head. "My money's on Grenner."
"I bet Dawson knows," Latisha said.
"No doubt," Grace said. "But she's not talking either. I can't believe that bitch is smart enough to hide that knife all this time. They've searched the barracks I don't know how many times, and there's no sign of it?"
"It can't be in the barracks," Latisha said. "They've done everything but flip over our uniform lockers."
Grace popped another French fry into her mouth. "Yeah, but they've searched the lockers, right?"
Latisha nodded, then used her fork to swipe two fries from Grace's plate. "Maybe she hid it in a tree somewhere."
"It's gotta be in the barracks," Grace said, pushing her chair back. "I'm gonna take a look."
"I'll go with you," Latisha said.
As Grace and Latisha were leaving, they ran into Jan and Mo.
"You're going in the wrong direction," Jan said. "Lunch is that way."
"We're gonna check the barracks," Grace said.
"Don't waste your time," Mo said. "Viking and Scary checked while we were running our asses off."
"That knife has to be somewhere," Grace said. "Come on, Latisha."
"Hang on, I'll go with you," Jan said.
"What the hell," Mo said, wiggling her glasses. "I'm not really in the mood for Z-burgers anyway."
The group entered the barracks, Latisha staying by the door to stand guard. "Start with the bunk?" Jan asked.
“The locker," Grace said, opening the metal doors.
"I'm taller, I'll check the shelf," Jan said while Grace knelt down and peered at the base.
"You know there's about two or three inches between the bottom and the floor?" she said, banging her knuckles on the metal.
"Unless she made a trap door there's no way to get to it," Mo said. "Those things are too heavy to move."
"No," Grace said, disappointed. "There's no sign of that."
"Nothing here," Jan said. "Maybe Dawson's hiding it?"
"You think Lauren would trust Sally to do that?" Mo asked.
"Well, let's check her bunk too," Jan said.
"Might as well," Grace said, rising to her feet. "How heavy is this anyway?"
"Let's see," Jan said, moving to the side of the locker and pushing on it. "Oh shit, what did they make this out of, lead?"
"Here, I'll help," Mo said. Together they were able to tilt it sideways.
"Hang on," Grace said, dropping to her belly. "I'll look beneath. Can you lift it a little more?"
"It's not like I have anything to hold onto here," Jan said. "Be quick, will ya?"
"It's too dark," Grace said when it was lifted another inch. She reached in, hoping to feel the elusive weapon.
"Look out," Jan said as she lost her grip.
"Ah, damn. Get it off, get it off!" Grace yelped.
"What happened?" Latisha asked as she came running over.
Grace pulled her hand free and sat up. "Fuck. Oh damn, that hurt."
"I'm sorry," Jan said. "It slipped and I didn't know your hand was under there."
There was an indentation across the back of Grace's hand where the metal had pressed into her skin. She slowly flexed her fingers, then made a fist. Damn! She stood up and shoved Grenner's bunk out of the way. "Screw it," she said, grabbing hold of the opposite side of the locker. "Let's tip it."
The heavy metal locker crashed to the floor, the noise echoing throughout the barracks. There on the floor previously hidden by the locker was the sharpened butter knife. "I knew it," Jan said.
"I'll kill her," Grace said angrily.
"Oh shit," Latisha said a split second before the barracks door opened.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Grenner shouted, racing toward her bunk.
"You bitch," Grace said, diving at the larger teen and slamming her shoulder into Grenner's midsection. The force sent them both crashing to the concrete floor. "You could have killed her!" She took a punch in the side, returning it with a solid hit of her own.