Chapter 6: Incarceration

They brought us dinner but kept us naked. When we were left in a locked room with barred windows, I whispered into Billie’s ear that the room was wired for sound, and we were on camera. The lights went out—but the soft glow of black lights—or infrared, I couldn’t tell—and distant streetlights through the window combined to light up the room.

“I’m scared, Jackie,” Billie hugged me. “Let me sleep with you.”

That’s all we did—sleep. They woke us up before dawn. Breakfast, a shower, we brushed our teeth—but no clothes were provided. After this, we were given a battery of tests. I recognized the standard intelligence test and the MMPI. I spent a lot of time waiting for Billie to finish her tests. The test proctors spent a lot of time staring at me. I ignored them.

Lunch was grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. We got milk to drink. Then we were taken into separate rooms, and I spent the afternoon being grilled. Dinner was meatloaf, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy—and a green, sweet liquid. Ou Then we were lectured on our test scores. Billie had high scores.

“Jackie, you cheated. Nobody makes perfect scores.”

“You can test her in French,” Billie offered. “Or Italian. German. She was educated in Switzerland.”

I thought to myself, thank you, Sister. Here we go again. I keep getting accused of cheating on tests. I kept my mouth shut because there wasn’t anything I could say.

“You are twins, but obviously Jackie is smarter than Billie,” the man in the lab coat said. “How did she get so smart?”

“Education,” Billie claimed. “I graduated from a local junior college. Jackie has a degree in international politics.”

“She doesn’t look smart enough to walk and chew gum at the same time,” it was Agent Jerk again. “You both are a pair of stupid bitches. Tell me who you really work for.”

“We probably be fired for not showing up to work’” I speculated. “If you give us tardy slips, we might be able to save our jobs.”

“Dumb, blonde and funny,” Agent Jerk snickered.

“You, sir, are a real lady killer,” I smiled. “How did you murder Marilyn Monroe, anyway? Did she refuse your advances or were you just angry because you can’t get it up with girls?”

The man could hit! I was on the floor seeing stars. Yes, I could have decked him—but I elected to take his punch and go down. Lucky me—he didn’t kick me while I was down. Despite being prepared to take a fall, his punch still had enough force to daze me. Billie’s expression was terrified. The room came to my rescue. Agent Jerk was escorted out. Billie took my head in her lap.

“Anybody get the number of that truck?” I kept my voice weak. “Or was that a speeding freight train?”

Billie kissed me.

“I will kill that bastard if he hurts my sister again!” Billie promised.

“Let me take a look,” a man in a white coat commanded. I admitted to being dazed and slightly exaggerated the impact. “Yes, you’re going to have shiner.”

“I’m pressing charges!” Billie announced. “Beating up on girls! Little girls at that! What a big man!”

“Easy, miss, I’m trying to help.” The man looked me over carefully, asked for an ice pack. “I’m prescribing APC—that’s aspirin. Rest, too. Her sister needs to stay with her—no more questioning today. Maybe none tomorrow. Keeping Jackie and Billie together will keep the patient from being upset. Can I get a cup of coffee for her?”