They were in the gym and Caroline was clutching a long kickboxing pad, which covered most of her torso. While Adele jabbed at the pad, Caroline threw her weight behind it to stop her feet from shifting. As Adele continued to jab, she seemed to be working herself up into such a fury that Caroline had to push harder to maintain her position.

Something seemed to have upset Adele recently but Caroline wasn’t sure what. Maybe it was the incident with Anna that had shaken her. Caroline had tried to help her laugh it off but Adele was having none of it. Although Caroline had tried to play it down, she could understand why Adele was so freaked out. It can’t have been nice to think that someone was mauling you while you were asleep.

Caroline also found the kickboxing sessions boring. While she held onto the pad her mind drifted and she gazed around the gym. She could see a small group of women, a few metres behind Adele. They had taken a break from their workouts and were now watching Adele practising, and whispering amongst themselves.

All of a sudden Adele took a mighty front kick off the back leg, striking the pad with some force. It took Caroline by surprise and she rocked backwards, almost toppling over. While Caroline tried to recover her balance, Adele continued to jab rapidly at the pad.

‘Steady on, Adele. Bloody hell!’ said Caroline. ‘You nearly had me on the floor then.’

Adele paused on hearing Caroline’s words and she seemed to take a few seconds to come back into focus.

‘Bloody hell!’ Caroline repeated. ‘I don’t know who you thought this bloody pad was then but I hope it wasn’t me.’

‘Sorry,’ said Adele, standing with her hands on her hips and breathing heavily. ‘I just got a bit carried away, that’s all.’

Caroline stepped forward and tapped lightly on Adele’s shoulder, the kickboxing pad now hanging loosely from her other hand. ‘No worries,’ she smiled, ‘but I think it might be time to take a break. My bloody arms are killing me from holding onto this thing.’

Adele smiled back and both women walked over to the side of the gym to have a rest. Caroline noticed that the crowd of prisoners continued watching her and Adele until they reached the far wall, then they dispersed and carried on with what they were doing.

‘I think you’re attracting a bit of attention,’ whispered Caroline.

‘What do you mean?’ asked Adele.

‘A few people were watching you work out.’

‘Who?’

Adele didn’t know most of the inmates but there were two whose names she would be familiar with because of their reputations for being tough. When Caroline told her who they were, Adele raised her eyebrows in surprise.

‘Why would they be watching me?’ she asked.

‘Because… you’re getting a bit of a reputation as a fighter.’