‘Don’t worry, I won’t,’ Adele said, wondering how Anna could regard Shazza as a mate when all she seemed to do was talk down to her and take things from her. Adele didn’t say anything further but Anna’s words had shaken her. The last thing she needed was to have to watch her back every minute of the day.

Chapter 14

It was visiting time and Adele was sitting at a table with her brother, Peter, across from her.

‘So, you said on the phone that you wanted me to find out about Shazza,’ he said.

‘Shush, keep your voice down,’ said Adele, checking around her to make sure no one had overheard.

‘OK,’ said Peter. ‘Well,’ he whispered, ‘as you know, her ex-boyfriend is a mate of mine, Mike Shaftesbury. So, I casually mentioned to him that you were in here and he told me that’s where his ex is, serving time for GBH.’

Adele nodded for Peter to continue.

‘I asked him who she was, pretending it was in case you might know her. Then he started telling me what she was in for and it just went on from there. From what he tells me, she’s a right fuckin’ head case. You’d do well to stay away from her.’

‘I believe so,’ said Adele, the anxiety showing in the taut lines on her face. ‘How bad is she?’

‘Well, Mike didn’t have a fuckin’ good word to say about her, that’s for sure. When he was with her they used to fight. But he said it was ’cos she provoked him. He only had to look at another woman and she’d give him a slap right there and then in the pub, in front of everyone. I think it was a power thing with her, letting everyone know that he was her property.

‘Then, one night, he woke up feeling something stinging his chest and the mad bitch was putting her cig out on him. They’d had a row the night before but he thought they’d smoothed it over till she started again the next day. In the end he ditched her; he didn’t want any more of her aggravation, especially after she beat up a woman in the pub. That’s why she’s in here now.’

‘Really?’ asked Adele. ‘She’s been telling people she finished with him. I knew she was in for GBH but I didn’t know the details.’

‘Yeah, she broke the poor cow’s nose just because Mike was talking to her.’

‘Jesus!’ said Adele, her eyes wide with shock.

‘You look worried,’ said Peter. ‘Has she been giving you any trouble?’

‘Not exactly, but she hasn’t been too friendly either.’

‘Best keep out of her way then.’