Anna was still hiding something in her hand. At first Adele thought it was weed but now she suspected that Anna had been injecting herself with drugs and didn’t want Adele to see the marks on her arms. Recently, she had noticed that Anna had started wearing long-sleeved tops rather than parading around in her underwear like she used to. Maybe that was why.

Anna wasn’t the only one who was scared. Adele knew that standing up to Shazza may have been a big mistake. Now that she had come to blows with her, she dreaded what Shazza was going to do next.

But as she had made a stand, she had no alternative other than to see it through. Looking at Anna’s frightened form, she knew that she couldn’t let things carry on as they were.

*

True to her word, Anna had tried her best to stick with Adele and Caroline whenever they ventured outside the cell. They were standing having a chat in the recreation room – Adele, Anna, Caroline and Cheryl.

Straight away Adele had noticed the bruising around Cheryl’s right eye. ‘What the hell happened to you?’ she asked.

‘Nothing, I fell,’ said Cheryl.

‘She won’t say,’ Caroline chipped in. ‘But I’ve got a good idea what really happened.’ Her gaze wandered over to Shazza, who was playing pool with Denise while Louise watched, and Adele’s jaw dropped in alarm.

Cheryl rushed to defend herself. ‘I told you, I tripped.’

Adele knew they’d get nothing further out of Cheryl, who looked terrified. They grew silent and Adele glanced at what was taking place between Shazza and Denise. Although they were several metres away, Adele could hear them talking and laughing as they played. Adele tried not to watch but their loud banter drew her attention.

Shazza was just about to take a shot. She was leaning over the pool table, gazing at the striped ball on the green baize. But Adele sensed Shazza’s gaze drifting in her direction. She noticed a brief upward movement when the whites of Shazza’s eyes were replaced by vivid turquoise and black pools of hatred.

Then Shazza raised her head and her eyes met Adele’s, sending a stab of anxiety through her. She noticed the familiar smirk on Shazza’s narrow lips as she carried on feeding the cue through the fingers of her left hand. But the cue was no longer on the ball. Shazza had tilted it slightly so it was now aiming at Adele. She sneered at Adele as she continued to point the cue and thrust it backwards and forwards menacingly.

There was no doubt in Adele’s mind about the message Shazza was sending. Caroline had spotted it too and was tutting and scowling.

‘What’s the matter?’ asked Anna, seeing Caroline’s reaction.

‘Nothing,’ said Caroline, quickly turning away but flashing Adele a look of concern before she did so.