Adele couldn’t fail to see the fear on the faces of her friends. It wasn’t over between her and Shazza. Adele had no doubt that she was just biding her time. Sooner or later she would make a move and, when she did, Adele would have to make sure she was ready.

Chapter 19

Adele was thrilled to receive a parcel a few days later and had a feeling she knew what was inside. The brown wrapping paper had already been opened then resealed by the guards, but it didn’t spoil Adele’s enjoyment. As she tore excitedly at the paper, Anna looked on despondently.

‘Oh, wow!’ said Adele, holding up her pristine study booklets and fingering them as though they were precious jewels. ‘I can’t wait to get started on this lot.’

‘What are they?’ asked Anna.

‘They’re the study booklets for my accountancy course,’ said Adele, flicking through the pages of one of them. ‘I told you about it. Remember?’

Anna shrugged, her lips set in a grim line and her eyes downcast. ‘Whatever turns you on, I suppose,’ she muttered.

Adele smiled at her reaction but didn’t say anything. She couldn’t expect Anna to understand her excitement, not when education didn’t mean anything to her. She knew someone who would understand, though – Caroline – and she was anxious to share her news with her. In her haste Adele rushed from the cell leaving Anna alone.

‘Guess what?’ she announced when she caught sight of Caroline inside her cell, thumbing through the pages of a magazine. Caroline looked up expectantly.

‘I’ve received my study materials,’ said Adele, holding out one of the booklets for Caroline to examine.

‘Excellent,’ said Caroline, putting the magazine down on the bed. ‘Let’s have a look.’

Adele passed her the booklet and Caroline flicked through the pages, stopping at one of them. ‘Bloody hell, Adele. This is all a bit over my head.’

‘It will be, seeing as how you studied English,’ Adele laughed.

Caroline grinned back, ‘Well, I hope you’re up for the challenge.’

‘Oh, yeah,’ said Adele. ‘In fact, I can’t wait to get started. It’ll help to pass the days more quickly in here, that’s for sure.’

Cheryl, who had been watching them, now tried to share their enthusiasm. ‘What is it?’ she asked.

‘An accountancy course,’ said Adele.

‘Oh…’ said Cheryl.

When she didn’t say anything more, Adele continued, ‘I used to do bookkeeping and accounts work before I came in here so I thought it would be good to get some more qualifications.’

Cheryl stared back blankly so Adele added, ‘It should help to pass the time as well as increasing my chances of work when I’m released.’

‘Good for you,’ said Cheryl. ‘I wish I was that brainy.’

Adele smiled at her.

‘You never know until you try,’ Caroline said to Cheryl. ‘You’re not doing so bad with your classes, are you?’