Adele nodded again, this time satisfied with Anna’s response. It was obvious to her that Anna’s suicide attempt had shaken Shazza. In the past two days she had been acting differently towards all of them. Her attitude had been uncharacteristically friendly to the point of almost ingratiating. Caroline had also told her that Cheryl seemed a lot happier and she thought it was because Shazza was now leaving her alone.

Although Anna’s suicide attempt had both frightened and upset Adele, at least it had put paid to Shazza’s nasty behaviour. Adele hoped that things would continue as they were because, now that Shazza was behaving herself, it would make prison life a lot easier for all of them.

*

Two weeks later Adele was in the visitors’ room with her brother, Peter, sitting across from her. The problem was that he was paying more attention to the attractive visitor behind her than he was to her. He was currently leaning to the side so he could see beyond Adele and was flashing a wide, welcoming smile to the female visitor at the next table.

‘For God’s sake! Will you behave yourself?’ said Adele, exasperated.

‘Gotta give ’em what they want, haven’t I?’ he grinned, winking at the girl before straightening back up and focusing on Adele.

‘OK, I’m all yours,’ he laughed.

‘About bloody time, too,’ said Adele who couldn’t help but join in with his cheeky laughter. ‘How are you, anyway? What have you been up to since I last saw you?’

‘I’ve only gone and got myself a sunbed salon, haven’t I? Good little earner it is, too.’

‘And how did you manage that?’ she asked.

‘What d’you mean?’

‘I mean, where did you get the money from?’

‘Oh, y’know. Borrowed a bit, called in a few favours. The beds aren’t too expensive if you know where to get them. It’s all about having the right contacts, sis.’ He winked again as he spoke the last few words.

Adele raised her eyebrows in disapproval. ‘Is it?’ she asked, knowing that she would never find out fully how Peter had come by the money to kit out a tanning salon.

‘Anyway, what about you?’ Peter asked. ‘How are things on the inside?’

‘Well, since that…’ Adele lowered her voice, ‘… attempted suicide a couple of weeks ago, things have been a lot better.’

‘That’s good.’

‘Yeah, I think it gave a few people a fright. Nobody’s told the screws what really happened but I think a certain someone was worried about what would have happened if Anna had died. Since then she’s been fine with all of us, and she’s stopped picking on Anna and Cheryl.’

‘Glad to hear it.’

Adele smiled across at him. ‘Yeah, it makes life a lot easier when you don’t feel as though you’ve got to watch your back all the time.’