‘I’m not sure. I didn’t catch all of their conversation but it involves you, Anna. And they’re going to do it today. So I think you’d best be vigilant.’

‘Shit!’ said Anna, and the colour drained from her face.

‘Try not to worry. It might be nothing. I didn’t hear everything they said but I’ve just got a feeling they’re up to no good.’

‘So, what do we do?’ asked Anna, her voice edged with panic.

‘We stick together and hope I’m wrong,’ said Caroline, tapping Anna affectionately on the shoulder.

*

Adele was in the gym practising her kickboxing. She often came alone now she wasn’t worried about Shazza any more. It was usually quieter than the rest of the prison and she enjoyed the relative peace.

After she had finished doing an aerobic warm-up she did a quick kickboxing combination. Using an imaginary target she threw a jab first, then a cross punch followed by a right hook and an uppercut. Then she swapped sides, leading from the right foot this time and repeating the moves with opposite hands. She increased the intensity of each combination, building up a good sweat.

When she had finished delivering punches against her imaginary target, she practised a few kicks. Adele was just completing a back kick and knee strike combination. As she kicked her left leg backwards, she thought she spotted something in her rear peripheral vision. She had an eerie sensation of being watched, which made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.

She finished the combination, raising her right knee forcefully then lowering it back to the ground. Then she paused, leaning forwards with her hands on her hips, trying to get her breath back.

‘Very impressive, Miss Kickboxing Queen,’ she heard. The sarcastic tone was unmistakable; it was Shazza.

Adele swivelled back, spotting the sneers on the faces of Shazza, Denise and Louise as they watched her.

‘Now let’s see what you can do to a real target, shall we?’ Shazza asked.

The three of them stepped forward. They had obviously been planning this. Other inmates stood aside, not wishing to get involved. Within no time Shazza and her friends had surrounded Adele. Adrenalin pulsed through her as fear took a hold.

‘Come on then,’ said Shazza. ‘Let’s see what you can do, smart arse!’

Adele could feel the first stirrings of panic and she drew in a sharp breath that hit the back of her throat in a fierce blast of air. But she wasn’t going to give in without a fight. She adopted a defensive stance, ready for the attack.

‘Is that all you’ve fuckin’ got?’ said Shazza, scowling.

Their eyes locked and for a few tense seconds nobody spoke. Then Shazza grinned and said, ‘Ooh, I see. You’re waiting for us to make the first move, are you?’