The walls of the cell were too close, the place stank, and nice as the two women were being to her, Briony would rather be anywhere in the world than here, in a small cell in Holloway prison.

Marla smiled, sensing her thoughts.

‘Listen, love, it’s a shock the first time. I know that from experience. But I’ll give you a bit of advice. When you walk out of this cell, walk like you own the fucking place. You’re a name, a big name. Your reputation’s preceded you. There’s plenty of little tarts in here who’d love to be the one to do you up. Get my drift?’

Briony took a deep pull on the match-thin roll-up.

‘I know what you’re saying, Maria, and don’t worry about me. I can more than take care of myself.’

Something in the little woman’s demeanour, her tone of voice, even the way she held her head, told both women she was speaking the truth.

Marla grinned.

‘Get the feel of the place. It stinks, it’s full of arseholes, but you get quite attached to it, as hard as that may be to believe. I’m waiting to go off to an open. Cookham Wood will do me lovely!’

Briony relaxed. ‘What you in for?’

‘Clipping. Prostitution and fraud. Me usual. Now our Letitia here is in for the big M like yourself, so you two should get on well!’

Letitia laughed.

‘I’m on remand, there ain’t no one proved I done it yet!’

Briony smiled. These two women, whom she would normally have avoided like the plague, had made her welcome in their own way and she was inordinately grateful.

‘Who are you accused of topping?’

Letitia grinned.

‘My pimp. His name was Delroy Lafayette, believe it or not.’

Briony took another drag on her cigarette. ‘With a name like that, he deserved to be murdered!’

Letitia and Marla screamed with laughter.

‘You’ll fit in here lovely, Miss Cavanagh. Just lovely.’

Briony laughed, her old self.

Tracy, outside on the landing bringing them three cups of tea, heard the sound with approval. Briony Cavanagh was settling in. If she could laugh she could do her time, whatever it was going to be. Marian Jurgens had slipped her a quick grand through a mutual friend to see that Briony had whatever she wanted while she was a guest, and Tracy had every intention of seeing that she carried out her part of the bargain to the last letter. Putting a packet of Strands on to the tray with the tea, she entered the cell.