Today had been, a nightmare. There was so much contained violence around her. And yet she was in here as Miss Briony Cavanagh, aunt of the twins, lover of Tommy Lane. She had her creds. Even her sister being a famous singer was thrilling to the average inmate, and her notoriety thanks to the papers had guaranteed her a place in the prison hierarchy that would be her protection. But Briony wanted none of it. She wanted to be at home in her bed, with Tommy beside her.

Before she slept, she saw Benedict’s face. He would have heard everything by now. It would go out on the evening news. What would he be thinking?

Please God, she prayed, please dear God in heaven, help me.

Tommy awoke to the sound of shouting. He rubbed his eyes wearily, stifling a yawn.

‘Shut up!’ His cell mate Timmy Carlton punched his pillow in temper. ‘I can’t stand that bleeding racket any longer, first thing in the morning I’m going to drown that ponce in his own slop bucket!’

Tommy laughed softly.

‘He’s only a kid, Timmy. He’s scared.’

‘He’ll be scared in the morning. I’ll give him something to shout about mate!’

‘Oh, stop being such an arsehole and give me a fag.’

Timmy took a tin from under his pillow and gave Tommy a roll-up.

Tommy lit it in the dark, saying, ‘Can’t you get these any thinner? It’s like smoking a match!’

‘Smoke it will ya! Gordon Bennett, Tommy, a fag’s a fag. If you hadn’t given all your Strands to that little ponce shouting his head off we’d be quids in!’

Tommy grinned.

‘Timmy and Tommy, we sound like a bloody double act.’

Timmy took a deep drag on his own cigarette and said seriously, ‘Ain’t you trashed at all, Tommy? I mean you could get the big one.’

Tommy shook his head in the dimness. ‘I ain’t worried, Timmy, as long as my old woman gets a result. That’s all I’m worried about.’

Timmy scratched his short cropped hair.

‘I remember her from years ago. A right looker she was.’

‘She still is as a matter of fact, Timmy.’

Timmy laughed. ‘My old woman looks like the back of a bus, but she’s a good sort. Always visits like, brings the kids to see me. I like seeing the kids. But they took their toll on old Gabby. She’s half the size of a house these days. Used to be a right nice bit of stuff and all.’

Tommy laughed again. ‘You’ve got some kids and all ain’t you? How many at the last count?’