A surge of raw emotion threatened to overwhelm her. For a brief moment, she thought she might break down and cry. Only Alice would have understood. If only Alice was still around.

Poppy must have sensed her disquiet. She gently stroked Bailey’s shoulder.

‘Bad memories, huh? Forget about him.’ Her fingers began to trace a slow path down Bailey’s spine. ‘Just forget all about him.’

Her voice was husky and soothing, her caress tender and healing. The tattoo gun had been switched off and the cell was silent but for their breathing.

‘I’ve got a plan,’ said Poppy softly. ‘For when I get out of here.’

‘It’s good to have a goal to work towards.’

Poppy sighed, a soft melancholy sound injected with desire. Her fingertips continued their ever-so-gentle route down Bailey’s spine. Her touch sent electrical tingles up her back. The atmosphere was suddenly charged with a sexual tension that had caught Bailey wholly by surprise.

‘It’s like a dream of mine,’ said Poppy. ‘And I want you to be part of it.’

‘Uh… you do know I’m straight, don’t you?’

Poppy’s fingers paused their progress. ‘Sure. I know you are.’

‘But we can still be friends, right?’

‘Sure.’ Poppy’s voice was colder now, more businesslike.

She climbed off Bailey.

‘We’re done for today,’ she said.

‘But we’ve only just started.’

Bailey sat up. Poppy was standing by the window, gazing out at the distant reservoir. Bailey could see that she had been hurt by her rejection.

‘Tell me about your plans,’ she said gently.

‘Some other time maybe.’

Bailey shrugged and put her clothes on. She genuinely liked Poppy and didn’t enjoy seeing her upset, but she had a feeling that whatever she now said would only aggravate her mood.

As she turned to leave the cell, she paused for a moment in the doorway and glanced over her shoulder in regret, hoping for a reprieve. But it was clear from Poppy’s demeanour that she was hoping in vain. So she continued on her way, annoyed with herself for feeling so perturbed.

Chapter 70

The inmates sat in the canteen eating lunch whilst the prison officers made their rounds, taking down their applications. Applications were any requests that the inmates might have for particular items or things that they wanted to do, such as arrange a visit or purchase a new computer game.

Bailey sat alone in the corner of the canteen, watching the inmates and the prison officers as they interacted with each other. She had her eye on one particular inmate:

Mel.

She was sitting, as always, with Kay and Seema.

Ever since their recent near-calamitous encounter, Mel’s hysteric utterance had been playing on Bailey’s mind.

Hairdressa.

What did that mean exactly?

Mel hadn’t been in any state to answer further questions, but Bailey’s instincts told her that she was onto something and that she should dig a little more. This time she’d try and catch Mel when she wasn’t with the other two. She just had to remember to play it careful.