But then one day, in the gatehouse, one of the prison officers had been caught in a random bag check trying to smuggle drugs into the prison. To his surprise, it had been Terry, the union rep. The Governor had always detested Terry for the way he constantly criticised and undermined the Governor’s policies and he had relished the opportunity to finally destroy this thorn in his side.

But a cunning notion had then occurred to the Governor. This situation presented a means by which he himself could fulfil plans of his own, plans which would otherwise only ever have remained dreams. So rather than turn Terry over to the police, the Governor had suggested a secret partnership. He had proposed it right here in this office. He would make the criminal allegations go away and he would permit Terry to continue smuggling drugs into the prison under the condition that half of all proceeds would go back to him. Terry had little choice but to agree to his offer. However, to ensure that he didn’t get caught again, the Governor had explained to him how he could use the well.

Of course, so as nothing should seem amiss, they both kept up their antagonistic act of prison governor versus union rep. That way no one would ever suspect that they were in cahoots.

The money had been rolling in for a while now, slowly filling up an offshore bank account. Soon he would have enough to retire and buy his yacht. Soon his dreams would come true. It had all been working so well.

Up to now.

Now everything had been thrown into jeopardy. His yacht. His knighthood. God forbid, even he himself could end up on the other side of the bars and that was not something he was even willing to consider. Can you imagine it? A prison governor, behind bars?

And what about his family? His wife? His daughters? Their private schooling. The skiing holidays in Verbier. Their five-bedroom house. The neighbours. What the hell would the neighbours think? And the Home Secretary? My god, the Governor would never live it down! The Home Secretary would never talk to him again.

He shuddered at the thought of it all. He poured himself another large shot of whisky and downed it in one.

If it wasn’t already calamitous enough that this inmate knew all about the drug smuggling, she’d also managed to somehow tie it into these recent murders. Whether or not she was right about that, he didn’t know and he didn’t care. All he did know was that if any of this got out, he was well and truly fucked.

Something had to be done about it.

His hand was shaking again. He clenched it into a fist.

He knew what to do. He knew exactly what needed to be done.

Chapter 103

The bite of cold steel against her throat jerked her out of slumber. Bailey opened her eyes to see the dim outline of a figure standing over her in the darkness.