Poppy sniffed back a sob.

‘Help me,’ said Bailey. ‘I need your help. Right now you’re the only person who can help me. I know who the killer is and I can stop him. I tried to tell the Governor but it was no good. But now I’ve got a chance, if you help me. If I don’t stop him, then more of us will die.’

‘Us? You’re not one of us. And why do you care about us anyway?’

‘Because it’s my job. And he killed my friend and I want to catch him.’

‘Your friend?’

‘Her name was Alice. Alice Simms. That was her real name. She was the first one who was killed. In the laundry. Back in May. She was a policewoman too.’

Poppy was silent for a few moments. Another tear fell onto Bailey’s shoulder.

‘They’ll kill me if I don’t kill you,’ she whispered.

‘Come with me,’ said Bailey. ‘I’ll take you out of here. Away from them. I can protect you. And I’ll help you, like I said I would. I’ll help you with your shop. I promise.’

‘Promises!’ spat Poppy. ‘A cop’s promises don’t mean anything!’

Bailey reached up ever so gently, ever so slowly, and ran her fingers lightly along the smooth surface of Poppy’s arm. She could feel the muscles quivering with tension as Poppy held the knife against her throat.

‘There’s a special connection between us, Poppy,’ she said, softly stroking Poppy’s arm. ‘I knew it from the first time I met you. I knew it when I kissed you. And I know it now. And you know it too.’

Poppy’s large eyes stared down at her, the green irises black in the dimness of the unlit cell. Bailey felt the pressure of the knife against her neck begin to falter.

‘There’s a way out of here,’ said Bailey.

‘There’s no way out of here,’ replied Poppy in a small voice. ‘Not for me. Not for you.’

‘There’s a disused well in the basement. That’s how the killer’s getting into the prison. It’s how Terry’s bringing the drugs in. It’s also how we can get out of here. Right now. Tonight. Come with me. My job here is done. I know all that I need to know. I’ll explain everything to you once we’re out of here.’

Poppy was silent. Breathing hard. The pressure of the shank gradually eased off. After a while she spoke.

‘A disused well?’

‘I need to get out through the well and make contact with my boss. All we need to do is get down to the laundry because that’s where it is.’

‘You’ll help me with my shop?’

‘I promise. I told you I would and I meant it.’

Chapter 104

Terry waited, tapping his foot impatiently, looking apprehensively up and down the darkened landing. It was half past two in the morning. All was silent. Just the rows of locked cells stretching away into the shadows.

What the hell was taking her so long?