Bailey reflected on his proposition. Like all undercover jobs, this one had taken it out of her and the last thing she wanted to do right now was plunge back into the extreme stress of that double life. But for how long would she be able to tolerate humdrum normality? That was one thing that really would drive her up the wall.

‘I’ll think about it,’ she said.

He nodded slowly. He knew when not to push her. He adopted a lighter conversational tone.

‘So what are you up to for the rest of the afternoon? Back to the office? Back to your sergeant’s exams?’

‘I’ve got to make a little detour to the tattoo shop first. I got this tattoo in prison. It’s ninety-nine per cent done. There’s just one last tiny bit to fill in and then it’ll be complete. I think the person who did it would appreciate me having it finished.’

Chapter 111

They were now locked in for the evening and Crazy Mel sat at the desk in her cell completely absorbed in the process of making an origami animal.

Her long brown fingers intricately manipulated the piece of paper, folding it one way and then the other, shaping it into the desired form.

Lying to one side on the desk was the letter from Bailey. She’d received it in the post earlier that day. In the letter, Bailey had told her that the Hairdresser was dead, that the duppy was gone. She’d thanked Mel for the origami tiger. It had indeed protected her, just like Mel had said it would.

Mel’s fingers deftly creased the paper. First the ears, and then the legs, and now a tail. Fold by fold, it slowly took shape…

Hairdresser? Dead?

When it came to duppies, dead didn’t always mean dead. That was the thing with duppies. Yuh neva knew fah sure…

Acknowledgments

All of the team at Boldwood Books who worked so hard and expertly to bring this novel to publication.

Dorie Simmonds, my agent, for her astute advice, boundless enthusiasm and unwavering faith in this novel.

Sarah Cox, formerly of the Metropolitan Police, for her help in answering several questions I had around the structure and operations of the police.

Claire, my wife, for her immeasurable support and encouragement, and her perpetual willingness to listen to new ideas.

I read a number of factual books in order to try and understand the psychology and methodology of undercover policing. One which particularly stood out, and which is a fantastic read, is The Infiltrators by Philip Etienne and Martin Maynard with Tony Thompson.

More from Caro Savage

We hope you enjoyed reading Jailbird. If you did, please leave a review.

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Continue Bailey’s story in Villain, available to order now here.