‘What happened to me being in control? That didn’t last very long. What was it, about two minutes?’

Kesey felt inclined to argue, but she decided against. The girl had a point. ‘We can do this your way, whatever’s best for you.’

‘You want me to talk to you on the phone? Are you winding me up? You haven’t got a fucking clue. If Mike gets out, he’ll check the thing. He’ll go through every call. He always does.’

Kesey silently admonished herself for her lack of insight. ‘Okay, so how about I provide you with a new pay-as-you-go with a few pounds credit? Pearson needn’t know about it. What do you think? I could have it delivered to you today, here on the ward. All you have to do is say the word.’

Sally paused before responding. ‘There’s a payphone in the dayroom. I could call you from there. Although I can’t see that happening. You lot are next to useless. What would be the point?’

Kesey blew the air from her mouth. ‘Are you okay for cash?’

‘There isn’t exactly much to spend on in here.’

‘I was thinking about the payphone.’

‘It’s not a problem. I’ve got my benefit money. If I decide to ring, I can.’

Kesey rose to her feet, pushing her chair aside. She handed Sally a small card with her name and the central switchboard number printed on one side in bold capitals, black on white. ‘Call that number and ask for me. I had a quick word with your consultant. It’ll likely be days rather than weeks before you’re out of here. Have you got anywhere to go?’

Sally stared into the distance, shoulders hunched over her chest. She looked suddenly smaller, almost childlike. As if the situation had carried her back in time. ‘No, there’s nowhere.’

‘What about your sister’s place? You’ve stayed there before. Why not again?’

‘She’s got a new bloke in her life. A right miserable git who can’t stand the sight of me. He threw me out the last time I slept on the sofa. He rushed me right out into the street. I didn’t even have time to get dressed. I was out there in my knickers and a T-shirt until he threw my things out after me. The bastard’s off his fucking head!’

Kesey pressed her lips together. ‘Is there nowhere else, your parents’ place, maybe?’

Sally laughed, a harsh laugh that had nothing to do with humour. ‘I grew up in care from the age of six. Foster homes and then kids homes when I got a little older, one move after another. My birth parents weren’t the nicest people in the world. Mum was on the game. Dad was her pimp. He’d sell her to anyone who’d pay. All that mattered was the heroin. And he never knew what to do with his hands. He didn’t know whether to punch me or stroke me. Neither was great. I don’t know which I hated the most. I think it was probably the stroking. I still feel his filthy hands on me sometimes when I’m alone in the dark.’