Police have confirmed that Briggs, fifty-seven, died of head trauma following a brutal attack at Sydney’s Long Bay jail . . .

‘Well that’s a crying fucking shame,’ Ivy yelled at the TV, sarcasm dripping. ‘About time he got what he deserved. What a piece of shit!’

After hearing two anxiety-inducing words, ‘Long’ and ‘Bay’, Nikki tried to ignore both Ivy and the television. She never wanted to see that place again. Not even on TV.

The keys weren’t under the lounge, so she stood up.

Serving twenty-five years after being convicted of a string of child sex offences including rape, Briggs was found dead in a holding cell at the infamous Sydney prison, Australia’s most feared jail. Authorities believe the actor was attacked by another prisoner while waiting to see his wife, famous Australian actor Viv Bishop . . .

Nikki tried to retrace her steps towards the front door, all the while hearing the television but refusing to look. She told herself she wouldn’t have been stupid enough to leave them in the lock, but she would check anyway.

Police are yet to make an arrest, and the identity of the attacker remains unknown. Detectives are investigating a claim that a power surge blacked out the security cameras in the yard where Briggs was being held at the time of the attack. No witnesses have come forward. The apparent murder of the fallen actor is being hailed as an act of ‘jailhouse justice’ by the families of those assaulted by Briggs over a fourteen-year spree.

Nikki opened the front door.

‘Idiot,’ she shouted as she saw the keys dangling from the lock.

She pulled them out, blaming her carelessness and forgetfulness on the medication. She grabbed her gym bag and scampered out the still-open door.

‘See ya,’ she said. ‘Back in an hour or so.’

A five-minute drive from Nikki’s new house, the kickboxing gym was in an industrial area amid factories and warehouses. By the time Nikki she got there, the streets were almost deserted – Strong Arm Martial Arts Academy was one of the few businesses open after dark. Located in a warehouse that looked much the same as the others on the street, it had a metal roller-door entrance, behind which the owners made full use of the industrial space. The two commodious floors easily accommodated two full-size boxing rings, a state-of-the-art weights room, and a cardio area.

As Nikki parked then leaned into the back seat for her gym bag, she didn’t notice the man in black step out from the shadows and approach her car. She’d only walked a few metres – pulling her hair into a messy ponytail as she did so – when he cut her off. It was the young bikie who’d given her the drugs.