He just couldn’t get his head around it. What had been the point of killing the actor if Marsh was not going to leave Nikki alone? And if Nikki was here, that meant they’d found her – and that he’d failed to protect her as he had promised he would. It also made it clear that they were both trapped in this drug-smuggling operation, with no escape. And, worse, it meant he was a cold-blooded killer who’d taken a man’s life for nothing.

He told himself that this was Marsh’s fault, as he put the buy-up sheet on his desk. All on them. They had backed him into a corner and this was the only way out. He was doing this for Nikki. To save her. He didn’t care about himself.

He sat at his desk and filled out the form, this time not worrying about making outlines or colouring the circles a uniform shade of dark grey.

He started on the first page, under the heading ‘Cleaning Products’.

Bleach: Easy-Off Bam. He ordered the maximum of four.

He moved down to Personal Grooming.

Nail clippers: Toe.

He ordered one.

Disposable Razors: BIC, 12 pack.

He ordered the maximum of four.

Hand and face wipes: Wet Ones, Original.

Again, he ordered the maximum.

Antiseptic: Isocol.

He ordered one.

Toothbrush: Colgate, pack of three.

He ordered one.

Dental floss: Colgate.

He ordered one.

Jax then turned to the second page.

Soft Drink: Coca-Cola, can.

He ordered two.

Pineapple Juice: Golden Circle, can.

He ordered one.

Tuna: In Spring Water, can.

He ordered one.

Chips: Smiths, Originals.

He ordered one.

He pushed the buy-up sheet to the side after filling in his personal details and authorising payment from his fast-dwindling prison account. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t need money after this.

Then took out a blank piece of paper. ‘Dear Nikki,’ he started.

CHAPTER 22

Goulburn Correctional Centre, Goulburn, NSW, Australia

LONG past lights out, he made sure the corridor was empty before pulling out his smartphone. The prison was quiet, the thieves, rapists and murderers all tucked in. Sound asleep.

He moved to his desk but turned to his door before he sat, half-expecting a guard to be looking through the glass.

All clear.

He took a deep breath before turning the phone on. He began to worry when it didn’t power up straight away. Had someone else been using it? It had been almost fully charged last time he used it. He smiled when he saw the light, the screen illuminating his face with a ghostly glow, then navigated his way to the internet and logged into his account.

Username: Mahdi_93/241. Password: Hewillrise_85/159.

He clicked on the transfer funds icon and started sending cash. He made a series of deposits, all to the same account. First $0.61, then $4.00, $9.78, and $1.42. Now he just had to wait.