Georgio laughed bitterly. ‘Look, Donna, most people have no idea about what’s going on in this country. Lewis can get a motion tabled in the Commons if he wants to. It seems everyone is for sale one way or another and he knows exactly how much they cost. He has been running his different businesses for years. They only got him on fraud charges. They can’t prove nothing else as he’s got powerful friends. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he upped and walked out of here one day with a pardon. If you can buy one, then Lewis can afford it.

‘Everyone is afraid of him here,’ he went on, ‘everyone. And it’s nothing to be ashamed of either, because hardened criminals are scared of him. You don’t know what it’s like in here, love. It’s the pits, believe me. Lewis even has his food specially cooked for him. He has more privileges than the bloody governor!

‘Yesterday they gang-raped a young lad who was in on a child-sex case. He’d raped a five-year-old girl. Lewis saw to it that he was hurt. The men respect him for that. These are the kind of people you’re dealing with. The lad’s cell will be burnt out later on tonight when he comes back from the hospital wing. These men are the scum of the earth and Lewis is in charge of them. He has henchmen who’d torture you just for a laugh, for something to do. Lewis himself is a violent personality who enjoys inflicting pain. It’s like living in a nightmare, Don Don. I have to escape from it. That is the only way I’ll ever get out of here, short of being carried out in a box.’

Donna licked her dry lips, her face a mask of disbelief. ‘But how will we get you out?’

Georgio grinned. ‘I have an old mate, Alan Cox, who owes me a favour. We go back a long time. Alan was once like Lewis, although he didn’t do things for fun. If Alan hurt someone, it was for a reason, and they were all in the game. Like an occupational hazard, if you like. If you go to see him, he’ll help us, I know he will. But you must keep it to yourself. Don’t even tell Stephen - don’t tell anyone what you’re doing. That’s the best way. The fewer people who know the better. Lewis has a long arm and big ears, darlin’, and he’s dangerous. I don’t want you to get hurt.’

‘What does this Alan do now?’

‘He runs a nightclub up West,’ Georgio told her, ‘and a couple of restaurants. He was put away for murder, did his time, kept his head down and got out. He didn’t want to go back to the hag of the life so he retired.’