It went against everything she believed in. She had always been a law-abiding, upright citizen, and had never in her life had any dealings with the police. She was praying now that things would stay that way. The thought of going to prison terrified her, yet what was the alternative?

No one else could be trusted, or so Georgio said. Yet he trusted Alan Cox. In fact, as much as she hated to admit it, Donna also trusted Alan Cox.

Now she was in way over her head and there was nothing more to think or to talk about.

Their course was set. She was going to Scotland on Friday to negotiate with a man called Jimmy Mac, instead of having her hair done and maybe going into the West End to do some shopping. Her world was upside down, and she was too far in to get out without a fight. Georgio would never forgive her if she let him down. He was depending on her.

Taking a last puff on her cigarette, she put it out carefully and stood up. She’d take a pill and have an early night. Put it all out of her head until the morning.

But Donna didn’t sleep, even with the pill inside her. She would not have been comforted to know that Maeve Brunos was also lying awake in a similar state.

Both women were feeling let down by people they loved and trusted.

But one of the women was willing to put all she possessed, from her freedom to her good name, on the line for one man.

Because Donna Brunos loved her husband, no matter what he had done.

In a funny way she could even sympathise with Dolly.

Georgio also had trouble sleeping.

As he lay on his bunk, Chopper ensconced above him, he heard the pitiful wailing of a young man of twenty-one who was doing a life sentence for robbery and attempted murder. The boy’s painfully lonely cries brought tears to Georgio’s eyes because he could hear an echo of them in his own heart.

The sound travelled along the landings and into the cells. All over the Wing men were putting themselves in the boy’s place. Most were over the most difficult period of adjustment. It took a young lad, after a visit from his mum, to put it all into perspective for them once more.

They were trapped, for good or bad. Trapped.

Chopper turned over noisily on the bunk above. ‘Ah, the poor little lad. I wonder if the old woman he robbed cried herself to sleep?’

‘He ain’t in here for robbing an old lady.’ Georgio’s voice was tight.

Chopper laughed nastily. ‘Maybe not, but you can bet your bottom dollar there’s an old biddy somewhere with a memory of him. That’s how we all started.’