‘Naw, I don’t think so. Sommat’s happening next Friday. I can feel it. Anyroad, naw decisions now. We have to get on – we’re off duty in an hour. I’ll sit on it and let you knaw. But in the meantime, Michael, you’re to lay off her, all right? If you don’t, you’ll have me to contend with. I’m still half-thinking of shopping you, you greedy bastard. Then you, Mrs Roford, would probably go free anyroad.’

‘Aye, and you’d have nowt, John. If we go along with her, we both come out all right, and with our jobs intact.’

‘Like I said, I have to think on it. Go back to the ward and dress for breakfast, Mrs Roford. I’ll let you knaw tonight.’

Mags was relieved to get out of there, as she needed to pee, and they were not the kind of people she was used to dealing with. But part of her was rejoicing, because now something was truly going to happen. Whether it was her original plan, with the help of Iris and those two men, or whether it was an end to the bad reports and her eventual release, she didn’t know. She hoped with all her might that it was the first, as she knew Harold; and if one loophole closed to him, he would find another. Why didn’t I listen to my instincts, and to Flors’s warnings – Harold is ruthless and relentless in his pursuit of what he wants.

As she walked around the grounds with Iris the next morning, Mags told her what had occurred. ‘Can I trust them, Iris? I felt confident when I was with them, but now I don’t know.’

‘Eeh, lass, I’m shocked. I didn’t want anyone to knaw your plans, but thinking about it, this might be the best way. I’ll talk to Michael when he comes on duty tonight. Our shifts cross over, and we all have a cuppa together before I go home and they take over. But I’d say that as they haven’t reported the incident you’ve just told me of, they intend to go through with helping you. I’ll find out how they are going to set about it.’

‘Iris, I want you to know that even if you’re not involved in my actual escape, I will keep my promise to you. I want you to leave here. I want you to have the life you have dreamed of with your family. I couldn’t have got through this without you. And I’ll rest easy, knowing that you were able to give in your notice rather than be sacked.’

Iris had a tear in her eye as she thanked Mags.

Mags wanted to hold Iris to her, but knew that eyes were always watching them. ‘I’ll never forget you, lass.’

That night Mags was woken by Michael. He beckoned her to his office. There he told her their plan. On Friday evening she was to get ready for bed as usual. They would come for her and take her to the gate. But the timing was crucial. They would clock the night-watchman for the next two nights. A man of habit, he never digressed from the route he took around the grounds, or how often he patrolled them. They would find out the exact amount of time they had to get her to the gate.