Chapter 1 - 1994
"Johnson!" The voice of police inspector Robert echoed across the bare concrete exercise yard of HMP Wandsworth.
Wandsworth had been John Johnson's home for the past four years. In 1990, he was sent down for stealing an eighteen carat white gold diamond ring in an armed robbery at a highly-profitable jewellers shop to pay for his niece's life-saving cancer treatment in America. It went perfectly; however he was caught a few days later after he sold the ring online for a large amount of money.
Wandsworth prison could hardly be described as luxury, but it was enough so that it was comfortable. John really missed being free to do what he wanted, when he wanted. Being locked in his cell for seventeen hours a day wasn't very pleasant at all. All of the prisoners ate, slept and went to the toilet in that same room. The only time when they were out of their stuffy, colourless cells was when they were doing work around the prison, or when they were in the exercise yard, like now. The exercise yard could barely be called that, it was just a flat, concreted area with not even any basketball hoops, surrounded by electric fencing topped with barbed wire. Guards in navy uniform were positioned on top of the prison roof, with walkie-talkies and alarms to sound, should anyone try to escape. Nobody ever bothered.
Robert's footsteps echoed as he approached. "Johnson! Did you not hear me call you?"
"No sir, sorry sir."
"You've been released on parole, you must report to your parole officer in 30 days or it will be classed as a breach and you will be re-arrested. Don't forget." Robert waved over some guards and instructed them to escort John to reception. He was ushered through the grey corridors of the prison to the exit, where he reclaimed all his personal belongings and money. He changed out of his prison-issue clothing and into his own clothes – khaki t-shirt, camouflage trousers and boots. Then he walked out of the door, a free man. Well, near enough.