"And were you with Miss Mitchell on the night in question? Friday July 20th 2012?" The prosecution lawyer had asked.
From the satisfied expression on Nathan's face as he stared at her, Katy was under no illusions of what was coming. "No."
A gasp ran round the viewing gallery and Katy clearly heard Tyler's voice. "I'm gonna kill him."
After that, Katy couldn't concentrate. With that single word, she knew all her hopes of being found innocent had vanished. There was no point her sitting there and listening to the rest of the evidence against her. When they brought Paul out, she shrank back in the dock, refusing to meet his eyes. She could feel his gaze boring into her head, but she refused to look up. The teenager wasn't surprised to hear him back up Nathan's words.
"On the charge of Burglary, how do you find the defendant, Miss Katherine Mitchell?" The judge asked a long time later.
Katy didn't even look up as the foreman of the jury delivered their verdict. "Guilty."
"No!" Roxy shouted, standing up and leaning forwards. "She's not!"
"Be quiet." The judge ordered as Ronnie dragged her sister back down into her seat. She was so pale she almost looked grey. "Katherine Mitchell, you have been found guilty on the charge of Burglary. Taking into account that this is your first offence, although you do have a rather interesting criminal record for someone your age, I am sentencing you to twelve months imprisonment."
Katy thought she was going to faint. Everything began to spin and the light dimmed significantly. She heard a rustling and then a pair of arms caught her and gently lowered her to the floor.
Opening her eyes, she blinked several times and saw Karen's concerned face leaning over her. The wing governor smiled, evidently relieved and helped Katy to stand up.
"Come on." She murmured gently. Karen shook her head as Hollamby stepped forwards to put the handcuffs on the teenager. "She doesn't need those, Sylvia."
As they led her out of the courtroom and along the corridor towards the van that would take her back to the prison that she'd thought she'd seen the last of, the sound of running footsteps made all three women turn.
"Baby?" Ronnie stopped and looked at her sister, tears streaming down her face. Just behind her, Roxy appeared, sobbing loudly.
Katy sent Karen a look. With a sigh, the governor let go of her arm. The teenager flew at her sisters, wrapping her arms around them and crying. They returned the hug, holding onto her tightly.
After a couple of moment, Karen stepped forwards and gently prised them apart. "I'm really sorry, but we have to go."
"We'll appeal, sweetie." Ronnie promised her as they started to walk away. "This isn't over."
As they continued further along the corridor, Katy heard the rest of her family joining them, talking all at once. She could make out individuals; Auntie Peggy's angry protests, Lola's confusion, Tyler's panic. She wanted to curl up into a ball and bawl her eyes out. She'd been so convinced that she would get off, after speaking to her lawyer and now Katy realised that she'd been right to begin with. She was a Mitchell; there was no way anyone would believe she wasn't a criminal.
Just before they reached the doorway to the back entrance, a door to the left opened and two figures walked out, laughing. Katy recognised them at once and, taking her prison escorts by surprise, wrenched herself out of their grasp and flew at the men.
"If you go anywhere near my daughter I swear I will kill you!" She screamed, lashing out at Nathan. In a second she was being restrained, Sylvia holding her arms tightly behind her while Karen stood in front, trying to calm her down. "You dare touch her and you're a dead man! I promise I will hunt you down and kill you!"
"That's enough!" Shirley's foghorn voice shouted from the other end of the hallway, cutting through all the other shouts and warnings that were being aimed at the teenager.
Reluctantly Katy shopped shouting and fighting. "This isn't over." She hissed as she was pulled away through a door and bundled back into the transport van.
All the way back to Larkhall, Katy sat in numb silence. She didn't bother shouting or banging on the walls of the little transport cell; there was no point. When the van stopped, the teenager emerged, zombie-like and went through the re-registration and searches as though they were happening to someone else and not her. She didn't even rise to any of Hollamby's comments.
"You're lucky your cell on the 2's is still free." The woman griped, leading her back towards the wing. Katy's grip on her clear plastic bag tightened. "Although if I had my way you'd be straight in segregation for that little display after your trial. Just because things didn't go your way you can't go around making threats like that."
"I'll take over from here, Sylvia." Karen announced sharply, sending the woman a warning look.
Hollamby pursed her lips and looked far from impressed, but she nodded at her boss' order and headed towards the officers' room. Sighing, Karen unlocked the gate and waited for Katy to go through before her.
"I'm sorry." She said softly, reaching out and squeezing the teenager's arm. Katy barely seemed to hear her. "Was he the one you were talking about before? Your daughter's dad?"
At these words, Katy turned quickly, her eyes flashing. "I meant it, you know. If he goes after her I'll kill him."
"Not the best idea to make death threats in front of a prison governor." Karen pointed out with a weak smile.
"I don't care."
Karen sighed. "Come on."
As they reached the gate that led to G-Wing and the governor put her key in the lock, Katy grabbed her arm urgently. "I need to see Shirley. Please. It's really important."
"Well…" The woman said, looking at her carefully. "As long as you promise me you won't take out a hit on Parry, I'll see what I can do."
"I promise."
Nodding, Karen ushered Katy through the gateway and headed towards the next gate. The prisoners were on Association, milling around the area chatting and laughing. Their interest was caught by the sight of a new arrival and, as they realised who it was, a shout went up.
"What are you doing back here?" The Costa Cons chorused, leaning against the wall by their cell.
"Katy?" Tina shouted, totally confused. She came running over and put her hand on the younger woman's arm. "What happened?"
"Oh, darlin'!" Julie S murmured. "It's an outrage."
"An outrage." Julie J echoed, nodding fervently.
The teenager didn't reply, she just allowed Karen to lead her up the stairs to the second level. Glancing upwards, Katy saw Pat leaning over the railings from the level above. The woman sighed and stalked back to her own cell, slamming the door.
"I'll let you know about Shirley." Karen promised gently, before turning and leaving Katy to settle back into her cell.
A/N: Please don't kill me... I promise there is some good stuff coming up for Katy in prison! :)