Part Ninety One
On the Thursday morning, Karen felt slightly lighter of heart than she had done in recent weeks. Shell's evidence had to count for something, and today wasn't going to be any ordinary day. Karen was looking forward to George's visit, she was interested to see George's reactions to the normal running of a prison, and to being told what would happen to her if she were ever stupid enough to question John's authority in his own court again. Only one thing remained to be done before George arrived. Picking up the phone, Karen rang down to the officers' room. As she'd hoped, Fenner answered.
"You know that I've got George Channing coming in today," Said Karen.
"So you said," Replied Fenner, "but I still don't see why."
"All you need to know is that the firm she works for is getting its lawyers to spend a day in one of Her Majesty's prisons, in order to get some idea of the conditions their clients may eventually face." Karen didn't enlighten Fenner as to the fact that George's firm only dealt in civil law. That was after all only a detail. "When I bring her down on to the wing," continued Karen, "I need you to keep Alison McKenzy out of the way. She's the only one who knows that Ms Channing was Merriman's barrister. We hardly need a riot on our hands, now do we."
"Okay, leave it to me," Was Fenner's response. Hoping that he could for once do something right, Karen put the phone down.
When George pulled in to the carpark, she was relieved to see Karen waiting for her. She didn't want to have to wait around in this drab, dreary dump longer than necessary. Karen was stood talking to Ken at the gate lodge and George walked over to them.
"I'm not sure whether to thank you or curse you," Said George, opening the conversation. Karen laughed.
"Well, I couldn't exactly let him convict you, now could I."
"Well, thank you for that at least." Karen handed George a visitor's pass which she'd already had made out for her.
"You'll have to hand in your mobile and have your handbag searched," Said Karen. Making sure the phone was switched off, George handed it and her handbag over to Ken. He rifled through the bag's contents, and removed a packet of Ibuprofen which George routinely kept on her.
"I'll have to keep hold of this, Miss," He said to George. "No drugs allowed inside the prison." He put the tablets in to an envelope with her mobile and wrote her name on it. "Just ask for them on your way out." Heartily glad that she would be on her way out at the end of the day, George took her bag back from him and followed Karen through the first set of gates. As they clanged to behind them and as Karen turned the key, George felt an inexplicable urge to flee. Karen must have seen something of this in her face because she said,
"You'll get used to it." As they traversed the dull, narrow corridors, and moved deeper inside the prison, George felt she could easily get lost in here and vowed not to let Karen out of her sight. It gave her the vague impression of walking through the arteries and veins of some enormous being, all its components working either with or against each other. They walked up some stairs, and along a few more corridors, until they reached Karen's office.
"It's not much compared to yours," Said Karen, suddenly feeling self-conscious at her very humble work space.
"Prosecuting and defending companies does tend to allow one a certain amount of luxury," Commented George. After asking her secretary to bring them some coffee, Karen sat behind the familiar barrier of her desk and George took a chair across from her.
"So, tell me why you're here," Prompted Karen, lighting a cigarette and holding the packet out to George who gratefully helped herself.
"I got in to an argument with John, and he didn't like it." George felt an odd sense of the goalposts having been somewhat adjusted. Just under a week ago, it had been her asking the questions, and now here she was, submitting to Karen's probing without a second thought.
"You do know that this is the last time he's prepared to be lenient with you?"
"Yes, I do. He made that perfectly clear. I bet you're enjoying this, aren't you?" George couldn't help asking with a slight grin. Karen's smile matched hers.
"It's certainly interesting. The story is that the firm you work for has decided to make its barristers find out what conditions their clients might end up facing."
"But I don't usually do criminal work."
"No, but Fenner doesn't know that, and it's him I had to convince." A thoughtful look crossed George's face.
"This will give me the perfect opportunity to observe you and him in your normal working environment. When people are on their own territory, their guard is usually somewhat down and they are prone to give away vital signs of their true personality." Karen laughed mirthlessly.
"Fenner doesn't, trust me."
"Not to you, he wouldn't, because you're used to seeing him every day. But it's always useful to see the person about to be prosecuted, on his own turf."
"Jo did, briefly anyway. He certainly went away from that encounter with his tail between his legs."
"Then, I must under no circumstances waste the opportunity to make him do the same," Replied George, an evil little smile touching her lips.
"The plan is," Said Karen, trying to steer the conversation away from Fenner for the moment, "that I'll show you where the inmates first come in, give you their initial impression of prison, and explain to you exactly what happens to any new inmate, no matter what their crime. After that, I'll take you down to my wing, and introduce you to a few of our long-term stayers, and don't worry, I've given orders for Alison McKenzy to be kept out of harm's way. One thing I intend to get through to you," She said, fixing George with a hard stare, "Is that not all criminals are your average drug addict tart raised in the gutter. Most people who commit crime have a, to them, very logical reason for doing it. That doesn't mean we can condone what they've done, but it does enable us to treat them as human beings. I can't pretend you won't see and hear things that might shock you, because you will. I make no apology for that because in order for you to quit winding your ex up in court, you need to see an unvarnished picture of what you would face if you did it again."
"Consider me suitably chastened," Replied George.
"I'm sorry," Said Karen, grinning sheepishly. "When I'm behind this desk, I slip in to full wing governor mode, no matter who's sitting opposite me."
"It suits you," George found herself saying.
"Helen Stewart was exactly the same. I watched her interrogate Shell Dockley."
A while later as they walked down to the reception wing, George was incredibly conscious of the fact that Karen was carrying the keys, and was in fact her only assured way out of this place. Karen moved familiarly throughout this alien environment, utterly sure of herself and her job. George thought it made a pleasant change to see Karen so confident, as on the other two occasions when George had had sustained contact with Karen, had been during their meeting about the rape case and across a court room. Karen let them through the last set of gates, and they moved to stand just inside the room where all inmates were initially received. George could see out of one of the barred windows, to the blacked-out van that had clearly transported the now waiting group of mostly young women. A dumpy, very unattractive woman was stood behind a desk, filling in forms and rifling through any possessions the inmates had brought with them. Karen and George simply stood, no explanation necessary to watch the scene unfold. A girl in her late teens was one of the first to move up to the desk.
"Dawn Jenkins," Said the woman behind the desk, in a brash, northern accent. "Are you here again?"
"Yes, Miss," Dawn replied.
"What for?" Said Sylvia looking at the paperwork accompanying Dawn on her most recent visit to Larkhall. "Shop lifting. You've got to learn not to take things that don't belong to you." Sylvia exchanged a knowing glance with the van driver. "Got a screw loose, that one," She said, gesturing to where Dawn was signing the forms, clearly very familiar with the procedure.
"She's one of our habitual offenders," Said Karen quietly. George gestured to where Sylvia was going through Dawn's belongings.
"Is she really a prison officer?" She said in utter amazement. Karen flashed her a quick smile.
"You wouldn't think so, would you. But yes, as Sylvia would be only too happy to tell you, she's been in the service for over twelve years. Every inmate comes through here, has their possessions gone through to remove anything prohibited such as anything made of glass, which is only returned to them on release. They're then photographed and strip-searched." George looked aghast.
"You must be joking!" She said in a quiet, but nevertheless outraged tone. "Even for contempt of court?"
"Yes," Replied Karen, "Even for contempt of court. Every new inmate is initially treated in exactly the same way, no matter their crime. The officers aren't allowed to touch you, and a strip search would always be done by a female officer." George recoiled at the clear, unequivocal description. "Some, like Sylvia, also wouldn't take kindly to that incredibly posh drawl of yours. The more refined a new inmate sounds, the more Sylvia gives them hell."
"That's no surprise," Said George scornfully. As Sylvia finished with the group of inmates, they all moved passed Karen and George, towards the area where searching and photos took place. Observing Karen's presence, Sylvia stopped and said,
"Only a few in today. That Dawn's back again."
"Yes, so I see," Replied Karen. Then, as Sylvia's gaze moved to George, Karen said,
"This is Ms Channing, a barrister spending a day with me for research purposes." Sylvia looked George up and down.
"Your sort wouldn't last five minutes in this place," She said dismissively. Karen was about to make some response to this, but George got there before her.
"One hopes that one's first impression of a person doesn't actually show who they really are." Suitably beaten, Sylvia turned and walked away.
"If you were an inmate," Said Karen, with a broad smile. "That would have earned you the ugliest cell she could find for you." They moved down the corridor and briefly looked in at the next room, where the group of new girls were sitting on a row of plastic chairs, waiting for their turn to be searched.
"After being searched and having your photo taken," Continued Karen, "You would be allowed one phone call. Then you would be taken for a full medical and psychiatric assessment, complete with drugs test."
"A psychiatric assessment?" Said George, wide-eyed. "What on Earth for." George's expression reminded Karen of a rabbit caught in the headlights of a fast approaching car.
"A psychiatric assessment is purely routine," Karen added, trying to put George at her ease. "And if you're a good actor, you'd have nothing to worry about." George looked a little more relaxed at this assertion. But as they made their way from reception and towards G wing, Karen had time to wonder just why George was so afraid of such a routine part of prison procedure.
As they walked through the last gate on to G wing, there were a few inmates present, but most were still in other parts of the prison, employed in such things as education or stuffing envelopes. George had the immediate impression that she was in a huge goldfish bowl. The glass curved roof made her feel as if there must be someone up there looking down on her every move. Karen led the way towards a set of metal stairs and they walked right up to the 3's. They stood, looking over the rail to the mild activity going on below.
"Queen of all you survey," Commented George. Karen smiled.
"In a manner of speaking," she replied. "This is where we put the prisoners on the enhanced regime. They get their own cell, extra privileges and extra spends. They have to behave in order to rise so high," She finished, the flirtation clear in both voice and expression. George laughed.
"So, there really are incentives for exemplary behaviour?" She said, her tone matching Karen's.
"Oh, without a doubt," Karen replied. They walked back down the stairs, and were accosted by Denny.
"Oy, Miss, I got a letter from Crystal. She's having another baby." Karen smiled broadly.
"Oh, that's wonderful. How is she?"
"She's great. She said to tell you that she'll make sure she's near a hospital this time." Karen laughed. As Denny went over to give the Julies Crystal's news, Karen explained.
"I had the dubious pleasure of delivering Crystal's first baby when she was in here. She gave birth in a cell." George shuddered.
"Does that happen often?" She asked warily.
"No, thank goodness. Crystal was lucky that I used to be a nurse. The thing about this job, is that no day is ever the same. Crises of one form or another are fairly common." As if to affirm this statement, they were then approached by Tina.
"Miss," She said, looking straight at Karen and totally ignoring George's presence. "I think someone should keep an eye on Buki. She got some photos of Lennox sent to her by that social worker yesterday, and she started cutting up again last night." Karen immediately looked serious.
"Did she see the MO?"
"No, it wasn't that bad, but she's lying on her bed looking at the pictures, and she won't stop crying. Only, you know what she's like, it starts off little and then gets worse."
"Okay, Tina, I'll look in on her and put her on fifteen minute watch. but thank you for telling me."
"Well, ever since Maxi died, in here's the only family I've got, innit." As she walked away, George was frowning.
"Maxi?" She said, "Did she mean Maxi Purvis?"
"Yes, Tina is Maxi Purvis's sister."
"And do inmates often..."
"Self harm?" Karen finished for her, observing George's clear discomfort with the concept. "Unfortunately, it's becoming more and more common. I really ought to check on Buki. Do you mind if I leave you for a few minutes. I won't be long, I promise."
"No, of course not," George replied, hoping Karen really wouldn't be long.
While Karen was otherwise engaged, George walked over to a couple of older-looking women sat at one of the tables.
"Hello," Said Phyllida Oswin, "Are you new?" Before George could answer, Bev invited her to sit down. As they were both smoking, George got out her own and lit up.
"How long have you been here?" George asked, feeling that this was probably a universal way of opening a conversation.
"About a year," Said Bev miserably, "And we've got another four to do. What about you?" Used to thinking on her feet in court, George was nevertheless slightly thrown by the question.
"I don't think I'll be here very long," She finally answered.
"Lucky you," Said Phil. "but I must say, it is nice to have someone who comes from the same echelon of society, if you know what I mean." George laughed.
"Do the natives become something of a nuisance then?" She asked, totally unable to resist having a laugh in the midst of this day of sheer oddness.
"Yes, they do," Replied Bev. "Most of them wouldn't know a Quartier watch or a Ralph Lauren dress from the same sold by Marks and Spencer's, and a decent drink in here is like gold dust."
"So, you can get a decent drink in here?" Asked a mystified George.
"Oh yes," Enlightened Phil. "come to our cell during association, and we'll toast your welcome with one of Larkhall's finest gin and tonics." George thought that never again would she be surprised by anything. They were then approached by Karen. As George walked away with her, she said in an undertone,
"I've just been offered a gin and tonic." Karen laughed.
"Those two will offer anyone anything," She said, casting a backwards glance at Bev and Phil. "They're known as the Costa Cons, and as for the G and T, they even manage ice and lemon. Don't ask me how, but they do." George shook her head in wondered amazement.
"I want to introduce you to the Julies," Said Karen, leading George towards the servery where the Julies were beginning preparations for lunch.
"Hello, Miss," Said Julie S. "This a new girl?" She said, looking at George.
"No, this is Ms Channing, she's a barrister here for a day doing research. Can I show her your cell?"
"Yeah, I don't see why not. That all right, Ju?" She said, turning to Julie J.
"Oh, yeah. The tidiest cell on the wing's what we've got," Replied Julie J. Karen led the way up to the 2's, and approached the pulled too door of the Julies' cell. When Karen pushed the door open, they were greeted to the sight of a cramped, very narrow space, taken up with two beds, a couple of metal wardrobes and a chair and table, with the sink and toilet tucked away in a corner. But the Julies had made it theirs, with rose patterned bedspreads and curtains at the tiny barred window. They'd also covered the notice board with pictures of their children. Numerous books and piles of paper which showed clear evidence of Julie S's education classes littered the table. Karen watched as George walked to the end of the tiny cell, and stared up at the window, far above her. Being so small, she had no chance of seeing out between the bars. She could almost feel the walls closing in on her. She turned to face Karen, and Karen could see the sheer panic in her eyes. George moved swiftly out of the cell and leaned on the rail, over which she could see more inmates returning to the wing.
"I'd go mad if I had to stay in here," She said, her quickened breathing returning to normal. Karen briefly rubbed her shoulder.
"Well, this time, you don't have to. Just remember that, and calm down."
"Sorry," Said George, feeling utterly stupid for having reacted like that.
"Do you remember Barbara Hunt?" Asked Karen, "One of the prosecution witnesses. She used to suffer from terrible claustrophobia."
They both heard the sound of the two Julies coming up the stairs, and George schooled her face in to as normal an expression as possible.
"We wondered how you was getting on," Asked Julie S. "Did you see the pictures of our kids?" They moved back to the doorway and Julie pointed to her picture of David which was tacked to the notice board.
"That's my David," She said proudly, taking down the picture so that George could have a closer look. "He goes to public school, doing his A-levels this year." George stared in total shock at the picture of a very handsome seventeen-year-old in his school uniform.
"But my father went there," Said George incredulously, "I recognise the school tie. He's still got one of his old ones at home."
"That was the best thing I ever did for my David," Replied Julie, "Getting him in to that school." George had a thoroughly perplexed look on her face.
"You're wondering how someone like us can afford to send her kid to public school," Stated Julie J, which made George look sheepish.
"Yeah, well, we can afford it when we're not stuck in here," Put in Julie S. "And they reckon getting paid by a bloke for a bit of the other ain't an honourable profession. I'd say it's got to be if it means I can afford to send my kid to a good school."
"You must be very proud of him," Said George, wondering just how many more new concepts her brain could handle.
"Oh, yeah, he's my pride and joy," Said Julie. "I'd just like to be outside, being a mum to him, that's all." As they walked back down stairs, George asked Karen,
"How long have they got?"
"They're doing eight years for GBH, and last year, Julie Saunders, the one with the son at public school, was told that her breast cancer could come back within five."
"No!" Moaned George, for once in her life thoroughly able to see the utter injustice being played out before her eyes.
They were crossing the main association area when there came a howl of anger from behind them.
"What the friggin hell's she doing here?" Yelled Al. Karen and George turned, to see Al advancing on them.
"Al, calm down," Said Julie J placatingly, "She's just a barrister."
"Just a barrister, my arse," Said Al scornfully. "She's the cow that defended Snowball!" There was an awful, stunned silence as the entire population of G wing took in this piece of information. "I think she needs a bit of a kicking for that, don't you, girls?" Al shouted, launching herself at George. With split second reactions, Karen wrapped her arms round George's waist and literally lifted her off her feet to move her out of reach of Al's descending fists. The inevitable shout rose from the inmates at the prospect of a suit getting a well-deserved beating. But Al was so angry, that she failed to notice Karen's lightning removal of George out of harm's way, until she tripped and lay flat on her face, giving Di and Sylvia enough opportunity to grab her arms and drag her away to segregation. Having set George on her feet again, Karen kept her arms protectively round the much smaller woman until McKenzy had been carted off to the block.
"Sorry about that," Said Karen, finally letting go of a clearly frightened George.
"Don't be," Replied George, "I think you just saved my life there." Karen turned, to see an obviously amused Fenner looking over at them. Karen stalked over to him, closely followed by George.
"How bloody stupid can you get!" Said Karen furiously to Fenner.
"McKenzy was only letting off steam," Replied Fenner, as if she'd been doing nothing more than having a raucous game of football.
"If there's one thing you absolutely do not do," Said Karen, her voice rising in anger, "It's to disobey a direct order from me when it involves a person's safety."
"I don't know," Said Fenner nonchalantly, "I think McKenzy's right. Anyone who defends that piece of scum, Merriman, deserves everything they get, and I'd have thought you'd agree, given that Merriman almost got you killed." He said this last bit with his face very close to Karen's.
"I gave you a specific order," Said Karen, giving Fenner the same eyeball treatment he was giving her. "I told you to keep McKenzy out of the way. What's to misunderstand about that. Pull a stunt like that again, and you'll be joining your mate Hedges on the scrap heap."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Asked Fenner, the sudden involvement of Colin's name giving him cause for concern.
"Don't make me spell it out for you," Replied Karen, knowing she was in serious danger of giving Tuesday's game away.
"You don't want to make threats you can't live up to," Challenged Fenner.
"If Karen is in need of a witness, Mr. Fenner, as to today's events," Put in George, in her most authoritative tone, "You can be sure she'll have one."
"Interfering bitch," Said Fenner, clearly rattled by the ice cold gaze that was being sent his way.
"Really," Said George conversationally. "Perhaps one day you'll find out just how much of a bitch I'm capable of being." As Fenner slunk away, Karen turned to George.
"I've never seen him that rattled before. Well done. But I really am sorry about what just happened. You should never have been put at risk like that."
"It wasn't your fault," Said George. "You gave him an order, and he chose to ignore it. I'm fine, really." Karen was not amused to look over to the gate leading on to the wing, to see Grayling staring over at them open mouthed. As he approached them, Karen murmured,
"Here comes my P45."
"Well, if you need a bitch to argue unfair dismissal," Said George, giving Karen a reassuring smile. But Grayling only had one thing to say to Karen.
"When Ms Channing has left, I want to see you in my office." As he left, Karen said,
"He wouldn't dare give me the sack. I've got too much on him for him to even contemplate it."
"His cover up of Fenner?"
"Oh, yes. He hasn't even begun to pay back what he owes me for that."
A while later when they were seated in Karen's office and Karen's secretary had brought them some lunch, Karen said,
"Dare I ask if you've learnt your lesson?" George rolled her eyes over her cup of coffee.
"I think it's fairly safe to say that yes, I most certainly have. I wouldn't have stood a chance against the likes of Alison McKenzy."
"Denny used to be a bit like that. But she's settled down a lot."
"Denny?"
"The one who told me about Crystal's baby. She's in for arson, set fire to her childrens' home because they were threatening to move her away from the only place she'd ever felt happy."
"They really are like a family some of them, aren't they."
"Yes, because for some of them, the people they've met in here are all they've got. Take the Julies, their conviction for GBH, was because they poured an urn of hot tea in to the lap of a man who was pimping Julie J's daughter."
"That sounds like poetic justice," Said George, slightly marvelling at the lengths the women would clearly go to for each other.
"And when Denny's mum died about eighteen months ago, Yvonne took Denny under her wing. If necessary, the one thing they will all do without a moment's consideration is support each other. You get a really mixed bag of people, and when it comes to any threat common to all, they stand as one. It's amazing when it's working in a positive way, but it means they do need careful handling. There was a riot once, when I was on holiday, which Helen had the joys of dealing with, and the only reason it didn't get extremely dangerous for the officers, was because the inmates weren't all working on the same side. If they had been, god knows how that would have ended."
"I've learnt an awful lot today," Said George contemplatively. "Other than not to push John too far again, I've learnt a lot about human nature. It makes what I do most of the time seem pretty inconsequential."
"Don't let Jo hear you say that," Said Karen with a grin. "Or she'll finally think she's won."
"No chance," Said George scornfully. "Talking of winning or losing, how did you get on with Shell Dockley?"
"Well, the court order was absolutely necessary, I wouldn't have got near her without it. She was able to tell me an awful lot, most of which I wish I didn't know. The most important thing being that after she was recaptured, Fenner was pimping her. She was giving handjobs for twenty quid a time, and Fenner was pocketing half of it. One of my other officers, Collin Hedges, it seems he was in on this as well."
"That does give me a bit more to work on," Replied George, "Living off immoral earnings for a start. Come and see me on Monday and we can go over everything else Dockley told you. It sounds like she may be the ace in the pack." When Karen eventually let George back through the last set of gates, and they collected her phone and tablets from the gate lodge, George looked incredibly relieved.
"I wouldn't have left you in there, you know," Said Karen, walking with George to her car.
"I know, it just feels good to be out of there, that's all. It may sound odd, but I feel an incredible need for a shower."
"No, it doesn't," Replied Karen with a smile. "Prison always does that the first few times."
"Well, I'm hoping this is my first and last."
"It will be, if you learn to control your tongue," Said Karen, grinning broadly and looking George straight in the eye.
"You've enjoyed the role reversal, haven't you," Asked George as she unlocked her car.
"Maybe," Conceded Karen, "It makes a change for you to see the confident me."
"Oh, I did that when I crossed swords with you in court. I'll see you next week, when I can assure you the reins of power will be well and truly back in my hands."
On the Thursday morning, Karen felt slightly lighter of heart than she had done in recent weeks. Shell's evidence had to count for something, and today wasn't going to be any ordinary day. Karen was looking forward to George's visit, she was interested to see George's reactions to the normal running of a prison, and to being told what would happen to her if she were ever stupid enough to question John's authority in his own court again. Only one thing remained to be done before George arrived. Picking up the phone, Karen rang down to the officers' room. As she'd hoped, Fenner answered.
"You know that I've got George Channing coming in today," Said Karen.
"So you said," Replied Fenner, "but I still don't see why."
"All you need to know is that the firm she works for is getting its lawyers to spend a day in one of Her Majesty's prisons, in order to get some idea of the conditions their clients may eventually face." Karen didn't enlighten Fenner as to the fact that George's firm only dealt in civil law. That was after all only a detail. "When I bring her down on to the wing," continued Karen, "I need you to keep Alison McKenzy out of the way. She's the only one who knows that Ms Channing was Merriman's barrister. We hardly need a riot on our hands, now do we."
"Okay, leave it to me," Was Fenner's response. Hoping that he could for once do something right, Karen put the phone down.
When George pulled in to the carpark, she was relieved to see Karen waiting for her. She didn't want to have to wait around in this drab, dreary dump longer than necessary. Karen was stood talking to Ken at the gate lodge and George walked over to them.
"I'm not sure whether to thank you or curse you," Said George, opening the conversation. Karen laughed.
"Well, I couldn't exactly let him convict you, now could I."
"Well, thank you for that at least." Karen handed George a visitor's pass which she'd already had made out for her.
"You'll have to hand in your mobile and have your handbag searched," Said Karen. Making sure the phone was switched off, George handed it and her handbag over to Ken. He rifled through the bag's contents, and removed a packet of Ibuprofen which George routinely kept on her.
"I'll have to keep hold of this, Miss," He said to George. "No drugs allowed inside the prison." He put the tablets in to an envelope with her mobile and wrote her name on it. "Just ask for them on your way out." Heartily glad that she would be on her way out at the end of the day, George took her bag back from him and followed Karen through the first set of gates. As they clanged to behind them and as Karen turned the key, George felt an inexplicable urge to flee. Karen must have seen something of this in her face because she said,
"You'll get used to it." As they traversed the dull, narrow corridors, and moved deeper inside the prison, George felt she could easily get lost in here and vowed not to let Karen out of her sight. It gave her the vague impression of walking through the arteries and veins of some enormous being, all its components working either with or against each other. They walked up some stairs, and along a few more corridors, until they reached Karen's office.
"It's not much compared to yours," Said Karen, suddenly feeling self-conscious at her very humble work space.
"Prosecuting and defending companies does tend to allow one a certain amount of luxury," Commented George. After asking her secretary to bring them some coffee, Karen sat behind the familiar barrier of her desk and George took a chair across from her.
"So, tell me why you're here," Prompted Karen, lighting a cigarette and holding the packet out to George who gratefully helped herself.
"I got in to an argument with John, and he didn't like it." George felt an odd sense of the goalposts having been somewhat adjusted. Just under a week ago, it had been her asking the questions, and now here she was, submitting to Karen's probing without a second thought.
"You do know that this is the last time he's prepared to be lenient with you?"
"Yes, I do. He made that perfectly clear. I bet you're enjoying this, aren't you?" George couldn't help asking with a slight grin. Karen's smile matched hers.
"It's certainly interesting. The story is that the firm you work for has decided to make its barristers find out what conditions their clients might end up facing."
"But I don't usually do criminal work."
"No, but Fenner doesn't know that, and it's him I had to convince." A thoughtful look crossed George's face.
"This will give me the perfect opportunity to observe you and him in your normal working environment. When people are on their own territory, their guard is usually somewhat down and they are prone to give away vital signs of their true personality." Karen laughed mirthlessly.
"Fenner doesn't, trust me."
"Not to you, he wouldn't, because you're used to seeing him every day. But it's always useful to see the person about to be prosecuted, on his own turf."
"Jo did, briefly anyway. He certainly went away from that encounter with his tail between his legs."
"Then, I must under no circumstances waste the opportunity to make him do the same," Replied George, an evil little smile touching her lips.
"The plan is," Said Karen, trying to steer the conversation away from Fenner for the moment, "that I'll show you where the inmates first come in, give you their initial impression of prison, and explain to you exactly what happens to any new inmate, no matter what their crime. After that, I'll take you down to my wing, and introduce you to a few of our long-term stayers, and don't worry, I've given orders for Alison McKenzy to be kept out of harm's way. One thing I intend to get through to you," She said, fixing George with a hard stare, "Is that not all criminals are your average drug addict tart raised in the gutter. Most people who commit crime have a, to them, very logical reason for doing it. That doesn't mean we can condone what they've done, but it does enable us to treat them as human beings. I can't pretend you won't see and hear things that might shock you, because you will. I make no apology for that because in order for you to quit winding your ex up in court, you need to see an unvarnished picture of what you would face if you did it again."
"Consider me suitably chastened," Replied George.
"I'm sorry," Said Karen, grinning sheepishly. "When I'm behind this desk, I slip in to full wing governor mode, no matter who's sitting opposite me."
"It suits you," George found herself saying.
"Helen Stewart was exactly the same. I watched her interrogate Shell Dockley."
A while later as they walked down to the reception wing, George was incredibly conscious of the fact that Karen was carrying the keys, and was in fact her only assured way out of this place. Karen moved familiarly throughout this alien environment, utterly sure of herself and her job. George thought it made a pleasant change to see Karen so confident, as on the other two occasions when George had had sustained contact with Karen, had been during their meeting about the rape case and across a court room. Karen let them through the last set of gates, and they moved to stand just inside the room where all inmates were initially received. George could see out of one of the barred windows, to the blacked-out van that had clearly transported the now waiting group of mostly young women. A dumpy, very unattractive woman was stood behind a desk, filling in forms and rifling through any possessions the inmates had brought with them. Karen and George simply stood, no explanation necessary to watch the scene unfold. A girl in her late teens was one of the first to move up to the desk.
"Dawn Jenkins," Said the woman behind the desk, in a brash, northern accent. "Are you here again?"
"Yes, Miss," Dawn replied.
"What for?" Said Sylvia looking at the paperwork accompanying Dawn on her most recent visit to Larkhall. "Shop lifting. You've got to learn not to take things that don't belong to you." Sylvia exchanged a knowing glance with the van driver. "Got a screw loose, that one," She said, gesturing to where Dawn was signing the forms, clearly very familiar with the procedure.
"She's one of our habitual offenders," Said Karen quietly. George gestured to where Sylvia was going through Dawn's belongings.
"Is she really a prison officer?" She said in utter amazement. Karen flashed her a quick smile.
"You wouldn't think so, would you. But yes, as Sylvia would be only too happy to tell you, she's been in the service for over twelve years. Every inmate comes through here, has their possessions gone through to remove anything prohibited such as anything made of glass, which is only returned to them on release. They're then photographed and strip-searched." George looked aghast.
"You must be joking!" She said in a quiet, but nevertheless outraged tone. "Even for contempt of court?"
"Yes," Replied Karen, "Even for contempt of court. Every new inmate is initially treated in exactly the same way, no matter their crime. The officers aren't allowed to touch you, and a strip search would always be done by a female officer." George recoiled at the clear, unequivocal description. "Some, like Sylvia, also wouldn't take kindly to that incredibly posh drawl of yours. The more refined a new inmate sounds, the more Sylvia gives them hell."
"That's no surprise," Said George scornfully. As Sylvia finished with the group of inmates, they all moved passed Karen and George, towards the area where searching and photos took place. Observing Karen's presence, Sylvia stopped and said,
"Only a few in today. That Dawn's back again."
"Yes, so I see," Replied Karen. Then, as Sylvia's gaze moved to George, Karen said,
"This is Ms Channing, a barrister spending a day with me for research purposes." Sylvia looked George up and down.
"Your sort wouldn't last five minutes in this place," She said dismissively. Karen was about to make some response to this, but George got there before her.
"One hopes that one's first impression of a person doesn't actually show who they really are." Suitably beaten, Sylvia turned and walked away.
"If you were an inmate," Said Karen, with a broad smile. "That would have earned you the ugliest cell she could find for you." They moved down the corridor and briefly looked in at the next room, where the group of new girls were sitting on a row of plastic chairs, waiting for their turn to be searched.
"After being searched and having your photo taken," Continued Karen, "You would be allowed one phone call. Then you would be taken for a full medical and psychiatric assessment, complete with drugs test."
"A psychiatric assessment?" Said George, wide-eyed. "What on Earth for." George's expression reminded Karen of a rabbit caught in the headlights of a fast approaching car.
"A psychiatric assessment is purely routine," Karen added, trying to put George at her ease. "And if you're a good actor, you'd have nothing to worry about." George looked a little more relaxed at this assertion. But as they made their way from reception and towards G wing, Karen had time to wonder just why George was so afraid of such a routine part of prison procedure.
As they walked through the last gate on to G wing, there were a few inmates present, but most were still in other parts of the prison, employed in such things as education or stuffing envelopes. George had the immediate impression that she was in a huge goldfish bowl. The glass curved roof made her feel as if there must be someone up there looking down on her every move. Karen led the way towards a set of metal stairs and they walked right up to the 3's. They stood, looking over the rail to the mild activity going on below.
"Queen of all you survey," Commented George. Karen smiled.
"In a manner of speaking," she replied. "This is where we put the prisoners on the enhanced regime. They get their own cell, extra privileges and extra spends. They have to behave in order to rise so high," She finished, the flirtation clear in both voice and expression. George laughed.
"So, there really are incentives for exemplary behaviour?" She said, her tone matching Karen's.
"Oh, without a doubt," Karen replied. They walked back down the stairs, and were accosted by Denny.
"Oy, Miss, I got a letter from Crystal. She's having another baby." Karen smiled broadly.
"Oh, that's wonderful. How is she?"
"She's great. She said to tell you that she'll make sure she's near a hospital this time." Karen laughed. As Denny went over to give the Julies Crystal's news, Karen explained.
"I had the dubious pleasure of delivering Crystal's first baby when she was in here. She gave birth in a cell." George shuddered.
"Does that happen often?" She asked warily.
"No, thank goodness. Crystal was lucky that I used to be a nurse. The thing about this job, is that no day is ever the same. Crises of one form or another are fairly common." As if to affirm this statement, they were then approached by Tina.
"Miss," She said, looking straight at Karen and totally ignoring George's presence. "I think someone should keep an eye on Buki. She got some photos of Lennox sent to her by that social worker yesterday, and she started cutting up again last night." Karen immediately looked serious.
"Did she see the MO?"
"No, it wasn't that bad, but she's lying on her bed looking at the pictures, and she won't stop crying. Only, you know what she's like, it starts off little and then gets worse."
"Okay, Tina, I'll look in on her and put her on fifteen minute watch. but thank you for telling me."
"Well, ever since Maxi died, in here's the only family I've got, innit." As she walked away, George was frowning.
"Maxi?" She said, "Did she mean Maxi Purvis?"
"Yes, Tina is Maxi Purvis's sister."
"And do inmates often..."
"Self harm?" Karen finished for her, observing George's clear discomfort with the concept. "Unfortunately, it's becoming more and more common. I really ought to check on Buki. Do you mind if I leave you for a few minutes. I won't be long, I promise."
"No, of course not," George replied, hoping Karen really wouldn't be long.
While Karen was otherwise engaged, George walked over to a couple of older-looking women sat at one of the tables.
"Hello," Said Phyllida Oswin, "Are you new?" Before George could answer, Bev invited her to sit down. As they were both smoking, George got out her own and lit up.
"How long have you been here?" George asked, feeling that this was probably a universal way of opening a conversation.
"About a year," Said Bev miserably, "And we've got another four to do. What about you?" Used to thinking on her feet in court, George was nevertheless slightly thrown by the question.
"I don't think I'll be here very long," She finally answered.
"Lucky you," Said Phil. "but I must say, it is nice to have someone who comes from the same echelon of society, if you know what I mean." George laughed.
"Do the natives become something of a nuisance then?" She asked, totally unable to resist having a laugh in the midst of this day of sheer oddness.
"Yes, they do," Replied Bev. "Most of them wouldn't know a Quartier watch or a Ralph Lauren dress from the same sold by Marks and Spencer's, and a decent drink in here is like gold dust."
"So, you can get a decent drink in here?" Asked a mystified George.
"Oh yes," Enlightened Phil. "come to our cell during association, and we'll toast your welcome with one of Larkhall's finest gin and tonics." George thought that never again would she be surprised by anything. They were then approached by Karen. As George walked away with her, she said in an undertone,
"I've just been offered a gin and tonic." Karen laughed.
"Those two will offer anyone anything," She said, casting a backwards glance at Bev and Phil. "They're known as the Costa Cons, and as for the G and T, they even manage ice and lemon. Don't ask me how, but they do." George shook her head in wondered amazement.
"I want to introduce you to the Julies," Said Karen, leading George towards the servery where the Julies were beginning preparations for lunch.
"Hello, Miss," Said Julie S. "This a new girl?" She said, looking at George.
"No, this is Ms Channing, she's a barrister here for a day doing research. Can I show her your cell?"
"Yeah, I don't see why not. That all right, Ju?" She said, turning to Julie J.
"Oh, yeah. The tidiest cell on the wing's what we've got," Replied Julie J. Karen led the way up to the 2's, and approached the pulled too door of the Julies' cell. When Karen pushed the door open, they were greeted to the sight of a cramped, very narrow space, taken up with two beds, a couple of metal wardrobes and a chair and table, with the sink and toilet tucked away in a corner. But the Julies had made it theirs, with rose patterned bedspreads and curtains at the tiny barred window. They'd also covered the notice board with pictures of their children. Numerous books and piles of paper which showed clear evidence of Julie S's education classes littered the table. Karen watched as George walked to the end of the tiny cell, and stared up at the window, far above her. Being so small, she had no chance of seeing out between the bars. She could almost feel the walls closing in on her. She turned to face Karen, and Karen could see the sheer panic in her eyes. George moved swiftly out of the cell and leaned on the rail, over which she could see more inmates returning to the wing.
"I'd go mad if I had to stay in here," She said, her quickened breathing returning to normal. Karen briefly rubbed her shoulder.
"Well, this time, you don't have to. Just remember that, and calm down."
"Sorry," Said George, feeling utterly stupid for having reacted like that.
"Do you remember Barbara Hunt?" Asked Karen, "One of the prosecution witnesses. She used to suffer from terrible claustrophobia."
They both heard the sound of the two Julies coming up the stairs, and George schooled her face in to as normal an expression as possible.
"We wondered how you was getting on," Asked Julie S. "Did you see the pictures of our kids?" They moved back to the doorway and Julie pointed to her picture of David which was tacked to the notice board.
"That's my David," She said proudly, taking down the picture so that George could have a closer look. "He goes to public school, doing his A-levels this year." George stared in total shock at the picture of a very handsome seventeen-year-old in his school uniform.
"But my father went there," Said George incredulously, "I recognise the school tie. He's still got one of his old ones at home."
"That was the best thing I ever did for my David," Replied Julie, "Getting him in to that school." George had a thoroughly perplexed look on her face.
"You're wondering how someone like us can afford to send her kid to public school," Stated Julie J, which made George look sheepish.
"Yeah, well, we can afford it when we're not stuck in here," Put in Julie S. "And they reckon getting paid by a bloke for a bit of the other ain't an honourable profession. I'd say it's got to be if it means I can afford to send my kid to a good school."
"You must be very proud of him," Said George, wondering just how many more new concepts her brain could handle.
"Oh, yeah, he's my pride and joy," Said Julie. "I'd just like to be outside, being a mum to him, that's all." As they walked back down stairs, George asked Karen,
"How long have they got?"
"They're doing eight years for GBH, and last year, Julie Saunders, the one with the son at public school, was told that her breast cancer could come back within five."
"No!" Moaned George, for once in her life thoroughly able to see the utter injustice being played out before her eyes.
They were crossing the main association area when there came a howl of anger from behind them.
"What the friggin hell's she doing here?" Yelled Al. Karen and George turned, to see Al advancing on them.
"Al, calm down," Said Julie J placatingly, "She's just a barrister."
"Just a barrister, my arse," Said Al scornfully. "She's the cow that defended Snowball!" There was an awful, stunned silence as the entire population of G wing took in this piece of information. "I think she needs a bit of a kicking for that, don't you, girls?" Al shouted, launching herself at George. With split second reactions, Karen wrapped her arms round George's waist and literally lifted her off her feet to move her out of reach of Al's descending fists. The inevitable shout rose from the inmates at the prospect of a suit getting a well-deserved beating. But Al was so angry, that she failed to notice Karen's lightning removal of George out of harm's way, until she tripped and lay flat on her face, giving Di and Sylvia enough opportunity to grab her arms and drag her away to segregation. Having set George on her feet again, Karen kept her arms protectively round the much smaller woman until McKenzy had been carted off to the block.
"Sorry about that," Said Karen, finally letting go of a clearly frightened George.
"Don't be," Replied George, "I think you just saved my life there." Karen turned, to see an obviously amused Fenner looking over at them. Karen stalked over to him, closely followed by George.
"How bloody stupid can you get!" Said Karen furiously to Fenner.
"McKenzy was only letting off steam," Replied Fenner, as if she'd been doing nothing more than having a raucous game of football.
"If there's one thing you absolutely do not do," Said Karen, her voice rising in anger, "It's to disobey a direct order from me when it involves a person's safety."
"I don't know," Said Fenner nonchalantly, "I think McKenzy's right. Anyone who defends that piece of scum, Merriman, deserves everything they get, and I'd have thought you'd agree, given that Merriman almost got you killed." He said this last bit with his face very close to Karen's.
"I gave you a specific order," Said Karen, giving Fenner the same eyeball treatment he was giving her. "I told you to keep McKenzy out of the way. What's to misunderstand about that. Pull a stunt like that again, and you'll be joining your mate Hedges on the scrap heap."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Asked Fenner, the sudden involvement of Colin's name giving him cause for concern.
"Don't make me spell it out for you," Replied Karen, knowing she was in serious danger of giving Tuesday's game away.
"You don't want to make threats you can't live up to," Challenged Fenner.
"If Karen is in need of a witness, Mr. Fenner, as to today's events," Put in George, in her most authoritative tone, "You can be sure she'll have one."
"Interfering bitch," Said Fenner, clearly rattled by the ice cold gaze that was being sent his way.
"Really," Said George conversationally. "Perhaps one day you'll find out just how much of a bitch I'm capable of being." As Fenner slunk away, Karen turned to George.
"I've never seen him that rattled before. Well done. But I really am sorry about what just happened. You should never have been put at risk like that."
"It wasn't your fault," Said George. "You gave him an order, and he chose to ignore it. I'm fine, really." Karen was not amused to look over to the gate leading on to the wing, to see Grayling staring over at them open mouthed. As he approached them, Karen murmured,
"Here comes my P45."
"Well, if you need a bitch to argue unfair dismissal," Said George, giving Karen a reassuring smile. But Grayling only had one thing to say to Karen.
"When Ms Channing has left, I want to see you in my office." As he left, Karen said,
"He wouldn't dare give me the sack. I've got too much on him for him to even contemplate it."
"His cover up of Fenner?"
"Oh, yes. He hasn't even begun to pay back what he owes me for that."
A while later when they were seated in Karen's office and Karen's secretary had brought them some lunch, Karen said,
"Dare I ask if you've learnt your lesson?" George rolled her eyes over her cup of coffee.
"I think it's fairly safe to say that yes, I most certainly have. I wouldn't have stood a chance against the likes of Alison McKenzy."
"Denny used to be a bit like that. But she's settled down a lot."
"Denny?"
"The one who told me about Crystal's baby. She's in for arson, set fire to her childrens' home because they were threatening to move her away from the only place she'd ever felt happy."
"They really are like a family some of them, aren't they."
"Yes, because for some of them, the people they've met in here are all they've got. Take the Julies, their conviction for GBH, was because they poured an urn of hot tea in to the lap of a man who was pimping Julie J's daughter."
"That sounds like poetic justice," Said George, slightly marvelling at the lengths the women would clearly go to for each other.
"And when Denny's mum died about eighteen months ago, Yvonne took Denny under her wing. If necessary, the one thing they will all do without a moment's consideration is support each other. You get a really mixed bag of people, and when it comes to any threat common to all, they stand as one. It's amazing when it's working in a positive way, but it means they do need careful handling. There was a riot once, when I was on holiday, which Helen had the joys of dealing with, and the only reason it didn't get extremely dangerous for the officers, was because the inmates weren't all working on the same side. If they had been, god knows how that would have ended."
"I've learnt an awful lot today," Said George contemplatively. "Other than not to push John too far again, I've learnt a lot about human nature. It makes what I do most of the time seem pretty inconsequential."
"Don't let Jo hear you say that," Said Karen with a grin. "Or she'll finally think she's won."
"No chance," Said George scornfully. "Talking of winning or losing, how did you get on with Shell Dockley?"
"Well, the court order was absolutely necessary, I wouldn't have got near her without it. She was able to tell me an awful lot, most of which I wish I didn't know. The most important thing being that after she was recaptured, Fenner was pimping her. She was giving handjobs for twenty quid a time, and Fenner was pocketing half of it. One of my other officers, Collin Hedges, it seems he was in on this as well."
"That does give me a bit more to work on," Replied George, "Living off immoral earnings for a start. Come and see me on Monday and we can go over everything else Dockley told you. It sounds like she may be the ace in the pack." When Karen eventually let George back through the last set of gates, and they collected her phone and tablets from the gate lodge, George looked incredibly relieved.
"I wouldn't have left you in there, you know," Said Karen, walking with George to her car.
"I know, it just feels good to be out of there, that's all. It may sound odd, but I feel an incredible need for a shower."
"No, it doesn't," Replied Karen with a smile. "Prison always does that the first few times."
"Well, I'm hoping this is my first and last."
"It will be, if you learn to control your tongue," Said Karen, grinning broadly and looking George straight in the eye.
"You've enjoyed the role reversal, haven't you," Asked George as she unlocked her car.
"Maybe," Conceded Karen, "It makes a change for you to see the confident me."
"Oh, I did that when I crossed swords with you in court. I'll see you next week, when I can assure you the reins of power will be well and truly back in my hands."