Locked Up
Page 28
She lowered her eyes.
‘The Guv’s not in,’ Malkin pointed out. ‘And even if he was, I don’t think he’d mind.’
She chewed her lip. She wanted to, but ...
‘Time to go.’
Charlie looked up to see Sanchez in the doorway. He stood, took up the box, and followed the man out. He was processed and told it was hoped he was never seen in HMP Blackmarch again.
‘She’ll show you out,’ Sanchez said casually before he walked away.
Charlie turned and saw Teddington, in uniform, standing behind him.
‘This way please, Mr Bell.’
‘When did you come back?’
‘A month ago,’ she said, as she led him out. ‘I’ve been working in the observation room.’
‘Avoiding me?’
They were at the door now. ‘Yes.’ She turned to face him. ‘Acting Governor Turner felt it would be best for all concerned, if we were kept apart. Screws and cons, and all that.’
‘Then, why are you here now?’
‘Acting Governor Turner isn’t in.’
She smiled, but it looked kind of sad.
‘Besides, I booked you in, remember? Seems somehow right I see you out.’
She opened the door, one step, and he was free. He leaned out, breathing deeply of the clear air. It was the same air he had been breathing for the last three and a half years, yet somehow, on that side of the wall, it felt fresher. He glanced at the pub opposite; strangely, The Lock Up held no appeal.
‘Goodbye, Mr Bell.’
What else was there to say? Archive box held before him, he crossed the threshold, then paused. Could he?
‘You’re not a “con” anymore,’ he heard Teddington’s voice behind him. ‘Aren’t you eager to get on with your life as a free man?’
Not without you.
But, that was a ridiculous thought. Screws and cons, and all that. Resolutely facing forward, he crossed the small courtyard to leave the enclave of the prison. At that final barrier, he could resist no more and turned back.
Teddington was still there.
She raised her hand, pointed through the exit, and then opened her hand, thumb across the flat of her palm, fingers up and spread.
Go and goodbye, what more was there? Then, she was gone.
Charlie turned, glanced at the pub, then headed out to an uncertain future.
Teddington closed the door, and allowed herself a small smile. Charlie Bell was a free man. Nothing any boss could slap her wrist for. And, at four o’clock, she’d be seeing him in the pub across the road.
* * *
THE END
Locked In
The Locked Trilogy Book 2
Ariadne Teddington is having a bad day. Then she finds herself staring down the barrel of a gun.
Stuck in a bank robbery turned hostage situation, Ariadne keeps her head down and her mouth shut; because if there is one thing criminals hate more than the police it’s prison guards.
Trapped with a child, a policeman, and a robber on the edge, Ariadne desperately searches for a way out for them.
Can they all escape unharmed?
And when everyone is locked in, will anyone get out alive?
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Order Your Copy Here
Coming Soon
Don’t miss the final book in the explosive Locked In Trilogy .
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Coming Autumn 2018 , Locked Down .
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Author Acknowledgements
Thank you to the army of people that march with the author. The family, friends, writers, readers and critics, that have kept me going through the ups and downs of getting to publication. Special thanks for Tony Fyler and Sam Kruit for being tough critics and pointing out the problems, while encouraging me to carry on. Especially to Sam who pointed out the intricacies of prison officer life, and to the policeman who didn’t want to be named, for pulling his hair out on my police procedure and still not slapping me when I deliberately got it wrong (apparently that’s assault - lucky for me ). A special thanks to all the lovely team at Bloodhound Books, who saved Charlie from being eternally imprisoned on my hard drive.
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And thank you to any reader who has got this far. I hope you enjoyed the journey.