The Guilty Couple(3)

The cell beside the one Kelk’s raiding belongs to Janet and Theresa. Janet’s a lifer in her sixties. She’s not much of a talker but she can give you a look that makes you feel like someone’s walking over your grave. Theresa’s new and if she’s not in her cell she’s skulking around looking terrified.

In a lot of ways she reminds me of me.

It was the noise that got to me when I arrived, all the screaming and shouting and wailing and banging. I tried to hide in my room but my cellmate told me that if I didn’t go out onto the wing and mix with the others I’d be viewed as weak and attract the wrong kind of attention.

There’s no sign of Janet but Theresa is standing alone at the back of the circle surrounding the fighters. Her mousey hair is tucked behind her ears, her arms are crossed over her heavy chest. She’s watching what’s going on from beneath her eyebrows. As Kelk darts into Theresa and Janet’s cell Theresa turns her head sharply to look at me, then heads after her. I slide closer so I can see what’s going on. I wouldn’t get involved normally but I’m getting out tomorrow so if Kelk decides to wage war on me the fight won’t last very long.

‘What are you doing?’ Theresa’s voice rings out as I approach the doorway. Kelk is over by the kettle with two packets of ramen noodles in her hands.

Kelk’s gaze slides towards me then returns to Theresa. ‘I’ll pay you back.’

‘Put them back please.’

Kelk lifts her sweatshirt and sticks the noodles into the waistband of her joggers then pulls the sweatshirt over the top. She smiles, her top lip curled back to reveal her teeth. ‘Take them back.’

Theresa does nothing. She’s paralysed by fear when what she needs to do is stand up to Kelk. If it ends up in a fight it ends up in a fight. It’s the only way she’ll earn her respect. But Kelk is dangerous. I wouldn’t put it past her to have a toilet brush rammed into her joggers, the brush removed and the plastic moulded into a spear-like point.

‘Give me one.’ I step into the cell, pulling the door partly closed behind me.

‘Eh?’ Kelk shoots me a curious look.

‘She’s got more ramen on the shelf. Chuck me one. And that bag of teabags while you’re at it.’

A smirk spreads across Kelk’s face. ‘I thought you were getting out tomorrow.’

‘I am. I want to give Smithy a leaving present.’ I glance at Theresa who’s still hovering near us, the base of her throat flushed red, her hands fluttering at her sides.

Kelk throws a packet of noodles and the clear bag of teabags at me.

I tuck them under my waistband then push past Theresa. ‘What else have you got?’ I rummage around under her bunk. ‘Got any sweets? Stamps? I know Smithy would really—’

The words are knocked out of my mouth as my head hits the cell wall. Theresa just gave me a shove.

‘Give my stuff back,’ she shouts as I twist around and duck out of the bunk. She lands her first punch as I straighten up. Smack! Right on my cheekbone. Adrenaline floods through me as I fight to regain my balance but she’s on me straight away, small fists thumping at my stomach, my head and my chest. I weave my fingers into her hair and pull her head back then lift my knee to her stomach to create a space between our bodies. I land a couple of punches but they glance off her. Theresa shows no such restraint and each time her fist makes contact my body sings in pain. As we continue to grapple I hear voices from the doorway: Kelk, and a couple of other women discussing our fight.

After what feels like the longest two or three minutes of my life I shout, ‘All right, all right. I’ll give you your stuff back’ and Theresa shoves me roughly away.

She watches as I throw my spoils onto her bunk, then turns to confront Kelk. ‘And you,’ she says.

Kelk’s eyes narrow, but she rummages around in her joggers and tosses two packets of ramen noodles onto the bunk.

‘Out!’ Theresa takes a step towards her. ‘Show’s over. You can all fuck off now.’

As Kelk and her cronies retreat I wrap a hand around my body and groan softly. Theresa really put some welly behind those punches and my ribs and cheekbone are throbbing like hell.

Theresa closes the door. ‘Sorry Liv. I got a bit carried away.’

‘You’re not kidding.’ I touch a hand to my nose to check for blood. ‘You weren’t supposed to shove me into the wall. You were supposed to wait until I grabbed the stamps and then swing for me.’

‘Sorry.’ Her face twists with regret. ‘I was so nervous I forgot the plan.’

‘It’s fine.’ I give her shoulder a squeeze. ‘It made it look more realistic. Are you all right? I didn’t hit you too hard?’

She shakes her head but she’s quivering like my daughter’s hamster did, just before it died. The adrenaline’s wearing off and she needs to get her shit together before she goes back out onto the wing. She’ll have gained enough respect now to stop Kelk nipping into her cell but new inmates arrive all the time. Theresa’s going to have to keep standing up for herself if she’s going to get through the next few years unscathed. I learned that the hard way.

‘I was so nervous that Kelk was going to jump me,’ she says.

‘No. The beating you gave me put her—’

A siren interrupts me. Up in the CCTV room someone’s spotted Sabrina and Gardo’s fight. In between the beats of the alarm I hear the thunder of trainers on concrete as the women outside scamper back to their cells.