Page 66 of The Twins
A shudder went up my spine, and I didn’t try to hide it.
“Looking good,” he said, drawing out the word good. “Real sexy.”
“Keep it respectful Mr. Conner.” I sat and set down a notepad and pen. “What’s happened?”
I knew what had happened. The officer had told me. Conner had attacked another prisoner that morning by stealingbleach from the cleaning trolley and throwing it in his face. He was currently in the prison medical wing being treated for eye damage.
“Cunt tried to do me over.”
“Do you mean Terry Belton?”
“Terry Bell-End, yeah, he’s a twat.”
“He’s currently an injured twat, because of you,” I said. “And you’ve also likely added time to your sentence unless we can prove you were provoked.”
“What’s an extra few months if wiping the smug smile off a dickhead’s face brings me a moment’s joy?”
“That’s not helpful. Why did you do it? What was your motive?”
“He nicked a packet of fags from me.”
“Can you prove that?”
“No, that’s what I need you for, sexy lady.”
“Please don’t refer to me that way.” I stared him down. His eyes were full of hate and misogyny. “And I’ll need more than that to go to a judge with. You may well have blinded him.”
He laughed. “Blind, really? That’s a result, will stop the sick fuck perving over nude kids, won’t it. You know he’s a pedo, right?”
“Mr. Conner.” I tried to stay calm. This wasn’t how I’d wanted my Sunday to go. “What’s the real reason you attacked him? We’ll need to explain that to a judge. Did you feel threatened by him in any way?”
“That loser? Nah.” He sat back as far as he could being attached to the table. “I was just bored, couldn’t find my fags, needed someone to blame, and the bleach was there and so was he.”
“So that’s your defense. You were bored and took an opportunity.”
He shrugged. “I guess so.”
I nodded at the officer. “We’re done here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I stood. “Enjoy the rest of you day, Mr. Conner.”
“I will, and tell me.” His eyes flashed with a new, strange kind of madness. “What are you doing with the rest of your day? On the outside. As a free woman?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I know, you’re off to get fucked good and proper? Up the ass. I bet you’ll love that, won’t you. Kinky fucking bitch.”
“You really do know how to endear someone to work their hardest for you, Mr. Conner.” I left the room. What an asshole. What a waste of my time. Everyone’s time. Let’s hope he hadn’t actually blinded Terry Belton.
I signed out and stepped into the warm day again, breathing deep and enjoying the sun on my shoulders. I called an Uber then glanced around. The prison was set away from the suburbs and the road running in front of it was quiet and lined with a hedgerow.
To my left butterflies danced on a wild buddleia that was growing bravely from a crack between the road and curb.
Suddenly, a screech tore through the air. A puff of dust plumed before me, and a rush of energy came to an abrupt stop.
A white car, blacked-out windows.
