Page 92 of The Stranger in Room Six

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‘If you do, you won’t just lose one daughter. You’ll lose both.’

‘Please, Linda,’ I beg. ‘There must be something I can do to stop you.’

My words sound clear but my insides are churning with fear.

‘Maybe.’

I clutch at the word.

‘What? Tell me. I’ll do anything.’

My previous bravado has disappeared.

‘You can start by giving me half of every meal.’

‘Done,’ I say.

‘You will always let me go first in the phone queue if I am behind you.’

‘No problem.’

‘And you can get me a razor blade.’

‘How am I going to do that?’

‘It’s up to you.’

‘What will you do with it?’

‘Do you honestly think I’m going to tell you? You’ve got until next Friday. Give it to me at gym.’

There’s a noise behind us. The chaplain is coming back. He makes an ‘all right?’ face at me. I nod.

‘I hope this has helped,’ I say in a tone that makes it clear we are no longer alone.

‘Thank you.’ Linda’s voice might sound normal to someone who doesn’t know it but I can sense the mockery. ‘You’ve been a great Listener.’

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A razor blade? Is Linda planning to kill herself or someone else?

The old Belinda wouldn’t have hesitated. She’d have gone straight to the governor. Then Linda would be shipped out. Simple.

Except that this is not how it works in prison. Linda Wall has friends. They would take up her cause and I would be the one who got her throat slit.

But if I don’t do what she says, Gillian or Elspeth will be hurt or worse. Of that I have no doubt. Many prisoners, unlike me, have contacts outside. Linda knows my girls’ names; she knows where they live. I cannot risk this.

‘What’s wrong?’ asks Mouse when I’m quiet that evening.

‘Nothing.’

‘Don’t give me that.’

‘I can’t say.’

‘Can’t or won’t?’

‘If I do, someone I love will get hurt.’

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