‘It’s extremely important that I talk to her. So please put her on the phone.’
Charlie was trying to be polite, but was growing increasingly exasperated with the operator. She was pacing the car park at Southampton Central, her mobile phone clamped to her ear, and must have cut a pretty comical figure, gesticulating and remonstrating as she tried to get the receptionist at Holloway to play ball.
‘I’m afraid I can’t do that. She is not on my list of inmates who can receive prearranged phone calls –’
‘Check again. Her name is Helen Grace. I speak to her every week around this time –’
‘I’ve already checked twice –’
‘She is on remand. I shouldn’t have to remind you that all remand prisoners have certain rights and privileges –’
‘Hold on a minute.’
Charlie cursed under her breath, unimpressed by the rude way in which she’d been interrupted. But she said nothing – she could hear the operator conferring with a colleague and hoped that things would be swiftly resolved.
‘All her privileges have been revoked.’
Charlie was struck dumb for a moment, before finally finding her voice:
‘That’s impossible.’
‘It’s what the system says.’
‘When were they revoked?’ Charlie persisted, her uneasiness growing.
There was another short pause, then:
‘This morning. Nine fifty-three a.m.’
Charlie’s head was spinning, filled with unpleasant scenarios.
‘Look it’s really important that I get a message to her. I have important news regarding her trial defence –’
‘Then I’ll have to transfer you to the Governor – normally no messages are allowed when a prisoner is in the Segregation unit.’
Without waiting for a response, she ended the discussion and Charlie now found herself on hold, waiting to be connected to the Governor’s office. What on earth was Helen doing in the Segregation unit? None of it made any sense.
Charlie paced up and down for another ten minutes, then rang off. It was clear that the Governor’s secretary was not answering calls this morning. Another thing that made Charlie nervous. She knew there had been a problem at Holloway earlier this week – a death in custody had been reported in the papers two days ago. Was it possible these events could be connected?
Looking up she was pleased to see Sanderson coming towards her, car keys in hand. Charlie was already fired up about their mission to London, but she was doubly determined now. She had no idea what was going on in Holloway, but the sooner she could get Helen out of there the better. Suddenly something told Charlie that her old friend was in danger.