Slammer (16 page)

He'd be given his code for the night too. A phrase to say if everything was okay, and another to say if there was trouble. In other words, if he'd been taken hostage. But that was unlikely. The only risk arose if an inmate needed to leave his cell. And that'd only happen in a medical emergency. In which case, the duty officer would call down to the gate for assistance before unlocking the prisoner's cell.

Follow procedure and you're fine.

Caesar's plan was to create a hostage situation with Glass next time he was on nights. Jasmine would pretend to be sick. Glass would screw up, and fail to get back-up from the gate before opening Caesar and Jasmine's peter. Once Glass was inside, they'd take him hostage. And after opening Horse's peter, they'd all leave with Glass in tow. Then they'd get into Glass's car, and he'd drive them to safety.

They'd let him go afterwards. Nobody need know he was in on the break.

There was silence for a moment after Caesar finished outlining the plan.

'So, you'll do it?' Horse said.

'And get my arse handed to me? They'll cut me loose.'

'Nah,' Caesar said. 'You'll be all traumatised. Imagine how it'd look if they sacked an officer who'd been taken hostage.'

'Nobody's going to believe I'm not in on it.'

'Why not?'

'Cause it would take a total idiot to open your peter when he's the only officer on duty.'

'That's why you're the perfect choice,' Horse said.

FRIDAY

During free association, some of the cons who might be nervous of interaction with the others preferred to stay in their peters. So did some of the cons who were just plain anti-social. And sometimes, there wasn't an obvious reason. Glass didn't know why Darko and Mafia were in their peter this afternoon, but that's where he found them.

Darko held a tortoiseshell kitten.

When Glass walked towards Darko, the kitten spat at him.

'Hey, precious,' Darko said. 'Officer Glass won't hurt you. He's one of the good guys.'

Hard to tell if there was a trace of sarcasm there or not.

The kitten wriggled, then settled down again and let Darko stroke it. After a bit, it started to purr.

Glass wanted to pet it too. It annoyed him that it trusted Darko and not him.

Mafia said, 'They only like Darko.'

Glass nodded.

'It isn't that they don't like you.'

'I didn't think it was.'

'Whatever,' Mafia said. 'What do you want?'

Painful though it was, Glass said, 'I need to talk.'

'Last time we talked, it didn't go so well.'

'I know.'

'And you're sorry?'

Glass knew he should say yes. But he was glad he'd whacked Mafia in the jaw and he'd do it again if the same situation arose. 'Can't say I am,' he said.

'Oh,' Mafia said, 'that's encouraging.'

'It is?'

'Absolutely.' He looked towards Darko. 'We might make a man of him yet.'

'Don't talk about me like that.'

'Like what?'

'Like I'm not here.'

'Even better,' Mafia said. 'I'm impressed.' He moved within a foot of Glass. Close enough for his breath to touch Glass's cheek when he spoke. 'What do you want?'

'In private.'

'Okay. Darko won't mind leaving us alone for a—'

'No, let Darko stay. We should be the ones to leave.'

'It's okay,' Darko said. 'I don't mind.'

'You don't need to do that,' Glass said.

'Yes,' Darko said. 'I think I do.'

He walked out, the kitten in his arms still purring.

*

Glass told Mafia about Caesar's escape plan.

Mafia said, 'You can't.'

'I know. But they'll get Watt to threaten my family again or blackmail me about the drugs.' He explained about the tape recording.

'You've stopped taking in gear for them?'

Glass nodded.

'That's something.' Mafia paused. 'You're a stupid fuck, though. What do you want me to do?'

'Help me.'

'How can I do that?'

'Have a word with Watt. Tell him to back off.'

'What's he done?'

'Nothing yet. But if I don't agree to help Caesar escape—'

'He won't listen to me.'

'He's your brother.'

'I'm sorry. Believe me, Nick, I'm the last person he'd listen to.'

'But he talks to you. He told you about me bringing in drugs for Caesar, didn't he?'

'You don't understand.'

'Right, I get it. Well, I suppose I still have that gun.'

'Now there's an empty threat.'

'Is it? I can't do what they want. And I can't let your brother harm my family. So it leaves me with very little choice.'

Mafia took off his shades. 'I almost believe you.'

SATURDAY

'You ready?' Lorna asked.

Glass turned off the TV. 'Just get my keys,' he said, and went to pick them up from the kitchen, yawning.

He hadn't slept much last night again. Kept waking up shaking, unable to remember what he'd been dreaming about but knowing that it was horrible enough that he didn't want to go back to sleep.

Lorna had snored through it all, occasionally kicking him with her heel as she stretched out.

He'd got up about six. Tidied the sitting room, washed the dishes. Caitlin appeared as he was finishing, and told him she'd wet herself. He washed her, stripped the bed, slung the wet pyjamas and bedding into the washing machine. Then he hoovered while she had breakfast. Afterwards, when he asked her if she would put the toys away in her room, she replied, 'I can't be bothered.'

He stared at her. 'How about if I give you a hand? We can do it together.'

'I just can't be bothered.' She stared back at him. 'I need a drink.'

Thank you, Lorna.

Glass understood that his wife had been through a traumatic experience with Watt, but she'd behaved exactly this way when she broke up with David. Became self-destructive, started picking fights. Drank to cope and then started to act as though she couldn't give a shit about anything. Glass knew Watt was to blame this time, but sometimes he still couldn't be sure she wasn't thinking about her ex-lover. Didn't really matter. Either way, she was telling Glass he was inadequate. And it was all starting to have an effect on Caitlin.

They'd gone to see an animated movie last week and Lorna'd talked most of the way through it. Laughing at inappropriate moments, criticising the 'stupid' story aloud. Pissed off the family in front of them. The father kept turning round, asking her to please be quiet.

Even Caitlin had got sick of her mum's snide comments and told her to shut up. Not in those words, exactly. But that's what she meant.

About halfway through, Lorna had walked out in a huff.

Today, when she got up, Glass told her about Caitlin wetting herself and about what their daughter had said.

'Promise I'll stay sober from now on,' Lorna said. 'Turn over a new leaf. Starting right now. No more drink. I've been indulging too much.'

Sounded too good to be true.

'Why didn't you say something before?' she asked. 'I've hardly been a fit mother the past few weeks.'

So now it was Glass's fault she was drinking? He knew she was goading him. He said, 'It's not exactly the first time.'

She looked at him, didn't argue.

Another day, she might have thought he was goading her back. But really he was just stating a fact.

She was responding already to being off the booze, though. More laidback. Less emotional. At least he hoped that's what it was. Alcohol was such a shit drug, but she refused to try anything else.

He could tell her about Caesar's escape plan. He wanted to. But he wouldn't. She didn't trust him to cope. She'd get upset, and that'd probably be enough to start her drinking again. Anyway, it wasn't necessary that she knew. Glass had everything he needed to deal with the situation in his biscuit tin in the tea chest in his garage.

God, though, he was tired. And his right index finger hurt, like he'd stubbed the tip of it against something during the night, and his shoulder nagged like an old injury in bad weather.

He picked up his keys, stepped out into the hall as Caitlin was stomping down the stairs. She grinned at him and he realised he was grinning too.

'Waiting on you, Daddy,' she said.

Lorna was standing by the door, ready to go. 'Get your coat on, cheeky,' she said.

'You get your coat on, cheeky,' Caitlin said back.

'Don't talk to your mum like that, babygirl,' Glass said.

'Leave her alone,' Lorna said. 'She's not doing any harm.'

'She shouldn't—'

'Nick, please.'

'I'm sorry, Daddy,' Caitlin said. 'Don't fight with Mummy.'

'That's okay,' Glass said. 'We're not fighting.'

Lorna shook her head. 'I'll wait outside.'

*

The air was cool. The sky was grey and a pleasant November drizzle sprayed Glass's cheeks.

He was about to comment on how nice it was when Lorna said, 'Foul weather. I hate this country.'

Caitlin said, 'I like rain.'

'Me, too,' Glass said. 'Mummy just likes to moan.'

Course, that wasn't the smartest thing he could have said, and he regretted it immediately. He wished she didn't piss him off so easily, but the constant negativity wasn't something he could cope with on so little sleep. Not surprising he needed some chemical help now and then.

'You think that? I like to moan?'

'I—'

'You do. You think I have nothing better to do than complain.' Her eyes grew small, her lips thinned. 'Well, you don't know what it's like to bring up a kid virtually single-handed.'

'That's not fair. One of us has to work.' He saw the hostility in her eyes and carried on before she could respond, 'I'm not criticising, Lorna. Just telling it how it is.'