Hard Landing

wasn't surprised she was upset. She'd expected him home two days ago and now she'd been told that he was on an open-ended assignment that would keep him away twenty-four hours a day.

'I'm sorry.'

'Why didn't they tell us you were going away?'

'They didn't know until the last minute. I was as surprised as you, love. I was in here for a day before they told me what was happening.'

Sue sighed. 'I'm sorry, I don't mean to moan. Sam told me how important it was. And what happened to that other policeman.' Jonathon Elliott, she meant. 'Be careful, won't you?'

'Of course,' said Shepherd.

'Is it horrible?'

'It's not that bad, actually.'

'Really?'

'TV in the cells, food's reasonable, there's a gym and we get out in the fresh air every day. I might bring you and Liam for a week some time.'

'After this you owe us a fortnight in Mallorca, minimum.'

She went quiet. Shepherd couldn't think what to say. He wanted to hold her and kiss her, to smell her perfume and stroke her hair. The phone was a poor substitute. 'I really am sorry about all this,' he said eventually.

'It's your job,' she said. 'It's what you do.'

'Tell Liam I phoned, yeah? Tell him I love him and I'll be home soon.'

'How soon?'

It was a good question. 'I don't know, love.'

'Days rather than weeks?' she asked hopefully.

'If I get lucky, yeah,' he said.

'I love you.' She said it quietly, and he was suddenly ashamed. His place was at home with her and their son.

'I love you, too,' he said. 'I'll make this up to you when I get home. I promise.'

'You'd better.'

'I will.'

'Okay.'

'I've got to go.' The governor had straightened and was looking at a clock on the wall.

'I know.'

'I'm sorry.'

'Stop saying you're sorry. I've been married to you long enough to know how it works.'

'I don't deserve you.'

'That is so true.' She laughed.

'I do love you, Sue. I wish you were here with me now.'

'In prison with a hundred men who haven't had sex for years?'

'You know what I mean.'

'I know.'

'I have to go.'

'I know.'

'I love you.'

'I love you.'

Shepherd closed his eyes. He knew he was behaving like a lovesick teenager, but he couldn't bring himself to hang up on her, not knowing when he was going to have the chance to talk to her again.

'You're going to have to hang up first,' she said, as if reading his mind.

'I don't want to.'

'Can you call later, when Liam's here?'

'I can't, love.' He had no idea when he'd be able to talk to her again.

'Please try.'

'I will.' He hated lying to her but didn't have time to explain why contact was going to be impossible. He didn't know whom he could trust within the prison. Anyone, inmate or officer, could be on Carpenter's payroll. He was taking a big enough risk using the governor's personal phone. 'I've got to go, love. Sorry.'

He put down the receiver and immediately cursed himself for not ending on a better note. 'Sorry,' he'd said. He should have told her he loved her again. If it was the last thing he ever said to her he wanted it to be 'I love you' and not 'Sorry.'

'You're going to have to go,' said Gosden.

Shepherd stuck out his hand. 'Thanks for that,' he said.

'The worst thing about prison is the lack of contact with family,' said Gosden, shaking Shepherd's hand. He had a strong grip with thick fingers and calloused skin. 'They forget that, the people who complain about televisions in cells and education programmes. Being away from your family is the punishment. And it's got to be a hell of a lot worse for you.'

'Yeah, but at least I'll be walking out soon,' said Shepherd. 'Hopefully.'

Hamilton escorted Shepherd back to the remand block. 'So, what did he want?' Hamilton asked, as he unlocked the door to the secure corridor.

'To know what I thought of the prison officers,' said Shepherd.

'What?'

'Home Office is compiling a list of officers who can't do their jobs. The governor's supposed to get the opinions of a random group of inmates. My number came up.'

He stood to the side so that Hamilton could relock the door.

'A survey?' said Hamilton, frowning.

'Home Office.'

Shepherd started to walk down the corridor towards the remand block.

'What did you say?' asked Hamilton. 'To the governor?'

'It's confidential,' said Shepherd. 'Sorry.'

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Hamilton unlocked the door to the remand block. 'You're winding me up, you prick,' he said, as Shepherd walked into the spur.

Two prisoners were cleaning the ground floor with mops. They worked slowly and methodically, their heads down. Hamilton took Shepherd up to his cell. It was empty. 'I have to stay banged up?'

'Unless you're on a work detail or education.'

'Can't I go to the gym?'

Hamilton shook his head. 'Don't give me a hard time,' he said. 'Gym is in the afternoon, but you have to be on the list. And you're not.'

'It just doesn't seem fair that I have to stay locked up.'

'Yeah, well, who said life was fair? If it was fair, I wouldn't be in here jingling keys, would I?' He nodded at the cell. 'In,' he said.

'I want a copy of the Prison Rules,' said Shepherd.

'I'll get it for you.'

Shepherd stood his ground. 'I want it now.'

'I said I'd get it for you. In the cell, Macdonald.'

'I'm entitled to a copy of the Prison Rules. You're refusing to give me what I'm entitled to.'

'You're committing an offence against discipline,' said Hamilton. 'You are disobeying a lawful order. If you don't get into your cell now I'll put you on a charge.'

'In which case I'll be up before the governor and I'll be able to give him my side of the story.' Shepherd put his hands on his hips and stared at Hamilton. There was no way he was going to back down.

Hamilton continued to glare at Shepherd. He was a couple of inches shorter and Shepherd was in better condition. Hamilton couldn't physically make him go into the cell, not on his own. But calling for his colleagues