Hard Landing

Shepherd shrugged. 'Too early to tell. Carpenter's hardly been out of his cell, at least when I'm around. He's on the cleaning crew, apparently, which means he can move around the spur pretty much as he wants, but when he's out and about I'm banged up.'

'So what's your plan?'

'I'm going to try to get on the cleaning crew.'

'Do you want me to talk to the governor?'

'Hell, no,' saidShepherd. 'Carpenter will see that coming a mile off. Let me see what I can do. Macdonald's a hard man so it wouldn't be out of character for me to start throwing my weight around.'

'Just as long as you don't end up in solitary,' said Hargrove. 'Is there anything you need?'

'My watch - or a watch, anyway. It's a pain not being able to keep track of time. And get me some decent clothes. There aren't many status symbols in here and clothing separates the faces from the muppets. Designer jeans. Polo shirts. And trainers - Nikes, whatever the latest model is.'

'I'll get them sent in,' said Hargrove, scribbling in a small black notebook.

'On second thoughts, make the watch a bit flash. And I want to see Sue and Liam.'

'I'm on it.'

'I have to see them,' said Shepherd. 'And I'd be happier talking to Sue without you there. No offence.'

'You'll have to put in an application. Angie Macdonald and Harry. I've had them added to all the computer files on the Macdonald legend. Soon as the application arrives I'll get her in.'

'I was in to see Gosden and he let me talk to her. On the phone.'

Hargrove looked pained but didn't say anything.

'It was a direct line, and if we can't trust Gosden I'm dead in the water anyway.'

Hargrove still looked unhappy.

'Gosden has put it around that I'm having marital problems and that my wife wants a divorce. I'll ask for a visit. Have her driven here by someone you know.'

'I'll make sure she's okay, don't worry.' Hargrove stood up and put away his notebook. 'You're doing a hell of a job, Spider. Don't think it's not appreciated.'

Shepherd stood up and rang the bell. 'Just remember the overtime, that's all.'

The bald officer came for Hargrove, then Rathbone escorted Shepherd to the remand block. 'How did it go?' asked Rathbone, as they walked along the secure corridor.

'He's optimistic,' said Shepherd.

'Yeah, well, they always say that as long as you're paying their bills,' said Rathbone.

'You're a cynical man, Craig,' said Shepherd.

'You get to be in this job,' he said. 'You never meet a guilty man in here. The excuses you hear. Framed by MI5 - get that at least once a week.'

They walked in silence for a while, Rathbone's thick-soled work shoes squeaking on the shiny linoleum floor.

'Can I ask you a question, Craig?' asked Shepherd, as they headed towards the remand block.

'Sure, as long as it's not geography,' said Rathbone. 'I'm crap at that.'

'Who runs the wing?'

Rathbone looked across at Shepherd. 'You mean Tony Stafford?'

'You know what I mean. Who's top dog among the prisoners?'

'You're all equal under the sun,' said Rathbone.

'Yeah, that's great in theory, but it's not how it really works, is it?' said Shepherd. 'You know Digger, right?'

'Ah, the delightful Mr Tompkins. He's got his claws into you, has he?'

'He said he could get me sorted with the canteen until my money comes through.'

'Yeah, well, be careful. Neither a borrower nor a lender be, is the best advice I can give you.'

'Why do they call him Digger?'

Rathbone chuckled. 'He was supposed to have done double murder a few years back,' he said. 'Got rid of two Yardies who were encroaching on his turf. Never got caught and told everyone he'd buried them with a JCB.'

'What's he in for now?'

'A single murder this time. Shot another Yardie point-blank. Did a runner but got nailed by forensics. Seriously, be careful, yeah?'

'Everyone tells me he runs the spur. If not the block.'

'Do they, now?'

'Said that anything I need, he can get for me.'

'I'd like to see him get you out of here.'

'You know what I mean, Craig. Thing is, I don't want to start asking favours of the wrong people.'

'You wouldn't be trying to pull a fast one on me, would you, Macdonald?'

'What do you mean?'

'Maybe you see yourself as top dog and want to know who you have to take out.'

'Furthest thing from my mind,' said Shepherd. 'Besides, what's the point of being the big man on a remand wing? The population's always changing.'

'There's still money to be made, though.'

'If you know what he's doing, why don't you do something about it?'

Rathbone grinned sarcastically. 'Me, you mean?'

'The authorities. The governor.'

'You're not that naive, Macdonald. You know how it works here.'

'First time inside, remember?'

'Yeah, I wonder about that. You might not have a record, but you've slotted right in.'

'Just because I'm not sobbing into my pillow at night doesn't mean I'm enjoying myself,' said Shepherd.

They reached the door to the spur and Rathbone opened it. He held it so that Shepherd couldn't walk through. 'You seem like a nice guy, Bob, so a word to the wise, yeah? Don't even think about going up against Digger. He's a mad bastard. He'll be Cat A for his whole sentence, pretty much, so he's got nothing to lose. When he's done his time he'll be deported. He doesn't have British citizenship so it's back to sunny Jamaica when he's an old man.'

'I hear what you're saying,' said Shepherd.

Rathbone moved his arm and let Shepherd through.

'How do I apply for a visit?'

'Family or legal?'

'Family. My wife. And kid.'

'I thought your wife was divorcing you.'

Shepherd didn't like the way that everything he said or did in the prison seemed to become common knowledge within hours. 'Yeah, but we've got things to discuss,' he said.

Rathbone frowned. 'With your kid there?'

'I've not seen my boy for weeks.'

'You must miss him.'

'Yeah.' Shepherd wished Rathbone would stop talking about his family, but he thought the officer was just trying to be friendly. Cutting the conversation short might offend him.

'Is she definite about wanting a divorce?'

'That's what the governor said. I'll know more once I've seen her.'

'You should ask for a compassionate visit,' said Rathbone. 'That way the other cons can't hear what's being said. I'm sure the governor'll approve it, under the circumstances.'

Rathbone took Shepherd downstairs to the ones and showed him the visitor application forms. He helped Shepherd fill one out, put it into a box labelled 'Outgoing Mail and Visit Applications', then took him back up to the twos.

'If you need a Listener, Bob, just shout,' said Rathbone.

'Thanks, but I'm not suicidal,' said Shepherd.

'The Listeners aren't just for suicides,' said Rathbone. 'They're there to talk through any problems you have.