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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
ANOTHER ROUTE MARCH down another corridor, but this time the line of prisoners was moving a little quicker. No inmate wants to miss one second of a visit. At the end of this corridor was a large waiting room with a wooden bench fixed to the wall. There followed another long wait before prisoners' names began to be called out. Da
It was nearly an hour before the name "Cartwright" was a
Once the search was over, the officer placed a yellow sash around Da
Seven lines of tables and chairs were set out in long rows, marked A to G. The prisoners had to sit on red chairs that were bolted to the floor. Their visitors sat on the other side of a table on green chairs, also bolted to the floor, making it easier for the security staff to carry out surveillance, assisted by several CCTV cameras whirring above them. As Da
She leaped up the moment she saw him. Da
"She's beautiful," he said as he took Christy in his arms. He looked up at Beth. "I'm going to get out of here before she ever finds out her father was in jail."
"How are-"
"When did-" They both began to speak at once.
"Sorry," said Da
Beth looked surprised. "Why are you speaking so slowly?"
Da
"Nick is teaching me to read and write," he told her. "And Big Al is showing me how to survive in prison." He waited to see how Beth would react.
"How lucky you were to end up in that cell."
Da
"Some of the locals are collecting signatures for a petition to have you released, and Da
Da
He wanted to hold Christy, but she'd fallen asleep in Beth's arms. The sight of his child only made him more determined to learn to read and write. He wanted to be able to answer all of Mr. Redmayne's questions so that he would be ready for his appeal and to surprise Beth by replying to her letters.
"All visitors must now leave," a
Da
"Goodbye, my darling," said Beth when he eventually released her.
"Goodbye," said Da
"You can't exchange anything while you're on a visit, Cartwright."
"But it's only-" began Da
"No buts. It's time for you to leave, Miss."
Da
"I must get out of here," he said out loud.
The officer unfolded the note and read the first words Da
"Short back and sides?" asked Louis as the next customer took his place in the barber's chair.
"No," whispered Da
"It'll cost you," said Louis.
"How much?"
"Same as Nick, ten fags a month."
Da
The barber smiled as Da
Louis walked slowly around the chair, occasionally stopping to take a closer look before he offered an opinion.
"First thing you'll have to do is let your hair grow and wash it two or three times a week," he said. "Nick never has a hair out of place, and his cut is slightly at the nape of the neck," he added, as he came to a halt behind him. "You'll also need to shave every day. And cut your sideboards a lot higher if you want to look like a gent." After another perambulation, he added, "Nick parts his hair on the left, not the right, so that's the first change I'll have to make. And his hair's a shade lighter than yours, but nothing a little lemon juice won't take care of."
"How long will all this take?" asked Da
"Six months, no longer. But I'll need to see you at least once a month," he added.
"I'm not going anywhere," said Da
"Shrewd fellow, your lawyer," said Louis, throwing a green sheet around Da