Free Bobby's Girl by Catrin Collier

warned.
    â€˜But—’
    â€˜This the first time you’ve been arrested?’
    â€˜Yes.’ She felt as though she was trapped in an Alice in Wonderland world where no one understood her. Either that or they didn’t believe a word she said.
    â€˜Stick close to me. If they allow us our free phone call, I’ll try to get us out of this mess.’
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜I know people.’
    â€˜Is that supposed to impress me?’
    â€˜It’s an offer to help by way of an apology.’
    â€˜First you mix me up in your protest and get me arrested; then you offer to help. Thank you very much.’ Even as she snapped, Penny knew she wasn’t being fair. He had saved her from being trampled. And she would have joined the protesters if Kate hadn’t stopped her. But sitting on a police bus listening to talk of guilty pleas, magistrates and courts had unnerved her.
    â€˜I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you. I’m Bobby by the way. Forgive me?’ Despite his obvious pain, he managed a crooked smile.
    â€˜Penny.’ She took the hand he offered.
    He didn’t shake it. Just squeezed it lightly and hung on to it. ‘ Come live with me and be my love, and we will all the pleasures prove .’
    â€˜That chat-up line was old when Marlowe wrote it.’
    â€˜Wonderful. You’re a lover of literature too. But I don’t think we should tell people we met at an anti-war protest that turned into a riot. Or exchanged names on a police bus after we’d been arrested.’
    â€˜That’s an even worse chat-up line.’
    â€˜It made you smile.’
    â€˜If my lips moved it was a grimace.’ She pulled her hand away. ‘You’re mad.’
    â€˜Possibly.’ He frowned. ‘If you weren’t protesting at the embassy what were you doing there?’
    â€˜Getting visas and work permits. We – that’s me and Kate, the girl who tried to give me a handkerchief – are going to America for the summer. If they’ll let me in after this.’
    â€˜What are you going to do there?’
    â€˜Work, see something of the country. Our students’ union has chartered a plane.’
    â€˜That’s great! I’ll show you around.’
    â€˜You’re here.’
    â€˜I won’t be for the summer. Which union?’
    â€˜Pardon?’
    â€˜Which students’ union has chartered the plane?’
    â€˜Swansea.’
    â€˜How long you going for?’
    â€˜Four months.’
    â€˜You got a job yet?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜I’ll help you get one …’
    â€˜Bow Street, lover boy.’ The officer with the bloody nose grabbed Bobby’s arm and yanked him past her and out of the seat. ‘Move, everyone!’ 

C HAPTER S EVEN
London, May 1968
    She wasn’t able to stick close to Bobby. Officers lined the route from the bus to the station door. They studied the faces of the students as they passed. More than half, Bobby among them, were picked out and led away.
    A group of girls, including her, were shepherded down a corridor by female police officers who confiscated their bags, coats, shoelaces, belts, cigarettes, matches, lighters, money and the entire contents of their pockets.
    When all the girls’ possessions had been collected, bagged and tagged, they were led into a room by the officers, who closed the door and stood in a line facing them.
    â€˜Strip!’
    She stared at the female officers in disbelief.
    One officer stepped forward. ‘Are you deaf or stupid? Strip!’
    She recognised the shrill voice of the girl on the bus. ‘And if we refuse, fascist sow?’
    â€˜We’ll send for the men.’
    One look at the female officers’ faces convinced her they weren’t joking. The girl standing alongside her started to unbutton her blouse.
    â€˜Hurry up! We haven’t all day.’
    Slowly, reluctantly, Penny pulled her sweater