Free Behind a Closed Door (The Estate, Book 2) by Mel Sherratt Page A

don’t want anyone to know about it. It’s a job I did on my own, so I don’t want Stevie and Michael finding out. They’ll only want a cut. And, I told you, it’s not safe in Matson’s hands.’
    ‘A cut of what?’ Kelly questioned further.
    ‘Never you mind.’
    ‘No, I won’t fetch it unless you tell me what –’
    ‘Just do it, Kel.’ Scott’s tone held a hint of menace. ‘I don’t –’
    Kelly stood up. ‘That’s why you wanted me to come and see you,’ she hissed. ‘You’re not bothered about me or Em.’
    Scott stood up too. ‘’Course I am, babe. This money’s for all of us, when I get out.’
    ‘Money?’
    ‘Yeah, I –’
    ‘How come I didn’t know about it?’
    ‘I’m telling you now!’
    The warden was on his way over again. Kelly turned to walk away. Scott reached up and lightly touched her arm.
    ‘Please, Kel, do this one thing. Remember the good times … didn’t I always look out for you … and Em?’
     

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Jay was waiting for Kelly in the prison car park. He noted her red eyes as soon as she opened the door.
    ‘I take it the visit didn’t go to plan?’ he remarked.
    Kelly buckled up her seatbelt and shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about it – least of all to a Kirkwell. Thankfully, Jay started the car and moved away from the building.
    How had she let this happen? She asked herself the same thing over and over as Jay drove back onto the motorway. Her partner – the man she loved – had shown his true colours today. He didn’t care about her. All he was bothered about was himself.
    She turned to Jay at last. ‘God, what a pushover I’ve been. Good old Kelly. Never one to make a fuss, always keeping the bloody peace. Fat lot of good that did me.’
    ‘This isn’t your fault,’ Jay replied.
    ‘Yeah, right. I should have been stronger, told him not to do that last job. I should have been more forceful, demand that he keep away from you and your bloody brothers. I should have told him –’
    Kelly stopped sharply before she let slip about the parcel. She turned away to look out of the window again.
    The landscape passed by in a blur. Kelly sensed that Jay wanted to carry on talking, but she wouldn’t let him. She couldn’t trust him – couldn’t trust any of Scott’s friends. And if she couldn’t trust Jay, why should she try to make him feel better?
    As they left Scott further and further behind, Kelly knew now that she would have to dig deeper to find the strength to rely on herself and herself only – regardless of whether she wanted to or not.
     
    Before she made her next visit to Kelly, Josie dropped into Mitchell Academy to fetch two prospectuses. She’d been pondering whether to get a qualification in counselling for some time now. It could possibly help her with her work but, more importantly, it might make her find out more about herself. However, there was one thing stopping her – or rather, one person. Stewart – Josie knew he’d hardly be pleased with the prospect of his wife being away from home for another night a week, even if it was only for two hours at a time. When he was working on the late shift, most nights he would ring to see if she was at home. It made her feel like a prisoner on a tag clocking on with her probationer.
    No, Josie decided there and then that she was going to do this. She’d just have to think of something to throw Stewart off the scent.
    Ten minutes later, she knocked on Kelly’s front door. When she answered, Josie realised in dismay that Kelly had made more of an effort than she had. Fully made up, she wore dark jeans and a fashionable red sweatshirt. Consciously, Josie closed her coat to hide the fact that, to Kelly, with her extensive and stylish wardrobe, she would look like she only had a few outfits to her name.
    ‘You must be psychic,’ said Kelly, strangely glad to see Josie. ‘I was about to flick the kettle on.’
    Once upstairs, Josie’s eyes swept over the living room,