Free Jail Bird by Jessie Keane

mean, you found them all. But have you still got their details on file?’ she asked him.
    ‘Twelve, thirteen years ago?’ He shook his head. ‘Unlikely. I don’t even remember that far back. Or not much, anyway. There was a nurses’ hostel, maybe. Something involving nurses, anyway. I’ve thought about it, racked my brains, but no good.’
    Shit.
    She wondered whether he was telling the truth. If he had to find them all over again, it could be costly for her, and a nice little earner for him. Being in the nick made you doubt people. Made you cover your own arse at all times.
    ‘You bullshitting me?’ she asked him bluntly.
    Again that glint of humour. ‘I wouldn’t dare, Mrs King. You blew your husband’s head off. You’ve just got out of stir. You’ve got a face on you like the wrath of God. Do you think I’d want to upset you?’
    Lily looked at him. Their eyes locked. He didn’t look the type of man to be fearful of anything, much less a shabby-looking blonde. She’d always thought she was a good judge of people, but fuck it, look where that had got her. But…she thought she could trust him. Just a bit. Maybe. But she had to keep her guard up, keep any hint of weakness hidden away.
    ‘Could you find them again?’ she asked. ‘Could you get me their names – which might be different now, I suppose. And maybe their old addresses?’
    ‘The woman I worked for…she was mentioned in the court case, wasn’t she?’
    Lily nodded. ‘Adrienne Thomson’s an old friend of mine, we go way back.’
    He let out his breath. ‘You want to choose your friends a bit more carefully, Mrs King.’
    Don’t I bloody well know it.
    ‘I’ll need a down payment, get me started. Three hundred ought to do it.’
    ‘Dream on,’ said Lily. ‘I’m short of readies right now.’ And no way was she going cap in hand to Becks, not now.
    ‘I’ve got to live, Mrs King,’ he said, his eyes still holding hers. ‘I’ve got exes, just like everyone else. And I’ve got to say, no cash, no deal.’
    ‘I didn’t say I couldn’t get some,’ said Lily. ‘Soon, anyway.’
    ‘Soon? Like, when?’
    ‘Like a few days’ time.’ And she wasn’t looking forward to that event, not at all.
    ‘Are you bullshitting me, Mrs King?’
    ‘I never bullshit, Mr Rackland. Never.’ Her eyes were steady on his. ‘Do you believe me?’
    He was silent, his eyes searching her face. ‘You know what?’ he said finally. ‘Funnily enough, I do. Which might make me a fucking fool or a sucker for a pretty face, but there you go.’
    ‘Are you married, Mr Rackland?’
    ‘Jack. Call me Jack. We’re separated, me and Monica.’
    ‘Who cheated? You, or her?’
    He paused for a beat, looked down, away. ‘Her,’ hesaid. ‘Said I was working too much, didn’t pay her enough attention.’
    ‘Hurts like fuck, don’t it?’ Lily smiled grimly. ‘But not as much as being banged up for something you didn’t do. Not as much as losing your husband, and your home, and your kids, and doing twelve long damned years for something someone else did.’
    ‘Are you really saying you didn’t do it?’
    ‘Got it in one.’
    He let out a low whistle. ‘If that’s true…if that happened to me…’ He shook his big head, leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees.
    ‘Yeah, what?’
    His head came round and his eyes met hers. ‘I’d want to kill some bastard. And I’d make it nice and slow.’
    ‘Jack,’ said Lily, ‘I do believe we’re reading from the same page.’
    He nodded and stood up. ‘You’ll get me those contact details? Then I’ll get on it. I can wait a week for the money, no longer. Then I’m dropping this like a hot potato, that’s a promise.’
    ‘I think that’s fair,’ said Lily. She stood up too. They shook hands. ‘I’ll be in touch.’
    He turned and walked away, back across the park.
    Lily paused there, looking at the happy scene in the paddling pool. Happy kids. Her kids would be dancing at Saz’s