Simon, Andrew, Chris Here's Chapter 25. It's taken a while, but I've been doing it bit by bit. Sorry, I've forgotten the brief notes which accompany it. I'll post them tomorrow. But I thought I'd better let you read the story right away, and so that Simon can get everything sorted out for his chapter. I'm afraid that for the meantime, this will be the last chapter I'll be able to do. We're coming up to the busy time of year, and 'm having to cut down my Internet activity (!). When shall we be wrapping things up for the year again? Is there going to be an end-of-year cliffhanger (in true Prissie spirit)? I'd still like to keep track though of all the discussion, so don't take me off the RR list yet... Well, without further a-do.... CHAPTER 25 Sunday 20th November 1983 It had been a long night in Wentworth Detention Centre. The chaos started just before lights out when Officer Radcliffe had ended her shift and gone home befroe realising that she'd forgotten to report back to Joan that she hadn't found Dot Farrow. She'd phoned up from her house. Joan was furious at Radcliffe's guffaw starting moaning to everyone about the incompetence of her staff. Joan sounded the escape alarm after a hastily arranged search of the prison by all available staff failed to reveal Dot's whereabouts. Joan left it to Officer Dunlop to organise a full search of the prison by the first morning shift. Joan had been in the prison on a double shift and was in no mood to hang around the prison for any longer than necessary, especially to cover for the mistakes of Paula Radcliffe. *** 10am Sunday morning found Acting Governor Steve Smythe sitting at the desk in the Governor's Office wading through piles of inmate records. He knew why he'd been placed in Wentworth and it was part of his task to get up to speed with all the inmates quickly. He couldn't have them taking advantage of him. He flipped closed the file of Beverley Baker, one of the new inmates. Now, she was an interesting case. He'd been intrigued by her since she had visited him the previous day to demand a cell change. He of course had told her where to go, but with Farrow missing, he was beginning to wonder if he'd been a little hasty in his decision making. He'd never, in his career, come across someone who was so keen to admit to killing people. On his desk also lay the police report into the poisoning incident. The investigating officers had concluded that traces of the same rat poison used in Ann Reynolds' morning tea had been found in the bloodstream of Dot Farrow before she had mysteriously disappeared from the Infirmary. Smythe had earlier perused the file of Edna Pearson. She'd been convicted of murdering her husband by poisoning him. All the pieces were fitting together nicely. It was becoming less and less of a co-incidence that there had been a mysterious outbreak of food poisoning in B Block two weeks ago. And four weeks before that, a prisoner had been taken to hospital with a severe bout of vomiting. In fact, there were numerous incidents of unexplained illnesses dating back to around the time when Pearson had been inducted back in June. Steve was confident he was closing in on his poisoner. He was interrupted from his deliberations by the thud of pacey footsteps. He looked up as Patrick Dunlop ran into his office at full speed. "They've found Farrow. She's dead!" Patrick told Steve. Steve's face dropped. He'd only been in charge of Wentworth for a day, and he knew miracles couldn't be expected of him. But yet another Wentworth dead body would not look good on his record. The place was definitely out of control. "Where was she?" "In the library." "For God's sakes. I thought there was a search last night!" "There was. But they obviously didn't noticed her. She was hanging quite high from the roof. God knows how whoever did it got her up there. There must have been more than one of them_" "Poisoned?" "No." "She's all in one piece though?" "Yes." "Well, at least we know it's not the work of Baker. She has threatened, but that's not her style. A corpse is usually a body part or two short when they find her victims_" *** Around the prison, word had spread like wildfire of Dot's unfortunate demise. Callously, Alice, Frances and Lorna Young had an all-out celebration, glad to be rid of the old woman. Judy and the rest of the inmates of Cell Block H were naturally upset. As for the reaction from Lorna, Alice and Frances - well, everyone just ignored them. If they had a brain between them, they might frighten. But as it stood, they were lacking in the leadership department since Lou Kelly had taken the long journey upstairs, and they were a threat to no-one. Bev Baker sat contentedly in her cell. Edna Pearson, her cell mate, sat on her bed, crocheting. Bev rose slowly from her bunk, walked coolly across and sat down beside Edna. The poisoner continued with her work. "I'm quite surprised and upset, Edna, that it's taken them so long to find that old chook's body. Really, for a while they ever had me wondering if I'd actually done it_" Bev sighed, "Did you believe me?" Edna did not directly respond to Bev's question, but continued to crochet. She finished the part she was working on before acknowledging Bev's presence. "And who'd have thought that someone would try to poison the Governor," Edna drawled, "What's this place coming to?" Edna was a woman of few words. Even those two sentences strung together was an enormous effort. Reports from B Block were that her lack of words made her even more of a mystery woman and it was that exactly which made her seem frightening. It couldn't, of course, be put down to her physical presence. She was as likely to scare as Pixie Mason was. She was a petite woman, seemed to be early in her fifties. She stood with her back slightly arched over. She was tediously thin, with short, permed greying hair. She spoke slowly and politely with few words, of course. She seemed to creep through the corridors rather than walk. She didn't make friends easily. In fact, she had the uncanny knack of managing to ostracise people without even uttering a word. "I know what you mean, Edna. Heads will have to roll_and I know just which one I'd like to see go next_will you help me?" Bev propositioned Edna. "What's in it for me?" "Well, I've figured out how you really do enjoy experimenting with your mixtures," Bev paused to think. "Tell you what_you can poison `em_and I'll kill `em! Deal?" Edna turned away from her crocheting and looked at the psychopathic Baker. Baker had a glint in her eye. A wicked glint. "Okay, deal. I get first choice though_" "Whatever you say. Who are you going for?" Edna smiled ever so slightly as she mouthed the name. "Jenkins." Bev smirked. *** 10pm When Joan came back on for the nightshift, her first task was to release Alana Thomas from solitary. "All right Thomas," Joan said as she entered Alana's solitary cell, "That's your time up. Now you join the circus_" "How long was I expected to stay in here? I thought it was only 24 hours_I've been here 28." "You're lucky I haven't left you here any longer, Thomas. If I had my way, I'd leave you here for your entire sentence_but don't worry, I wouldn't do that because I've got special plans for you. You're going to regret messing with me last night. Nice woman like you_what were you thinking of? You must have known you couldn't possibly match me. And I've got all the time I want to exact my revenge. Tell you what_I'd be prepared to forgive and forget if you want to do me a favour." "You can go jump. I've never been in a place like this before, but I can imagine how it works. And I've got no intentions of enduring the wrath of those women. I don't know what any of them have done, but I'm certain they're capable of things ten times worse than you are_" Joan shrugged. "Suit yourself. I thought you'd want to be on the winning team_" "Thought wrong then, didn't you!" *** Monday 21st November 1983, 8am The women turned their heads to look as the new inmate walked into the dining room at breakfast. Alana Thomas had mercy-killed her terminally ill mother in circumstances quite similar to those in which Judy had killed Hazel. Neither had the murdering inclination, but when it came to the crunch, they couldn't bear to see friends and loved-ones suffer any more. Alana strutted up to the queue, standing behind Alice. Alice turned around to face Alana. "G'day. You must be Thomas_I'm Alice Jenkins, but you can call me Lurch_" "Good to meet you Lurch," Alana replied politely, pushing her mid-length blonde hair behind her ears. Alice turned back around again when she found herself lacking in follow-up conversation. Alana Thomas was a tall woman in her early-thirties. She had come from the right side of the tracks, but fickle finger of fate had intervened in her happy life. Now, Alana was going to have to make the most of the difficult circumstances in which she found herself. She collected her porridge and walked towards a table. Judy managed to attract her attention and signalled her to join her table. Alana was happy to oblige. They was only one spare seat at the table, so she sat down at it, opposite Judy. "Hi, I'm Judy Bryant," Judy introduced herself, thrusting her hand forward. Alana shook the American's hand. Judy started to introduce all the other women at the table. "That's Rabbit, Shirley and Pixie," pointing to each of the prisoners in turn. "Don't worry `bout remembering my name, Alana," said Marlene, "'cos hopefully, I'm not gonna be here for much longer_" Judy explained. "Rabbit's due for parole tomorrow. Hopefully, she should get it_" Alana wished Marlene all the best, "Fingers crossed then, eh Rabbit!" "Yeah!" Marlene agreed, excitedly. "You know, as a remand prisoner, you get the choice of working or not," Judy informed Alana, "If you take my advice, kid, you'll work. There's no fun in hanging around this place with nothing to do." "Okay then, Judy. I'll bear that in mind. Say, where can you work, then?" "Well, there's the kitchen, cleaning duties_or if you're really unlucky, you'll end up in the laundry. But as I said, it's better than hanging around in the block. You never know who'll pay you a visit_" "Well, one person I don't want to exchange small talk with again is that Officer Ferguson_" "The Freak, you mean!" Rabbit interjected. "Is that what you call her?" "Yeah. You don't wanna mess with her," Rabbit added. "Oh, well. I think I've already done that_" Alana sighed. "What did you do," asked Judy. "I slapped her." Rabbit nearly choked on the spoonful of porridge she'd hastily pushed into her mouth. Judy's face dropped.. "What happened *then*?" asked Judy. "She threatened me. But then she asked me if I wanted to help her." "Never deal with the Freak, Alana." "Well, that's what I thought you guys would say. So I told her where to stick her deals_" Rabbit cheered. "Quieten down over there!" shouted Officer Dunlop, who was watching over the women in the dining room. "Sorry, Mr D." Rabbit shouted. *** 10am It was work time and Judy watched Alana walk into the laundry. "Guess you ended up with the short straw, then, huh?" Judy joked. "Yes, Officer Radcliffe's told me to come here to help you guys_" Alana replied. "Well, the more pairs of hands we have, the faster we get the work done," sighed Judy, "Tell you what, you can help Pixie folding sheets." Judy pointed over to wear Pixie stood, pink bows in her hair. Judy smiled at her. *** Alana had spent the day in observation, watching closely everything that was going on within the prison. She had decided that if this was where she was going to be spend the next God-knows how many years, she was going to fit in and make life as bearable as possible. After requesting work, being placed in the laundry was a bit of an advantage because it enabled her to sample the prison hierarchy at first hand. She watched how Judy stood at the press nearly all the time, and gave the women their tasks. She observed as Judy told the women when it was "smoko" time, and how, when Judy went to the toilet, no-one dared touch the press. So, thought Alana, strangely enough, the overweight gentle American Judy was their leader, and the laundry press the seat of power. Oh, well, she guessed everywhere had its own individual symbolism. She wondered to herself why Judy was the leader of a group of women in a prison, when she seemed so_nice? But she didn't ask questions. She was bidding her time_and she was sure the answers would come out if she just quietly observed all that was going on around her. *** Tuesday 22nd November 1983 11am Rabbit sat in front of the Parole Board and Acting Governor Steve Smythe. She looked down at her palms - they were all sweaty. She felt like someone was about to grill her - yes, that would be nice, grilled rabbit. She managed a chuckle to herself. Luckily, she managed to keep it to herself - couldn't have the parole board thinking she was making a mockery of them. "Well, Miss Warren. We have taken into consideration all the evidence. And I guess you'll have Governor Reynolds to thank for the glowing report that's swung our verdict. We have decided that you have sufficiently rehabilitated yourself and you will be a parolee as of tomorrow morning." Marlene jumped up from her seat. She couldn't believe it. Matt would be due for parole within the month and they could fulfil their dream of escaping the confines of the dreadful city for the freedom of the bush. "Thank you all!" Marlene said sincerely to the members of the Parole Board, who were most gratified that a prisoner had actually taken the opportunity to thank them, rather than cursing them for taking so long to release them in the first place. Either that, or various obscenities in the case of a negative verdict. The lady to the right of the Chairman smiled. "You may go now, Warren. But we don't want to see you again. Do you understand?" "Oh, don't you worry. Now I'm getting out, I'm never coming back. Not ever! I won't even pick a penny up off the street. And if I do, I'll give it to the nuns!" Marlene turned towards the door. She opened it and saw Mrs Reynolds waiting outside. "Mrs R!" Marlene hugged Anne. Anne had a look of surprise on her face, clearly embarrassed as the Parole Board watched the proceedings. "Warren, calm down. Or they'll have you back on a charge for strangulation!" Anne joked. Marlene let go quickly, with a worried look. "Don't worry, Warren. I'm only teasing." "Don't do that, Mrs R. Like I said to the Board, I ain't never coming back here again. I'm gonna be a model citizen from now on_" "I have no doubts about your sincerity, Marlene. Make sure you and Matt make a go of it" *** Joan stood in front of Smythe awaiting instructions in the Governor's Office. "Officer Ferguson. Would you go to B Block and fetch the prisoner Briggs. I'm moving her to H Block. She'd right in the middle of the conflict in B Block. Briggs' move to H Block might settle things down a bit there_" "With all due respect, Governor, how do you know she won't create just as much conflict in H Block?" "I'm new here, Ferguson. And you may not agree entirely with my actions now. But give me a chance, and you'll see I know what I'm doing. I'm you want a proper penal facility as you profess, you'll do well to see how I work." "Where shall I put her?" "Move her into the empty cell in H Block. The one Keane and Desmond were in." "What about when those two come back?." "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For the moment, though, Briggs goes in." *** Bobbie lay in the darkened room. She'd counted she'd been there three days now. She'd figured it was Tuesday. She just wished to God that Myra and Reb would hurry up and find Simpkins. Where had they got to? Lying low, she imagined. Best for them to wait to get the heat off themselves. Give themselves time to make a plan to get Simpkins. She closed her eyes again feeling frightened. She didn't have an religious inclination, but she just prayed. For she wondered how much longer this could go on_ *************************************** "He used to give me roses_" *************************************** Comments, gentlemen... ****************************** "So what are my chances Of honest advances? I'd say low Better to win By admitting my sin Than to lose with a halo..." ****************************** Eva from "Waltz for Che and Eva"