Chapter One
Colin lay on his prison bed, staring up at the ceiling. He had never in all his life felt as depressed and worthless as he did now. All he wanted was to be left alone in his
one-man cell on West wing at Barfield Prison. His thoughts were cut into by the sound of the cell door being unlocked.
‘Come along, Colin, you need to get your stuff together. It’s time to move over to East wing and meet your new cellmate,’ Officer Reardon said with a big smile as he entered
the cell.
Colin rolled over and turned away from Officer Reardon, who sat down on the end of the bed.
‘You can’t let prison life get to you like this, Colin. I know you’re deeply upset, but the Governor’s not going to change his mind about your day release to be with
Karen for the baby’s birth. If you want someone to blame about being moved to another wing, then I can tell you that it was down to me.’
Colin, shocked by what he had just heard, turned and looked at Officer Reardon. ‘Why? Why do you have to move me? I’m not doing anything wrong and all I want is to be left alone.
There’s no crime in that, is there?’
‘No, but I’m trying to help, not hinder, you, Colin. You haven’t been eating properly or taking part in prison activities for nearly a month. You’ve shut yourself off and
that’s not good for your health, for your body or your mind. Having a cellmate will give you someone to talk to and help get you back on your feet again.’
Colin let out a big sigh. ‘But I don’t need anyone else to talk to, Mr Reardon.’
‘OK, here’s the deal. Give it a couple of weeks and see how it goes. Your new cellmate is called Barry. He’s a nice young lad like you and he’s looking forward to a bit
of company. But, if it doesn’t work out, I will get you moved back here. How’s that sound?’
Colin still wasn’t happy about moving, but he liked and respected Officer Reardon. In fact, not one of the inmates on West wing had a bad word to say about Mr Reardon. He was experienced
and kind-hearted, and he often helped to make prison life bearable. Colin got up off the bed and started to remove the blanket and sheets to take with him.
‘Good lad, Colin. I’ll do that while you get your wash kit and other bits together.’ Officer Reardon patted him on the back before starting to fold the blanket. Colin was ready
to go after putting his few personal belongings in a clear plastic bag.
Colin Burrows was twenty-two years old and had two years to go before he had any chance of release on parole. He had pleaded guilty to burglary and handling stolen goods at the
Crown court. The judge had granted him bail, but stupidly Colin went on the run. During the time it took police to find him, he had met and fallen in love with a beautiful and generous girl called
Karen.
Karen had made him happier than he had been in his whole life. They got together when he found work as a painter and decorator for her father’s small company, where she was a secretary.
Because of Karen, and her family’s support, he had been determined to go straight. They had been living together in Karen’s two-bedroom flat in Croydon for a year when she agreed to
marry him. A month after their small wedding, she had proudly told him she was pregnant. They were both thrilled, and had just set about decorating the box room as a nursery when the police came
knocking at the door.
Colin’s re-arrest had really shocked him. As the months had passed he had come to believe that the police had given up looking for him. Karen and her father had stood by him but they
didn’t know that Colin had previous convictions for petty theft. The judge took no notice of his having a job, his marriage to Karen or the fact she was pregnant. He was sentenced to a total
of four years in prison.
Depression at the prison sentence had almost crushed Colin and he was shattered at being separated from Karen. He was relieved that she was still sticking by him and was
Colin lay on his prison bed, staring up at the ceiling. He had never in all his life felt as depressed and worthless as he did now. All he wanted was to be left alone in his
one-man cell on West wing at Barfield Prison. His thoughts were cut into by the sound of the cell door being unlocked.
‘Come along, Colin, you need to get your stuff together. It’s time to move over to East wing and meet your new cellmate,’ Officer Reardon said with a big smile as he entered
the cell.
Colin rolled over and turned away from Officer Reardon, who sat down on the end of the bed.
‘You can’t let prison life get to you like this, Colin. I know you’re deeply upset, but the Governor’s not going to change his mind about your day release to be with
Karen for the baby’s birth. If you want someone to blame about being moved to another wing, then I can tell you that it was down to me.’
Colin, shocked by what he had just heard, turned and looked at Officer Reardon. ‘Why? Why do you have to move me? I’m not doing anything wrong and all I want is to be left alone.
There’s no crime in that, is there?’
‘No, but I’m trying to help, not hinder, you, Colin. You haven’t been eating properly or taking part in prison activities for nearly a month. You’ve shut yourself off and
that’s not good for your health, for your body or your mind. Having a cellmate will give you someone to talk to and help get you back on your feet again.’
Colin let out a big sigh. ‘But I don’t need anyone else to talk to, Mr Reardon.’
‘OK, here’s the deal. Give it a couple of weeks and see how it goes. Your new cellmate is called Barry. He’s a nice young lad like you and he’s looking forward to a bit
of company. But, if it doesn’t work out, I will get you moved back here. How’s that sound?’
Colin still wasn’t happy about moving, but he liked and respected Officer Reardon. In fact, not one of the inmates on West wing had a bad word to say about Mr Reardon. He was experienced
and kind-hearted, and he often helped to make prison life bearable. Colin got up off the bed and started to remove the blanket and sheets to take with him.
‘Good lad, Colin. I’ll do that while you get your wash kit and other bits together.’ Officer Reardon patted him on the back before starting to fold the blanket. Colin was ready
to go after putting his few personal belongings in a clear plastic bag.
Colin Burrows was twenty-two years old and had two years to go before he had any chance of release on parole. He had pleaded guilty to burglary and handling stolen goods at the
Crown court. The judge had granted him bail, but stupidly Colin went on the run. During the time it took police to find him, he had met and fallen in love with a beautiful and generous girl called
Karen.
Karen had made him happier than he had been in his whole life. They got together when he found work as a painter and decorator for her father’s small company, where she was a secretary.
Because of Karen, and her family’s support, he had been determined to go straight. They had been living together in Karen’s two-bedroom flat in Croydon for a year when she agreed to
marry him. A month after their small wedding, she had proudly told him she was pregnant. They were both thrilled, and had just set about decorating the box room as a nursery when the police came
knocking at the door.
Colin’s re-arrest had really shocked him. As the months had passed he had come to believe that the police had given up looking for him. Karen and her father had stood by him but they
didn’t know that Colin had previous convictions for petty theft. The judge took no notice of his having a job, his marriage to Karen or the fact she was pregnant. He was sentenced to a total
of four years in prison.
Depression at the prison sentence had almost crushed Colin and he was shattered at being separated from Karen. He was relieved that she was still sticking by him and was
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