Page 85 of Dying Truth

‘And how’s she been?’ Kim asked as Officer Katie Parkes appeared behind the desk.

‘Inspector Stone,’ she greeted, warmly. ‘Nice to see you again.’

Yes, the warden had kept her visit very secret indeed. Even from the staff.

‘Officer Parkes will fill you in,’ he said, checking his watch. ‘But, I really have to get on.’

‘Thank you,’ she said, nodding her understanding.

Parkes came from behind the desk, and Kim noted that she’d lost a few pounds. Her uniform no longer strained in all the wrong places, and her hair was tidily pulled back to reveal clear skin and fresh eyes.

‘You’re looking well,’ she observed.

Katie Parkes had been the recipient of Alex’s manipulation, resulting in trouble for herself. Alex had used the guard’s recent pregnancy to gain sympathy and a mobile phone. Tired and emotional from the challenges of being a new, single mum Parkes hadn’t stood a chance and had found herself trapped and blackmailed for trying to be sympathetic and helpful. Typical traits of Alexandra Thorne were to turn someone’s humanity against them.

‘I’m very well, thank you,’ she said, brightly, leading the way along the familiar route.

‘And how’s our prisoner been behaving?’

Parkes shook her head. ‘You know Alex. Always trying to get a rise out of someone. Got her own little bunch of cronies led by her cellmate, a kid called Emma Mitchell, who hangs off her every word.’

‘Is there anything in particular that—’ Kim began to ask and then stopped herself. She’d been in the prison less than ten minutes and was already becoming embroiled in Alex’s world, fearing for the safety of everyone she came into contact with.

‘We keep a close eye,’ Parkes said, knowingly.

Kim wished that she felt reassured, and she didn’t doubt the diligence of the staff, but she knew Alex. And much as she would love to keep a permanent eye on the woman there were others that needed her attention more.

Hence the reason for her visit.

Kim felt her heart rate quicken as she approached the entrance to the visitor’s room. She almost faltered as she heard Alex’s familiar voice.

‘Officer Parkes, is that you? Are you bringing me my surp—’ Alex’s words trailed away as Kim stepped into view.

In a nanosecond Alex’s irritation turned to confusion followed by a slow smile of pleasure that spread across her face.

‘Mitchell, out you come,’ Parkes said to the girl sitting on the tabletop next to Alex.

‘Up yours, Parkes,’ she said, looking to Alex for guidance.

Alex didn’t even glance in her direction.

‘Get lost, Emma,’ she said.

The girl waited for a couple of seconds as though she’d misheard, but Alex’s gaze didn’t falter as she appraised Kim.

The girl huffed and offered Kim a murderous expression.

Kim wondered if this was the girl’s first experience of being dismissed by her idol. She was sure it wouldn’t be the last.

‘Kim, how lovely to see you,’ Alex said pleasantly, as though they’d met for coffee only last week.

The woman looked exactly as she had the last time they’d met. Her blonde hair was tied back in a loose ponytail exposing a face that was stunning despite the absence of expensive cosmetics. The icy blue eyes were fixed on her, and Kim offered her a smile as she sat.

‘Those additional ten years look good on you, Alex,’ Kim said. It had been almost two years since her initial sentence and the additional time deemed it unlikely she’d see freedom before her fiftieth birthday. And that was the price you paid for attempting to murder the people that stood in the way of your appeal.

Kim had learned long ago that the best form of defence with Alex was attack.

‘Were you missing me?’ Alex asked, ignoring her jibe. ‘I could always send you a weekly visiting—’