Sinbound

(42) Prison I

"I want her out of jail, Thomas!" Polly demands.

"I'm trying, Pol, but killing an inspector in her own prison cell is making it harder," Tommy responds, "it's not like I want her left in there either. She's not just your niece, she's my sister too."

"You're right, she's a whole lot more than just my niece," Polly states.

"It's been ensured she'll avoid the gallows," Tommy replies, "I'll keep trying, but brace yourself for that being the best outcome we might get."

"No," Polly says.

"No?" Tommy repeats.

"Why would I prepare myself for that?" Polly responds.

"Pol, listen to me, I am trying, I promise you that I am trying," Tommy states, "but I'd be lying if I said Alex wasn't in a lot of trouble, they've got her pinned for Vanessa and Arthur snr, now they've got her for a government agent, it was hard enough to get her off the death sentence, it's going to be harder to get them to release her."

"But you're trying?" Polly asks.

"Of course I'm trying, Pol," Tommy sighs, "Arthur is due to be released the day of Epsom."

-

"Shelby, you've got a visitor."

Handcuffs were slapped over her wrists at the doorway of her cell, a guard either side of her as she is escorted to the courtyard.

"Alex!" Melanie exclaims, rushing over to her when Alex steps outside.

Alex feels the young woman wrap her arms around her, and she lifts her cuffed hands over Melanie's head so she could hug her back.

"What are you doing here, Mel?" Alex asks, "how did you get let in?"

"The woman at the desk was very understanding when she heard of our tragic backstory," Melanie responds.

"Our tragic backstory?" Alex questions, looking down at her, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes, I'm a poor orphan from the streets of Birmingham who found refuge in the home of a scary gangster who adopted me and is now my legal guardian," Melanie responds, "you're all I have, all I've ever had."

"You lied to the receptionist," Alex states.

"There's some truth to it," Melanie replies, "I am technically an orphan, just not poor, and you are a scary gangster, you just didn't adopt me."

"I've missed you," Alex says, as Melanie rests her head on her shoulder, "I want you to come home, Lex, everyone's always in a bad mood, oh, and Grace is back, so no one has seen Tommy much."

"Grace is back?" Alex repeats, lifting her arms back over Melanie's head, so they were dangling in front of her.

"Yeah, her husband killed himself, she showed up at the Garrison in tears looking for Amari," Melanie states.

"Why Amari?"

"Because they used to be friends when they were working together, and then Tommy went to the pub, and saw Grace, and now I guess she's back," Melanie states, "Arthur is seeing a woman as well, nobody has met her yet. She's been getting him into religion."

"Arthur is religious?" Alex says slowly, "Arthur Shelby? My brother Arthur?"

"Yes," Mel nods.

"I bet Pollys loving that," Alex states, looking down at the floor momentarily, "how is Mar?"

"Oh, she's furious," Melanie says, watching a crestfallen look befall Alex, so she quickly clarifies, "not at you, gods no, she's angry that she can't do anything to help, that they're not letting her see you."