‘Look, can we have this conversation somewhere out of the public eye? Get in the car – we’ll talk at the Hall.’
‘Ooh, the Hall,’ said Jason’s mother. ‘It’s been a while. No, let me give my own son a hug. Thank you!’
Jason submitted to a quick squeeze, then sloped into the back seat of the car, keeping his head down as they drove off through the predictable phalanx.
The same predictable phalanx met them outside the Hall, but the three of them hurried past and into safety.
‘Now,’ said Jenna, shutting the world outside. ‘I think we could all use a drink.’
‘How did you swing it?’ Jason was first to speak, taking a glass of red wine and sitting down at the kitchen table. ‘I thought I were in for a five-stretch, minimum.’
‘It was Kayley. She knew the details of the raid, and Mia and Lawrence’s part in it.’
‘She knew more than I did, then. What happened? Attack of the guilty conscience?’
‘Pretty much, yeah.’
He stared into the glass. ‘I’d hoped Mia might …’
‘Well, she’s being questioned, right now. I can’t see her sticking to Harville’s story.’
‘So she’ll go down?’
‘I don’t know. Possibly. Probably.’
He swished his wine around in the glass, his dark eyes fixed on it as if hypnotised.
‘Have you ever put in way more than you’ve got out?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ replied both Jenna and Kathy.
He half-smiled at them.
‘That was me and Mia.’
‘That was me and you,’ said Kathy with an ironic little laugh.
‘That was me and, oh never mind,’ said Jenna. ‘You loved her more than she loved you. It happens. But it never stops hurting until you can take courage and move on.’
‘She didn’t deserve you,’ said Kathy, stoutly. ‘I never liked her.’
‘You never thought anyone deserved me,’ said Jason, patting his mother’s arm. ‘Did you?’
‘Well, I was right an’ all. You’re made of better stuff than that shower on the estate.’
‘So you were always saying,’ he replied. ‘But that’s what all mothers think, isn’t it?’
‘Not all of ’em have my grounds,’ she said, a tad darkly.
‘You are an astonishing talent,’ Jenna reminded him. ‘I saw some of your pictures on your mum’s wall. Amazing stuff.’
‘So,’ said Jason after a pause. ‘Harville’s inside now? Hope he’s got the same cell as me. My cell mate’s a big lad with a short fuse.’
‘It must have been awful for you.’
‘Not much different from school, to be honest. Most of the same people, even. Food was better.’