The Escape

Chapter two

The two inmates whispered together through the night. Barry told Colin that it was usual to be questioned by the prison officers before being taken to court. As part of the plan, Barry told Colin everything about his life, explaining that it was important to remember as many details as possible. Colin listened intently as Barry spoke about his brothers, his mother and his violent step-father, who had given him regular beatings. Worse still was the abuse Barry had suffered at various foster homes. Colin worried about being able to keep all the facts straight in his head, because one mistake could cause the escape to blow up in their faces.

As Colin went on listening, he thought it was no wonder that Barry didn’t want to leave the prison. After such a childhood, life inside was better. Barry said he was eager to further his education, and in prison he had the chance to do so.

He had begun art classes, and was showing great promise, so much so that he was allowed to keep a sketch-book, a variety of pencils and felt-tipped pens in his cell. Barry enjoyed copying pictures from magazines. He had never had such encouragement at home or school and, although he was a beginner, he was proud of his efforts. The prison art teacher had told him that, if he kept up his progress, he would be allowed to use acrylic paint and, in time, even oils.

The two cellmates became firm friends as they planned the switch, but time was running out. If the idea was to work, Colin had to feel certain he could take over Barry’s identity. As part of the plan they made a point of never being seen together, and they always ate separately. Barry stayed in their cell as much as possible, and always kept his back to the door when the officers looked through the sliding hatch.

Colin went over Barry’s life with him, again and again, so that he could answer any question Barry asked him about himself.

‘OK, so where did I go to school?’ Barry asked.

‘St Thomas’s.’

‘How many GCSEs did I get?’

‘None. You never sat any because you were expelled.’

Barry raised his hand. ‘You’re becoming a good me,’ he said, as they slapped their palms together in a high five.

They were both growing confident that they could pull it off. Eventually, Colin could recall all of Barry’s background, even down to aunts and uncles, addresses, dates of births and foster carers. They had left nothing out.

Colin was very careful not to mention anything to Karen when he spoke to her on the phone. She could sense that he was less depressed, and thought that he was now coping with their separation and prison life. She felt it was safe to tell him that she had asked the baby’s sex at a recent scan, and that they were going to have a beautiful boy. Colin was overjoyed at the news and excitedly told Barry. They were now even more determined to make the escape plan work, so Colin could be with Karen at the birth of their son.

Colin knew he’d be arrested again, and that his escape would put his chance of parole in danger. He decided that, as soon as he had held his newborn son in his arms, and had kissed Karen, he would give himself up at the local police station.

‘It’ll only be a couple of days as her due date is the day of my escape. I’ll convince the officers you had nothing to do with it. I’ll say it was all my idea and I learned all about you from sharing a cell.’

Barry grinned and gave him a big hug. He had never had such a close friend. In fact, he’d not even been friendly with his brothers as they were much younger. He was thrilled and felt that, for once, he wasn’t a Dumbo. Colin clearly liked him, and had been really appalled to hear about his abusive childhood. They agreed that, when both of them were finally released, they would stay friends. They even discussed working together painting and decorating.

‘I doubt my father-in-law will take me back on, so we could set up our own business together,’ Colin said.

‘That would be brilliant. We could do up kids’ rooms with, like, cartoon characters and stuff,’ Barry replied with enthusiasm.

‘Yeah, you draw them and then I paint them in. We could call our company BC designs.’

‘I’m so excited, Colin. I’ve never had anything named after me before.’