Read Online Behind a Closed Door (The Estate, Book 2) by Mel Sherratt - Free Book Online Page B

up again and took a breather. She held on to the steering wheel to stop her hands from shaking.
    That bloody family. Who the hell did they think they were? She felt frustration rip through her. She was no match for them. They knew every benefit scam, every way to beat the system. Their father was no better; Pete Bradley was a complete layabout. Josie wondered if he’d ever done a day’s legal work in his life.
    The worst thing was, that was just the one house. Gina’s mum and dad lived two doors further down. Three doors after that was Leah Simpson, Gina’s younger sister. Stanley Avenue was overrun with that family because no one else wanted to live near any of the Bradleys.
     Josie’s nerves began to settle again. Although there were lots of decent people on the Mitchell Estate, there were plenty of badly behaved families, too – yet none of them got under her skin as much as the Bradley’s. The lot of them thought they were above the law. But one day, one month, one year, one of them would do something, and she’d have the power to get them out. Until then, Josie would have to build up the evidence against them and bide her time.
     
    The two-hour car journey to visit Scott had been a nightmare due to heavy rain and an overturned lorry on the motorway. Then there had been the humiliation of the search procedure and the intimidating atmosphere of the prison environment. But just seeing his face break out into a smile when he spotted her walking towards him in the visitors room made it all worthwhile for Kelly.
    For a minute or two, anyway.
    ‘It’s good to see you, babe,’ Scott whispered, as he hugged her.
    Kelly glanced over his shoulder cautiously, not daring to meet anyone’s eye, fearing she wasn’t allowed to touch him. But it seemed okay – lots of men were doing the same before they sat down.
    There were approximately twenty tables arranged in rows up and down the room. All the prisoners had red bands around their torsos. The woman on the next table had two young children with her as she chatted excitedly to the man she’d come to visit. Luckily for Kelly, the ‘working away’ lie seemed to be doing its job. There was no need to confuse Emily.
    People were talking, laughing, moaning, smiling – but Kelly couldn’t find anything to smile about. Somehow a prison visiting room hadn’t featured in her life plan.
    Scott motioned to a chair. ‘How’s Em doing?’ he asked.
    ‘She’s okay, I suppose,’ Kelly replied. ‘One minute she’s fine about you not being there. Other times, she’s upset. But I’m glad I’ve got her – I hate being on my own.’
    ‘Is Jay keeping an eye on you?’
    ‘Yeah, he brought me here today.’
    ‘Good. I told him to look after the pair of you.’
    ‘He shouldn’t have to look out for us! That’s supposed to be your job.’
    Scott groaned. ‘Don’t let’s go there, Kel. It’s not like I can do anything about it now. Think of me, stuck in here, it’s enough to drive any bloke loopy.’
    Kelly ignored his self-pity and went straight to the main point. ‘Did you get the letter from the housing association?’
    Scott’s top lip curled derisively. ‘Yeah, but I’m not worried about it. You shouldn’t be either.’
    ‘But you’ll have a bill for about two grand!’
    ‘Which I can pay off at a couple of quid a week because I’m on the dole.’
    Kelly frowned. ‘You’re not grasping the seriousness of the situation!’
    ‘Rules are made to be broken.’
    She folded her arms. ‘But I don’t want to live like that anymore. Besides, the house is still your responsibility while you’re in here. Josie says empty properties are like a magnet on the estate. You’ll have to pay for any damage.’
     ‘Who the fuck is Josie?’ Scott questioned. ‘Not that interfering bitch from Mitchell Housing? And what do you mean by empty property? Don’t tell me you’ve moved out!’
    Kelly seemed surprised he hadn’t realised sooner. ‘Yeah, of course I