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their escape, empty-handed in the Cosworth. The very next morning Eddie’s lock up was raided, and the rest was history. As the evidence mounted, Sadie felt her spirits droop.
    When day one was over, Sadie found Eddie, whose bail had been retained, and they left by a side door where Tom had parked his car. But this time things were different. There was an imposing press and TV presence and Sadie and Eddie had to fight through a crowd of reporters shouting questions. They shielded themselves behind stony expressions and barged through the melee to the car, which screamed away with a shriek from its back tyres. ‘Christ,’ said Eddie. ‘That was fucked.’
    Tom kept his face to the front.
    â€˜I’m going down,’ Eddie whispered in Sadie’s ear. ‘Things are looking bad.’
    They drove the rest of the way home in silence, Sadie holding on to Eddie’s hand as if she was drowning.
    Once indoors Eddie said, ‘Listen, I’ve spoken to my brief. I’m going to change my plea.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜It’s all going pear shaped babe. I’m being let down by people I thought I could trust. If I cop a plea, then the judge might go a bit lightly.’
    â€˜But I thought everything was sorted? Like always?’
    â€˜I’m being fucked over darlin’. ‘Trust me, it’s the only way. I promise you though, you’ll be all right.’
    But she wasn’t.
    The next day, Eddie did as he said and after the jury was excused, he was sentenced.
    â€˜This was a brutal and vicious robbery,’ the judge intoned. ‘And although you have pleaded guilty, your accomplices are still at liberty, and you appear to show no remorse. I therefore sentence you to fifteen years in prison. Take him down.’
    Sadie felt her world begin to slip away, and she almost fainted. Kate was on one side of her and Poppy the other with Niki sitting behind next to Connie. Sadie felt their hands supporting her and she knew she mustn’t give in to the feelings of pure terror she was experiencing. Eddie would never forgive her the weakness, so she pulled herself together and left the court with her head held high.
    She was allowed one brief interview with her husband in the holding cell in the bowels of the building. ‘Sweetheart,’ said Eddie. ‘You’ll be all right. When I’m settled we’ll get you a VO.’
    â€˜Where are you going Eddie?’ she asked
    â€˜The Marsh. I’ll be close. Now don’t worry. Love you.’
    â€˜Love you too,’ said Sadie, and there wasn’t much else to say.

17

    Sadie hadn’t been the only one to get a shock on the first day of the trial. At lunchtime Robbo, Joseph and Connie had gone off alone together. ‘Business,’ was all they said. ‘See you later.’
    â€˜Looks like we’re ladies who lunch alone then,’ said Sadie to the other three girls. ‘Eddie’s brief told me there’s a decent boozer round the corner. The Three Stags. Does a fair lunch. Though I’m not hungry, but I could go a livener. What about it?’
    Poppy, Niki and Kate nodded agreement and they set off. Then Kate said, ‘Shit, I’ve run out of fags. I’ll just nip in the shop.’ Across the road was a newsagents.
    â€˜I’ve got plenty,’ said Niki.
    â€˜Those things you smoke are too strong for me,’ said Kate. ‘Go on, I’ll catch you up. Get me a G&T in.’
    â€˜Right,’ said Sadie. ‘He said it’s left and left again. On the corner. Can’t miss it.’
    â€˜Yeah. I’ll look for three slags in the Three Stags,’ said Kate, ‘then I’ll know I’m there.’
    â€˜Cheek,’ said Poppy, but they all laughed, grateful for the weak joke on a day when there wasn’t much else to laugh about.
    Kate trotted across the road and into the shop where she bought twenty Silk Cut purple. As she left