"If you want a black eye, you keep on doing what you're doing mate, and it will come – sure and fast!" Somerset whispered – his expression hard, contradicting the softness that played out in his deep blue eyes.

Williams backed down, his jaw taut with tension, no, better to leave it this time, sometimes it was the quiet ones you had to watch and now, reassessing Somerset, he realized this to be such a man.

"No worries mate, just a misunderstanding, right?" said Williams lightly.

Somerset nodded, never letting his eyes off him, his face dark with anger while his mind churned over what he saw unable to make sense of it. With the right haircut and elocution lessons they could be twins. The Guards had already marveled on it, thought it some kind of sick joke and as part of that joke thrown them into the same cells.

The Banker and the Bank Robber. Ha – Ha! Hilarious.

Somerset stared down at his new cellmate in concealed wonder, had Williams not realized it? Remove the beard, smooth out that terrible working class accent … and they could be, Somerset hesitated to think it - the word formed in his mind, and then he spoke it, a fine whisper, meant for his ears only, "Twins".

**

How long had he been here, some six years of a ten year sentence for fraud and in the category E prison, they had been quiet, bliss filled days. Somerset’s body tensed, tomorrow was Visiting Day, Helena would be arriving as usual. She was like a finely tuned clock, always on time, reliable. Frighteningly so. There had been talk about an imminent release on the grounds of good behaviour – and also because the prison was getting so full. There was quite a queue for Lawnside Open Prison – it was seen as the Ritz of prisons, pity one could not be more choosy about the company one kept.

Somerset looked down with some disdain as the man below leered at a girlie magazine devotedly. "Is there nothing else you can read, no other interest you have?"

Williams gave a sigh before replying. "It’s art mate – what is your problem? All you do is moan, moan, moan, you're just like my old woman."

"Now that," said Somerset huffily swinging his legs down to hang beyond his bunk, "I doubt very much." Somerset began to wonder at the other man’s crime. He had been intrigued to hear the off the cuff remarks from the Prison Guards that it was bank robbery. For such a crime, surely it would have been a category A or B prison, one where the regime was somewhat tougher. For Williams was obviously a tough man, an evil man used to getting his own way. Somerset could well imagine those rough hands turned to violence, he shuddered at the thought, whereas his crime - his crime had been very different.

"So, what are you in for Williams?" he asked as matter of fact as he could manage.

Williams flung the magazine down on the floor, where he had lain on his tummy, twisting round to relax onto his back looking into the eyes of his cellmate. "You know what I’m here for mate."

Somerset gave him his coldest stare. "Well, actually, if I remember correctly you were about to give me a black eye when you first arrived, for no apparent reason, this somewhat curtailed the introductions."

"Water under the bridge mate, you know how these places are, gotta develop a rapport with your cellmate so they know what’s what and don’t get no funny business, that’s all, and anyway, I just wanted to …" Williams tried to find a word, Somerset watched in delight as he struggled with his obviously limited vocabulary before abandoning the task.

Williams shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "Look mate, no hard feelings eh?"

Somerset did not reply. He watched him with interest, marveling again at their similarities. The hair coloring, the set of the jaw right down to the deep blue eyes that looked out of a creamy complexion. How amazingly perverse.

"I was done for robbery – I was the brains behind the scam."

"You, the ‘brains’?"

Williams nodded proudly. "Yeah, that’s right, I masterminded it and others did it."

Somerset new he was a snob. Indeed he was proud of it. He had believed he had this man, rough and arrogant summed up from the day, a week ago, when he had moved in and tried to engrave his fist upon his face. "What kind of scam was it?"

"Opening bank accounts, getting large loans and then legging it mate – you’d be surprised just how gullible the banks are and the security system in this country is bloody archaic. For example," Williams waved his hands around in the air expansively, "all they have to see is a few bits of ID right? Say a credit card, a passport and a driver's license. Well, I could be you if I wanted, no problem."

Somerset frowned. "What do you mean?"

Williams, smiling to expose perfect white even teeth lowered his voice. "Go on, humor me, where do you stick your rubbish, all your old bills, junk mail – that kind of thing?"

"In the bin of course."

"You don’t use a shredder, or an incinerator?"

"Heavens no, what an earth for?"

"Ah," Williams was triumphant, raising a finger into the air, "that’s the thing you see. People are so trusting… all I have to do is rummage around in your crap – I mean rubbish for a couple of evenings when your in la la land sleeping and I bet I’d know where you shopped, the balance of your recent accounts etc etc."

Somerset thought about this – where was the man going with this?

"Then see, I’d take that stuff and do a bit more research, nip down to St Catherine’s House where I could grab hold of your birth certificate which would also tell me where you were born, who your parents were. Then with this document and any other stuff I’d rummaged from your bin, old statements and stuff I would apply for a drivers license and a credit card in your name – hell, maybe even a passport."

Somerset shook his head. "There is a flaw in your argument already."

"Oh yes – what’s that pray tell?"

"Well, the credit card would come to my address."

"Not so fast – not so fast, I would have gone down to the local town hall, not yours mind, another council and put ‘your’ name on the electoral roll."

"But you can’t do that" cried Somerset, incredulous.

"Ah but I can. They can’t stop me from putting down the name, they think it’s me."

"But you’d need proof, ID to use my name"

Williams look was dispassionate. "No mate, nothing – never been challenged yet, but then again if they did, I could always show them your drivers license or birth certificate, or perhaps a bank statement – then of course I could also show them a passport. Now a passport that would be worth something on the black market."

"But that’s outrageous!"

"No, that’s life. With all this stuff I can then go to the bank, get a bank loan in your name, they’re practically wetting themselves to give money away to any tom, dick or Harriet, who has a fat credit card and good credit. I dare say that even with this little set back your credit’s good isn’t it Somerset?

Somerset coloured, for the first time feeling at a disadvantage. "That’s none of your business!" he snapped.

"But I have my standards," said Williams. "I only target banks, see – even though I’m using your name, like your shadow so to speak – it’s the banks I am targeting not you.

Now there are some people out there who actually target people, bleed them dry in all manner of ways, there have been stories of people finding they could not get a job for years 'cos someone had given their name whenever they were caught pimping, dealing or selling weapons. Now that it just wrong."

Somerset, despite himself was intrigued. "Is it really that easy?"

"Yep – mate it’s been happening in the US for years on a big scale and now it’s coming over here and the banks, they don’t know what’s hit em," Williams shook his head. "See I got standards, but there are lots of sharks out there that simply don’t care"

"And you do?"

"Yes, I do. The bank gets hit in the pocket – not the person. I don’t sell on any of the info once I’ve got that loan. I burned the lot; driving license, passport, bills, everything."

"Well goodness, that is reassuring," said Somerset sarcastically.

Williams appraised his cellmate. "What you in here for then?"

"Fraud – nothing so elaborate though. Well, really it was embezzlement from a company, my father-in-law's.

"You mean you robbed your wife’s dad’s company!"

"That makes it sound so complicated. I was bored, everything was terribly easy and there was lots of money. Still is. I simply borrowed some."

"And you got caught."

Somerset nodded.

"How?"

"My wife turned me in."

"Wow!"

"And you, how did you get caught?" said Somerset, changing the subject.

Williams smiled gently. "I went to take out a loan in another man’s name, the only problem was, he was in the bank at the time, not two counters away."

Somerset put back his head and roared with laughter. "Now that’s poetic justice!"

**

Somerset was ready long before the weak light stretched across his cell window.

But he was miles away, his mind and body adrift on his yacht, on the waters of Baiter. How he missed the island. It would be the only consolation when he returned to Helena.

His heart sank at the thought. He had even toyed with the thought of doing something awful so that they might leave him in here a little longer but what could he do? There was always the danger that they might send him to a less pleasant prison, one where he could not walk the grounds and attend various courses and most of all be was at peace with himself. Be safe.

He thought of Helena. Tall, blonde, and very rich. Despite his disloyalty she had stood by him, said that she forgave him, understood the pressure he had been under and that she would be waiting for him when he got out. Religiously she visited every chance she got and he knew he was the envy of every prisoner when her tall blonde good looks strode elegantly through the visitors hall and towards him. His heart pounded at the mere sight of her. With relief he shifted his thought to Williams. What a dark horse he was. Far more intelligent than he had given him credit for. Despite himself, he was impressed.

Again he thought on their similarities. Had Williams not noticed it? Was his dense beard such a distraction that he could not see that they could practically be brothers?

Each time he had geared himself to ask this question, something had advised him to caution until one afternoon, the rain streaming down beyond their cell Williams had, quite nonchalantly said, "You know, everyone's saying we could be twins and I must admit, they’re right."

Somerset had tensed, watching the other man intently.

"Where were you born then?" Williams had asked.

"An island, it's called Baiter Island," Somerset had responded.

Williams thought about this, "Sounds very nice"

"It is, it’s beautiful, been there all my life. My father died when I was born, my mother three years ago," continued Somerset, surprised that he was giving so much information away.

"My old man ain’t yours then, he’s definitely alive and kicking," Williams winked, "that is if he ‘is’ my old man - but I’ve heard no different from my mother in all these forty years."

Somerset frowned, "You're forty?"

Williams nodded, "Yeah, that’s right, don’t tell me you’re the same age as me?"

Somerset smiled with relief, "No on that at least we differ, I’m thirty five."

Somerset reflected how Williams had taken the coincidence; thery're looking alike, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

**

Helena was there. Already seated as Somerset shuffled towards her.

She looked, as always devastatingly beautiful. Somerset sensed the eyes that watched her, as perched on the red plastic chair, she managed to remain the epitome of elegance.

"Darling, how are you?" she purred, her silky tones going up an octave as her eyes rested upon him. "I am the bringer of good news, the Solicitor is sure that you will be released shortly on grounds of superb behaviour!"

Somerset smiled. "That’s great," but he did not feel great. The sinking sensation grew with every second. He knew they would chuck him out soon. Leave him to fend of himself and the thought was daunting. Could he really cope? Did they not understand that the last time had been a plea for help, a plea for sanctuary?

"And don’t worry about daddy, he has forgotten that dreadful business, put it all behind him, understanding that at the time you were under an enormous strain." She brushed her painted talons across his knuckles promising of pleasure to come, "And when we get you out of here, we can really talk, have time for each other."

There was no missing her meaning and Somerset, despite the pack of humanity in the small room, shivered.

**

"Well I must say, your Mrs. is a stunner isn’t she!"

"I suppose she is, yes."

"And she dobbed you in and still comes to visit?"

"Yes," Somerset was becoming uncomfortable, he wanted desperately to change the topic of conversation.

"No disrespect mate but I wouldn’t mind time and a half alone with her. She’s an absolute knock out, You lucky sod! – No wonder you can’t wait to be let out of here and a little bird tells me that will be quite soon."

Somerset nodded, slipping into his own murky thoughts.

"I’m going to be out too, only for three days mind, on compassionate grounds, my mum's in a bad way in hospital you see, then its back in the clinker for me," Williams sighed, rolling back onto his bunk and closing his eyes, "I tell you what though - with a wife like that I can understand why you don’t need any of my naughty magazines – I mean, why have the illusion when you’ve got the really thing!"

**

Four weeks out and counting.

The most beautiful sight for Somerset had been that first day.

He had stood, his face up turned towards the sunshine, the wind gently touching against his face as the ferry glided into the island.

That had been special.

Helena had been there at the prison door. On the appointed time with the car, a flashy Jaguar in which he felt very uncomfortable. He would have preferred to have made his own way home but she had insisted, in that gentle but firm way she had that implied this was how it would be and that was that. He sighed throwing his head into his hands, closing his eyes and immediately winced.

The pain in his arm was still acute, for an instant he had forgotten and placed too much pressure on it.

Slowly, he leaned back in his executive chair. It was all still so tiring. He had literally been thrown back in at the deep end, expected to continue as before as if nothing had happened. Doing the paperwork, the books, making sure all the contracts were coming in on time but of course now he was under supervision from Helena. That had been the compromise. You come back and I’m in charge. And of course he had agreed, afraid of her father and his contacts and a life beyond her and her money.

He hated himself for this, knowing what he had become. Seeing it every morning when he looked in the bathroom mirror.

A coward.

He winced once more, the back pain as he rested himself on the chair, beginning to grow stronger. Carefully, delicately he raised himself from his chair and headed for the door deciding to call it quits for the day. It was 4.30pm, Helena would not expect him back until at least 6pm. There was at least time for a walk.

**

Somerset sat on a bench opposite the shifting waters as his mind went over all the options open to him growing increasingly more depressed as he rejected each one. It was actually daring to go forward alone that scared him. A lifetime with the same woman and her money he had grown fat and comfortable. But the thought of walking away remained a tantalizing one despite her riches. He sighed, trying to cast the thoughts aside and losing himself in the vista before him. The image that had kept him going night after night as he lay asleep in his cell and now here it was. The real thing. The open sea. How he wished he could disappear beneath its waves.

"Penny for them mate."

Frowning, Somerset looked up to peer at a tall stranger standing in the shadows.

He got up and walked closer, his face brightening in disbelief, "Williams?"

"Surprise!"

"What are you doing here, you look – dreadful," said Somerset flatly and indeed Williams did. Unkempt with tattered jeans, a stained jumper and tired eyes in a gaunt pale face.

"Well mate, I had such a good time when I was out I kind of decided to continue my stay outside the confines of her majesty’s establishment."

"You mean you’ve run away from Lawnside?" said Somerset, aghast.

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

Somerset assessed Williams for some time, and then it came to him.

The perfect solution, the perfect kindness.

**

Helena had spent all day preparing the meal.

It was to be a special anniversary meal; one month to the day that her husband had been released from prison, but he was late. Very late.

She was upset. All the time she had spent getting everything just right, the candles, the food, the right music and he had not appeared as he had promised.

Helena nervously eyed the grandfather clock before walking to the window and peeping through the curtains. Half an hour late.

Where could he be?

And then with relief she saw him, climbing out of a taxi and walking in that familiar slouch that he seemed to have acquired whilst in prison, he came towards the house.

Without waiting to hear the key in the lock she ran into the hallway, opening the door wide, "Darling where have you been, I’ve been waiting forever!"

Her husband smiled nervously, "I am sorry dear"

Helena frowned, it twisted her beautiful features, "Well, never mind," she kissed him lightly on the forehead, pulling him gently but firmly into the house.

She watched as her husband took off his overcoat, then kicked off his shoes, her look turning to one of horror, "What are you doing?" she screamed.

Her husband simply stared, transfixed.

"The rules are for a reason, you do not put your coat and shoes there, you know that, you're doing this deliberately aren’t you!"

"No, no," he whimpered, baffled.

"Don’t you play me for a fool" Helena grabbed the first thing that came to hand, watching in satisfaction as it landed with a slap across his face.

The heavy magazine sent him tumbling to the floor, in horror he looked up as Helena approached him, he screamed in agony as her pointed shoes kicked him in the groin, "Don’t you answer me back, you're not the boss in this house, you remember that, I’m the one that took you back!"

"Please, no, no please – Helena!"

But Helena was beyond listening and into the fury.

**

The Prison Guard looked on as the Police man explained what had happened, scratching his head as he heard the account.

"He just gave himself in, said he’d had enough of running."

"Williams!"

"Yeah, came in and insisted we ring you up to come and collect him."

The Prison Guard looked back at the prisoner unable to fathom why, for a man who had just been caught, he looked so damn happy.

**