Authors' Helpline discussion

(This is a short piece of the first chapter of my newest book, Serenity. The book follows the revenge of Agatha Crow, who was locked up for a crime she did not commit).
Sunlight slanted through the heavily barred windows and fell into the office, leaving a shaft filled with dancing dust particles hanging just above Karl Clark’s desk.
‘So what you are saying,’ said the head of the prison,‘is that we have no other option, we have to let her go.’ His voice was dry, irritated.
‘Yes sir. She has served her full sentence with no time off. As from today, she is free to go. No parole, no conditions, nothing. If she asks for help to get back on her feet, we are obliged to give it to her. I doubt she will ask though.’
The speaker was Bill Jackson, head of the legal department for Hacksville prison. The head of the prison, Karl Clark, looked at him and sighed.
‘Bill, I know this woman killed at least five of her fellow inmates.’ He raised his hand before Bill could object. ‘Yes, I also know there is no evidence, but that does not change the facts, she killed her fellow inmates. She is deranged and she is dangerous, yet you want me to let her go, let her walk out of the front door and disappear into society?’
Bill coughed. He felt uncomfortable having this conversation with the head of the prison, but his job was to follow protocol, to allow the law to run its course, not to indulge a man who thought he had the right to imprison people because he felt it was the right thing to do.
‘You have to let her go Karl, before six o’clock tonight. If you don’t, legal council will be breaking down your front door in the morning.’
Karl Clark banged his fist down on the desk, then stuck his knuckles in his mouth and bit down on them in anger.
‘Right,’ he said at last. 'Get the wretched woman out of her cell and kick her out. But make sure she doesn’t leave this building one minute before six o’clock tonight, is that clear?’
Bill nodded and turned to the door. He could not wait to leave Karl Clark’s office.

*

The heavy steel door swung shut behind Agatha Crow, and for the first time in ten years she smelled freedom. She inhaled deeply, and when she smiled her broken and yellow teeth were stumps in her mouth. Ten years was a long time, it had brought lines to her face and had stolen the colour from her hair. After a quick glance around she set off, eager to get as far away from this godforsaken building as her feet could carry her.
At forty years of age, Agatha Crow was a big woman. The police would describe her as being of average height, but ten years of prison life had given her a strong body, strong enough to look after herself in a hell-hole where fights were not just a way of life, but also a way of death, if a prisoner was not careful.
She knew where she was headed. With the small amount of money she had in her pocket she would only be able to keep going for a few days, but that would not be a problem for her. Her more immediate problem was that Karl Clark’s men would be tailing her. She knew he wanted her back behind bars, back where he could keep an eye on her, but she had played her cards well, had been well behaved the past twelve months, giving him nothing to hold against her. And now she was free, and there was nothing the son of a bitch could do to her.

That was very well written Leon. I found it intriguing and I want to know what the rest of the book is about. I also want to know more about Bill and what he has to do with Agatha Crow. Great job!!