by Jane Bidder
A common pattern . Other women also wait for years. So she wasn’t as crazy as she’d thought. That was some consolation at least. Relief began to seep through Alice and with it, the need to tell this Paul Black everything. Well, almost everything. “A friend. The one you met at my house. Janice. I told her too … because of Kayleigh. She said I ought to do something about it.”
He nodded. “It’s often the way these things work. Even so, I’ve got a problem.”
Paul Black’s words startled her. His fingers, she noticed, were drumming on the side of his chair. “I’m going to be honest with you. The thing is that I’ve just taken a complaint from someone.”
What? Alice wasn’t sure if she’d heard probably. What did this have to do with her?
“Someone wants to take action against you, Alice. It’s just come through on the system. It’s a complaint of harassment, I’m afraid.”
“Who?” she asked hoarsely.
But even as she spoke, she knew the answer.
“A Mr Wright,” said Paul Black, his bright blue eyes steadily on hers. “A Mr Phil Wright.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
Kayleigh fingered the crisp twenty-pound notes in her jeans pocket as the bus lurched into the centre. Alice was so nice. Too nice. The woman wouldn’t last a minute on the estate. Part of Kayleigh – quite a lot actually – felt bad about taking money from her.
Correction. She’d been given it, hadn’t she? And now she, Kayleigh, had to pass it on to Callum because the handout that Alice had given her before wasn’t enough.
That’s what her brother had said anyway.
“You’ve got to help me,” he’d said when they’d met last time at the back of the toilets on the far side of the city. “You’re my only hope, Kayleigh.”
Yes! His words had made her feel good, reminding her of the times he’d been nice to her. Helping her forget the other ones when he’d lied to Mum about her, to get himself out of trouble. She still remembered that really big row about the cigarettes he’d nicked from Mum when they were younger. “It was Kayleigh,” he’d said, even though she’d been barely twelve.
Mum had believed him. Ruefully, Kayleigh looked down on her arm. There was still the scar to prove it. But now Callum needed her. How could she let him down? Even if it meant giving him the new lot of money that Alice had given her. Or stealing some of her stuff.
Kayleigh peeped inside the designer bag that Alice had given her (“I’ve got too many as it is”) to take another look at the silver bowl. She hadn’t pinched the big one. That would have been too obvious. But there’d been a smaller bowl in the dining room on a table that was full of other stuff like photograph frames. She’d taken one of those too. They were always selling stuff like that in the market.
Better get rid of the picture first. Kayleigh looked at it. She’d seen enough of the photographs round the house to know that this was Garth Honeybun. What a name! Bet he got bullied at school for that. Second thoughts, he probably went to one of those really posh schools where bullying wasn’t allowed.
Still, decided Kayleigh, as the bus jolted its way along the high street, he wasn’t bad-looking with that straight nose and blue eyes like Alice’s. His hair was dark, though, like his dad’s. Kayleigh automatically twisted her own round her right index finger. “Your bleeding father had red hair,” Mum had once said on one of the few occasions when she’d talked about him. “A temper to match too.”
Here they were. Kayleigh got out of the bus, her heart pounding. The toilets were right there, next to the car park. Bloody hell, it was windy. Shivering, she walked round and then again, in the opposite direction like Callum had told her. “You’ve got to make sure no one’s watching .”
A bloke in a leather jacket came out and stared at her breasts brazenly. Kayleigh flushed. Maybe he thought she was on the game. Marlene used to say that public toilets were the place to hang around if you were a slut and wanted to make something.
She really missed her friend.
Meanwhile, the bag was getting heavy, what with the bowl and the photograph frame. What if Callum didn’t turn up? Suddenly, Kayleigh felt scared. What should she do now?
Two hours later, Kayleigh was still sitting on the wall by the back of the toilets. Loads of blokes had come in and out. Nearly all of them had looked at her like the first one. In some ways, it was quite flattering.
“You’re quite pretty,” Seb had said the other day just before Alice had found them in Garth’s bedroom, playing music. “Know that?” Then he’d traced the side of her cheek and looked as though he was going to snog her. That’s when Alice had come in.
“Pssst.”
Kayleigh jumped. She’d been so busy daydreaming that she hadn’t seen the short, thick-set figure darting towards her; collar turned up and black beanie over his head. If it wasn’t for his voice or the swagger, she wouldn’t have recognised him. Maybe that was the point. He didn’t want to get spotted, did he?
“Callum,” she said excitedly.
“Shut up, you silly cow.”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the Gents. “I can’t go in here,” she spluttered.
But he’d shoved her into a toilet and locked the door behind them. “If anyone comes in, stop talking,” he hissed.
Kayleigh nodded, her mouth dry.
“Did you get the money?”
Shaking, she pulled out the money from her jeans pocket. He tore it out of her hand and counted it. Then his face broke into a smile. “You did well.”
A lovely warm feeling flowed through her. Callum was pleased with her.
“I’ve got this too.”
“Shut up.”
They both froze at the sound of footsteps, Then she could hear someone taking a piss. Kayleigh tried hard not giggle, partly through fear and partly because it always seemed so weird to her that men could wee like that.
Callum held a finger to his lips until the footsteps had died away. Then he looked down at the silver bowl and photograph that she’d pulled out of her bag. “What the fuck’s that?”
Kayleigh began to feel less certain. “I thought you could sell them. At the market, maybe.”
He knocked them out of her hand so that the bowl bounced on the hard concrete. “You silly cow. There are words on it. Look. It’ll get identified.”
So there were.
WINNER OF THE OVER-40 GOLFER OF THE YEAR 2000
She hadn’t noticed that when she’d taken it.
“I’m sorry,” whispered Kayleigh.
Callum gave her a contemptuous look, like the ones he used to give her when she was younger. Instantly, she felt awful. “I’m really sorry,” she repeated. “I won’t do it again.”
“Pick it up then.” Callum wasn’t tall but he still seemed to tower over her. She hesitated.
“I’m not going to belt yer.”
Relieved, she did as she was told. There was a big dent in the side of the cup. “You’ll have to put it back or they’ll get suspicious.” His eye fell on the silver photograph frame. “That’s all right. You can sell that if you get the picture out. Who is he, anyway?”
“That’s Garth.” She spoke it like she already knew him. “Alice’s son. He’s got this great room, full of guitars and stuff.”
Callum’s eyes grew warm again. Interested. “What about the rest of the house. Is that full of stuff too?”
Kayleigh nodded eagerly. “You should see it. It’s amazing.”
Callum began to nod as though agreeing with himself. “What’s the address?”
“I’m not sure they’d like me saying.” Kayleigh began to panic in case she upset Callum again.
“Come again.” He took her chin in his hands. “Don’t you trust me, little sis?”
“’Course I do.” But she didn’t feel quite as certain as her words. “I honestly don’t know the number, although I could give you directions. It’s in this little town about half an hour from here. Near the sea.”
Callum was stroking his
beard. It was one of those short ones that merged into a moustache without a gap. “You say they’re called Honeybun? Maybe I’ll come and pay you a visit.”
She nodded, nervously, wondering what Alice and her husband would say to Callum. He already had his hand on the door lock. “Where are you going now?”
“To see a bloke about some gear.”
“What kind of gear?” She looked at his torn jeans. “I could get you some clothes, if you like. There are some jeans in Garth’s room.”
He laughed but it wasn’t a nasty laugh like he used to give her when he’d been at home. “You don’t know nothing, do you, little sis?”
She thought of Frankie in the park and the lovely happy feeling when he’d unexpectedly given her that tablet and then the warmth as he’d entered her. “I know more than you might think,” she said proudly.
That made Callum laugh even more. “That’s what I like about you, little sis. Chip off the old block, you are. Just like the old woman.”
Kayleigh didn’t like the thought of that. “Have you seen Mum?”
His eyes narrowed. “Where do you think I’m hiding out?”
She felt a rush of hurt. “But she wouldn’t have me there.”
“That’s ’cos her bloke fancies the pants off you.” He snorted. “Jealous, she is.” He gave her another kind of look now. The sort that Seb had given her. “You’ve grown up real pretty. Just be careful. That’s all.”
Then he’d opened the door. “You be careful,” she said quickly. “If they find you, they can make you go back into prison.”
Callum patted his top pocket where he had placed the money she’d given him. “That’s why this will help.”
As he spoke, there was a thin whistle outside. Callum froze. “Get out,” he said, pushing her in front of him. “It’s the bloke I’ve been waiting for.”
“To get your gear?”
But this time, he didn’t laugh. “Just get out.”
“When will I see you next?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll find you. And get some more of this, can you?”
Then he pushed her so she fell down the steps, landing on her knees. He didn’t mean to. ’Sides, it was her fault, not looking out for the steps. But as she got up, she caught sight of a bloke going into the Gents with a shaved head and a tattoo of a cockerel on the side of his neck.
Pete! Marlene’s boyfriend! Kayleigh almost went back into the Gents to have a go at him. But then she stopped. If he was Callum’s friend, her brother would be cross with her.
And she didn’t want that. Not when she’d just found him again. He loved her! He might be a bit rough with her. But that was families. Wasn’t it?
“How much?” repeated Kayleigh,
The market trader with thick dirty fingers gave her a hard stare. “You heard me. Three quid.”
But that wouldn’t be enough to buy some clothes. Then Alice would want to know what had happened to the money. She’d have to pretend someone had nicked it. Still, at least three quid would get her a bus fare home.
Funny how the word ‘home’ seemed so natural.
“OK,” she said, reluctantly handing over the frame.
“You can take that snapshot out and all.”
Garth stared up at her pleadingly. She ought to rip him up to get rid of the evidence but he was too nice. Quickly, she folded him in two and put him in the bag along with the bowl that she’d have to sneak back somehow.
“Kayleigh?”
She whipped round to see a small woman with big pearl earrings and a really smart red jacket. She knew her from somewhere … of course. Marlene’s nan.
“I’m so sorry,” she spluttered. “About Marlene. I was really upset when I heard.”
Marlene’s nan gave her a cold glare. “She got into a bad crowd. So did you, from the sound of it.” She looked her up and down, taking in the designer bag. “Looks like you’ve done all right for yourself. Heard you got taken into care?”
Kayleigh nodded, not wanting to say more. “I’d have liked to have gone to the funeral.” Tears filled her eyes. “But I didn’t know Marlene had died.”
“Died?” Marlene’s nan stepped away as though she’d been hit. “Who told you that?”
“My mum.”
“She took an overdose.” Marlene’s nan’s lips tightened. “Those boys you two were hanging around with were bad news. But she’s all right now.”
“She’s not dead!” Kayleigh felt an enormous wave of relief tempered with disbelief.
“No.” Marlene’s nan’s lips were so thin now that you could hardly see them. “Her mum’s sent her to London to live with a cousin. Don’t try and contact her. We want her to have a new start.”
“But I need to see her!”
Marlene’s nan’s eyes grew grey and hard. “I don’t think you get it, Kayleigh. She told us how it was your idea. Going off with those boys for the day. We blame you for what happened. She was lucky not to be nicked along with you and that boyfriend of yours.”
“It wasn’t my idea,” began Kayleigh.
But Marlene’s nan had gone, swallowed up in the crowds.
Still, at least her friend was alive! That was amazing. But at the same time, it was horrible that she’d lied about something so important. A memory of her mother’s eyes glinting with malice came back when Kayleigh had found her with the suitcase stuffed with notes. Had she wanted to upset her? Or had she just got the story wrong?
There was the sound of a smart silver car pulling up alongside her. “Kayleigh?”
Alice! There were black smudges under her eyes as though she’d been rubbing them. But she was smiling. She looked really great. Much better than when she’d said goodbye to her earlier that day.
“I had to go into the centre. Want a lift home?”
Aware that everyone was looking at her, Kayleigh slid into the front seat. “Ta.”
“Did you get anything then?”
Kayleigh wished she’d had time to get her story straight in her head. “No. I got mugged.”
“Mugged?” Alice’s voice rose in alarm. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She began to feel bad now. “They didn’t hurt me. They just took the money out of my hand.”
“You didn’t have it in your bag?”
“ I was … I was counting it.”
“Kayleigh.” Alice’s voice was reproaching but kind. “You have to be careful, you know.”
If only she knew.
“Sorry.”
“But you bought something.” Alice took her eye off the road in front for a second and it rested on the bulge in her bag.
Shit. The silver bowl.
Then she got a brilliant idea. “Actually,” said Kayleigh, taking it out, “it’s yours. I’m afraid I was looking at it this morning and dropped it on the ground. It’s got a dent. See? So I thought I’d take it in and try and get it mended. But it was too expensive.”
For a minute, Alice’s face hardened as though she didn’t believe her. Kayleigh held her breath. Then she smiled. “How very thoughtful. But don’t worry. Don’t worry. Daniel’s got loads of them. We’ll just put it away in a cupboard. He won’t notice.” Then her eyes tightened. “But we ought to report the theft to the police.”
“What theft?”
“The money those boys took from you. At least, I assume they were boys.”
“No. They were girls.”
“Can you describe them?”
“Big. Scary. Tattoos. One of them was called Marlene.”
Why had she said that?
“We ought to tell the police.”
Kayleigh’s chest quickened. “Do we have to?”
“Of course. Otherwise they’ll just keep stealing from others, won’t they?”
She needed to change the subject. Fast. They stopped at some lights; next to a big poster with an advert for condoms on it. Kayleigh saw Alice looking at it; flushing and then looking away.
“When people get married, do they s
till have lots of sex?”
There was a little laugh. “Actually, I don’t really like …”
Her voice tailed away but it was too late.
“You don’t like it?”
“No.” Alice went bright pink as the traffic began to move again. “I mean, well, it’s personal, isn’t it?”
“Marlene, that’s my friend – well she was – and I used to talk about it all the time.”
“Really?” Alice seemed to be considering this. “Maybe more people ought to.”
“I like it. I mean, when you saw me in the park, it was my first time but I don’t regret it. It made me feel good about myself. Powerful. Able to give him something he wanted.”
There was another short silence. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“It’s the only way to get them to do what you want. That’s what Mum says.”
“But surely that’s not a very nice way to look at it.”
“Why not? Anyway, it makes you feel good too, doesn’t it?”
Was she laughing? It sounded like a sort of stifled giggle. But what was so funny? Sex did make you feel good. And it was free. Not like booze or fags.
Then Alice turned into their road – their road! – and a passing car flashed them. “That looked like Brian.”
“Who’s Brian?” Kayleigh started to ask as they pulled into the driveway. They both saw him at the same time. A tall, lanky boy with a shaved head, on the doorstep. Just staring at them. For a minute, she thought it was Frankie. But no. This one looked posh. You could tell it from the way he stood there, one hand in his pocket. Smiling. Confident.
Then Alice made a funny sound in her throat, screeched to a halt and ran out of the car, leaving the engine still running. Should she turn it off? At first Kayleigh did it the wrong way, making a grinding sound Then, awkwardly, she got out and hovered by the passenger side, feeling horribly left out. Abandoned.
“Garth,” Alice was calling out. “Garth!”
The boy had his arms around Alice. He was taller than her. From a distance, they looked like boyfriend and girlfriend. Then he looked up. Straight at her.
And she realised he was the smooth kid in the photograph. The one that was folded in half inside her bag.
