The Dead Ex(28)

‘Please can she be all right,’ Scarlet whispered into the darkness. ‘Help her to remember to take those tablets that made her feel happy. And clean her teeth because sometimes she forgets. Oh – and eat properly too.’

That’s when she heard it. The crackle of a packet. Muffled laughter. Someone munching.

‘Want some?’ asked Dawn.

In the half-light, Scarlet could see her holding out some crackers. Darren, who was meant to be in the room next door, reached out to grab a handful for himself.

‘Where did you get them from?’

‘Nicked them from the family cupboard, didn’t we?’

‘We’ll get into trouble if they find out,’ said Scarlet between mouthfuls. The crackers stuck in her throat, but she still couldn’t get enough.

‘Then they ought to feed us right. ’Sides, we’re careful. We only take bits every now and then. Store the rest under the bed. Look! We’ve got chocolate too!’

Scarlet’s hand shot out. Fruit and nut. One of the uncles used to bring this sometimes. Her favourite.

‘Don’t get the sheet dirty,’ warned the boy, ‘or Mrs W will think you’ve been shitting yourself as well as peeing.’

Scarlet felt her cheeks grow hot with shame.

‘Don’t be so mean.’ Dawn was shoving the boy out of bed.

‘Fuck off. You’ll wake the others.’

Uh-oh. Footsteps were coming along the landing. ‘What’s that noise?’

To Scarlet’s horror, the door opened. Mr W glared at her.

‘Nothing,’ whispered Scarlet, glancing across at Dawn who was now pretending to be asleep. ‘I just rolled off the mattress.’

‘Careful. Or you’ll get a bruise.’

His voice was softer than his wife’s. He padded towards her. His feet were bare, and he only had pyjama bottoms on. His stomach flopped down over the waistband as though it needed folding to be tidied up. ‘Let me sort you out.’

Scarlet held her breath. Surely he’d see the shape hiding under Dawn’s duvet?

But no. He seemed to spend a long time, kneeling down beside her and rearranging the duvet. ‘That’s better,’ he grunted, getting up. ‘Should keep you nice and safe now.’ He stood over her for a bit, looking down. Scarlet’s skin began to crawl. Even in the dark, she could see that the back of his head was all shiny and bare on top. Then he seemed to shake himself and began walking towards the door.

‘No more noise, do you hear me,’ he said in a loud voice. ‘Or there’ll be trouble.’

‘Fucking hell,’ breathed Dawn, emerging from the covers. ‘That was close. Ta, Scarlet. You was great.’

‘Reckon he’s got the hots for you,’ whispered Darren. ‘Just like Kayleigh …’

‘Fuck off,’ hissed Dawn. ‘If that man ever comes near one of us again, I’ll cut his balls off. See if I don’t. And yours too, if you don’t behave.’

‘Who’s Kayleigh?’ whispered Scarlet after the boy had gone.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

But Dawn said it in the kind of voice that Mum used when something did matter.

‘What did he mean when he said Mr W had the hots for me?’

‘Come off it. You already told me you know about the game. It’s the same thing. Means he wants to get into your knickers.’

‘I don’t get it.’

‘You’re not kidding me, are you?’ Dawn tiptoed out of her bed and perched on the end of Scarlet’s mattress. It was so narrow that there was only just room. ‘Listen, love. I don’t know what your life was like before you came here. But I’ll tell you something for free. There are blokes out there who would do anything to you. Sometimes that’s great, cos you can use them. Sometimes it’s bad, cos they use you.’ She made a strange sound in her throat. ‘That Mr W. He’s not a good man.’

‘Did he hurt Kayleigh?’

‘I’m not saying.’

But the pain on her friend’s face in the streetlight streaming through the gap in the curtains made Scarlet pretty sure that she’d guessed right there.

‘Mr W seemed so kind. He didn’t want me to get any bruises.’

‘Hah!’ Dawn rolled her eyes. ‘That’s cos he doesn’t want any awkward questions asked by the Social. If they spot any marks, they might blame the foster parents. Then Mr and Mrs W will lose their money.’

‘What money?’

‘For Chrissake, Scarlet. You don’t think they take us in here cos they’re nice, do you? They do it cos they get paid for it.’

‘Really?’

Dawn groaned. ‘I can see I’ve got my work cut out with you. Just as well I’m your friend. Mind you, it’s a bloody nuisance about you seeing your mum on Friday. We was planning to do the next job then. So we’ll do it the day after tomorrow instead.’

‘Do you mean I’ve got to take more DVDs?’

‘You’ve got it.’ Dawn patted her on the shoulders. ‘Now move over. I’m fucking freezing.’

She slid in beside her, arms around Scarlet’s back. She and Mum used to sleep like that. It was comforting. And suddenly it was morning again.

‘Right,’ said ginger Darren on Thursday when the bus dropped them outside school. ‘Remember the plan. We do the register so they think we’re here and then we slip out as soon as we can. Good thing we’re in different classes today. With any luck, they won’t notice till it’s too late.’