The Guilty Couple(17)

If Grace heard that correctly then maybe Dominic’s still got that repayment schedule. He’d need something tangible to prove that he paid Dani to lie. His word against hers wouldn’t wash.

I step into a shop doorway. It’s raining more heavily now and my cheap Primark jacket is sticking to my skin. I push back my sleeve to check the time but there’s no watch on my wrist. I definitely put it on this morning. Did the strap snap and I didn’t notice? It wasn’t expensive but I don’t want to waste money replacing it. I dig around in my bag for my phone instead. But it’s not there. It’s gone, and so has my purse.

I’ve checked my bag three times and my purse and phone are definitely missing. Was I pickpocketed on the tube? Or was it that man who knocked against me and swore? Did he slip my watch off my wrist then ease his hand into my bag when I was too lost in thought to notice? When we were cellmates Smithy told me all her little tricks and scams – how thieves often work in pairs and one will distract you by knocking into you or asking you a question or giving you a hug when you’re drunk while the other one robs you blind. It happens to tourists in London all the time.

A thought hits me and I step out from the shop doorway and scan the faces of the commuters, scurrying to get out of the rain.

‘Smithy!’

No one stops or answers my call.

‘Smithy, I know it was you.’

A scrawny figure steps out from the underground station and weaves her way between the scrum of bodies. A beanie covers her ratty hair and she’s wearing a big black puffer jacket, skinny jeans and oversized trainers that I’ve never seen before, but I’d know that grin anywhere.

‘Smithy, you absolute shit!’

She launches herself out of the crowd, turns to shout ‘Piss off!’ at a disgruntled commuter, then throws herself into my arms.

‘Didn’t I teach you nothing?’ She raps her knuckles against the crown of my head. ‘Mate, you were in your own fucking world. I could have nicked your coat and your shoes and you wouldn’t have noticed.’

‘You did it just now?’ I feel a strange mixture of horror and respect. ‘When that man knocked into me?’

‘Yeah.’ She digs into her puffer jacket and pulls out my watch, purse and phone and hands them to me. ‘I was gonna jump on you and surprise you but I thought this would be more fun. I thought I’d trail you all the way to Ayesha’s and ring on the doorbell and say I had a delivery.’

All the air leaves my lungs in a rush. I’ve been so caught up in my strange, new life that I completely forgot Smithy was getting out today. We arranged weeks ago for her to come over to Ayesha’s at six o’clock on the day of her release. We’re going to Nando’s and the celebration meal’s on me.

*

‘Oh my god.’ Smithy tears into her piece of chicken, pulling chunks of white meat from the bone with her teeth. ‘This, right here, is heaven.’

She hasn’t stopped eating since we sat down and she’s already made her way through five chicken wings, peri-salted fries, a portion of garlic bread and now she’s starting on her main of half a chicken, corn on the cob and macho peas. I’ve barely touched my boneless chicken thigh meal because I’ve been talking since we sat down, telling her everything that’s happened since I left our cell.

‘How was Theresa?’ I take a sip of Coke to wet my dry mouth. ‘Did Kelk leave her alone?’

‘Uh-huh.’ Smithy nods as she chews on her food.

‘What about you? Have you got somewhere to stay?’

‘It’s all good. I’m looking after a mate’s studio flat,’ she reaches for her Coke and takes a swig, ‘while she’s up North looking after her mum. It’s in Elephant and Castle, above an antique shop. That’s what the old bint who owns it calls it anyway. Looks more like a junk shop to me. Loads of old crap.’

‘Is it all right? The flat?’

She shrugs. ‘I’ve stayed in worse.’

‘I haven’t forgotten about you,’ I tell her. ‘About the money for your course. It’s just … it’s going to take a while. There wasn’t as much in my bank account as I thought and I need to get back on my feet, get a job and then rent a flat that I can share with Grace when I get custody—’

Smithy waves a dismissive hand through the air. ‘Don’t worry about it, mate. Like I said, I’m good.’

My shoulders sag in relief. I’ve been stressing about this conversation since I checked my balance. I don’t want to be the sort of person who makes promises they can’t keep.

‘Have you seen your probation officer yet?’ I ask, changing the subject.

‘Course.’ She takes another bite of chicken then shovels some peas into her mouth. She chews for an age then pushes her plate away. ‘I’m done. I can’t get another mouthful in. So you were right then? About your old man and the cop? They were in it together?’

‘Looks that way.’

‘What are you gonna do?’

‘There’s nothing I can do.’

She wipes her mouth with a napkin then drops it onto her plate. ‘I thought you said there was something that proves she’s bent?’

‘Might prove she’s bent. I don’t know for sure.’

‘You’d better take another look at it then.’