Three Little Maids(46)

They had a charity box in the corner by the entrance door. And that big man who came out of the back practically accused her of trying to steal it. But Mrs Perkins and Mr. Welbeck had put her in touch with the woman who ran the church hostel. She licked her ice cream and sighed happily again. Raymond looked down at her, squeezed her arm and smiled. He had a lovely smile.

It was heaven to sleep in a bed with pillows and sheets. And she’d got booked in for another night in the hostel. She would have to be making tracks there after the fireworks finished. And she wouldn’t go to sleep hungry. Raymond had treated her to cod and chips at the chippy and a can of Coke.

She’d felt a bit weird at first when he’d told her where he worked. At Carey’s. In a funeral parlour of all weird places. And then went into details of what he did with the bodies. He took a pride in making those dead people look good, he said. Told her how he’d made up their faces. She stopped him from telling her anymore. It sounded too gruesome. But for once, she’d met a boy who seemed decent. He didn’t seem like a boy out for what he could get.

He was kind and generous. He’d bought her a pretty silk scarf because she liked it off of a fancy good stall down the old town. It was in her favourite colours; gold, aqua blue and turquoise. She felt so good she told herself she would ring Mum in the morning.

She looked upwards and watched the fireworks. The vivid splash of green, gold and silver colours sparkled brilliantly in the night sky. It reminded her of the good times when her dad had lighted the bonfire and fireworks in the garden for her at home. It had all changed for her when her parents had divorced and Mum married Larry. That’s when everything fell apart. Larry complained because she was speaking on the phone to Dad. ‘All the time,’ he said. She ignored him he was her stepfather. And he didn’t like her dressing like she did; ‘The girl looks like a tart,’ Larry said to her mum.

She wore the silver nose ring just to spite him. And he’d exploded when he saw the stud in her tongue. Made her stay in her room; ‘Till you learn to behave,’ he’d said. And Mum supported him. That’s when she took off at the first opportunity.

It was crowded now. Everyone wanted to get a better view of the fireworks as they whizzed and whirled higher in the sky. People pushed in around them, stepped on her toes. Ouch! Cigarette smoke wafted into her face. She finished her cornet. Licked her fingers and felt sick. She’d had candy floss before the fish and chips. She hadn’t eaten much the day before. Mrs Perkins had given her some pie and mash for tea. Her purse was empty, she had no idea what she would have to eat tomorrow.

‘Shan’t be half a mo, yeah. I’ve to find the gents.’ Raymond grinned down at her. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll see you back okay to the hostel. Don’t you get lost now. Stay where you are. You’ll be quite safe.’ He kissed her swiftly on the cheek

‘I’ve got to get to the hostel soon, Ray,’ she protested. ‘They close up at eleven tonight, don’t forget. I’m frightened. I don’t like to be on my own…’

‘I shan’t be long. I won’t let you down. And that’s a promise, yeah.’

She watched him push his way through the crowds. With his fair hair and those gorgeous dark lashes and bedroom eyes, he looked like a character out of a Billie King novel. Her favourite reads at home.

She gnawed her under lip, wondered whether she should take off before he came back. She didn’t want to get too involved. Although he had been good to her and made her feel like a girl instead of a homeless dropout. She blinked back a tear and rubbed her eyes quickly with the back of a sticky hand. His grandmother had been so kind, letting her have showers and inviting her home for meals.

But now that she was left on her own, she started to think of those two dead girls. How could she know if she was safe with Raymond? What he’d told her about himself hadn’t been that reassuring especially when he’d admitted knowing both of those murdered girls. She shivered despite the sticky warmth of the evening. And hugged her thin, bare arms around herself. Would he see her safely to the hostel? Could she honestly trust him?

She decided not to risk it. She wasn’t certain of the direction of the park gates. But she wasn’t going to wait here any longer for him.

*

Turner had spotted Raymond from afar with a girl hanging on his arm. Turner had taken Carole and his children to see the fireworks. Carole decided to make the most of having his company even though she realised he was still officially on duty. And she was watching out for accidents in the crowds. Already the ambulance had taken away one elderly pensioner who’d fainted in the heat and a kiddy with a broken arm.