Page 44 of The Dead Ex
I’m escorted through the door and into the main waiting area. And then I see her, sitting on a chair. Black eyeliner. Smudges underneath. Short black skirt. Opaque black tights. Knee-length black suedeboots with a high heel. That heavy scent which sickens me from here.
What isshedoing here in Cornwall? Is it possible that she has come to lodge a complaint against me?
‘Tanya,’ I croak. But the woman ignores me. Then I realize it’s not her after all. It’s another tarty-looking bitch.
‘Are you all right?’ asks the policeman.
I nod, feeling stupid. What must he think of me, saying the woman’sname out loud like that?
Crazy. That’s what. And maybe he’s right.
14
Scarlet
They took her to a tall grey building which had big black letters on the outside.
‘P–O–L–I–C–E,’ spelled out Scarlet.
The policewoman’s face softened. ‘Like reading, do you?’
Scarlet nodded. ‘My mum taught me before I even went to school.’
‘Is that so?’ The lips tightened. ‘How old are you exactly? Eleven? Twelve?’
‘If I tell you, will you let me see Mum?’
‘I’ll do my best.’
‘Eight.’
There was a frown. ‘But you’re so tall.’
‘I know.’ Scarlet nodded again so that the beads in her braids flew into the air. ‘So was my dad.’
This was one of the few facts she knew about him, so she always hung on to it tightly.
‘Great. Just great.’
Had she done something wrong again?
They were inside now, standing before a glass screen. Behind it sat a man in a black uniform witha scar on his cheek. It reminded Scarlet of the time she’d cut herself on a kitchen knife, peeling potatoes for dinner as a surprise for Mum before she came home. She ought to havestitches, Mum had said when she’d found her covered in blood. But instead, she put a plaster on it cos Social Services might ask questions.
‘Got a problem here, Joe,’ called out the policewoman. ‘This one might beyounger than she looks. That’s if she’s telling the truth. Won’t tell us where she lives, and her only ID is the name on her school book.Scarlet Darling. Fancy, eh?’
Groaning, the man in black picked up the phone. ‘Get Social over here, can you? We could have an under the age of criminal intent here.’
‘What’s that?’ asked Scarlet.
The policewoman was looking really pissed off. ‘It means youwon’t be going to court after all. Tell me, Scarlet. Did the other kids put you up to this?’
Don’t tell.
‘What other kids?’
‘She might be a baby, but she’s good,’ sniffed the man with the scar.
‘I’m not a baby!’ Scarlet was indignant. ‘I’m as good as any adult. That’s what Mum says. I help her with the shopping and cleaning when she’s not feeling good. At least I did until they took her tothe Aitch Em Pee.’
