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She didn’t even have chance to say goodbye.
***
Casey jolted me awake. Barking then whining, spinning around on the spot, her tail tickling my nose as she went. I sat up, rubbing my eyes to adjust to the light. My stomach grumbled on instinct, the smell of toast making my mouth water.
Vicki poked her head around the shed door. She gave Casey a fuss with one hand, handing me a plate with the other.
“Sorry, only enough bread for one slice.”
I took the plate, grateful. The toast was dry, with hardly any butter, but it went down a fucking treat. I threw the crust to Case. “Thanks, Vick.”
She pulled her dressing gown tighter, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. I could hear Slater through the back door, singing along to cartoons at full blast. She took out a pack of ten fags from her pocket, handed me one. I lit up, taking one hell of a drag. “What time is it?”
“Eight.”
I reached into my pocket, pulling out the wedge of notes. “One fifty, all there.”
“She was good for it, then.”
I nodded. “She was sound, yeah.”
Vicki counted it, then slid it inside the top of her nightdress, hooking it into her bra. “What did she want?”
I shrugged. “Nothing much.”
“Nothing much? For one fifty?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Just wanted some security, that’s all. Was going out.”
“Going out where?”
“Just a club.”
“Just a club? Wanted just a few favours, did she? She make you frig her off or some shit? Do a little gigolo?”
“Don’t be pissing daft, Vick.”
She puffed her way through her cigarette and sparked another straight up. She was scowling, as well, proper pissed off. “Thought you’d be smiling, got the Stoney brothers off your case for a while.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“What’s up? Is it Slay? Keep you up, did he?”
“I was up waiting for you.”
Guilt and anger brawled in my stomach, having a right old punch up. “Told you before, shouldn’t be waiting up for me.”
“Stayed up till three. You weren’t back.”
“Took a walk, after. Needed to unwind.”
“Just a walk?”
“Yeah, just a pissing walk.”
“Weren’t off shagging Lozza Price, then?”
Anger won. “Fucking hell, Vick. Facebook? I hate that fucking shit.”
