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“Round the bins of block two? Get fucking real.”
She clambered to her feet, twisting to look back over her shoulder. “Pissing hell, I’m soaked.”
“At least you’re in one fucking piece. I talk with my fists first, mouth later.”
“Nice.”
“Truth.” My arms were still twitchy. I reached in my pocket for my baccy, leaning against the wall as my heart slowed down. I whistled to Case and she came running, jumping up at my legs like I hadn’t just seen her five seconds ago. “Why you following me?”
“I wasn’t,” she lied.
I rolled my cig. “Whatever.”
“Who did you think I was? One of those guys back there?”
I narrowed my eyes, stared straight at her. “Do you ever mind your own fucking business?”
“This ismypatch,” she snapped.
“Yeah, well this is mylife.”
She stood in silence, and so did I, letting the tension ease off a little. Casey fixed her with curious eyes, tail twitching as though she hadn’t quite made up her mind. Sophie watched her back, expression softening.
“She looks better.”
“Sheisbetter, thanks.”
She dropped on her haunches, hand out. “Hey, Casey...”
Case wasn’t sure what to make of her. She looked up at me and I gave her the nod, sending her over to the woman who’d saved her furry ass. Casey sniffed Sophie’s hand, then wagged her tail, satisfied Sophie was one of the good guys.
Sophie Harding smiled her lovely smile. “She’s put on weight.”
“A bit, yeah.”
“That’s good.”
I watched her stroking the dog awhile, gentle little fingers. “Why were you following me?”
She shrugged, eyes still on Casey. “Saw you in the garages.”
“Then came for a snoop?”
“I wanted to make sure you were good... after the weekend.”
I sparked up. “Ain’t told no one, if that’s what you’re pissing worried about.”
“It isn’t.”
She smiled as Casey jumped up to lick her face, fussing her round the ears. It made me feel funny inside, hot and churned up. I looked at her as I smoked my roll-up, the posh little suit she was wearing, her clean white blouse. She looked so fresh, so proper. She didn’t belong in this place. Didn’t belong here, with me.
“Why d’you do it? This shitty job?”
She looked up at me, eyes soft. “To make a difference.”
“Can’t make a difference round here. Place is rotten.”
“You can always make a difference, if you care enough.”
