Page 43 of Blood on the Water (William Monk 19)

He took a deep breath. “Scuff sent me ter tell yer not ter throw away ’is dinner—’e’s got money for a pie, an’ ’e’ll be late.” It was out all in one breath.

“Thank you,” Hester said with a wave of relief. “You look cold.”

He pulled a face, and shrugged as if it were nothing.

“Tell me what else Scuff said,” she asked. “Perhaps you had better do it inside, if you don’t mind?”

“I don’ mind,” he agreed, stepping inside and following her down to the warm kitchen. He tried not to stare around, but he couldn’t help it. He had never seen a place like it before. It was warm and smelled of wonderful food. There were lots of pots and pans, shiny ones, and clean china. There was a jug with flowers in on a table.

“So Scuff is going to have a pie?” she asked as if to clarify it.

He nodded, his eyes wide.

“So he won’t be waiting for supper?” she went on.

He shook his head.

“It would be a shame to waste it. Would you eat it?” she asked, as if she doubted his answer.

He swallowed hard. “I don’t mind if I do …”

“Good. Then you’d better wash your hands and sit down.” She turned on the tap and ran water for him, and it was straight out of the tap into a bowl. She gave him a towel to dry his hands. Washing left a little mark around his skinny wrists, but it was good enough.

She served him fried potatoes and two fried eggs. Then she realized he probably did not know how to use a knife and fork, so she cut it up for him and gave him a spoon as well.

She did the same for herself and ate quite slowly, knowing he was watching and copying her very, very carefully.

“My name is Hester,” she said when they were both finished. “What’s yours?”

“Worm …”

“Good. Would you like a piece of cake, Worm? And perhaps a cup of tea?”

He nodded, temporarily beyond speech.

“Then we’ll have that. And you can tell me exactly what you and Scuff have been doing.”

He froze.

“Oh, that’s quite all right,” she assured him. “He has been asking people questions, hasn’t he?”

Worm nodded.

“Very good. So have I. I shall tell you what I have done, and you will tell me what he has done.”

Worm nodded again and settled a little farther into his seat on the kitchen chair.

CHAPTER

10

MONK ARRIVED HOME LATE to find Hester sitting in the kitchen talking to a very small urchin whose hands were immaculately clean, while the rest of him was remarkably filthy.

Hester smiled up at him. “This is Worm,” she said, as if that in itself were an explanation. “He has come to tell us that Scuff is busy following clues on Jacob’s Island, and will be home too late to eat his dinner. He suggested that Worm eat it for him.” She kept her face perfectly straight, but Monk could see that it was an effort for her. She was so amused she could have laughed, so sorry for the child that she could have fed him permanently, but above all she was terrified for Scuff’s safety. With a sudden tightening of the chest, he understood perfectly.

“Hello, Worm,” he replied, looking at the child and fearing he would find him here from now on. “Did Scuff say what he was going to Jacob’s Island for?”

Worm shook his head. “ ’E were goin’ ter look for someone.” He took a deep breath. “But we found out about some real funny stuff goin’ on, like they knowed where the boat were goin’ ter go down, an’ it ’ad ter be there. But there weren’t nothing much stole. I dunno wot ’e’s after, but it’ll mean summink.” He looked at Monk with wide, bright blue eyes.