Page 23 of The Dead Ex

‘Now why aren’t I surprised? Come along then. Let’s seewhat we can find.’

‘Bye, love. You might see me again or you could have one of my colleagues next time.’

Suddenly Scarlet didn’t want the shaggy-fringed social worker to go. ‘Will you tell Mum where I am?’

Mum had always been really firm about that. She couldn’t go off on her own. Not in their neighbourhood.

‘Of course I will.’

‘I’m worried about her.’ Scarlet’s chest grew tighter. ‘Mum sometimesforgets to eat unless I remind her.’

‘I’m sure they’ll give her food. Now you go and have your own. In the morning, you’ll be off to your new school with the other children here. Won’t she, Mrs Walters?’

‘Well, she’s not staying in the house during the day.’

The front door closed. Scarlet’s stomach rumbled loudly as Mrs Walters led the way into the kitchen. What a huge oven!

Maybe that’s whereshe kept her stash, like Mum. Or perhaps it was in that massive fridge.

‘Don’t touch! That one over there is for you lot.’

‘You’ve gottwofridges? You must be very rich!’

Mrs Walters’ dug-in eyes stared at her. ‘You taking the mickey? Let me tell you, Scarlet. I get pin money for looking after kids like you, considering the amount of trouble you lot give me. Now choose something – just one,mind – and go and eat it in front of the telly.’

There was only an egg and something green at the back with black bits on it. The smell made her sick.

‘Little bastards must have cleaned it out earlier. You can’t have that. There’s no way I’m cooking at this time of the evening. Here, take this.’

‘Wow! Thanks!’

‘You taking the piss again? It’s Pot Noodle – not bleeding caviar.’

‘They’re myfavourite.’

There was another stare. ‘Funny little thing, aren’t you?’

For a minute, Scarlet thought the woman’s face softened. Then it went hard again. ‘Give it here, then, and I’ll put some boiling water in the carton. Don’t want you hurting yourself on your first night and getting me into trouble. Here’s a spoon. Go into the room on your right and you’ll find the others.’

Scarlet felt herstomach falling in. ‘But I don’t know them.’

There was a hoarse laugh. ‘You soon will.’

There were four boys lying on the sofa. On the floorboards – no carpet in this room – were a crowd of girls. One had thick black stuff round her eyes like Mum sometimes put on when she was going out. When that happened, Scarlet had to be very good and stay in bed until Mum came back. The telly in here wasso loud that it hurt her ears.

Uncertainly, Scarlet crouched down next to the girl with black stuff, who gave her a dirty look. ‘Not another kid. If Mrs W thinks she’s putting down an extra bed, I’m going to bloody well report the cow.’

‘Right. And how are you going to do that?’

This question came from a boy with ginger hair. ‘You know you can’t win.’

‘And you know you can’t keep coming intoour room. I’ll tell on you. I’ve said it before.’

‘But you don’t mean it, do you, Angie? Cos you love it really.’

‘Fuck off.’

‘Maybe I will now someone else has just arrived.’