Page 39 of The Dead Ex

Perhaps it’s time to put an end to it.

12

Scarlet

Scarlet couldn’t sleep that night – and not just because of the noises from Dawn’s bed.

‘Mum,’ she kept whispering. ‘I’m coming to see you.’

Saying it out loud made it feel more real. But the scary bit was that she couldn’t picture Mum’s face clearly. She could remember the name of her scent – patchouli – but it was hard to recall exactly what it had smelled like. Yet if she closedher eyes really tight, she could almost feel the touch of her mother’s face against hers. Soft. Warm. Like the inside of her cheek.

Friday, Mr W had said. That’s when the social worker was going to take her to see Mum. She had ‘special permission’ to be ‘absent’ from school. Where exactly was the prison? It was the one question she’d forgotten to ask.

‘Please can she be all right,’ Scarlet whisperedinto the darkness. ‘Help her to remember to take those tablets that made her feel happy. And clean her teeth because sometimes she forgets. Oh – and eat properly too.’

That’s when she heard it. The crackle of a packet. Muffled laughter. Someone munching.

‘Want some?’ asked Dawn.

In the half-light, Scarlet could see her holding out somecrackers. Darren, who was meant to be in the room nextdoor, reached out to grab a handful for himself.

‘Where did you get them from?’

‘Nicked them from the family cupboard, didn’t we?’

‘We’ll get into trouble if they find out,’ said Scarlet between mouthfuls. The crackers stuck in her throat, but she still couldn’t get enough.

‘Then they ought to feed us right. ’Sides, we’re careful. We only take bits every now and then. Store the rest underthe bed. Look! We’ve got chocolate too!’

Scarlet’s hand shot out. Fruit and nut. One of the uncles used to bring this sometimes. Her favourite.

‘Don’t get the sheet dirty,’ warned the boy, ‘or Mrs W will think you’ve been shitting yourself as well as peeing.’

Scarlet felt her cheeks grow hot with shame.

‘Don’t be so mean.’ Dawn was shoving the boy out of bed.

‘Fuck off. You’ll wake the others.’

Uh-oh. Footsteps were coming along the landing. ‘What’s that noise?’

To Scarlet’s horror, the door opened. Mr W glared at her.

‘Nothing,’ whispered Scarlet, glancing across at Dawn who was now pretending to be asleep. ‘I just rolled off the mattress.’

‘Careful. Or you’ll get a bruise.’

His voice was softer than his wife’s. He padded towards her. His feet were bare, and he only had pyjama bottomson. His stomach flopped down over the waistband as though it needed folding to be tidied up. ‘Let me sort you out.’

Scarlet held her breath. Surely he’d see the shape hiding under Dawn’s duvet?

But no. He seemed to spend a long time, kneeling down beside her and rearranging the duvet. ‘That’s better,’ he grunted, getting up. ‘Should keep you nice and safe now.’ He stood over her for a bit, lookingdown. Scarlet’s skin began to crawl. Even in the dark, she could see that the back of his head was all shiny and bare on top. Then he seemed to shake himself and began walking towards the door.

‘No more noise, do you hear me,’ he said in a loud voice. ‘Or there’ll be trouble.’

‘Fucking hell,’ breathed Dawn, emerging from the covers. ‘That was close. Ta, Scarlet. You was great.’

‘Reckon he’sgot the hots for you,’ whispered Darren. ‘Just like Kayleigh …’