Amber by Heather Burnside (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📕

never mind “what again”, lady. I’ve a right to go out as much as I bloody well want. Anyway, you never know, my luck might be in.’

She winked as she said the last words, but Amy ignored the comment and went through to the kitchen. They didn’t speak much while they prepared the evening meal and, when Nathan returned home, they all sat together and ate in silence.

It wasn’t long afterwards before Loretta was ready to go out again. Amy smiled at her mother, noticing the transformation as she seemed to have added more makeup since that afternoon. Loretta gave both her children a quick peck on the cheek, left them her usual instructions about not answering the door to anyone, and then she was gone.

Amy gazed across at her brother who was transfixed on the TV screen. She hated it when they were home alone. Nathan wasn’t very good company; he had his own interests and rarely made conversation with her. But, aside from that, it was scary being home without their mother, especially at night.

She went up to her room but couldn’t settle, worried about noises coming from outside. She gazed through her bedroom window into the overgrown back garden but wished she hadn’t. It was dark and she thought she saw the shadow of a person on the garden path but as a bush swayed in the evening breeze the shadow moved and she realised that was what had caused it.

Apart from being scared, she was bored. She decided to go downstairs and watch TV. At least now that her mother was out, she wouldn’t be bothered by her drunken ramblings for a while. So, although she worried about being at home without an adult, there were some consolations.

But there was another reason she didn’t mind her mother going out so much. Because maybe, like she had said, her luck might be in, and, if it were, then perhaps she would meet another man like Dale and things could go back to the way they once were.

21

October 2015

Amber walked along the backstreets behind Piccadilly station figuring there was no point in changing her patch. It would mean starting all over again trying to find a good spot that wasn’t occupied by any of the other girls. Besides, Cora had done her worst and hopefully that was an end to it. She knew it was a risk though and that Cora and Jack might return. Tonight seemed quieter than usual but maybe that was her imagination. As she walked, she could feel the rapid pounding of her heart and she continuously glanced around, dreading a repeat of the attack.

She reached her spot at the mouth of a railway arch and waited, afraid of venturing too deeply into the gloomy interior of the tunnel. Even where she stood the light was muted as the streetlamps were widely spaced. She felt the chill of the night air carried on a breeze and shivered.

Further up the street she could see another girl, but she was too far away to chat to or to summon for help if needed. Amber could vaguely pick out her short skirt and high-heeled boots and she surmised that she was also doing business. Occasionally a car passed by but none of them stopped for either Amber or the other girl. Was business slower tonight or was that just her imagination too?

Amber’s ears were so attuned to what was happening around her that she picked up sounds she wouldn’t normally notice. The trickle of running water coming from somewhere above. Traffic in the distance. Voices from a nearby street, which reached a crescendo then faded away.

It was a while before a car pulled up. But it didn’t stop for Amber; it stopped for the other girl who got inside, making Amber feel even more alone and vulnerable when it drove off. But as she looked in the other direction, she could see another car approaching. She stepped forward and the car stopped. Still feeling cautious, Amber bent and peeped through the side window before going any further. Relieved that it wasn’t one of her attackers, she walked over to the car, negotiated a price with the driver and jumped inside.

Two customers later and Amber was standing back at her spot when a black BMW pulled up. She recognised it as Kev’s car and peeped through the passenger’s side window, her heartbeat speeding up when she spotted Kev Pike at the wheel. Internally she cursed her own weakness; why did he have this effect on her?

‘Come here,’ he said, and Amber approached the BMW.

Kev Pike wound down the window. ‘Fuckin’ hell! Someone’s done a good job on you, haven’t they? Who was it?’

‘Just some random mugger,’ said Amber. She didn’t want to give him any names in case it came back on her.

Kev got out of the car and reached up to touch her face, gently caressing her bruises with his fingers. ‘Shit, what a mess!’ he said.

‘Thanks,’ said Amber in an attempt at wit.

‘No, I didn’t mean that. You’re a good-looking girl. I meant the bruises. I don’t like violence against women.’

He observed her for a few minutes without speaking. Amber felt uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but his reaction had also surprised her. She had been given to believe that he traded in violence but maybe she had got it wrong.

While he watched her, Amber took in his appearance. He oozed masculinity and she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him despite her previous mistrust.

Then he spoke. ‘I can make sure they don’t do it again, y’know. No one will bother you once you’re under my protection.’

This time Amber didn’t turn him down. Spurred on by fear and by what seemed to be his genuine concern for her safety, she asked, ‘How much?’

‘Hundred a week.’

Amber chewed on her bottom lip while she thought over her response. ‘I haven’t got it yet, but I should have by the end of the night.’

Kev grinned, and his normally