Ruby by Heather Burnside (carter reed txt) 📗

came back into the living room carrying a small bag but no drink. Then she sat down on the armchair over from Trina, dipped her finger inside the bag and held it to her nose, taking a snort of cocaine up each nostril. ‘Want some?’ she asked, offering the bag to Trina.

‘No thanks.’

Shelley sniffed. ‘Suit yourself.’ Then she added, ‘Well, go on then. You can tell me while I’m waiting for the kettle to boil.’

‘I had the landlord round yesterday.’ She noticed Shelley blanch as though she had only just recalled his arrangement to call and collect the rent. ‘He says you’re two months overdue with the rent. Eight hundred quid you owe.’

Shelley shrugged. ‘Maybe. I missed him once or twice but it’s no biggie.’

‘You could have fooled me. He came round here going ape shit! I had to pay him two hundred pounds before he’d go away. He’s coming back today for the rest.’

Shelley smiled falsely. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll sort him out.’

‘And what about the two hundred quid you owe me? I shouldn’t have had to give him that when I’ve already paid you my share.’

‘You’ll get it, keep your hair on!’ Shelley snapped.

‘Some of my money’s been going missing as well,’ Trina said, determined to have it out with her now she’d started.

Shelley pulled her shoulders back and frowned as if in surprise but the movement was exaggerated and false. ‘You sure?’

‘Definitely. I’ve been checking it regularly. Another twenty quid went missing the night before last while I was at work.’

Shelley shrugged. ‘So, what you trying to say?’

Trina paused and took a sharp breath. ‘Well, there’s only one person who it can be, Shelley, unless you had somebody else in the flat that night.’

‘No I fuckin’ didn’t!’ Shelley snapped. ‘I told you I don’t have clients back.’

‘In that case, it must be you who took it,’ said Trina, ‘and it’s not the first time either.’

Shelley snapped again. ‘I haven’t touched your fuckin’ money! I earn plenty of my own. I don’t need yours.’

‘Well who took it then?’ demanded Trina.

‘I don’t know, do I?’

For a few moments the conversation halted as both girls glared belligerently at each other. But Trina wasn’t prepared to leave it at that and have Shelley worm her way out of it like she did when she didn’t settle up with her for things she had bought for the flat.

‘It’s not on, Shelley. It’s got to stop!’ she said.

‘I’ve told you I’ve not had your fuckin’ money!’ yelled Shelley. ‘Don’t you dare come here laying down the law and accusing me of stealing.’

‘It has to be you. There’s no one else it can be. And you never pay me what you fuckin’ owe me either. I’m sick of it!’

‘Right, well if you’re sick of it, you know what you can do! Get your own fuckin’ place,’ shouted Shelley who then stormed out of the room.

For a second Trina was tempted to follow her and put her straight about things. But then she wavered as she thought about her situation. She was lucky to still be living here after her ill-fated pass at Shelley. If she walked out now then she’d have all the hassle of having to find somewhere else to live. She didn’t really know anybody else who would put her up so she’d have to find a place of her own. But, at only sixteen, she didn’t really know how to go about it, and then there would be all the expense of having to start from scratch.

In the end she decided to stay put for now but she’d have to find somewhere to hide her money to make sure Shelley couldn’t get hold of it anymore. And as for all the other expenditure, she wouldn’t buy anything for the house in future unless Shelley gave her the money up front.

Hopefully, that should put an end to the money issues. But deep down she knew that the reason Shelley spent so much money was because she had a drug problem. And that was something that wasn’t going to go away. If Shelley continued to leave the rent unpaid then it was only a matter of time before Trina would be forced to move out.

37

November 2007

‘How was it?’ asked Ruby as Tiffany walked into their bedroom and slipped into bed beside her.

‘Good. No major problems and the takings were well up for a Tuesday night.’

‘Great,’ said Ruby, snuggling up to Tiffany from behind and draping her arm across her waist. ‘It just gets better, doesn’t it?’

Tiffany muttered ‘erm’ and within seconds she was fast asleep, having worked the night shift on the reception desk. They had been open for several weeks now and the club was going from strength to strength.

Most nights Ruby and Tiffany worked the reception desk together but they each had two nights off a week. Ruby also spent some time with her private clients who she entertained in her upstairs ‘dungeon’ while Tiffany ran the reception area alone.

After a few hours’ sleep Ruby got up and went to make some breakfast. Her kitchen was stunning with polished granite work surfaces, top-of-the-range appliances and the latest gadgets. Like her previous flat, the rest of the apartment was tastefully decorated and furnished, except that, with her increased income, the furniture was even more high-end. Although Ruby and Tiffany’s private rooms were only up a flight of stairs from the rest of the club, they looked a million miles away.

By the time Tiffany was out of bed, Ruby had fixed them each a dish of chopped fruit with bran and poured them both a glass of fresh orange. These days Ruby lived a healthy existence. Her healthy lifestyle was also reflected in her regular visits to the gym, which helped to maintain her strong, toned physique.

‘How are things with Victor nowadays?’ asked Tiffany when they sat down to eat.

‘What do you mean?’

‘You know, any more roaming hands?’

‘Oh no! There was only that first time when I