Amber by Heather Burnside (great novels of all time .TXT) 📗

ringing Nathan. Knowing how he was towards her, she didn’t want to ask him for help. But she was desperate so she’d decided to wait until she rang him about the funeral, hoping he would be more receptive in recognition of their mother’s death.

But now, it was apparent that she had to find a way to get out of this mess on her own. That put her in a predicament because her money was already down from not being able to work the streets. For a moment she toyed with the idea of going back on the beat, but how could she when she ran the risk of bumping into Kev?

In the end she pulled herself together. Sitting there crying wasn’t going to get her anywhere; she needed to take control. She decided to take another look at the figures, hoping she could come up with a way of sorting the arrears out. Maybe she’d be able to manage, she thought but, at the same time, she was weighed down by the burden of her own drugs habit, knowing that it took up a huge chunk of money every day.

Amber went over to the pile of bills, which she had stacked up on the coffee table. She had been ready to reel off some of the figures to Nathan but never got the chance. She grabbed the letter on top of the pile and unfolded it. But Amber wished she hadn’t bothered because it emphasised her dire situation. It was an eviction notice, telling her she only had two weeks remaining before she would be thrown out of her home.

59

March 2016

Sapphire was enjoying Skinner’s company. They had arranged to keep in touch ever since she had bumped into him in Piccadilly a few weeks earlier and were now sitting inside the Rose and Crown with Skinner’s friend, Elena. Skinner could be witty at times and it felt good to be in his company, especially as not many of her crowd seemed to come into the pub these days.

She hadn’t seen Amber since that night when things had been awkward between them, and that had been about two or three weeks ago. She hadn’t seen Angie since then either. It had been the night when Angie was really ill with her chest. Sapphire couldn’t help but worry about both of them, but she had no way of getting in touch; she didn’t have a phone number for Amber or Angie.

Knowing there wasn’t much she could do about either of them, Sapphire was trying to relax and enjoy herself with Skinner and Elena. When a stunning looking girl walked into the pub, Skinner turned to Sapphire and said, ‘Well, my date’s arrived so I’m dumping you two.’ He made as if to leave the table and nodded at the girl, a mischievous grin lighting up his face.

Skinner had always acknowledged his lack of looks, and often joked about them in a self-deprecating way. It was one of the things Sapphire liked about him; the fact that he could make light of something that would bother most people. She laughed with him. ‘You should be so bloody lucky!’

‘What is happening?’ asked Elena. ‘Does he know this woman? And what is dumping?’

Sapphire and Skinner both giggled. Elena struggled with the subtle nuances of the English language at times and it amused them. ‘He fancies her,’ said Sapphire.

‘Oh, you mean, he finds her attractive?’

‘Yeah, that’s right. He’s pretending she’s here to see him, so he doesn’t want to stay with us anymore.’

Elena laughed but she wore a bewildered expression. Then, trying to join in the fun, she looked at the door and announced. ‘This one is for me.’

Sapphire spun around on her seat and both she and Skinner followed Elena’s gaze. ‘Shit!’ said Skinner, with a look of terror on his face.

Sapphire didn’t understand his extreme reaction at first but when she looked more closely at the good-looking man who had just entered the pub, she recognised him. It was Kev Pike!

Sapphire felt her heart thud and she turned away from the door, keeping her eyes averted and hoping he wouldn’t notice her. But Skinner seemed just as shocked. He let out a loud splutter and she gazed up to see him choking on his drink, his loud cough drawing attention from other tables. Elena got up from her seat and slapped him on the back several times.

‘For fuck’s sake!’ Sapphire whispered. ‘Keep a low profile, will yer? I don’t want the bastard coming over here.’

But Kev Pike had already noticed them and, even though she had her back to the door, Sapphire could sense his approach as she watched Skinner’s face blanch, and his shoulders tighten up towards his ears. She tensed too as she waited for Kev Pike to reach them.

‘Are you a mate of Amber’s?’ he asked Sapphire once he had reached them and had turned to face her.

She looked up at him, feeling her adrenalin pulse as she took in his stern features. ‘I know her. But I haven’t seen her for a while.’

As she spoke, she watched Skinner across the table from her and noticed his lips twitching nervously; she was glad Kev Pike had his back to him.

‘Does she come in here?’ Kev asked.

‘She used to but, like I say, I haven’t seen her for a while.’

‘Any idea where she might be?’

Sapphire shrugged. ‘Not really, no. We’re not really that close.’

Kev Pike walked away without thanking them, and Sapphire and Skinner exchanged worried looks.

‘He’s gone to the bar,’ whispered Skinner.

‘What? Who is this man?’ asked Elena, picking up on their nervousness.

Skinner visibly jumped on hearing how loudly Elena had spoken. ‘Shut the fuck up!’ he hissed. ‘We don’t want him to hear us.’

Sapphire sat in silence while Skinner kept gazing over to the bar surreptitiously and giving her a quiet commentary about Kev’s actions. ‘He’s talking to the barmaid,’ he whispered. ‘I think he’s asking her summat.’

‘Stop looking at him for fuck’s sake! You don’t want to