I’d not seen him down here before. This used to be Suzie’s patch until… well, we all know what happened to Suzie, don’t we? The Waterfront Beat we called it, best spot in town because they knew where to find you. Worst spot for the same reason, but I’d never had trouble, not really. “Cold, isn’t it?” Again he didn’t answer, just looked down at me; hey, that’s what I’m here for, I wanted to say, come stare down your nose at me but I’m doing all right. My girl got four GCSE’s last summer, now she’s off to college; I’ve got a flat up near the Hoe, I’m off the smack; how about you? But it doesn’t do to look too smart or talk lippy to the boys, some of them can get really nasty especially if they’re coming down and trade’s not been good, so I just smiled. He bent down and pinched the cigarette from between my fingers, dragging at it like he was kissing a lover, then handed it back, which was nice. “Nah, you keep it, love. I’m trying to give up.” He grinned then. “Me too. But this is a hard night and I needed something.” “You got trade then? It’s been dead here. Wish I’d stopped in, with my knitting.” He grinned again and wormed his way down to sit next to me, feet dangling towards the water. He was wearing boots too, great buckled things that looked like they weighed more than he did, huge big cloak wrapped round him, keeping the cold out but not quite keeping the smell in. He was pretty, in an understairs-cupboard kind of way, and I could see how he could have been earning tonight; hanging round the Devonshire Arms with that pale, big-eyed look, they like them like that up there. |
