Free Cold Deception by D.B. Tait Page B

few bucks on me, Nessa. Where’re you staying?”
    “Houso have got me on a waiting list. Should get something soon. I’m in the hotel up on the highway.”
    Julia knew the place. Dee told her the housing crisis meant down and out people like Nessa either slept rough or got seven days of emergency housing at a hotel. What happened after that was anyone’s guess, but from the look of Nessa she’d be heading back to jail sooner rather than later.
    “What about Vinnies or the Salvos? Can they help you out?”
    She sneered. “Sour faced bitches. Took one look at me and threatened to call the police. Won’t be going back there again.”
    Julia thought there was probably more to it than that, having once seen Nessa go berserk after a drop of ice hit the jail. Her mind made up, she took out her wallet and gave her ten dollars.
    “Don’t get pissed off with me, but use it to buy food. You need to start looking after yourself.”
    Nessa peered at her again and for a moment her eyes were clear and sharp. “You’re a soft touch, Julia. Always have been.” She grasped Julia’s hand and smiled a sweet, sad smile. “You look after yourself. Don’t let those bastards get you down.” She jerked her head over to a car parked on the other side of the road. Dylan sat in the front seat staring at her. Another cop was beside him.
    Great. Just great. He probably thinks I’ve just scored.
    Nessa let go of her hand and shuffled off up the street. Julia stared after her, sudden tears blurring her vision. Once Nessa had been young and full of life. Ten years of being yoked to Angus O’Reardon had done their damage. She’d be lucky to see another ten years.
    She felt rather than saw Dylan stand beside her.
    “She has a couple of kids, did you know that?” she said, turning to him. “God knows where they are because she doesn’t. Probably in some foster home somewhere waiting to become the next round of drug fodder.”
    She brushed the tears from her eyes and went to push past him.
    “Julia. I need to talk to you.”
    She stopped and frowned at him. “About what?”
    “The night you were arrested. You said you were assaulted.”
    She shrugged. “Forget it. It was a long time ago.”
    “I know who it was. He’s bad news. We need to stop him. And I’m guessing you know a lot more about his activities in prison than most people.”
    She stared at him as a shiver went through her body.
    “No. I can’t help you. I don’t want to be part of that world again. I won’t.”
    “Then I’m right? He is behind the drug trade into prison?”
    She shrugged. “So what if he is? If it isn’t him it’d be someone else.”
    She stepped into the shop and picked up a newspaper, all the time aware of Dylan at the entrance staring at her intently. She took the paper to the counter and fished out some coins from her wallet.
    “Don’t come back again.”
    Her head snapped up. “What? What did you say?”
    The man behind the counter glared at her with hard, accusing eyes.
    “Don’t come back in here again. I don’t need your type in my shop. And keep your drug deals away from Katoomba Street or I’ll be calling him myself.” He jerked his head toward Dylan.
    She grabbed her paper as a cold, bitter tightness settled in her bones. This is what her life would be like. Mel at the motor registry was the exception. This was real.
    She passed Dylan still standing at the entrance of the shop. Holding up her hand as if to ward him off, she shook her head, unable to speak.
    “What happened? What’s wrong?” he asked, following her down the street.
    “Get away from me,” she croaked. “Leave me alone.”
    She broke into a run, wanting to leave him, wanting to leave everything behind. When she got to the end of the street, she stopped and caught her breath.
    She would not be defeated. If she let herself fall into despair, she’d become like Nessa. That wasn’t an option. Turning, she stared up Katoomba Street and watched the flow of