Free Life or Death by Michael Robotham Page A

staring at?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘Are you some kind of pervert?’
    ‘No, ma’am.’
    ‘Don’t call me ma’am!’
    ‘Sorry.’
    Audie leaves hurriedly, wiping his wet hands on his jeans. In the street outside the bus station there are people smoking and loitering. Some are dealers. Some are pimps. Some are predators looking for runaways and strays; girls who can be sweet-talked; girls who can be shot up; girls who stop yelling when hands close over their throats. Maybe I’m jaded , thinks Audie, who doesn’t usually look for the worst in people.
    Circling the block, he finds a McDonald’s, brightly lit and decorated in primary colours. He buys himself a meal and a coffee. A little while later he notices the mother and daughter from the restroom. They’re sitting in a booth making sandwiches from a loaf of bread and a jar of strawberry jelly.
    Audie’s enjoying the scene when the manager approaches them.
    ‘You’re not allowed to eat here unless you buy sumpin’.’
    ‘We’re not doing any harm,’ the woman says.
    ‘Y’all making a mess.’
    Audie takes his tray and walks to the booth. ‘Hurry up, girls, what did you decide you wanted?’ He slides onto the bench seat opposite and looks at the manager. ‘Is there a problem?’
    ‘No, sir.’
    ‘Good to know, maybe you could get us some extra napkins.’
    The manager mumbles something and retreats. Audie cuts his hamburger into quarters and slides it across the table. The girl reaches for the food but gets a slap on the wrist from her mother. ‘You don’t take food from a stranger.’ She looks at Audie accusingly. ‘Are you following us?’
    ‘No, ma’am.’
    ‘Do I look like an old maid?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Then don’t call me ma’am! I’m younger ’n you are. And we don’t need your charity.’
    The girl lets out a squeak of disappointment. She looks at the burger and then at her mother.
    ‘I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to win my trust so you can do terrible things to us.’
    ‘You have a paranoid mind,’ says Audie.
    ‘I’m not a junkie or a prostitute.’
    ‘I’m glad to hear that.’ Audie sips his coffee. ‘I’ll go back over there if you want.’
    She doesn’t say anything. The bright neon lights show up the freckles on her nose and her eyes that are – what? – green or blue or something in between. The little girl has managed to sneak a quarter of the burger and is eating it behind her hand. She reaches out and takes a French fry.
    ‘What’s your name?’ asks Audie.
    ‘Thcarlett.’
    ‘Did you get something for that tooth, Scarlett?’
    She nods and holds up a Raggedy Anne doll, which looks pre-loved but much-loved.
    ‘What do you call her?’
    ‘Bethie.’
    ‘That’s a pretty name.
    Scarlett covers her nose with her sleeve. ‘You thmell.’
    Audie laughs. ‘I’m fixin’ to have a shower real soon.’ He holds out his hand. ‘I’m Spencer.’
    Scarlett looks at his outstretched palm and then at her mother. She reaches out. Her whole hand fits inside his fist.
    ‘And who might you be?’ Audie asks the mother.
    ‘Cassie.’
    She doesn’t take his hand. Despite her prettiness, Audie can see a hard shell around Cassie like scar tissue covering an old wound. He can imagine her growing up in a poorer quarter, conning boys into buying her snow cones for a flash of her knickers, using her sexuality but never quite understanding the dangers of the game.
    ‘And what are you ladies doing out so late?’ he asks.
    ‘None of your business,’ says Cassie.
    ‘We’re thleeping in our car,’ says Scarlett.
    Her mother hushes her. Scarlet looks at the floor and hugs her doll.
    ‘Do you know of any cheap motels nearby?’ asks Audie.
    ‘How cheap?’
    ‘Cheap.’
    ‘They’re a cab-ride away.’
    ‘Not a problem.’ He slides out of the booth. ‘Well I best be off. Nice meeting you.’ He pauses. ‘When was the last time you had a hot shower?’
    Cassie glares at him. Audie holds up his hands.