It was Evan who spotted her. He had a sharp eye for chicks. There she was, all curled up in the shop doorway. Something inside him called out. He had to do something. Even though officially, at three minutes past 1 a.m., he was off duty. He looked across at Bryce who grinned. They pulled the car over.
‘Well?’
‘I reckon.’
So he backed up.
It was amazing that he had spotted her at all. She looked like a pile of clothes. They got out of the car and walked over. Bryce crouched down and carefully picked at the coat. It was a girl of about 16. Pretty too. She opened her eyes slowly. There was no fear. More a sort of stoned puzzlement.
‘What’s up?’ she asked.
‘That’s our question.’ Evan smiled.
She smiled back.
She had a really sweet face.
She tried to bury her face back into the warmth of her big thick coat. Eager to go back to sleep. Something like a sleepy kitten.
Evan and Bryce exchanged looks.
Evan reached into her warm cocoon and rested his hand on her warm cheek. She opened her eyes again.
‘Tui.’
‘You can’t sleep here, Tui,’ he said. ‘This is K. Road.’
‘Where are you from?’ Bryce, trying to sound official.
‘Around.’
‘Like where?’
‘Been at Blade.’
‘Down in Queen Street?’
She nodded, heavy lidded.
‘Why are you so sleepy? What are you on?’
She shrugged. ‘Dunno. Strong but.’
‘Someone give you something?’
‘People always give me stuff.’
‘Was it a pill or a foil?’
She sat up, more resigned. ‘Pill. You got a smoke?’
‘No. E maybe?’
‘Don’t think so. Doesn’t feel like E, man. Feels like I’m covered in wet sacks.’
‘Shall we go back? See if we can find out who gave it to you?’
She looked at Evan in a direct way. She put on this voice. ‘I refuse to talk unless I’m in the presence of a smoke. And a cup of coffee. I know my rights.’ She wasn’t afraid or impressed.
‘Where are you heading?’
‘Some place. Some friend’s place. I dunno. I forgot. Where’s my smoke?’
‘What’s this stuff on y’ fingers? You been sniffing paint cans.’
She shook her head. ‘I’m an artist, man. Gis a smoke, come on. Please!’
Evan put his hands gently under her armpits. ‘Well let’s go get one.’ He lifted her carefully to her feet; she went floppy and was surprisingly heavy. He had to get a better position. She giggled. He could feel her ribs through the coat.
Once on her feet the girl refused to balance, first threatening to topple backwards, and then to fall to the side and finally, when he had her carefully poised, she went floppy again. He had to put his arms around her to hold her up. Their faces almost touched. Evan looked at Bryce, who was grinning. He looked back at the girl who was smiling too.
‘Come on, stand up!’ he said, feeling a bit of a dick.
‘Carry me,’ she said in a little girl’s voice, ‘Big strong man like you.’
He released her and she didn’t fall over but leaned casually against a shop window. He looked up and down the street, there were a few trannies about, that one with the stumpy leg and the real big ugly one. Too busy yabbering to pay them any attention.
‘Well, let’s get that coffee.’
They walked over and sat in the car. Evan could tell that Bryce was uncomfortable. He indicated his watch. The car had to get back or they had to report in, say what was going on. Evan was reluctant to let her go. She was a little treasure. It was like finding a hundred dollar bill. Unconnected. No obligation except to spend, to enjoy.
‘Drop us home,’ he said to Bryce, ‘You take the car back and sign us out.’
He knew that Bryce wasn’t keen. A bit of a prig, Bryce, underneath it all: behind the chill-out exterior there was still the ghost of a school prefect calling the shots. They called in at the 24 hour garage so she could get some smokes. She didn’t move, only had 60 cents, so Evan bought them. Bryce never said anything more all the way back to their flat. Evan noticed he was chewing on a toothpick. Always a sign he was stressed.
Back at the flat she lay on the couch watching TV, while he climbed out of his work clothes. Even though he wore plain clothes they still felt like a uniform to him. Sort of restrictive. He couldn’t help but feel a bit excited. A bit expectant.
Back in the sitting room the green coat was off and the shoes too. She was curled up under a throw. Warm, relaxed, sleepy. He sat on the end of the couch. She had a dopey smile on her face.
‘Cold feet,’ he said, clasping her ankle. ‘I’ll give them a rub.’
When Bryce got back it was some time after two. Evan was watching the league on Sky.
‘Where’s she gone?’ he asked.
She’s waiting for you, in there.’ Evan indicated his room.
‘What’s up?’
‘Nothing. She’s grateful. She’s got no money.’ He grinned and looked back at the screen.
‘How old is she?’
‘Who knows with a girl like that?’
‘It’s kind of important eh?’
‘She’s sixteen. She’s experienced, I can tell you. Get on with it man, I want to go to bed.’
‘Well, go then.’
‘Don’t be like that. We’re partners, remember.’
‘What’s she doing here?’
‘She walked out on her boyfriend. He was a dick. Been hanging with the streeties. Doesn’t know where exactly. Not much at geography eh?’
‘Where’s her people?’
‘Shot through. Stepfather kept telling her what to do. Got the idea. Old story. Boring.’
‘Get in there, man.’
‘I reckon she’s had a big enough night.’
‘Nah. She’s in there, open for it.’
Bryce paused. It was something he wanted no part of. He sat on the edge of the couch. There was nothing to say, so he watched TV and let time pass.
There was a nudge.
He ignored it.
Another.
‘Get in there, man.’
‘Don’t think so.’
‘I thought you had balls, man.’
That old line.
‘I thought we were partners.’
There it is.
‘I seem to remember an incident.’
‘Oh fuck off, Evan.’
He gets up and enters the room. In the gloom he sees the outline of her form in the bed. He sits down and ponders his options. There is a snuffling, semi-snore coming from next to him. He pulls back the covers. She has nothing on. He closes the door.
Outside he hears Evan singing to Australian Crawl.
Them boys light up, light up, light up.