Part 21 (1/2)
He shrugged. *Still shopping.' There was no hint of irony in his voice.
Sas walked over from the jewellery department.
*How'd you go?' I asked.
*No good. Let's go somewhere else.' Her eyes twinkled.
As we neared the doorway, I stood taller, feeling confident, strong and happy.
*Excuse me.' A hand tapped my shoulder. *Would you three come with us, please?' A blonde woman dressed in jeans and a T-s.h.i.+rt motioned for me to follow her back into the store.
The confidence and happiness rushed from me. She was the one I'd stepped around to reach the make-up stand. A guy with a walkie-talkie hanging from his belt stood behind Sas and Khaden, blocking any chance of escape.
*Why should we?' asked Sas, hands on her hips.
*Because it would be less embarra.s.sing than doing this here.'
*Doing what? Kidnapping us?' Sas's face was red. *If you have a problem, deal with it here. This is so unfair. You're picking on us because we're teenagers and that's no different to racism.' Sas's noise attracted the stares of shoppers.
If only the whole complex would collapse and swallow us.
*When you're finished making a fuss,' said the woman. *Come this way or-'
*Okay, we're moving,' said Khaden, pus.h.i.+ng Sas.
We followed the woman through the shoe department to double white doors.
*Actually, this is racism,' said Sas, her voice edged with victory. *You stopped us because Khaden's skin is darker than ours.'
I cringed.
*Whatever,' said the woman, punching numbers into a keypad outside another door.
She ushered us inside. The room was plain, with only a table, four chairs and a water dispenser in the corner.
*I'm Molly and this is Sal,' said the woman, pointing to the guy. *Take a seat.'
Sal slipped out of the room.
Molly stared at me. *Want to take the mascara from your shorts?'
With shaking hands I pulled it from its hiding place and tossed it on the table. The mascara rolled to the floor, landing at Molly's feet.
Sas's eyes widened. *Ruby, how could you?'
Molly shook her head and gave Sas a thin smile. *And the bracelet.'
*I find that offensive, as if-'
Molly's laugh was breathy. *We can do this the easy way or the hard way.'
Sas's eyes widened. *Look, I...'
Molly drummed her fingers on the table.
With a sigh, Sas reached into her bra and pulled out a men's leather bracelet with silver beads.
Molly turned her attention to Khaden. *Your turn.'
Khaden stared at the bracelet on the table, smiled at Sas, and took a pair of earrings from his pocket.
*Nothing else?' asked Molly.
Khaden shook his head.
I slipped my hands under my thighs to stop them shaking, and fought back tears. Dad would kill me, rip me apart and kill me again.
*So what now?' asked Sas, folding her arms.
*We call your parents.'
The colour drained from Khaden and Sas's faces.
Maybe, if I played this right, Dad wouldn't kill me. I cleared my throat.
*Molly, Khaden's dad is out of town for work and Sas's mum is in Tasmania on holidays.' I hoped Khaden and Sas would follow me.
*So who is their guardian at present?'
I shrugged. *They're staying with me. So I guess it's my dad.'
I heard Sas's sharp breath.
Molly handed me a pen and notepad. *What's his number?' She took the pad back from me and tapped it. *Won't be a minute.'
*What gives?' asked Khaden the moment Molly left the room.
Sas leant forward. *Yeah, Ruby, your dad went mental at the vet's and you hadn't done anything really wrong, but this ... he'll blow a fuse for sure.'
*It'll be right. Dad will sort this out.'
*This better work, otherwise, we're screwed.'
I wondered where the tough Sas had gone.
The door opened and two cops came into the room, one young and serious, the other older with a softer face. Molly followed them. *Stuart Martin's working on that new development on North Road and should be here in five minutes.' She nodded at me. *This is his daughter, Ruby, this young lady is Sarah Donohue and-'
*h.e.l.lo Khaden,' said the older cop.
My chin just about fell to my knees. Sas looked as stunned as I felt. Khaden, slumped in the plastic seat, folded his arms.