Through the Cracks by Honey Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

about me.’ He spoke so fast it was hard to understand him.
    ‘Please don’t leave me.’
    ‘No, listen – don’t tell them I was here. If you have to, tell them some boys swam but you didn’t see none of them or what they looked like. They swam and they went. Okay?’
    ‘I’ll get in trouble.’
    ‘Don’t describe me or nothing, will you?’
    ‘They’ll put me away.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘He said they would put me away.’
    ‘Who?’
    ‘I don’t know what to do.’
    ‘Shit. Fuck!’
    Billy rushed forwards, grabbed Adam by the arm and yanked him to his feet. Not until Adam was halfway down the hallway did he realise he was being taken. Billy pulled him along, his hand clamped tight above Adam’s elbow.
    ‘Run!’
    They went out through the billiards room, down the steps, across the lawn. Dry ground thudded beneath the soles of Adam’s feet. A low branch skimmed the top of his head. Leaves brushed against his arms. Billy’s grip eased as they approached the back fence. He crouched and tugged Adam down beside him.
    ‘Shh . . .’
    They were under the lemon tree in the far corner of the yard. The sheds were nearby. Between the tree trunks the house was lit up. Two policemen were walking up the decking steps. They had flashlights and had come in through the unlocked gate. Monty and Jerry came out, barking and growling. The police ignored them.
    ‘Rat dogs,’ Billy muttered as he watched. ‘If they come over here, I’ll strangle them.’
    Billy wasn’t out of breath like Adam was. His shoulder was pressed up against Adam’s. It felt solid and warm. His coarse leg hairs brushed against Adam’s skin. Adam continued to gasp for breath.
    ‘We’ll sneak out in a tick.’
    One of the policemen knocked on the sliding door and called into the house.
    ‘Mr Vander? Joe Vander – it’s the police.’
    The other policeman was at the pool edge, looking down at the wet footprints and the towel dropped on the decking.
    ‘Have a wank over that, why don’t you?’ Billy murmured. ‘Aw, look,’ he said in a slower, different voice, ‘I detect there’s been some poolside activity here. If I didn’t know better, I’d say there’ve been people swimming here. Fuck me, really, constable? Jeez, how do you work this shit out?’ He spoke normally again, ‘Such losers.’
    The policeman picked up the wet towel with the toe of his boot and kicked it away. He said something over his shoulder. Both policemen laughed.
    ‘They’ll go down and see that room.’ Billy spoke in the other voice again, ‘Hmm, here’s an interesting thing, a funny place for a bedroom, no windows, but peaceful, and nice how it’s got a shower.’ Billy snorted. ‘Better off steering clear of them altogether. Cops aren’t gonna wanna out a perv in this street.’
    The police went inside. Billy rose.
    ‘When will we come back?’
    ‘What are you – fourteen? Fifteen? They’ll place you somewhere. If they don’t try and swing it around on you. Come on, we’ve gotta move.’
    A policeman walked back out and stood on the deck. He shone a torch into the trees and around the yard.
    Billy crouched again. ‘
Shit!
’

M osquito bites tingled and itched on Adam’s arms and legs. His eyes were burning. After every couple of blinks he kept them closed a second. He swayed. Billy didn’t seem tired at all. Beneath the smell of sweat there was something else, not shampoo or soap, something nice like that, though. His tongue was always moving – licking his teeth, wetting his lips. Like his body, his face was never still. Monty and Jerry had caught their scent. Billy hissed at them to get back. Another police car had arrived, and an ambulance. Both gates had been opened and the vehicles had driven in and parked around near the decking steps. Headlights shone across the grass and down towards the empty chicken cages. Adam sat with his knees up against his chest. Billy was squatting, bouncing on his haunches. He seemed unable to stop moving.