The Promise Read online

  ‘If you tell anyone, I’m going to come back and I’m going to do exactly what I just did to you to your sister,’ Shaun said with a wry smile.

  ‘I won’t tell.’ Georgie knew he meant it. ‘I promise, I won’t tell.’

  Shaun nodded, satisfied that Georgie was telling the truth; but just for added measure he said: ‘Good, cause even if you did, Mrs Reed and that stupid social worker of yours don’t give two shits about you. You know that, don’t you?’

  Shaun nodded over to Corey and Annie, and the three of them laughed: a private joke that Georgie was being left out of.

  ‘We know all about your mother. We overheard Mrs Reed talking about her on the phone. A murderer and a prostitute. You’re just like her – a little slag too.’

  Georgie locked eyes with her sister across the room. Snotty, with tears running down her cheeks, and a look of confusion on her face. Too young to comprehend what had just happened to Georgie but she knew it was bad. That Shaun had hurt her sister.

  ‘At least they’re getting rid of this little whiney brat tomorrow,’ Annie piped up, enjoying seeing Georgie’s demise first hand. The girl wouldn’t be so full of herself after tonight’s little show that was for sure. ‘Found a foster home for her, haven’t they? But they couldn’t find one for you.’

  Finally, Annie let go of Marnie.

  She ran across the room and flung herself into Georgie’s arms. Hugging each other tightly, the two girls were locked in their embrace.

  Annie grinned.

  ‘Make the most of your time together. You probably won’t see her again. You’ll be stuck in here for good just like the rest of us rejects.’

  They all left the room, closing the door behind them. Georgie could hear Shaun still laughing, smug in the knowledge that he’d taught Georgie Parker a lesson she wouldn’t forget in a hurry.

  Pulling Marnie in close to her now, Georgie Parker closed her eyes. Relieved that Shaun James had a least spared her sister from his brutal attack.

  It was her only saving grace.

  She could barely comprehend what the older boy had just done to her.

  How he'd hurt her. Humiliated her.

  Swallowing down the acrid bile that rose in the back of her throat Georgie embraced the numbness that swept over her as she fought back her tears.

  She had to be strong for Marnie now, if no-one else.

  She knew that if she started crying now, she'd never be able to stop

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  ‘I’m really sorry, Rose. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but this isn’t going to work out, I’m afraid. Following the incident this morning, I really think it’s best that we find a more suitable arrangement for the Parker girls.’ Mrs Reed spoke with regret, well aware that Georgie and Marnie Parker had already been through enough drama the past few days without her adding to it further by taking this action, but she didn’t have any other choice. ‘I can’t condone any form of violence in the house, and seeing as we are already well over capacity… ’ she paused regretfully. ‘I’m afraid it’s the only viable decision left to make.’

  ‘Is there any way that you could perhaps reconsider?’ Rose asked, knowing that Mrs Reed couldn’t, even if she wanted to. She was simply following protocol.

  Mrs Reed shook her head.

  ‘Look, I’d love to help you. Really, I would. I can see that Georgie and Marnie have been through so much, but I just can’t. Whether or not the attack was provoked, is neither here nor there. Georgie Parker has barely been here twelve hours and already she’s broken another resident’s nose, and given him two black eyes in the process. There’s no way that I could keep her here now. I just can’t allow it.’

  Mrs Reed knew that this now meant that Georgie and Marnie might be split up in order to find them some suitable accommodation, and she felt heart sorry for that, she really did, but she had a business to run here. Other children’s welfares at stake. She couldn’t risk any more incidents occurring.

  ‘Look, trust me. Shaun James is troublesome, and the likelihood is that he instigated the attack. The boy is notorious for his intimidating behaviour. Maybe Georgie just snapped? She’s been through a lot. I understand that. But I just don’t think it would work out if we kept her here. Her and Shaun would be at loggerheads with each other and, right now, I just don’t have the resources to deal with it. I’m understaffed as it is. I think that the girls would be better off being moved into longer term foster care.’

  Rose nodded. She’d been shocked when she’d first got the call from Mrs Reed informing her that Georgie had not only been involved in a physical fight, but that she’d also been the main assailant. Even more so when she’d found out that Georgie’s adversary was a boy. An older, troubled boy at that.

  ‘I know that placing Marnie won’t be an issue. We have families lined up that could offer her a placement as early as tomorrow morning. It’s Georgie that might be the issue, going on her recent behavioural issues that I’d have to declare to the foster families, and her age; teenagers can be harder to place. It might take me a few days to find her somewhere. Are you happy for her to remain here until then?’ Rose asked, feeling physically sick at the thought of having to tell the girls that they were to be separated.

  She had promised them that she would do everything in her power to keep them together. Now the decision was out of her hands. Georgie’s actions this morning had forced this. There was nothing more that Rose could say or do on the matter.

  ‘Two more days,’ Mrs Reed said, finally. ‘No more than that, though, and if Georgie causes any more trouble, then I’ll have no choice but to ask you to remove her at the very first instance.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Rose relaxed slightly, relieved that at least Georgie could stay here for now. She’d speak to her. Ensure that Georgie was aware of how serious the situation was. Make sure that she kept herself out of trouble.

  ‘I know it’s late, but do you think it would be okay if I went and spoke to the girls and let them know about the arrangements?’ Rose figured that, at least if she told them tonight, the girls would have a chance to get their head around the idea. They could have their last night together rather than being snatched away from each other in the morning when the first they’d hear of it was when she came to collect Marnie.

  This was kinder, even though right now it really didn’t feel that way.

  ‘Of course.’ Mrs Reed was up on her feet, and opening her office door. ‘I’ll walk you down to their room.’

  Leading Rose down the corridor, past the dayroom, Mrs Reed knocked on the girls’ bedroom door. Glancing over to Rose she offered her a small smile. She felt sorry for her. She could see that Rose genuinely cared: she looked anxious.

  ‘I know it’s tough, but you do have both the girls’ best interests at heart. You’re doing everything you can.’ Mrs Reed smiled warmly. ‘Sometimes we get so caught up with the job itself, with all of the dramas it entails, all of the paperwork, the formalities, that we forget the real reason that we chose to do this job in the first place. To make a difference. You will, Rose. They might not realise, at first, but you’re doing your absolute best for them.’ Mrs Reed placed a comforting hand on Rose’s arm.

  She nodded. Right now, she didn’t feel like she’d done her very best. She felt like she’d lied to them. That she’d made them a promise that she hadn’t been able to keep, and Georgie and Marnie deserved better than that.

  They had enough people in their lives who had let them down without Rose adding herself to that long list.

  Mrs Reed, on hearing no answer from the room, knocked one more time.

  No answer.

  Pressing down the handle, she pushed the door wide open.

  The beds were made but the room was empty.

  ‘Maybe they are in the dayroom?’ Mrs Reed concluded; though, already, the alarm bells were ringing in her head. She remembered saying good night to the two girls earlier.

  They’d gone to bed hours ago; she was sur
e of it.

  The two women hurried now.

  Down along the corridor to where they found Annie in the main sitting area, her feet up on the sofa watching the TV.

  ‘Annie, have you seen the Parker girls? Georgie and Marnie?’

  Annie shook her head. ‘No why?’ she said, feigning innocence, worried that Mrs Reed had found out what Shaun James did to Georgie. But she didn’t get any more information from the women. Instead they carried on running through the house, checking every room as they called out Georgie and Marnie’s names.

  Though they both already knew – Georgie and Marnie Parker were long gone.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  ‘Keep up, Marnie.’

  Turning her head as she continued to run as fast as she could through the darkened streets, Georgie shouted at her sister who, much slower than her, was lagging far behind.

  ‘I can’t runned that fast. Wait for me, Georgie,’ Marnie called out, struggling to breathe as she tried her hardest to keep up with her older sister’s fast pace.

  ‘Come on, we’re nearly there, Marnie.’ Out of breath now herself, Georgie’s bare feet continued to pound against the cold rickety paving slabs beneath her. She winced as a sharp shooting pain ripped up through her ribcage.

  A stitch.

  She couldn’t stop now though; they were almost there, almost at the pub. It was the only place that Georgie could think of to go.

  She had to get away from the children’s home. From Mrs Reed, Rose, and Shaun.

  Shaun.

  She couldn’t even begin to think about him and what he’d done to her. Not yet. For now, she just needed to get away. Get Marnie away. They could figure the rest out later.

  ‘Ouch,’ Georgie screamed out in agony as she felt the stab of something sharp crunching underneath the sole of her foot.

  Looking down she could see the dark patch on her heel. Blood. Something had sliced through her skin. Hoping on one leg, she lifted her injured foot up to inspect it, brushing her bare skin so that she could free the debris that was firmly embedded in her flesh. Glass.

  Ignoring the searing pain, Georgie pulled out a thin slither, and threw it down on the floor behind her – away from the footpath so that Marnie wouldn’t step on it too, as she caught up now, close behind.

  Continuing to run, it was starting to rain. Tiny droplets pattered down around her. Her nightdress wet through, sticking to her skin. Desperate to make a run from the children’s home, she stupidly didn’t think about getting dressed into anything warmer. She hadn’t given a second’s thought to the bitterly cold night air. She’d just wanted to escape. To get away.

  Grabbing Marnie by the hand, they had both waited until the coast was clear.

  Until Mrs Reed had been tucked away inside her office, and the rest of the children were in the dayroom watching the TV for the night. It had been the perfect opportunity to escape without being seen.

  They’d snuck out through the kitchen door, out through the vast back garden, climbing over the padlocked back gate.

  They’d been running for ages. Georgie hadn’t realised just how far away the home was from where they lived. She’d got lost a few times too. London looked so different under a blanket of darkness – the long winding streets that somehow managed to merge into one. She’d only been able to gather her bearings when she’d reached Brixton High Street. She knew this part of London like the back of her hand.

  They were almost there now. Reaching the alleyway that ran alongside the Old Bell pub Georgie could see the bright lights just up ahead, a warm glow of yellow beaming out from the pub’s windows illuminating the alleyway. She could just about hear the faint hum of music, too, from the jukebox. The noise dulled down by the sirens that screamed off somewhere out in the distance. The police? Or an ambulance? Georgie couldn’t distinguish which. The noise made her feel nervous. Anxious suddenly.

  Maybe they should have stayed put. Georgie could have told Mrs Reed what Shaun had done. Maybe Mrs Reed would have called the police on Shaun. Had him taken away?

  Georgie doubted it though.

  Remembering Shaun’s words.

  A slag. Just like her mother. Even if she told, no one would believe her.

  Georgie knew he was right too.

  Why would they believe her?

  Georgie had felt scared tonight – not that she’d ever admit that to her sister though. She needed to stay strong. Try and hold herself together for the sake of Marnie.

  Her sister needed her.

  Reaching the pub door, Georgie called out once more. Frustrated, as she watched her sister running towards her – her pace barely faster than walking.

  ‘Come on, Marnie… ’ Georgie shouted. Her voice full of urgency.

  She wanted to get inside before someone saw them. The police might have been alerted to their disappearance by now. They needed to keep out of sight. As Marnie got closer, Georgie could see that her sister was sobbing. Big fat tears, rolling down her cheeks.

  ‘I’m sorry, Georgie, I tried to runned faster… ’

  Georgie felt guilty then.

  ‘It’s okay, we’re here now. Come on.’ Pushing the pub doors open she ushered her younger sister inside, conscious of the small cluster of customers that were sitting around the bar who turned to stare at them.

  People were whispering. Georgie could hear them.

  They were gossiping about her and her sister – about their mum.

  Wrapping her arm protectively around Marnie’s shoulder, Georgie continued to lead her through the bar.

  ‘Ey, I hope you two have got your ID on you!’ one man sitting at the bar quipped, amused by the unusual sight of two small children walking into a pub on their own this late at night. ‘I know what they say about girls looking older than their years these days, but you two definitely look underage to me.’

  The man laughed as he caught Georgie’s eye.

  Georgie looked away from him, scanning the rest of the faces around her; she didn’t recognise a single one.

  ‘Davey?’ Worried, suddenly, that maybe he wasn’t here tonight. Georgie didn’t know what she’d do if that was the case. ‘Where’s Davey?’

  She was starting to panic.

  Maybe they shouldn’t have come here.

  Maybe they should have stayed where they were.

  ‘Are you girls okay?’ Rita Gregory asked, standing behind the bar. She’d stopped serving the drinks. Looking at the state of them, they were clearly anything but okay. ‘You won’t find Davey down here. The man’s called it a night. It’s closing time in twenty minutes.’ She eyed the children suspiciously. Her voice full of concern. ‘What are you both doing out in the middle of the night anyway?’

  ‘It’s all right, Rita, I know these kids. They’re Josie Parker’s young ones. Who’s supposed to be minding you?’ The woman on the end of the bar leant down towards her.

  Bristling at the woman’s interrogation, Georgie didn’t answer. She knew not to. Mary Sheelan was the local busybody. The woman practically lived in this pub. Propped up at the bar; poking her nose into everyone’s business. Josie Parker had never liked Mary, and as far as Mary was concerned the feeling was mutual. Georgie and Marnie had witnessed a fair few fights between their mother and Mary over the past few years. Georgie had no intentions of telling this woman anything.

  Tonight, Mary was drunk, too, by the looks of it. Her face red and blotchy; the usual slur to her voice.

  Even standing a few feet away, Georgie could smell the overpowering alcohol on the woman’s soured breath.

  ‘Your mother has a lot to answer for. Look at the state of you both, running about half naked.’ Mary eyed the child now with disdain as Georgie purposely ignored her. She was only asking a few questions; there was no need to be so rude. Though what had she expected? The child had been raised by an ignorant trollop like Josie. Georgie clearly didn’t know any better.

  ‘I always said your mother was a wrongun. I was right too, wasn’t I? Out whoring at
all times of the day and night. A druggy too so the papers say. Doesn’t surprise me one bit. She looked like she needed a good bath your mother. Dirty, inside and out.’ Mary ran her eyes over the two girls as they both stood in silence. Their heads down. Mortified, as this woman humiliated them in front of everyone in the pub. ‘You two little sods don’t stand a hope in hell. You’ll probably grow up to be just like her.’ Mary Sheelan was off on one tonight.

  Shrugging away the hand of a man sitting beside her as he told her to be quiet, Mary couldn’t help herself. She was in her element now that Josie Parker had been locked away. Now, she could freely voice her opinion so that everyone in the pub could hear her, and there would be no repercussions.

  ‘Still, she’s in the right place now, isn’t she, after what she did to Trevor, God rest his soul.’ Mary’s voice quivered at her last words.

  Truth be known, she’d barely even known Trevor Pearson, but that hadn’t stopped her from cashing in on the man’s death. She’d been making out that they’d been close, that Trevor had been a kind man. That she’d miss him now that he’d gone. All the while, smiling and nodding graciously as she collected sympathy drinks from people around her that were stupid enough to fall for her farce and offer her their condolences.

  ‘Don’t talk about our mother,’ Georgie warned. Unable to stand here and listen to another word that came out of the woman’s mouth, she felt her anger building inside her. Her fists clenched at her sides. A heat surging through her.

  Somehow, she managed to keep her voice calm and steady, though the warning was there for everyone in the pub to hear.

  This woman was nothing more than a vicious drunk, with a poisonous tongue, and Georgie would not let her sit there and talk about her mother like this.

  ‘Ooh and who’s going to stop me?’ Mary sang, looking around with confidence at the handful of locals propped up at the bar alongside her. None of them brave enough, nor stupid enough, to start trouble with her. ‘Everyone’s talking about the woman. How could they not? She was wicked through and through.’