A Place Of Safety (34 page)

Authors: Helen Black

Lilly took a drink of water. God, she wished it were a Ginger Zinger.

‘Her mind took a path of its own and stayed there. So, on that fateful day when she went to Manor Park School, she had no comprehension of what was about to unfold. Now, given what you’ve seen and heard in this courtroom, is that so difficult to believe?’

Chapter Twenty-Seven

‘Mr Foreman, have you reached a verdict upon which you have all agreed?’

‘We have.’

The judge nodded. ‘And how do you find the defendant, Catalina Petrescu—guilty or not guilty?’

Lilly squeezed her eyes shut.

‘Not guilty.’

Lilly threw her arms in the air. ‘Yes!’

‘What happens now?’

Jack was driving Catalina and Lilly to the station.

Lilly pushed her client’s hair out of her eyes. It was streaked with grey.

‘You’ll be interviewed by immigration,’ he said. ‘Maybe you can make an application for asylum.’

Catalina shook her head. ‘I’m from Romania.’

‘She was sold by her mother to a pickpocketing gang,’ said Lilly. ‘And they trafficked her to England.’

‘Jesus,’ Jack muttered.

‘She escaped with Artan and they bought new identities,’ said Lilly.

Catalina nodded. ‘We bought new papers for fifty pounds. No one cared about a few dead refugees. That way we could stay here, make a life for ourselves.’

Lilly thought about the pair living in Hounds Place, with no money or future. Was that a life? Maybe for them it was enough.

‘What will happen now?’ asked Catalina.

Lilly’s heart lurched. ‘I expect you’ll be deported.’

They drove in silence for a few miles. Lilly knew full well that there was every chance that as soon as Catalina landed, the traffickers would pick her up again. Catalina knew it too.

Jack pulled into a petrol station. ‘Let’s get some chocolate.’

‘Get me a Twix and a Bounty,’ said Lilly.

‘Why don’t you come and choose it yourself?’ he said, and got out of the car.

Lilly watched Jack saunter to the shop. He was the best man that ever lived. The best.

Slowly, Lilly took out her purse and pressed it into Catalina’s hand.

‘You don’t have to,’ said Catalina.

Lilly nodded. ‘There’s about a hundred quid in cash and I’ll cancel the cards tomorrow.’

A silent moment stretched like elastic until Lilly knew she had to let go.

‘It’s been a pleasure knowing you,’ she said.

‘Give my best love to Sam,’ Catalina replied.

Lilly thought of her son—his sunny life with two parents that adored him—and, not for the first time, she questioned the lottery of life that gave some children all the luck.

‘He will make a very good big brother I think,’ said Catalina.

Lilly opened her mouth but nothing came out.

Catalina smiled and patted Lilly’s rounded stomach, acknowledging something she herself had been studiously avoiding.

Lilly burst into tears. ‘Be happy,’ she said, and ran to the father of her unborn child.

Acknowledgments

Before I wrote my first novel I thought authors were solitary beings, chained to their old-fashioned typewriters for months on end. Now of course I know that any book worth reading is a collaborative affair and I for one am grateful for that.

First shout goes to Peter, Rosie and Jessica Buckman who continue to champion me and my work.

Huge thanks are also due to everyone at Avon, particularly Kesh, who goes that extra mile for me.

My fellow HUG members, David and Mike, have once again offered red wine and positive criticism for which I continue to be grateful.

A big virtual wave goes to the community of writers on www.writewords.org.uk. Wit, wisdom and general blather are always only a keyboard away.

And I know she’s going to be mortified but I’d like to single out my mate, Sarah S, for keeping me sane with our morning walks. My thighs salute you.

Then there’s the family. The noisy messy lot of us. We don’t lead a normal life, but then again, who wants to?

About the Author

Helen Black was brought up in a mining town in West Yorkshire. She moved to London in her twenties and trained to be a commercial lawyer. On qualification she shifted lanes and has practised criminal and family law for over ten years. She specialises in representing children in the care system. She now lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and young children. Her debut novel
Damaged Goods
has sold across Europe.

For further information on Helen Black, visit her website at www.hblack.co.uk and go to www.bookarmy for exclusive updates.

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Praise for
Damaged Goods:

‘A fantastic first novel.’
Jane Elliott, author of
The Little Prisoner
and
Sadie

‘A dark and gripping read that will have you on the edge of your seat…this terrific debut novel is full of intrigue and a real page-turner.’
Closer

By the same author
:
Damaged Goods

This novel is entirely a work of fiction.
The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

AVON

A division of HarperCollins
Publishers
77–85 Fulham Palace Road,
London W6 8JB

www.harpercollins.co.uk

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins
Publishers
2008

Helen Black asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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