Dire Straits Read Online Free PDF Page A

announces.
    ‘What’s the temperature control like?’
    She grins. ‘Oh, you’ll like it.’
    I doubt that very much but beggars can’t be choosers. I shoot her a smile of thanks. ‘I appreciate it.’
    Rebecca reaches out to squeeze my shoulder then obviously thinks better of it. She looks me over critically. ‘We’ve got some unclaimed clothes that might fit you. I’m not sure they’ll be to your taste though.’
    I dread to think. ‘I’ll take whatever you can spare, Becks.’
    She offers me another smile then leaves, closing the door carefully behind her. I eye the hose with trepidation before peeling off my jacket. The blood underneath is sticky and the underside of the leather has glued itself to my skin. When I’m finally free, I lay it gently on top of a nearby shelf and look at it sorrowfully before divesting myself of the rest of my clothes. I’m down to my underwear – which is far more functional than pretty – when Rebecca knocks on the door. I open it slightly, keeping my body behind it more because of the dark dried blood staining my skin than any modesty. She hands me a plastic bag and leaves me in peace. Hooking the bag onto a nail, I strip off my bra and knickers, twist on the tap and yelp at the forceful gush of water. It’s icy cold and I spend several moments dancing in and out of its spray as I get used to the temperature. The water pressure is so strong that it feels as if my skin is peeling off alongside the dissolving blood. By the time I’m done, my body is red and raw – but at least I’m clean.
    Rebecca has left a towel on top of the bag so I pull it out and vigorously rub myself dry. Then I peer inside to see just how bad the clothes are, and am pleasantly surprised as I shake out a floral mini dress. Just because I normally wear leather doesn’t mean my hidden princess doesn’t occasionally beg to be let out. The dress is decorated with sprigs of pink flowers and kicks out in a flare at the hem. I run my hands over my legs and sigh with relief that I shaved them recently enough to get away with the short skirt. I put my knickers back on but abandon my bra as it’s damp with blood, then try to clamber into the dress. It gets stuck somewhere around my shoulders and I spend a few uncomfortable moments trying to yank it down without tearing the fabric. Eventually I realise there’s a zip in the side which makes life a whole lot easier. I smooth it down and stare at myself critically. Not too shabby. I give myself a little Wonder Woman spin before flicking back my hair. Then I give up and get back to business.
    I pull out the pepper spray and my phone from the jacket and stuff it, the towel, and the rest of my clothes into the bag and walk out to the front of the shop. When Rebecca catches sight of me, she starts to laugh. I scowl at her.
    ‘Very fetching, Bo. I think the bow on the back is particularly attractive.’
    I give her a twirl. ‘Actually I rather like it.’
    She just laughs harder. ‘Yes, all you need is a bow in your hair and you can be Bo with a bow and a bow.’
    I shake my fists at her. ‘Is this the way I’m to be treated after all the help I’ve given you in the past?’
    ‘No, you’re right.’ She wipes the tears from her eyes. ‘You did a fabulous job helping me get rid of that gang of losers. It’d have been even better if you’d done it wearing that.’
    ‘Well, at least they wouldn’t see it coming this time.’
    Last year Rebecca hired me, via Tam, to keep watch on The Steam Team after a series of break-ins. I camped out for a couple of nights and caught three teenagers sneaking in. As soon as they saw me, they high-tailed it. It took me forever to track them down. I was pretty fast at running, but I wasn’t any match for teen boys amped up on drugs and the speed of youth. I still considered the venture a failure, even though I eventually managed to haul their arses into the local police station. Luckily Rebecca remained grateful. More