Chapter Six
Later that evening, Jack stepped out into the carpark and made his way to his car. He was just putting his kit in the boot when he saw a familiar figure sitting on a low wall across from him.
"I'm guessing you got bail then?"
Sinead nodded silently as she gently kicked a small bag that was sat at her feet.
"Is that all you own?" Jack asked and Sinead flushed with shame
"I never can settle down anywhere," she shrugged
"How long have you been selling yourself?"
"That's blunt," Sinead said defensively but then sighed "I don't even know anymore,"
"How old are you?"
"Depends," she said
"On what?"
"The date," She said, and Jack showed her the date on his phone "Then I'm 28,"
Jack closed his eyes for a moment "It's your birthday, isn't it?" he asked, and she nodded
"Happy birthday to me," she said sarcastically
"Where are you headed?" Jack asked, "I can give you a lift, if you'd like?"
"I'm headed nowhere," she said, "In every sense of the term,"
"Can you not get your head down at a homeless shelter?"
"They're full this time of the year," she shrugged "And I don't really fit their criteria," she said rubbing her arms and Jack noticed the track marks running up and down her arms
"What's your poison?"
"Does it matter?"
"Where are you going to sleep tonight?"
"Underpass on Carroll Street,"
"I attended a scene there once," Jack recalled "It's not safe,"
"Nowhere is," Sinead said, and Jack could see the exhaustion in her eyes
"Let me make a call," he said as Sinead gazed listlessly into the ever-darkening evening as Jack spoke on the phone
…
"This is Sinead," Jack said introducing her
Sinead was hiding behind Jack as she warily looked at the woman in front of her
"Hello Sinead," the woman said, "I'm Helen,"
"I know Helen, you can trust her," he told Sinead
"Why don't you come in from the cold?" Helen said stepping back
Jack could see that Sinead was tantalised by the warmth but also mistrusting
"I used to work with Helen," Jack told Sinead "She can help you,"
Sinead nodded as her gaze remained transfixed on the floor
"Come on in Sinead," and this time Sinead moved
Jack passed Sinead's things over to Helen and spoke quietly to her "I think she's a user. She won't have had anything on her recently as she's been in custody, but you might want to look out for withdrawal signs,"
"Thanks Jack," Helen smiled "You're a good man,"
"Just doing my job," he shrugged "I owe you one,"
"Yes, you do Jack Hodgson, and I won't forget it,"
"Keep an eye on her,"
"She's gotten to you,"
"Maybe,"
"I'll look after her,"
"I'll come and check in with you in a couple of days," Jack said as he retreated back into the evening