Falls read the words aloud.
‘Her evocation then of all that mystery allures’
She hadn’t one clue what it meant but never-no-mind — she adored it. In the canteen with her friend Rosie, she asked, ‘Do you know what it means?’
‘Not a clue.’
‘Me neither.’
‘But it sounds kinda, I dunno … sexy.’
Falls looked down then said, ‘I always wished I’d have them boobs that jiggle, you know — if you’re running, they’d hop up ’n’ down.’
Rosie, who was more than endowed, shook her head. ‘No you don’t … believe me.’
‘Men prefer big boobs.’
‘Men are pigs.’
And they laughed. Falls got serious and said, ‘Rosie, I’m worried.’
‘What, that men are pigs?’
‘No … I’ve been sick three mornings …
Rosie shrieked, ‘Oh God, are you …?’
Falls shushed her quick, said, ‘Jeez, keep it down!’
‘You’re telling the wrong person, me girl.’
And they got the serial giggles. Lots of the cops glared. If there was laughing to be done, the men would do it.
Rosie lowered her voice. ‘You’ve got to find out.’
‘Oh God, I can’t!’
‘Get one of those do-it-yourself tests from Boots.’
Further speculation was halted as the duty sergeant put his head round the door and shouted: ‘We’ve got a would-be rapist shot!’ A cheer went up. ‘Oi, that’s enough of that. I need two WPCs … c’mon, snap to it.’
As they headed out Falls said, ‘Leastways if I am I’ll get decent boobs.’
Rosie laughed. ‘You’ll be jiggling more than them!’
The shooting had taken place off Camberwell Green. A man had attacked a woman in her kitchen, but she broke away and somehow managed to shoot him.
The flat was packed with cops. Falls was directed to the woman. She was sitting on a kitchen chair, her face white with shock. A loud moaning could be heard from the sitting room. Falls closed the door.
The woman asked, ‘Is that him?’
‘I think so.’
‘I thought I’d killed him.’
Falls patted her shoulder, asked ‘Like a cup o’ tea love?’
‘I’m sick of tea.’
‘Do you want to talk about what happened?’
‘I was washing up and next thing I was grabbed … but I’ve been taking classes … in self defence. So I stomped on his instep and bit his arm.’
‘Good girl.’
The woman was animated, into it. ‘He let go and I hit him with the saucepan — here.’ She indicated her chin. ‘And I heard a crack. He started roaring and I walked out to the sitting room. Got my Dad’s gun and then … I shot him. I missed a few times, I think.’
When everything was being wrapped, the woman touched Falls’ hand. ‘What will they do to me?’
‘Well, I think you’ll get off, but I believe you should get a medal.’
The man had been shot once in the upper leg. Once on the stretcher, Falls managed to get near him. He said, ‘The bitch tried to kill me … I’ll sue …
Falls leant over, asked in a soft voice, ‘Does it hurt?’
He gave a macho smile. ‘No, it’s not so bad.’
Falls shot out her hand, pounded once on the wound.
‘Any better?’