‘Charlie…’ Nikki’s voice was an angry wail. What on earth was her friend playing at?

‘I’m back.’ It was the cheerful voice of Charlotte coming back in the door from the street. ‘Missed me?’

‘Charlie, where are my clothes?’ Nikki asked softly. Her tone was low and dangerous.

Charlie grinned, unperturbed.

‘I put ‘em in a rubbish bin,’ she confessed blithely. ‘Actually I put ‘em in about five garbage bins. I put your jeans in one. I put your shirt in another. One sandal per bin. I wish I’d been able to get your knickers and bra. But you will be sensible and buy some more of those, won’t you, sweetie?’

‘Charlotte!’

‘Well, you were going to buy new clothes,’ her friend said innocently. ‘You said you were. And you’d never choose to wear those old things when you have lovely new clothes, now would you?’ Her face assumed an expression of innocence. ‘You weren’t buying these just to humour me, now were you, Nikki?’

It was so close to the truth that Nikki gasped. She opened her mouth to say something and then couldn’t think of a thing to say. Finally she closed her mouth again and contented herself with glaring.

‘That’s better,’ Charlie said. She turned to the shop assistant. ‘You know, this girl has nothing now but the clothes she’s standing in. I think we need at least a couple more outfits.’

The sales assistant choked on shocked laughter. ‘Oh, yes, miss,’ she breathed. She turned to Nikki. ‘We have the loveliest linen suit that you’d look smashing in.’

‘Wheel it out,’ Charlie said firmly.

‘Charlotte, where are my glasses?’ Nikki said awfully, and her friend threw up her hands in mock-fright.

‘Beats me,’ she laughed. ‘Either Mall Litter Bin 36 or Mall Litter Bin 39. Or was that your left sandal?’ She shrugged.

‘Charlie…’