She stood up and reached across the desk. He looked at her hand. He looked at it, considered spitting in it, but then took it in a flaccid shake.
‘I need some cash.’
Her eyes met his; she didn’t say anything, just waited for more. He was on her books, filed away. She knew everything about him. Oldйus was just like the rest. No father, not much of a mother, a couple of older sisters who had done what they could. He was very bright, very confused, very lost. Alcohol at thirteen, cannabis at fifteen. By now, he was on the fast track. Smoked heroin, then started to inject. First prison sentence at seventeen. Now, at twenty-eight, he had been inside ten times in eleven years, mostly for burglary and a couple of times for dealing in stolen goods. He was a petty criminal, the kind who had waved a bread knife at the assistant in the late-night corner store and then hung around outside the shop for the first dealer to come along, bought some kit and mainlined in the nearest doorway and couldn’t understand it when someone in the shop pointed him out to the police when they turned up. He still didn’t get it when the police bundled him into the back seat of a patrol car and sped off towards the station.
‘You know the answer. No money.’
He twitched nervously in his chair, rocking backwards and forwards, nearly losing his balance.
‘But I’m just out. For fuck’s sake!’
She looked at him. He shouted, he scratched his nose and then the sore started to bleed.
‘I’m sorry. You’re not registered. As unemployed, or as a job-seeker.’
He got up.
‘You fat cunt! I’m fucking skint. Fuck’s sake. I’m hungry!’
‘I understand that you need money for food. But you aren’t registered so I can’t give you any money.’
The blood dripped from his nose on to the floor. It was flowing fast and the yellow lino was soon covered in red. He hurled abuse, of course, threatened her as well, but never any more, it never got worse than that. He was bleeding, but didn’t fight; he didn’t have it in him and she knew it. It didn’t even occur to her to call for support.