Stephen Leather - Take Two

‘We don’t know he’s dead,’ said Carolyn. ‘For all we know they took him to hospital.’

‘Darling, they shot at you, you said.’

‘I heard a bang.’ She sipped her wine and shrugged. ‘I don’t know, Terry, it’s starting to feel a bit fuzzy.’

‘What?’

‘I’d been drinking. A lot. It was dark.’

‘Are you telling me you might have imagined it. Because last night you were scared shitless. Remember?’

‘I remember. But in the cold light of day it all seems a bit…remote.’

‘Remote?’

Carolyn sighed. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Darling, we drove all the way to the arse end of nowhere and I proceeded to do a spot of breaking and entering, and now you’re telling me you made the whole thing up?’

‘I’m not saying that,’ she said. ‘But I don’t want to call the police and have the whole thing blow up in my face. What say we call Cohen’s office on Monday and see if he’s in?’

‘You said you saw him belted with a statue. That’s what you said. And there was blood, by the window.’

Carolyn nodded. ‘I know, I know. But can we just leave it until Monday, please?’

‘If that’s what you want, sure. But whether he’s in the office on Monday or not, we’re no further forward, are we? If he is there that suggests he’s the guy who did the hitting. And if he’s not…’ He left the sentence unfinished.

‘Then he’s dead,’ said Carolyn.

Terry nodded. ‘Either way we’re going to have to call the police.’

Carolyn shook her head. ‘I can’t,’ said Carolyn. ‘This is an important couple of weeks for me, maybe the most important of my life. If the network decides to give me the push then my life’s over.’

‘Don’t be silly, that’s not going to happen.’

‘You don’t know that,’ said Carolyn. ‘Waites as good as said they were going to bring in new blood, and if I go to the cops and tell them about him taking drugs and kicking me out of the car in the middle of nowhere, then the network is going to be gunning for me.’

‘I thought you said you stormed off.’

Carolyn forced a smile. ‘Six of one,’ she said. ‘But either way he’s going to be in trouble. Plus the publicity. Plus I then become a witness in a murder investigation.’ She took a long gulp of wine. ‘I can’t, Terry. Really, I can’t.’

Terry nodded sympathetically. ‘Okay, whatever you think’s best. Do you want to stay here tonight?’

‘Do you mind?’

‘Of course not. Gabe was planning to do his famous chili tonight, the more the merrier.’

‘You’re my knight in shining armour.’

‘And I’m here to serve my damsel in distress,’ said Terry, raising his glass to her.

Terry drove Carolyn to the studio early on Monday morning. She had phoned Billy on Sunday night and told him she wouldn’t need him until filming had wrapped on Monday. She spent an hour in make-up and was all too well aware of how tired she looked. ‘Rough night?’ asked Kelly as she brushed concealer over the dark patches under Carolyn’s eyes.

‘Drinking wine with Terry,’ said Carolyn.

‘That’ll do it, all right,’ laughed Kelly.

Carolyn forced a smile. It wasn’t the drink that was the problem, it was the fact she’d barely slept all night.

The first scenes to be filmed were in the office where Diana was interviewing a new designer, a pretty black girl who, according to Harrington, it would later turn out, had a drug problem and an abusive boyfriend. The actress was clearly inexperienced and kept fluffing her lines, but Carolyn kept her cool and was as helpful as possible. It wasn’t that the actress hadn’t memorized her lines, she was just nervous. After the sixth take on one relatively simple exchange, Carolyn took her to one side. ‘You’re over-thinking it,’ she said. ‘I can see the wheels turning.’

‘I’m just so nervous,’ said the girl. Her name was Jaymee and Carolyn noticed her nails were bitten to the quick.

‘It can be intimidating joining a new team,’ said Carolyn. ‘But everyone here is rooting for you.’

Jaymee nodded. ‘I know, I’m sorry.’

‘There’s no need to apologise,’ said Carolyn. ’We’ve all been there. Is this your first time in a studio?’

Jaymee nodded again. ‘This big, yeah,’ she said. ‘I’ve done loads of commercials but this is Rags To Riches, you know? The big time.’

Carolyn smiled and patted Jaymee on the arm. ‘Yes, it is,’ she said. ‘But just remember this. You’re stunning, you really are. You look fabulous. The guys who are watching are going to be looking at your figure and the women are going to be looking at your clothes. So you don’t have to act. Just relax and we’ll have a conversation. Keep your eyes on me and you’ll do just fine.’

‘Okay, let’s go again!’ shouted Harrington.

Carolyn winked at Jaymee and went back to sit behind her desk. Jaymee stood on her mark, holding a large folder under one arm. ‘Thank you,’ she mouthed,

The scene went perfectly and after Harrington had pronounced himself satisfied, Jaymee went over to Carolyn and gave her hug. ‘I owe you, big time,’ she said.

‘I got the same advice years ago, when I first started,’ said Carolyn. ‘And I’ve no doubt the day will come when you’ll be giving the same words of comfort to a youngster on their first day. The circle of life thing.’

Hannah from the wardrobe department came over and apologized for interrupting. ‘I’ve got five minutes to get you into the outfit for scene 76,’ she said to Carolyn. ‘And the zips are a bugger.’

It was eleven o’clock before Carolyn had some time to herself. Harrington was set to film a scene with Seb and Andrea and she wouldn’t be needed for a couple of hours. She dropped her bag and coat in her dressing room then walked along the corridor to Paul Day’s office. The producer’s office was the farthest away from the sets with a window overlooking the car park. His assistant, Laura, a pretty blonde in her twenties, was sitting at the outer office. ‘Can I have a few minutes with him?’ she asked.

‘He’s a bit grumpy today, too much wine last night, I think,’ said Laura. ‘So no loud noises or sudden moves.’

Carolyn laughed. ‘I’ll be gentle with him,’ she said.

She knocked softly on the door to Day’s office and pushed it open.

Day stood up when he saw her. ‘Come in, darling,’ he said. ‘I was planning on swinging by the set. How’s it going?’

‘All good,’ said Carolyn.

Day was wearing one of his Savile Row, made-to-measure suits but he’d lost weight recently and the jacket hung loosely as he stood up and walked around his desk to greet her. He hugged her and air-kissed her dramatically. ‘And well done again on the award. It’s not every day you get a lifetime achievement award, is it?’

‘A lifetime achievement award? I’m only forty.’ Day lowered his chin gave her an admonishing look. ‘Okay, forty-four,’ she said. ‘But that’s hardly a lifetime, is it?’

‘Was back in the Middle Ages,’ he said. ‘You’d have been riddled by syphilis and the lurgy by now.’ He released his grip on her and went back to his chair. ‘And how’s the new girl getting on? What’s her name? Jaymee?’

‘A bit nervous, but who isn’t on their first day?’

‘She doesn’t have much experience, but she seems keen.’

‘You did hire her, didn’t you?’

Day pulled a face as if he had a bad taste in his mouth. ‘The network sent her, if you must know. Sally had seen her in some commercial and decided she’d be great for the show. Between you and me I think it’s about tinkering with the ethnic profile of the show, but she’s a pretty girl and, like I said, she seems keen.’ He sighed. ‘Anyway, how’s life?’