Take Two (A psychological thriller)

Carolyn finished her wine and looked at her watch. It was just before eleven. She looked over at Harrington and caught his eye. ‘What time are you heading back to London?’ she asked him.

‘Sorry, didn’t I say? I’m booked in for the night.’

‘You’re staying here?’

‘I thought it best. I haven’t had a boozy night for months. Figured I’d nurse my hangover in style. Frank’s staying over, too.’

‘Are you looking for a lift, Carolyn?’ asked Waites from across the table. ‘I’m ready to push off.’

Carolyn hesitated. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be stuck with the network executive for the hour or so it would take to drive home.

Waites held up a glass of iced water. ‘I haven’t been drinking,’ he said. ‘Where do you live?’

‘Notting Hill Gate.’

He grinned. ‘I’m just down the road from you,’ he said. ‘More than happy to drop you off, and I’d much rather have someone in the car with me.’

‘Okay, thank you,’ said Carolyn. She bent down and picked up her bag, and put the statuette in it. She took out her phone. Eddie hadn’t called or sent a text message. She put the phone back in the bag and smiled brightly. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Ready when you are.’

She said goodbye to everyone at the table with either a hug or an air kiss, then threaded her way through the tables to the entrance receiving more congratulations on the way. From a pretty brunette in a long black evening dress she collected her coat and a goody bag packed with perfume, chocolates and trinkets, most of which she knew she’d be giving away to friends.

Waites collected a goody bag, too, and they walked outside.  She laughed when she saw his car. A red Porsche 911. ‘I sort of guessed you’d have a Porsche,’ she said.

‘It’s only two years old,’ he said, opening the door for her. ‘It goes like a rocket.’ He took her goody bag from her and tossed it and his onto the back seat.

‘Good to know,’ she said, fastening her seatbelt.

He slammed her door shut and climbed into the driver’s seat. The engine roared and he gunned it a couple of times before driving away from the hotel.  He drove too fast, accelerating into curves and braking harder than necessary. Carolyn tried not to show how uncomfortable she was. It was her own fault for not arranging for Billy to take her.

‘Are you okay, Carolyn?’ he asked as he changed up a gear and stamped on the accelerator.

‘Bit queasy, actually,’ she said. ‘Would you mind slowing down, just a bit.’ She flashed him her little-girl-lost smile.

‘Sure, of course,’ he said, and braked sharply so that the seat belt tightened against her chest. ‘That was a good night, wasn’t it?’

‘Terrific,’ she said.

‘Bet you’ve been to a lot over the years?’

‘A fair few.’

‘They’re still a new thing for me,’ he said. He slowed as they approached a hump-backed bridge but still went over it so quickly that Carolyn felt herself rise out of her seat. Her stomach lurched. ‘Sorry,’ he said.

‘Where were you before?’

‘Before? In what way?’

‘Before the network? Where did you work?’

‘I joined straight from university,’ he said. ‘Graduate entrant. Six hundred applied and they only took three of us.’

‘Impressive,’ said Carolyn, wincing as he almost lost control of the car and missed scraping a dry stone wall by inches.

‘Yeah, the selection process was brutal. But I got through and they sent me on several shows to learn the ropes and now I’m on Rags To Riches.’

‘It’s a great show.’

‘Absolutely. But we can make it better. We should be getting another million or so viewers.’

‘And how will you do that?’ asked Carolyn.

‘We might have to take the show in a different direction,’ said Waites.

She looked across at him. ‘How would you do that?’

He shrugged carelessly. ‘There’s lots of options,’ he said. He grinned. ‘Do you want to do a line?’

‘A line?’

‘Coke,’ he said. He patted his jacket pocket. ‘Got some great stuff here.’

Carolyn shook her head. ‘I don’t…’

‘What, never? I thought all actors did.’

‘When I was younger, maybe. But these days, alcohol and nicotine are my drugs of choice.’

‘Coke is way better for you than booze,’ he said. ‘No hangover, no weight gain.’

‘You’re not telling me I look fat, are you?’

Waites laughed. ‘God, no,’ he said. ‘You’re amazing for…’

He left the sentence unfinished but she knew what he was going to say. For her age.

‘I tell you, Carolyn, I’ve always fancied you. At uni you were always at the top of my “to do” list.’

‘Excuse me?’ said Carolyn.

He grinned. ‘The list of stars you’d like to… you know.’

‘And I was top of yours?’

Waites nodded enthusiastically. ‘Bloody right.’

‘I suppose I should be flattered. Who else was on your list?

Waites laughed. ‘You really want to know?’

‘Sure.’

‘Angelina Jolie for one. Megan Fox.’

‘So I’m in good company,’ she said. ‘But I don’t get why I was on your list.’

‘I was a big fan of the show at uni,’ said Waites. ‘Me and my mates used to watch it together. You know, four years ago the show had a much younger viewer profile. That’s something we need to address.’

Carolyn nodded.

‘So where’s the show heading?’

‘Heading?’

‘You know, what direction do you plan to take it?’