Free Hot Seat by Simon Wood

but he’s not the kind of guy to take no for an answer if he asks you to do something.’
    â€˜That’s for sure.’
    â€˜Look, can you help me up? That crap you sprayed me with is melting my eyes.’
    I held out my hands and felt hers take hold. She guided me to the kitchen sink, where I doused my eyes. I groaned as the pain ebbed away and my vision returned.
    â€˜What was that crap?’
    She held out a small can of extra hold hairspray. ‘Pepper spray is considered an offensive weapon. Hairspray isn’t and works just as well.’
    â€˜Good to know,’ I said wiping my face with a paper towel. ‘How’d you discover that nugget?’
    This time she smiled. ‘A cop told our self-defence class about it and how it wouldn’t be classed as a weapon if we used it.’
    â€˜Who are you?’
    â€˜I’m Carrie Russell. Jason’s girlfriend. Well, ex-girlfriend.’
    â€˜Ex?’
    â€˜We broke up three months ago. His idea. Not mine.’
    The break-up hadn’t been serious enough for him to take his door key back. That explained the second toothbrush in the bathroom.
    â€˜I’m Aidy Westlake,’ I said and offered my hand.
    She eyed it for a moment before taking it. I’d yet to fully earn her trust. I needed to give her something to win her over.
    â€˜I suppose you know about Jason.’
    She nodded when the word yes wouldn’t come.
    â€˜Could I talk to you for a minute? Please. I’d really appreciate your help.’
    â€˜With what?’
    â€˜With what happened to Jason. I was the one who found him that night.’
    She paled and put her hand to her mouth.
    â€˜Let’s sit down.’ I righted the sofa and we sat on its slashed and shredded cushions.
    â€˜I talked to the police,’ she said. ‘They said someone from another team found him.’
    I nodded. ‘I drive for Ragged.’
    â€˜Did he say anything before .?.?. y’know?’
    â€˜No. I tried to save him. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just trying stuff I’d seen on TV. I felt so useless.’
    â€˜You aren’t a doctor.’
    â€˜I know, but I should know the basics. We all should.’
    â€˜We should know a lot of things that we don’t.’
    Tears clouded my vision and I palmed them away in some lame attempt to hide the fact from Carrie.
    â€˜So why are you here? And more importantly, how are you involved with Andrew Gates?’
    â€˜He wants me to find out what happened to his brother.’
    â€˜Why? Did you know Jason?’
    â€˜No, but I found him next to the Ragged Racing team transporter. That and the fact that I drive for them was enough for Andrew to decide that I’m the person that can find something out. He doesn’t trust the police.’
    â€˜Typical of him.’
    No love lost between Carrie and Andrew. I thought that could help me. ‘I think Jason was looking for something when he was killed.’
    Carrie’s eyes flashed recognition.
    â€˜What is it?’ I said.
    She said nothing.
    â€˜Obviously, Jason was on to something and whatever it was got him killed. Whatever he had or knew, he didn’t give it up, so someone came here looking for it. I think they found it. Someone burned up printed pictures from a computer in the bathroom. Jason’s printer is here, but I can’t find a computer.’
    Carrie jumped up and clambered over the wreckage to the corner of the room where the cheap office desk rested on its side. ‘His laptop’s gone?’
    I followed her. ‘What’s going on? What was Jason up to, Carrie?’
    â€˜I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me.’
    She sifted through the cast-aside papers, books and belongings.
    â€˜It’s gone, Carrie.’
    â€˜I know. I’m looking for a picture. Help me find it? It’s a print of Nigel Mansell racing in the rain.’
    I knew the picture. It depicted