Free Referendum by Campbell Hart

message given there were still lingering concerns about safety following last year’s terror attack in George Square. All the questions followed the same pattern:
     
    “How confident are you that we won’t see the militant Nationalists strike again?”
    “There is no evidence to suggest that the group we dealt with last year was anything other than an isolated cell, which has already been dealt with.”
    “But given 15 people died in the blast, aren’t you concerned about copy-cats?”
    “The security operation in Glasgow is the biggest we have ever dealt with. Given the police and military are working together we have every reason to expect a peaceful Games – one that people will remember for all the right reasons.”
     
    And on the questions went, all probing for something sensational. What the journalists didn’t know was that armed snipers were in position around the city in key locations. They weren’t going to be caught out again. CCTV was being actively monitored and there was an army of plain clothes officers out and about around the city. Rosalind Ying smiled throughout. She was the poster girl for Police Scotland’s Games. One of the most respected officers in the country she was also its most photogenic, with a Chinese mother and Scottish father, she cast a striking image for the press, who liked her slow and measured responses. When she spoke, they listened. And after the talking was done she slumped back into her chair at Pitt Street. The building was due to close, they were being decanted into a new office in Dalmarnock in few weeks time. She was going to miss the old place but was pleased to be leaving on a high.
    Lost in thought she caught a flicker on her computer monitor. A flying envelope on the bottom right hand side of the screen told her she had a new email. She knew the name.

To: ‘Rosalind.Ying’
    From: ‘Steve’
    Subject: Fun and games?
     
    Hi Rose,
     
    How are you?
     
    I saw you online today – you looked awesome! Is that really the same person I met last week?
     
    It’s weird not having you around so I thought I might pay you a visit?
     
    It would be great to see the Commonwealth cycling next week (and you too of course).
     
    What do think – do you have room for a stray?
     
    Let me know
     
    Steve xxx
     
    Rosalind smiled. She liked Steve but hadn’t expected to hear from him again. Her hands wavered above the keyboard, she was undecided on whether this was a good idea. But then, what harm could a few days do?
     
    Let me know when the flight’s booked.
     
    R x
     

17
     
     
    Leona felt like she’d been walking for days rather than hours. She’d phoned round her friends but no-one would take her in. They knew her dad had died and that her mum was missing and they didn’t know how to deal with it, didn’t know what to do or say. So they’d made lame excuses and said maybe another night, but another night was no good, she needed someone now.
    Leona was still only 15 and assumed that she’d run the risk of being taken into care if she went to the Police and she didn’t want that. What good would it do? Hermum said that if anything ever happened she should go to her aunt’s in Paisley but she didn’t even have enough change for the bus fare; the only way she’d be able to get there was on foot, and it was a long walk.
    Leona didn’t know what to do. She’d been trudging around the city centre for hours. It was busy. Thousands of people had come for the Games. She wanted to go too but despite ticket prices starting low they still couldn’t afford the luxury. Eventually she’d headed back east, out towards the National Hockey Centre on Glasgow Green. The sport had finished for the day and she watched as happy families made their way home. There were lots of little kids skipping along at their parents’ feet, every second one seemed to be holding a cuddly Games Mascot – they called it Clyde. Leona hated the gormless green thistle which was plastered across