Free Take Two (A psychological thriller) by Stephen Leather

 The show would be nothing without the network.’
    ‘I wish everyone on the show felt the same,’ said Waites. He smiled at Day. ‘There are those who think we’re the enemy.’
    ‘We have different expectations of what a show should be,’ said Day, rising to the bait. ‘We want to make the best show we can, you want to sell as much advertising as you can with the minimum up-front expenditure.’
    ‘Paul, you know full well your budget is way above that of EastEnders, Corrie, even Holby. They look at your location budget and salivate.’
    ‘And the money we spend shows on the screen,’ said Day. ‘That’s why we get the viewers. Because we have a quality product.’
    ‘And the best stars,’ said Waites. He’d moved to stand behind Carolyn and he reached down and began massaging Carolyn’s shoulders.  ‘We wiped the floor tonight. That demonstrated how much the fans love the show.’ He patted Carolyn’s arms. ‘Now a Bafta or two, that would be nice.’
    Carolyn looked up at him. She wanted to ask him to stop touching her shoulders but she didn’t want to sound over-sensitive.  He looked down at her and winked. She smiled tightly.
    Day waved at an empty seat. ‘Sit yourself down, Martin.  You need to spend some time with the troops.’
    Waites laughed and sat down between Andrea’s boyfriend and Phillippa. Carolyn smiled at Day and he winked at her. She realised he’d noticed her discomfort and done something about it. She raised her glass and mouthed ‘thank you’.
     

 
    CHAPTER 11
     
    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