HEARTBEAT
Part Two
Nick threw the signed consent form down on the kitchen table.
"How could you do this, Katie? Signing my name? Copying my signature?"
Still in her robes and crown, Katie was looking sulky.
"Kate, Dad. I'm Kate, now. I'm not a little girl, any more."
"You realise this is forgery? It's a criminal offence! Katie, I'm a Police Sergeant!"
"It's only a stupid competition, Dad. A plastic crown."
"And all those men, leering at you!"
"You're fine with it when it's other girls, aren't you? You were clapping and cheering with the rest, 'til you saw me."
Nick took a deep breath.
He went to the window and looked out at Elm Avenue. The name was so middle-class, so sitcom, it was almost comical. They had been here nearly a decade now. After leaving the police house at Aidensfield, they had lived in Oscar's old digs in Ashfordly for a couple of years, before moving to the new estate just outside town – an easy commute for Nick, and for Jo to the village school. For seven years, Katie had been at the school too. Nick had had hopes for Grammar School, but by the age of eleven Katie had already been more interested in clothes and pop records than schoolwork.
Nick looked at the photo of Kate on the windowsill – his Kate, not this teenager who now insisted on using her name. She was smiling, but her eyes were stern. She seemed to be telling him he'd got everything very wrong.
"I don't understand you, Katie... Kate. Haven't I always done my best for you?"
"Hang on. I'll try and remember."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I don't remember you, in my childhood. Do you know that? I remember Eileen, and Maggie...sometimes Jo. You were always at work. Always at the station... or out at the police house... Police Federation... Division... working late... there was always some excuse! Every school play... every sports day..."
"I did my best. Gave you a home. Gave you a Mum."
"I had lots of Mums. It's a Dad I'm missing."
Nick came and sat down.
"Go and get out of that stuff. Get some decent clothes on."
Kate rolled her eyes.
"You are such a square."
She flounced out of the room, robes flying. Nick heard her on the stairs, then her bedroom door slammed. A moment later, Pink Floyd was playing, very loudly. Nick shouted:
"Turn that down!"
knowing she wouldn't.
He had to wait an hour for Jo to come home. Nick spent the time preparing supper for three, and thinking.
Katie was right, that was the worst thing. In going from village constable to Sergeant, and now to Inspector's exams, while finding them all a home, a mortgage, schools, there hadn't been nearly enough time to sit and talk. He missed little Katie, who would run and hug him when he came home to the old police house... now blown up by a disturbed teenage boy. Katie didn't seem to remember the old days, at all.
Maybe they should have gone to Canada.
Katie still wouldn't come down, so Nick took some supper up and left it on a tray outside her door. Jo, ever the expert on children, said what she always said.
"You're spoiling her, Nick."
Nick made no comment. They ate their meal alone together, then sat watching All Gas and Gaiters and Cilla and the news until it was time to go to bed. When morning came, Nick felt relieved to put on his uniform.
Katie came down to breakfast. She was in school uniform, was brushing her hair and looked respectable – and adorable. She came and hugged Nick. Her voice was treacly as she said:
"I'm sorry, Dad."
Nick hugged her. His face was relieved. Jo's lips were pursed.
When Nick had left for the station, Katie said goodbye to Jo. Then, once she was out of sight of the house she changed course and made for Pine Close, where there was a phone box.
From her blazer pocket, she took some coins... and the business card. Once the phone was ringing, she cleared her throat. Local schooling had given her a Yorkshire accent. She tried to sound more like her stepmum.
"Hello? Hi, Jonathan? It's Kate Rowan. Yeah, I'm OK. Nice to meet you, yesterday. Are you still around? Well, do you fancy meeting for a coffee or something, after sch... work? There's Dmitri's Diner, in Ashfordly. Quite hip, for round here. Four o'clock? OK, see you. Darling."
She hung up, breathing very fast. Then she left the box and ran for the bus-stop.
Back in the village, there was an obstruction at the Aidensfield Arms. A delivery van from the brewery was waiting, sounding its horn. Its parking space was taken by Peggy Armstrong's, formerly Claude Greengrass's, truck. Peggy was round at the kitchen entrance, trying to interest Gina in a pheasant and two rabbits. In Joe Mason's absence, PC Younger was covering his beat. The driver from the brewery leaned out of his cab. Traffic was backing up, behind him.
"Oi, PC Plod! Are you gonna get this lot moving?"
Geoff ran and found Peggy.
"Mrs Armstrong, you're going to have to move. You're causing an obstruction."
"In a moment, luvvie. Just sorting out payment with Gina, for...for services rendered."
"I'm afraid I must insist." Geoff's voice went very high.
Peggy smiled, mischievously.
"David's photos came out really well, from the fete, you know. There was one really good one, of a certain local constable, and a young girl... a very young girl..."
She made a kissy-kissy face, and Geoff reddened.
"We're just trying to decide which ones to keep. Which ones are going to be printed... in the parish newsletter."
Geoff paused.
"All right, just 'til you've been paid."
Peggy smiled. She went and sat on a bench in the beer garden, looking relaxed. Geoff looked anything but.
The traffic went on hooting, outside...
When four o'clock came, Katie made her way to Dmitri's Diner. She had taken off her blazer and tie, and left them in the cloakroom at school. She had let her hair down, and put lipstick and perfume on. They had been concealed in her schoolbag.
When she sat and ordered a coffee, she looked little different from the local office workers sitting at other tables.
Jonathan appeared. Ironically, he was in a blazer and tie, with some military badge Katie didn't know. He ordered cappuccino, and looked very relaxed.
"It's wonderful to see you again, Kate. You look sensational. Have you thought any more, about...?"
Katie nodded, and smiled. Carefully, Jonathan took a couple of prints of photographs from his jacket, and laid them on the tabletop. Katie's eyes grew as she saw herself as the Queen of Aidensfield.
"Hey, when d'you take these?"
"Just a couple of candid ones I got, after we met. While you were meeting your public. They certainly proved my point. You've got potential, Kate. If you like... I could put you forward. We often have regional auditions. There's a hotel near here we sometimes use."
Katie ran a careless hand through her blonde hair.
"I think I might be persuaded. If the money was right."
Jonathan reached out a hand and stroked her hair.
"I don't think you'd be disappointed." He went on playing with her hair for a moment, then let her go. He brought out a one-page contract and placed it before her. "If you'd just sign this agency agreement. By the way... I know I don't have to ask... you are over eighteen?"
Katie didn't even blink as she said:
"Sure."
She had signed before Jonathan had started his coffee.
In those few moments, PC Wetherby passed by, on his regular beat. He looked through the window of the coffee shop. Katie had her back to him, and her hair almost hid her face.
He gave her a curious look.
HEARTBEAT
End of Part Two
