Five.
It took another two hours to take together all the necessary information from the gathered audience and cast, and a further half an hour to let people get home, and organise lifts and services for those too shaken to drive. Then of course, several of the audience members began demanding refunds, which, as Scott had tried to explain to them as they crowded the box office, was probably an issue best left for the morning.
By the time the last of the patrons had left, it was getting on for the early hours of the morning, and Scott was beginning to feel the late night in his eyes, which had gradually been getting more dry and itchy as the night had progressed.
As the last little old lady was walked the short distance to her house by a smiling WPC, Barnaby turned to his DS.
"Well, I believe that's all we can do for now. We can get the lab results from George in the morning, until then I think it's best you try and get some sleep. Might be worth focussing on the alleged relationship with Abigail Shaw also."
Scott smiled inwardly, 'try' and get some sleep? He'd be out like a light.
"How are you getting home?" Scott looked up at the query, his brow furrowing. Good question, he thought, stupidly looking around for Cully's car before realising she was long gone. Barnaby smiled and nodded towards his own saloon.
"Get in."
Scott smiled wearily,
"Thank you Sir."
As Scott reached for the handle of the passenger side door, the relative quiet of the early morning was shattered by an anguished cry. At once, his head sprang up, all signs of exhaustion gone, and scanned the dark car park for the source. Barnaby was casting around too, looking equally startled.
Scott spotted the commotion first. A youngish woman was cowering beside a small red car, half-shielded by the enthusiastic ivy creeping up the side of the old theatre building. Standing over her, one hand out, as if demanding something, was a hooded figure.
"Sir!"
Scott was halfway across the car park at once. On seeing the movement, the figure turned its head briefly to take him in, peering back at the woman, his posture bordering on confusion. As Barnaby watched the scene with a frown, the dark figure made a decision, and took off in the darkness of the surrounding woodland cover, blending into the shadows.
As the commotion died down, Barnaby pushed aside his reservations and set off after his sidekick, who had already reached the car.
The dark figure had already gone. Scott knew that. There was no hope chasing blindly through woodland in the middle of the night. It was dangerous, and knowing his luck, he'd probably get lost. Instead he turned his attentions back to the cowering woman, whose head was buried in her hands.
He crouched beside her slowly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She flinched sharply, looking up. He smiled warmly,
"It's alright. You ok?"
She took in his face slowly, her eyes tracing his features almost softly. Gently she nodded, and took a deep breath, pushing back a strand of short black hair.
"Y-yes. Yes I think so," she paused, "Thank you."
Scott smiled back at her, seeing his comfy bed slipping further away. A breathless intake of breath and heavy footsteps announced Barnaby's arrival, and he stopped beside them, hands on his knees.
"Did you see his face?"
Scott shook his head,
"No Sir."
Barnaby straightened up, colour flushing to his cheeks and looked over at the woman, who stood slowly, leaning back against the car for support.
"Are you all right?" he asked. She nodded, glancing at Scott,
"Yes."
Barnaby peered into the gloom of the foliage surrounding the theatre car park,
"Did you see your assailant?" he asked. She paused, eventually shaking her head,
"No. No, I'm afraid I didn't."
Barnaby puffed for breath,
"Did you know what they wanted?"
She shook her head, more quickly this time,
"No. They didn't say…probably after money or something," she gave an apologetic shrug, and Barnaby gave a single nod,
"More than likely. However I suggest you head home…" he paused, looking at her, inviting her to introduce herself. She rushed to comply,
"Mary Saddler. Miss," she added as an afterthought,
"Well Miss. Saddler, I suggest you head home, after all that's happened this evening I think it's best people didn't walk around on their alone,"
She nodded hurriedly,
"Yes. I was heading home before…" she trailed off,
"You ok to get yourself home Miss Saddler?" asked Scott, praying the answer was a yes. She turned to look at him, nodding, an embarrassed smile across her face,
"Oh, yes, I'll be fine."
"Good good," Barnaby nodded. The pair stepped back as she climbed into the car, and watched from the sidelines as she fumbled around in the driver's seat. Adjusting the mirror, placing her handbag on the passenger seat, putting on her seatbelt. As she started up the engine, she turned to look at them out of the window. Her eyes caught Scott's and she nodded and thanks once more. Scott nodded back.
As the small red car trundled out of the car park and down the lane towards the main village street, Barnaby sighed.
"Right, let's head home ourselves Scott, before anything else happens."