HEARTBEAT

Part Four

Katie had felt oddly nervous from the moment she first stepped out of Reuben's taxi. She didn't know why. This was the beginning of her new career, her life of stardom. Yet, deep down, she had the feeling that something wasn't quite right...

She felt better once she entered the hotel reception. Jonathan was there to meet her – just as well, as the desk seemed to be unattended. He was in one of those trendy black suits with a collarless jacket, and polo-neck to match, and looked smart and sophisticated. He greeted Katie with a smile and a friendly kiss on the cheek.

He led her straight through into a small function room with its own private bar and a view out onto the terrace and across the fells. It was set up as a photographic studio, with a photo blow-up background of the Yorkshire hills, and a young ginger-haired photographer Jonathan introduced as Brian. They both seemed very keen to get started.

Katie opened her suitcase. Both men admired the contents.

Then the audition began. Katie was asked to make an endless series of poses – jacket on, jacket off, sitting, standing, look adorable, look coy, hair loose or tied back. Brian took snap after snap, and every one brought forth a smile.

Finally Jonathan said:

"We'll take a break now. If London likes these as much as I do... you're made, Kate."

Katie beamed.

Jonathan led her over towards the bar.

"Come and have a drink now. I've got a surprise for you. There's a very famous friend of ours, like to meet you. He's only here for tonight. That's why we made this so soon."

He looked round, as the door opened.

"How would you like to meet... a real live disc jockey?"

Katie saw another man enter. And her mouth fell open.

"Oh my God. It's you!"

Nick was driving at a furious rate. He was still in uniform, but using his own car. There was no more time to waste. He kept thinking: young man... hotel... money. This did not sound good.

He drove too fast over a little bridge over a stream. He remembered bringing Kate here once, for a picnic. Suddenly he seemed to hear her voice.

"Get her out of there, Nick. Now!"

Back in the hotel, Katie was standing with the celebrity at the bar.

"I don't believe it. You! I suppose you do a lot of events, famous people, models, don't you?"

The celebrity smiled.

"One or two." He looked round, as a barman appeared. "You ever had a champagne cocktail?"

Katie smiled back at him, and lied.

"One or two."

The celebrity ordered them. The barman seemed to have to go away to prepare them. Then he brought them, in big wide glasses, just like on The Avengers.

The celebrity gave Katie a flirtatious look.

"Bottoms up?"

He drank his in one go. Following him, so did Katie.

The celebrity took a seat on a bar stool.

"Have you heard my new show? All them new radio stations, it's gonna get bigger and bigger. And TV, too. We're going into colour soon. You ought to be there."

"That sounds cool." Katie staggered a little. She wasn't used to drinking. That champagne seemed to have gone straight to her head... and her legs. She looked round for another bar stool, but it wasn't there. She looked round for Jonathan, and Brian, but suddenly they weren't there either.

She slumped to the floor.

As her eyes closed, the last thing she saw was the celebrity's smiling face.

Nick was driving at a speed he had only ever matched on the motorbike. He had arrested people for less. It didn't matter, any more. All he had to do was save Katie.

He slammed on the brakes. Not for the first time, there was a massive flock of sheep in his way.

He produced his warrant card and shouted at the bemused farmhand, in a way that was most un-Nick-like.

"Clear the road! Police! Now!"

Katie woke up. She realised she was lying in a very large and very comfortable bed. The window was open, letting in a balmy summer breeze. She put a hand to her head. That drink...

She saw bits of her trendy costume, lying around the room. She realised she was dressed only in her underwear.

Then she saw the celebrity, coming towards her. He smiled again, and reached out a hand.

Katie screamed.

Then, all at once, Nick was in the room, arms around the celebrity, dragging him away. For a second, Sergeant Nick Rowan forgot a decade's worth of police practice. He slammed the celebrity's head into the flower-patterned wall.

As the man staggered, Nick reached for his radio.

"Alf, I'm at the Heights. Get back-up here. NOW!"

Twenty minutes later, Nick, Don and a gobsmacked Geoff were leading the celebrity, Jonathan and Brian through reception and out towards a waiting police car. Jo had come too, and was helping a hastily-dressed and sobbing Katie out to the family car.

Jonathan and Brian were silent. But the celebrity was looking smug.

"You do know I'll be out in five minutes, Sergeant? I've got friends in the police you'll never meet in your entire career. When I tell them about that little bit of police brutality, you'll be back on point duty."

Nick was still barely controlling himself.

"After what I saw in there..."

"It'll be your word against mine. It'll never go to trial."

"A fifteen-year-old, modelling half-naked?" Don put in a word. "They'll throw the book at you."

Jonathan broke his silence.

"We're a legitimate modelling agency, and a registered company. I've got all the paperwork with me. I think you'll find Kate signed a contract, and certified she was eighteen. Any misrepresentation from her is no fault of ours. We did the audition, just as contracted. We'll even pay her."

"And afterwards?"

Everyone stopped as another team of police entered reception. And these were CID officers, in plain clothes.

At their head was DS Rachel Dawson. She was tight-lipped as she saw the scene.

"Sergeant Rowan? Could I have a word?"

Nick went with Rachel into the hotel lounge, while their respective men led the arrested parties away.

"Smart move, Nick. You've just wrecked a CID operation it took months to plan. It's semi-official. That guy wasn't lying. He does have friends in high places. Knows everyone. That's how he gets away with this."

"You were coming to arrest him?"

"With a warrant, and other officers at witnesses. I had to go behind my own DI's back to arrange it. Now, thanks to you, there are no other witnesses, and he can blur the issue with a complaint of police brutality! It'll never get to court, and if it did, his lawyers would tear Katie apart in the witness-box. It's like he said. He's famous."

Nick was choking on his words as he said:

"Rachel, that man presents pop shows aimed at kids! Does charity work. Adverts. All for young people..."

Rachel relaxed a little as she saw how upset he was.

"We'll get him, Nick. It won't be this time. It could take years. But one day, the world's gonna know the truth."

Forgetting professionalism, she put her arm around his shoulder.

"And now, I suggest you hand this whole thing over to CID, and get Katie home."

That evening, the only officer junior enough to be off-duty was Geoff Younger. He entered the Aidensfield Arms in the hope of a quiet pint, then groaned as Peggy and David entered less than a minute later. At least Peggy greeted him warmly.

"Geoff! My favourite copper! Are you gonna get them in – oh, you're kind! Isn't he kind, David? Well, I'll have a large port and lemon, and David'll have a pint of...?"

David was on his own plane, as usual. He was already at the bar, and was spreading out several large prints of photographs. Oscar, Gina and Dawn all came to have a look. As ever, Oscar was first to the evidence.

"Are these the photos of the Village Fete?"

"That's right, Mr Blaketon."

Across the saloon, Geoff gulped.

Dawn had a poke among the pictures.

"They're not exactly David Bailey, are they? Even if you have got the same name."

David looked puzzled.

"I'm not called Bailey."

Dawn tutted. "These are all blank!"

"I forgot I had the lens cap on."

"Nice one of your thumb... these are all over-exposed... all you've got is a roundabout and one of Oscar eating a sandwich!"

Suddenly Geoff was at the bar, too.

"And those are the only ones... nothing else came out?"

"'Fraid not, Mr Younger."

Geoff assumed his most official expression.

"In that case, I think you'd better get the drinks in, Mrs Armstrong. And don't drink too much, if you're going to drive that truck out there, will you? And while we're about it, it's causing an obstruction and the road tax is out of date!"

Peggy drank a port and lemon, very fast. David was looking confused again.

"Aunt Peggy? What's up?"

"I've just found out why they say the camera never lies."

THE END