Take Two (A psychological thriller)

‘Could I have your autograph?’ asked the woman. ‘My daughter loves the show and she won’t believe I’ve seen you if I don’t have your autograph.’

‘Of course,’ said Carolyn. She looked at the old woman expectantly. ‘Do you have a piece of paper or something? And a pen?’

The old woman shook her head. ‘No dear. Sorry.’

‘Let’s see if the sales lady has one,’ Carolyn said and smiled. She managed to squeeze by the couple and went over to the cash register. The woman behind the counter  was in her late twenties with dyed blonde hair, dressed all in black.  Carolyn asked for a pen and then scribbled her Diana Bourne signature on the back of a leaflet advertising Australian wine. She handed it to the old woman and waved away her thanks, then paid for the champagne. The cashier held out her hand with the change. Her eyes widened in recognition.  ‘You’re . . .  Carolyn Bourne,’ she said. She had an East European accent. Polish, perhaps.

‘Last time I checked, yes,’ said Carolyn. She motioned with her hand, asking for the change. She couldn’t be bothered correcting the girl, it was just too much effort to explain that her name was Castle and that Bourne was the character she played.

The cashier took back the change as if she had forgotten she had it in her hand.  ‘It must be great to be a movie star,’ she said.

‘Well. I’m not really a movie star, it’s just television.’

‘But you’re famous.’

‘Believe me, it’s actually very hard work.’

‘My boyfriend loves you,’ said the shop assistant. ‘He says you’re his favourite Milf.’

‘Milf?’

‘That’s what he says but he won’t say what a Milf is. Can you tell me, what is a Milf?’

Carolyn laughed. She knew exactly what a Milf was but didn’t think she should be the one to tell the girl what her boyfriend meant. ‘I’m not sure.’

‘Will you talk to him, please?’

Carolyn looked at her watch pointedly but the girl was already reaching for her mobile.  She held the phone to her ear, nodding and smiling at Carolyn. Carolyn said a silent prayer that the boyfriend wouldn’t answer but he did. ‘Mark, you’ll never guess who’s in my shop,’ she said. She grinned. ‘No, you won’t guess. Here, you talk to her.’ She handed over the phone.

 Carolyn smiled and took it. ‘Hi,’ she said, ‘This is Carolyn Castle.’

‘No way.’ He was from Liverpool and sounded as if he was a few years younger than the girl behind the counter.

‘It’s definitely me,’ said Carolyn. ‘I just popped in to your girlfriend’s shop to buy some wine and she mentioned you enjoyed the show.’

‘You’ve made my day, you really have,’ he said. ‘Can I tell you something, Carolyn?’

‘Of course.’

‘Your husband. Watch him. He’s getting a bit too pally with that Fiona. I don’t trust her.’

Carolyn laughed. ‘Thanks for the tip, Mark.’

‘I’m serious, Carolyn. There’s something not right there.’

Still laughing, Carolyn handed the phone back to the girl and retrieved her change. She was still laughing as she walked out of the shop and climbed into the back of the Mercedes.

CHAPTER 4

Billy brought the car to a halt outside the mansion block where Eddie had his flat. She saw Eddie’s black 5-Series BMW parked in the street. ‘Do you want me to wait for you, Miss Castle?’ asked Billy.  When he’d first starting driving her, Carolyn had asked him to call her by her first name but he’d insisted it was company policy not to.

‘No, that’s okay, Billy,’ she said. ‘I’ll probably stay over, but I’ll send you a text either way.’

‘It’s an early call tomorrow,’ said Billy. ‘Seven o’clock in make-up, they said.’

‘I’ll be ready for you, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,’ she said. ‘Have you got anything planned?’

‘Thought I’d take the missus out for a movie and a pizza,’ said Billy. ‘Once she gets over the shock of me getting home this early.’