Shafted (10 page)

Larry felt a tugging sensation in his gut as he eyed the bottle of Scotch that was crying out to him from the centre of the table. But Georgie would be leaving from here to go to a family funeral and she was upset enough without him stressing her out by taking a drink before the contract was signed. And much as he’d have loved a glass or three of the hard stuff right now, he just couldn’t do that to her, so he asked for a fresh orange juice instead.

‘So, here’s the deal,’ Jon said when they all had their drinks in their hands. ‘As you might have guessed from the accents, Larry, we’re from the States, and we’re over here shooting a series about US versus UK cops—’

‘Georgie’s already given me the background.’ Larry cut him short, his gaze focused firmly on Terri, who was leaning forward in her seat giving him a bird’s-eye view of creamy cleavage.

‘Okay, good . . . well, that saves a bit of time, I guess,’ Jon said, sitting forward in his own seat to draw Larry’s attention back to him. He could almost see the sparks flying between the two of them, and felt an urge to intervene before they ignited into a flame. Terri was no easy lay by any means, but this guy was too handsome by far, and Jon wanted to remind them that this was a business meeting, not a blind date.

‘Can I take it you’re familiar with this kind of programme, Mr Logan?’ he asked now, switching to formality to keep things on a professional footing.

Giving Jon a knowing smile, sure that he was trying to warn him off his woman, Larry said, ‘I’ve seen a couple, yeah.’

‘And you’re not intimidated by the thought of being involved with criminals?’

‘Should I be?’

‘Not at all,’ Terri said, frowning at Jon, because they were meant to be welcoming Larry to the project, not putting him off it before they’d even started. ‘We have a fantastic security set-up, and we don’t anticipate any trouble.’

‘But we obviously can’t offer a watertight guarantee on that,’ Jon countered, irritated that Terri seemed intent on letting her pussy do the talking instead of adhering to the correct protocol for protecting the company in a worst-case scenario.

‘I’m sure I’ll be fine,’ Larry drawled, exchanging a hooded glance with Georgie, amused by the friction that seemed to be developing between the producer and her uptight assistant.

‘Right, then,’ Terri said firmly. ‘Let’s move straight to the terms of the contract, shall we? I know you’ve already talked it through with Larry, Georgie, so we can—’

‘Sorry,’ Jon interrupted, giving Terri a piercing look. ‘But can we just have a little chat before we proceed?’

‘Can’t it wait?’ Terri asked, wondering why he was interrupting things at this stage for a chat.

‘No.’ Jon shook his head, casting a surreptitious glance at Larry. ‘Sorry, but it can’t.’

Sighing, Terri gave Georgie and Larry an apologetic smile, and said, ‘I’m so sorry about this, but could you just give us a moment? I’m sure Julie will take good care of you while you’re waiting.’

Frowning, because she really didn’t have time for messing around today, Georgie said, ‘Sorry, but is there a problem? Only I thought everything was set for Larry to sign?’

‘Oh, it is,’ Terri assured her. ‘And I promise we won’t keep you any longer than necessary.’

Flapping his hands, Larry said, ‘No problem. Just give us a shout when you’re ready.’ Getting up then, he jerked his head at Georgie, and sauntered out of the office.

Waiting until Georgie had followed and closed the door behind her, Terri turned to Jon and hissed, ‘What the hell is
wrong
with you?’

‘There’s nothing wrong with me,’ he replied stiffly. ‘I’m just not sure he’s the right guy for us.’

‘Why? He’s charming, laid-back, good-looking.’

‘Some might say
too
good-looking. And I’m a little concerned that his face might be more of a hindrance than a help.’

‘Are you serious?’ Drawing her head back, Terri peered at him.‘How can you be too good-looking?’

‘Oh, I’ve no doubt women probably idolise him on sight,’ Jon sniped. ‘But we’ve been working on this kind of thing for long enough to know that men despise guys who are prettier than their girlfriends – especially the kind of men we’ll be targeting here.’

Mulling this over for several moments, Terri said, ‘You’ve got a point, and ordinarily I’d probably agree with you. But that’s back home, and we already know how different everything is over here. And Inspector Keeton mustn’t have thought it would be a problem or he wouldn’t have suggested him. And let’s not forget
why
he chose him.’

‘Which is the other thing that’s bothering me,’ Jon said. ‘That whole under-age sex thing was wrong, and I’m not sure I can work with someone who’s into that kind of shit.’

Reminding him that it hadn’t been proved or Larry would have been prosecuted, Terri said,‘Mud sticks, but that doesn’t make it true. Anyway, I prefer to go with my instincts, and they’re telling me that he’s not the type to do something like that.’

‘He’s not going to be obvious about it, is he?’ Jon argued. ‘Decent people are disgusted by that kind of thing, which is why it’s such an underground issue.’

‘Well, now you’ve met him, do
you
think he’s a child abuser?’ Terri challenged.

Folding his arms, Jon pursed his lips. Shrugging after a moment, he said, ‘Probably not. But you can never be sure, can you? Take that guy last year: fucking every grown woman he could get his hands on, just to deflect suspicion from the fact that he had all those kids locked in his basement.’

‘You can’t compare
him
to Larry.’Terri laughed. ‘Anyway, I told you it was him from the start, but
you
thought it was that kid from down the block.’

‘Yeah, well, there was something wrong with the kid, too,’ Jon muttered, knowing that he’d used a bad example. ‘He had the shiftiest eyes I’ve ever seen.’

‘Because he was terrified the cops were going to stumble across the grass he was growing in the attic,’ Terri reminded him. ‘Anyway, we’re getting off track here. This is about Larry, and I really think he’s our guy.’

‘I don’t.’ Jon shrugged again. ‘But you’re the boss, so it’s your call. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you if anything goes wrong.’

‘It won’t,’ Terri stated with certainty. Then, smiling, she said, ‘Right, let’s call him back in and get this contract signed before he runs out on us.’

Reaching for the Scotch that Larry had resisted, Jon poured himself a stiff shot. He’d respect Terri’s decision, but that didn’t mean he had to agree with it. He was professional enough to push his personal feelings aside for the sake of his work, and he just hoped that Terri would do the same, because he’d hate for her lust-life to jeopardise their project.

Still, if she fucked it up, Shock-Wave would have to see that it had been a mistake putting her in charge, and Jon might just get the chance to show what he was made of – at last.

Calling Larry and Georgie back in, Terri signed her part of the contract and pushed it across the table to Larry, mentally crossing her fingers in the hope that Jon hadn’t put him off – because
she
thought that he was absolutely perfect.

Giving it to Georgie, who took one last look over it to make sure that it hadn’t been altered in any way since she and Terri had agreed the terms, Larry signed it and pushed it back to Terri.

Reaching out to shake first Georgie’s, then Larry’s hand, Terri said,‘Great to be working with you. And now we’ve got that out of the way, I’d love to take you both over to see the location.’

Glancing at her watch, Georgie said, ‘I can’t, I’m afraid. But I’m sure you can manage without me, can’t you, Larry?’

Patting him on the arm when he said he’d be fine, pleased with him for behaving himself, Georgie said, ‘Okay, well, I’ll speak to you when I get back. And it was very nice to meet you both, Terri and Jon.’

‘Nice lady,’ Terri said when Georgie had gone. Then, back to Larry, ‘Right, well, shall we set straight off, then? Or would you rather have a spot of lunch first?’

Frowning, because he’d just picked up the scent of the Scotch that Jon was cradling, Larry shook his head and said, ‘I’d rather just go straight there, if you don’t mind.’

Handing the signed contracts to Jon, Terri stood up and reached for her jacket. ‘Come on, then. Let’s get you over there to meet everyone. Do you want to hang on here in case that call comes through, Jon?’

Guessing that it wasn’t a question, Jon smiled tightly. ‘Yeah, why not,’ he said, getting up to put the paperwork in the safe. ‘I’m sure you’ll manage without me for an hour or two.’

Saying ‘Call me on the cell if you need me,’ Terri opened the door and waved Larry out of the office ahead of her.

Passing Julie as they went through the outer office, Larry flipped her a wink and said, ‘Later babe.’

Smiling as they took the elevator down to the ground floor, Terri said, ‘I think you’ve got yourself quite a fan back there.’

‘Who,
Jon?
’ Larry quipped, feigning surprise. ‘Well, I must say, I’m shocked. I got the distinct impression he didn’t like me.’

Telling him that she’d been talking about Julie, although she guessed that he already knew that, Terri stepped back to let him out when the elevator stopped. Following him out into the foyer, she hesitated when she saw how many young women were milling about there. She recognised most of them as secretaries and receptionists from the various businesses located in the block, but she had never seen so many of them in the same place at the same time before. Word that Larry was here had obviously spread.

Most of the girls were trying to act cool, but when one rushed forward just as Larry reached the street door and asked him for his autograph, the rest quickly followed, and Terri had to wait almost ten minutes while he obliged.

Stepping out onto the pavement at last, she hailed a cab and rushed him into it, in case any of the women who were already doing double takes as they passed on the street decided to delay them further. It was an amazing reaction, she thought, given that Larry had supposedly been off the scene for so long and out of the public’s favour. But it all boded well for her project because, if the British women were so taken with him, then the girls back home were bound to fall for him, too.

Terri had chosen an almost derelict Victorian warehouse in the undeveloped section of Trafford Park’s otherwise flourishing industrial estate as the location for her mock-studio. Gazing out at the building as the cab pulled up at the kerb, Larry wondered what on earth had possessed her. It looked in serious danger of crumbling to dust if too many more rats trod its mouldy boards, and there was no way anyone was going to be fooled into thinking it was a genuine TV station – especially not the notoriously paranoid Mancunian criminals they were hoping to lure in. They’d take one look at the place and run for their lives.

‘I know it looks awful,’ Terri said, paying the driver and climbing out. ‘But it’s a lot better inside. And when we’re done, the exterior will be just as good, I promise.’

Doubting that very much, Larry wasn’t holding his breath as she tapped on the ancient shutters which were drawn almost all the way down over the entrance. But he got a shock when someone hauled the shutters up a few seconds later and he found himself walking into a modern reception area, complete with a long polished desk, over which two men were busy erecting a neon sign reading
INDIGO TV
.

‘Good, isn’t it?’ Terri said, smiling because he looked so surprised.

‘Great,’ Larry agreed, gazing around. ‘It’s a lot like Oasis, actually – the studio I used to work at.’

‘So I heard,’ Terri said, nodding her approval to the workmen when they stepped down to view their handiwork. ‘But then, most station receptions look like this, so it wasn’t hard to set it up. And it will look even better when we put the finishing touches to it. A few potted palms, and maybe a coffee machine. Oh, and do you get the name, by the way?’

Shrugging, Larry said, ‘It’s a colour, isn’t it?’

‘In-di-go,’ Terri said, punctuating each syllable. When Larry still looked blank, she said, ‘In
dey
go – to prison. Get it?’

‘Ah . . .’ Larry drew his head back. ‘Very clever.’

‘Thought you’d like it,’ Terri said proudly. ‘And we’re calling the game show
Gotcha!
, by the way.’

‘Right,’ Larry murmured uncertainly. ‘And you don’t think that’s a bit obvious?’

‘Not at all,’ Terri replied, smiling coyly as she added, ‘Mind you, I’m bound to say that, considering it was my idea. But everyone else seems to like it, so I guess it must be okay. Anyway, come on . . . let me show you around.’

Leading him to a door marked PRIVATE at the far end of the reception area now, Terri thanked Larry when he held it open for her, and wondered as she passed him – as she’d been doing since she’d first laid eyes on him – how one man could have been blessed with such an extraordinarily beautiful face. She’d worked with some of the most handsome men in the States during her time in TV, but none had been quite as stunning in the flesh as Larry was. She just prayed that his year away from the camera hadn’t dulled his on-screen magic or she’d have some serious explaining to do, having practically forced Jon to dismiss his own instincts in favour of hers.

Smiling to himself, sure that Terri was thinking hot thoughts about him, Larry followed her into the heart of the old warehouse. Having expected it to be a cold, cavernous shell, littered with the remnants of old machinery and resonating with the echoes of a long-gone Victorian workforce, he was surprised to see how much work Shock-Wave had done to transform it into a credible-looking TV studio, complete with soundproofed walls and hush-foot flooring. A large stage-floor had been laid to the rear of the hall, and several set-builders were busy hoisting a glitzy backdrop into position as he watched. And rows of audience seating were being installed, the workers creating a cacophonous din with their hammers and screeching drills; while, overhead, metal clanked on metal as technicians moved huge banks of studio lights into position.