The Race

by Ian Berry

  The PM’s party had a schedule to keep to and quite soon we reversed the greeting procedure at the front door. Not only did James get his hand shaken but so did Saskia and I - a gesture not lost on the press massed outside.

  With the PM and guests gone, everything began to get packed up. Saskia and I wandered round to the loading yard to see what was going on there. A surprise was waiting.

  “Girls, girls, come see the footage.” That was somebody from the BBC. “There were two cameras still in the room when the guy tried to shoot the PM. Everybody’s shared the footage. Want to see our edited piece?”

  They didn’t give us chance to say no. It began with pictures of the PM talking to us by the door. I clearly heard myself shout “Saskia! Gun!” then there was a shot. The cameras panned round to follow me as I ran off to the side but not before I noticed Saskia flicker ever so slightly as she caught the bullet that had the PM’s name on it.

  There were good pictures of me chucking the gunman around, catching his gun and kneeling on him, and good sound of me ordering the security men around. Something I hadn’t noticed at the time was Saskia moving to put herself between the gunman and the Prime Minister. Perhaps that was why there was no second shot, Saskia and I were in the way. There was more stuff of the PM looking shaken and of us asking him what he wanted to do. I realised that what I’d just seen would be on just about every news broadcast around the country. Scary.

  Further embarrassment was interrupted by the appearance of Katie. “Saskias. There you are. Sir James wants you in his office, now - if not sooner.”

  “Sorry guys. That’s our boss. Got to go.”

  “What’s he want, Katie?” asked Saskia, as we hurried into the building.

  “Don’t know I’m afraid. Shouldn’t think it’s to give you the sack.”

  Whatever James wanted us for didn’t include Katie. She disappeared before we got to his office. There was nobody else there, just James.

  “What a day, eh? I have questions.”

  “Ask away, there’s only us here.”

  Mm. First, if the forensics people were to look very closely at that bullet they dug out of the wall earlier, I assume they’d find Saskia’s fingerprints on it?”

  We nodded.

  “In that case I have to ask - would it have hit him if you’d not been there?”

  “Yes, James,” said Saskia. “Square in the chest. Could have been fatal. I caught it.”

  “Any investigation shouldn’t come to that,” I said. “There’s too much other evidence that the bullet missed.” I related what we’d seen that was going to be on the News later that night.

  “Anyway, enough of that. You did what you do, whatever shape you were wearing at the time. The PM has asked me to thank you for your help today. This I now do on his behalf. He also thanked me for very enjoyable lunch - apparently made even better by the presence of my butler. As I recall, that’s your fault as well, so thank you.”

  James shooed us from the presence as Amanda tapped on the door and demanded his attention. We walked the short distance to the boardroom to see what manner of devastation we’d find there. There wasn’t much - what there was was a group of four people from the PM’s Office who came almost running to meet us as we walked through the door.

  “Saskias, there you are,” said Ben. He stuck out his hand. “You were nothing short of remarkable today. I know you lead a double life, so to speak, but you were brilliant.”

  For a moment I thought he meant the double life was the Saskias and the SuperTwins, then realised he meant working for MI5. I shook his proffered hand, so did Saskia.

  “So how come a man with a gun got past all you people and your security checks?” Saskia asked.

  “That we don’t know, at least not yet,” said Jack. “There’ll be an enquiry I expect - mm, might need you to come and give evidence but I don’t think so.”

  “His Nibs did notice that you, Saskia, put yourself between him and the gunman. He’s not sure what to think about that, despite you showing him who you work for,” said Evie. “And as for you, Saskia - the whole thing happened so quickly we didn’t really see what went on.”

  “Watch the News tonight then,” I laughed. “We’ve already seen the edited piece - I think we might have to go and hide.”

  Saskia had a thought. “Not seen Rio for a while. Will you excuse us, we’re responsible for our young photographer. Need to go see where she’s hiding. If you’ve gone when we get back, can I say it’s been interesting to meet you.”

  We left Ben and his colleagues with kisses all round and went to look for the missing Rio.

  “Wonder where she’s gone,” said Saskia. “She’ll not leave the plant without telling us.”

  “Bet I know where she is.”

  “Going to enlighten me?”

  “Might do.”

  “Come on, tell me or you’ll get a thump.”

  “What was it you said the other day? Whenever you’re ready and as hard as you like.”

  She hit me. On the arm. I knew she’d hit me hard, I felt that much. The fact that I reacted as if was only a tap would have made anybody watching think she’d not hit me hard at all. I knew differently - but I didn’t care. I knew she didn’t mean it, just as she knew she could hit me as hard as she liked. It did make me tell her where I thought Rio was.

  “Ok, ok. I give in. In our office. I bet she’s downloading her pictures onto our computer terminal.”

  It was a good job Saskia didn’t accept my bet, I’d have taken her money. That’s exactly where Rio was - and so was Dan from the local paper. They were sitting really quite close together looking at the screen.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” whispered Saskia.

  “Probably. She is more or less seventeen and he’s only in his early twenties. Perhaps a bit soon for anything serious but leave them alone.”

  “Wasn’t going to say a thing. Go out and come in again with a bit more noise?”

  “Mm. Let’s see what they do.”

  We snuck back out, turned round and came back in making much more noise. This time the pair of them were rather further apart. Rio had the grace to go slightly red.

  “You two were closer together than that when we looked a moment ago,” said Saskia. They both went red.

  I laughed. “For Heaven’s sake stop looking so guilty. Anybody’d think you’d done something wrong.”

  “But it is,” said Rio in a low voice. “I’m not old enough.”

  I put my hand on Rio’s arm. “There are only some things you’re not old enough for. Feeling attracted to a boy isn’t one of them. Go where your heart takes you but not where your body wants to go, not yet. You have plenty of time.”

  Saskia was busy looking at Dan. “You need to be sure as well. Going slowly isn’t a crime although other things might be. We’ll not ask you anything else, I can see you’ll ask yourself enough questions as it is. If it works out we’ll be happy for both of you.”

  Rio flung her arms round me in a hug. “Thank you, Saskia. Will you watch out for me?”

  “Just like we already are,” I said. “We’ll be there to catch you, don’t you worry.”

  Saskia kissed Dan’s cheek then stood up straight. “Now, you two. What have you been up to on our computer?”

  With the spell broken just a little bit, Rio became a little more like her old excitable self. “We’ve been looking at the pictures I took. Dan wants to use some in the paper, You said he could.”

  “I didn’t get much at all,” said Dan. “At least nothing as good as Rio.”

  “Ok,” I said. “Rio, you were working for the Corporation. Copyright remains with us. Dan, you can use anything you want, but I require Rio adding to the by-line.”

  “No problem,” said Dan. Rio looked confused.
I let Dan tell her what I meant.

  “When the article appears in the paper, we give it a headline, a title if you like. Under that goes who’s written it - who it’s by - by-line, see? If it’s got pictures, it generally says ‘pictures by such-and-such’, probably me. Saskia wants your name to appear there as well, so it’ll say ‘Pictures by Dan Myers and Rio Ashworth’.”

  “My actual name, in the actual paper?”

  “Actually yes,” I grinned. “Syndication is allowed but with the proviso that the source is credited - and the photographer,” I said to Dan. “D’you want to tell her what that means or shall I?”

  “Hoo, that Saskia knows everything,” laughed Dan. “She just told me I can let other papers use the pictures but they must state where they’re from and who took them.”

  “In other words, they could end up in the national press, but only if your name is on them,” I said. Rio had her round-eyed look again.

  “Have you chosen what you want to use?” asked Saskia, obviously feeling a bit left out - she’d get a cuddle later.

  Rio pulled herself together a bit. “More or less.”

  “Ok then, look in the email program for Archie’s address, scribble a note then attach the pictures you want to use. No, you do it, you can do it as well as I can and you’re already sitting there. That way, they’ll already be there when Dan gets back to the office.”

  “Yes, I need to get back. Archie’ll be chewing the carpet waiting for pictures.”

  Dan stood up, so did Rio, they both dithered.

  “Kiss her, Dan, it’s what she wants you to do,” I said gently.

  “I know, just wasn’t sure I should.”

  “You should,” said Saskia just as gently as me. A gentle, tender kiss was duly administered. Saskia had a thought.

  “You have exchanged phone numbers, haven’t you? No? What have you been doing all afternoon?”

  With that sorted out, Dan rushed off to placate Archie, Rio had a smile on her face and a far-away look in her eye.

  “Earth calling Rio,” said Saskia gently.

  “What - oh - sorry Saskia, I was miles away.”

  “He can’t be that far away yet,” grinned Saskia. “He’s only just gone.”

  Rio had the grace to blush.

  “Ok. Have you tagged and stored all your pictures?”

  “Yes. They’re in a directory called ‘Plant Pictures’, with the date, on your public drive.”

  “And are they still on your camera so you can put them on your own computer at home?”

  “Mm, yes. Is that all right? What about that copyright-thingy?”

  “Not a problem. Just don’t sell them for potts of money. Anything else is fine.”

  “Come on then,” said Saskia. “One last turn around the premises to check, cafeteria for a hot chocolate, then I think we’ll skip off early. We’ve earned it. I think you should watch the News carefully tonight. I have it on good authority that the Robinson Corporation official photographer will be seen - more than once.”

  We did a last tour round, towing Rio with us. More pictures were apparently required - but then, so was hot chocolate. Eventually we ended up in the mini on the way to Rio’s.

  “A favour,” said Saskia, as she threaded the mini through the traffic. “Tell your mum all about Dan. You can tell her what we said to you as well if you like but don’t keep it from her. She’ll be happy for you, you’ll see.”

  With Rio dropped off, Saskia and I made our way home. Having skipped out a little early, we were home first. We set about preparing a nice light tea for Rob. We knew he’d had a nice lunch, we’d watched him eat it. We’d not had time for much to eat ourselves but that didn’t matter, I was sure we didn’t actually need to eat at all. By the time Rob arrived home, we’d just about got it all done.

  The very first thing he did was throw his arms round us and give us a huge hug. “You two were amazing today. Is that what you get up to all the time?”

  “No, silly Dad, ‘Course not. One of those days today, that’s all.”

  He turned to me, “And just where did you learn that sort of self-defence?”

  I thought quickly. “At school. It wasn’t in a very good part of the town, they insisted we girls could look after ourselves.”

  “You were quite respectful to the Prime Minister. I thought you thought he was a twit?”

  “The respect was accorded to the office of Prime Minister, not necessarily to the man currently holding that office,” said Saskia. I nodded my agreement.

  “Hm. Point taken. I’d not thought of it that way before.”

  “Come on, Dad. Eat food. We’re on the telly tonight.”

  “I suppose there’ll be a report, but how do you know you’ll appear?”

  “Ah. That’s because we’ve already seen some of it.”

  “Oh, yes. All that stuff in your loading bay. More friends of yours I expect.”

  “Some of them, Dad - well - most of them actually. Made some new ones today.”

  With tea scoffed and cleared away, we curled up to watch the News. There was almost as much footage of us as of the Prime Minister. We appeared right at the start as the PM arrived, then walking to the boardroom, then in the wide shots taken by ITN while the BBC were close up on the PM giving his speech. I took note of the many shots of Rio as well. She’d be the centre of attention at school tomorrow. Naturally, the highlight of the report was the attempt on the PM’s life.

  I paid careful attention to me duffing up the gunman. It really did look like I’d used Judo or Kung-Fu or something on him. Actually, I’d just used super strength - but it looked good. There was unexpected voice-over from the reporter.

  “We tried to get an interview with Saskia Chandler and Saskia Hunt following their foiling of the attempted shooting. We were advised by Sir James Robinson that the two girls would rather not be interviewed. He said they felt they’d done what needed to be done and saw no need to highlight it further. Their modesty does them credit.”

  Rob looked at us a little strangely but we said nothing. I’d have to see what James said tomorrow. That receded into the background a bit as Saskia spotted her dad in the footage from the cafeteria.

  “Hey Dad. Look. That’s you. Fame at last, appearing on national TV.”

  He grinned but said, “Hm. Five seconds of me, twenty minutes of you two. That’s the way it should be, I’m happy with that.” That earned him a hug and a kiss, from both of us.

  Eventually the report came to an end with the Prime Minister taking his leave of the plant. There were a few minutes of reporters and newscasters giving their interpretation and opinions of the day, then the News moved on to other things. Then the phone calls started.

  First at the starting gate was Ellie. Her conversation set the tone for all the following.

  “Hi Saskias. I didn’t know you were getting your own show on the BBC?”

  “It only seems like it,” laughed Saskia. “If we’d known what it was going to turn out like, we’d have warned you all.”

  “Nah, much more fun to be surprised. I liked the bit where you beat up the gunman, Saskia.”

  “Not sure he did.”

  “While you’re on, Ellie,” said Saskia. “Our get together over Christmas? James has invited us all to a party at Maison Robinson, just our mob, and them of course.”

  “Want me to ring him up and arrange everything?”

  “Took the words out of my mouth dear. Oops. The phone’s making that noise it makes when somebody else is trying to get through. Probably one of the others. See you later, Ellie. Take care.”

  The next hour was spent on the phone. Everybody wanted to speak to us, including Tasha, She had further news. Lucy was totally over her fear of crowds and was apparently a new person. She’d celebrated that by pe
rsuading Lewis the photographer to go out with her and they were now inseparable. A little bit of Saskia Meddling can go a long way.

  Pleading being tired after having got up before we went to bed, Saskia and I had an early night.

  “Bit of an eventful day, Twin,” said Saskia.

  “Mm. Glad they’re not all like this. Not sure I could keep up.”

  “Yes you could, you know you could. You’re a super girl. Easy-peasy.”

  “There is that. Just as well I suppose. What about Rio then? A bit young perhaps?”

  “I wouldn’t say so. Look at you and Peter. If you’d wanted to, you could have been his girlfriend when you were sixteen.”

  “Ah. But I wasn’t sixteen, was I?”

  “No. Ok. You’re right. But we didn’t think anything of what our friends were up to back then, did we?”

  “But it’s different now. For you anyway. At sixteen you didn’t think the way you think now - of consequences and repercussions.”

  “True. We’ve come long way in a short time. Help me look out for Rio?”

  “You know I will. Got to look out for you first, though. Come for a kiss so I can tell you I love you.”

  After a hug and kiss were duly administered, we retired to our beds. With nothing to stop us, we were both asleep in minutes.”

  Thirteen

  Friday. Having to run a bit of a gauntlet of people wanting to congratulate us on yesterday and yet others who’d not heard what had happened until seeing it on the News meant we didn’t get to our desks for quite a while. Melanie had already had a rummage through Rio’s pictures.

  “Lots of you two, not many of me.”

  “Sorry Melanie. If we’d known you wanted fame, we’d have told Rio.”

  Melanie laughed. “They’re all very good, except this one. Don’t know what’s happened to it.”

  ‘This one’ was obviously taken at the moment the shot was fired. It showed the PM and Saskia. There was a big blurred patch in the middle. I knew what this was. It was Saskia’s arm moving at super speed. I’d been afraid of this. Rio had marked it ‘DNU’.