‘I’m Carwyn Price, and I’m joined by Detective Chief Inspector Colin Hudson of Kent Police …’
Chris lets this go. How much he has learned already.
‘Robberies are up, violent crime is up, surely the people of Kent deserve better than this?’
‘They do, Carwyn,’ says Chris. ‘It’s the right question to ask, and if I had a simple answer I would give it. I’ll start by saying we live in a very safe part of the world – I don’t want your viewers to worry themselves too much. But one robbery is a robbery too many, one instance of violent crime is …’
Chris catches Donna out of the corner of his eye. A real thumbs-up this time.
‘… one too many. So I give this promise: my fellow officers and I will not rest –’
The studio door swings open, and Mike Waghorn saunters in, tossing his bag onto a chair.
‘Here he is! My great find!’
Carwyn seems to find a politeness around Mike Waghorn that he hadn’t been able to muster around Chris.
‘Mikey boy!’ Carwyn says. ‘Yep, just putting him through his paces!’
‘I’ll bet, I’ll just bet,’ says Mike. ‘Hello, Chris, what do you make of all this?’
‘Love it,’ says Chris. ‘To be honest. Didn’t think I would, but I do.’
Mike sees Donna. ‘And your better half? What do you think, Donna?’
‘He’s actually very good,’ says Donna.
‘No need to screen-test him, Carwyn, I’ll vouch for him – you know my instincts,’ says Mike.
‘Of course, Mike,’ says Carwyn. ‘He’s definitely got the X-factor.’
‘We’re talking about knife crime in a couple of days,’ says Mike. ‘Put him on. That all right with you, Chris?’
‘Umm, yes,’ says Chris. In a couple of days? On TV? Knife crime? It’s like all his Christmases have come at once. He can’t wait to tell Patrice.
‘Well done, boss,’ says Donna, rising from her chair and giving Chris a hug.
Chris’s mind is galloping ahead. Perhaps this will turn into a regular slot. Your friendly bobby, dispensing advice, perhaps a little bit of wisdom along the way. Chris looks at the monitor on the studio floor. He looks good. Do his eyes twinkle? He could swear they do. He sees Mike look at the monitor too. But he realizes that Mike is not looking at him.
‘Donna,’ says Mike. ‘You really pop on camera. I mean really pop.’
‘Pop?’ says Donna. Chris has a sinking feeling.
‘Shine, zing, pop,’ says Mike. ‘Last time I saw anything like this it was a young Phillip Schofield. Wow.’
‘I … uh … thank you,’ says Donna.
‘What do you know about knife crime? I want you on instead of Chris,’ says Mike.
Donna holds up her hands in protest, Chris will give her that. ‘Sorry, Mike. Choose Chris.’
Mike puts his hands on Donna’s shoulders. ‘I don’t choose anyone, Donna. The camera chooses. And it’s chosen you.’
Mike turns to Carwyn. ‘Carwyn, take Donna into wardrobe, see what we’ve got.’
Carwyn takes Donna out of the studio. She gives an apologetic look over her shoulder as she goes. Mike places a hand on Chris’s shoulder.
‘Sorry, Chris,’ he says. ‘That’s showbusiness.’
Chris nods, the warmth of potential fame leaving his body.