Not Dead Yet

of blue and white police crime scene tape.
    ‘Like, I have Gaia, and Judd Halpern, and Hugh Bonneville, Joseph Fiennes and Emily Watson all waiting in their trailers. We gotta get some footage in the can tonight – because of our schedule.’
    The DI looked at Brooker, incredulously. Then he pointed at thechandelier and the emergency service workers. ‘You’re aware that there is a man underneath that? A human being?’
    ‘Sure, of course. Like, I’m as shocked as everyone else.’
    ‘So what actually is your point, sir?’
    ‘My point is that we’re already behind schedule. This is terrible. Tragic. Fucking English maintenance, right – I mean – where else in the world could this happen?’
    He seemed oblivious to the Detective Inspector’s stony glare.
    ‘The thing is, we have to get some footage in the can tonight. Like, I’m just wondering how fast this mess could be cleared? So we could carry on? We can shoot around the chandelier, not a problem.’
    Jason Tingley simply could not believe what he was hearing. ‘Mr Brooker, we have a possibly fatally injured person. This is now a crime scene.’
    ‘Crime scene? It’s a goddamn accident! A terrible accident.’
    ‘With respect, sir, at this point in time I have no evidence to support it being an accident. Unless – or until – I do, this is a crime scene. My crime scene. I own this now, do you understand? I’m clearing everyone from it, and no one is going to be filming here tonight or any time soon. I apologize for inconveniencing you, but do you understand that?’
    Brooker stared back at him and began stabbing at the air with his finger. ‘Listen to me and listen good, Detective Inspector Tingles.’
    ‘Tingley .’
    ‘Yeah? Well, whatever, you’d better listen good, Detective. You’d better understand me. I have your Director of Tourism, Adam Bates, totally on board. This is the biggest goddamn motion picture your city’s ever had shot here. I’m not having my multi-million-dollar production set back because of this building’s shit maintenance.’
    Jason Tingley, standing his ground, said, ‘At this point, my priority is to ensure the safety of everyone in this building, Mr Brooker.’ He pointed up at the other four, smaller, chandeliers. ‘I’m going to have someone from Health and Safety here at any moment, wanting a full check. One chandelier’s come down. Do you really want to risk the lives of those stars by not having proper safety checks on the others?’
    Brooker looked at his watch, a big, chunky digital thing that looked like it belonged on the instrument panel of a Space Shuttle. ‘You know, with respect, officer, this is not your call.’
    ‘Fine. Speak to the Chief Constable. But until he directs me otherwise, this is my crime scene, and I have to warn you that if you attempt to obstruct me I will arrest you.’
    Brooker glowered at him. ‘You know what you are? You’re fucking unreal!’
    You are too, Jason Tingley thought.

95
    Roy Grace, almost home, was hunting for a parking space near Cleo’s house when Jason Tingley phoned him to tell him what had happened.
    He listened intently, all his instincts telling him this was not coincidence, and he said he was on his way. It was only a few minutes’ drive from here to the Pavilion. Moments after the DI hung up his phone rang again. As he answered he heard the nasal James Cagney voice of Gaia’s security adviser Andrew Gulli.
    ‘Detective Superintendent Grace?’
    ‘Yes, how are you?’
    ‘Do you want to tell me what’s going on, Detective Grace?’
    ‘I’m actually on my way to find out myself.’
    ‘I understand that Gaia’s kid was almost killed just now. This is not an acceptable situation.’
    ‘How is he?’
    ‘He’s fine. But Gaia’s pretty distressed.’
    ‘If you want to meet me at the Pavilion—’
    ‘I’m already there,’ Gulli cut him short. ‘I need to know what’s going on. Is your goddamn building falling down, or is there someone behind this? I have to make decisions regarding my client’s security. Am I making myself clear?’
    ‘Meet me at the front entrance in five minutes.’
    ‘I’m there.’
    Grace hung up and immediately phoned Cleo, warning her he didn’t know what time he would be home now. She told him she understood – not something Sandy had said to him very often.
    Then his phone rang yet again. It was the Chief Constable. ‘Roy, what information do you have about this incident at the