TOYL

amazing really. It’s a real shame to turn your back on something that could change your life.’
    ‘But…’
    ‘But,’ Lizzy continued, ‘I think that you’re doing the right thing.’
    ‘Thanks, Lizzy.’ Emma smiled gratefully. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

    ***

    Will woke up with one hell of a hangover, courtesy of a bottle of Jack Daniels. He’d spent the evening drinking in front of the TV and had fallen asleep fully clothed on the sofa. And although he’d woken up several times since, he didn’t have the balance, energy or inclination to make his way to the bedroom. He struggled to his feet and staggered towards the curtains. A short, sharp shock was required. The blast of early morning sunlight set off what felt like a nuclear bomb in his head. Turning back towards the living room, grimacing at the sour taste in his mouth, his eyes focussed on the photograph lying on the coffee table.
    Why had he not told her about it when he had the chance?
    Somehow he’d managed to regain his composure in the hospital, hiding his torment, even joking with Emma and Lizzy. And the phone call from Dan seemed to indicate that maybe it wasn’t what he feared.
    But who was to say that the person calling really was Dan?
    He moved over and picked up the photo.
    ‘If you had anything to do with this, I swear I’ll kill you,’ he said, his eyes burning at the man in the shot.
    He showered, dressed and headed outside into the sunshine, needing to escape the stale smell of alcohol that seemed to have soaked into every part of the flat. He decided to head towards Regent’s Park – maybe amongst the crowds of picnickers and sunbathers he could try and forget about the mess he had got himself into, if only for a couple of hours.

    ***

    ‘What did he say?’ Lizzy said, as Emma replaced the handset. ‘Was he okay about it?’
    ‘Surprisingly nice,’ Emma replied, not quite believing what the casting director Guy Roberts had just said to her. ‘He said he understood why I’d decided not to go, but he was really disappointed as I’d been the standout candidate from the first reading. He also said that I have real talent.’
    ‘Wow, Emma, that’s great! And you said there were loads of people going for the part.’
    ‘He probably says that to everyone.’
    ‘No way. Why would he? People like him have got enough wannabe actors bothering them without encouraging people who aren’t good enough. So he wouldn’t have said it unless he meant it. That’s really great news. I’m so proud of you!’
    Lizzy embraced Emma in a congratulatory hug.
    ‘Thanks,’ Emma said, ‘but it’s not really important now, is it?’
    ‘I guess not,’ conceded Lizzy, pulling away. ‘Not right now, anyway. But everything will work itself out, Em, I’m sure of it. Then maybe you can contact this guy, see what else he’s working on. If he likes you that much, he’ll be interested in seeing you again for another part.’
    ‘Maybe.’
    ‘Let’s get out of here.’ Lizzy was trying hard to sound cheerful. ‘You need to take a walk, have some time away from that hospital. We’ll go and get a coffee or something.’
    ‘Okay,’ Emma said, ‘that’ll be nice.’
    Just then her mobile rang.
    She spun around, looking for the phone, and saw it on top of the breakfast table. As she dashed over to get it her heart leapt when she saw the Caller ID.
    It was Dan.
    ‘It’s him,’ she shouted, panicking, grabbing the phone.
    ‘Dan, where are you, are you okay?’ she spluttered, not even giving him a chance to say a word.
    She forced herself to stop talking and listen, but was met with silence.
    ‘Dan, are you there?’
    Again there was nothing.
    ‘Dan?’
    Then the line went dead.
    She looked across at Lizzy, but before her friend had a chance to say anything the phone rang again.
    ‘Dan?’ she said.
    ‘Hi, is that Emma Holden?’ a deep male voice asked.
    ‘Yes, yes,’ she replied, taken aback by the fact that it wasn’t Dan on the other end of the line.
    ‘Detective Inspector Mark Gasnier here. I’m part of the team investigating the serious assault on Richard Carlton. I was hoping to speak with you today…’
    ‘Sure,’ she said, meeting Lizzy’s interested gaze.
    ‘This morning okay?’
    ‘That’s fine. Do you want me to come down to a police station?’
    ‘That won’t be necessary. We’ll come over to you.’

    ***

    He stood on the opposite side of the street, looking up at the window of