“Look, I think I ought to go home. They know who I am, and that I’m protected, so there is no point hiding any more. I don’t want to bring any trouble to your place, so I’ll go home, and the police can live in at my place.”
They tried to pretend that they were happy having me, but I could tell that it was only half hearted. I packed my stuff and Scott took it in his car while I said goodbye, and then I rode my moped back.
I felt uneasy in the house, even with four armed policemen with me. But once they settled down, I began to relax. Jenny rang me and told me that her dad didn’t think it was a good idea that we went to Newquay, not for a bit anyway.
I hung up, and sat at the kitchen table, feeling really pissed off.
“Hey, are you okay?”
It was the younger copper, Pete.
“No, I’m pissed off,” I admitted. He sat down.
“Why?”
“Because I’m stuck here, and my friend can’t come with me to Newquay.”
“Oh, what a bummer,” he said, and I smiled.
“I never thanked you for saving my life,” I said.
“It wasn’t just me, the whole team and the local boys had an equal hand.”
“Yeah, but if you hadn’t been there, I would probably be dead.”
He blushed.
“Are you married?” I asked.
“No, do me a favour. Can you see a wife letting her husband pull this sort of job?”
“What sort is that?”
He went red again. “Close protection on a single attractive girl.”
“Oh.” It was my turn to blush.
“Still, this is nice,” he said.
“What is?”
“This house.”
“Is it bollocks? It’s ghastly. My Dad decorated it and he has no taste at all.”
“It’s a nice house.”
“Maybe, but the fixtures and fittings are really bad.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he said with a smile.
“Believe me, my dad thinks that the inside of casinos are good taste, so don’t give me that shit!”
I looked at my tee shirt. It was still dirty from rolling about on the ground.
“I’m going to have a shower. Are you my guardian angel tonight?”
“Looks that way.”
“Then phone for a pizza, as I’m no cook.”
I left him and went for a shower.
As the water coursed over my body, I felt at peace. The day had been terrifying, yet I had been slightly afraid, but mostly angry. That anger had given me an inner calm, and I found myself dealing with these people without showing any fear. I smiled, as I touched myself, I felt so good. I wished Dave was here.
I still had a month to go, and I had to go see Dr Shepherd, just to get the all clear and talk about…, well talk about girl stuff. I grinned, it was all so exciting, in a way. I washed my long hair, and stepped out and dried myself. I glanced in the mirror and saw myself. I stopped to admire what I saw. I had to smile, as this was the real dream come true.
While I was doing my make up, I saw Jemima Overson’s card. I picked it up and looked at it for a moment, working out that with over a month to go before going back to school, I could get some work as a model to pass the time. I picked up the phone by my bed, and dialled the number.
I then had a touch of the seconds as it was nearly six o’clock in the evening, but she answered.
“Hello, this is Sandi Lake. You probably don’t remember me, but..”
“Sandi, my dear girl, of course I remember you. In fact I was only talking about you today.”
“Really? Gosh. Anyway, I’m free for a month or so, and was wondering whether you could use me for anything?”
“When can you get to London?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Fine, come to the agency off the Tottenham Court Road at ten. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, quite sure.”
“Should I wear anything in particular?”
“No, just whatever you get up into. I was hoping you would call me.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes, I’ll tell you about it tomorrow, but I showed someone your pictures and she is desperate to meet you.”
I rang off, my spirits lifted somewhat. I was certainly intrigued.
I went downstairs to find that Pete had ordered two enormous pizzas, so we stuffed ourselves silly. I found out that he was twenty-five, unmarried and between girlfriends. He had five years on the force, and had been on the firearms team for just six months.
He liked football, fishing and golf, and he loved science fiction. So we dug out the Alien movies on DVD and watched them together. The other officers were either asleep, or off out somewhere. Scott muttered about the local police putting one marked vehicle outside the house. I imagined that there were some discussions taking place at a high level somewhere.
“Why were you in hospital?” Pete asked.
“Women problems.”
“Oh.”
He was embarrassed.
“I had something wrong down below, but it’s fixed now,” I elaborated slightly.
“Oh, good,” he said, wishing he had not brought it up.
“Would you like to see the photos?” I teased, and he looked terrified for a second, and then he realised I was teasing.
It was nearly midnight, and the events of the day hit me.
“Hey, I’m going to bed. Who’s my minder tomorrow?”
“I’m on from 10 am onwards.”
“Then you will be coming to London with me. I have an appointment with a modelling agency at ten.”
“Okay, cool,” he said, imagining a room full of half naked girls.
“Do we go by train, or what?” I asked.
“I’ll speak to the skipper in the morning. I should think we will go by car.”
“Okay, good night.”
“Night.”
I went up to my room and went to bed. I lay awake for quite some time, as I went through the events of the day. I was more surprised at how calm I had been throughout my ordeal, but I was a little worried. I enjoyed it in a perverse sort of way. I got a thrill from negotiating with the highest stakes, my life.
I awoke feeling really shitty, and when I pulled back the duvet I discovered why. Cursing being female, I went and cleaned myself up. I had sensibly stocked up with ‘feminine hygiene products’ after the doctor’s little warning, so I was prepared. I had a shower, dressed, taking my sheets and nightie to the washing machine.
Pete was already up and reading the paper.
“Hi. I see you are famous again,” he said, showing me the front page of the paper.
Local beauty in kidnap
gun-battle ordeal.
Attractive seventeen year-old Sandi Lake, was recovering at an unknown address last night after being rescued by armed police from the clutches of an armed gang in north Sussex yesterday morning. The pretty schoolgirl, who won a modelling award a month ago at Brighton High School, was grabbed from her home address by the men, had a hood placed over her head and driven in the boot of a car to an industrial estate near Horsham. However, for reasons that we can’t report, she was being protected by armed officers, and the kidnappers were tracked and a containment of local armed officers was put in place. After a couple of hours, as the kidnappers were attempting to move her, the police struck. Two of the gang drew firearms, and despite being instructed to disarm, one man, unemployed Wayne Burnett from Clapton, E. London, failed to comply with the directions, and was shot by police marksmen several times.
The other man, Charles Cooper from Ealing, was arrested and was later charged with kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, assault and firearms offences. Burnett was still in intensive care and his situation was described as critical. Other offenders are being sought, and arrests will be made shortly.
Detective Superintendent William Bryce of the Sussex Police said, “Miss Lake was under close observation and her movements were monitored for the entire duration of the incident. Action was only taken by police when we believed that it was safe to act, and no other members of the public were put in danger. She was released unharmed, and there was only one casualty, an armed criminal. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, no comment can be made on the reasons that police were watching Miss Lake, but let me stress, that she is not involved in any criminal allegations, and is assisting police in a very public spirited way. She is a very courageous young lady, and I cannot commend her bravery enough.”