Page 88 of A Change of Location
He placed their order at the bar and returned with a foam-topped glass of lager and her cider.
“I’ve been reet fashed about our executive producer leaving the set early. Was she not pleased?”
Hannah had no intention of sharing Liz’s impressions of the shoot, or her opinion of dailies. “If she were here, she’d tell you it’s Owen’s opinion that matters most.”
“A fortnight in, we’re on shed-yule. You’ll be glad to get back to that big house tomorrow. I well remember how chuffed you were after your recce.”
“It meets our specs. Practically all of them, which is rare.”
“Aye. I remember going there the first time, and how pleased we all were with the place. And with you for discovering it.”
“That’s why I was so surprised,” she said, “when Owen fired me. To make you location manager.”
“I did feel bad about that.”
“You might have told me so. You had my phone number.”
“I didn’t think you’d answer if I rang you.”
A woodcut of a hunting horn was imprinted on the small square of a beer mat. Covering it with her glass, she suggested that they order their food. They both selected fried haddock, served with mushy peas and a mound of chips fresh from the deep fryer and glistening with oil.
Hannah, mellowed by the meal and the cider, countered her companion’s tales of demanding shoots and on-set disasters with her own.
“I always dreamed of working with Owen,” she confided.
“And so you are.”
“Not exactly.” A vinegar-soaked chip limply dangled from her fingers.
“Even though you don’t report to him, we’re colleagues. And I hope we will be for a long time yet.”
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s an eight-week location shoot. With six remaining.”
“After we wrap Forsaken Fortune, I’ll start my own agency. Should be up and running by year’s end. I’d love to get you on board as my chief location finder.”
The irony of it drew a laugh from Hannah.
“I’m dead serious.”
“I can’t go anywhere without getting a job offer,” she said shakily.
“That wasn’t one. Not yet. But I could use your help developing my business plan.”
“Sorry, I’m already booked. Double booked, in fact.” Glancing at her phone display, she was startled by the hour. “I’d better call for a car.”
“I’m bound for Newbridge myself. I’ll take you.”
She collected her belongings and scooted across the bench. He placed a hand on her back as they proceeded towards the door. From her break up with Joel until now, Martin was the only non-relative male to touch her, and the unwelcome contact made her increase her pace. Poppy sat at the bar, where other drinkers formed an impenetrable barrier. She smiled and wagged her fingers before exiting the pub.
Alistair drove a Mini, a vintage specimen, not a newer model. He admitted it wasn’t the most practical of vehicles for location work. “But in a car park, she fits into even the smallest space,” he allowed.
When she got out, in front of the manor house hotel, she didn’t tell him that she wasn’t going to Stanwell tomorrow.
Chapter 26
After ascertaining that Isobel Latimer was feeling well enough to receive her, Hannah drove from Newbridge to the cul-de-sac where Holly Cottage was located. During her initial stay in Milver Vale she’d driven around it unintentionally, the result of a wrong turn off the Milverston road. She found a single-story house matching Isobel’s description and parked in front of the detached one-car garage.
Kateryna Bereva, the young Ukrainian, answered the bell. “Hi, Hennah. Nice seeing you.”
