Page 3 of Bad Star

“Are you crazy?” asked Margaret.

“That’s what he said. Anyway, he wouldn’t hear of it.”

“Probably feeling guilty.”

“Maybe.” Rainn nodded. “He didn’t seem like that though. He seemed . . .” she tailed away.

“He seemed, what?” asked Margaret suspiciously. Rainn could imagine her eyes narrowing.

“Nice,” said Rainn. “Kind. We got on very well.”

“You got on,” repeated Margaret. “How many times did you see him? I meant meet.”

“I know what you meant,” smiled Rainn. “A few times. He brought me gifts.”

“Did he? I wonder what he wanted.”

“I told you, we get on. There is no need to be suspicious.”

Rainn cast her mind back to those conversations in the hospital ward. The smell of Jack, mixed with the heavy scent of flowers had lulled her into a pleasant mood, as she lay on the plump cushions. Maybe it was the medication, maybe it was the shock, but there had been something in that room, something in Jack’s melodious voice that Rainn had found soothing. She had never felt like that before.

“You get on,” said Margaret, interrupting Rainn’s thoughts. “Do you mean get on or got on?”

Rainn smiled. “I don’t know. We will see what happens.” She could imagine Margaret frowning at this.

“And what do you know about this man apart from he drives a Porsche and gives gifts?”

“What else is there to know?” asked Rainn. She was grinning as Margaret tutted.

“He sounds like a criminal. What’s his name?”

“Jack. He did tell me his surname but I’ve forgotten it. I was a little disorientated at the time.”

“And what does he do?”

“Works in film.” Rainn could feel Margaret’s suspicion which amused her greatly.

“Anything else?”

“Just that he’s a nice guy. Interesting and funny. And he’s got a lovely voice. I feel like I’ve heard it before. Do you think he’s famous? Maybe he’s an actor. He said he worked in film. Perhaps he’s just being modest.”

“Wait a second,” said Margaret, “you said his name was Jack?”

Before Rainn could answer, she could hear Margaret rushing through to the kitchen. When Margaret returned, Rainn could tell she was carrying a newspaper.

“Yesterday’s paper,” Margaret said. “I picked it up at the airport.” She proceeded to thumb through it. “Do you think that maybe the man’s surname might have been Bradley?”

Rainn clapped her hands. “That’s it! Exactly! Have you heard of him? Is he famous? A celebrity?”

Margaret found what she had been looking for and read in a rather world-weary way.

“‘Dangerous Jeopardy’ actor, Jack Bradley (32), admitted to being involved in a car accident near Liverpool Street station at the weekend. At first, Karolyn Jones, his agent had denied the heartthrob’s involvement. However, when footage was uploaded to social media by onlookers, she was forced to issue the following statement.

“Mr Bradley was present at a small traffic accident. It was in no way his fault and the police have not been involved. He has since visited a hospital to visit the woman who was injured and has left her flowers and other gifts.

“Jack Bradley, who has been involved in recent controversy over allegations of drug use on the set of his current set, was photographed last night leaving an exclusive restaurant with his girlfriend, Chelsea Lopez (24).”

“Oh,” said Rainn. There seemed nothing else to say.