‘No.’
The driver sucked his breath in through his teeth. ‘I wouldn’t bother going there if you haven’t, love,’ he said, sagely. ‘They were like gold dust – sold out in about half an hour.’
‘Oh, it’s okay. I know the band.’
She hadn’t even thought about the logistics of getting in. She just knew she needed to see Will. Her doubts about him had melted away as she stood on that roof terrace and she couldn’t wait to tell him. She remembered the excitement in his face that morning when he had told her he was working on a new ‘project’. This must have been it. And she remembered how bleak he had seemed tonight, that sad, haunted look back in his eyes. She wondered now how she could ever have doubted him.
* **
Of course, the taxi driver was right. She couldn’t get into the auditorium without a ticket, and her attempts to get through the stage door were met with a solid wall of resistance in the shape of two very burly and extremely conscientious security men. Her pleas that she knew the band were met with heard-it-all-before indifference.
‘I’m a friend of Will Sargent’s,’ she pleaded, trying a new tack.
‘Course you are, love,’ one said patronisingly.
Of course, it wasn’t very plausible. After all, any Walking Wounded fan would know Will’s name – and if she really was a friend of his, why wasn’t she on the guest list? No doubt theyhadheard it all before from crazed fans desperate to get backstage and into Owen’s jocks.
‘Can youpleasejust let him know I’m here?’ she begged. ‘He’ll want to see me.’
‘Sorry.’ He shook his head implacably.
‘Look, love,’ the other one was regarding her almost pityingly, ‘it’s New Year’s Eve. You must have somewhere better to be than standing here arguing with us.’
‘Yeah, you’re not getting in, so why don’t you go home?’ the first one said, not unkindly.
Kate was aware of how pathetic she must look, shivering in the snow, all decked out in her wedding finery like some weird groupie well past her use-by date. But she didn’t care.
‘What about Louise?’ she persisted. ‘Could you tellherI need to see her?’
‘Louise?’ The security men perked up at the mention of Louise – that wasn’t a name with which the average fan would be familiar.
‘I’m Kate O’Neill,’ she said eagerly. ‘Please just tell Louise I’m here. If she doesn’t want to see me, I’ll go away, I promise.’
The two men exchanged a look, then seemed to come to a decision, one nodding to the other. While one drew away to talk into a mobile, the other continued to block the door. Kate waited anxiously, but moments later, to her intense relief, Louise appeared. ‘Kate!’ She beamed, and the security guards stepped aside. ‘It’s really good to see you.’ She hugged her, pulling her inside.
‘Louise, I have to see Will,’ Kate babbled.
‘Good. I was hoping that was why you were here.’ Louise smiled. ‘Come on.’ She began to lead Kate towards the backstage area. ‘No, hang on a minute.’ She came to an abrupt halt. ‘I’ve got a better idea…’
* * *
Backstage, Will’s mobile rang. Checking the display, he was surprised to see that it was Tina. ‘Hi!’
‘Don’t sound so scared,’ she said.
Will gave a wry laugh. ‘I’m just… surprised, that’s all.’
‘I bet. Guess where I am!’
‘I don’t know – Cambodia?’
‘No. Rehab!’ she announced brightly.
‘Rehab?’
‘Oh come on, you’re not that surprised, are you? Turns out the only person I was fooling was myself.’
‘Well, I’m glad you’re getting it sorted out. So, how’s it going?’
