Skinner's Festival by Quintin Jardine

know about your situation. Do you all have mobile telephones?
    Yes? Well you’ll find a telephone number written in the brown book. Short-code that into your phones. In a real emergency, all you’ll need to do is punch in that one number and you’ll be straight through to my office. Remember, we don’t just want to frighten these people off. We want to catch them, and keep them – for a hell of a long time.’
He closed his briefcase, snapped the locks shut, and spun the combination wheels. 'That’s all I have to say. Sir?’
    Skinner took his cue. 'So that’s the situation, ladies and gentlemen. I’m sorry you’ve been handed this extra worry, but, hate it as we may, we’re all involved in this crisis. If anybody has any questions, we’ll deal with them now. And if anybody wants to ask us, or tell us, anything privately, we’ll deal with it here too.’
Julia Shahor’s slim hand crept up tentatively, like a child at school. 'Could I have a word with Mr Martin in private?’
'Sure. Would the two of you like to step out into the corridor?’
The policeman held open the door for the Film Festival director, then closed it behind them. Outside she turned to face him, her cheeks slightly flushed.
'What can I do for you, Miss Shahor?’
'Julia, please.’
'OK. What can I do for you, Julia?’ He looked into her eyes and had to stop himself from adding, ' . . . and if I can, I will.’ She really had very attractive dark brown eyes. And, even under the Jesus dress, all the rest looked in fair working order, too.
    “Well, Mr Martin . . .’
'Andy. please.’
'Well, Andy, I heard what you said in there about no exceptions. But, you see, we’ve got this mega star coming. You know—’
'Yeah, sure, what’s-her-name.’
'That’s right, her. Well, I’m just afraid that if we ask her to apply for a pass, that . . . well, you know her reputation – that she’ll just tell us to take a flying you-know-what. That’s what
she’s said to be like.’
Martin almost laughed out loud, but restricted himself to what he hoped was a reassuring smile. He gazed deep into the brown eyes. 'I hear you, Julia, but I just can’t make any exceptions. I’ll tell you what I can do, though. Since she’s so high-profile, I can bend the rules a bit. How would it be if you and I went to her hotel, and processed her there ourselves? And you have a back entrance, she can sign in there on the night.’
'Andy, that’d be great. The only thing is, whenever she makes an appearance like this, she wants to pose out front. She’ll never agree to sign in at the back door.’
'She will if the alternative could be a high-velocity round between the eyes. Tell you what, why don’t I come up and check out the venue myself?’
    'Would you really? That’d be great. Can you come up tonight, maybe? We’re screening the European premiere of the new Costner movie as our launch event. You could look things over, then stay on for the film – as my guest, or course.’
'I’d like that. And I’ll even leave this thing behind in the office.’
He tapped the gun under his left arm.
She laughed. 'Terrific. Just ask for me at the door. Better come about 7:30. The film starts at 8:15.’
    She waved over her shoulder as she walked away. Martin stood gazing after her, until the door opened and the other five Festival directors emerged, followed by Skinner.
Martin was still smiling as he and his chief went back into the room together. He poured them both coffee from one of the Thermos jugs.
'What’s the grin for?’ said Skinner, accepting a cup. 'Christ, you haven’t bloody scored with Crystal Tipps there, have you, Andy? See you, boy, you’d shag Desert Orchid if you could catch it. If I ever find out that you talk in your sleep, I’ll have to think again about you as head of Special Branch.’
Martin’s grin was suddenly a little forced. 'You can say that, Bob, but since you put me in this job, I haven’t been able to keep a girlfriend for more than two