Read Online Merely Players by J. M. Gregson - Free Book Online Page A

flattery of the phrases, even as he delivered them. But he must make the man see how crucial this part was for him, for Keith, for the rest of their lives.
    â€˜Oh, I’m just a jobbing actor who’s been lucky, Dean. You should know that better than most.’ Adam smiled his modest television smile; this was almost a rehearsal for his next interview. ‘I’ll do my best, of course, but I don’t think you should count any chickens until they’re very fully hatched.’
    â€˜Who’d you say it was?’
    â€˜Granada Television, sir.’
    â€˜Put them through.’
    â€˜Superintendent Tucker?’
    â€˜It’s Chief Superintendent Tucker, actually.’
    â€˜Sorry. Granada TV here. I’m Pat Dolan. Your name was passed to me by Janet Jackson from our newsroom staff. I think she’s met you when you’ve held media conferences about serious crimes.’
    Tucker was immediately wary: his last TV encounter hadn’t gone well. ‘I remember Janet, yes. But I’m happy to say we have no high-profile murders for you at the moment.’
    A sudden cackle of laughter made him move the receiver two inches away from his ear. ‘Oh, it’s nothing like that, Chief Superintendent. This is a very different request. I’m wondering if you’d like to appear on Gerry Clancy’s afternoon programme. We usually have either two or three interviews, with people from very different backgrounds. The emphasis is on entertainment. You’d counterbalance show-business personalities for us.’
    â€˜I wouldn’t wish to endure a hostile cross-examination about police work.’
    Another, less strident, laugh; more of a chuckle, this time. ‘Have you seen Gerry Clancy’s programme, Chief Superintendent Tucker?’
    â€˜Not often, no. Scarcely at all, in fact. Pressure of work doesn’t allow me to—’
    â€˜Gerry doesn’t go in for hostile cross-examinations. We leave those to Panorama and Newsnight . Mr Clancy is no Paxman. This is a light-hearted afternoon programme.’
    â€˜I see. May I ask who else would be taking part?’
    â€˜Well, that isn’t finalized yet. I’d like you to treat this as confidential at the moment, but we’re hoping to secure Adam Cassidy for the big interview on that afternoon.’
    â€˜I see.’ Thomas Bulstrode Tucker strove to control an excitement he felt was quite unsuitable in one of his rank.
    â€˜He’s the star of the Alec Dawson series.’
    â€˜Yes, I’m well aware who Adam Cassidy is.’ Barbara refused to miss an episode. She considered Cassidy a tremendous ‘hunk’. She would be mightily impressed to see him sharing a sofa with the star.
    â€˜Sorry! In that case, you will appreciate that it would be quite a coup for us if we get him. With the advance publicity involved, you’d have quite a big audience for whatever you chose to say about police work. If we get someone as big as Adam Cassidy to appear, we’ll probably only have two guests on that programme – you and he.’
    â€˜I see. Well, I shall certainly consider your offer. The police service gets a lot of bad publicity, most of which is quite unjustified. If I can do anything to put that right, I would feel obliged to consider it.’
    â€˜There’d be a fee.’
    Tucker fought back the impulse to ask how much. ‘That is not a consideration. I shall have to clear this with my chief constable. If he has no objections, I would see it as my duty to appear.’
    Pat Dolan wanted to tell him to loosen up, that this was a bit of fun in the afternoon, that his function was merely to be the PC Plod foil for a series of stories and bon mots from Cassidy. But she had sensed despite his formal tone that he was hooked; the big showbiz name had its magic, even for a staid chief superintendent who should know better. ‘I shall take that as a qualified yes, Mr