‘Oh shit!’ said Rich. ‘It’s the fuzz.’
Before Lizzie realised what was happening, Rich had stepped over her and started heading for the stage area. She looked around and saw that the door they had come in by was now flanked by two policewomen. Other policemen were arranging themselves along the walls.
Lizzie was confused. What should she do? Should she wait for Rich? Or make her way home when she was allowed to leave?
‘What’s going to happen now?’ she asked the man next to her.
He slid into the seat just by her. ‘They’ll search us. No bother if you haven’t any grass on you. Your boyfriend obviously had.’
Lizzie gulped. There had been a girl at her school who’d been to a party where there were drugs. The school had somehow found out and she had been expelled. This had given her a fear of anything to do with drugs. She knew it was irrational but this girl’s life seemed to have been ruined by this small connection with them.
The man patted her knee. ‘Don’t worry, Kitten, I’ll look after you.’ He put his arm round her and squeezed. ‘Stick by me. I’ll sort you out.’
Lizzie tried to get up. There had definitely been a double meaning in the way he’d said he’d sort her out. He pulled her back down again.
‘They won’t let you move. Just stay quietly until you’ve been searched and then we can head off somewhere. My flat’s not far. I’ve got some tequila. Have you ever tried tequila?’
She’d never even heard of it. ‘No,’ she said.
‘You haven’t lived, little girl,’ said the man. He ran his hand up and down her arm, finding the flesh under her short sleeve.
‘Please don’t touch me!’ she said quickly. ‘I don’t like it!’
‘That’s only because you’re a frigid little virgin. When I’ve finished with you, you’ll yearn for my touch.’
Lizzie burrowed behind her and found her coat and put it on. ‘I’m cold,’ she said crossly and tried to get up again, only to find herself pulled back down.
‘Don’t run away. We have to wait to be searched.’
Lizzie had never been so glad to see the police. A pair of young female officers reached their table. ‘Can you turn out your bag for us, love,’ said one.
Lizzie obligingly tipped the contents of her bag on to the table, glad that it was one of Gina’s and so wouldn’t be full of old sweet wrappers and bus tickets. Then, as she watched one of the WPCs takethe bag and search the lining she suddenly wondered if Gina might smoke dope.
She realised she was panicking unnecessarily. If Gina did smoke anything illegal she wouldn’t keep it in an old handbag. She tried to calm her breathing, hoping her over-reaction wouldn’t make her look guilty.
She was just wondering how to escape when the policewoman indicated that she should stand up. This was her chance, she realised. The moment the search was complete she could make a dash for the door. Then she saw that there were several policeman blocking the door. She wouldn’t be allowed to leave.
When she had been searched (in a fairly cursory way, she recognised with relief) she sat back down again. The man who had been trying to pick her up had now been searched too and snuggled up to her as if they were soon to be lovers. Not if I have anything to do with it, thought Lizzie.
‘Oh, there you are, darling,’ said a male voice. ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Let’s go or we’ll be late.’
Lizzie saw Hugo Lennox-Stanley looking down at her with his hand held out, smiling encouragingly. She put her hand in his and got to her feet. He put his arm round her in a way that was just as possessive as the man she was so keen to get away from, but somehow she didn’t mind.
She let Hugo lead her to the door. ‘Sorry to be a nuisance,’ said Hugo to one of the policemen. ‘We’re both clean and we need to be somewhere else. Would you mind awfully letting us out?’
‘Oh no, that’s all right, sir,’ said the policeman. ‘No need to detain you.’
The next moment Lizzie and Hugo were outside on the dark landing. ‘Where did you spring from?’ said Lizzie, breathless with relief.
‘You need a drink. Come on, there’s a really nice pub near here. I’ll explain everything.’
He took her arm and held her close once they were in the street, guiding her until they came to a small pub where there was no music but a fair amount of people, talking hard. He took them to a small room at the back that was quieter. It was cosy and familiar and Lizzie felt herself relax.
‘Brandy?’ he asked.
She nodded. ‘Yes, please.’
She took off her coat while Hugo went to the bar. No one tried to pick her up. No one looked at her. She felt safe.
