‘Shame,’ Jodi and Connor muttered in unison.
‘But don’t rule it out as a future date,’ David advised, pushing back against Cristy’s firm denial. ‘I’ve already got a hat.’
Laughing, Jodi said to Connor, ‘It’s your news really, so you do it.’
Apparently agreeing with that, he took a position in front of the fireplace and said, ‘You’re probably not going to believe this, but I’ve been approached by an Aussie broadcaster to go and front their nightly news.’
Cristy started to freeze.
Jodi said, ‘We’d be based in Sydney with a harbour-view apartment and everything would be taken care of, the move, visas, even Aurora’s day care, provided it all works out.’
‘They’ve put together an amazing package,’ Connor continued. ‘It’s kind of unturndownable, the chance of a great new start Down Under, and Jodi’s mother is OK about coming with.’
Cristy’s mouth was dry; her heart was thudding so hard that it was a moment before she realized David had taken her hand. She couldn’t be entirely sure this was really happening, and yet it was, because Connor was still talking, Jodi was laughing, and somehow, she had to make herself congratulate them when all she wanted to do was shout,No! You can’t!
How the hell was she going to get through the rest of the evening without making her real feelings known? She simply couldn’t bear the idea of them leaving, couldn’t even begin to imagine runningHindsightwithout Connor.
Her own news was in pieces now, meant absolutely nothing without him.
‘And now for ourreallybig announcement!’ Jodi cried, encouraging Connor to keep going.
Were they about to ask her to go with them? No, why would they? This was his big chance, not hers.
Was it too late to tell Kinsley that she’d changed her mind? Except, she hadn’t – she reallydidwant to stay withHindsight.
David’s hand was tightening on hers as Connor said, ‘The really big news is that we’ve turned it down because we’re totally committed to everyone and everything here, and we can’t bear to be parted from you.’
As the words reached her, Cristy’s mouth fell open. She tried to breathe and found she was starting to cry. ‘Oh my God, that was cruel,’ she scolded, too bound up in relief to get up and embrace them. ‘I really thought you were going to leave me.’
Pulling her to her feet, Connor wrapped her in his arms. ‘Never,’ he told her. ‘We’re a team. Nothing – not even big bucks and heady offers – can pull us apart.’
Having no choice now but to confess to her own struggle with a dazzling offer, Cristy watched Connor’s expression turn from surprise to hurt and confusion as she went through it.
‘Why didn’t you tell me right away?’ he wanted to know when she finished. ‘We could have talked it through, tried to work something out.’
Knowing she’d never admit that he hadn’t been included in Kinsley’s plans, she said, ‘Actually, I think Ihaveworked something out, and that’smybig news. Or it could be, if we can pull it off. Much will depend on you and how you feel about it – the others too – but you are the main man.’
‘Exactly what I keep telling him,’ Jodi put in. ‘Not.’
Clearly intrigued, Connor sank cross-legged to the floor next to Jodi’s chair. ‘Go for it,’ he told Cristy.
‘OK. So, when Kinsley first approached me, he said he was going to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Now we’re going to do the same to him, but if he doesn’t go for it, David is pretty sure he can find some investors.’ She glanced at him and received a nod. ‘I’ve prepared a proposal that you can look over later,’ she told Connor, ‘but essentially, I’ve been thinking, why don’t we create our own small podcasting empire – OK, oxymoron there – based right here in Bristol? That way, we get to stay put, which seems to be what we all want, and we can do a couple of things to build on what we already have.
‘First – I know you’re going to love this – we look into posting the pods on YouTube, something you’ve long been wanting to get stuck into. We could also take a look at other quality crime-casts from around the South West and consider bringing them into the fold. There are quite a few out there that might do much better with the right backing, and it would put us in a position to help develop new talent and new ideas. We could make them a part ofHindsight PlusorExtra –to be discussed – and hopefully Iz will spin her magic on the branding.’
Connor was clearly trying to take it all in. ‘So our main focus stays as is,’ he said, ‘but we introduce video, expand to include “quality crime-casts” from around the region … To be fronted by us, or them?’
‘By the contributors, with input from us if needed, but they would mostly run their own shows and submit to us for final sign-off before uploading under theHindsight Extrabanner.’
Connor was nodding his approval. ‘OK. Seeing it so far, but what about us as a core team? Still you, me, Clove and Jacks?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘What about Harry and Meena – where would they fit in?’
Cristy turned to David. She’d spent the last couple ofhours discussing this with him, so was keen for him to take this next point.
‘At the moment,’ he said ‘we’re seeing the Quinns in much the same roles as they play now: kind of senior management, oversight gurus, legal protectors, just with a bigger organization to run. To be discussed with them, obviously, but shaping things that way would continue to allow you guys to focus on content, while they and a slightly bigger back-up team would deal with all the business stuff.’
