only one I’ll ever get. So I’m not going to tell you there’s anything in this that you want. I can see now that there isn’t.’ She breathed deeply, and then said quietly, ‘I’m just asking, for me. Please.’
Gina was surprised to see Ashley exposing herself like this. She wouldn’t have thought it could sway her, but somehow, her heartstrings were getting quite the yank. Ashley knew who she was, what was standing in her way. It was herself. Gina understood that. She thought that was what usually stood in the way of anyone getting what they really wanted. Gina herself didn’t want much, so there wasn’t anything you could take from her. But Ashley was bursting with desire to report big news. And it was hard to refute the fact that something like this would get her on her way. Ultimately, it was too human a request to simply dismiss, even from someone as salty and walled up as Ashley.
‘Look, I’m not saying I’m going to do it, but if I were. If. I need to know I’d be safe,’ Gina said.
Ashley nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yeah, of course, me too. I don’t wanna get hurt any more than you do. Let’s get some more details from DI Conway. Then you can make your decision.’
Ashley gestured to the copper to come over, but Gina knew the decision was already made. She was going to do this stupid bloody thing to help a woman she barely knew make a leap in her career.
Nine
Ashley hadn’t truly believed when she started, ugh, begging, that it would do much. Gina owed her jack. If anything, Ashley was up to her eyeballs in personal debt to Gina. But Gina had told her straight, Ashley had nothing to offer her that she wanted. So, she had to go deeper, tell her why it mattered. It had felt terrible to open herself up like that. Funny how it was so easy to tell the truths she saw each and every day. But this knowledge, the truth she’d lived her whole life with, she’d had to force it up. Like a bad tuna sandwich, up it came, this, the deepest, ugliest truth she knew. Even as she was talking, she felt it was a mistake. Why should Gina care?
Only, she did. Ashley could scarcely believe it. Gina was going to do this for her. This dangerous, stupid thing. Gina knew the risks, and she was going to do it. For her. Ashley couldn’t begin to process why, but it didn’t matter. She was too grateful to question it.
And now they were being strapped into actual Kevlar vests by a policewoman in aviator sunglasses who absolutely stank of badassery. She put the first vest over Gina’s clothing. ‘Do these things really stop bullets?’ Gina asked the woman.
‘Five times stronger than steel,’ she told her.
Gina didn’t seem any happier. ‘But what if he tries to shoot me in the head?’
‘Duck,’ the woman said, attaching the final strap.
‘Reassuring, thanks,’ Gina said.
The woman started to put a vest onto Ashley, while DI Conway offered something slightly more bolstering. ‘The reason we don’t usually wear Kevlar masks is that most people can’t get a headshot off at this range, not with a handgun.’
‘Most people?’ Gina asked.
DI Conway shook her head. ‘Honestly, it won’t come to that. Even the vest is overkill.’
‘You might want to rethink your choice of words,’ Gina told her.
‘Look, you’ll be two hundred metres from him, there’ll be half a car park between you. And this guy isn’t some pro. He’s a man who’s gotten hold of a gun somehow. There’s a big difference.’
‘I hope someone told him about the difference,’ Gina muttered.
DI Conway turned to Ashley. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Will I actually be talking to this guy?’ Ashley asked, unsure what she hoped the answer would be. She was starting to feel just the tiniest bit nervous.
‘We’re not sure yet. All I know is that he said he wanted a news team to be present during our negotiations. But you’re not to address the man unless he speaks to you, is that clear?’
Ashley nodded. ‘Of course, yes.’
Gina gave her a look. ‘Is it?’
Ashley glared at her. ‘I just said, yes.’
Gina sighed. ‘I really hope so, Ashley.’
Ashley shrugged off the remark. She didn’t know why everyone was so concerned with her going rogue. She had every intention of doing as she was told. Ashley didn’t know if this guy would even speak directly to her, but that was fine. Just being there