The Dead Dog Day Read Online Free Page A

easy studio job?’
    â€˜One of these days I’ll go to London and shoot that snobby Alice Lomas cow and then you can have her job at the news desk.’
    Scott raised two fingers, pretending he was aiming a gun.
    â€˜It’s a doggy dog world, this TV game, after all …’
    Nathan and Cora looked at each other and grinned.
    â€˜Er – it’s a dog eat dog world, not doggy dog,’ Cora said.
    â€˜Is it?’ Scott sounded surprised. ‘Oh, well. You know what I mean.’
    â€˜I do, and thank you. But I don’t think murder is the answer, sadly. Especially as you’re being hauled in front of Jeanette on Monday morning as it is.’
    Scott’s face darkened. ‘Thanks, Cora. I’ve been trying to forget about that. Old bitch. It’s my second disciplinary too, shitting myself actually.’
    Cora reached over and stroked his arm. ‘Sorry, sweetie, I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It’ll be fine, you’ll see, she’s not that bad, honestly …’
    Her voice tailed off, as the three men looked at her sceptically.
    â€˜She’s exactly that bad,’ Nathan said flatly. ‘None of us can stand the woman, Cora, no point in pretending otherwise. But chin up, Scott mate, it won’t help to get in a state about it.’
    â€˜MCR IN LONDON CALLING THE CREW IN DEVON! CAN YOU HEAR ME, DEVON?’
    A voice suddenly boomed through the speakers next to Scott’s chair, causing Rodney and Cora to jump so violently they both spilled their tea.
    â€˜Bloody hell, now what?’ Scott flicked the switch that allowed him to speak directly to the master control room in London.
    â€˜Yes, MCR, we can hear you – problem?’ he said into the microphone.
    â€˜WE NEED YOU BACK UP AT 0710 – THE PRIME MINISTER WAS MEANT TO BE ON THE SOFA BUT HE’S GOT HELD UP SO WE’RE DOING THE CHICKENS AGAIN INSTEAD.’ The technical director’s voice echoed round the truck.
    â€˜Oh, darn it!’ Cora was frantically wiping tea off her jeans. ‘That gives me ten minutes to round up those blooming chicken people – they’re all in their houses! Tell them it’ll be tight, Scott, but we’ll do it.’
    She leapt out of the truck, pulling on her coat as she ran. Nathan and Rodney followed at a more leisurely pace. Ten whole minutes to get ready – no problem!
    The watery sun was starting to melt the frost on the roundabout as Cora finally heard the show’s closing credits and gratefully removed her earpiece. The boys whooped and began to pack their equipment neatly away in their cars, looking forward to their usual big cooked breakfast at the nearest café.
    â€˜I’m going to be a party pooper today,’ Cora said. ‘I want to get home.’
    She slid into her car. ‘And I probably won’t see you next week – I’m covering in London, remember? Don’t miss me too much!’
    â€˜OK – have a good one.’ Nathan leaned into the car to give her a goodbye kiss on the cheek.
    â€˜See ya!’ Cora honked her horn and waved at Scott and Rodney as she eased off the grass verge and on to the road. The boys stopped winding the cable back on to the drum in the back of the truck and blew massive kisses, Rodney leaping in the air like a garish, multi-coloured salmon on a fishing line.
    For what would be one of the last times today, Cora grinned inanely. Post-live hysteria, they called it. Everyone always felt a little giddy at this time of the morning, especially on a Friday. She turned Radio One up loud, and glanced at the clock as she pulled away. 9.10 a.m. If she managed to stay awake and do it all in one go, she should be home by midday.
    â€˜Hooray!’ She put her foot down, happily accelerating towards what was going to be a very bad day indeed.
    In contrast, a rather satisfying day lay ahead for the person who would very soon end the life of Jeanette