‘We’ve all got to make a living,’ snapped Gonzo. Scuttling ahead to secure a clear shot, he noticed Charley. ‘So, are you two lovebirds eloping or what?’
‘Beat it, Gonzo,’ said Vince, breaking into a jog with Ash up the street.
‘Hey, my name’s Gomez!’ he spat irritably.
Vince waved him off. ‘Whatever, Gonzo.’
Gonzo now targeted his camera on Charley. ‘What’s your name, chica?’
Charley kept a fixed smile on her face and didn’t reply, at the same time wondering, How the hell did he know when and where we’d be coming out? It was like he had a homing beacon on Ash.
‘Not letting your new boyfriend out of your sight, eh?’ he continued. ‘I wouldn’t trust him either. Not after how he treated Hanna.’
Charley knew the pap guy was trying to bait her, but she had to quash any rumours before they got out of hand and drew too much attention to her. ‘For the record, I’m not his girlfriend.’
‘Then … what are you?’ panted Gonzo, struggling to keep up with the group.
‘PR,’ replied Charley, and she raced on.
‘And I’m Santa Claus!’ he called after her.
Leaving the creep behind, the four runners reached the main road and headed away from the hotel. Charley looked back over her shoulder and saw the horde of fans gathered outside the entrance, still believing their idol was inside. Gonzo emerged from the side street a moment later, puffing and panting. He took a few last photos as they jogged on. Then, leaning against a wall, he lit a cigarette.
‘So, where are we going?’ Vince asked, running a little ahead of Ash.
‘Wherever,’ he replied. ‘Just as long as I get some headspace.’
Charley glanced at the map on her smartphone, strapped to her upper arm. ‘Schenley Park is four blocks up, if you like trail running.’
‘Sounds good.’ Ash flicked back his hoodie and picked up the pace.
They pounded along the pavement, four anonymous runners. But to the trained eye there was a definite formation – Vince a little ahead on Ash’s left, Charley on his right and Rick a few paces behind to his left. The subtle positioning provided all-round protection while still remaining low profile.
Ash jogged steadily, only slowing at intersections. No one took much notice of them and they were almost at the park entrance when Vince glanced back to check on Ash, then went down suddenly, hitting the pavement hard.
Charley saw Vince drop and instinctively shoved Ash sideways into a nearby bus shelter. Believing the bodyguard to have been shot, she kept Ash pinned behind the cover of an advertising sign, while her eyes darted around for the shooter.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Rick, running up to Vince and offering his hand.
‘Yes,’ Vince groaned. ‘Twisted my ankle, that’s all.’
‘Chill out, Charley!’ said Ash, shrugging her off.
Charley relaxed her grip on him. ‘Sorry,’ she replied, annoyed at her overreaction.
Ash grinned at her. ‘Can’t keep your hands off me, can you?’
Charley responded with a tight smile. ‘Remind me to wash them later!’
Rick helped Vince over to the bus shelter’s bench. ‘You carry on into the park,’ said Vince, examining his grazed leg and swollen ankle. ‘I’ll wait here until you’re done.’
‘Are you sure?’ asked Rick.
‘Yeah, just make sure you don’t run into any trouble.’
Entering through a main gate, the three of them passed an information board. A quick glance at the large map told Charley that the park was a sprawling woodland of hills, valleys and open grass areas. There was a lake to the west and running trails criss-crossed the park like the roots of a tree. Ash followed the top path that looped across the park’s north end, then dropped downslope into a wooded area. Almost immediately the noise of the city was muffled by trees and it felt as if they were deep in the countryside.
‘So, you like keeping fit?’ asked Ash.
‘Sure,’ replied Charley.
In response Ash increased his pace. Charley sped up to stay by his side. Rick maintained his position several steps behind. The path wound through the woods, across a grassy knoll and past a pond into another woodland. Taking a trail that cut left, they crossed a bridge over a stream and followed a gully through the middle of the park. The pace was fast but easily within Charley’s capabilities. They ran steadily, covering three miles in little under half an hour. The fresh air and exercise did wonders for Charley, reinvigorating her and clearing her mind. In hindsight, she didn’t regret overreacting to Vince’s fall. After all, only the paranoid survive! The question was, why hadn’t Rick responded? Was he simply more experienced? Or was he less on the ball?
Passing a sign indicating one mile to the lake, Ash glanced at Charley. ‘Race you to the lake?’
Charley nodded, up for the challenge. As Ash pulled away, Charley got the sense he wanted to prove something. But she was used to this macho behaviour from her bodyguard-training buddies. She lengthened her stride and drew level with him as they followed a trail upslope. The pace was now seriously challenging and Rick showed signs of flagging, with rapid breathing, a sweat-soaked T-shirt and heavy footfalls.
‘Hey!’ he panted. ‘Hold up, you two!’
But Ash and Charley were in the zone and left Rick behind. After a few twists and turns of the path, they completely lost him in the woods. As Ash ran faster, Charley pulled out all the stops to keep up. She was impressed by his fitness, but she shouldn’t have been surprised considering the energy he expended on stage each night – he must run at least half a marathon every performance! As they sprinted along the path, her heart thrummed in her chest, her pulse raced and her breathing quickened. They emerged from the woods with the lake only a few hundred metres ahead. Ash went flat out. Charley pushed herself to her limit. Matching Ash stride for stride, the finish line drew nearer and nearer. Ash was unable to shake her off. They hit the lakeside path together, a result too close to call.
‘Well … you’re certainly fit … I’ll give you that,’ Ash panted, bent over double to regain his breath.
‘Want to … keep going?’ asked Charley, hoping he didn’t, but aiming to make her point.
Ash glanced up at her, then laughed. ‘No … I need to save some energy for tonight.’ He nodded at a sign pointing to the park cafe. ‘Besides, I could do with a drink.’
Charley looked behind for Rick. He was nowhere to be seen.
‘He’ll catch us up,’ said Ash, dismissing the security guard with an exhausted wave of his hand and striding off in the direction of the cafe.
Charley knew Rick would probably be having a fit that he’d lost his Principal. But at least she was still there to guard Ash.
Following the signs to the cafe, they found an empty table outside and sat down. A waitress brought over a menu and they ordered a Coke and a bottle of water.
Ash took a deep draught of his drink, then said, ‘So, Charley, are you really a bodyguard?’
Charley held his gaze. ‘Are you really a rock star?’
Ash laughed. ‘OK, why be a bodyguard then? Seems an odd decision, especially at our age.’
‘Being a world-famous rock star seems equally odd to me,’ replied Charley, sipping her water.
Ash nodded. ‘Fair point. I must admit, it’s been a crazy couple of years. Who’d have believed posting a video online would have led to all this? While I wanted to be a musician, I didn’t decide to be famous. That just h
appened. But at some point you had to decide to become a bodyguard. Why?’
Charley stared out across the lake. ‘It’s complicated. I’m not sure I even had a decision to make. Certain events in my life took me to this point …’ She thought back to that fateful day in the coffee shop. ‘We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.’
‘What did you say?’
Charley looked at him. ‘We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.’
‘That’s a great lyric!’ said Ash, grabbing a napkin and trying to get the waitress’s attention for a pen. ‘So, what do your parents think of you being a bodyguard?’
Charley’s face clouded. ‘They’re dead … but I hope they’d be proud.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ said Ash, instantly forgetting his need for a pen. A similar dark cloud settled over Ash’s expression. ‘I understand how you must feel. I’m sure you know, it was in all the papers, but my mum died last year from cancer. And I don’t speak to my father. He left me and my mum when I was a baby – so he’s pretty much dead to me. Of course, now I’m rich and famous, he wants to know me! It’s Aunt Kay who’s been my rock in this whirlwind of fame. She looks out for me now.’
‘Well, she certainly has your safety as her top priority. Otherwise she wouldn’t have contacted Buddyguard.’
Ash nodded, then a frown creased his brow. ‘Charley, is my aunt telling me everything? It’s just that after finding out about the pig’s blood letter, I question if I’m being told the whole truth. I mean, have I received more death threats that I don’t know about? When Vince tripped up on the street, you literally leapt on me like my life depended on it.’
‘Only the paranoid survive,’ replied Charley.
‘That’s Big T’s tattoo!’ laughed Ash, but his laughter quickly died away and his expression grew dark once more. ‘He mentioned there might have been an intruder that first night. Am I really in danger on this tour?’
For the first time, Charley saw the scared boy behind the facade of a self-assured, ever-smiling rock star. She thought carefully before answering. ‘You’ve got Big T, me and the rest of the security team watching out for you. And, as far as I’m aware, no further threats have been made. But that doesn’t mean the threat has gone away. That’s why I react the way I do. There are no half measures in this –’
‘Excuse me … are you Ash Wild?’
Ash looked up into the bright eager face of a young girl and her friend. He smiled.
‘You are, aren’t you?’ she squealed. ‘Can I have your autograph?’ She held out a paper napkin.
‘Sure,’ said Ash. ‘Do you have a pen?’
The girl shook her head and there was a moment of panicked dismay. Charley wished she’d brought the pen Amir had supplied, but it wasn’t exactly running gear. The girl’s friend darted off and grabbed the waitress, who helpfully provided hers, then requested an autograph for herself. As word spread and the excitement grew among the cafe’s customers, the two young fans took selfies with Ash on their smartphones. Then they skipped off, thrilled at the chance meeting and instantly sharing their experience online.
‘You like the attention, don’t you?’ said Charley.
‘Who wouldn’t?’ replied Ash, finishing off his drink. ‘Besides, my fans make me who I am. If I don’t give them the time, why should they give me theirs?’
Charley spotted a group of excited girls hurrying along the path towards them. ‘Well, by the looks of it, a lot more are about to give you their time.’
‘We need to go, Ash,’ said Charley as more and more fans descended on the cafe.
Wildlings seemed to be materializing from the woods in their thousands. As word spread, girls of all ages swarmed into the park. But that was the power of social media: instant communication, instant crowds.
Ash seemed oblivious to the growing numbers. He finished signing a girl’s T-shirt, then posed for a photo. Before Charley could pull him away, another girl leapt beside him with a camera and he dutifully smiled.
‘Come on!’ insisted Charley, taking hold of his arm.
‘Hey, I’m next,’ said a disgruntled fan, shoving Charley aside with an elbow to the ribs.
Briefly, Charley considered dropping the girl with a ridge-hand strike to her neck. But she remembered her unarmed combat instructor’s advice: Any self-defence must be necessary, reasonable and proportional to the attack. So Charley waited for the fan to have her photo with Ash before stepping sharply on the girl’s toes. A little twist of the heel ensured maximum impact.
‘Sorry,’ said Charley with an apologetic smile as the girl’s eyes widened and she gasped in pain.
‘Is she all right?’ asked a concerned Ash.
‘Yes,’ Charley replied breezily. ‘Just a little overcome at meeting you.’
Leaving the injured fan to limp over to the nearest chair, Charley escorted Ash away from the cafe.
‘Gotta go!’ called Ash, waving goodbye to his fans.
But that didn’t stop them following him. Like the Pied Piper, Ash led his ever-expanding flock through the park. All the time people snapped away with their cameras, filmed with their phones and demanded autographs. Even as he walked, Ash kept his trademark smile and turned his head towards each and every lens he could: the consummate professional.
‘Excuse me! Make way,’ Charley requested as several fans stood directly in his path.
‘Who do you think you are?’ challenged one of the girls, squaring up to her.
‘Let him through!’ ordered Charley, her gaze taking on a steely quality that convinced the girl to step aside.
With ever more fans demanding his attention, Charley had to be Ash’s eyes and ears as she shepherded him in the direction of the main gate. But it soon became apparent they’d never reach it. As the woods opened out on to a grass area, she spied a mass of people heading their way. The fans waiting at his hotel must have got word and rushed the four blocks down to find him. Where the hell was Rick? Without him or Vince to back her up, Charley was way out of her depth. She simply didn’t have the physical presence or authority to protect Ash among so many people. To those surrounding the rock star she was just another fan.
Charley reassessed their options. If she could get him to the main road, then perhaps they could dive into a taxi and get back to the hotel. ‘I hope you’ve got the energy for a final sprint,’ she whispered to Ash, pointing to a nearby side gate.
She rushed Ash towards the exit. But this only excited the fans more. Like a herd of wildebeest they stampeded across the park, chasing their idol down. Reaching the gate only a few paces ahead of everyone else, Charley burst on to the street with Ash and looked up and down for a taxi … but there were none in sight.
As countless fans spilled out of the park and clogged the road, the traffic came to a standstill.
‘We love you, Ash!’ cried a group of ecstatic girls wearing Wildling Tour T-shirts.
A teenager, waving a banner pronouncing KIM & ASH 4EVER, screamed ‘Marry me!’
‘Sign this for my daughter,’ panted a red-faced middle-aged man, thrusting a notebook into Ash’s face.
The barrage of requests and declarations of love were overwhelming and the crush of the crowd quickly turned frightening. Although Ash was used to his fans’ hysterical response, without the rock of Big T, he was being tugged and torn like a kite in a storm.
Charley tried to keep hold of him, but she was equally drowning in the sea of people. Her phone vibrated on her
arm. A few moments later it rang again, but there was no way she could answer it in the mayhem of the heaving crowd. Paparazzi now jostled shoulder-to-shoulder with the fans, cameras flashing like strobe lights.
‘Hey, Ash! Have a good run?’ called out Gonzo, his rat-face grinning from among the pack.
Suddenly the crowd lurched sideways. Ash stumbled and fell to the pavement. Charley fought to pull him to his feet. His fans, she realized, could be the death of him – trampled and crushed by love.
‘Back away!’ Charley shouted, dragging Ash to standing and forcing a path through the horde. But mob mentality had taken over. People pushed, shoved, kicked and elbowed to get a glimpse of their idol. No one took any notice of Charley’s requests. She now understood why celebrity bodyguards had to be so huge and intimidating. In a crowd like this nothing but a battering ram would get them through.
‘Where’s Big T?’ cried Ash over the hysterical screaming. His voice was taut with panic as countless hands reached out and pulled at his clothes and hair, everyone trying to get a bit of him.
Charley felt herself losing him to the crowd. She had to find a safe haven. Fast. She spied a bank on the other side of the road and grabbed Ash’s hand, hauling him across the street with her. Every step was a battle, like fighting the current of a massive flood. She could feel Ash’s hand slipping from her grip.
Then somehow she reached the bank. In a last-ditch effort she shoved Ash through the door, following in behind. A perplexed security guard rushed up to them.
‘Lock the doors!’ shouted Charley.
Confronted by a mass of screaming hysterical girls, the guard slammed the doors shut and barricaded them in. The fans clamoured at the windows, hundreds of faces pressed up against the glass, peering in at their idol.
Ash collapsed into a chair. ‘That was beyond crazy!’
‘You can say that again,’ gasped Charley, amazed they’d escaped in one piece. Glancing up at the fan-plastered windows, she was glad the glass was reinforced. Then amid the mayhem she spotted a familiar face. Staring at Ash, his gaze unwavering, Pete raised a bandaged arm and smiled. The smile sent a small shiver through Charley – it was like a ghost copy of Ash’s trademark grin.
Bodyguard: Target Page 16
