Someone To Save you by Paul Pilkington Read Free Book Online

know,’ Sam admitted, recognising the irony of the situation. He still wasn’t at all comfortable with the decision, but he’d made up his mind.
    ‘And after what happened last time, I just don’t know how you can even contemplate putting yourself through that again. I know how much it affected you last year when the papers were full of your life story. It affected me too, it affected your parents, and Anna. Journalists dredging through your past, gossiping about Cathy, speculating about what happened. Do you really want to risk that happening again?’
    ‘They’ve promised that they won’t ask me any questions about Cathy,’ Sam said.
    ‘But can you really guarantee that?’
    ‘No, I suppose not.’
    ‘The media might not be able to resist themselves, Sam. Marcus has just been released from prison; Cathy would have just celebrated her thirtieth. You can see how it might be too tempting?’
    Sam nodded; he’d thought the same himself. ‘I know, but if they do start asking questions about that, I’ll stop the interview there and then.’
    ‘If you say so.’
    Sam glanced at his watch. ‘I’d better go. They’ve got a taxi coming to get me in a few minutes.’
    Louisa just stared at her coffee.
    Sam tried again. ‘Look, Lou, I know what you’re saying, and I do agree. But I just think that this could be the best way of getting the press attention out of the way, in a more controlled fashion. It might backfire, who knows. I don’t want this any more than you do, but I’ve decided it’s the best thing to do under the circumstances. Will you support me?’
    Louisa looked up. ‘Just be careful, Sam.’
     
     
    During the ten minute taxi ride over to the BBC radio studios, Sam dwelled on what Louisa had said. He just hoped that they would be true to their word, and steer well clear of anything to do with Cathy. Louisa had been right – the media coverage the previous year had hurt Sam terribly. It had also really affected his parents, pushing his father back into depression. After over a decade of trying to shut out the pain and horror, it had all come crashing back into their lives, as fresh and raw as ever.
    By the time Sam reached the studios, registered at reception and waited on the comfy green sofa, he was full of trepidation. He was close to walking out when a young girl of Asian appearance approached, clipboard in hand.
    ‘Hi, it’s Sam, isn’t it?’
    Sam nodded, and he followed her along a corridor. She talked as she walked, explaining what would happen, but distracted by his own thoughts, Sam only heard bits of it. They went down a flight of stairs, passed through a set of double doors and emerged into one of the main broadcast areas. Three goldfish bowl like recording studies, fronted by glass, led off from the central waiting area in which they now stood.
    ‘You’ll be interviewed by Simon Saunders,’ the girl said, looking over to the only occupied studio. ‘He’s covering the afternoon slot while Mike is away.’
    Sam could see Simon at the control desk, headphones on, talking to the sports reporter sat opposite him. The broadcast was being piped over the speakers. At the moment they were speculating about the latest rumours on the football transfer market. He wasn’t familiar with this presenter, he tended to listen to Radio 4, but Sam was grateful to be spared the confrontational well-known regular host, Mike Bennett.
    ‘You’ll be on in a few minutes,’ the girl explained. ‘Just after the news. Take a seat and we’ll come and get you.’
    ‘We’ve got time for one more caller. Richard from London, what’s your question?’
    Sam looked over at Simon and wished he was somewhere else. The presenter had been fine, asking some standard questions about the previous night. But he hadn’t reckoned on a full-blown phone in to follow. For almost ten minutes now he’d been quizzed by callers about the crash. Some had wanted to know the basic facts of the event. Others had sought