Doctor Who_ Deep Blue - Mark Morris [22]
gentleman?‟
Again, Tegan had to fight hard not to smile. She stared coldly at the blond man, who gazed back at her pleadingly.
After a leisurely sip of her wine she gave a dismissive shake of the head. „He‟s not worth it.‟
The policeman abruptly released his captive, who sprawled across her table, his legs splaying in a way that reminded Tegan of Bambi on the ice. Wincing from the pain in his arm, he pushed himself groggily to his feet. When he turned he found himself almost nose to nose with the thicker-set policeman, who grinned and said, „It‟s just lucky for you that this lady has such a generous nature and that I‟m off-duty.
Now make yourself scarce.‟
The blond man looked for a moment as though he wanted to say something, but didn‟t have the courage. Finally he gave a short nod and stumbled away. Rather than joining his friends over by the pool table, he headed straight for the door and lunged outside, his cheeks burning with humiliation.
The policeman watched him go, then turned to Tegan. „Are you OK?‟
„Fine,‟ said Tegan. „I might not have been, though, if you hadn‟t showed up. I really think he intended to punch my lights out.‟
„Can I get you a drink?‟ he said. „Calm your nerves? I just popped in for a quiet one myself, believe it or not.‟
„Sure,‟ she said and held up her glass. „Same again, thanks.‟
„Coming up.‟ He walked over to the bar.
Tegan watched him ordering the drinks. He was attractive in a seventies‟ sort of way. He was around thirty and, perhaps like many policemen of his era, obviously modelled himself on George Carter from The Sweeney. Certainly his hair was the same style, albeit darker, as were his clothes: kipper tie worn loosely, cuffs of his shirt turned up in a way that she always thought looked faintly ridiculous when she watched re-runs. He was not as rugged as Carter, though; his face was boyish, pleasant-looking, seemingly never far from a smile. He was broader-shouldered too, stocky but certainly not fat. He came back with another glass of wine for her and a pint of bitter already half-drunk for himself. „There you go,‟ he said.
„Thanks.‟ She drained the remains of her first glass and picked up her second. „Cheers.‟
„Cheers,‟ he responded. They chinked glasses and drank.
After a few moments he said, „Perhaps we‟d better introduce ourselves. My name‟s Andy Weathers.‟
„Is that PC or...‟
„Sergeant,‟ he said with a grin.
„Tegan Jovanka,‟ said Tegan, thrusting out her hand for him to shake. He looked faintly surprised at the gesture, but shook anyway.
Nodding at the group by the pool table, he said, „So, do you know that crowd?‟
„Do I look as though I‟d hang around with creeps like that?‟
She smiled to soften her indignation. „No, I was just sitting here when they came in and started giving me hassle. When I told them where to go, Prince Charming decided to thump me.‟
He shook his head. „Toerags. I ought to arrest the lot of them.‟
„I‟m OK. I‟ve handled a lot worse than them, believe me.‟
„So what brings you to the Sands?‟
She smiled teasingly, „How do you know I‟m not a local?‟
„If you are, that‟s a very convincing Australian accent you‟ve got there. So, come on, what brings you to this part of the world? Are you here on holiday?‟
„Got it in one.‟
„So which part of Australia are you from?‟
„Brisbane. But I don‟t live there at the moment.‟
„No? Whereabouts do you live?‟
„So many questions!‟ she said. No wonder you became a policeman.‟
He took another sip from his glass and leaned back with a smile. „Sorry. Just making conversation. I don‟t want you to think I‟m coming on too strong.‟
„No, that‟s OK,‟ she said. „I‟m enjoying just sitting here, talking. I can‟t remember the last time I did this with anyone.‟
„Really?‟ he said, visibly brightening, and leaned towards her again. „Why‟s that?‟
„I guess because my life‟s so hectic.‟
„Why? What do you do?‟
„I used to be an air hostess, but now I just... travel.‟
„Seeing a bit of the world, eh?‟
„Something like that.‟
„Isn‟t it a bit dangerous,‟ he said, „a girl travelling