Page 40 of A Game of Lies

‘Are you still banging on about that? It’s still a line on your CV, isn’t it?’

‘But you know I won’t get a listing on IMDb unless I have an on-screen credit, and you promised!’

Ffion steps into the room before Caleb bursts into tears and makes even more of a tit of himself than he’s currently making. ‘The trail dog’s just started,’ she says. ‘Divers haven’t found anything yet, so there’s still a chance—’

‘Have you seen this?’ Miles waves a newspaper at her.

‘I’ve been busy. Looking for your missing contestant,’ Ffion adds, although the barb is lost on Miles. He reads out the article.

‘Miles Young, producer of controversial reality television seriesExposure, is facing increased criticism as the contestants and even his own team turn on him.’ The grainy photo – clearly taken on a phone – shows Owen restraining a furious Jason, who is trying to take a swing at Miles.

Ffion takes the paper and continues reading aloud. ‘A source close to theExposureteam reported that Roxy Wilde, the show’s frontwoman, was “tricked” into taking the presenter job. “She’s furious with Miles for putting her in this situation,” the source said.’

‘I’m not the source,’ Caleb says quickly.

‘It was that bloody vlogger, or Twitterer, or whatever she is,’ Miles says. ‘Zee bloody Hart.’

Beneath the exposé from the ‘source’, an emotional interview from Jessica details her husband’s battle with his mental health.

He was honest with Exposure from the start, she’s quoted as saying.He thought he was there for a survival competition, and he would have given that his best shot, but it was all a set-up. The researchers knew the truth about the show, and they knew Ryan was vulnerable. If he’s hurt himself, it’s all on them. It’s all on Miles Young.

‘There’s more,’ Miles spits.

Over the page, a photo of Pam appears alongside a heartfelt apology.

It’s true that I took money from parents hoping to secure a place for their child in the school. What those parents didn’t know is that the places were there anyway – there was no need for them to bribe me. I took the money they tried to bribe me with and used it to pay for food and uniform for students from less privileged backgrounds.

Robin Hood Head, reads the headline.

Ffion hands back the paper without a word. It seems the tables have well and truly turned on Miles.

‘The network’s getting twitchy,’ Miles says. ‘Several papers have run similar front pages, and a bunch of mental health charities have issued statements “condemning” the concept of the show.’ Miles waggles his fingers around the word to show his own contempt. ‘No doubt it was acampaignerwho tried to sabotage us by damaging the cameras – it’s cost me well over the odds to get replacements in at such short notice.’ He turns on Caleb. ‘And it’s all your fault!’

Ffion’s phone rings, and she steps out of the room to take George’s call.

‘You let Zee Hart into the media centre!’ Miles is yelling at full volume. ‘If I get my hands on the bitch—’

‘The dog’s followed the trail to a house in the woods,’ George says. ‘It’s right by the lake, in a clearing, apparently.’

‘I know it.’

‘You’re fired!’ Miles shouts.

‘Fired from what?’ Caleb gives a bark of laughter. ‘From unpaid work experience with no credit, no proof I even did it?’

‘Did what?’ Miles retorts. ‘Delivered loo roll? Forget the TV industry, kid. You’re not cut out for it.’

‘Do you want to meet us there?’ George is saying.

Ffion hesitates. ‘Leo made it quite clear I wasn’t—’

‘I assumed you’d ignore him.’

Ffion is momentarily speechless. Where does George get off, making assumptions about what Ffion would or wouldn’t do?

She takes another look at Miles and Caleb, still yelling at each other, then finds her voice. ‘You assumed right.’

FOURTEEN

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