Drowning

Part 2

*****

It was a rare occurrence indeed that one of them finished their own film ahead of schedule, but that was exactly what happened to James that afternoon. He'd gone home to his house in Hammersmith, half-expecting to see a grumbling black and white feline meowing crossly for his dinner - but then he remembered that he never would again, and he had a brief flash of lingering grief for the loss of his cat.

Shaking his head, he'd put his bag and coat on the rack by the front door and immediately gone to the fridge to see if there was any of Sarah's delicious roast left - she'd flown to Moscow that morning for a big ballet production, so he had the house to himself for a few days.

Absent-mindedly, he flicked on the television on his way to the microwave to put in some left-over beef and vegetables. He wasn't really listening - pulling out his mobile when he felt it vibrating incessantly in his pocket - but then his attention was caught by the reporter's utterance of the words "Top Gear" and "accident".

Eyes shooting up from his phone - where he had just opened a rather cryptic message from Andy Wilman that simply said Call me. Now - James stared in horror at the screen; showing a BBC News reporter standing in front of a hospital and the headline Breaking News:Top Gear presenters in horrific accident - Clarkson in critical condition.

Mentally waving away the uncomfortable flashbacks of an eerily similar headline from around four and a half years ago, he started paying a bit more attention to what the reporter was saying.

"It is our understanding that - at around four o'clock this afternoon - a car that Clarkson and Hammond were testing ran into mechanical faults. The car skidded into a lake, where it's believed that both presenters were underwater for nearly three minutes before resurfacing."

Horror made James' blood run cold at this, he was so absorbed in the story that he barely noticed the light ping on the microwave telling him his dinner was ready - he suddenly wasn't very hungry.

"Sources have reported that Clarkson had to be resuscitated at the scene, and was transported to hospital where doctors say he is in a critical condition. We are still awaiting reports on the condition of Richard Hammond - who we believe is still at the scene of the accident being treated by paramedics. We'll bring you updates on this story throughout the bulletin."

Numb. That's the only thing James could feel at that moment as the shock and horror of what he'd just heard started to fully sink in. In that instant, he suddenly felt very nauseous.

Turning his phone back on to his messages, he suddenly understood Andy's message, and he sent a reply of his own.

Where are you? I'm on my way.

Andy's answer came barely a moment later, and once he'd read the location, James was on his feet and grabbing his jacket and bag once more - as well as the keys to the Boxster (the Panda was too recognisable now) - and heading out to his car. 

He had a drive of nearly an hour to get to the location - if he took the long way through the city and back out on the motorway. But James - rather contrary to his other nickname - was aware of a shorter route and, being in the Porsche, he felt he could push the speed limit just slightly.

Such as it was, it only took him half the time to reach the national park where the film was being shot, and he immediately ran into the problem of a gaggle of reporters and TV cameras lining the gates to the park.

The crew member who had been stationed at the gate - none other than Iain May - recognised him immediately and yelled for the pack to part so James could get through. James didn't like the grim look he saw on his friend's face - it made the pit of dread in his stomach intensify to almost nauseating levels.