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'Works like a dream every time,' Peters said. 'They simply can't resist trying to investigate, like a mouse after cheese. Let's see what he has to say for himself, Alf - and turn that bloody tape machine on'
'Good morning, Mr Earle,' Peters, shouted as Earle approached. 'Don't stand out there in the cold, sit inside. Care for a cup of coffee?'
'What do you want? Why are you spying on me?'
'Spying, Mr Earle? Don't be silly, we're just looking for a bit of colour. You're a leading candidate in an important election campaign. Seen the newspapers yet? People are bound to take more interest in you - about your hobbies, what you do, who your friends are.'
'I have nothing to say!'
'Could we interview your wife, perhaps?' asked Simmonds. 'Silly me, you're not married, of course, are you Mr Earle?'
'What are you implying?' Earle demanded in a contorted, high pitched voice.
'My goodness me nothing at all, sir. By the way, have you seen the photos of your rally yesterday? They're very good, really clear. We're thinking of using one on our front page tomorrow. Here, have a look.'
A hand thrust a large glossy photograph out of the window and waved it under Earle's nose. He grabbed it, and gasped. It clearly showed him gripping the hand and looking straight into the eyes of a smiling Simon. The details were awesomely clear, perhaps too clear. It almost looked as if some hidden hand had added a trace of eyeliner around Simon's large eyes, and his fleshy, petulant lips appeared to have been made darker, more prominent. As his manicured fingers played with the gold medallion around his neck, he looked very, very effeminate.
'Know him well, do you, sir?'
Earle threw the photograph back through the car window.
'What are you trying to do? I deny everything. I shall report your harassment to your editor!'
Earle rushed back towards his front door.
'Editor, sir? Why, bless me, it was him what sent us' Simmonds shouted at the Minister's retreating back.
As the door slammed shut behind the fleeing figure, Peters turned to his colleague. There goes one very worried man, Alf.'
They settled back to their newspapers.
MONDAY 22nd NOVEMBER
Kendrick had accepted Mattie's request for a chat with alacrity. He wasn't sure he had been so keen simply because as an Opposition backbencher he was flattered to be in demand, or simply because his eyes flared and his knees tingled every time he saw her. In any event, it didn't really matter to Kendrick what his real motives were, he was delighted to meet with her. He was making their tea himself in his single room office in Norman Shaw North, the red brick building made famous in countless ageing black and white films as New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police. The forces of law and order had long since moved to a more modem and efficient base in Victoria Street, but the parliamentary authorities had been delighted to snap up the vacant, albeit dilapidated, space just across the road from the Houses of Parliament to provide much needed additional working room for the horrendously overcrowded Members of Parliament.
As he gazed out over the Thames towards the South Bank arts complex, Kendrick poured tea and opened his heart.
'I have to say I never really expected all this,' he said. 'But I've grown to like it very much indeed.'
You've also managed to make your mark very quickly,' Mattie smiled her most winning of smiles and recrossed her legs. She had been careful to discard her favoured trousers for a fashionable blouse and skirt which showed off her legs and slender ankles to their best effect. She needed some information, and would buy it with a little flirting if needs be.
I'm doing a feature piece on the decline and fall of the Prime Minister, trying to get behind the basic news stories and talk to those who played a part in it, whether they had intended to or not. It won't be an unsympathetic piece, I'm not trying to moralise or lay blame. I'm trying rather to offer an insight into how Parliament works and how politics can be so full of surprises. And when it comes to surprises, yours was one of the biggest.'
Kendrick chuckled. Tm still amazed at how my parliamentary reputation was built on such a - well, what would you call it? Stroke of luck? Throw of the dice? Guess work?'
'Are you saying you didn't actually know that the hospital scheme had been shelved, that you were guessing?' Put it this way. I wasn't absolutely certain. I took a risk.' 'So what did you know?'
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