your ass just because he came in with a headache that morning.'
The door opened, and a young woman with hardly any dress on and a quite astounding amount of cleavage tottered in on impossibly high heels. She smiled widely at Flynn, displaying perfect teeth of dazzling brightness, and presented him with a steaming cup of tea.
'Thank you, dear,' said Flynn graciously. 'Do you know, I just love your earrings. You must tell me where you found them.'
'You wear them to the office, Flynn, and you're fired,' said Toby. 'Thank you. Miss Lovett. That will be all for now.'
The young lady giggled for no apparent reason, heaved her cleavage in the direction of the door, and tottered out again. Flynn looked at Toby.
'She's my secretary,' said Toby defensively. 'She takes dictation.'
'Yeah,' said Flynn. 'I'll just bet she does. I would also bet good money that she has a room-temperature IQ and the personality of a piece of string.'
'All right, she's a bimbo, I admit it. I have someone else to do the actual secretarial work. Miss Lovett is more in the nature of… an office ornament. Something I can use to distract the union bosses when they come in with their latest wage claim. Upper management gave her to me. They thought it might keep me in the office more. Truth be told, she gets on my nerves something fierce. She has a voice that could frighten sheep, no talents you can discuss in polite company, and a laugh that could strip wallpaper off walls. Took me two weeks to train her to make a cup of tea. I'd fire her, but it would break her heart.'
'Life is tough at the top,' said Flynn.
'It is!' said Toby. 'All I want is to get some work done. Some real work. I can't just sit around all day, Flynn, ticking the right boxes and signing where indicated. It's not in my nature. I need to be doing something. Something that matters. I always thought that with this job's authority I'd finally be able to cover the kind of important stories I'd always wanted to go after. But it never works out that way. I may be the boss here, but I still have to answer to my bosses, the people who own Imperial News. And they'd be just as happy running a gossip show, as long as it didn't affect profits. Every time I suggest a good target to go after, the word comes down from above: don't make waves.
'They were happy enough to take risks when they were only a minor company, desperate to do anything to grab viewing figures away from the big boys, but now they are one of the big boys, they've gone all nervous on me. They have something to lose these days. You know, Flynn… I should be happy. I've made it! I've got the job I always wanted! I run Imperial News! They don't even challenge my expenses anymore. But I am bored, Flynn. Terribly, mind-numbingly
'You know the answer, chief. Do what you did the last time we had this conversation. Pick a story and cover it yourself. Get out in the field and see how close to the wind you can sail this time. I'm always available to be your cameraman. For the standard rates. Plus danger money.'
'I'd like to, Flynn, but… Oh, the hell with it. Stuff them all. If I stay in this room much longer, I'll start putting down roots. I can always leave my deputy in charge for a while. Not too bright, and scared stiff of anyone who raises their voice to him, but I swear he actually likes shuffling papers. Come on, Flynn. Let's get a move on. We have a story to cover.'
'What, right now? I was think of somewhen tomorrow. I can't go with you now. Clarence will have a hot-pot dinner waiting for me.'
'Tell him to stick it back in the oven,' said Toby ruthlessly. 'What I have in mind can't wait. There's a couple of targets I've been trying to get to for weeks, but my reporters keep being turned down and intimidated. Let's see what I can do. After everything I went through in the rebellion, they couldn't intimidate me with a point-blank disrupter cannon.'
'I have a terrible feeling I've started something that can only end in tears,' said Flynn. 'Lead on, boss. Where are we going first?'
'To see the Speaker of Parliament his own slippery self: Elias bloody Gutman.'
Getting in to see Gutman turned out to be easier than expected. They didn't bother with an introductory call requesting an appointment, because Toby knew very well Gutman wouldn't agree to one. So instead he and Flynn went straight around to Gutman's luxurious townhouse, in one of the very best neighborhoods, and got in by bribing the footmen. Once inside, Toby worked his way through the inner security levels and ranks of flak catchers in a grandstanding performance of sheer perseverance and bloody-mindedness that Flynn found a joy to watch. This was the Toby Shreck he remembered—an unstoppable force of nature that talked its way around most obstacles and walked right over the rest. Leaving Gutman's people wondering what the hell had hit them, Toby and Flynn followed the head butler to Gutman's inner sanctum.
The butler, a tall and haughty personage in an old-fashioned frock coat, with frosty manners and just a little understated makeup, who winked at Flynn when he thought Toby wasn't looking, finally came to a halt before a massive pair of intricately carved wooden doors. He knocked politely and then threw them open with a practiced flair, announcing Toby's and Flynn's names in a carrying voice. Toby strode straight in, with Flynn right behind him, camera hovering over his shoulder. The butler took up a position just inside the doors, in case he was needed.
Gutman's quarters were surprisingly tasteful, but all that meant was that he could afford a decent interior designer. There were shelves of books along one wall, expensive leather-bound editions, but Toby would have bet good money Gutman hadn't read any of them. Probably bought them by the yard. Gutman himself was reclining at his ease in a technological marvel of a chair that did everything but wipe his nose for him. He didn't bother to get up when his visitors entered, so Toby didn't bother with the bow and polite greetings that formality would otherwise have demanded.
'Get rid of the flunky, Gutman,' Toby said brusquely, starting as he meant to go on. 'You aren't going to want a witness for some of the things we're going to discuss.'
'Ah, the famous Shreck charm,' said Gutman heavily. 'That must be how you got past my guards. Most of whom will be drawing unemployment tomorrow. It's all right, Jobe, you can go. I'll ring if I need anything.'
The butler bowed, gave Flynn a last lingering look, and left. Toby fixed Gutman with his best piercing gaze. 'So, Elias, how are the hemorrhoids?'
'Compared to your presence, nothing at all. You're the only real pain in my ass these days. What do you want at this late hour?'
'What I always want, answers. Starting with how a slimy wheeler and dealer like you ended up as a revered elder statesman.'
Gutman shrugged easily. 'Through my many and varied business enterprises. Over the years I have amassed many influential contacts, in all walks of life. I've never believed in keeping all my eggs in one basket.'
'You've never believed in declaring them for taxes either,' said Toby. 'Come on, Elias. Everyone knows that you had a hand in every dirty deal going. Your reputation was marginally worse than the Hadenmen's. How did you end up as Speaker?'
'Much to my surprise,' said Gutman. 'I came to rebuild my Family, which had been so weakened during the war they were even glad to see me back. And as a man of means and prospects, I found position and responsibility pressed upon me.'
'Just like that.'
'Pretty much. I hate to disappoint you, Toby, but I was elected Speaker because the majority wanted it. No backroom deals, no bribes, no blackmail, no secret promises of favor or influence. I got the job because everyone knew me and distrusted me equally. And if they were dumb enough to offer me the post, I was certainly dumb enough to take it.'
'You're living very well,' said Toby, retreating for the moment to safer ground. 'A big house, in the best part of town. An army of servants and all the luxuries. And if that obscene portrait on the wall is what I think it is, it alone cost more than your yearly salary as Speaker. Where's the money come from these days, Elias?'
'I never knew you had an eye for art, Toby,' said Gutman easily. 'And yes, it is an original. Erotica is very collectable these days. I acquired it as payment for an outstanding debt. My money comes from investments, all of them open and aboveboard. My finances these days are a matter of public record. I'm squeaky clean. I can afford to be. It was a good war for me in many ways.'
'If you're so clean, why did you settle for Speaker? You could have been a Member of Parliament. Hell, you could have been Prime Minister.'
