'I prefer to be the man who chooses the Prime Minister. The power behind the throne, so to speak.'
'But just what are your politics these days, Elias? Where do you stand? What are you after? You seem terribly chummy with just about everyone, including all the extreme fringe groups that no one else would touch with a barge pole. There isn't a political gathering of whatever persuasion that doesn't have you on its guest list. Oh, I'm sorry, was that supposed to be a secret? I've studied the footage from the stuff that doesn't make it to the screen, and it's amazing how often you crop up. No matter how extreme the cause, or how distasteful, or even how opposed, there you are, right in the middle of things, smiling and pressing the flesh and making friends. Everybody's buddy. Care to comment on that?'
Gutman had stopped smiling. 'You're on dangerous ground, Shreck. Back off.'
'If it's all so innocent, why don't you want to talk about it? You just said you're squeaky clean these days. Why is everyone always so glad to see you, Elias? What are you offering them in those private little backroom meetings that no one else gets to see?'
'I think it's time you were leaving,' said Gutman flatly. 'I have nothing more to say. And don't think you can use any footage of this conversation. I have hidden security devices that jam all recording equipment.'
'That's what you think,' said Flynn. 'I've made modifications.'
Gutman glared at Flynn and then at Toby. 'I could have my people destroy that camera.'
'No, you couldn't. It would cause too many awkward questions.' Toby smiled at Gutman. 'Unlike you, people believe what I tell them.'
'I'll speak to your bosses,' said Gutman. 'And then they'll tell you what to say.'
'I am the boss,' said Toby.
Gutman smiled coldly. 'One of my investments is in communications. I own forty percent of Imperial News.'
Toby smiled coldly right back at him. 'Do you think that'll stop me? There are always other companies. I'm red-hot these days. Everyone wants me. Time we were going, Flynn. Don't bother with the flunky, Elias. We'll find our own way out.'
They left in somewhat of a hurry, just in case Gutman decided he didn't care about his public image just this once. Out in the street again, in the cool air of the evening, Toby and Flynn looked at each other thoughtfully.
'Well,' said Flynn, 'that was interesting.'
'Yeah,' said Toby, rubbing his hands together. 'I told you there was a story here. Just wish I knew what the hell it was. We're going to have to do some more digging in records and archives. See if we can find more footage on exactly who he's been cozying up to just recently that Elias doesn't want us to know about. Might be interesting to see if there's anyone he isn't talking to. That might tell us something as well… Strange, though, I was expecting him to put up more of a fight. And the threats were so… obvious. He used to be more subtle than that.' Toby gave Flynn a sharp look. 'Were you bluffing about your camera? Do we have any of that conversation recorded?'
'Depends,' said Flynn. 'I upgrade my camera regularly, but the main players make a point of always having state-of-the-art security. I won't know for sure what I've got till I get back to the lab.'
'Well, that will have to wait,' said Toby. 'We have another visit to make yet. A Family affair this time: my dear aunt Grace, currently the head of my Clan in the detested Gregor's absence. She's been running the Family and doing a very good job of it, by all accounts. Which is interesting, because the Grace I've known for most of my life wouldn't say boo to a goose if it was crapping on her boot. A shy, retiring creature, Aunt Grace, immersed in a remembered past when things were simpler. Gregor had to bully and intimidate her just to get her to turn up at Court. But of late dear Grace has emerged into the limelight with a vengeance, becoming a major social figure. Something's finally kicked her awake, and I want to know what.'
'But… isn't this change a good thing?' said Flynn. 'Aren't you pleased she's come out of her shell?'
'She's still a Shreck,' said Toby. 'And we never do anything without at least one ulterior motive.'
'Oh, yeah,' said Flynn. 'Then what's yours for this visit?'
Toby smiled. 'My cousin Clarissa. She's been staying with Grace ever since the Deathstalker freed her from her servitude as one of Lionstone's maids. A pretty young thing, very sweet. I thought I might see how she was getting along.'
'You old softy,' said Flynn. 'Wait a minute. I thought she was your sister?'
'Half sister and cousin,' said Toby, shrugging easily. 'It's that kind of Family.'
It wasn't far to Grace Shreck's town house; she lived in the same salubrious area as Gutman. Private security systems monitored the streets, keeping an electronic eye on anyone who looked as though they didn't belong there. Flynn on his own would have been immediately stopped, but everybody knew Toby Shreck. The Shreck town house had been in the Family for generations, and looked it. The old stone walls were discolored by age and pollution, and the once impeccable gardens had been left to run wild. Long-established mats of ivy crawled across the frontispiece of the house, left alone out of a sense of tradition, and a sneaking suspicion that the ivy was the only thing holding some of the stonework together. The windows were one-way only, showing blank, uncaring eyes to the outside world. And Toby knew for a fact that there were hidden guns all over to discourage unwanted visitors. This was a Shreck establishment, after all.
Once the house had been home and sanctuary to the majority of the Shreck, but with the building of the pastel towers, it had declined into just a town house, somewhere to stay for short periods for those of the Family who were currently out of favor. Now the great four-winged mansion was home to Grace alone, plus a small army of servants. Grace was a great believer in keeping up appearances.
'Most of the rooms are empty now,' said Toby as he and Flynn waited more or less patiently outside the main drawing room. The butler had just gone in to announce them, and was apparently taking his time. Toby wouldn't have thought there was that much to announce. But he couldn't just barge in as he had with Gutman. This was Family. 'Bit of a waste, really. Given its location, we could sell this place for a tidy sum, but Grace won't give it up for as long as she lives. It's her home.'
'And very impressive it is,' said Flynn. 'If I'd known we were coming somewhere this posh, I'd have nipped home to change into my best frock and real diamonds. A girl likes to look her best.'
'Don't even mention that in front of Grace,' Toby said firmly. 'She's a bit old-fashioned, and easily shocked. If we're going to get anything out of her, I need her to be relaxed and at her ease.'
'That's a bit cold-blooded, isn't it? I mean, she's your aunt.'
Toby grinned. 'But we're both Shrecks. Don't let your guard down in there, Flynn. She could tear you apart if the mood took her.'
The butler, in formal frock coat and powdered wig, returned at last to usher them into the main drawing room. It was big enough to land a ship's pinnace in, and crowded with antique furniture and priceless works of art of the kind normally only seen in museums. Huge Family portraits covered the walls, generations of Shrecks in a variety of styles, with the same frowning faces and identical cold eyes.
It made Gutman's place look positively rustic.
'Wow,' said Finlay quietly. 'How the other one percent lives. I never knew you and your Family were this rich, boss.'
'We're not,' said Toby just as quietly. 'We just used to be. There are individual pieces here that could pay off the Family's debts for a decade, but Grace won't part with any of them. As long as she can still surround herself with all this stuff, she can still convince herself that Clan Shreck is still what it used to be, and nothing has really changed.'
'Still,' said Flynn, 'I'll bet this room is hell to dust. They must work in shifts.'
And then, finally, they were brought into the presence of Grace Shreck. Toby and Flynn both bowed formally. Grace inclined her head regally from the depths of a huge, very comfortable-looking chair set just the right distance away from the roaring fire in the great fireplace. The butler gestured to two hovering servants, also in frock coat and powdered wig, who hurried forward bearing two antique chairs and set them down just the right distance away from Grace so that Toby and Flynn could sit facing her. They settled themselves carefully onto the delicate-looking chairs, which proved to be even more uncomfortable than they looked. Grace smiled at them both and then, without looking around, gestured to the butler. He and the two servants left the room, backing out all the way. Grace waited till the door had closed behind them, and then sniffed disparagingly.
'Servants… it's so hard to get good help these days. You have to be ever so careful what you say in front of them. In my young days a Family servant would never have dreamed of repeating a confidence, or anything they might have heard of their master's business, but no one has any sense of loyalty anymore. They're always looking
