Rivals

Declan smiled again. ‘We have a string of incredibly talented people who will take over as Heads of the various departments the moment we win the franchise,’ he said, ‘but as they’re all working for ITV or the BBC, we can’t tell you who they are.’

‘What d’you feel about your other rival, Mid-West?’ said the Sun.

Rupert laughed. ‘Well, they were advertising for ideas for programmes in the local paper last week,’ he said, ‘so they must be a bit short on imagination, and as their regional trump card is a geography master who’s never been to London I can’t say we feel very threatened.’

The BBC, obviously feeling they’d given Venturer enough coverage, turned to the wonderful weather.

Tony immediately switched over to ‘Cotswold Round-Up’ who put out an outwardly impartial report about there being two contenders for the Corinium franchise, then ran Tony’s interview with Seb in full. This was immediately followed by a link from James Vereker saying that Declan must have got to know Rupert when he interviewed him for Corinium.

Next the clip was run in from the programme in which Declan quoted the Gloucestershire peer describing Rupert as ‘a nasty virus everyone’s wife caught sooner or later’. And Rupert replying: ‘If you could see his wife, it’d definitely be later.’

Finally came Declan’s questions as to whether Rupert was going to mend his ways because of AIDS, and Rupert cracking back that he was giving up casual sex for Lent. Without any qualifying comment, the programme then switched to a story about playing-fields.

‘That was offensive,’ said Cameron furiously. ‘That clip should never have been taken out of context.’

‘The IBA won’t like it one bit,’ said Ginger, shaking his head.

‘I didn’t authorize it,’ lied Tony quickly. ‘I can’t help it if my newsroom get a little protective and leap to my defence.’

Cameron felt sick. It was going to be much dirtier and more difficult than she’d thought. Things became worse when Seb and James rolled up after ‘Cotswold Round-Up’. Tony, utterly businesslike now, said their chief object should be to dig up as much dirt on Venturer as possible and then get other people to leak the stories.

‘We’ve got to appear whiter than white and above it all. Here’s the list of their consortium.’ Tony handed copies to James and Seb. ‘Declan was desperately pushed for cash when he left Corinium. How’s he managed to be in funds again? Investigate any IRA sympathies. His wife’s a tart. See if there’s any rift there.’

‘Rupert’s a government minister,’ said Ginger. ‘That’s out of order for a start. He could influence the PM to lean on the IBA to give Venturer the franchise.’

‘Excellent,’ said Tony. ‘Ring up Paul Stratton, Ginger. He detests Rupert. Get him to ask a question in the House about it. And find out who Rupert’s sleeping with, Seb. It’s bound to be different from yesterday. If anything moves, or rather stays still, he’ll fuck it. Sarah Stratton used to sleep with him; she may still be. Talk to her.’

Seb didn’t dare look at Cameron. Suddenly, he felt desperately sorry for her.

‘Lord Smith likes the fleshpots far too much for a socialist,’ went on Tony. ‘He’s got his own house with five bedrooms and a very nice car. See if he’s been using union funds. Graystock’s a pinko, too. Investigate any communist sympathies. He’s also divorced, got a second house, and definitely sent his second child to a private school. Hang round the University, Seb, and see if he’s ever fiddled with one of his students, or put one in the club.’

‘Ditto Dame Enid,’ said Ginger with his dry mirthless laugh. ‘She’s probably miffed we’re doing a Michael Tippett opera this year and not one of hers.’

‘That’s possible,’ said Tony. ‘Good story to leak to the gossip columns. And the Bishop of Cotchester must have had a choirboy in his time.’

He ran his finger down the list. ‘Henry Hampshire’s a terrible letch; keep an eye on him. Janey Lloyd-Foxe is a whore. She left Billy for a bit and went off with one of his sponsors, and they’re always broke. There’s bound to be some dirt there. And Wesley Emerson’s a cinch. He’s always stoned or dipping his wick. We’ve just got to pick our moment to leak a really juicy story.’

Ginger shook his head. ‘Got to be careful, there. Wesley’s such a local hero, the public’ll forgive him anything. He took five wickets today, only person who did.’

‘Send Sarah Stratton to interview him,’ said Tony. ‘That should do the trick.’

James’s stomach gave a terrific rumble; his extended lunch with Sarah today had not included food. ‘I think we should be careful about smirching Corinium’s caring face,’ he said palely.

‘I agree,’ said Cameron, who’d also gone very white. ‘Can’t we just, as you said, stand on our record? We’re better than them. It seems so tacky to sink to their level.’

‘Don’t be fucking stupid,’ snapped Tony. ‘This is war. I don’t believe Marti Gluckstein lives in Penscombe either. Find out his alleged address and go and bung the neighbours.’

‘I’ll do that story,’ said Seb quickly.

‘Charles is a friend of both Rupert’s and Declan’s,’ said Tony. ‘He can find out what they’re up to. Where the hell is he, anyway?’ He turned furiously on Cyril.

‘Gone to an enclosed order for two days,’ stammered Cyril. ‘They’re not on the telephone.’

‘Well, drive over and fetch him back, sunshine,’ said Tony with exaggerated patience. ‘If you both value your jobs, see that he rings me at home tonight after eleven o’clock.’

He opened his briefcase and took out a clean shirt and a tie. ‘I’ve got to go to the Chamber of Commerce dinner. So bugger off, all of you. I want to talk to Cameron.’

After they’d gone Cameron couldn’t stop shaking. ‘It’s so awful,’ she kept saying.

‘I think it might be rather fun,’ said Tony softly. ‘When the right moment comes, I’ll press the destruct button on the lot of them. They’ve no idea what they’ve taken on.’

As he came towards her, his breath was foul, as though all the hatred had churned and rotted inside him. His body stank of stale sweat. Trying not to flinch when he grabbed her, Cameron said, ‘I thought you were dropping by this evening?’

‘I’d like to, but it’s not safe. Press’ll be hanging round. Venturer might even put a private dick on to me.’

He was so mad to get inside her, he broke the elastic of her panties. It was all over in a minute.

‘The bastards,’ he groaned. ‘They’ve all betrayed me.’

Then he took her throat between his hands. ‘If you ever betray me, I’ll kill you.’

Down the High Street at Radio Cotchester the Controller of Programmes received an irate telephone call from the Managing Director who’d never been near the station since Princess Michael opened it five years ago.

‘I’ve just heard a very favourable interview with Bas Baddingham,’ he roared. ‘I don’t want any more crap like that on Radio Cotchester. Tell all our presenters and DJs we’re backing Corinium a hundred per cent throughout this campaign. After all, Tony Baddingham owns twenty per cent of us.’

Up the High Street at the Cotchester News the Editor was reading tomorrow’s leader: ‘Tony Baddingham’s words to Declan O’Hara that people who get too big for their boots should go and wear out other people’s carpets must ring hollow in his ears today when the mega-star Irishman and Penscombe resident headed a bid to oust Tony Baddingham and walk on Corinium’s carpets himself after 15th December. Venturer, as he’s called his consortium, appears to be soundly based financially, rich in talent and determined to grasp the infinite. .’

The Editor had read enough and buzzed for his leader writer. ‘You can’t publish this! We own twenty per cent of Corinium, and Tony Baddingham owns twenty-five per cent of us. Go back and rewrite it.’

‘Corinium may not be perfect,’ the leader writer retyped defiantly. ‘What company is? But it has now reached a level of performance far beyond that which any newcomer could achieve in a few years. Corinium has a massive expansion programme, it has won countless awards, it has all the expertise it needs, and it has Cameron Cook.’

Then he went out and got drunk.

Cameron finally tracked down Rupert at the House after he’d voted.

‘Sweetheart, are you OK?’ he said. ‘How’s Sledge-Hammer House of Horror? Has Tony had a seizure?’

‘I hate you and I hate myself,’ stormed Cameron. ‘How dare Janey Lloyd-Foxe say Corinium’s drama was abysmal, and that bloody Bishop attacking the morals of “Four Men went to Mow”!’

‘That was tactless. I’m sorry, but if we don’t knock you, Tony’ll suspect something. How did he take it?’

‘Fine,’ said Cameron. ‘Very together, very positive.’