Catalyst (41 page)

“I'll pay,” said David, pulling a ten pound note from his wallet and tossing it on the table.

“Great,” said Jo, picking up the note. “I'll just go and find Jed. I may be gone for some time.”

Jackie and Tom were summoned to Andrew's office at just after 4.00 pm. Without preamble, he read from the paper he was holding.

“‘The leak came via an email with the document attached. It seems the source of the communication was a privately-owned PC whose email address was terminated immediately after transmission. The message, however, is clear regarding its origin, stating ‘from the office of the Shadow Home Secretary; at last, someone with the bottle to stop the persecution of the innocent!' Interesting, don't you think?”

He refolded the copy of the
London Evening News
‘Special Edition' to show the front page, and tossed it across the desk towards them as they stood awaiting an invitation to sit down. Jackie gasped as she read the headline.

“Please feel free to read it all,” Andrew went on, “but I can save you the trouble by telling you it's word perfect,” he said, “However, so we don't all fall out of friends, let's not worry right now about how this happened. I trust you guys have worked discreetly and carefully; I can't believe it was down to anything you've done in the last couple of days. So this isn't a witch-hunt.”

As he spoke, he waved them to be seated. At the same time he got to his feet and began pacing round the room

“What we need to decide, however, is what we say, if anything, at this stage. The press are going to ask us if all this is true – obviously. Well, we can't exactly say it isn't, can we? Because, as I said, it's virtually word-perfect. We'd have to back-track on everything we've done to date on this if we denied it. So that's not an option. What I believe we need to say is that we have, of course, with the greatest urgency, started to conduct an internal investigation as to the source of this information. And put up the shutters with ‘at this stage we have no further comment to make.'

“Because,” he went on, “this could work big-time in our favour. If we
can
stone-wall it for a couple of days – perhaps even just twenty-four hours – we'll get a really good feel for the reaction out there.

“Worst case scenario, in the face of outrage and anger, we have ready a suitably indignant denial. ‘How could the public seriously believe we would suggest such extreme… etcetera'. Best – and expected – outcome, they all shout ‘bring it on!' and we prepare for government.”

Jackie was white-faced and appeared not to be taking in much of what Andrew was saying.

“And how do we address the issue of the leak itself?” she asked.

Andrew stopped pacing and sat down again.

“Well, we may not have to. If the reaction is positive then… ”

“Then let me be more specific,” interrupted Jackie. “How do we address the issue of the leak if the reaction is
not
positive?”

“Well, as I say, Jackie, I'm not ready to address that yet. I think I said just a few moments ago, if you were listening, this is not a witch-hunt… ”

“No, but it will be, just as soon as the first bit of negative feedback reaches you. Would you like me to resign now, or would you prefer to sack me?”

Andrew seemed temporarily unsettled by the confrontation, but he quickly recovered his poise and responded with his customary cool menace.

“You must do what you think is appropriate. But let me make it clear that it will be
your
doing. I have been deliberately conciliatory in this meeting when, I believe, I could have been forgiven for blowing my top. I have no idea where you get the idea from that I'd sack you, Jackie,” he went on, just a little more warmly, “I have only days ago made it clear that I want you to lead on this new strategy. Why on earth would I do that if I saw your position as that tenuous?”

“Very well,” she said, “let's leave it for now, as you say, and concentrate on the holding statement. Might I suggest that we make this an official press release read to camera by Press Liaison? That way we don't get drawn into a wider debate and we can limit what we say. Jim McIntyre's a good stone-waller; he should do it.”

“Good idea, Jackie,” said Andrew. “Let's agree the wording between us.”

They sat for a further twenty minutes, Tom and Jackie first reading through the newspaper article and then the three of them drafting the message. Jackie read out the final release.

“‘A statement from the office of Mr Andrew Donald, Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition. Mr Donald will be conducting a full enquiry into the recent communication, allegedly from the office of a Shadow Cabinet Minister, to the
London Evening News
on Wednesday 14
^th
July. He hopes to conclude this investigation within the next few days, at which time he will decide what action to take. In the meantime, there will be no further statement on the matter from this office.'” Jackie looked up. “I think that is okay as far as it goes, but to state the blinding obvious, the overwhelming interest will be the content of the leak not where it came from. This won't go anywhere close to satisfying the press even for a day or two. And what about the House… ?”

“Well, Stone-Wall McIntyre might have to work overtime for a start, and as far as the House is concerned, then we'll hide for a couple of days. There'll be no-one on the Front Benches who can answer the questions. It's just a day or two until we get the feedback, and in the meantime I'll put together a denial statement – which I am certain we won't need. Okay?”

“Can I see the denial statement when it's ready?” asked Jackie, more as a demand than a request.

“Well, as I say, I don't believe we'll need to issue one,” said Andrew. “But, if you'd like… ”

“I would,” she snapped back. “Is that everything for now?” She made to stand up.

“Yes, I guess.”

“Then if you'll excuse me.” She turned without speaking again to either man and walked quickly from the room.

Tom had risen from his chair, his instinctive old-world reaction to a woman rising from hers. He watched her leave not knowing what to do.

“I'd better catch up with her,” he said, turning to Andrew. “Still got to finish the proposal. We'll need to have the official version even sooner now, I guess.”

Andrew was relaxed and smiling again, back in total control.

“Sit down for a minute. Let her get her knickers untwisted first,” he said. “What was all that about? Stupid bitch! She can't see further than the end of her big nose!”

Tom did sit down, but leant across the desk towards Andrew, springing instinctively to his colleague's defence.

“Bloody hell, Andrew. I thought she took it pretty well. Can you imagine what she must be thinking right now? You could show a bit more sympathy for your victims!”

“God almighty!” said Andrew, throwing up his arms in exasperation. “I don't know what the matter is with everyone today. I've done nothing that you and I didn't agree on Friday. I've even given Ms Jackie a bloody vote of confidence, for God's sake. How the hell is that screwing up her life?”

“Your problem, Andrew, is that you can't see past your own priorities. You can't accept that anyone who doesn't see things
exactly
how you do has any value whatsoever. Let me tell you a secret. Jackie Hewlett is a very nice human being. Not only that, but she's bloody good at her job. Oh, and another thing,” he added, “if you bother to look at her closely, you'll see she does
not
have a big nose.”

Andrew's mood lightened at the final remark.

“Well, well,” he said, with a sneer. “You and Jackie Hewlett. Who would have thought it? And here's me just assuming that you'd be banging Grace.” He raised his hands in appeasement before Tom could respond. “Just joking.”

He smiled broadly, mainly at Tom's discomfort.

“You'd better
not
be giving Grace one, by the way,” he added, as if to make it clear that he really had been joking.