Taunton Barr

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  Grant Farnsworth The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism and Heritage was in his office, his phones had fallen silent, he no longer knew who was controlling what within the BHA the pending problem of the day and he trolled the net news columns. Hayford had gone after Ashby in a scathing attack on his election to office by the BHA board, as he searched for more scraps of information from those on the front line his secretary called. 'Yes.'

  'I have a call for you caller won't give his name.'

  He hesitated, was about to put the phone down but was desperate for knowledge. 'I'll take it... Hello.'

  'It's George.'

  'Ah, how are you old man.'

  'Ashby is up my arse, I need some help.'

  'Go to Beaker man, we best not talk on the phone.'

  'Beaker, Joan Williams was just elected CEO of the BHA.'

  There was silence. 'You sure.'

  'I tried Beaker he won't take my call, I spoke to Ciggins.'

  'My god man Joan Williams is a loose cannon.'

  'I need Ashby off my case, he's resorting to blackmail.'

  'I'm sorry George I'm unable to take any more calls from you.'

  'Ashby claims he's going to Blake with information that will ruin both of us.'

  'Well if he's right they'll be on your doorstep in a week, if he's bluffing he'll give up.'

  'Blake would love to have us out of the way.'

  'Blake's already won round one George, you'd better get ready for round two. He's just driven everything underground, I'm sure he will realise that and act accordingly.'

  'I need help to contain Ashby and...'

  'Have a good day George.' Farnsworth hung up. He called his secretary. 'Could you get me the freelance equines sports reporter Lee Hayford.'

  'Should I interrupt you should I get her on the line.'

  'No I wish to meet her one on one, make an appointment away from the office I don't mind what time or where it is and I'll be there.'

  'As you wish.'

  Although other pressing matters were on his desk he continued to find information on the BHA, he attempted to contact Ciggins but he could not be reached. He shabbily applied himself to ten minute meetings across a range of subjects but knew distancing himself from an issue that had started a meltdown that could inevitably lead to having to answer some very embarrassing questions made focus thorny. His mobile rang, he studied the screen but the incoming number was blocked, he answered. 'Hello..............What are you doing calling me.....................outside the building you fool....................calm down, I'll be down directly..................stick to the other side of the road and keep out of sight.' He tidied his desk and on the way out cancelled any more meetings for the day, his secretary informed him Hayford was unavailable. '

  He used the fire stairs, they had a separate entrance into a side lane, he walked to the street and observed his target on the other side of the street. He walked away from the building toward a pedestrian crossing and crossed over the thoroughfare, he sat on a bench adjacent to a nearby bus stop, his appointment casually sat beside him pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. 'Do you mind putting that thing out.'

  His counterpart looked at him, he stamped on the burning cigarette after cunningly dropping at his feet. 'Why haven't you publicly condemned Blake's behaviour.'

  'I guarantee ol man that Blake would have his books in order.'

  'You can still make it difficult for him.'

  'I would just be whining, jumping up and down is fine I need a solution to suggest or keep quiet, whining would bring unwanted attention outside of the BHA.'

  'Without maintaining the status quo I have to go underground you realise what that means.'

  'The status quo is Joan Williams my good man, underground is your only hope.'

  His counterpart coughed, he had a quick look round. 'Ashby is desperate, the three horses he gave you shares in, he's using them as a collateral bargaining chip. That leaks out you can guess the results, a conflict of interest to the tone of several hundred thousand pounds, he could even pass it on to Blake.'

  Farnsworth giggled. 'Blake would already know all that, a conflict of interest perhaps but no money changed hands, I would survive that, Ashby won't.'

  'Ashby has become that much of a problem I suggest you turn on him.'

  'I'm keeping right out of it ol man, you're on your own, truth is I have no real idea of how or what worked for you, contact me one more time and I'll tip the bucket.' Farnsworth got up and walked away.

  His counterpart sat with his arms folded, gazing into space, a bus came along, he hadn't ever checked it's destination, he got on.