by Steve Lewis
‘Well boys. Showtime.’
He embraced Toohey, then Dunkley; solid embraces that lingered, that said all that needed to be said.
‘I hope he finds her.’ Toohey looked solemn.
‘Yeah, me too,’ Dunkley said, but he was absorbed in his own thoughts. His daughter had telephoned and asked to meet him in Sydney.
‘Martin, a simple yes or no. Did you contact Gaby?’
The former PM looked sheepish. ‘Might have.’
‘I wondered how she got my phone number.’
‘Well, as Bruce said, family is important.’ Toohey fell into silence, gazing out at the lengthening shadows.
‘You okay?’ Dunkley inquired, placing his hand on his friend’s arm.
‘I am. Just got a bit on my mind, that’s all.’
‘It’s been a tumultuous time, I grant you that.’
Toohey fiddled with his glass as if pondering what to say. ‘That phone call on the drive out here, that was from the prime minister.’
‘Jesus! Not offering you a knighthood?’
Toohey chuckled. ‘No mate, they’ve been consigned to the dustbin, thank God. No, Elizabeth wants to see me. To talk about a job and a few other things . . .’
His voice trailed off, but the slight blush on his handsome face said it all.
Dunkley was genuinely pleased for his friend.
‘Remember when you dragged me out of the lock-up? You said you were motivated by redemption and revenge. Well, you got your revenge, but much more importantly you redeemed all of us. You’re a good man, Martin Toohey, and in the opinion of this atheist, you deserve a sainthood.’
Toohey smiled, then caught the journalist in a bone-jarring hug.
They were interrupted by the steward. ‘Mr Dunkley, your flight is boarding.’
The journalist picked up his leather satchel, a long-ago gift from Gaby that he’d carried in good times and bad.
‘You’ve got lots of offers, Harry. What are your plans?’
‘Not sure. But you know, for a long time I always put my career first. This time I won’t be making any decisions until I’ve had a good chat with my daughter.’
He turned to leave, then stopped.
‘Rupert wants to fly me to New York, you know.’
The two men roared with laughter as they walked through the Chairman’s Lounge. As the sliding doors opened, Dunkley placed his arm around his mate’s shoulder and offered a conspiratorial whisper.
‘You never know, Martin, I might just write a novel.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Over the course of crafting our three novels, dozens of people have volunteered advice, helping us research and write these political dramas. Some have allowed us to formally acknowledge their support while others prefer to remain in the shadows.
Firstly, we’d like to acknowledge our magnificent editor Amanda O’Connell, who has managed to kill our darlings without crushing our spirit. Madeleine James helped sharpen the final draft of this novel. Thanks Maddy.
Mary Rennie, Anna Valdinger and Jeanne Ryckmans helped steer us through to publication, never losing patience.
Shona Martyn, Australia’s publishing dynamo, took a gamble on this odd couple of Australian journalism, and has been a steadfast supporter from go to whoa.
We couldn’t have written The Shadow Game and its two predecessors without the wise and generous counsel of many experts. In particular we would like to acknowledge Hugh White, Alastair MacGibbon, Dr Carl Ungerer, Ben Turnbull, Rob Woods and Rear Admiral (Ret) Brian Adams.
Many others were generous in reading draft chapters, and giving constructive feedback.
Finally, we want to give thanks to many politicians, staffers, senior public servants, members of the defence and intelligence agencies, both here and in the United States, who enthusiastically offered ideas and corrected draft chapters when they veered too far from the truth.
For the record, we have kept a detailed log of every conversation,
every email, every text. Be afraid.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
STEVE LEWIS arrived in Canberra in late 1992, and spent the next two decades tormenting the nation’s political elite. He worked for the Australian Financial Review before joining The Australian as chief political reporter. In 2007, he was appointed national political correspondent for News Limited’s big-selling metropolitan dailies – the Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Courier-Mail and Advertiser. He is the author of Stand & Deliver, a lively account of the National Press Club’s fifty year history, and works as a senior adviser to Newgate Communications.
CHRIS UHLMANN is one of Australia’s best known and most respected political broadcasters. He began his career in journalism at the Canberra Times as the world’s oldest copy-kid, after failed stints as a student priest, storeman and packer and security guard. He cohosted 666 ABC Canberra’s breakfast program before switching to federal parliament as ABC Radio’s chief political correspondent. He has anchored the flagship current affairs programs AM and 7.30, and in 2008 he won a Walkley Award for broadcast interviewing. He is now the ABC’s political editor.
PRAISE FOR STEVE LEWIS AND CHRIS UHLMANN
The Marmalade Files
‘The book’s blurb says it’s a romp through the “dark underbelly of politics” and for once the blurb doesn’t lie’ – News.com.au
‘It’s a fair bet that Canberra insiders and those beyond will drive themselves close to hallucination trying to figure out whether they are reading a tantalisation of fact or a facsimile of fiction’ – Tony Wright, Sydney Morning Herald
‘There is an eerie ring of reality’ – Daily Telegraph
‘A fast-paced political thriller that will appeal to any cynical observer of Australian politics’ – Adelaide Matters
‘Two prominent and seasoned Australian political journos have given us the best antidote to our current political drudgery by writing a delicious farce which will have you guessing who might be who. It’s gripping and funny’ – Manly Daily
‘Cynical, opinionated, lively gallop through the landscape of contemporary Australian politics’ – Sydney Morning Herald
‘a joy-ride through an all too recognisable federal parliament heaving with a cast that, initially at least, seems only slightly blurred by gender reassignment . . . Will it fill you with hope? Probably not. But it’s definitely fun’ – Weekend Australian
The Mandarin Code
‘A cracking read’ – Tony Abbott
‘Intelligent, rollicking entertainment’ – The Australian
‘This is fiction, but truth lurks behind every corner of it’ – Canberra Times
‘Uhlmann and Lewis are Australian federal journalists and the insider aspects of this political thriller ring true . . . there is plenty of action and the pace is quick’ – Newcastle Herald
‘A great “must-read”’ – Townsville Bulletin
‘Political insiders Steve Lewis and Chris Uhlmann bring biting wit and behind-the-headlines insight to this sharply observed novel . . . House of Cards, Canberra style’ – Sunday Canberra Times
‘For the sake of the nation, read’ – Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin
COPYRIGHT
Like all works of fiction, this story was inspired by events in the real world, but it is a work of fiction and none of the main characters in this book really exists and, more importantly, none of the acts attributed to these fictional characters ever took place. So please do not interpret anything that happens in this book as a real event that actually happened or that involved any person in the real world (whether living or now deceased).
HarperCollinsPublishers
First published in Australia in 2016
by HarperCollinsPublishers Australia Pty Limited
ABN 36 009 913 517
harpercollins.com.au
Copyright © Steve Lewis and Chris Uhlmann 2016
The right of Steve Lewis and Chris Uhlmann to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted by them in acco
rdance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000.
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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ISBN: 978 1 4607 5125 1 (paperback)
ISBN: 978 1 4607 0584 1 (ebook)
Lewis, Steve, author.
The Shadow Game / Steve Lewis and Chris Uhlmann.
Journalists – Fiction.
Satire, Australian – 21st century.
Australia – Politics and government – Fiction.
Other Creators/Contributors: Uhlmann, Chris, author.
A823.4
Cover design by Darren Holt, HarperCollins Design Studio
Cover photograph by David Messent / Getty Images; background images by shutterstock.com
Author photograph by Gary Ramage, News Ltd