by Mark Stanley
"And eighty pence sir." The operative just stared through the glass at Danny and shook his head in disgust. Me? I was smiling, but only inside.
"Thank you sir."
Said to Tom as he paid with a house credit card, once done the tickets were dispensed by a machine and we were ready, but not before the operative had the last word.
"You gentlemen." Pointing at me, Tom and Tony. "Can wait in my waiting room, but you?" Pointing at Danny. "Can go outside and get fucking wet, now piss off!"
We all went outside as we had to cross over a footbridge to the London bound platform. I looked down as we walked across and saw that there was a small waiting room, seemingly already full of customers which was confirmed as we walked past it.
"The first class seats are at the front Danny." As I led the way past the crowded waiting room and a little further down the platform. It was a miserable day and the race goers flocking to another sold out day at Royal Ascot, were in for a wretched time. There was an automated announcement.
"Stand well back from the edge on platform two, the approaching train isn't scheduled to stop at this station."
Danny was still bitter about the tickets. He was talking but I wasn't listening. Tom was facing the footbridge and the waiting room, as Tony was facing the opposite direction to the London Road, where the barriers had just lowered to stop the traffic so that the train could pass unimpeded.
"...And another thing, it's a licence to print money, I wish it were so easy..."
I could see the train as it sped towards us.
"...Of course they wouldn't dare, haven't got the balls for it..."
It was all about timing and I timed it to perfection, a hearty shove and Danny flew under the train.
Chapter 21
"And we're going to now switch to Manchester to hear the official announcement from Jenny Watson who's the Chief Counting Officer for this EU Referendum."
The picture changed and a bespectacled woman standing at a lectern in Manchester Town Hall appeared.
"I hereby give notice that I have certified the following. The total number of ballot papers counted, was 33,577,342. The total number of votes cast in favour of Remain was 16,141, 241. The total number of votes cast in favour of Leave was 17,410,742. This means that the UK has voted to leave the European Union..." The amount of 'spoiled' ballot papers was lost in the melee that followed as the Leave supporters made their joy heard. I again muted the TV and sat lost in my own, completely selfish thoughts.
Shell-shocked wouldn't even come close to how I was feeling. It was a little after 7 o'clock and I'd been sitting in my office most of the night as the results came in. The night had started positively but that hadn't lasted, as area after area voted to leave, shit! I'd muted the television as I spoke with various people in and out of Government and then when I didn't think it could get any worse my phone rang, 'Number Withheld', flashed up on the screen.
"Hello?"
"Christopher will resign in ten minutes."
"WHAT! Who is this?" The phone disconnected and I tried to place the voice but to no avail. As I sat mulling over the call, the TV pictures changed to show yet another lectern, this time in Downing Street, outside of Number 10 the Prime Minister official residence, the door opened and out came Christopher, accompanied by his wife Sara. I switched the sound back on and listen to a speech that made what had gone before even more shocking, here he was announcing his resignation and all I could do was weep.
"Lord Stanley, can we have a reaction to the vote and also to the Prime Minister resignation?" I did contemplate, just for a split second, getting back into the car and going home. Of course I knew that there was going to be a welcoming committee at the office, my PA Grace had telephoned me as I flew into the heliport. I also knew what the likely questions would be and what answers they were hoping for, but even that didn't make it any easier. As I exited the car I could see that there were perhaps thirty journalists and cameramen, with a forced smile I stopped and answered the first question.
"I campaigned to stay in the European Union because I believe and continue to believe that it is the best option for the UK, but we live in a democracy and many generations have fought and died for us to be able to have the freedom to vote as we feel fit and so I congratulate the successful Leave campaign and hope that the whole country will come together, setting aside the way that individuals voted, so that we may meet the many challenges that this vote has set for us as a United Kingdom."
"And your reaction to the Prime Minister resignation?"
"Personally, I'm deeply saddened that he feels that he has had to resign. Christopher Weeks has been a very accomplished Prime Minister. He has led this country through one of the most difficult recessions that has ever been witnessed and bought us out on the other side, fit, able and prepared to do business. He has tried to heal the divisions that exist in our society and he has fought to end inequality and to establish new initiatives to help the sick, needy and low paid. I think and hope that history will be very kind to him and see that he was not only an honourable man but also a trustworthy one who put the interests of the people of this great nation to the forefront."
"Will you be standing in the election to replace him?"
"I think Constitutionally it would be extremely difficult for me to stand for election. Convention dictates that since 1911, the Prime Minister should be elected and be a sitting Member of Parliament and I don't qualify on any basis.”
“Would you consider renouncing your title and standing for the by-election that will be called?”
“ If you'll forgive me I have lots to do but thank you for taking the time to come and see me." At that I smiled, allowing Tom & Ade to guide me through the barrier that the press had formed. Ignoring more questions and keeping a smile firmly in place as we got to the steps and made our escape into the building.
If I was shell-shocked then it would be fair to say that this was reflected in the staff demeanour. The vote to leave had caught us by and large by surprise and there were many worried faces as I made my way down to the Boardroom. It was a planned meeting, similar to ones taking place in lots of businesses as Directors assess the likely impact on their own individual companies. I opened the door and joined the occupants who were mostly standing drinking coffee awaiting my arrival. Normally board meetings are held for each individual company but today it seemed appropriate, given that both companies are facing similar issues, that we have a joint one.
"Good morning everyone. Can we start, there's much to get through..."
The meeting lasted up to lunch when I had to bring it to a close as my mobile phone was going into meltdown with the amount of calls, messages and emails that were being delivered. I left the Boardroom and made my way down the hallway to my own office, stopping off to speak with Grace my lead PA and asking for half an hour so that I could return the most urgent of calls.
"Mark, Lady Brompton is most insistent that you ring her immediately?"
I nodded and smiled as I took the urgent slips from Grace and went into the office, for once ensuring that the door was closed behind me.
"...Listen, but do not commit. We need to smoke them out and see who's going to be standing and it's for them, after all, it's them that want you, to make the running."
"When will we know?"
"I spoke with Ian Day the Cabinet Secretary and he says that nominations will close next Thursday. The following Tuesday the MP's begin voting and when they've whittled the protagonists down to two, those two have a run-off in September when the Conservative Membership votes. The winner is then announced and the United Kingdom will have their new PM."
"Who do you envisage standing?"
"Henry Laws, James Edwards, Patricia Wells, will all be standing plus a few others and it's those that we're most interested in. Deals will need to be done to gain support and to add weight to their own campaign. You'll be in demand, both as a supporter and ally as well as potentially standing yourself."
"B
ut how can that be so? Since 1911..."
"I know what the Constitution says but there are ways and means to make anything and everything happen in politics, that's why it's very important that you give the interviews to all of the media? By all means quote 1911 but we'll only be using it as a smoke screen. This election will be bloody and treachery will be at every turn as people try and manoeuvre themselves into the best possible position to launch themselves towards the stewardship of this Country."
"When will you be back?"
"I'll judge the moment, if indeed the moment actually arrives, because I’m less than certain that you should get embroiled in the melee which will undoubtedly follow this catastrophic vote. Mark, we’ve come a long way and we can’t afford for you to get tainted, it may well be that after due consideration we forego this opportunity and take the moral high ground, allowing the protagonists to commit political suicide. I have to be back for the Inquest on the 6th July and so I shall be active in the background. I do so wish Danny were here to help steady the ship.”
The elephant in the room had just made its appearance. Neither of us had mentioned Danny's death of a week ago and now...
"How are you?"
"This has been a very welcome distraction and I've not had chance to dwell or even to morn since his death, which is just as well. Anyway we need to get on, speak with the media and remember, commit to nothing."
The daily post arrived and after sifting Grace presented me with the items that required my attention.
“Mark, a courier delivered this.” She held a padded envelope in her hand.
“Who’s it from?”
“I don’t know it’s marked ‘Highly Confidential Addressee Only’.
I took the envelope from Grace. “Has it been scanned?”
“Of course, but it appears to only contain a disk.”
At Tom Wilson’s insistence, everything and everybody that enters this building is now scanned.
I was slightly confused. “A disk?”
She nodded.
“Okay, thank you Grace.”
I opened the package and sure enough it contained just a disk, a rewritable DVD, the sort you sometimes use for backup of data, nothing else, no note, no explanation, just a disk.
I was about to put it into my computer when Ludo arrived and so I slipped it into my briefcase for viewing later.
"And how's Victoria?"
"How would you think Ludo?"
"Accusatory?"
I didn't answer for even I, her husband, didn't know how my own wife was feeling. If her demeanour was anything to go by there was a storm raging somewhere within and I would at some stage be forced to seek shelter but for now we were in the 'eye' and it was reasonably calm, but that gave no indication of what would undoubtedly follow.
"The markets are in some flux at the moment?"
"It'll ebb and flow, stock markets hate uncertainty, still we seem pretty well set wouldn't you say?"
"I think that the precautions we took have been vindicated, but opportunities will arise in the next few days, weeks and months and we need to be alert as these chances may not appear again."
"A bit like when the recession hit for I think there were only you and Brompton’s buying."
It was true, the expansion of the company had its roots set in disaster and our ability, through good housekeeping, to expand when all around were contracting gave us the impetus to attain the next level and it was the next level that I was hoping we would attain during the inevitable fall-out that would accompany the Referendum.
"Are you going to run for PM?"
I shook my head. "It's not that simple as throwing one's hat into the ring, there are all manner of obstacles and it's a case of waiting. Anyway I'm not even sure that I want it, what with the current job at the UN and now the additional demands on the companies, I think I've enough going on."
"Come on old boy, it's me you're talking to not The Times! What does the puppeteer in France say?"
"Melissa is...active."
"I've no doubt that she is, but what is she saying?"
"Not to commit. Wait and see how things develop. Wait for the approach to be made by others and to see who will be Judas Iscariot, for there is always a Judas hiding amongst them."
"It'll be Henry."
"No it won't."
"Why so sure?"
"Just a feeling."
"You should go to the doctors and see if they have some cream you can use…"
My phone buzzed and I picked it up.
"Mark, it's Patricia Wells on line four?"
I took a deep breath and picked up the handset.
"Patricia, how are you? What can I do for you?"
"Hello Mark. I was wondering if we could have a meeting, a rather discreet meeting, away from the prying eyes and wagging tongues, I think it would prove to be very beneficial..."
As the day wore on, others rang to try and strike alliances and to figure out what I was going to do. I was being cast in the role of 'King Maker' and I wasn't sure that I wanted the job.
My relationship with Victoria had, in the last few days become strained. She had taken the death of her Father much worse than I had thought she would. Her relationship with him had been…difficult and she had often expressed her dislike of his business tactics and his dealings with her and so I had expected her not to welcome his death with expressions of joy, but not one of devastation. I couldn’t give her my full attention as the wheels of political manoeuvring were…exhausting. In Party elections there are always the players and the make-weights, to my mind and that of the Press, there were four players and the pressure for me to throw my hat into the ring had been building but, as was Melissa’s wish, I had done nothing. As I arrived home I was immediately distracted by Lulu wanting to see how I felt about going on tour with the England hockey team.
“But I thought that wasn’t until later in the year?”
“It is but they want to know if I’ll be available?”
“I’m not sure Lulu, it’s your final year before your GSCE exams and distractions might…”
“I can manage Daddy and Mummy says that she thinks it’s super for me to be asked.”
Our discussion was interrupted by as my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Mark, its Henry, can I see you, possibly this evening?”
“Can’t it wait Henry I’ve only just got home?”
“I’m in the car and can be with you in fifteen minutes? Please Mark I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t urgent.”
“Very well.”
So the final serious candidate was seeking an urgent meeting.
“…So will you join me on this crusade?”
“Crusades don’t generally end very well Henry and the idea of becoming Deputy PM isn’t enthralling to me.”
“But you’d be there, right at the epicentre of Government. Imagine it you and me, we could do so much together and then, when I decided that I’ve had enough, I can move out knowing that you’ll have all of the experience to drive the country forward”
The door opened and Victoria appeared.
“I’m going to go up, goodnight Henry.”
“Goodnight Victoria. Sorry for keeping Mark away from you tonight but…needs must.”
See smiled and shut the door.
“She seems distracted Mark?”
“Danny’s death has been a shock for all of us.”
“Couldn’t have been more welcomed in Westminster. He was a dangerous man alive but l suspect that his widow will be even more dangerous now that he’s dead.”
“Really?”
“Oh come on Mark, we all know it’s Melissa that drives that bus, Danny was just the foil but the real power, the manipulation, the control is all Melissa, they’ve even nicknamed her the Black Widow in the Cabinet Office.”
He laughed at the joke, well for Henry it was a humdinger but I wasn’t amused.
“So will join my crusade?”
“I need to
think it over.”
“You’ve had other offers?”
“I’ve been approached.”
“By?”
“That would be telling.” I stood up to signal that this meeting was well and truly at an end. “I’ll mull your offer over and be in touch, say by the end of the weekend.”
Henry left and I went into my office and ruminated over what had been discussed, there was much to ponder but how could I be so stupid. I’d been firmly under the impression that Danny was the problem and all along it’s been Melissa.
Monday morning I was up and out very early as sleep and I had become complete strangers. Arriving at the office a little before 7.30am I was still trying to assimilate all of the comings and goings of the last few days. Offers had been made, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, Deputy PM but I didn’t want any of them and I was more determined than ever that I wasn’t going to be railroaded by Melissa or anyone else into taking one of the jobs. The weekend papers had been full of speculation as candidates leaked potential running mates, the only problem was that I finished up being associated with four of the six potential candidates and still the pressure mounted for me to join them. The polls suggested that if I did, I would be the overwhelming favourite but polls are notoriously unreliable.
Victoria continued to be...remote and the weekend had been difficult but for the sake of the children we’d come together. Danny’s funeral couldn’t take place until after the Inquest had been heard and a verdict arrived at to allow a death certificate to be issued, that was due to take place on Friday with the funeral earmarked for the following Friday and so things were hardly likely to improve in the short term.
“Ah you’re in early, do I smell the odour of politics?”
“What do you want Ludo?”
“Information dear boy, if I can’t get it from you first hand who can? Me, who has held your hand over the years, I deserve to be in front of the crowd when your future is being discussed.”
“Shut the door.”