A Conspiracy of Friends: A Corduroy Mansions Novel by Smith Alexander McCall

Author:Smith, Alexander McCall [Smith, Alexander McCall]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Humour, Contemporary, Mystery, Adult
ISBN: 9780307907240
Amazon: 0307907244
Goodreads: 13531694
Publisher: Anchor
Published: 2010-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

36. An Unrevealed Source

IF FREDDIE WAS about to venture into the unknown, then so too was Barbara Ragg. What she did next was nothing to do with her recent discovery of her gypsy roots, although that revelation had certainly left her feeling quite light-headed; this, rather, was the result of the decision she had already taken to bring Oedipus Snark’s political career to an end. Or, if she could not end it entirely, then she could at least lead it down an alley from which it might never emerge. She had not discussed this plan with anybody—she did not want to talk to Hugh about a former boyfriend—and so she had received no advice about it. Had she sought such counsel, of course, it might well have urged caution: Oedipus Snark was a formidable opponent with a reputation for the ruthless pursuit of self-interest; not for nothing, people said, was he known as the only nasty Lib Dem MP in recent history. But now it was too late for such reservations, and even though the journalist to whom she had spoken warned her of the possible consequences, she felt that she had gone too far to back-track.

The journalist she had approached was a client of the Ragg Porter Agency. Tom Maxwell was the deputy editor of a popular daily, and a widely read political columnist. Some years earlier he had uncovered a circle of influential freemasons who had been using connections to secure contracts. He had published a book on the subject, which had led to parliamentary questions and an official inquiry. He had used the Ragg Porter Agency to negotiate publication, and it was in this context that he had come across Barbara. They got on well, and she had even wondered at one point if their friendship might become something more. But Tom was not interested; there was somebody, she found out—a woman in Amsterdam whom he had known for years and with whom he lived sporadically. Barbara’s being aware of this woman at least made things easier for her; she could meet Tom and enjoy his friendship without the complication that romantic possibility inserts into any relationship.

They met early one morning in a coffee bar off Brook Street. Tom had an interview to conduct at the Dorchester—he was due to talk to a visiting German businessman who was circling an ailing drinks company and whose real intentions had yet to be uncovered.

“There’s a possibility that he would just close it down,” he said. “It would be one way of knocking out the competition.”

“And throw how many people out of work?” asked Barbara.

Tom shrugged. “Three hundred, give or take a few.”

“Awful,” said Barbara.

Tom sighed. “Yes, but that’s capitalism for you. Money doesn’t sit in a hole, you know.”

“And what does that mean?”

“It means that money has to work, or it’s not doing its job. And being used to buy things—including companies—is part of that work.”

Barbara did not approve. “And one just ignores the human consequences?”

Tom sighed again. “One does not ignore them.

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