In For a Penny, In For a Pound by Tim Waterstone

Author:Tim Waterstone [WATERSTONE, TIM]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature
ISBN: 9780857891372
Publisher: Atlantic Books Ltd
Published: 2010-01-08T16:00:00+00:00

12

Hugh had known Adrian Wate since their schooldays together, though not well. But his patience finally snapped on reading a further piece in the Post’s diary column the following day, hinting at a rumour that Emerson’s financial state was once more precarious, and he picked up the telephone to speak to him, and was put straight through.

He attempted some introductory small talk, having not seen Wate for several years, but found himself too angry to sustain it. ‘I’m not a complainer normally, but what on earth are you people up to, Adrian? What does the Post think they are doing with me? That’s four stupid, vindictive, sniping little diary pieces in rapid succession, and I don’t understand why.’

There was silence for a moment.

‘Yes, I’ve seen them. They have been a little rich, I agree with you. But you know how we run things at Consolidated Press, Hugh. Each of the papers is a law unto itself and has its own market niche and style. We have almost no central input into editorial policy, except in major matters of strategic direction. I may be Managing Director of the Group, but I’m pretty impotent in these sorts of areas, and that’s the way the board wants it. I don’t blame you for complaining though. I’d do the same. But to be honest with you, Hugh, there’s very little I can do.’

But Hugh persevered. ‘Much of this stuff is actionable, you know that. I’m not a litigious man, but the way I’m feeling at the moment I’m going to go for Consolidated if this stuff doesn’t stop. That’s four stories, and no doubt there’s more to follow.’

Hugh sensed Wate hesitating, and weakening.

‘I can’t tell them to drop you as a diary target, Hugh, I just can’t do that. The Post’s readers love this sort of gossip about people with a public profile, as you well know. You and I might deplore it personally, but people like us are not the readership. I could tell them to be careful, I suppose, but that would probably do more harm than good.’

‘I find that difficult to accept, Adrian, I really do. Put yourself in my shoes.’

‘I am putting myself in your shoes and, as I’ve explained, there’s nothing I can do.’

‘I’m sorry to be persistent, but I’m not prepared to let this continue.’

There was a silence, and Hugh deliberately left it unbroken. Then, reluctantly, Wate said, ‘Well, there’s one thing I could do, I suppose, if I handled it very carefully. I might just about risk that, for old times’ sake. But, I don’t know, even that might be too . . . You know, Hugh, your famous friendship with Ned Macaulay makes things a little more difficult for me, if you don’t mind me saying so. Rival newspapers, all’s fair in love and war, you know how it goes. But I suppose I might just about risk asking . . .’

He drifted away, clearly thinking it out.

‘Asking what, Adrian?’

‘Well, I suppose I might be able to find out who’s feeding them the material, in a roundabout sort of way.

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