The Fourth Estate

Sally’s immediate reaction was to contact the accounts department at Armstrong House to try and find out why she hadn’t received her final paycheck. She was kept waiting for some time before the senior accountant came on the line.

“When can I expect last month’s paycheck, Fred?” she asked. “It’s more than two weeks overdue.”

“I know, but I’m afraid I’ve been given instructions not to issue it, Sally.”

“Why not?” she asked. “It’s no more than I’m entitled to.”

“I realize that,” said Fred, “but…”

“But what?”

“It seems there was a breakage during your final week which you’ve been billed for. A fine bone china Staffordshire coffee set, I was told.”

“The bastard,” said Sally. “I wasn’t even in the room when he smashed it.”

“And he’s also deducted two days’ wages for taking time off during office hours.”

“But he knows very well that he told me to keep out of the way himself, so that he could…”

“We all know that, Sally. But he’s no longer prepared to listen.”

“I know, Fred,” she said. “It’s not your fault. I appreciate the risk you’re taking by even speaking to me, so thank you.” She hung up, and just sat at the kitchen table staring into space. When she picked up the telephone again an hour later she asked to be put through to the international operator.

In Sydney, Heather put her head round the door. “There’s a reverse-charge call for you from London,” she said. “A Mrs. Sally Carr. Will you take it?”

* * *

Sally flew into Sydney two days later. Sam picked her up from the airport. After a night’s rest the debriefing began. At a cost of $5,000, Townsend had employed a former head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization to conduct the interview. By the end of the week Sally was drained, and Townsend wondered if there was anything else he could possibly know about Richard Armstrong.

On the day she was due to fly back to England, he offered her a full-time job in his London office. “Thank you, Mr. Townsend,” she replied as he handed her a check for $25,000, but added, with the sweetest of smiles, “I’ve spent almost half my life working for one monster, and after a week with you, I don’t think I want to spend the rest of it working for another one.”

After Sam had taken Sally to the airport, Townsend and Kate spent hours listening to the tapes. They agreed on one thing: if he was to have any chance of purchasing the remaining shares in the Globe, he had to get to Margaret Sherwood before Armstrong did. She was the key to gaining control of 100 percent of the company.

Once Sally had explained why Armstrong had bid a million francs for an egg at an auction in Geneva, all Townsend needed to discover was the equivalent of Peter Carl Fabergé for Mrs. Margaret Sherwood.

Kate jumped out of bed in the middle of the night, and started playing tape number three. A drowsy Keith raised his head from the pillow when he heard the words “the senator’s mistress.”

25.

Ocean Times

6 June 1967

WELCOME ABOARD!

Keith landed at Kingston airport four hours before the liner was due to dock. He checked through customs and took a taxi to the Cunard booking office on the dockside. A man in a smart white uniform, with a little too much gold braid for a booking clerk, asked if he could be of assistance.

“I’d like to reserve a first class cabin on the Queen Elizabeth’s voyage to New York,” said Townsend. “My aunt is already on board taking her annual cruise, and I was wondering if there might be a cabin available somewhere near her.”

“And what is your aunt’s name?” asked the booking clerk.

“Mrs. Margaret Sherwood,” Townsend replied.

A finger ran down the passenger list. “Ah, yes. Mrs. Sherwood has the Trafalgar Suite as usual. It’s on level three. We only have one first class cabin still available on that level, but it’s not far from her.” The booking clerk unrolled a large-scale layout of the ship and pointed to two boxes, the second of which was considerably larger than the first.

“Couldn’t be better,” said Townsend, and passed over one of his credit cards.

“Shall we let your aunt know that you’ll be joining the ship?” the booking clerk asked helpfully.