The Fourth Estate

“Good. Because you’ve now got ten years in which to consolidate Global and make it into one of the most conservative and respected institutions in its field. Don’t forget, that was stage five of our original agreement.”

“I will never forget,” said Townsend. “And I shall be eternally grateful to you, Elizabeth, not only for saving my company, but me along with it.”

“It’s been a pleasure to help,” said E.B., “but I won’t feel my job has been completed until I

hear your company described, especially by your detractors, as blue chip.”

He nodded solemnly as she bent down, flicked open her briefcase and removed a stack of credit cards. She passed them across to him.

“Thank you,” he said.

A flicker of a smile appeared on her lips. She rose from her chair and offered an outstretched hand across the table. Townsend shook it. “I hope we’ll meet again soon,” he said as he accompanied her to the door.

“I hope not,” said E.B. “I don’t think I want to be put through that particular mangle a second time.”

When they reached Heather’s office, E.B. turned to face him. For a moment Townsend considered kissing her on the cheek, but then thought better of it. He remained by Heather’s desk as E.B. shook hands with his secretary in the same formal way. She glanced in Townsend’s direction, nodded and left without another word.

“Some lady, that,” said Townsend, staring at the closed door.

“That’s for sure,” said Heather wistfully. “She even taught me one or two things about you.”

Townsend was about to ask what they could possibly be when Heather added, “Shall I call the White House back?”

“Yes, straight away. I’d completely forgotten. When I’ve finished with him, get me Kate.”

As Townsend returned to his office, Elizabeth stood in the corridor, waiting for one of the six lifts to arrive at the top floor. She was in a hurry to get to the bank and clear her desk—she hadn’t spent a weekend at home for the past month, and had promised her husband that she would be back in time to see their daughter perform the role of Gwendolen in the school play. When a lift finally reached the executive level, she stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor just as another lift door opened on the other side of the corridor. But the doors closed before she could see who it was who had leaped out and run off in the direction of Townsend’s office.

The lift stopped at the forty-first floor, and E.B. was joined by three young men who continued their animated conversation as if she wasn’t there. When one of them mentioned Armstrong’s name, she began to pay closer attention. She couldn’t believe what they were saying. Every time the lift stopped and new people came in, she picked up a fresh piece of information.

A breathless Tom came rushing into Heather’s office. All he said was, “Is he in?”

“Yes, Mr. Spencer,” she replied. “He’s just finished speaking to the President. Why don’t you go straight through?”

Tom walked toward the executive suite and threw open the door just as Townsend completed dialing a number on his private phone. “Have you heard the news?” he gasped.

“Yes,” said Townsend, looking up. “I was just phoning Kate to let her know that Pierson’s agreed to extend the loan.”

“I’m delighted to hear it. But that’s not news, it’s history,” said Tom, falling into the seat E.B. had recently vacated.

“What do you mean?” asked Townsend. “I only heard it myself a few minutes ago.”

A voice came on the line and said, “Hello, Kate Townsend.”

“I mean, have you heard about Armstrong?”

“Armstrong? No, what’s he been up to now?” asked Townsend, ignoring the phone.

“Hello,” Kate repeated. “Is anyone there?”

“He’s committed suicide,” said Tom.

“Is that you, Keith?” said Kate.

“He’s done what?” said Townsend, dropping the receiver back in place.

“It seems he was lost at sea for several hours, and some fishermen have just picked up his body off the coast of Sardinia.”

“Armstrong dead?” Townsend swiveled his chair round, and for a few moments just stared out of the window over Fifth Avenue. “And to think my mother outlived him,” he said eventually.