Deceit

by Richard Evans

  ‘I had the chance to get a front-page by-line, and now your mob will be plastered all over the first eight pages.’

  ‘You can still run with the story.’

  ‘It’s only wild speculation now that the legislation wasn’t passed; the story is in the bin.’ Anita proffered her flimsy cup for more sparkling wine. Messenger obliged with a splash that sent a foam rinse over her hand. ‘What happens now?’

  ‘We go to a general election, and hopefully we come back as the government in a month.’

  ‘Would you still send the money to the Indonesians?’

  ‘Probably, since it’s part of our policy, ironically.’ Messenger pushed back on the legs of his chair, putting a foot on Anita’s desk. ‘We will guarantee to pay the stimulus package before Christmas to nullify it as an election issue, and when we come back to the parliament, we will scrutinise the funds going offshore a little more rigorously than we did this time.’

  ‘So you could be deputy prime minister in a month?’

  ‘Seems that I could be, yes. Would that be a problem for you?’ ‘Not at all.’ Anita smiled. ‘The question really is, will I be a problem for you?’

  ‘You already are.’

  ‘So no exclusives then?’ Anita teased.

  ‘I can absolutely guarantee to be exclusive,’ Messenger laughed. ‘If you’re interested.’

  The sun was warm on Gordon’s face as he sat on a bench outside the staff cafeteria. The sound of children squealing and laughing in the nearby parliamentary childcare centre, oblivious to the fact that history had just been made, didn’t disturb him. He was enjoying his moment of solitude. His phone buzzed incessantly with calls and text messages that he had ignored for the almost two hours he had been peacefully sitting there.

  ‘Gordon?’ A hesitant Paige Alexander approached. ‘Are you okay?’ ‘Come and sit with me, Paige,’ Gordon beckoned her closer. ‘Did you know the Regent Honeyeater is almost extinct from the Canberra region?’

  Paige sat tentatively, slightly concerned for her boss. ‘No, I didn’t know that.’

  ‘Yes, it has a distinctive call.’ Gordon was staring off into the distance. ‘And there is one right there in that tree down the hill, do you see it?

  Paige followed his pointing arm, but could see nothing. ‘No.’ ‘Anthochaera phrygia is a rare one, critically endangered as it happens.’ Gordon still gazed off into the distance. ‘It feeds on nectar and insects within eucalyptus forests, so I wonder what it is doing here?’

  Paige tried harder to find it. ‘That yellow bird, in the tree?’

  ‘Well, it is only yellow tipped, but yes, that’s it.’

  ‘And it’s endangered?’

  ‘Around here it is. Just like me, I suppose.’

  ‘Gordon, I’ve come to get you. There are heaps of messages for you.

  There are a lot of people waiting to see you in the office.’

  ‘No doubt there are, young Paige.’ Gordon stood slowly, stretching as he did to ease his stiff legs and shoulders. ‘No doubt there are.’

  ‘So, come on. Let’s go face the music.’ Paige, cheery as ever, wanted her boss to attend the office, as he always did, to administer the business of the parliament.

  ‘I think I shall go home now; there’s nothing left for me to do here.’ Gordon smiled and began walking down the grassed hill, toward the tree with the Regent Honeyeater. ‘My work is done.’

  ‘Gordon?’ Paige called after him. ‘Gordon? Tell me what to do.’

  But O’Brien had already left – and there was nothing more he wanted to do.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  The challenge in completing a project like this can be a lonely life riddled with self-renunciation and doubt, but I am indebted to a team of terrific folks who helped me overcome this anguish.

  Nick Brown is the author of the Agent of Rome series and is based in England; we workshopped the story and he recommended various structural changes, including additional chapters. I appreciated his advice and confidence and his learned guidance helped enormously.

  As a storyteller, I need an editorial partner to help me turn written passion into absorbing sentences, so my collaboration with the brilliant Nan McNab has provided me immense assurance and I remain truly grateful for her work on the manuscript. As it happens we crossed paths at primary school, such is the small world in which we live, and I have enjoyed her advice and recommendations.

  I am indebted to my team of beta readers who provided feedback with enthusiasm and in some cases incisive criticism. Patty Kavadias, Jayden James, Denise Klemm, Phil Barassi, and my brother Peter Evans, have contributed greatly to the project. I especially acknowledge Ann and Michael Keaney for their wholesome enthusiasm, advice and friendship.

  Writers Victoria have also helped me with manuscript assessment and I encourage anyone considering the writing journey to join your local or national association, as they provide excellent services. I also appreciated being recommended for their patron support program in 2017.

  The team at Ventura Press and Impact Press have been enthusiastic and I particularly thank founder and publisher, Jane Curry, Eleanor Reader, Zoe Hale and Megan English.

  It is vital to have strong family support when working on writing projects and I wish to acknowledge mine for their insight, humour and advice during this project. Julia, Anthony, Kaitlyn and Taylor have all said they would read it once published, so please contact your local bookshop and place an order.

  Finally, let me acknowledge the many folks I have met during my political and business career who have all helped shape my imagination, my creativity and in some cases the stories I draw upon when writing about politics. The journey has been a pleasure to share with you.

  DUPLICITY

  The second book in the Democracy Trilogy

  The Mercantiles, a long-established, clandestine group of high-taxpaying business owners have grown frustrated by Prime Minister Andrew Gerrard’s failure to meet promises, and decide the nation needs a change of government at the upcoming election. Supporting the opposition, they call upon experienced and ruthless political operative Jonathan Hawk to organise their election campaign, and successfully defeat the prime minister.

  Although Hawk suspects the opposition has little chance of winning, he trusts his proven strategy of local political campaigning and initiates a grassroots community campaign. He guides – and at times forcefully intimidates – the opposition to act as directed, but cannot control their new mistake-prone leader Peter Stanley, who continues to make significant blunders, destroying any campaign impetus.

  Realising he cannot win the election this way, Hawk initiates an explosive campaign designed to remove the prime minister by defeating him in his own electorate using an independent candidate. Tapping into the communities’ latent anxiety over immigration policy, the community is subjected to violent demonstrations, triggering increased racist attacks. Ironically, the candidate Hawk supports – and strategically manipulates to drive the campaign against the prime minister – is Indian immigrant and university professor, Jaya Rukhmani.

  Investigative journalist Anita Devlin is appointed by her editor to promote the Stanley campaign as the publishing owner, unknown to her, is a member of the Mercantiles. She is directed to write positive articles and feature stories about Stanley, but soon discovers the nefarious Hawk strategically working the campaign, and endeavours to expose his influence and manipulation.

  COMING SOON!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Richard Evans served as a federal politician in the Australian national parliament, providing him with unique insider experiences and knowledge when writing about the art of power and persuasion in politics, and the quirky folks who wish to lead, or perhaps mislead, the electorate. His life as a storyteller started in high school selling his latest short story to his mates, and his eclectic career includes service as a business owner, industry leadership, corporate executive, semi pro-footballer and actor. As a media commentator, he provided e
xpert opinion on politics, economy and business policy.

  Richard is happily married and has three children. He lives in the small bayside village of Williamstown, overlooking Melbourne, Australia.

  For more information about his other books, visit:

  www.richardevans-author.com