Scene Ten

Neil Haughton's mouth was set in a cold thin line. He had considered for some months that one of the greatest threats to the government's vision wasn't the obvious target of the trade unions, much though some of his fellow ministers pretended to cosy up to their leaders for old times sake. As a one time advertising man, he had been attracted to the party by its clean and ruthless image of efficiency so that he had no lingering sentimentalities. He had come to consider that the judges posed as great a threat as anyone. It was true that he had never warmed to them, viewing them as snobbish, pedantic and obstructionist. They could never see that their specialist skills should be more attuned to the government's vision but acted as if they were a policy-making unit of their own.

Most of all, his enmity was directed at Deed who was gaining influence amongst the other judges. The man was a Bolshevik dressed up in judges robes and it was obvious to him that the man posed a threat, both personal and political. For a start, he got on better with George than was customary for an ex husband and for another, he seemed bent in seeking to bring down the government and himself personally. There was that unsettling mocking glint in his eyes every time they met while George's smile of greeting to him was too free and too open. He was uneasy lest his partner was too attracted to Deed because of his unredeemed badness. He knew enough of women to be worried that they had these illogical unaccountable impulses. Surely his hard working virtue and dedication ought to be recognized.

His disastrous address to the Annual General Meeting of the Police Federation had clinched his decision. The best that could be said was that the execution took place behind closed doors with no newshounds or TV crews on hand to record it. As he had feared, that wretched Wade appeal was brought up with some hard questioning about how she was allowed to just walk through the justice system and bamboozle three gullible judges while his barrister was about as effective in a fire as a chocolate fireguard. They forcibly represented to him that she shouldn't have been allowed to get let out of prison, after murdering one of their own, first time around. To add insult to injury, she was allowed a clean slate, which should not have happened. All the representatives reported that their members were up in arms about the decision and had expected better of him. What was the use of their members exposing themselves to danger, day in day out, while they were allowed to escape justice, left right and center? The worst part of the questioning that he entirely agreed with their sentiments and couldn't really say that in so many words in case word got out to his colleagues. He was put in the insufferable position of appearing weak kneed and ineffectual and that he was being blamed personally. This was the entirely opposite image he had wanted to put over when he first took on this job. For once in his life, he heartily wished he'd taken the quietly worded advice to drink a quick Scotch before he went up on the platform as his nerves were reduced to shreds.

"Had a good day, darling?" George greeted her partner, offering her cheek to be kissed with a false smile on her face.

"Today has been as dismal as addressing the Police Federation AG M. I was hauled over the coals for being soft on the judiciary and they are right. Therefore, I shall be introducing a bill to severely curtail the powers of the judges. A government think tank has been working on the problem for months and has come up with the answers. All that is needed is to reinforce and extend the current sentencing guidelines, to instruct judges on the proper interpretation of the Human Rights Act and make provisions for parliamentary overview of cases where there are 'public opinion sensitivities at stake.' After all, we pass new laws every day. Who better than parliament to take some control of the reins?"

George was aghast. Every instinct of warning jangled in her head. Neil was beaming fatuously as he hadn't got a care in the world. Her whole world was tilting dangerously on its axis and a tape kept rerunning through her mind of John's venomous denunciation of that 'power mad' politician which she had publicly scorned. Now, most alarming of all, it appeared that that infuriating ex husband of hers might be right all along. Unusually for her, there was a time lag between thought and word. When she did speak, her words rushed out like a torrent.

"Are you absolutely mad, Neil? Just what in heaven do you think you'll achieve with this bill?" George stormed at Neil. He thought she would understand his position and sympathise with him. He couldn't have got it more wrong.

"The complete subjection of those judges to the government's vision. They are just a load of highly paid irresponsible trouble makers," he said testily.

"Do you really think that they will just roll over and accept the rule of that high and mighty Neil Haughton? They are tougher than that, I warn you," came George's steely reply. She was conscious that Daddy had come to loathe and despise the man and knew how tough he could be. After all, it was obvious to her just what genes had been passed on to her.

"They brought it on themselves," was Haughton's sanctimonious reply." I have been willing at any time to reach an accommodation with them if both sides are reasonable. That dratted Wade appeal was the final straw. I tell you that that judgment was a deliberate insult and an open challenge to the government's policy on being 'tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.'

"I've met her, in case you didn't know," George countered in ominous tones." I have to admit that the woman is intelligent and I am not altogether sure that she doesn't have something of a case now I come to think about it. I wouldn't underrate her."

"I didn't know you met her," Neil Haughton said furiously," You should have told me. I didn't think that you were in the habit of meeting dangerous criminals when I as Home Office minister could have guaranteed you protection."

"I could handle the situation quite well enough on my own, darling." George sprung back with a form of address that rang hollow." As it happened, Neil, Ian, Lawrence James and I were having a first class row with John over the case. We didn't notice her until she stepped in."

"You mean she had the nerve to argue with two highly important officials in the LCD and you, my partner and such an inspiration to the legal profession.

George rolled her eyes in exasperation at the transparent falsity of the man. It was if she had been delivered a bouquet of plastic flowers. All her hidden reservations about the man started to flood out of her subconscious. The question started to hammer repeatedly at her mind, what on earth was she doing here with this stranger? Why had she never asked herself this question till now?

"I must admit to being secretly impressed with her." She retorted with a deliberate smirk on her face." She made a fool out of Ian though it's quite easy to make a fool out of the man. He really is so pompous and narrow minded."

"But she's a murderer"

"I think she was only trying to protect her partner. I can identify to some extent with that point of view as I do worry about Charlie being on the loose at Sussex University. As Nikki Wade told me, women need to be protected from animals like the man who tried to rape her partner."

George's casual reference to that notorious criminal shocked Neil Haughton and made his blood turn cold. His partner should not have socialized with her. They belonged to completely separate worlds and his sense of security was seriously threatened.

"So that means every woman who walks the streets has the right to take the law into his hands?"

"Her," corrected George automatically." I'm not saying that, Neil. Don't be idiotic. All I mean to say that, even in this marvelous wonderful super police state that you run, there are occasions where taking the law into your own hands is, well, understandable. I'm perfectly sure that is anyone was endangering Charlie's life then, if there wasn't any policeman nearby, I wouldn't hang back from doing something to protect Charlie."

"But this woman was only in danger of being raped or so the bleeding heart section of the media, such as it is, claims to be the case."

George's lips tightened at this instance of crass insensitivity. Unknown to him, he was pressing the right buttons with unerring skill that were calculated to drive her into the camp of the enemy. God, it was remarkable that even Daddy was persuaded to acquit the very personable Ms Wade. In her mind, she had unobtrusively dropped the word 'compel' to describe how Daddy had joined the ranks of the rebels. John's silver tongue might lure any number of attractive women into his bed but it could not possibly make her dogmatic, died in the wool conservative father become a born again "new age" trendy liberal law lord. Concluding that the logic of the situation had made her father appear lenient only meant that these were strange times indeed, something that this pathetic man was totally unaware of. Inadvertently, this man was insulting Daddy and immediately, the bit was between her teeth as she charged ahead without hindrance. She put her hands on her hips and her blue eyes flashed sparks at him.

"Neil, you are being unbelievably obtuse tonight. Do you really think that Daddy wouldn't have done as he did without good reason?"

"Your infernal ex husband can talk the hind leg off a donkey," snapped Neil Haughton coldly, his blue eyes glaring.

"Not to Daddy and Monty," George countered him firmly. "You really have to face the possibility that the judgment may have been legally correct."

Neil Haughton couldn't believe what he was hearing. Things on the home front were getting as out of control as at work. Finally, he exploded in anger in an attempt to reassert control.

"I must be hearing things. I have been given to understand that the Wade case was rock solid. Monty and your father were supposed to hold the line on this one and keep Deed within bounds. So what happens but a complete and utter fiasco? Say what you like, someone is to blame. Just what am I supposed to say to the Prime Minister? This will do my standing no good at all. I'm part of a government that does not believe in antiquated ideas of 'playing the game' but in results. That's the only thing that matters in this world. If you get results, you get power and all the material things in life which both of us deserve if we work at it."

The scales fell from George's eyes. At last this petty, mean minded man revealed himself in his true colours. Despite his attempt at bravado, this hollow man was scared for his own skin. Worse than that, he was utterly cold, even in an argument. Memories rushed back of John's display of anger, as eloquent as it was warm hearted and she felt queer feelings of affection for those moments.

"This is all about you. I'm just convenient decoration for your so-called glittering career, to show off at parties. That is all there will be between us, a business partnership."

"We make a good team," Neil Haughton replied with false heartiness." Everyone in government says that about us."

George's hand was steady as she reached for a cigarette and lit up. Her feelings were of cold contempt. She exhaled a cloud of smoke, which was intended to irritate him, and it did.

"Well, Neil, this is one partnership that I'm dissolving. It has outlasted its usefulness even if there was one. We have absolutely nothing in common. You are utterly soulless and everything that John ever said about you is the complete truth. I am leaving you tonight."

As Neil stood there agape, George felt curiously detached, as if she had proposed a business deal. The man stood flat- footed, helpless without his army of lackeys that normally surrounded him. Left on his own, he was utterly ineffective in a crisis. There was none of the rage and the tears that had accompanied her separation from John all those years ago. It said something about her attitude to the two men.

"You can't walk out on me. I'm a cabinet minister," he said at last.

"Just watch me go, darling. In any case I'd have more fun with a church minister than with you."

And with that parting shot, George swept past him and headed upstairs to pack her bags.

"Daddy, I'm back," peremptorily announced George toher very astounded father who stood with mouth agape." I've just left Neil. I've brought a suitcase of my possessions to last me overnight and a delivery firm will arrange the rest of it to go back where it came from."

Joseph Channing wore a half smile on his face as he balanced the joy of his beloved daughter leaving that weasel of a politician against memories of the mixed blessings of his intelligent and capricious daughter living at home. In metaphorical terms of meteorology, sunny periods and sudden showers alternated with swift succession. In recent years he had got to wish for a quiet life but that was becoming a wistful dream. His work life featured John's turbulence and now at home his daughter George would treat him to a dose of the same. As this mental kaleidoscope assaulted his senses, Joseph finally found his voice to make quite certain of the situation.

"When you say left Neil, my darling, do you mean left as in separated from?"

"Of course I mean separated. Isn't it what you've always wanted? You've never thought much of him."

"Of course, of course. But can you explain why you have stayed with him all this time? You went out of your way to get engaged to Haughton though this was the longest engagement on record."

George's smile in return was one of pure unashamed wickedness.

"I only did it to tease John mercilessly and make him incredibly jealous. The ploy succeeded brilliantly. It's good for him. Why ever else would you think I stayed with that pathetic man?"

"So why did you change your mind?" persisted Joseph.

"Well, you know, just because. Surely you know that the prerogative of a woman is to change her mind without reason or explanation."

At that point, George smiled again, turned on her elegant high heel and made her way to the staircase leading to her bedroom.