Party Games by E J Greenway Read Free Book Online

room grapevine about that boyfriend she never saw because he now lived abroad.  She had offered, and he wondered if she had meant it... He needed comfort, to curse at the unfairness of his dismissal, and he knew he wouldn’t get it sat at home staring at an old photograph of him and his wife in their early days of wedded bliss.  He had moved on from that whole sorry mess, thank God.
    As Tristan unfastened his seatbelt, he remembered his return to his office after his ‘resignation’.  Derek Bradbury, his only ally in a sea of discontent, nodded gravely but failed to speak.  A few junior whips murmured hollow tributes, but really there was nothing left to say.  Tristan pushed his shoulders back and forced a smile, determined to make as dignified an exit as he could muster.  He turned to leave, but stepped right into the personal space of David Fryer, the new Deputy Chief Whip.  Fryer stood proud in the doorway, his heavy frame rocking slightly on his heels, his jaw jutting defiantly.  There was an overpowering smell about him, one of uncontained glee and sweat. Tristan suppressed his gag reflex.  Avoiding confrontation, he skirted past him, but it was Fryer’s low chuckle, laced with malice, which made Tristan’s blood run cold.
    Soon after as word spread, the hypocritical words of cold comfort – or ‘commiserations’, as they called it - flowed in from his colleagues, most expressing what a “terrible, terrible shame it was”, leaving Tristan to wonder whether they were referring to his resignation or the fact he’d spent his time at the Whips Office turning it into a shambles.  Nobody, however, said they thought Rodney had made the wrong decision.  All except for Colin Scott.  Strangely, he made the effort of catching up with Tristan as he hurried to scout out his new office, Colin’s body language suddenly animated.
    “Like I said on the phone, it’s just not right.”  Colin was talking quickly as he marched next to Tristan, taking no care to lower his voice.  “I think it was a stitch-up.”
    Tristan eyed him suspiciously.  “Tell that to David Fryer.”
                “Don’t you worry about Fryer, I’ll take care of him.”  Colin dismissed Tristan’s comment with a wave of the hand.
                “Well, if you’re such good friends with David I wish you had taken care of him long before now.”  Tristan said sharply.  Colin stopped him in his tracks with a gentle grasp of his arm. 
                “Seriously, are you ok?”  Colin asked.  It was the first time Tristan had ever seen him with a look of concern on his face for another human being.  So curious was Colin’s expression Tristan barely knew what to say.
                “Err, yes.  I...I will be.  It’s been a tough day, but I’ll live.” He raised a smile.
                Colin nodded and drew air into his lungs.   “Yes, I’m sure.”  His tone, however, suggested to Tristan that he wasn’t sure at all.
                Tristan glanced along the path.  Colin was a clever man, but he wasn’t known for his subtlety. “Look, if this is about some sort of...alliance between us, I don’t think...”
                “No, no, of course not.”  The Deputy held up a hand.  “I would never suggest...I mean, I know you would never wish to be disloyal to Richmond, even after the way he has treated you.  You’re a good man, Tristan. Loyalty has always been one of your finest attributes and I commend you for that.  I would not wish to interfere with your conscience.” 
                Colin smiled warmly, but Tristan could only swallow hard.  Tristan was all too aware that the very conscience to which Colin referred was beginning to prickle.
                “Disloyalty isn’t to everyone’s taste.  Keep your head down and you may find yourself on a decent committee.”
                Tristan shrugged.  He had