Party Games by E J Greenway Page A

Colin?” Tristan asked a little tersely, sitting further back in his chair.  “I thought we had said all we needed to say yesterday.”
    Colin leaned forward and Tristan noticed that his ears were turning slightly pink.   He was still gripping the whisky bottle.  “Oh, I just thought a friendly drink was in order, between colleagues.  I don’t mean to sound rude, but I thought you might be a little...lonely.  I thought you would also be curious to know how Shadow Cabinet went today without you.”
    “Oh yes?”  He asked, shifting in his chair.  His interest was certainly piqued, but the last thing he wanted to do was to hint to Colin he was desperate for information.  It worried him, how Colin was doing his best to sound casual.  Casual was one thing Colin Scott most certainly wasn’t.  He sipped the alcohol and felt it burn his throat on contact.
    The Deputy rubbed his temple.  “Between you and me, I think it’s all falling apart already.  I mean, Rodney was just so, well, distracted. I think that the reshuffle has had quite an effect on him.  And you should have seen him, having a go at poor Anthea.  He was giving her such a hard time...”
    Tristan cut in. “A go at Anthea?  Why?”  He had spoken to her, briefly, only a few hours ago.  She thanked him for the note and agreed to meet him for lunch, but although she had seemed slightly abrupt, he assumed leaving her apartment so early may have offended her - he had merely wished to avoid more awkwardness. 
     “Oh, you know, the Cornish Bill.”  Colin said, sighing.  “Argument over Jack Fisher, and whether he should be approached, and by whom.  I mean, Anthea did have a good point.”
    “And you spoke up for her, then, I suppose?” Tristan queried.  He noted a sudden flicker of annoyance across Colin’s face, but he appeared to suppress it.
    “Well, you know, I did try and all that, but Rodney just wasn’t willing to listen to my point of view, or indeed Anthea’s.  She seemed most upset, and a tad jealous of our new Chief Whip, I may add.  It must be hard for her, knowing that she was passed over for the job when she, and others, thought she would get it.  What’s the point in having friends in high places if they’re no use?”  Colin laughed, but Tristan wasn’t about to laugh with him, he was too deep in thought.  Colin was still talking.  “So now it appears Anthea and Rodney aren’t on speaking terms.  I think she’s pissed off with him, if her best friend won’t give her a promotion...then to go and humiliate her in front of the whole Shadow Cabinet.  Even Barty paid attention through that little stand-off.”
    Colin finally paused.  Tristan felt the anger welling up inside him and he focussed his gaze at the bottom of his glass where the remaining golden liquid swirled in front of his eyes.  Seconds later, he had drained it. Sourness flashed across Tristan’s face; how he hated the stuff.  Colin poured him another.  A second drunken night in a row beckoned.
    “But, do you know what concerned me the most?”  Colin whispered, glancing around the office as if it might be bugged.  Tristan shook his head.  “I was worried for Rodney more than Anthea, he just wouldn’t listen to reason, he wasn’t...himself, let me put it like that.”
    “Wasn’t himself?”  Tristan asked, puzzled. 
     “Well, I shouldn’t say any more, especially not to you.”  He produced a look of concern and doubt.
    “If something’s…wrong with Richmond, Colin, then we all have a right to know.”  Tristan argued.  Not even Colin Scott, he thought, would make up something like this, and even if he did why would he tell him of all people? 
    Colin hung his head and sighed, as if incredibly reluctant to be so unethical as to discuss their leader’s mental health without any proof whatsoever. 
    “I wouldn’t go so far as to say mentally wrong .” He began slowly.  “Well, I don’t think he’s completely losing