The Hero's Fall (DCI Cook Thriller Series Book 14) by Phillip Strang (best classic romance novels txt) 📗

where he had been standing and moved closer to the window. ‘I have a passion for gardening,’ he said.

Larry looked over at Wendy, lifted his eyebrows, a sign that he didn’t know what Breslaw was talking about or why he had changed the subject.

‘Tom Taylor?’ Wendy repeated.

‘The weather’s not been that good lately, too dry for the vegetables, better for growing flowers, not that I’m much bothered with them, although I’ve got a rose bush that’s doing well. Rosemary, she used to like flowers, not that she was a gardener, preferred to be indoors most of the time. A great knitter, always a jumper at Christmas, and then, she had the cats, not that they’re all still alive. I don’t replace them. I let them fade away, the same as me.’

‘Mr Breslaw,’ Wendy shouted, ‘you’re digressing.’

‘We were talking about Tom Taylor, and now you’re going on about the garden and your wife,’ Larry said.

‘Maudlin, that’s all. I’d still prefer to be at the station, keeping myself busy. I feel as though I’ve been thrown on the scrapheap,’ Breslaw said. ‘The modern generation think they know better than their elders, disrespectful too.’

‘Was he?’

‘He was after my job, always sucking up to Jaden, sweet-talking with Karen Majors, kissing and canoodling with Alison.’

‘I thought they were discreet in the office,’ Wendy said.

‘Maybe they were, but she’s related to Jerome, favourite niece, something like that.’

To Wendy, who had experienced her husband’s illness and demise, Jim Breslaw showed early-stage senility, which seemed illogical, given that until two weeks before, he had been Jaden’s head of programming. A person doesn’t degenerate that quickly.

‘Take us back to the day you left the station,’ Larry said.

Breslaw’s strange behaviour confused them, but it wasn’t why they were there.

‘Two days after Simmons fell, Jerome calls me into his office. Karen Majors and Babbage are there, both looking contrite, not that Babbage would be.’

‘Why?’

‘Bob Babbage, hard-nosed, a rationalist. If, as we now know, I was about to get the ceremonial kick out of the door, he wouldn’t have been sorry.’

‘No emotion?’

‘Babbage is what he is. I was a pain in the rear end, always wanting more money for programming. It’s a tight market, and most of the programmes we purchase, especially if they’re good, are expensive. Basic economics and he knew it, but the margins are not there.’

‘Jerome Jaden, known in the industry as a man who could drive a deal.’

‘Jerome came up through the good years, the same as I did. It was a lot easier back then, but now, I struggled, so did Jerome. Neither of us could come up with an angle to maintain ratings, and Karen Majors, she’s not on top of her game.’

‘We’ve not heard any comments about her,’ Wendy said.

‘And you won’t, not yet. The industry is in flux, and Karen’s as good as any other, but she can’t do much about it.’

‘Tom Taylor?’

‘Not sure, and that’s an honest answer. He’s temporary, looks the part, the fresh new look, catering to a younger audience. I didn’t go much for him, not personally, but who knows, he may pull a rabbit out of a hat.’

‘He’ll survive?’

‘Young, attractive, a charmer, he will, one way or the other.’

‘Alison Glassop, any part in all of this?’

‘Apart from her being Jerome’s niece or is it grand-niece, I’m not sure which, not that it matters much. She was keen on Tom, not that she can be blamed for that, but whether she’s a conniving little bitch or a sweet young thing, I’d not know. She didn’t bother me, and she did pretty the place up.’

‘That sounds sexist,’ Wendy said.

‘It wasn’t meant that way. You asked me for an honest opinion; I gave it.’

‘The climb? Did you approve it?’ Larry asked.

Focus lost, Breslaw was once again looking out of the window. ‘Looks like rain,’ he said. ‘Saves me watering it later on.’

‘Mr Breslaw, the flowers can wait; we can’t,’ Wendy said.

‘Yes, yes, you’re right. I’m sorry, don’t know what came over me.’

Senility or a nervous breakdown, the trauma of the last weeks affecting Breslaw’s mental state, Wendy couldn’t be sure.

‘The climb?’ Larry said once more.

‘I’m meant to take the blame.’

‘Who asked you to take the blame?’

‘It was in my severance package, not that it’s written down. They want me to be the scapegoat, but I won’t be.’

‘Who would have wanted Simmons dead? Who at the station?’

‘Tricia Warburton, she wanted him out, but taking a shot at him, not her.’

‘Then who?’

‘Jerome liked her, keen to keep her on, but the others wanted Simmons.’

‘Jerome Jaden gets what he wants?’

‘Once, he might have, but times have changed.’

‘He’s the owner,’ Wendy said.

‘The majority shareholder, answerable to the executive, to other shareholders. He has a lot of power, but it isn’t absolute.’

‘Who did you prefer to stay on, to host the programme?’

‘Simmons. A remarkable man.’

‘But not a pretty face.’

‘He never was, but still remarkable. I wanted the programme to be more focussed on outstanding sporting and cultural achievements.’

‘Jaden?’

‘He wanted scantily-clad bimbos, frivolous happenings around the world.’

‘Which format would have best served the station?’

‘Sporting and cultural achievements, more credibility, significant, more reputable.’

‘Financially?’

‘Celebrities up to mischief.’

‘And you wouldn’t have agreed?’

‘I wouldn’t have resigned. It’s academic, though. I was shown the door. Do you know, they even changed the lock on my office door?’

‘Who gave Angus Simmons permission?’

‘Nobody, probably. Simmons, if he had decided, nobody would have stopped him.’

‘Did you know before he climbed?’

‘I only needed to know when they would have a programme for me to schedule in.’

‘And if you’d seen him climbing?’

‘If he had reached the top, I would have shown it.’

‘Even if it was illegal?’

‘Even.’

‘It was irresponsible, dangerous, gives