“Meaning what?”

“Meaning that it’s time you and I started making sure our lifeboats don’t spring any leaks when the ship finally sinks.” She allowed herself a small, amused smile at his exasperated expression, but she also decided it was time to show some mercy and come to the point at last.

“Eventually, someone’s going to ask some very pointed questions, Michael. Elizabeth will see to that, even if no one else wants to. So it’s occurred to me that this would be a very good time to begin establishing the documentary evidence to support the answers we’re going to want to give.”

“I see,” the Prime Minister said slowly, leaning back in his chair and regarding her speculatively. And, he admitted, respectfully.

“And just how do you suggest we do that?” he asked finally.

“Obviously, we begin by seeing to it that any little… financial irregularities lead back to our esteemed Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary MacIntosh.” She sighed. “How tragic! To think that such high-minded and selfless servants of the public weal should turn out to have actually been so venal and corrupt as to divert government monies into slush funds and vote-buying schemes. And how truly unfortunate that your own trust in the Liberal Party’s well known probity prevented you from realizing in time what they were doing.”

“I see,” he repeated, even more slowly. He’d always known Elaine Descroix was about as safe as an Old Earth cobra, yet even now, a part of him was appalled by her ruthlessness.

“Of course,” she admitted cheerfully, “it needs to be done carefully, and to be completely honest, I’m not at all sure how to go about doing it properly. A clumsy job, with fingerprints pointing in our direction, would be worse than useless.”

“I can certainly agree with that!”

“Good. Because in that case, I think we should put Georgia to work on it.”

“Are you sure you want to bring her that fully into this?” High Ridge knew his doubtfulness showed, but Descroix only smiled.

“Michael,” she said patiently, “Georgia already has access to the North Hollow Files. I’m sure there are more than enough smoking guns tucked away in there to destroy anyone she really wants to destroy. She doesn’t need any more information to be a threat to us, if that’s what she decides to become. Besides, you’ve already used her for half a dozen things I can think of whose legality might be… questioned by a real stickler. The surveillance of Harrington and White Haven, springs to mind.

“My point is that she already knows enough to blow us out of the water. But she can’t do that without doing herself in right along with us. The same is true of Melina. After Reynaud, she’s the most dangerous potential leak where RMAIA is concerned. But she’s also the one who’s done such a good job of insulating Marisa from harsh reality, which means that if the Agency goes down, she goes right with it.”