Wildcard

POSTSCRIPT

Downing Street, London

‘The US ambassador, sir.’

‘Thank you, Ellen. Come in, Charles. A happy New Year to you.’

‘And to you, Prime Minister,’ replied Charles Greely, the tall, distinguished-looking ambassador to the Court of St James. His immaculate light-grey suit highlighted smooth, tanned features.

‘You went home for Christmas?’ asked the PM.

‘I did, sir. The call of California in late December was just too strong to ignore.’

‘I understand you wish to discuss the requests we made to your government over the Lehman affair,’ said the PM, waving Greely to a chair.

The American sat down, his body language betraying a certain unease. ‘Yes indeed, Prime Minister,’ he began. He paused to clear his throat unnecessarily. ‘I spoke at length over the holidays to the President and his advisers, and believe me, sir, I left them in no doubt as to the strength of the British government’s feelings over this matter.’

‘And?’

‘Well, sir, the President fully realises just how serious this outbreak was, and in no way wishes to diminish what happened, but he wonders, sir… if you might see your way to viewing it more as a private-sector matter, where a few greedy individuals were responsible for the mayhem that ensued. It is of course perfectly reasonable that you would wish to see those individuals punished — and punished severely — but as for US citizens standing trial here in the UK for… manslaughter, I think was the charge you had in mind?’

The PM nodded.

‘The President wondered, sir, if you might reconsider in view of the negative publicity involved to both our governments?’

The PM looked long and hard at Greely before asking, ‘And our other requests?’

Greely looked uncomfortable again. ‘Well, sir,’ he said hesitantly, ‘the President would wish to point out that withdrawal of all FDA licences from Lehman in the US would destroy the company. He perfectly understands that revocation of their British licences is well within your rights, and the winding-up of their UK operation is only to be expected, but he respectfully requests that you reconsider your position over Lehman in the US.’

‘You mean there’s big money involved?’

‘With respect, sir, I don’t think it’s just a question of money. There are other factors.’

‘What other factors?’ asked the PM coldly.

‘Lehman is one of the biggest biotech organisations in the US and therefore the world, sir. We are talking of several thousand jobs across the globe disappearing if Lehman International goes down. The research potential of such an organisation, considering the millions of dollars of venture capital tied up in its future, is probably inestimable. It would be a severe blow to medical science in general, sir, if its labs were to close.’

The PM looked at Greely in silence for a moment digesting what he had heard, then leaned forward in his seat and said, ‘Mr Ambassador, this company has treated my country — as several pharmaceutical companies have been known to treat Third World countries — as a laboratory for its experiments. It used citizens of the United Kingdom as experimental animals to further its own greedy ends.’

Greely swallowed but did not respond.

‘I understand that there is a saying among scientists that if something can be done it will be done, whatever legislation may say to the contrary. Well, I accept that, but I want the message to go out loud and clear that, if you do do it, this is what will happen to you.’

Greely nodded.

‘Please convey my thoughts to the President and give him my regards. Tell him I want all Lehman’s licences revoked; I want what assets they have left used as compensation for the families who suffered, and I want Vance and Klein to stand trial here in England. Do I make myself perfectly clear?’

Greely swallowed again before saying, ‘Indeed, sir.’ He got to his feet slowly. ‘Sir, in view of the difference of opinion between our two governments over this matter, which I am sure we can work through, given time and the special harmony we’ve always enjoyed, is there any possible area of compromise I might be able to highlight to the President?’

‘None,’ snapped the PM.

Greely was taken aback. This was not the language of diplomacy. ‘Such a firm stance, sir, does beg the question-’

‘You’re wondering about the “or else” clause,’ said the PM. ‘You may tell the President that this matter is of paramount importance to Her Majesty’s government. In fact, it’s at least as important as the proposed US global missile defence system is to him.’

Greely seemed to stop breathing for a moment, then he gave a slight nod of understanding and withdrew.

Six hours later the PM smiled at an incoming message. He phoned John Macmillan at Sci-Med. ‘They’ve agreed,’ he said. ‘I’m tearing up your resignation.’