TWENTY-ONE
GOODMANHAM, EAST YORKSHIRE, OCTOBER 2021 AD
When the scandal broke, Jake read about it in The Independent and was astonished to find the absence of salacious reporting—quite normal for this reputable daily newspaper. Not so much so, given the by-line, William Backhouse. Jake ascribed the absence of sensational journalism to the editor controlling Backhouse’s output. Under the circumstances, he didn’t believe his old adversary capable of such measured reporting.
The basic facts were that the prospective Conservative candidate for the Leeds North East constituency in the upcoming general election was embroiled in a sordid blackmail case involving a rent boy. The politician’s admirable resolve not to succumb to extortion and to consign the inquiry to the police met with Jake’s a
