Page 14 - Just Deserts

The Decimator

of once-blond hair. It also limned the sagging belly and shoulders of
a large man past his physical prime.
“What’s the plan?” Sunderbar, despite his slouching posture,
showed no weakness in the sharpness of his glance.
Hathaway resumed his resumed his position behind the desk. His
gaunt frame stretched back in the leather executive chair.
“So you’d like to get right down to basics, eh? All right. Your
campaign manager signed a contract with us yesterday, as you know.
Therefore, as a client of Iconoplast, you may expect total frankness
from me and my employees—as well as complete discretion.
Whatever strategy we agree upon will be implemented in the most
professional manner possible. But I no longer need to sell you on our
services: from this point on, we will have to function as a team. My
fees will be collected, regardless of your success in the senatorial race.
Therefore, I hope you see that it is in your best interest to support
our plan and not deviate from it without consulting us first.”
Sunderbar waved his hand impatiently. “Yes, yes, I know all that.
Don’t you think my years before the camera taught me how to follow
directions? But I must approve the script: a lot of this is my money as
well as my backers—who will remain anonymous, even to you. And
you can bet you’ll be in hot water if I lose this election to that Greek
bastard Constantine Kalogeros; nobody wants to hire a loser’s media
consultant. Just so we understand each other, Will. I’ve been looking
for a chance to get into politics for a long time, and this is my
golden opportunity. So I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t the best in
the business. My manager showed me some of your stuff: that job
you did on killing the school bonds was a piece of work. And I never
realized you were behind Simon Sledge—he hadn’t been given a
prayer before those TV spots exposing Crabtree’s roots in organized
labor.”
“Yes, an interesting case. You, of course, are in a much better
position than Sledge held at the beginning of his campaign. You’ve
got name recognition and the residuum of an image based on your
movies. And that is what we must build upon. The public is going to
respond best to reminders of the manly virtues you displayed on
celluloid. Excuse me a moment.”

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