“I remember that. They were trying to bring awareness to social and economic inequality. They took over some park down near Wall Street and set up tents.”
“Yes, but the whole thing fizzled out. They didn’t have any real leader per se, and their message was scattered. They ended up going after the top one percent, but they weren’t discriminating between the good rich and the bad rich. They just lumped everyone together and made it class warfare. Didn’t work. They should’ve stuck with the early issues. Greed, corruption, and the influence corporations have on the government. These are things everyone can get behind, even the rich.”
“Tinsley’s family isn’t just in the one percent. They’re in the point one percent.”
“Exactly. Which is why she was interested in the Liberators. She knows firsthand what happens behind closed doors that the rest of us don’t see. She doesn’t think it’s right, and she thinks it should be exposed.”
“Are you saying she’s joined their group?”
“I don’t really know. I know they were recruiting her. And that’s why the whole charity legal question came up. I don’t know all the details, but I know it had something to do with her father’s business and some charity he had been working with.”
“Do you know the name of the charity?”
“She didn’t tell me.”
“Do you know who she was working with at Liberate Chicago?”
“I don’t know that either. All I know is they had splintered off the Occupy Wall Street group. They have a more direct message and plan.”
“Which means?”
“Rather than go after an entire class of people, they’re focusing only on the bad players, people involved in corruption and undue influence. They’re not going to occupy some random park. They’re calling out names and going where they live, work, and play.”
I thought about what Gertie had told me about the family argument the night before Tinsley disappeared. She remembered it had something to do with a real estate deal and some charity. Obviously, there was something not right, at least from Tinsley’s perspective. But what was it? And why had no one been willing to bring it up, especially if it was something that might help solve what happened to her?
“Tinsley wasn’t worried about getting involved in something like this?”
Abigail shook her head. “Tinsley was sweet, but she could also be really tough. Besides, her boyfriend fully supported her.”
“He knew what she was up to?”
“For sure. He was the one who introduced her to the group.”
WHEN I GOT BACK to the office, I called Ice. He had never heard of the group, and Chopper had never said anything to him about it. He would ask around, but his people didn’t get involved in “political shit that ain’t gonna change how we live or put food on our tables.” I thanked him for the sentiment, then hung up the phone and called Burke.
“Liberate Chicago?” he said. “Never heard of it.”
I explained all that Abigail had explained to me.
“Sounds worth looking into,” he said. “If they’re real, and they’re forming something in the city, I’m sure Intelligence will know something. I’ll get back to you.”
BURKE CALLED ME THREE hours later. Not only had Intelligence identified one of the leaders of Liberate Chicago, but they were bringing him in for questioning. They were giving me permission to observe the session. Burke and I stood together on the other side of the mirror. Twenty-nine-year-old Cyrus Naftali sat at the table across from Detective Jonas Montero. Naftali had been born and raised in the Bay Area and had graduated from UC Berkeley. He was clean cut, dressed in a country-club blue polo shirt and khaki shorts. Nothing about him looked the least bit revolutionary or confrontational.
“Thanks for coming in voluntarily,” Montero said.
“I have nothing to hide,” Naftali said.
“Can you tell me a little about your organization?”
“We’re advocates for equity,” he said. “There’s too much corruption in this city, and we’re determined to expose it. The average citizen gets up every day, goes to work, and follows the rules, trying to keep food on his table. Yet corporate fat cats, along with their millionaire and billionaire friends, constantly break the rules and work the system to pad their pockets and gain an advantage. The public isn’t stupid. They know this happens, but we plan on showing them exactly who’s doing it and how.”
“How does Tinsley Gerrigan factor into your plans?”
“I don’t know a Tinsley Gerrigan.”
“Are we gonna go down that path?” Montero said. “Let’s not waste each other’s time. We know you know her, so let’s move on.”
Naftali shook his head. “I don’t know a Tinsley Gerrigan.”
“We have it from good sources that Tinsley Gerrigan is involved with your organization.”
“We’re not an organization,” Naftali said. “We’re a movement. And we have no relationship with anyone named Tinsley Gerrigan.”
It was the way he said that last line that got me thinking about the alias she’d used at the doctor’s office. “Bring him out,” I said to Burke.
“Bring the kid out?” Burke said.
“No, bring out Montero. Ask him to ask Naftali if he knows a Jennifer Bronson. That’s an alias she uses.”
Burke opened the door and nodded for Montero to get up. He came to the door, and Burke whispered to him. Montero went back to the table as Burke closed the door.
“Do you know Jennifer Bronson?” Montero said.
Naftali shifted slightly in his seat and relaxed his shoulders. “Yes,” he said with a slight smile.
“Good,” Montero said. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Do you know where she is?”
“I have no idea.”
“When was the last time you spoke with her?”
“It’s been several weeks.”
“What did you speak about?”
“Her supporting the cause.”
“In what ways?”
“Every organization needs funding. She was interested in helping us with that.”
I turned to Burke. “She had two million ways to help them,” I said. “She knew part of her trust fund was getting released soon.”
“Kind of
