covenant, creating a Chosen People, the ones to inherit the land of Canaan. But unfortunately, that honor came with responsibility.”
He could see the boy was interested.
“Have you ever read the Bible?”
Gary shook his head.
“You should. A great book. On the one hand, God granted to the Israelites a blessing. To become the Chosen People. But it was their response to that blessing that ultimately determined their fate.”
“What happened?”
“The Old Testament says they rebelled, burned incense, credited idols for their good fortune, walked according to the dictates of their own hearts. So God scattered them among the Gentiles as punishment.”
“That why people hate them?”
He finished fastening his mantle. “Hard to say. But Jews have faced persecution ever since that time.”
“God sounds like He has a temper.”
“The God of the Old Testament is far different from the one in the New.”
“I’m not sure I like that one.”
“You’re not alone.” He paused. “Jews were the first to insist that man is responsible for his own acts. Not the gods’ fault life went bad.
“God should be kind, shouldn’t He?”
He smiled, then looked around the elegant room. Time to bring things to a head. “Tell me what you think about what happened in the pavilion?”
“I’m not sure Mr. Hermann will appreciate you taking his daughter.”
“Just as your parents didn’t appreciate what happened to you. The difference is, she’s a grown woman and you’re a teenager.”
“Why is all this happening?”
“I imagine we’ll know that soon.”
The bedchamber door suddenly swung open and Alfred Hermann stormed inside. He, too, sported a regal robe with a gold medallion, his mantle adorned with a blue silk.
“You have my daughter?” Hermann said, face full of fury.
Thorvaldsen stood rigid. “I do.”
“And you obviously know this room is wired for sound.”
“That didn’t require much intelligence.”
He could see the tension building. Hermann was in uncharted territory.
“Henrik, I will not tolerate this.”
“What do you plan to do? Recall the Talons of the Eagle to deal with me?”
Hermann hesitated. “That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
Thorvaldsen stepped close. “You crossed the line when you kidnapped this young man.” He pointed at Gary.
“Where is Margarete?”
“Safe.”
“You don’t have the stomach to hurt her.”
“I have the stomach to do whatever is needed. You should know that about me.”
Hermann’s intense gaze gripped him like a hook. He’d always thought the Austrian’s bony face more fitting for a farmer than an aristocrat. “I thought we were friends.”
“I did, too. But apparently that meant nothing when you took this young man from his mother and destroyed his father’s bookshop.”
The Assembly’s first session was about to begin, which was why he’d timed his revelation with care. Hermann, as Blue Chair, must at all times exhibit discipline and confidence. Never could he allow the members to know of his personal predicaments.
Nor could he be late.
“We must go,” Hermann finally said. “This is not over, Henrik.”
“I agree. For you, it’s only beginning.”
FIFTY
WASHINGTON, DC
1:30 PM
“WOULDN’T YOU SAY YOU PUSHED DALEY TO THE MAX?” GREEN asked Stephanie.
She and Cassiopeia were riding in Green’s limousine, the rear compartment soundproofed from the front seat by a sheet of Plexiglas. Green had picked them up downtown after they’d left Daley’s house.
“He wouldn’t have come after us. Heather might have been able to wear his clothes, but not his shoes. I doubt she’d be chasing us barefoot and unarmed.”
Green did not seemed convinced. “I assume there’s a purpose for letting Daley know you were there?”
“I’d be interested to hear that one, too,” Cassiopeia added. “We could have been out without him ever knowing.”
“And I’d still be in the crosshairs. This way he has to be careful. I have something he wants. And if nothing else, Daley’s a dealer.”
Green pointed at the copy of
Stephanie reached for the laptop she’d told Green to bring. She slid one of the flash drives into an empty port and typed AUNT B’S into the space for a password.
“Your girl learn that, too?” Cassiopeia asked.
She nodded. “An eatery out in Maryland. Daley goes there a lot on weekends. Country-style food. One of his favorites. Struck me as odd-I considered Daley a five-star-restaurant connoisseur.”
The screen displayed a list of files, each labeled with one-word identifiers.
“Congress,” she said.
She clicked on one.
“I learned that Daley is a master of dates and times. When he squeezes a member for a vote, he has precise information about every cash contribution ever sent that member’s way. It’s odd, because he never funnels money directly. Instead lobbyists who like the idea that they’re currying favor with the White House do the dirty work. That led me to think he keeps records. Nobody’s memory is that good.” She pointed at the screen. “Here’s an example.” She counted. “Fourteen payments to this guy totaling a hundred eighty-seven thousand dollars over a six-year period. Here’s the date, place, and time of each payment.” She shook her head. “Nothing frightens a politician more than details.”
“We’re talking bribes?” Green asked.
She nodded. “Cash payments. Pocket money. Not enough to draw attention, but enough to keep the lines of communication open. Simple and sweet, but it’s the kind of political capital Daley accumulates. The kind this White House uses. They’ve managed to pass some pretty sweet legislation.”
Green stared at the screen. “Must be a hundred or more House members.”
“He’s effective. I’ll give him that. The money is spread around. Both sides of the aisle.”
She clicked another file, which displayed a list of senators. Thirty or so. “He also has a cadre of federal judges. They get into financial trouble, just like everybody else, and he has people right there to help out. I found one in Michigan who talked. He was on the verge of bankruptcy until one of his friends appeared with money. His conscience finally got to him, especially after Daley wanted him to rule a particular way. Seems a lawyer in a case before him was a big party contributor and needed a little guarantee on victory.”
“Federal courts are a hotbed of corruption,” Green muttered. “I’ve said that for years. Give somebody a lifetime
