Martini, Steve - The Arraignment by Martini Steve

Author:Martini, Steve [Martini, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
ISBN: 9780515135954
Publisher: Jove
Published: 2002-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

It has taken Harry less than two days to run down Tresler’s list of campaign contributors. As expected, Adam Tolt shows up everywhere.

“The man’s on everybody’s list of givers,” says Harry. Harry is sprawled in one of my client chairs, scanning the computer printouts as he summarizes his discoveries.

“Congress, half the state legislature, city council. Tolt gave to both candidates for governor the last time around. You’d think that would piss somebody off,” he says. “Apparently not. The guy’s name and address must come preprinted on everybody’s Rolodex when they buy ’em. Remind me never to get involved in giving money,” says Harry.

For some reason I don’t think this is going to be a problem.

“Tolt gave to all five supervisors,” he says. “No favorites. Two hundred and fifty dollars each. The max for individuals. He gave the same amount to Tresler.” Harry figures we can use this as a benchmark to judge the others. “He’s got a lot of money, but he gives in small amounts.”

It is one of the urban myths, that high rollers by definition give large amounts. Even wealthy ones usually confine it to a few hundred dollars per candidate. They just spread it around more.

“Metz and Fittipaldi both show up,” says Harry. “But again small. Metz gave a hundred. Fittipaldi a hundred and a half. What’s interesting is they only gave to Tresler. My guess is they had a goal in mind.”

“Appointment to the commission,” I say.

Harry nods. “And while I don’t like to disappoint you, Dana doesn’t show up at all.”

It seems she wasn’t lying. Dana is nonpolitical, at least when it comes to politics.

“But there is a bell ringer,” says Harry. “Guess who shows up as a major donor?”

“Nick.”

“How did you know that?”

“Call it a hunch,” I tell him. Tresler knew him. A politician with three hundred thousand constituents in his district isn’t likely to remember your first name unless you fall in one of two categories: You have clout or you’ve done something for him recently.

“How much?” I ask.

“Maybe you’d like to guess that too? Pick a number.”

“A thousand?” I say.

“Try ten,” he says.

This sits me up in my chair. No wonder Tresler knew his name.

“And to get around the giving limits,” says Harry, “he set up a PAC. Citizens for County Government.”

Harry is talking about a political action committee, people with a common interest pooling their money for effect.

“They gave in five-thousand-dollar increments over two years. All of it to Tresler. Nick shows up as the treasurer. He gave to the individual max, two hundred and fifty dollars each year.”

“Let me see that.” Harry hands me the computer printout. I scan down the list. I don’t have to go far to find the PAC. The donors are listed in the order of the amount given, large contributors at the top.

Harry can tell by my look that this is not something I had expected.

There are twenty names on Nick’s PAC, a separate list for each year, but the names are pretty much the same.

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