Trust Fund by Stephen Frey

Author:Stephen Frey [Frey, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780345447142
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2001-01-18T06:00:00+00:00

Ron Baker relaxed into his huge black leather chair, surveying the glistening skyscrapers of downtown Los Angeles from his top-floor office. “I’m very busy.”

“I appreciate that,” the other man said respectfully. “A presidential campaign must be grueling.”

“You have no idea.”

“I won’t take much of your time, I promise.”

“All right.” The demands of a tough campaign could be pushed aside for a few minutes in the name of an attractive business proposition. The man on the other side of the desk had come to Baker’s office soliciting an offer to participate with a prominent New York family in a high-profile Manhattan real estate project. Manhattan was a market Baker had never been able to crack from the West Coast, and he wanted to hear more. “The family you represent comes highly recommended by people I know in New York.”

“I’m sure.”

“Tell me what you want.”

Joseph Scully cracked a thin smile. “I want to tell you a story.”

Baker looked up from the small bag of sour cream potato chips he’d been rooting through. “I just told you I don’t have much time.”

“This won’t take long, and I think you’ll find it most interesting. It involves child pornography and an abortion.”

Baker felt his mouth run dry.

“We have detailed records of certain Web sites you have visited over the last two years, and the material you’ve downloaded.”

Too late, Baker realized what was happening. “Get the hell out—”

“Through a vast Web network and cookie technology, we have tracked your movements on that computer right there,” Scully pointed to the unit on Baker’s desk, “as well as the one you have at home. You have been downloading illegal pictures of underage girls. You have also been exchanging pictures with individuals who are known by federal authorities to traffic in child pornography,” Scully continued matter-of-factly. “I’m willing to believe that you had no idea the girls were underage, but the public won’t care. I think you know that.”

“I ought to throw you out the window—”

“I wouldn’t recommend that, Mr. Baker. If I don’t call my people in an hour, not only will the newspapers be filled with reports of your activities on the Internet, but there will also be accounts detailing the fact that your wife had a very secret abortion several years ago.” Scully smiled triumphantly. “There was no indication that the fetus was brain-damaged or had any physical deformity that might have prevented it from growing up normally.” Scully paused for effect. “You simply didn’t want another child. It’s safe to say that a candidate running on a platform as conservative as yours will be dead in the water soon after that kind of information is released.”

“My wife was raped,” Baker whispered.

“Maybe, but you never reported the crime. We checked. There is no record anywhere of her being attacked. If you use that explanation, people either won’t believe you or they’ll feel sorry for your wife and hate you for using her to save your campaign. It’s a no-win situation.”

“Who do you represent?” Baker’s voice was barely audible.

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