Chapter 6 - The Photographer
The photograph had been taken by Preston's younger brother, Aaron Thorne.
Aaron was the family disappointment.
No politics.
No development job.
No marriage chosen for strategic value.
He ran a neighborhood newspaper in Joliet that had been losing money for years.
Preston called him at two in the morning.
Aaron arrived at Mara's bungalow before sunrise carrying an old camera bag and an expression that said he already regretted coming.
"I followed Bianca."
Mara stared.
"Why?"
"Because I thought she was cheating on Preston."
Preston closed his eyes.
"Thank you, Aaron."
"You were busy being cheated on while cheating on your first wife. The family tree is complicated."
Mara almost laughed.
Roman, seated near the window, did not.
Aaron continued.
Three months before Eleanor died, he saw Bianca leave a downtown fundraiser with Gideon Rusk, Senator Vale's chief of staff.
They drove to Eleanor's bungalow.
Bianca stayed in the car.
Rusk went inside.
Seven minutes.
Then Eleanor came outside and photographed their license plate.
Bianca saw her.
The next day Aaron called Eleanor.
She agreed to meet.
"She told me she was documenting contact from the senator's office."
"Did she say why?"
"She said they wanted her to sign something saying the old compensation audit was inaccurate."
Mara's jaw tightened.
"Did she?"
"No."
Aaron had more photographs.
Rusk meeting Charles Thorne.
Rusk at a private club with Vittorio Castellano.
Three supposedly opposed worlds sharing one lunch.
Politics.
Business.
Crime.
Mara looked at Roman.
"You knew Rusk?"
Roman shook his head.
"Not personally."
Aaron slid another photograph forward.
Roman at the same private club.
Two years later.
Mara stared.
Roman did not.
"That is me."
"With Vittorio," Aaron said.
"Yes."
"And Rusk?"
"Different table."
"Did you speak?"
Roman thought.
"Maybe hello."
Mara's face hardened.
Roman continued.
"I am not going to invent certainty because the picture looks bad."
Good answer.
Bad feeling.
Agent Keane took the full archive.
Aaron had been keeping copies because he distrusted everyone, including his brother.
Preston said, "You could have told me."
Aaron looked at him.
"You were living in Senator Vale's guesthouse half the week."
Fair.
The financial investigation discovered that Rusk had formed a consulting company two months before Eleanor was pressured.
Payments came from a Thorne real-estate partnership.
Then from an old Castellano-controlled logistics company.
Roman recognized the entity.
"Vittorio's."
Keane asked, "Did you inherit it?"
"No. It was dissolved before my father died."
"Any records?"
"Maybe archives."
"Where?"
Roman hesitated.
Mara watched him.
This was the moment.
Protect family.
Or open the door.
Roman said, "Our attorney warehouse in Bedford Park."
Keane nodded.
"We'll seek access."
Roman added, "I'll authorize voluntary production where I legally can."
Mara noticed Miriam Cross smile faintly.
Later, Roman told Mara, "That may create problems for me."
"Good."
He laughed once.
"You make consequences sound almost cheerful."
"Only when powerful men discover they apply to them too."
Roman laughed once.
"Fair."
That evening Mara went to a prenatal appointment with her friend Leah.
Roman did not come.
He asked whether she wanted him there.
She said no.
He said okay.
The ultrasound showed a steady heartbeat.
Mara cried.
Leah cried harder.
Outside the clinic, Mara found Bianca waiting.
No cream coat.
No diamonds.
Baseball cap.
Mara stopped.
Bianca raised both hands.
"I'm not here to touch you."
"Good choice."
"I need to tell you why I went to your mother's house."
Mara's jaw tightened.
"Then tell the FBI."
"I will."
"Why me?"
Bianca looked frightened.
"Because my father thinks I hit you because of Preston."
"You did."
"No."
Bianca swallowed.
"I hit you because I found your mother's name in his safe."
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