In the Company of Liars

FOUR DAYS EARLIER
SUNDAY, APRIL 18

So the question is,” Larry Evans says, “why did Flanagan-Maxx hire only Sam Dillon to get the Divalpro legislation passed? Dillon was a Republican, so he was the natural to work the House and the governor. But what about the Senate? Why didn’t they hire anyone to work the Senate?”

“That’s an easy question,” Allison says. “The Senate Dems don’t like Flanagan-Maxx. They won’t like this legislation. So they use someone else to push the Senate.”

Larry sips his coffee, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. “They funnel money to the Midwestern Alliance for Affordable Health Care? Their arch-enemy, suddenly their best friend.” Larry points at his notes. “A quarter of a million dollars to MAAHC last year? That’s how much F-M paid to MAAHC, last year. Did you know that?”

Larry has been reading the reports filed with the state board of elections, as well as Flanagan-Maxx’s financial statements for the previous year.

“And, lo and behold,” he continues, “MAAHC turns around and gives a hundred grand to Mat Pagone to lobby the Senate for the Divalpro legislation. House Bill 1551.”

“So?” Allison shrugs. “Seniors want Divalpro.”

“Bullshit. Every seniors’ group except MAAHC was opposed. The generics would be every bit as good, and everyone knows it.”

“Okay, fine.” Allison tucks a hair behind her ear. “So, Flanagan-Maxx knows they have no friends in the Senate, they want a different face supporting it. They kick some money to MAAHC to support the legislation. MAAHC uses some of that money to hire Mat, they keep the rest of it. I still haven’t heard anything illegal.”

Larry works his jaw, drums his fingers on the table. He disagrees with Allison, clearly, and she senses more. She also senses that Larry knows Allison knows more than she is saying.

“Flanagan-Maxx didn’t want its fingerprints on the Senate,” he says. “They knew what Mat would have to do, and they wanted a wall between themselves and Mat. That’s why they didn’t hire Mat to begin with, straight up. They used MAAHC as that wall.”

The grocery store is busy today. So is the cafй. This has become a place to socialize, where women catch up with each other while keeping one eye on their wandering kids.

“Tell your lawyer,” Larry says. “Tell him what I found out.”

“What I do with my lawyer is my business. We agreed on that. You don’t talk to my lawyer. You talk to me.”

Larry reaches for his jacket, a light one hanging over the back of his chair. “You aren’t going to tell him,” he gathers.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Why won’t you tell him? Here.” Larry pushes the documents in front of Allison, printouts from the state board of elections’ website and financial documents on Flanagan-Maxx. He points at the documents as he hikes his laptop bag over his shoulder.

“That’s all you need, right there, for an acquittal,” he says. “And you won’t use it.”