QIZ

Chapter 4

Tuesday 29 October 2013
New York Times

A tearful Senator Liotto offered full co-operation with the FBI following the tragic death of Mrs Catherine Liotto.

Senator Liotto and his wife had been seen by many political commentators as the Republican dream team.

Director of the FBI, Dr Gestine, is leading the investigation personally, with all of the current evidence and information pointing to accidental death as the cause of this heart-rending event.

'You promised me...' The woman looked down, crestfallen. Absentmindedly she fingered the pearls, running each one across her hand, searching for imperfections, the necklace travelling the gauntlet of fingers.

'I am sorry. This really will be the last time, the last one. She came on to me, I just find it so hard to resist.' The man had his arms open, a gesture of appeasement. His charcoal suit was slightly creased, a crisp white shirt, top button undone, no tie.

'You promised me after the last bimbo secretary that there would be no more. We went through the counselling; I thought we were getting somewhere, but your campaign organizer? Really?' An elegant lady, early forties, smartly dressed, scarf loosely hung over her shoulders, piercing blue eyes staring at the man, as if seeing him for whom he really was for the very first time.

'Catherine, you are right, this is me now, I promise you no more. I made a mistake; I will fire her in the morning. I can hire an army of campaign directors; there is only one you. You have my word.' Sincerity rang through his voice, mannerisms and body language followed, a performance to be proud of.

The lady began to clap, 'Bravo Mr Senator, save the rhetoric for the campaign trail, you will have to do better than that if you want to run for President. Unfortunately, unlike the populace, I see your true colours. How could I have been so blind for this many years? The scumbag who cannot keep his pants on if any girl comes knocking? Abuse of power Mr Senator.' She nodded sagely, 'How could I have not seen this five years ago before we were married?'

The benign face took on a dark sneer, 'No Catherine, leaving me is not an option. The damage it would do to my campaign, my career, I need you on my arm, you carry a swathe of votes for me.' His voice took on an increasingly calculating tone.

A shake of the head, 'Tony, you have had my love and more chances than you deserved; I should have left you after the first affair. Goodbye.' A sad smile, 'Our lawyers can talk in the morning.' She turned to leave, moving the pearls under the neck scarf.

'You cannot do this to me.' His face began to twist. 'Look at the career we have built up, we are finally on the first steps to the White House, would you destroy all of this over one mistake, do you think I really care for her?' He stepped forwards.

The woman held her ground, staring up into his face. 'When you use the word "we", you mean "you"; the caricature standing in front of me is not the principled, visionary man who I fell in love with and married.' A slow shake of the head, 'We lost our way, you have become a shell of the Tony Liotto that once was.' She turned as if to walk away.

He lunged for her. As he grabbed her neck, pearls accelerated around the room, bouncing off the walls, slowly rolling to a halt. Holding her with one hand he wrapped her scarf around her neck, steely determination in his eyes. 'I cannot allow this; I will not be undone at this stage. I have sacrificed too much.'

Her knees began to fold, a rasping voice, 'Tony, you are hurting me, stop this! Stop this madness!' The colour rose in her face, eyes showing the first traces of panic.

His face blank, devoid of emotion, he tightened the scarf, ignoring the nails digging into his arms, feet kicking out. He waited, five, ten minutes; he looked at the clock on the wall. Any attempts at resistance had long since faded.