of all evil.”
“Jesus, I never really thought of it that way. You sort of hold the
power of…”
“God?” Tiedman’s eyes sparkled. “Do you know how much money the Fed
wire-transfers out to maintain its policies and to insure that the
commercial banking system operates smoothly?”
Sawyer shook his head. “One trillion dollars per day.”
Sawyer sat back, stunned. “That’s a lot of money, Charles.”
“No, that’s a lot of power, Agent Sawyer. We’re one of this country’s
best-kept secrets. Indeed, if average citizens were fully aware of what
we can do and have often done in the past, I believe they’d storm the
walls and cast us all into dungeons, if not worse. And maybe they would
be right.”
Sawyer looked down at his notes. “Do you know the dates those rate
changes occurred?”
Tiedman retreated from his musings. “Not offhand. An astonishing
admission for a banker, but my memory isn’t all that good with numbers
anymore. I can get you the answer, though.”
“I’d appreciate it. Could there have been another reason why Lieberman
went nuts with the rates?” Now Sawyer clearly saw the twinge of anxiety
mixed with fear in the man’s features.
“What do you mean?”
Sawyer leaned back in his chair. “You said it was out of character for
him. And then he abruptly returned to normal. Doesn’t that sound
mysterious to you?”
“I guess I never thought about it in that light. I’m afraid I still do
not understand your point.”
“Let me put this as clearly as I can. Maybe Lieberman was manipulating
the rates against his will.”
Tiedman’s eyebrows shot up. “How could anyone make Arthur do that?”
“Blackmail,” Sawyer said simply. “Any theories?”
Tiedman regrouped and began speaking nervously. “I had heard rumors
that Arthur was having an affair, years ago. A woman–”
Sawyer broke in. “I don’t buy that and neither do you. Lieberman paid
off his wife to avoid a scandal so he could run the Fed, but it wasn’t
over a woman.” Sawyer leaned forward so that his face was within inches
of Tiedman’s. “What can you tell me about Steven Page?”
Tiedman’s face froze, but only for an instant. “Who?”
“This might jog your memory.” Sawyer reached in his pocket and pulled
out the photo Ray Jackson had found in Lieberman’s apartment.
He held the photo up in front of Tiedman.
Tiedman took the photo in quivering hands. His head bent low, his long
brow a sea of creases. However, Sawyer could see the recognition in the
man’s eyes.
“How long have you known about this?” Sawyer asked quietly.
Tiedman’s mouth moved, but no words came out. He finally handed the
photo back to Sawyer and took another drink of water.
He didn’t look at Sawyer when he spoke, which seemed to make the words
come a little easier. “I was actually the one who introduced them,” was
Tiedman’s surprising reply. “Steven worked at Fidelity Mutual as a
financial analyst. Arthur was still president of the New York Fed at
that time. I was introduced to Steven at a financial symposium.
Many colleagues whom I respected sang his praises loudly.
He was an exceptionally bright young man with some intriguing ideas on
the financial markets and the Fed’s role in the evolving global economy.
He was personable, cultured, attractive; he’d graduated near the top of
his college class. I knew that Arthur would find him a welcome addition
to his circle of intellectual acquaintances.
He and Arthur quickly struck up a friendship.” Tiedman faltered.
“A friendship that eventually blossomed into something else?”
Sawyer prompted.
Tiedman nodded.
“Were you aware at the time that Lieberman was homosexual, or at least
bisexual?”
“I knew that his marriage was troubled. I did not know, at the time,
that the trouble stemmed from Arthur’s sexual… confusion.”
“He seemed to solve that confusion. He divorced his wife.”
“I don’t think that was Arthur’s idea. I believe Arthur would have been
perfectly happy keeping intact at least the facade of a happy
heterosexual marriage. I know that more and more people ‘come out’
these days, but Arthur was an intensely private man and the financial
community is very conservative.”
“So the missus wanted the divorce. Did she know about Page?”