Chapter 15

As President of the Cook County Commissioner’s Board, she controls the purse strings of massive publicly-funded projects from parks to infrastructure. She also has an iron-clad grip on the liberal democrats of New York. Without ever appearing to stick her finger in the pie, she manages to get whoever she wants appointed to key positions like city treasurer or state’s attorney.

She is shrewd and subtle, and not at all someone I want to get on my bad side. So I’m almost sick at the thought of Julia saying something obnoxious in front of her.

As she approaches, I hiss to Julia, “Behave yourself. That’s Marilyn—”

“I know who she is,” she interrupts, rolling her eyes.

“Marilyn,” my father says, “you know our son Calester. He’ll be running for the Alderman seat in the 43rd Ward in a few weeks’ time.”

“Excellent,” Marilyn says. “It’s about time we had someone in there with some vision.”

“What sort of vision are you hoping for?” I ask her. “Maybe someone who can keep Lincoln Park in one piece