2030_ The Real Story of What Happens to America - Albert Brooks [132]
It had been so odd when the first shirt that had a camera disguised as a button hit the market. The second button down from the collar looked no different from the others, except that it could capture perfect video and sound, and people had no idea when they were being photographed and recorded. Someone on the street could be taking your picture without holding anything or even giving any indication that they were paying attention. Basically, it was the clean underwear syndrome gone mad. Every time you left your house you’d better look like you’d want to if you were broadcast to the world, because that’s exactly what happened, especially if you were famous.
In 2022 the first person caught on a shirtcam was one of the biggest male movie stars in the world. He was alone, or so he thought, sitting in his car with another man, with his pants down. Someone walked past and got into another automobile. The person didn’t have anything in his hands and they didn’t even seem to notice, and that night the image of two men having sex in a parked car, one of them a matinee idol, was everywhere in the world. It wasn’t even the fact that the star was messing around with another guy, it was that he left his hair at home and he looked forty years older. The combination of bald and gay was a killer. It dropped his asking price by twelve million dollars.
Nate was waiting in a private room when Susanna walked in. “This is some hotel,” she said, trying to make light conversation.
“Let’s get to the point. I need a return favor and I need it quickly.” Susanna didn’t even have time to order.
“How can I help you, Nate?”
“My brother Charles—you know him, I’m sure—is in the middle of a very messy audit.”
Susanna’s face fell. She hadn’t known what the favor was going to be, but she’d hoped she wouldn’t have to interfere with another government agency. Nate continued. “Apparently he put a large amount of money offshore, not as a tax dodge but as a holding place until he could reinvest it. When the time was right he was going to pay his taxes, but they discovered the account and now they not only want the taxes but they are looking into his entire business. As you know, Charles is worth fifteen billion dollars. To have all of his businesses investigated would be a nightmare.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little unorthodox to wait until you’re profitable before you pay taxes?”
“Be that as it may, I would like to see the audit called off and I would like to see Charles left alone by the IRS. Just end this. He will pay the taxes due and that will be it.”
Susanna thought about this request. Not since she had become Treasury secretary had an illegal favor been asked of her. Quite frankly, she didn’t think she even had the power.
“I want to help you, Nate, you know that. You were helpful to the President and he knows it, but this could get ugly. I don’t think I have the power by myself to stop an audit of this size.”
“You don’t, Susanna. It will take the President or John Van Dyke at the very least. But it can be done and you know it. This is what I am asking for in return for ending the President’s, how shall we say, dilemma.”
“I understand. Let me do what I can. I want to repay you for the favor.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want to order?”
“Not really. I think we had a successful lunch and we saved a couple of thousand calories.”
Nate got up and put two hundred dollars on the table as a tip. He gave Susanna a fake hug and then left. She sat there alone, her