She’d lucked out. A native New Yorker, a nearly extinct breed in New York City. His driver’s ID said he was Vincent Toledo. He looked to be in his midfifties with sharp dark eyes and ears sticking straight out from a nearly bald head. He had a flattened nose, probably broken more than once. “Yes, that’s right. And what do you think of Harrington? Will you vote for him for mayor?”

He gave her another look in the rearview. “Nah, fellow’s just a calf, can’t know his butt from his elbow, too young to know any of the players who make this town run right. I know he’s swimming in dough, his mama and daddy bankrolling him. No, give me Paulie O’Connor, he’s my guy, Brooklyn born and raised, our borough president since the Bloomberg days. He knows all the players, all the right people, he knows how to get things done. Remember the garbage strike last month? He put a word in the mayor’s ear and got that shut down like that.” And Vincent snapped his fingers. “Paulie knows whose palm to grease, knows whose back to scratch. I’ll tell you, the mayor knows what he’s got in Paulie, listens to him all the time. But, if not Paulie, then maybe they should change the law; it’d be okay if the mayor stayed in.”

“Unfortunately, the mayor is termed out. No changing that law.”

“I know, I know, but I can wish, can’t I? Bums me out. But Harrington? No way. With him, we’d have garbage up to our armpits.”

Pure gold. Mia opened her tablet as fast as she could and kept him talking. By the time the taxi pulled to a stop at the curb in front of Harrington’s campaign headquarters, it had stopped raining. Mia gave him a big tip. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Toledo. Thanks for your opinions. I’ll be sure to include them in the article I’m writing.”

“You might win a fancy award if you do. Nobody could disagree with me, unless they’re idiots.”

She stood a moment, staring after his cab, barely moving in the heavy traffic. She wondered if Harrington knew Paulie O’Connor. She looked up at the Walcott Building, five years old, all steel and glass. Even in the dull winter light, the acres of glass sparkled. Did his family own the building? She wouldn’t be surprised. She glanced down at her watch. Five minutes until her scheduled interview with Harrington.