The Insider by Reece Hirsch Page B

was thinking same thing,” Nikolai said. “Maybe we should go outside.” Nikolai turned again to face Will. “I’m going to give you a few seconds to think about this before we continue.”
    Will desperately searched for something that he could say that might make them stop.
    â€œYou know, you’re going to get caught. You can’t pull this off,” Will gasped, as he applied a second towel proffered by Yuri.
    â€œOh, yeah? And why is that?” Yuri asked.
    â€œThe SEC has systems that detect unusual trading activity, particularly when a public company is acquired.”
    â€œYes, we know,” Nikolai said.
    â€œThe first people that the SEC looks at when there’s a leak of inside information are the attorneys. And if they find me, it’s going to lead them to you.”
    â€œYou’re not leading anybody anywhere,” Yuri said. “You’re not going to talk to anyone about this because if you do, we’re going to kill you.”
    â€œTime to decide,” Nikolai added.
    As he pressed the dish towel to his arm, he still couldn’t stop looking at the blade of the box cutter, which was now smeared with blood. Suddenly there seemed to be so many reasons why he should talk to them. And insider trading was just about money, after all. What was money compared to the blade of that box cutter?
    He tried to wipe his nose, but the movement sent a shooting pain through his arm.
    Nikolai watched him expectantly, tightening his grip on the box cutter.
    â€œOkay,” Will said. As soon as he said the word, he felt a wave of relief, quickly followed by sickening guilt. He had to admit, though, that as he watched Nikolai put away the box cutter, the relief was stronger.
    Yuri released his grip on Will’s arms and raised the seat to a sitting position.
    â€œGood,” Nikolai said. “Then we are going to need to get a few facts straight. First, who is buying Jupiter?”
    â€œPearl Systems.”
    â€œReally? I have one of their computers at home. They are publicly traded, yes?”
    â€œThey’re on the New York Stock Exchange.”
    â€œAnd this deal makes the price go up?”
    Will pressed the dish towel to his arm. “I don’t really know.”
    â€œI think that you do. Please, no bullshit.”
    â€œYeah, the market is probably going to like the deal. Jupiter’s encryption software is a natural fit with some of the new business applications that Pearl is developing.”
    â€œAnd when is deal going to close?”
    â€œWe don’t know for sure, but we’re aiming for May first.”
    â€œJust two weeks away.”
    â€œYeah, but a million things could still go wrong. It could take much longer. It might not close at all.”
    â€œYou will see that it does,” Nikolai said.
    â€œIf you think that I control this process, you’re mistaken. If either party gets cold feet, I can’t be responsible for that.”
    â€œOh, but you can. We are making you responsible,” Yuri said.
    â€œBut what’s so special about this deal?” Will asked. “Surely there are easier ways to make some quick money. And there are plenty of other public-company transactions you could have chosen.”
    Yuri leaned forward from the backseat, already snickering at his own joke. “We could tell you that, Will . . . BUT THEN WE’D HAVE TO KILL YOU!”
    Nikolai removed a cell phone from his pocket. “There’s something else that you need to see, just in case you’re thinking of going to the SEC or some stupid shit like that.”
    Nikolai switched on the phone and played a video clip that was recorded on the phone’s camera. He held the small screen inches from Will’s face.
    An out-of-focus, color-saturated image appeared on the phone’s video display. At first, all he could see was a blue, carpeted floor, which Will immediately guessed was the blue carpeting of