Free The Insider by Stephen Frey

whole thing. Which I believe they will.”
    “No. You can never count on the Japanese. Just when you think they’re going to do one thing, they do the opposite. They’re smart that way.” Oliver smiled. “Don’t be disappointed, Jay West. I like your thinking, but I’ve got a better idea.”
    Jay glanced up. “What?”
    “A company called Simons. It’s headquartered in the Midwest somewhere. Green Bay, or maybe Milwaukee— I’m not really sure. Anyway, do some quick research on it. Make certain there aren’t any major problems. No deadly viruses or ticking time bombs. When it checks out, buy fifty thousand shares. Understand?”
    “I’ll get right on it.”
    “Good.” Oliver dropped his feet to the floor and leaned toward Jay. “That ought to help you out with what you have to admit has been a slow start here.”
    Jay recoiled slightly. He hadn’t been prepared for that.
    “I know you bought the Bates shares this morning, but that wasn’t originally your idea.”
    “I know.”
    “Of course, I’ll kick your ass if you’ve stuck me with five hundred thousand additional shares and that GE offer never materializes.”
    Jay said nothing.
    “Two more things, pal,” Oliver said quickly. “First, I want you to take tomorrow off and come up to Connecticut for a day of sailing. The weather is supposed to be absolutely beautiful. Hot, but beautiful. I’ll have a car pick you up around eight o’clock in the morning at your apartment.”
    “I don’t think Bullock will be too happy about that.”
    Oliver flashed a smile. “Fuck Badger. Remember, he takes orders from me.”
    “I don’t know….”
    “There’ll be no further discussion. It’s a done deal,” Oliver said confidently. “It’ll be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better. And you can meet my wife.”
    “Okay.” He wasn’t looking forward to facing Oliver’s wife. She probably had no idea what Oliver did with Abby in his spare time.
    “Bring your swimming trunks and some nice clothes, too. A blazer, khakis, and a tie.” Oliver stood up and headed to the door.
    “You said there were two things, Oliver.”
    “Oh, right.” He stopped in the doorway. “Tomorrow when you come up to the house, I’m going to lend you a hundred thousand dollars to tide you over until bonus day.”
    “What?” Jay wasn’t certain he had heard correctly.
    “Yeah.” Oliver nodded. “I know you had to take a cut in salary to come here, and I’m going to help you out personally. I’ll loan you the money. You can repay me on bonus day.”
    “You don’t have to—”
    Oliver held up a hand. “I don’t want you driving around in that broken-down Taurus anymore.” He flashed another broad smile. “You don’t look good in that thing. You’ll look much better in that Beamer you told Bullock and me you had when we interviewed you.” And then he was gone.
    For several moments Jay stared at the vacant doorway. Finally he leaned back, took a deep breath, and rubbed his eyes. Oliver Mason was a man of many surprises.

 
    CHAPTER 3
----
    Tony Vogel stood in the foyer of the Plaza Hotel suite, an anxious expression on his face. “Oliver, I’m worried.” Vogel was a short, stout man with thinning hair and puffy purple bags beneath his sad eyes.
    Oliver studied the neatly arranged hair plugs in Vogel’s scalp. They resembled rows of newly sprouted corn. “What about, Tony? The new hair’s not taking?” He glanced down at the envelope in Vogel’s hand.
    “I think the people downtown know something,” Vogel replied gruffly, ignoring Oliver’s wisecrack.
    “No way. I would have heard.”
    “Just the same,” Vogel argued, “we need to be careful. Maybe it’s time to curtail this thing for a while. Maybe permanently.”
    Oliver laughed loudly. “We’ve been at this for almost five years and nothing’s gone wrong in all that time. Why are you suddenly getting cold feet?”
    “The others feel the same way,” Vogel responded,