“Not exactly.”
“Were you tested?”
“Yes. I made mistakes.”
Roland told the others, “The proper term is eidetic. The tests are said to be awful. Right, Colin?”
“They were okay, I guess.” Colin pulled down a book at random. He loved the heft, the onionskin pages, the dense text.
“The subject is given a sheet of paper with computer-generated dots. The page is taken away, and a second sheet is given. How long were you allowed to study each, Colin?”
“Twenty seconds.”
“Then the subject is given a third sheet, this one blank. And told to list all the dots that were in the first page but not the second. In their proper places.”
Mira asked, “How do you know about this?”
“Eidetic is often connected to serious development problems. It’s been an issue in a couple of cases. And here comes Aaron.”
Colin fit the book back into place as a small man entered. He was a head shorter than Mira and very skinny. But from that very first instant, Colin discounted the man’s size. He carried a quiet intensity with him, a focus as tight as a laser. He shook Ethan’s hand, smiled at Mira, then looked at Colin and said, “This young man must be the purpose for our gathering.”
“None other.” Roland said to Colin, “Aaron handles all our clients within the entertainment industry.”
Aaron gestured to the chairs. “Why don’t we all find seats and let this young man explain what has everyone so excited.”
Colin talked for ninety-seven minutes straight. At some point they brought him a water, which he drank, and then someone filled his glass, and he drank that also. Describing the same concept, answering many of the same questions, did not change his feeling of being supercharged with theexposure of his dreams. And the pressure. All they knew of course was the opportunity’s timeline. But that was enough.
Aaron asked far more probing questions. He insisted on seeing Colin’s algorithms and then ordered him to do a step-by-step overview of how his fake investments had worked. Colin thought he had entered the meeting fully prepared, but Aaron’s questions had him searching files and restructuring things from memory. Then he had to show how he had broken into the chat rooms, and where the current project’s rumors had first surfaced, then how they reached crescendo. All the while, Aaron tracked the timeline of his fake acquisitions on Colin’s computer. The only time he moved was to strip off his suit jacket and loosen his tie. He was the stillest man Colin had ever met.
Finally, the diminutive attorney said, “All right, I’ve seen enough.”
Roland demanded, “Is this for real?”
“I can’t follow the math. Which actually is somewhat reassuring. But the pattern of trends he has outlined is nothing short of astonishing.”
Mira bounced in her chair. “This is just so totally wild.”
Ethan said, “You guys left me in your dust about an hour ago. And I’m thrilled to bits.”
Roland said, “So we are agreed? Aaron?”
“I’m in. Definitely.”
“Ethan?”
“Green light.”
Roland turned to Colin. Somber and official. And yet clearly pleased. “Here’s what we propose. We establish a limited partnership. We supply you with the capital. You instruct us on the investments. In return, you receive twenty percent of all profits.”
“Which is more than fair,” Aaron offered. “On the high side of the going rate. The financial risk is all ours.”
Colin looked from one to the other. “Capital?”
Aaron was the one to ask, “How many other potential investments have you targeted?”
“One more that might develop in a month or so. I’m watching six others. But ten thousand dollars, that can’t be spread on so many longs.”
“Hold on to your hat,” Mira said, bouncing again.