“We are going to make an initial investment of ninety-six thousand dollars,” Aaron said. “Thirty from each of us, and …”
“Three from me and three from Lucas,” Mira said.
Ethan said, “You sure about this?”
“Absolutely, Daddy. No way you’re doing this without us.” She smiled across the table. “Anybody got a feather? We could knock Colin into next week.”
Aaron went on, “We serve as legal conduits for several clients who do offshore investments. My aide’s name is Lucretia Vaughan. She’ll set up your accounts and handle the trades. Roland …”
“I’ll handle it.” To Colin, “There are some hoops we’ll need to jump through before we can form the LLC. I suppose someone at the academy serves as your legal guardian—”
“No.” He said it overloud. “Nobody there can know.”
There was a moment’s silence; then Ethan asked, “Why not, Colin?”
“It’s complicated. But this has to remain secret.”
Aaron looked at his partner. “Roland?”
The family lawyer studied the table in front of him for a long moment. Despite the silence, Colin found his sudden flame of fear subsiding. They were treating him as one of them. What he said mattered.
Roland looked up. “I can work this out.”
“Then it’s settled.” Aaron rose from the table. “Sorry, I’m late for my lunch.”
Colin asked, “When can I start?”
“The funds will be available to you this afternoon,” Roland said.
“We don’t need to wait for the paperwork,” Aaron said. “Your timing issue is clear enough.” He offered Colin his hand. “Young man, this has been remarkable. I look forward to hearing good news.”
CHAPTER16
Colin’s target was Legend Inc., a publicly traded maker of electronic games based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. Industry analysts had long classed it as a one-hit wonder. Their first major release, a syfy adventure calledBarsoom, had been a global hit. But they had rushed the sequel and relied too heavily on their ongoing success. The second game had bombed.
For the past four years, Legend had been developing a new game. During this same period, however, the industry had undergone seismic shifts. The user platforms, from laptops to Nintendo, had all seen major upgrades. The industry analysts working for the major banks and investment funds downgraded the company. As Colin worked his calculations, he visualized a flock of vultures in fancy suits and ties circling far overhead.
For a month and eleven days following his investment, nothing happened.
Colin’s biggest relief to that nerve-wracking wait camefrom meeting Mira. She texted once or twice each week, suggesting a time when she could swing by. Usually they frequented a café in the Mayfaire outdoor mall. Occasionally her lifeguard schedule meant they’d meet at the club’s coffee shop. Lucas was usually with her at the club. Colin liked her boyfriend but vastly preferred being alone with Mira, listening to her talk. Once she took him to a favorite bistro for a meal after she finished school, just the two of them. That was the most special time of all. Mira drove a bright yellow VW convertible, a perfect vehicle for a beautiful young woman. Colin never said how nervous he was when she drove too fast and was too quick to use the horn. Not to mention how she spent as much time looking at him as the road. They never spoke about the investment. She never asked why he was skipping so many swim lessons. Mira talked about her life, her work with the Young Republicans, her relationship with Lucas, her application to the University of Virginia. The topic did not matter. For those brief interludes, Colin was able to set aside the pressures and the fears. She talked, he absorbed.
He wondered if her relationship with Lucas filled the void from the loss of her twin. After that first conversation, Mira never again brought the topic up. He did not want to risk the pleasure of those hours by touching on a sensitive issue. But for Colin, every meeting reinforced the sense that theirs was a bond that went far beyond two new friends.
The remainder of that interminable period, Colin barely slept. He skipped meals. He paced. He ran his calculations six, seven, eight times a day. Each new shred of information was a reason to panic.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the Uber driver was waiting out front when he emerged at seven o’clock. The morning and afternoon commutes to and from UNCW took around twenty minutes, depending on traffic. He wassigned up for three classes: calculus two and three, and advanced problem solving. Fremdt taught both the calculus classes. APS was handled by a postdoc.
Those first weeks at UNC Wilmington passed in a featureless blur. The classes were challenging, but despite his serrated schedule he found himself able to follow everything. When his professors called on him, Colin managed to respond. He got several things wrong, but if either professor noticed his superficial study habits they did not mention it aloud. Outside of classes Colin was stared at, but no one bothered him. Or at least if they did, he couldn’t be bothered to notice.
He stopped attending academy classes altogether.
Six weeks after the funds had been invested, Arnold stopped by the house. “Where have you been?”
“I don’t understand the question.”
“You don’t …” He took a long look at Colin. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing’s the matter. I’m tired, is all.”