The Lasko Tangent Read Online Free PDF Page A

them from somewhere else. So I checked our files on Lasko Devices. On July 16 Lasko Devices offered 300,000 new shares to the public. Because the price of new shares is based on the market price of the stock the day before the offering, each share sold at $16 instead of $10, which was the market price two days earlier. Six more bucks multiplied by 300,000 shares means that Lasko Devices made an extra $1,800,000 on the offering. All because of Sam Green.”
    “So your thought is maybe someone at the company put him up to it.”
    “It’s possible.”
    I leaned back. “Let’s see how that works. Green could have waited for the offering and bought it cheaper. So the timing stinks. What bothers me is Lasko. Lasko Devices doesn’t need another $1,800,000. They’re making money. And with his antitrust problems over at Justice, he doesn’t need more problems with us. Besides, it’s pretty crude.”
    Robinson took off his glasses and inspected them for smudges. He found one and rubbed absently. “I never would have found it except that McGuire got that tip.”
    “Still, I wonder why my genius boss, Feiner, didn’t catch it. He has market watch people monitoring the stocks for things like this.”
    Robinson shrugged. “I never speak ill of the dead. It’s my theory that Feiner suffered brain death years ago.”
    I smiled. “OK. A few questions. Why would the company go to Sam? And what’s in it for him? As I recall, he had one foot in jail the last go-around, before he wangled immunity by trading in his friends.” I paused. “How many shares did Sam buy?”
    “About 20,000.”
    I multiplied. “Even accounting for the rise in price, that’s about $300,000. Where did he get all that money?”
    Robinson looked curious himself. “Which is why you should run Sam in here for some questioning, under oath.”
    “I’ll do that.”
    Robinson was looking at me askance, waiting. I went ahead, anyhow. “Did you check out Mary Carelli?”
    He thought for a second, then faced me with bright, candid eyes. “Anyone else, Chris, and I’d figure this for bureaucratic dirt gathering. But you neglect your self-interest to the point of irresponsibility. You’re investigating Mary Carelli like you’re investigating Lasko. Look, you’re the brightest lawyer I’ve seen here. Don’t screw yourself up. You’ve got to learn to let things go that can’t be helped.”
    I tried to find a way to ask for help. And to tell him that I appreciated the concern. But I couldn’t seem to combine them. He saw my confusion. “Chris, what do you want to be doing five years from now? Private practice? You could make a lot of money. You could do well here, too, if you wanted. You’ve got a great record.”
    Hearing the alternatives out loud gave me a bleak, wasted feeling. “So where am I?”
    He answered me indirectly. “I hear you had another hassle with McGuire this morning.”
    “News travels fast.”
    “You gave Ike Feiner fifteen minutes alone to chortle.”
    “I didn’t know he was capable of chortling.”
    Robinson gave a smile which didn’t connect with his eyes. “Look, McGuire and Feiner are already pissed at you. If you start rattling the wrong cages, they could really screw you. On the outside too. Don’t think the firms in this town don’t ask around before they hire a government lawyer. If McGuire lets the word out you’re not welcome here, you’ll be as popular as the clap.”
    That was right, I knew. But the rewards of good behavior seemed weightless. I didn’t know what I wanted and didn’t want what I could have. Perhaps McGuire was right about people like me. “I appreciate what you’ve said, Jim. But I just got it tucked to me on the Hartex case. The next time I go down kicking and screaming.”
    He looked disturbed. “That may happen.”
    “I’m running out of time here, anyhow.”
    “It’s the only career you’ve got. I wouldn’t take it so lightly.”
    “Believe me, I don’t.”
    Robinson stared