Thirst No. 3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

to find you.”
    I’ve lived in Missouri only two months. No one should have my address. “In what context was I mentioned?” I ask.
    “Randy was looking into that when he vanished,” Jeff says. “All we know is that IIC considers you ‘a person of interest.’ That’s how you were described in their files.”
    “Where does Randy live?” I ask.
    “Manhattan,” Lisa says. “He works for an investment firm on Wall Street, Unlimited Investments Incorporated, or UII. But here’s the real kicker. After he hacked into IIC’s system, he realized it was indirectly connected to a half dozen investment firms, his own included. In fact, that’s how he was able to break through IIC’s firewall. It was familiar to him.”
    “Are you saying all these companies are really one and the same?”
    “Yes,” Lisa says.
    “Aren’t there laws against such things?” I ask.
    Jeff nods. “Sure. But as far as Randy was able to tell, IIC and their partners are simply fronts for a single gigantic investment firm.”
    “Which is called?”
    “That’s the point. It doesn’t have a name. It’s not supposed to exist,” Lisa says.
    “This sounds like it has all the makings of a complex conspiracy story. But I still don’t see what it has to do with me.”
    “Surely you must be curious why IIC is interested in you?” Jeff asks.
    I’m extremely curious, but I respond casually. “I’m a person of some wealth, although I prefer not to advertise the fact. I’m sure, like any other investment firm, that IIC keeps a record of wealthy individuals.”
    “You weren’t just on a list,” Lisa says. “They had a whole file on you.”
    “Why didn’t you say that at the start?”
    “I’m saying it now!” Lisa snaps, and I can tell she’s not angry at me, but at her company for making her old boyfriend disappear.
    “What else was in my file? Besides my name and address?”
    “We told you, Randy was looking into it when he vanished,” Lisa says.
    “Randy did say the file spoke of you as having a ‘lengthy history,’” Jeff says.
    “What does that mean?” I ask, but it’s easy for me to imagine the true answer.
    “We don’t know,” Jeff replies.
    Lisa leans toward me. “You don’t appear to be worried that IIC is obsessed with you. Frankly, I’d be very worried.”
    “Because of what they did to your old boyfriend?” I ask.
    “That’s the tip of the iceberg,” Jeff says. “The more we dig into IIC and their partners, the more we discover how big and powerful they are.”
    “They may be the richest company in the world,” Lisa says.
    “And no one knows their name,” Jeff adds.
    I shake my head. “How do they make so much money on the market?”
    Lisa hesitates. “We don’t know.”
    “Are you still working for them?” I ask her.
    “Yes.”
    “That must be risky.” When Lisa does not respond, I add, “Don’t you have some idea how they make their money?”
    I’ve finally asked the question that matters. Lisa and Jeff exchange an uneasy look. “Have you heard of the Array?” Lisa asks.
    “No. What’s that?”
    “We’re not sure, not yet,” Lisa says.
    “But it’s clear from the info Randy dug up that the Array allows them to invest with remarkable accuracy,” Jeff says.
    “Is it an advanced software program?” I ask.
    “It might be,” Lisa says. “We know it deals with computers.”
    “Did you come all the way to Missouri hoping I’d know about this Array?”
    “We were hoping you would know something,” Jeff says.
    “Whoever you are, you’re important to IIC,” Lisa says.
    “I promise you, I know nothing about the Array or IIC.” I suddenly stand, signaling that our meeting is over. The fact I don’t know about the investment firm doesn’t mean I’m not going to find out everything I can about them. Lisa and Jeff get up reluctantly. They don’t want to leave. Lisa offers me her card.
    “Please call if you hear from IIC,” she says. “Or anyone else that worries