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effective.”
    “I’m
afraid that’s not an option. If you decide to help us, no one
can ever know. We’ll have you sign documents that protect us
from you divulging anything. We have ways to make the consequences
of breathing even a word very convincing. No, Miss Bishop, you’ll
be part of a top secret exploratory team. This is between you and
me, and it has to stay that way.”
    “How
do I know you are for real?”
    “For
real? .... I suppose that’s not an unreasonable question. The
easiest way will be to inspect my identification once you arrive at
the Dallas Fort Worth airport tonight. It’s a public place.
You’ll be free to turn around if you’re not satisfied.”
    Etty
wished she’d had more time. It had occurred to her that the
trades might be questionable. She had figured privately that
Warren’s involvement would somehow legitimize it. He, after
all, came with the years of practical experience. Now she chided
herself for not bringing legality up with him openly - she admitted
to herself that she didn’t want to mention it. Stalling, she
asked, “Tell me again, exactly what you want me to do
tonight.”
    “Come
down here. We pay all expenses, and through the weekend we’ll
run all the analyses you want. We have information on every
commodity that Global trades in. Maybe you’ll see something.
We have state of the art equipment, and rooms full of support
people. You’ll probably enjoy it.”
    “Just
the weekend?”
    “You’d
be back early next week, and then on call over the life of the
project.”
    “And
if I don’t find anything?”
    “That’s
our risk. You commit to us, we drop charges.”
    What
a paper she could write, she thought. “Would I be able to
continue my dissertation ...”
    “You
ask a lot for someone balancing on the edge. No, all mention of
this in any written material would have to be destroyed. I’m
sorry, you’ll have to start over. Anyway, did you really
think you could connect Dartmouth’s investment gains to a
market manipulation scheme in a published paper?”
    “I
suppose you’re right.” An unsettling mix of pride and
foolishness left her quiet. Finally she asked, “Where do I
go?”
    “Simple.
Here’s the plan.”
    Etty
fumbled around on her messy desk top for a pen. She pushed aside
her collection of newspaper balls, and ripped a clean sheet out of a
notebook. “Go ahead.”
    “Excuse
the false premises, but to make this easier for all of us to keep it
under wraps, we’ve created an alibi. Tell people you are
interviewing at an investment advisory company in Las Colinas,
Texas, outside of Dallas, called World Investment Corporation. We
will send a fax to your office at the College confirming the
interview time at 8:00am tomorrow morning, Saturday, along with a
complete itinerary. Take American Airlines flight 263 out of
Concord tonight leaving at 10:30pm. The tickets will be at the
counter in your name. Change planes in Boston to flight 1123 for
the red-eye to Dallas leaving at midnight. I’ll be waiting at
the gate.”
    “Sounds
like you were expecting me to say yes. Do I really have to come
tonight? It’s snowing up here you know.”
    His
voice became harsher. “I hope you see what’s happening
here. If this is your idea of cooperation, I’m beginning to
question my offer.”
    “I’m
sorry. I’ll cooperate.”
    “Good.”
    Etty
knew she had no choice. The pile of books and unfinished
assignments in front of her on the desk reminded her how arrogantly
they had overrun her life. They demanded action entirely on their
terms with threats of devastating retribution. She wasn’t
just going to roll over, no matter who they were. “Mr.
Leeson, you have to understand this is all quite incredible. I
promise my support, and appreciate your offer for immunity, but I
need a few protections.”
    “It
depends. Like what?”
    “Umm,
first of all, I will request an airport security escort off the
plane. You must be at the gate with proper ID and