Lester Walsh was on the screen. “Bull, I hope you’re on your way back. I think we’ve found the insider, that’s the good news. The bad news is it’s Jack Blunt. This means all your Mars properties are at risk.
“Our discovery started with an anonymous tip. We started looking at what Jack has been looking at, and we found that for the last year he’s been researching your holdings on Earth. Apparently he and Valence are holding action on Mars in reserve.
“We haven’t confronted him, the evidence isn’t that solid, but this puts us in a damn tricky situation. The income from the Mars properties is essential to fighting off this suit. Our only chance of ending this quickly and with minimum damage is to throw a lot of money at the problem right away. If Jack betrays us, or even just screws up a tricky liquidation, damage to our effort will be enormous.
“It’s your call, Bull, on how to handle Jack. What do you know that will let us ease him out quickly and smoothly? Get back as soon as you can!” Lester’s image faded.
“It makes sense on one level,” Bull thought. “Jack is always complaining about this trip. But then, he’s always complaining, period. Why would he spend a year researching how to cut off my balls and complain at the same time? Is this a red herring?
“I believe Lester when he says Jack is critical to this situation … but man! The Honeycomb is what I want to think about. Still … still … I know Jack. He’s smart, and this is too straightforward to be his style.”
Bull fired up the screen for a message to Jack.
“Jack, Lester tells me we’re going to need a lot of cash, a lot more cash, to fend off this suit. Report to me what we can liquidate over the next six months and next year. I know you’re already liquidating, but this lawsuit is above and beyond. I’m headed home, but I need to know what cash you can pull together in the meantime.
“Signing off, Bull.”
Bull reviewed the message a couple of times before he sent it, mostly to make sure the pace wasn’t too slow and he looked distracted enough that he didn’t come across as suspicious.
Then he ordered, “Honey, you know what I hold on Mars. Run a simulation of what’s the best way to liquidate it. I want to compare what you come up with to what Jack comes up with. That should tell me if I’m still getting 100% from him.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Bring up my Mars managers’ … the Pluto money! Honey, find the status on my government payment for the Pluto expedition. Make sure I have that. That much cash may take a lot of pressure off. That could be my ace in the hole.”
“I’ll check immediately.”
* * *
The message came back from Jack quickly; apparently Bull’s request had been no surprise. And while Jack’s liquidation list wasn’t the same as Honey’s, it was close enough to rule out systematic error. It seemed that Jack was still handling the family jewels with care. So if Jack wasn’t part of the problem, who was?
“Honey, I need some serious searching done. I need to find my enemies.”
“I can contact a detective agency on Earth.”
“Do that. But I also want something additional.” He leaned back and steepled his fingers. “This is a money issue, and now I’m thinking about trajectories, financial trajectories. I want you to find a machine like TC, only one that computes financial trajectories. I want to find out who among my acquaintances of the last three years has had a sudden change in financial trajectory. Can you find a machine to handle that?”
“That’s not a request I’ve heard before. It will take time.”
“Take it.”