Page 7 of Unlocked

Jason set the glass down. "You're worried about people hearing our conversation."

"I think you're probably more worried about that than I am," Archer pointed out. "But I'd like to give you as much privacy as possible. Unfortunately, these days my privacy comes at a cost."

Jason snorted. "Austin Davis really has it out for you."

Normally, Archer wouldn't respond to a comment like that. But Jason was struggling to get to the point, and Archer wanted him to relax.

"He does seem to have me in his sights," Archer said.

"You think he's having you followed? Bugging your rooms? Things like that?" Jason's concern was written plainly across his face.

Archer had no intention of getting into it. He couldn't tell this man the truth, however, he found he didn't want to lie about it either. "I think that's my problem to worry about, not yours. So why don't you tell me what your problem is?"

Jean-Pierre arrived just then, setting a basket of fragrant bread between them before disappearing again.

Jason picked up a small baguette and proceeded to tear it apart with his fingers. Not eating. Just occupying his hands. Nervous energy, Archer noted.

"You know about Granite Industries?" Jason asked. "You're familiar?"

"So that's what this is about," Archer said. "The Ponzi scheme."

Jason nodded. "I assume you're aware of what happened."

"I am."

Jason hesitated, then admitted, "I lost a lot of money."

"I'm sorry," Archer said quietly.

Jason shook his head. "It was a horrible business. Were you? Caught up in it, that is?"

The question carried weight. Archer could hear it in Jason's voice, not curiosity, but the need for someone else to share the damage. Misery liked company.

"No," Archer said. "I'm forbidden from investing the Society's resources in any company owned by a member."

Jason blinked. "That must make it very hard to invest. Our members seem to own most of the top companies in the world, or at the very least work at the C level in them."

Archer smiled faintly. "It does, quite frankly. But we've managed workarounds. We have accounts in many of them, but we keep them as anonymous as possible. Our members don't know that we have accounts at their companies. It's worked so far."

"And you personally?" Jason asked. He took another sip of wine, smaller this time.

"No." Archer didn't bother to add anything to that. There was nothing else he could say.

Jason exhaled. "You were smart, then."

"It's not about being smart," Archer said. "It's about the rules of my employment."

He didn't mention that there was no chance in hell he would have invested with those three idiots anyway. There was no need to make Jason feel worse, and despite his reputation, Archer found himself wanting to soften the blow. After all, Jason was a board member, and it was looking more and more like there would be a day when Archer might need his support to keep Austin Davis at bay.

"So…" Archer paused. "What is it you're hoping I can help you with?"

Jason hesitated again, as if weighing the question.

Jean-Pierre returned and set two bowls of soup on the table. "French onion," he said, then vanished back into the kitchen.

"Sorry," Jason said. "What were we saying?"

"We were discussing your losses," Archer said.