The Closers by Michael Connelly Page A

you, Mrs. Quinlan? Did Lilly or Mr. Glass ever mention that name?"
    "Um, no. Mr. Glass didn't mention any names. Who is it?"
    "I don't know. It's just someone she knew, I guess."
    That was it. He had nothing else.
    "Okay, Mrs. Quinlan, I'm going to keep trying to find her and I'll tell her to call you when I do."
    "I'd appreciate that and make sure you tell her about the money, that I'm getting real low."
    "Right. I will."
    He hung up and thought for a few moments about what he knew. Probably too much about Lilly. It made him feel depressed and sad. He hoped one of her clients did take her away with a promise of riches and luxury. Maybe she was in Hawaii somewhere or in a rich man's penthouse in Paris.
    But he doubted it.
    "Guys in tuxedos," he said out loud.
    "What?"
    He looked up. Charlie Condon was standing in the door. Pierce had left it open.
    "Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself. What are you doing here?"
    He realized that Lilly Quinlan's phone book and the mail were spread in front of him. He nonchalantly picked up the daily planner he kept on the desk, looked at it like he was checking a date and then put it down on top of the envelopes with her name on them.
    "I called your new number and got Monica. She said you were supposed to be here while she waited for furniture to be delivered. But nobody answered in the lab or in your office, so I came by."
    He leaned against the door frame. Charlie was a handsome man with what seemed like a perpetual tan. He had worked as a model in New York for a few years before getting bored and going back to school for a master's in finance. They had been introduced by an investment banker who knew Condon was skilled at taking underfinanced emerging-technology firms and matching them with investors. Pierce had joined with him because he'd promised to do it with Amedeo Technologies without Pierce having to sacrifice his controlling interest to investors. In return, Charlie would hold 10 percent of the company, a stake that could ultimately be worth hundreds of millions- if they won the race and went public with a stock offering.
    I missed your calls," Pierce said. "I just got here, actually. Stopped to get something to eat first."
    Charlie nodded.
    "I thought you'd be in the lab."
    Meaning, why aren't you in the lab? There is work to be done.
    TTr , J
    we re in a race. We've got a presentation to a whale to make. You can't chase the dime from your office.
    lean, don't worry, I'll get there. I just have some mail to go through. You came all the way in to check on me?"
    (&
    "Not really. But we only have until Thursday to get our shit together for Maurice. I wanted to make sure everything was all right."
    Pierce knew they were placing too much importance on Maurice Goddard. Even Charlie's e-mail reference to the investor as God was a subliminal indication of this. It was true that Thursday's dog and pony show would be the dog and pony show of all time, but Pierce had growing concern about Condon's reliance on this deal. They were seeking an investor willing to commit at least $6 million a year over three or four years, minimum. Goddard, according to the due diligence conducted by Nicole James and Cody Zeller, was worth $250 million, thanks to his getting in early on a few investments like Microsoft. It was clear that Goddard had the money. But if he didn't come across with a significant funding plan after Thursday's presentation, then there had to be another investor out there. It would be Condon's job to go out and find him.
    "Don't worry," Pierce said. "We'll be ready. Is Jacob coming in fork?"
    "He'll be here."
    Jacob Kaz was the company's patent attorney. They had fifty eight patents already granted or applied for and Kaz was going to file nine more the Monday after the presentation to Goddard. Patents were the key to the race. Control the patents and you are in on the ground floor and will eventually control the market. The nine new patent applications were the first to come out of the