Page 40 of Winterveil

At the same time that Nadiya spotted them, her tablet pinged. It was a message from Dr. Iver.

Professor Blanchard told me about your session. I’m worried about you. Please come to the residence.

Nadiya’s heart thumped as she rose from her seat. She walked over to the desk and picked up the plastic case and, with the nauseous, vague feeling that she was disobeying orders, held them out to Giselle.

“Here,” she said hurriedly. “I know this sounds strange, but wear them tonight when you sleep. Okay?”

Giselle’s brow furrowed.

“Just try it? Please.”

With a slow nod, Giselle reached out and took the case. When her fingers brushed Nadiya’s palm, Nadiya felt a faint current of electricity.

She was definitely disobeying some sort of order, though she didn’t know exactly what—only that a sense of danger was pulsing under her skin. Without another word, Nadiya turned and fled the classroom.

Interstitial

SUBMITTED: COURTROOM TRANSCRIPT FOR SHIMONOVA, KLAUDIA (NEW YORK, NY) [CLEARANCE REQ.]

MR. RITTER

Q: Did you have any allies at investment firms who leaked information to you? Were you privy to any analyst reports?

MS. SHIMONOVA

A: No.

Q: According to your transcript, you interned at McKinsey & Company for a year. You would have had ample time to make connections with investors or analysts.

A: Conceivably.

Q: Is that a yes?

A: No.

Q: Then how did you know which shares to purchase, when to buy and sell, and so on?

A: I read the Wall Street Journal.

Q: You read the Wall Street Journal?

MR. SIEGEL

Your Honor, my client’s teacher has already confirmed this in her testimony. My client read the Wall Street Journal every day at lunch.

MR. RITTER

I am familiar with the testimony. I was simply curious as to how a fifteen-year-old girl was able to have such an intimate knowledge of the workings of the stock market.

MR. SIEGEL

Well, her father has been employed at Quaestor for more than ten years.

MR. RITTER

Q: Mr. Shimonov’s testimony indicated that he had never shared information about his work with Ms. Shimonova. Is that true?

MS. SHIMONOVA