Elusive (On The Run Book #1) by Sara Rosett Read Free Book Online Page B

journalism, you know?”
The number of unique visitors to the blog was growing steadily, and she was
surprised that what had started as a lark had grown into something of an
underground sensation. Her friend Toby, who worked as a doorman at a swanky
hotel, sent her some photos of a shoving match between an NFL quarterback and
the paparazzi. She’d posted the photos with Toby’s description of what had
happened and added her own slightly sarcastic commentary. The blog was a hit. The
blog stats proved it, but she felt an edge of discomfort.
The Informationalist
was
tabloid news, “infotainment.” She wanted to be a respectable journalist with
serious articles below her byline. “So about GRS ...what do you know?”
    Mort shrugged. Jenny stifled a
sigh. He was clearly more interested in discussing her writing career than GRS,
but if she was right, if the research she’d done pointed to what she thought it
pointed to...well, this might be the case that would hold his attention, maybe
spark his interest and help him shake off some of the hopelessness that seemed
to hang on him like an oversized coat. And the story could be her break, too.
She finished her soup then moved her bowl aside so she could spread a stack of
papers on the table.
    “What are those?”
    “Press releases from GRS.” Jenny
handed him one. “This is from February.”
    He scanned it. “GRS to
revolutionize the e-waste sector. Yeah,” he said, his voice bored. “Hot topic
now, with the fast turnover of computers and cell phones. They want businesses
to outsource e-recycling to them. They guarantee a secure disposal and that
components will be broken down, using proper environmental precautions.
Appealing to everyone’s environmentally conscious side and all that.”
    “Right,” Jenny said. “Until I
researched this, I had no idea that e-waste was shipped to China and India and
broken down by hand. And that toxins and pollutants can be released.”
    Mort tilted his tall, red glass
for the last sip of his drink then looked toward the soda dispenser.
    Jenny fanned out more press
releases. “They’ve announced partnerships with C-Tech Recycling, Trans-Global
Recycling, and Guahzouh Inc., a disposal company in China.” Mort edged toward
the end of the booth with his glass as she continued, “None of which have
actually happened. In fact, I can’t find records that the last two companies
even exist. C-Tech Recycling does exist, but it isn’t a partner with GRS.
C-Tech signed an agreement to receive recyclables from GRS for six months.”
    He glanced at her. “Just six?”
    “Yep.” She had him. She could see
it in the sharpness in his gaze. She dropped a sheaf of printouts at least half
an inch thick on top of the press releases. “These are message board posts at
investment websites. Beginning in January, there’s increasing chatter about
GRS. It’s an ‘innovative company,’ a ‘fast burner,’ and ‘investors should get
in quick.’ Some of the messages are copied verbatim from one message board to
another, always anonymously, of course. I have no way of figuring out if the
same person or group of people has been talking up GRS, but....”
    Mort had been leafing through the
message board posts, but he stopped and looked at her. “And in return for all
this legwork, you’re expecting some inside info on the investigation. We have
people who do this, you know. You’ve probably duplicated their work already.”
    “I have to do all this research
myself—to make sure. I’m not taking anyone’s word for anything, not even the
FBI’s. I’m writing this story, Mort,” she said firmly.
    He sighed, stared at her for a moment.
“Off the record...”
    “Of course.”
    “None of this is for publication.
Not yet. The SEC has had some complaints.”
    When he didn’t say anything else,
Jenny raised her eyebrows. “About...”
    “Irregularities, possible stock
price manipulation, questionable investor information.” He glanced