Unknown Frey, Stephen#Shadow Account

Synopsis:

Freys latest pecuniary adventure follows his formula of extremely complicated plots spun around illegal, high-level financial shenanigans. Hes used it with variations before (The Takeover; The Legacy; The Insider; etc.), and despite clunky writing, implausible situations, lucky coincidences and untied threads, it proves perfectly serviceable once again. Investment banker Conner Ashby is checking his e-mail while beautiful girlfriend Liz Shaw lounges nude on his bed when he accidentally intercepts an interoffice memo that refers to improprieties in an entity named Project Delphi. The wayward communication states that this company is engaged in rampant corporate fraud: Big expense accounts, undocumented loans, and tons of in-the-money option grants. Plus, the senior guys are hiring executive assistants who look like centerfolds but cant spell their own names. Shortly after Conner receives the message, an intruder breaks into his apartment and starts shooting. Conner is out the window and on the run; Liz is dead. The plot encompasses a mysterious presidential chief of staff who is out to either save his boss or do him in, a secretary of the treasury who has cashed in big time on ill-gotten corporate shares, and quite a few women who either want to be Conners girlfriend or want him dead. Its all very tangled, but Frey has the undeniable ability to explain complex financial transactions while at the same time providing plenty of action and nuggets of insider money lore. Those readers who like their financial fiction fast and furious will be perfectly happy as long as they dont pay too much attention to the details. (Mar.) Forecast: Advertising in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and USA Today will alert Freys fans to his latest. Theyll do the rest. Look for it on bestseller lists.

What are you looking at?

Conner Ashby glanced up from his computer. Did you say something? He made it sound so sincere. Gave her that distracted tone and that puzzled expression. He had the routine down to a science, and he enjoyed playing with her head. It was one of those things they had in common.

Liz Shaw stood in the doorway of his cramped bedroom, hands on hips. She wore just an oversized blue-and-orange New York Knicks T-shirt that fell to her knees. Youre impossible, she said. Answer me. From the doorway, she couldnt see the screen.

Conner grinned, impressed by Lizs ability to make casual cotton as sexy as black lace. She was gorgeous. Easily the most beautiful woman hed ever been with. Im looking at my Schwab brokerage account.

Youre lying to me, Mr. Ashby.

Conner winced. It wasnt the accusation that bothered him. It was the fact that Liz never used his first name. Her means of maintaining a subtle yet effective distance. What are you talking about?

You dont have a Schwab account anymore.

Conner fished an ice cube from a Bronx Zoo cup sitting beside his computer on the old desk, and ran it slowly across his bare chest. The air-conditioning had gone down a few hours ago, and he was wearing nothing but a pair of cargo shorts. How do you know that?

I was on your computer last night before you got home. You closed your Schwab account. You, Mr. Ashby, are now an Ameritrade customer.

Hey, as modest as this hovel is, its my hovel, he reminded her, trying to sound annoyed. I pay the rent here and you had no right to go snooping around my computer.

Guilty as charged, Liz agreed, moving to the foot of the bed. But I did. So I know youre lying. She gestured at the monitor. Come on. What are you looking at?

He glanced out the open window beside his desk at the lights of Manhattans Upper East Side. They were burning hazy holes in the humid August night. Some surf shop Web site. Im gonna buy another board so I can

I bet youre looking at smut.

Conners eyes flashed to the screen. On it, a woman lay across a couch wearing a see-through teddy. She bore a strong resemblance to Lizblond and slim with full, firm breasts straining at the frilly material.

Turn the monitor this way, Liz demanded, crawling onto the bed.

Conner clicked back to his screen saver, a panoramic shot of a surfer emerging from the pipeline of a huge wave. But he was a second late.

I knew it, she said triumphantly, kneeling upright as she reached the edge of the mattress. Shed caught a glimpse of the image on the screen. Arent I enough? she asked, slipping the T-shirt over her head and dropping it in his lap. Or are you like most men? Obsessive about enjoying as many of us as possible.

Conner let out a long, slow breath, admiring the work of art now on display. His eyes flickered down to the sapphire dangling from a gold ring in her navel. A body piercing seemed like the last thing a society girl would have, which was why he loved it. Im like most men, he confessed.

At least you can admit it, she murmured, slipping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

Conner laughed softly as their lips parted.

Whats so funny?

What your father would say if he knew you were here.

Hed be horrified.

So he still thinks youre gonna marry Mr. Wonderful over at Morgan Sayers?

I still am.

She was always so damn blunt about it. At least she usually remembered to remove the other mans three carats when she was here.

Morgan Sayers is one of the worlds top investment banks, and Todd is one of its top investment bankers. She said the words as if they were a mantra. Todd is what my father wants. Hes the perfect son-in-law.

He hated it when Liz said the other mans name. Hed never laid eyes on Todd, but he could still picture the bastard. A tight-jawed, suspender-wearing snob whod never really had to work for anything. Then why are you here?

Lizs expression turned distant. Because of those beautiful blue eyes of yours, Mr. Ashby. Because you sing those Elvis songs to yourself all the time, even though you couldnt carry a tune if your life depended on it. She sighed. Because you gave me flowers last month when I was sick, and Todd didnt even notice I had a cough. Because every time Todd makes love to me, I want it to be you. She hesitated. Because youre what I want.

Then why dont you tell Todd to?

Liz cut him off with another kiss. I cant, she murmured, running her fingers through his jet-black hair. Ive told you that so many times.

But youve never told me why.

I just cant, she whispered, pulling him down onto the bed with her. Im sorry.

Yeah, sure.

The weddings still a year away, she reminded him. Besides, this wont end after Im married. I could never be without you.

Hed known early on what the deal was. She hadnt tried to hide her engagement. Their affair had begun as an instant physical attraction across a crowded room. Something he had no commitment to, and, he assumed, would end quickly. But it had lasted now for three months, and he couldnt figure out how. He didnt usually waste time on dead ends.

Im going to order out for Chinese, Liz announced, reaching for the cordless phone on the nightstand. Theres a place over on Second thats still open.

He caught her hand. Im tired of eating in front of the TV. Lets go out. He could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times theyd been out in public together. Come on.

No.

Liz.

No!

Dammit! He rolled onto his back, frustrated.

She curled up next to him. Im sorry. I really am.