US government. Still, they will have lots of bonds to sell.' Cash paused for a moment as he considered the possibilities.
Just then the waiter came over to our table. 'A phone call for Mr Murray.'
Cash's eyes watched me closely as I took the call by the bar. It was Jeff. 'Paul, I'm glad I caught you. There is a new jumbo deal for the World Bank just coming out now. It looks very cheap. Harrison Brothers are the lead. Can you get back here right now?'
'I'll be right over,' I said, and put the phone down.
I went back to the table and made my excuses.
Cash's eyes narrowed suspiciously. 'What was that?' he asked.
'Oh, I've just got to go and buy a few bonds.' I winked at Cathy, who grinned broadly back. I darted out of the restaurant, with Cash scrambling to catch me up.
'Hey, wait up,' he shouted after me. 'What's the deal? Who's the lead? I'm sure Bloomfield Weiss will have a good angle on this one. Don't do anything till I get back to my desk.'
I ignored him and rushed back to the office, my mind already calculating how many World Bank bonds I would buy.
Michael Ridpath
MICHAEL RIDPATH spent eight years as a bond trader at an international bank in the City of London. He was brought up in Yorkshire, graduated from Oxford University with a first class degree in history and now lives in North London with his wife and two daughters. This is his first novel.
