Seven

GAbrIEL : Can I forward your number to a friend? Vix is asking about Alpha 1989, and you're the only guy I know who can talk about it.

Rule was having dinner alone at the Lighthouse when he received his friend's text, and he immediately texted back in the affirmative.

Gabriel was the only one who had remained by his side when the world turned its back on him. There was no way Rule could ever repay his friend's loyalty, but that didn't mean he'd stop trying.

Vix : Hi Rule. This is Vix, Gabe's friend. Thank you for saying yes to helping out a stranger.

Rule : All good. What do you need to know about Alpha 1989?

Vix : This is what I found on Google so far. Alpha 1989 is about this super smart guy, right?

Rule : Pedro Martinez.

Vix : And he somehow figured out which companies to invest in, and all of them happened to have these huge "alpha" moments in 1989.

Rule : Nintendo, Microsoft, Fox, Prozac, just to name a few.

Vix : And that's how he became a billionaire? And why he's famous?

Rule : Those investments gave Martinez the capital to start his own company. An asset management firm that was extremely selective with its clients. He was able to turn ordinary people into multimillionaires, and it didn't hurt that he was also able to build his billion-dollar fortune along the way.

Vix : So he's a billionaire with a good heart, and that's why he's famous?

Rule : Actually, he's infamous because of how he suddenly disappeared. He was last seen helping out with rescue efforts on 9/11. That's it.

Vix : But he's not dead?

The question gave him pause...since the answer to it was something only members of a certain club knew of. Rule was one of those members, and while none of them were sworn to secrecy, it said a lot that the knowledge they were privy to had never been made public.

Rule : How well do you know Gabriel?

Vix : I was one of the witnesses at their wedding, if that means anything?

That was a good enough reason for Rule to trust the younger man, but he also made a mental note to ask his friend who exactly this 'Vix' was.

Rule : A website popped up on the Internet shortly after Martinez disappeared. It's the only place where he's left clues to anyone who wants to find him, but the password to the website changes every year. You need to "earn" the right to gain access to it.

Vix : And you earned it?

Rule : I got lucky .

Vix : I have a feeling it's more than that.

The younger man was right, but Rule didn't see any point in explaining why he had access to the website.

Vix : And I totally understand if you choose to say no, but I thought I'd still give it a try. Would you consider sharing those clues with me?