Finished it up. Wonderful, and though the last part changes the pace a little and ends up being action movie fare, it'd be an action movie even a cheapskate like me would pay to see.
Very very nice job with the feeding to Carter's chair - I love it when someone makes a threat he doesn't understand, and it works.
"You know what I think?" said Edward. "I think you don't kill, or despoil, or maim, or kidnap—unless it profits you. The fact of the matter is, if I don't care what you do to my mother, to Maria, they are safe. So go ahead—except you can't, because it would mean nothing. I tried to explain to David—the ideal of capitalism. Everyone working in their self-interest—and only in their self-interest—is the optimum solution to the societal puzzle. I still believe that; I've just learned to expand my definition of self-interest." He raised his voice. "I won't help you launder drugs and arms dealers' money. I won't help you steal antiques and sell them to dictators. I won't do those things because it is in my self-interest to live in a stable, lawful society, where I can trade in fair competition with others."
This particular speech made me giggle incessantly, especially knowing that Ayn Rand was a bit of an inspiration.
As an aside, the question I asked you in the chat was answered by the text itself - what with the second person having an active interest for the other partner to not outgrow him, and him not performing well in acquisitions, it would make sense to go with the first's wishes, for a price.
