Lone Star Santa Read Free Page A

It beat breathing into a paper bag.
    He speed dialed Jeremy.
    Jeremy answered with, “This isn’t a good time for me.”
    “Well, buddy , this isn’t such a hot time for me, either.” Mitch spoke through clenched teeth. He hoped anyone watching would think was a smile. “A Jenkins clone is here with his minions. They’re taking ‘items of interest.’ Then I’ll be allowed to pack. Then, they’re sealing off my town house and I won’t be able to getback into it for God knows how long. They don’t seem to care where I go—maybe because they’ve made it so hard for me to go anywhere. Did I mention they took my car? I had to rent one. I used the corporate card, since all my freaking credit cards are frozen.”
    “I have no idea what they’re looking for,” Jeremy said in a barely audible voice. “You know with all the corporate malfeasance of the past few years the Feds are probably being extra careful.”
    “Whatever.” Mitch was suddenly very, very tired. “Maybe we can figure it out tonight. Obviously, I need a place to crash. After Jenkins II is finished here, I’ll come by the office and get your key, unless you’ve got an extra floating around somewhere outside your place.”
    A couple of beats went by. “That doesn’t work for me.”
    Mitch blinked. “It doesn’t work for me, either, but I’ve got nowhere else to go and the three hundred bucks I got out of the ATM isn’t going to last me too long.”
    There was silence. Mitch watched as two men hefted his eight-foot palm into the van. “What is with them and plants?” He turned away. “Come on, Jeremy. I was the neat roommate. We lived together for four years, I think you can stand a few days or however long it takes before the SEC realizes they’ve made a huge, tax dollar–wasting mistake.”
    “I think it’s best if we keep our distance until this blows over.”
    He did , did he? Who the hell did he think he was? “Have you got a girl living with you? Is that it?”
    “Yes, but no.”
    “Then why?”

    “Because we’re lucky only one of us is being targeted.” Jeremy spoke in a near whisper.
    “I don’t feel lucky.”
    “I can help you better this way, buddy. If I get dragged into this investigation, too, then there’s nobody on the outside.”
    “ I plan to stay on the outside!”
    “That’s one thing I’ve always admired about you, Mitch. Your positive attitude.”
    This conversation was not making Mitch feel positive. It was making him feel slightly sick. “Why shouldn’t I feel positive? You… Jeremy? Hey, man, you don’t believe I’ve done anything, do you?” Mitch couldn’t believe he actually had to ask.
    Jeremy hesitated. He actually hesitated. “Let’s see what the lawyer says, okay?”
    “You can’t make up your mind without a lawyer?” A thought occurred to him. “Do we have a lawyer yet?”
    “I’m working on it.”
    Mitch gritted his teeth. “Work faster.”
    “Hey, this is a busy time. And now that you aren’t here to take up the slack—”
    “Slack? I’m the one who spent the entire weekend working while you were the one who went to the Cowboys game.”
    “With clients . I was with clients. I was working. You know how you hate that part of the business.”
    This was true, Mitch grudgingly admitted to himself. And yet, it didn’t seem to be quite the same.
    “Mitch, I’ve got to go. I want to do damage control before anyone realizes there’s been damage.” Mitch heard him tapping his computer keyboard. “You’ve gotthe corporate card. Check into a hotel. Try that new spa one downtown. Knock yourself out. And keep in touch.” Jeremy disconnected.
    Keep in touch . But from a distance.
    Mitch gave his head a hard shake. Check into a spa hotel? Was Jeremy nuts?
    His phone rang. He answered without looking at Caller ID. “Donner.”
    “Mr. Donner, this is Carson Rentals. There’s a problem with your credit card. You are no longer an authorized user.”
    The corporate card. “I