The big man is pissed,” the caller said, in a voice both sarcastic and frustrated.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass,” the Texan answered. “I did the best I could in the time I had. There was no way I could haul out every damn computer in the place. He had a couple in his office, one in his bedroom, and a server somewhere in the house I couldn’t even find.”
“He wants you to go back in.”
“There’s nothing there.”
“What do you mean, there’s nothing there?”
“Just what I said. A rental van showed up a few hours later. A couple of guys cleaned out the place and took it all to Graham Gage’s office.”
“Damn.”
“I made some calls. Palmer was the brother-in-law of a guy who works for Gage. Got the job through his sister.”
“Go get it. Take somebody with you this time.”
“What? You said he wanted me to do it alone. If he’d let me take somebody in the first place we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
The man laughed. “Let’s say our leader has engaged in a soul-searching reconsideration.”
“What is it about these suits? They think it’s just a little harmless chess game, until something goes sour and they panic like schoolgirls in a high wind, their little dresses flapping up in their faces.”
“What’ll I tell him?”
“Tell him two people, twice as much money-in cash and in advance.”
“Where?”
“Same place.”
“Leave a hundred grand in a paper bag?”
“I’ll be watching. Nobody’s walking away with my money.”
“And keep an eye on Gage. If he gets too far into this thing, we’ll need to do some damage control.”