Golden Dancer by Tara Lain Read Free Book Online

carefully folded the paper. He laughed all the way back to the group of donors surrounding the anxious program director.
    * * *
    Mac dropped his backpack on the chair at his office desk and grabbed for his ringing cell phone. He so didn’t want to be in the newsroom today, but Woo needed him for the damned meeting. He hit the green button. “MacAllister.”
    “Yeah, hi. Couldn’t get you on your other line.”
    He knew that soft voice. Shit, he was distracted if he’d forgotten his encrypted cell. “Hi, John. Sorry. What d’ya got?”
    “Some. According to my sources, there’s a couple people who could have done the security hack. That guy I’ve told you about once or twice might have pulled it off, but some say he was on another job at the time.”
    “Okay. Who else?”
    “I keep getting a newer name. Stefan Saltz.”
    “German, I assume.”
    “Yeah. Calls himself SS, which is creepily egotistical. I hear he’s got skills, but nothing more specific about your job. Not yet anyway.”
    “Thanks, John.”
    There was a pause. Mac knew what was coming. “You got something for me?”
    He sighed inwardly, but didn’t let John hear. “Yeah. When you want it?”
    “I’m gonna be at my place tonight. Too soon?”
    “I’ll try. If you don’t hear back, expect your gift to arrive.”
    “Yeah. I’ll call you. By the way, copy down this number.”
    Mac grabbed a pencil and a piece of paper. “Shoot.”
    John repeated a number. “It’s a special back line. Only a few clients have it.”
    “Thanks, John. I’m honored.”
    “Yeah, well, thanks again.”
    Mac hit End and looked at the number. Son of a bitch, here he’d thought he was inner circle with John, but there was an even tighter ring. Couldn’t hurt being in that. He slipped the number into his backpack and collapsed into the desk chair.
    He looked around at the cramped, makeshift offices of the Daily Window . Kind of reminded him of an old-fashioned newsroom, not that he’d ever seen one except in movies. People hurried around, pounded on computer keys with two fingers, and yelled friendly insults over the partitions. Crap, he could have used less activity today, but it was always crowded on meeting days. Working from home for a week had suited his need to hide out, but he couldn’t escape the editorial meeting. He’d also neglected to pick out a boy for John. Looking at beautiful men had been a little too close to home.
    He looked around over his shoulders and quickly typed in a few keys. A screen full of beautiful boys, many of whom looked younger than their eighteen or nineteen years, popped up. John loved the boy they called Valentine, but the kid was popular and not usually available on short notice. Fortunately, John also liked variety. Mac kept looking as he pulled his alternate cell from the desk and dialed.
    “Ambrosia.” Mac knew that husky female voice well.
    He adopted his alternate persona. “Hi, Mickey, this is—”
    “Hi, Oscar.”
    He smiled. He’d chosen the name Oscar on the spur of the moment the first time he’d called the high-class online escort service. Never had known why he chose it. “I’m looking for tonight. Valentine booked?”
    “Of course, darling. But I’ve got something new and tasty.”
    “Spill.”
    “A gorgeous Asian boy. He looks about fifteen, but of course, he’s really twenty.”
    “You sure?”
    A soft chuckle. “Of course, darling. You know my reputation is too important for me to break that big law.”
    “Okay, usual time and place.”
    “For you, darling?”
    “You know better.”
    “Do I? One of these days, you should have a little taste for yourself, don’t you think?”
    Shit. He felt his dick hardening in his pants. He didn’t want this right now. Or ever. He gave a forced laugh. “Can’t afford you, Mickey.”
    “Oh, I’d give you a big discount, Oscar. Wouldn’t you like one of those beautiful tight asses for yourself?”
    “Gotta go. Just have him there.” He hung up