-4-

“Okay Miles, what now?” Anderson asked as he paced like a caged tiger in his brother’s office.

“We have to get the Feds off our ass or we can beginning thinking about staking a claim to a freeway underpass.”

“Agreed. If the NASD ever found out they would pull our Broker-Dealer license and then we would be cooked, but good.”

Miles Brown rocked back in his chair but said nothing merely coolly eyeing his brother.

Tired of pacing Anderson sat down with a thud on a leather couch Miles kept in the corner of his office. Impatient by nature Anderson sat there and fidgeted. Though he wanted to push he knew that harassing his brother would do no good. Changing the subject, “Miles does this “closing” couch really work or are you just trying to build an office legend?”

Miles smiled and said. “Oh it works.”

“Then I should get one, don’t you think?”

“Wouldn’t do you any good.”

“Asshole.”

“Still wouldn’t do you any good.”

“And why is that?”

“You have to have it. I have it and you don’t. It is that simple.”

“I see, well Mr. ‘Has It’ what in the hell are we going to do?”

“We are going to have to get creative with our cash flow.”

“Creative?”

“Yes, a little self financing is the answer I would think,” Miles replied.

“You have got to be shitting me. You can’t be suggesting we use our client’s trust accounts?” Andy asked.

“Okay I am not suggesting it. I am saying if we don’t, we are out of business. Andy, do you want to go work for someone else?”

“Hell, I don’t even like working for myself. I hate this job. I only entered the firm to make Dad happy. If I had my way I would have gone to Enology school.”

“You still would’ve worked for someone else.”

“No I wouldn’t. I would have had low overhead as I would just move in under the freeway.”

“Yea, right, you know how much money it takes to get a vineyard and winery going. At least my painting is a lot cheaper.”

“Cheaper, but you’d have to be dead to make any money.”

The brothers laughed. Then Miles said, “Just in case you were wondering I’ve figured out that part.”

“How is that?”

“Simple, I’ll fake my death.”

“Oh, that is easy.”

“Not easy Andy but do-able.”

“Well, you can tell me how you were going to die but live, later. What’s your plan about the cash we need?”

“Let’s talk about this someplace more confidential. Come over to my place tonight.”

As Anderson said, “Okay” the intercom rang.