J.D. Trafford - Michael Collins 02 - No Time to Die Read Online Free

stride for stride.
    “ I don’t have time for you and I’m not going to give you my number, not even for business reasons.” She kept walking.
    “ Well, I didn’t ask for it, so that resolves that issue.” Michael continued to follow her out of the police station and into the parking lot. “I have a friend. He’s a worker.” They walked down the front steps; Michael still chasing her. “Wondering if you know him or somebody who might? Tommy Estrada?”
    Mention of the name stopped her.
    She turned and looked at both Michael and Kermit. She looked carefully before responding.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
    Her name was Jane Nance. Her “office” was on Main Street, and it was as neglected and sad as every other building on Main Street.
    About 20 years ago, things had been different. Back then, Main Street was the center of activity and the pride of Jesser. Things changed when big agricultural companies started buying all of the farmland in Collier County. It was terrible farmland. It was sandy and devoid of nutrients, but that didn’t matter. The agricultural companies had developed special seeds that would grow almost anywhere, and they pumped the dirt full of chemicals to guarantee a crop. Now, 60 percent of the tomatoes eaten in the United States were grown in Collier County.
    Thousands of immigrant workers – some legal, most not – came to Jesser to work in the fields. Jesser’s growth prompted Wal-Mart and Home Depot to open mega-stores along the highway. Other chains opened next to the big boxes, and soon people stopped coming downtown. Local shops began to close. The Chamber of Commerce called it “progress.”  
    Michael and Kermit parked behind Jane and got out. The faded, hand painted sign above the door said, “Community Immigrant Legal Services, Inc.”
    Sitting next to the door was a homeless Mexican man, folded on top of himself. When Jane fished the key out of her purse, he heard the jingle. His eyes opened.
    “Miss Nance,” he said. “Got to talk to you.”
    Jane put the key in the door, unlocking it.
    “I can’t right now.” She looked at Michael and Kermit, and then back at the homeless man. His name was Miguel, but everybody knew him as Miggy. “I’ve got to talk with these two men, but I’ll make some time for you later.”
    “ It’s important.” Miggy picked up his crutch and pulled himself up. “I seen more spirits.”
    “ I know it’s important.” Jane nodded. She put her keys back in her purse, and then got out her wallet. She removed a crumpled five-dollar bill and gave it to Miggy. “Get yourself some dinner, and we’ll talk later, okay?”
    “ Tonight?” Miggy asked.
    “ Not tonight.” Jane shook her head, and then put her hand on his shoulder. “Soon.”
    Miggy nodded, disappointed, but happy about the money in his hand.
    “ Soon,” he said, and then he hobbled away.
    They watched Miggy until he got to the end of the block.
    “ He’s one of our biggest clients,” Jane said, smiling. Opening the door, Jane added, “A nice man, just struggles.”
    Jane went inside and Michael and Kermit followed.
    It was just one large room with desks in each corner, and three folding tables strung together in the middle as a makeshift conference table. The tops of the tables were piled high with files and other documents.
    Jane gestured toward them, while walking past.
    “There’s a method to our madness, but it’s best to ignore it all. Pretend this is a paperless office.” She continued toward a desk in the far corner.
    The desk in the far corner was also piled high with files. On the wall above the files, Jane had stuck yellow sticky notes with various scribbles ranging from “to-do” lists to court dates to contact names.
    “We have a couple of pro bono attorneys from Fort Myers who drive over once or twice a month to help out. Then there’s an attorney from Miami who also shows up off and on. He’s atoning for the sins of his corporate overlords.”
    Jane thought