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He studied me for a few more moments, then waved his hand.
"Go on. Get out of here... and take your little street buddy with you. Just take my advice and don't carry so much cash in the future. There's no profit in teasing the animals."
If I had been thinking, I would have let it go at that. Unfortunately, it had been a long day and I was both tired and a
Every policeman in the room suddenly tensed, and I realized too late that there was also no profit in critiquing the police.
"... And if we don't check on suspicious characters before they make trouble, then all we're good for is filling out reports AFTER a crime had been committed," the captain spat bitterly. "Either way, ‘i
"I'm sorry. Captain. I shouldn't have..." I don't know if he even heard my attempted apology. If he did, it didn't make a difference.
"You see, I've learned my lesson, too. When I first joined the force, I thought there was nothing better I could do with my life than to spend it protecting i
I decided against trying to interrupt him. He was on a roll, lecturing about what seemed to be his favorite subject. Opening my mouth now would probably be about as safe as getting between my pet dragon, Gleep, and his food dish. "Everybody wants the crooks to be in jail, but nobody wants a prison in their community... or to vote in the taxes to build new jails. So the prisons we have are over crowded, and the ‘i
He was up and pacing back and forth now as he warmed to his subject.
"Nobody sees the crimes that aren't committed. We can reduce the crime rate 98%, and the ‘i
He paused and leveled an accusing finger at J.R. "Then there are ‘i
"So we're supposed to keep the peace and apprehend criminals while we're understaffed and using equipment that's outdated and falling apart. About all we have to work with is our instincts... and then we get hassled for using that!"
He came to a halt in front of me, and pushed his face close to mine, treating me to another blast of his breath. I didn't point it out to him.
"Well this time we're going to see just how good my instincts are. I'm letting you go for now, but it occurs to me it might be a good idea to run a check on you on other dimensions. If you're just an i
Chapter Fourteen:
‘Parting is such sweet sorrow."
—FIGARO
THE POSSIBILITY OF an extensive check on my off-dimension background worried me, but not so much that I forgot my ma
"Say, J.R.," I said, turning to him on the steps, "about that business you want to start... how much capital would you need to get started?"
I could see his neck stiffening as I spoke. "I told you before, Mr. Skeeve, I won't take a reward for saving your life."
"Who said anything about a reward? I'm talking about investing in your operation and taking a share of the profits." That one stopped him in his tracks.
"You'd do that?"
"Why not? I'm a businessman and always try to keep an eye open for new ventures to back. The trickiest thing is finding trustworthy principals to manage the investments. In your case, you've already proved to me that you're trustworthy. So how much would you need for this plan of yours?"
The street vendor thought for a few moments.
"Even with backing I'd want to start small and build. Figuring that... yeah. I think about five thousand in gold would start things off right."
"Oh," I said, intelligently. I wasn't about to question his figures, but the start-up cost was higher than I had expected. I only had a couple thousand with me, and most of that was going to cover Edvick's services and the hotel bill. So much for a grand gesture!
"I'll... uh... have to think about it."
J.R.'s face fell.
"Yeah. Sure. Well, you know where to find me when you make up your mind."
He turned and strode off down the street without looking back. It was silly to feel bad about not fulfilling an offer I didn't have to make, but I did.
"Well, I guess it's time for us to head back to the hotel... right Skeeve?" Kalvin chimed in.
I had botched the job with J. R., but I resolved that this one I was going to do right.
"No," I said.
"No?" the Djin echoed. "So where are we going in stead?"
"That's the whole point, Kalvin. We aren't going anywhere. I'm going back to the hotel. You're going back to Djinger."
He floated up to eye level with me, frowning as he cocked his head to one side.
"I don't get it. Why should I go back to Djinger?"
"Because you've filled your contract. That means you're free to go, so I assume you're going."
"I did?"
"Sure. Back in the alley. You used a spell to sober me up before I had to fight those goons. To my thinking, that fulfills your contract."
The Djin stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"I du
"You never promised much," I insisted. "As a matter of fact, you went to great lengths to impress me with how little you could do."
"Oh, that," Kalvin waved his hand deprecatingly. "That's just the standard line of banter we feed to the customers. It keeps them from expecting too much of a Djin. You'd be amazed at some of the things folks expect us to do. If we can keep their expectations low, then they're easier to impress when we strut our stuff."
"Well it worked. I'm impressed. If you hadn't done your thing back there in the alley, my goose would have been cooked before J.R. hit the scene."
"Glad to help. It was less dangerous than trying to lend a hand in the fight."
"Maybe, but by my count it still squares things between us. You promised one round of minor help, and delivered it at a key moment. That's all your contract called for... and more."
The Djin folded his arms and stared, frowning into the distance for several moments.
"Check me on this, Skeeve," he said finally, "I've been helpful to you so far, right?"