Страница 2 из 31
I raised an eyebrow at Bu
"Stick around. Bu
That brought the Deveel out of his shocked trance. "I'll tell you what the problem is! Miss Bu
"What percentage loss?" Bu
"Pushing fourteen percent... up from six last year."
"Are we talking retail or cost value?"
"Cost."
"What's your actual volume loss?"
"Less than eight percent. They know exactly what items to go after... small, but expensive." I sat back and tried to look wise. They had lost me completely about two laps into the conversation, but Bu
"Everybody I've sent in to investigate gets tagged as a company spy before they even sit down," Bane was saying. "Now, the word I get is that your crew has some contacts in organized crime, and I was figuring ..."
He let his voice trail off, then shrugged as if he was embarrassed to complete the thought.
Bu
"I think we can help you," I said carefully. "Of course, it will cost."
"How much?" Bane countered, settling back for what was acknowledged throughout the dimensions as a Deveel's specialty... haggling.
In response, Bu
"WHAT!! That's robbery and you know it!"
"Not when you consider what the losses are costing you," Bu
Bane went from pink to a volcanic red in the space of a few heartbeats.
"All right! It's a deal ... at the original offer!"
I nodded slightly. "Fine. I'll assign a couple of agents to it immediately."
"Wait a minute! I'm paying prices like these and I'm not even getting the services of the head honcho? What are you trying to pull here? I want ..."
"The Great Skeeve stands behind every M.Y.T.H. Inc. contract," Bu
"All right, all right! I get the message!" the Deveel said. "Send in your agents. They just better be good, that's all. At these rates, I expect results!"
With that, he slammed out of the office, leaving Bu
"How much did you charge him?"
"Just our usual fees."
"Really?"
"Well ... I did add in a small premium ‘cause I didn't like him. Any objections?"
"No. Just curious is all."
"Say, Boss. Would you mind including me in this assignment? It shouldn't take too long, and this one's got me a little curious."
"Okay... but not as lead operative. I want to be able to pull you back here if things get hairy in the office. Let your partner run the show."
"No problem. Who are you teaming me with?"
I leaned back in my chair and smiled.
"Can't you guess? The client wants organized crime, he gets organized crime!"
"Guido, are you sure you've got your instructions right?"
That is Bu
The only trepidation with which I view this pairin' is that as swell as she is. Bu
Anyway, I was talkin' about Bu
The unfortunate circumstances of this is that instead of wooin' the Boss with her bod, which as I have said is outstandin', she is now tryin' to win his admiration with what a sharp cookie she is. This should not be overly difficult, as Bu
This unfortunately can make her a real headache in the posterior regions to work with. She is so afraid that someone else will mess up her performance record that she can drive a skilled worker such as myself up a proverbial tree with her nervous double-check chatter. Still, she is a swell doll and we are all pullin' for her, so we put up with it.
"Yes, Bu
" ‘Yes, Bu
"Yes, Bu
"Then repeat them back to me."
"Why?"
"Guido!"
When Bu
"The Boss wants us to find out how the goods of a particular establishment is successfully wanderin' off the premises without detection," I sez. "To that end I am to intermingle with the workers as one of them to see if I can determine how this is bein' accomplished."
"And..." she sez, givin' me the hairy eyeball.
"... And you are to do the same, only with the office types. At the end of a week we are to regroup in order that we may compare observations and see if we are perhaps barkin' up the wrong tree."
"And ..." she sez again, lookin' a trifle agitated.
At this point I commence to grow a trifle nervous, for while she is obviously expectin' me to continue in my oration, I have run out of instructions to reiterate.