in a Bledsoe. For them taking bribes and selling donated
supplies are perks of the job. They wouldn’t understand you
if you bitched about it—unless they figured you were trying
to increase the override you take off the top.”
She gave me a disgusted look. “Somebody suggested that
yesterday.”
“There you go. I bet you blew up. And didn’t get
through. And now everybody in the place thinks you’re crazy.
Maybe the better-placed guys in the bigger money are wondering if
you’re dangerous crazy. They worry about these new Guards
kicking ass and taking names. It takes a while to corrupt
reformers.”
She settled with a fresh cup of tea, honey and mint in it. She
eyed me, then mused, “West says you can be
trusted.”
“Nice of him to say. Wish I could say the same.”
She frowned. “Point is, I’m dangerous already. A few
days ago, several thousand marks worth of medical supplies
vanished. Right away I filled two orderly slots with men I knew
personally. Men I can trust.”
“I see.” In view of her Guard connection, I guessed
they were Block’s men. He had a character named Relway
working for him, running his secret police force. Relway was
nasty
.
If Relway became interested in the Bledsoe, heads would roll and
asses get kicked. Relway doesn’t let bureaucratic roadblocks
and legal technicalities get in his way. He gets in there and
rights those wrongs.
I suggested, “You be careful. They think you brought in
spies, they could forget their manners.”
She sipped tea, studied me, which made me uncomfortable. Not
that I object to having a beautiful woman check me out. I was born
to be a sex object. But this beautiful woman had something less
thrilling in mind. “I’m not as naive as you think,
Garrett.”
“Good. That’ll save you a lot of pain.”
“You have any idea who signed you in?”
“No. I was asleep. But I hear the prince who paid for it
goes by the name Grange Cleaver.”
“Cleaver? Grange Cleaver?”
“You know him?”
“He’s a hospital trustee. Appointed through the
imperial household.” She studied me some more. “I told
you I’m not as naive as you might think. That does include
understanding that I might be in danger.”
Could be was not how I would put it. “So?”
“So maybe I should get somebody to stick close by till the
dust settles.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“You game?”
I was game, but not for that. “You want a
bodyguard?”
“Wes says you won’t sell out.”
“Maybe not. But there’s a problem.”
“What?” She sounded irked.
“I don’t do bodyguard work. Sorry. And I have a
client already. Wouldn’t do to let that obligation slide,
much as part of me wants to. Also, your staff is going to harbor
grudges. I wouldn’t dare hang out around there.”
She looked like she was getting mad. “Then what would you
suggest?” She didn’t try to change my mind. My feelings
were hurt. Maybe she could have talked herself into something.
She was too damned businesslike.
Maggie Jenn would have tried to talk me into something.
“Friend of mine, Saucerhead Tharpe, could do the job. Or
several other guys I know. Trouble is the best guys all look like
what they are.” Then my muse inspired me. “My friend
from last night will be looking for work.”
My guest brightened, her mind darting past all the obvious
caveats that would have obtained had Winger been male. “Can
she do the job?”
“Better than I could. She doesn’t have a
conscience.”
“She trustworthy?”
“Don’t put her in temptation’s way. The family
silver might accidentally fall into her pockets. But she can get a
job done.”
“She tough?”
“She eats hedgehogs for breakfast. Without peeling them
first. Don’t get into a tough contest with her. She
don’t know when to quit.”
She smiled. “I understand the impulse. When you step
outside tradition, there’s a temptation to show the boys you
can do everything they can do better. All right. Sounds
supplies are perks of the job. They wouldn’t understand you
if you bitched about it—unless they figured you were trying
to increase the override you take off the top.”
She gave me a disgusted look. “Somebody suggested that
yesterday.”
“There you go. I bet you blew up. And didn’t get
through. And now everybody in the place thinks you’re crazy.
Maybe the better-placed guys in the bigger money are wondering if
you’re dangerous crazy. They worry about these new Guards
kicking ass and taking names. It takes a while to corrupt
reformers.”
She settled with a fresh cup of tea, honey and mint in it. She
eyed me, then mused, “West says you can be
trusted.”
“Nice of him to say. Wish I could say the same.”
She frowned. “Point is, I’m dangerous already. A few
days ago, several thousand marks worth of medical supplies
vanished. Right away I filled two orderly slots with men I knew
personally. Men I can trust.”
“I see.” In view of her Guard connection, I guessed
they were Block’s men. He had a character named Relway
working for him, running his secret police force. Relway was
nasty
.
If Relway became interested in the Bledsoe, heads would roll and
asses get kicked. Relway doesn’t let bureaucratic roadblocks
and legal technicalities get in his way. He gets in there and
rights those wrongs.
I suggested, “You be careful. They think you brought in
spies, they could forget their manners.”
She sipped tea, studied me, which made me uncomfortable. Not
that I object to having a beautiful woman check me out. I was born
to be a sex object. But this beautiful woman had something less
thrilling in mind. “I’m not as naive as you think,
Garrett.”
“Good. That’ll save you a lot of pain.”
“You have any idea who signed you in?”
“No. I was asleep. But I hear the prince who paid for it
goes by the name Grange Cleaver.”
“Cleaver? Grange Cleaver?”
“You know him?”
“He’s a hospital trustee. Appointed through the
imperial household.” She studied me some more. “I told
you I’m not as naive as you might think. That does include
understanding that I might be in danger.”
Could be was not how I would put it. “So?”
“So maybe I should get somebody to stick close by till the
dust settles.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“You game?”
I was game, but not for that. “You want a
bodyguard?”
“Wes says you won’t sell out.”
“Maybe not. But there’s a problem.”
“What?” She sounded irked.
“I don’t do bodyguard work. Sorry. And I have a
client already. Wouldn’t do to let that obligation slide,
much as part of me wants to. Also, your staff is going to harbor
grudges. I wouldn’t dare hang out around there.”
She looked like she was getting mad. “Then what would you
suggest?” She didn’t try to change my mind. My feelings
were hurt. Maybe she could have talked herself into something.
She was too damned businesslike.
Maggie Jenn would have tried to talk me into something.
“Friend of mine, Saucerhead Tharpe, could do the job. Or
several other guys I know. Trouble is the best guys all look like
what they are.” Then my muse inspired me. “My friend
from last night will be looking for work.”
My guest brightened, her mind darting past all the obvious
caveats that would have obtained had Winger been male. “Can
she do the job?”
“Better than I could. She doesn’t have a
conscience.”
“She trustworthy?”
“Don’t put her in temptation’s way. The family
silver might accidentally fall into her pockets. But she can get a
job done.”
“She tough?”
“She eats hedgehogs for breakfast. Without peeling them
first. Don’t get into a tough contest with her. She
don’t know when to quit.”
She smiled. “I understand the impulse. When you step
outside tradition, there’s a temptation to show the boys you
can do everything they can do better. All right. Sounds
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