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 good. I’ll talk to her. How do I get in touch?”
Finding Winger isn’t easy. She wants it that way. There are people she’d rather not have sneaking up.
I explained what worked for me. She thanked me for breakfast, advice, and help, and
“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 good. I’ll talk to her. How do I get in touch?”
Finding Winger isn’t easy. She wants it that way. There are people she’d rather not have sneaking up.
I explained what worked for me. She thanked me for breakfast, advice, and help, and
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