Read Online Tek Money by William Shatner - Free Book Online Page B

horses.” Bosco pushed at another key and another panel blossomed into a screen. It showed forty eight squares, each a different dark shade. There was a number superimposed on each. “We go about this scientifically around here. Which kind of dark hair are we talking about?”
    After studying the chart for a moment, Jake replied, “Number thirty.”
    The woman in the picture acquired dark hair of shade #30.
    In a little over ten minutes there was a photo of the woman who told Jake she was Janine Traynor on the wall behind the little agent.
    â€œThat’s her,” decided Jake. “Is she in your files?”
    â€œIf she’s an actress, she’s got to be.” He, boredom showing on his wrinkled little face, poked at another key.
    A small box appeared at the bottom of the photo of Janine. It read— No person of this description on roster.
    Jake said, “Tell them to look for her with different color hair.”
    â€œMore dull work.”
    Janine turned to a redhaired young woman in the picture. A new box announced— Janet Mavity/Guild Card #137596-SS/Rep: Self.
    â€œAddress?” requested Jake.
    Bosco flicked a toggle at the edge of his desk and a faxmemo came fluttering up out of a slot. “What do you know?—she lives in the Sherman Oaks Sector. That’s a high-rent part of town—especially for a gal who doesn’t even have an agent.”
    Grinning, Jake took the memo. “Much obliged, Wolfe.” He got up. “Good luck to you and Jacko.”
    â€œIf this redhead kid doesn’t work out for you, Jake,” said Bosco as Jake took his leave, “I represent at least three dames who are ringers for her and sexier.”

12
    T HE PRETTY BLONDE android took Gomez by the arm. “If you’ll come with me, por favor ,” she requested.
    â€œYou speak a little Spanish, I see.” He accompanied her toward an arched doorway at the far end of the huge, windowless Reception Room RD#2.
    â€œI’m the latest model Mechanix International Customer Services android,” she explained, smiling politely. “Functioning as such in any part of California requires being able to communicate in Spanish.”
    â€œ Sí , I should have realized,” said the detective. “I thought the initial sight of my Latino charm had given you the gift of tongues.”
    â€œYou’re muy loco , Mr. Gomez.” She led him into a lengthy corridor with plastiglass walls. “I mean that in a positive sense, of course.”
    The walls were illuminated and filled with pale blue water. Hundreds of small, bright tropical fish flickered and flashed within the walls.
    â€œNice aquarium,” he observed.
    â€œMr. Barragray collects fish.”
    â€œObviously.”
    At the back door at corridor’s end, she stopped. “It’s been nice meeting you, Mr. Gomez,” she assured him. “ Vaya con dios. ”
    â€œ Gracias. ”
    She let go his arm, turned and walked back the way they’d come.
    The door whispered open. Another pretty android, this one dark-haired, stood smiling just across the threshold. “ Como esta? ” she asked, smiling. “If you’ll come along with me, I’ll escort you to Mr. Barragray’s private office.”
    â€œMore fish,” he noticed.
    The high plastiglass walls of this new corridor were also full of tiny flashing fish.
    His android guide slowed, pointing. “Look! The little purple one just ate a silver one,” she said. “I find that amusing.”
    â€œThey built in a sense of humor along with your linguistic abilities.”
    Barragray was a tall, broadshouldered man in his early forties. His blond hair was wavy and long and he had a checkered cloth napkin tied around his thick neck. “ Buenas dias , Mr. Gomez,” he said, standing up behind his low wide lucite desk.
    â€œI see they programmed you, too.”
    â€œHow’s