for the Big Question. “Who’s aware that the Polliworld Palace isn’t really in the black?”
Longdaddy appeared mildly impressed. I didn’t know why. He’d shared this already, by confirming Monte had hired a lot of shills without the Underground’s knowledge. “Only a few. The Leech has done a good job convincing the Underworld that things are going well.”
“But you have people in the casino who know differently. Do you know how the Palace on Roulette is doing without Monte there?”
“The Palace was more profitable when it was being run by the correct being.”
“Makes sense.”
“Why isn’t the Polliwog Palace doing well?” Bullfrog asked. “We Polliwogs love gambling.”
Longdaddy shrugged. “We apparently love to travel to another world that is very different from our own when we are gambling. There is no allure to a casino that anyone and everyone can visit.”
Interesting. I’d never have guessed that, and clearly Monte and the Underground hadn’t guessed that, either. “Maybe over time it’ll have an allure. How many spies do you have in the Underground?”
“Enough. Just as I have enough in the casino.”
“And some in the Diamante Families, too, right?”
“Yes.”
I took the logical leap. “The Diamante Families are also going in on Casino City, aren’t they?”
Longdaddy smiled. “I would be willing to consider interspecies marriage.”
“Flattery’s a lot nicer than threats, so let’s stick with that. Can we trust him?” I asked Bullfrog. “After we do what he wants, I mean.”
I didn’t expect an honest answer from Bullfrog. We were standing in front of Longdaddy, in his secret communications lair, without a lot of easy exit options. But I was very interested in Longdaddy’s reactions to the question.
He laughed. And seemed unperturbed by the question and unworried about Bullfrog’s reply.
Bullfrog shrugged. “Yes.”
Longdaddy nodded. “Truthfully, you can trust me because I need to ensure that this problem is solved, and in the solving, that no blame can come back onto me and my people.”
“Okay. Who are your people?”
“All those who hide in shadows. As you do.”
“I don’t hide in shadows.”
Longdaddy smiled again, but this one was rather sad. “You do. Some shadows are transparent. But I understand that in order to survive you must lie to yourself. Oh, and since you asked before, I know you are not a Polliwog because one Polliwog went in to see the Leech…but two came out to No Frog’s Land.”
He turned back to the screen. I was still the main thing on view. Though, because I did excellent work, Ciarissa was still the main thing on view.
“I was on lookout at the rear entrance.” I ensured I sounded bored. “Your spies must have missed me.”
“Oh, they believe they missed you. In part because you count a very strong telepath as one of your friends.”
This was getting creepy and spooky both. I wondered if Bullfrog had told Longdaddy about all of us, somehow.
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
Longdaddy shook his head. “We are having this conversation here because, as you noted, it is well insulated and protected. As you and so many others with you are hidden, so am I hidden, even from those who have known me all their lives. I am hidden until things will change so that I need not hide anymore.”
He was giving me a clue, I was sure of it. Longdaddy was no longer talking about me, or even Ciarissa, because he’d said so many others. He was right—out of our crew, we had all of one being who wasn’t hiding something in some way, and that was Willy. Sure, Bullfrog wasn’t hiding that much, but he was pretending to be Underground in order to keep all of us safe. And get us jobs.
But Bullfrog wasn’t the one Longdaddy was talking about hiding until things changed. Longdaddy had been here too long to be a hidden shifter, at least, that was my impression, and no hidden shifter would be offering another hidden shifter
Longdaddy appeared mildly impressed. I didn’t know why. He’d shared this already, by confirming Monte had hired a lot of shills without the Underground’s knowledge. “Only a few. The Leech has done a good job convincing the Underworld that things are going well.”
“But you have people in the casino who know differently. Do you know how the Palace on Roulette is doing without Monte there?”
“The Palace was more profitable when it was being run by the correct being.”
“Makes sense.”
“Why isn’t the Polliwog Palace doing well?” Bullfrog asked. “We Polliwogs love gambling.”
Longdaddy shrugged. “We apparently love to travel to another world that is very different from our own when we are gambling. There is no allure to a casino that anyone and everyone can visit.”
Interesting. I’d never have guessed that, and clearly Monte and the Underground hadn’t guessed that, either. “Maybe over time it’ll have an allure. How many spies do you have in the Underground?”
“Enough. Just as I have enough in the casino.”
“And some in the Diamante Families, too, right?”
“Yes.”
I took the logical leap. “The Diamante Families are also going in on Casino City, aren’t they?”
Longdaddy smiled. “I would be willing to consider interspecies marriage.”
“Flattery’s a lot nicer than threats, so let’s stick with that. Can we trust him?” I asked Bullfrog. “After we do what he wants, I mean.”
I didn’t expect an honest answer from Bullfrog. We were standing in front of Longdaddy, in his secret communications lair, without a lot of easy exit options. But I was very interested in Longdaddy’s reactions to the question.
He laughed. And seemed unperturbed by the question and unworried about Bullfrog’s reply.
Bullfrog shrugged. “Yes.”
Longdaddy nodded. “Truthfully, you can trust me because I need to ensure that this problem is solved, and in the solving, that no blame can come back onto me and my people.”
“Okay. Who are your people?”
“All those who hide in shadows. As you do.”
“I don’t hide in shadows.”
Longdaddy smiled again, but this one was rather sad. “You do. Some shadows are transparent. But I understand that in order to survive you must lie to yourself. Oh, and since you asked before, I know you are not a Polliwog because one Polliwog went in to see the Leech…but two came out to No Frog’s Land.”
He turned back to the screen. I was still the main thing on view. Though, because I did excellent work, Ciarissa was still the main thing on view.
“I was on lookout at the rear entrance.” I ensured I sounded bored. “Your spies must have missed me.”
“Oh, they believe they missed you. In part because you count a very strong telepath as one of your friends.”
This was getting creepy and spooky both. I wondered if Bullfrog had told Longdaddy about all of us, somehow.
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
Longdaddy shook his head. “We are having this conversation here because, as you noted, it is well insulated and protected. As you and so many others with you are hidden, so am I hidden, even from those who have known me all their lives. I am hidden until things will change so that I need not hide anymore.”
He was giving me a clue, I was sure of it. Longdaddy was no longer talking about me, or even Ciarissa, because he’d said so many others. He was right—out of our crew, we had all of one being who wasn’t hiding something in some way, and that was Willy. Sure, Bullfrog wasn’t hiding that much, but he was pretending to be Underground in order to keep all of us safe. And get us jobs.
But Bullfrog wasn’t the one Longdaddy was talking about hiding until things changed. Longdaddy had been here too long to be a hidden shifter, at least, that was my impression, and no hidden shifter would be offering another hidden shifter
Similar Books
