Read Online Vic Daniel 6 - As she rides by by David M Pierce - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: David M Pierce
Ads: Link
as you fork over half my fee in advance. My fee will also include a dozen Angel Faces for the little woman. If you are missing a kneecap or two by noon Wednesday, I will waive the other half of my fee.”
“That’s considerate,” he said. He extracted a check from his wallet, borrowed one of my pens—the one that had “Welcome to Parrot World” written on it—scribbled away, then tossed the check in my general direction.
“Who do I make the receipt out to?” I said, donning my spectacles. “Phineas will do,” he said. Then I scribbled away.
“Naturally, King’s services are included as well,” I said. “He is a highly trained watchdog—he watches every bite I eat.”
When I handed Phineas the receipt, I said, “As for me, Victor will do.” We shook hands on it, and both stood up. “One thing. Please do me a favor, Phineas. Don’t put me through it unnecessarily. No gay steam baths, if there are any left. No transvestite balls or gay liberation parades, I get too many mixed signals, which confuse me, then make me nervous.’
He looked at me, then nodded. “Deal,” he said.
“Let me make a call or two first,” I said. “Try not to listen to the juicy bits.”
“I’ll be in the car,” he said.
“No you won’t,” I said. “You’ll be right here where King and I can keep an eye on you.”
So I made my calls, one to Evonne saying I couldn’t see her that night or Tuesday night, and expressing my deep desolation at the idea. I did not tell her I was instead going to be sharing candlelit suppers, to say nothing of his spare room, with Flora by Phineas. Then I left a message for Tom ‘n’ Jerry at their hotel saying everything looked kosher so far. Then I left a message on the telephone answering machine of one of my regular security clients saying I’d be a day or two late dropping around for their monthly inspection. Then I put a .32 cal. Police Positive in its lightweight holster, strapped it to my right shoulder, as I was (and still am) a lefty, then cleared my desk of everything of value including phone, Apple 2, floppy disks, and matrix printer, locking everything up in the big safe that took up most of the small bathroom out back, told King, “Walkies,” snagged his bowl, and off we went to arrange Bewitched, Tropicana, and Angel Face. I couldn’t wait.
Chapter Five
But I don’t need no crazy dream, I know what I’m waitin’ for,
And that’s a $200 check from my old pal Samuel D.
A s it turned out, I didn’t do a lot of arranging, in fact I did none at all, but I did do a lot of sitting around being conspicuous. And many was the glance that was directed my way, but Phineas’s employees, who all obviously adored him, were all too polite or too discreet to openly query my presence. They didn’t half make a fuss about King, though, especialy when they realized from his dignified behavior that he wasn’t going to go careening about the boutique knocking over tubs of Tibetan bamboo. And some “humble” boutique it was too—there was the store itself, which was huge, on three levels, and included a waterfall and small pond, Phineas’s commodious office at the back, then behind that a large workroom, and behind that, a lengthy greenhouse. In the parking lot out back, along with the assortment of vehicles belonging to us and the employees, were three tastefully decorated delivery vans. The employees totaled eight that I could see—two girls in green smocks serving out front, a chap in green overalls taking care of the cash and wrapping and phone orders, two young drivers in green livery who popped in from time to time between assignments, two girls working on arrangements out back, and an ancient Japanese gentleman who spent all his time in the greenhouse, and who firmly refused to let my dog stick even his moist nose inside.
The day passed. I watched thirty bouquets in wicker baskets of Duet, Bewitched, Honor, and so on, being built up by the two girls, Susan and
“That’s considerate,” he said. He extracted a check from his wallet, borrowed one of my pens—the one that had “Welcome to Parrot World” written on it—scribbled away, then tossed the check in my general direction.
“Who do I make the receipt out to?” I said, donning my spectacles. “Phineas will do,” he said. Then I scribbled away.
“Naturally, King’s services are included as well,” I said. “He is a highly trained watchdog—he watches every bite I eat.”
When I handed Phineas the receipt, I said, “As for me, Victor will do.” We shook hands on it, and both stood up. “One thing. Please do me a favor, Phineas. Don’t put me through it unnecessarily. No gay steam baths, if there are any left. No transvestite balls or gay liberation parades, I get too many mixed signals, which confuse me, then make me nervous.’
He looked at me, then nodded. “Deal,” he said.
“Let me make a call or two first,” I said. “Try not to listen to the juicy bits.”
“I’ll be in the car,” he said.
“No you won’t,” I said. “You’ll be right here where King and I can keep an eye on you.”
So I made my calls, one to Evonne saying I couldn’t see her that night or Tuesday night, and expressing my deep desolation at the idea. I did not tell her I was instead going to be sharing candlelit suppers, to say nothing of his spare room, with Flora by Phineas. Then I left a message for Tom ‘n’ Jerry at their hotel saying everything looked kosher so far. Then I left a message on the telephone answering machine of one of my regular security clients saying I’d be a day or two late dropping around for their monthly inspection. Then I put a .32 cal. Police Positive in its lightweight holster, strapped it to my right shoulder, as I was (and still am) a lefty, then cleared my desk of everything of value including phone, Apple 2, floppy disks, and matrix printer, locking everything up in the big safe that took up most of the small bathroom out back, told King, “Walkies,” snagged his bowl, and off we went to arrange Bewitched, Tropicana, and Angel Face. I couldn’t wait.
Chapter Five
But I don’t need no crazy dream, I know what I’m waitin’ for,
And that’s a $200 check from my old pal Samuel D.
A s it turned out, I didn’t do a lot of arranging, in fact I did none at all, but I did do a lot of sitting around being conspicuous. And many was the glance that was directed my way, but Phineas’s employees, who all obviously adored him, were all too polite or too discreet to openly query my presence. They didn’t half make a fuss about King, though, especialy when they realized from his dignified behavior that he wasn’t going to go careening about the boutique knocking over tubs of Tibetan bamboo. And some “humble” boutique it was too—there was the store itself, which was huge, on three levels, and included a waterfall and small pond, Phineas’s commodious office at the back, then behind that a large workroom, and behind that, a lengthy greenhouse. In the parking lot out back, along with the assortment of vehicles belonging to us and the employees, were three tastefully decorated delivery vans. The employees totaled eight that I could see—two girls in green smocks serving out front, a chap in green overalls taking care of the cash and wrapping and phone orders, two young drivers in green livery who popped in from time to time between assignments, two girls working on arrangements out back, and an ancient Japanese gentleman who spent all his time in the greenhouse, and who firmly refused to let my dog stick even his moist nose inside.
The day passed. I watched thirty bouquets in wicker baskets of Duet, Bewitched, Honor, and so on, being built up by the two girls, Susan and
Similar Books
The Billionaires Hired Baby Mother: When the wife and surrogate are two different people
BWWM Club, Tyra Small
