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Greg Anos · 12-10-2008, 11:46 AM

A chocolate covered football trophy. He always did have a sense of humor. I knew what, but I didn't know why.
I called VR.
"I hope you like sunbathing at the beach, VR."
"Trying to stretch your expense account for a vacation?"
"Yeah. I always wanted to go to Austrailia."
"Austrailia!!!" VR exploded.
"Austrailia. My op has an ID on a target that I figured pulled the heist. She's trying to get a positive right now and get out of Pinwheel with her hide intact. There may be some bodies accumulatin'. It depends on how much backtrail protection he's hired. And your report didn't include the Queen's bathroom attendant."
"That wasn't relevant."
"When you hire a PI, VR, you give him all of the facts. It's the PI's job to determine what's relevant. We'd've moved faster if you'd included that."
I could see the nasty look even over the phone.
"You're trying to tell me my job?"
"No, I'm trying to tell you my job. When you hire a pro anything, you have to hand it over and let the pro do it. Kibbitzing doesn't make it go faster."
"All right, all right, who's the target?"
"I'll tell you in the plane, assuming you want to tag along. If you do, have your human pack his peashooters, 'cause this may turn out like Fort Apache. If not, I'll tell you after we recover the Lizard Load."
"What if the bad guy wins, Redneck?"
"Mindy'll have the football. If you try to twist her arm early, you'll end up smelling like fried bacon. She can get a bit touchy."
"Don't you associate with any normal people?"
"In my business, these are normal people. Besides, you should talk." I snickered. "And you do."
I heard an inarticulate growl at the other end of the line.
"I'll call you back when my op gives me the go signal." and I hung up.
Maybe I was jumping the gun a bit, but I didn't think so. Nothing to do now but sweat.

FDR had gained a few more holes, when the phone rang.
"That you, Deb?"
"Roger, hop."
"Lose yourself again and call back in 20 minutes."
I call VR, "Warm up a plane, we're heading for Oz."
"Where in Oz? If you say Bondi, I'll nip you."
"Canberra. We've got to get the preliminary diplo work done, mate. Then on to Darwin, unless my op has some specific information. Besides, we'll need to wait on her. Have the boys at the embassy there to get her a pouch and immunity paperwork."
"You idiot, you're gonna start a war!"
"Don't worry, we'll be there to ride herd over her. Gotta sign off, she's gonna call back any minute."
A couple of minutes later the hone rang again. "That you again?"
"Of course it's me. You were expecting the Pope, maybe?"
"Naw, just an encyclopedia salesman. You clean?"
"Yes boss, no tails at all."
"Good. What was the body count?"
"Just a little automobile accident. I think four. Avis isn't going to like the bullet holes in the rent car."
"That's why you get the extra insurance. Nobody else?"
"No. Once I got across the border, there didn't seem to be any pickup of me. No tails or anything else."
"Didn't think so. Too expensive. So put on your old lady makeup and use the back-up passport. You're heading to Oz. Catch the first flight to Canberra. Meet us at the Pinwheel embassy soonest. I'll have a little present for you. I've got your spare ironmongery in a diplomatic pouch, plus diplomatic immunity and a pouch all of your own waiting. Question, do you have any more on the plane or passengers?"
"Yes, Boss. -"
"It'll wait until we get together." I interrupted her, then sighed. "I gotta dog-sit on the way over."
"Boss, you do know how to make a girl feel pretty. There's nothing like a few sleek weapons to cheer me right up."
"Shucks, I bet you say that to all the P.I.s."
"Only the ones who pay me."
"See you in Canberra."
I then went into the reception room. "Mindy, I'm going to Austrialia."
"You're sure it's not a warmer climate?"
"I'll get there soon enough, don't rush me. Here's the scoop on the case."
I then proceeded to tell everything I knew or surmised about the case.
"You've got the football. Stall anything else until I get back. I can't say when. Certainly not less than a week."
"No travel again. Why do I keep this job."
"When we bring the dingus back, you get two weeks on the Big Island. Ok?"
"Fancy hotel?"
"Done."
"So I'm headin' over to VR's. Where's the Aussie cellphone?"

12-10-2008, 11:46 AM	#116
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,532 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	A chocolate covered football trophy. He always did have a sense of humor. I knew what, but I didn't know why. I called VR. "I hope you like sunbathing at the beach, VR." "Trying to stretch your expense account for a vacation?" "Yeah. I always wanted to go to Austrailia." "Austrailia!!!" VR exploded. "Austrailia. My op has an ID on a target that I figured pulled the heist. She's trying to get a positive right now and get out of Pinwheel with her hide intact. There may be some bodies accumulatin'. It depends on how much backtrail protection he's hired. And your report didn't include the Queen's bathroom attendant." "That wasn't relevant." "When you hire a PI, VR, you give him all of the facts. It's the PI's job to determine what's relevant. We'd've moved faster if you'd included that." I could see the nasty look even over the phone. "You're trying to tell me my job?" "No, I'm trying to tell you my job. When you hire a pro anything, you have to hand it over and let the pro do it. Kibbitzing doesn't make it go faster." "All right, all right, who's the target?" "I'll tell you in the plane, assuming you want to tag along. If you do, have your human pack his peashooters, 'cause this may turn out like Fort Apache. If not, I'll tell you after we recover the Lizard Load." "What if the bad guy wins, Redneck?" "Mindy'll have the football. If you try to twist her arm early, you'll end up smelling like fried bacon. She can get a bit touchy." "Don't you associate with any normal people?" "In my business, these are normal people. Besides, you should talk." I snickered. "And you do." I heard an inarticulate growl at the other end of the line. "I'll call you back when my op gives me the go signal." and I hung up. Maybe I was jumping the gun a bit, but I didn't think so. Nothing to do now but sweat. FDR had gained a few more holes, when the phone rang. "That you, Deb?" "Roger, hop." "Lose yourself again and call back in 20 minutes." I call VR, "Warm up a plane, we're heading for Oz." "Where in Oz? If you say Bondi, I'll nip you." "Canberra. We've got to get the preliminary diplo work done, mate. Then on to Darwin, unless my op has some specific information. Besides, we'll need to wait on her. Have the boys at the embassy there to get her a pouch and immunity paperwork." "You idiot, you're gonna start a war!" "Don't worry, we'll be there to ride herd over her. Gotta sign off, she's gonna call back any minute." A couple of minutes later the hone rang again. "That you again?" "Of course it's me. You were expecting the Pope, maybe?" "Naw, just an encyclopedia salesman. You clean?" "Yes boss, no tails at all." "Good. What was the body count?" "Just a little automobile accident. I think four. Avis isn't going to like the bullet holes in the rent car." "That's why you get the extra insurance. Nobody else?" "No. Once I got across the border, there didn't seem to be any pickup of me. No tails or anything else." "Didn't think so. Too expensive. So put on your old lady makeup and use the back-up passport. You're heading to Oz. Catch the first flight to Canberra. Meet us at the Pinwheel embassy soonest. I'll have a little present for you. I've got your spare ironmongery in a diplomatic pouch, plus diplomatic immunity and a pouch all of your own waiting. Question, do you have any more on the plane or passengers?" "Yes, Boss. -" "It'll wait until we get together." I interrupted her, then sighed. "I gotta dog-sit on the way over." "Boss, you do know how to make a girl feel pretty. There's nothing like a few sleek weapons to cheer me right up." "Shucks, I bet you say that to all the P.I.s." "Only the ones who pay me." "See you in Canberra." I then went into the reception room. "Mindy, I'm going to Austrialia." "You're sure it's not a warmer climate?" "I'll get there soon enough, don't rush me. Here's the scoop on the case." I then proceeded to tell everything I knew or surmised about the case. "You've got the football. Stall anything else until I get back. I can't say when. Certainly not less than a week." "No travel again. Why do I keep this job." "When we bring the dingus back, you get two weeks on the Big Island. Ok?" "Fancy hotel?" "Done." "So I'm headin' over to VR's. Where's the Aussie cellphone?" Last edited by Greg Anos; 12-10-2008 at 11:53 AM.