Part 31 (2/2)
One showed her walking away from her limo. ”There's the plates for it, sir. Can that help you?”
”I will need to buy another expensive database.” Nelly almost managed a sigh.
”Abby, this a.s.signment is putting a major dent in even my monthly allowance,” Kris said. ”Could you put together a reimburs.e.m.e.nt voucher for Admiral Crossens.h.i.+eld?”
”I could, but don't bet on getting this much money out of that fussbudget.”
”Maybe you can negotiate something halfway. The way things are going, I won't be able to afford to replace that dress you cut off me. Or give Nelly her quarterly upgrade.”
”You better get something out of Crossie,” Nelly said.
Betty and the captain managed to swallow any reaction to this insight into the finances of one of human s.p.a.ce's wealthiest women. Or her computer's familiar view of the head of Wardhaven's intelligence community. Gunny just scowled.
A moment later Nelly had the number of Prestige Travel.
”Kris, what are you going to do?” Jack asked with alarm.
”Why don't you watch and see? Nelly, get ready to tap a phone line.”
”If I can,” Nelly replied quickly.
”Now make the call.”
A moment later, ”Prestige Travel. We get you there in comfort and awe.”
”Oh, good. I hear tell you have this huge white limo,” Kris said, dripping hayseeds with every word. ”The hugest on this here planet.”
”Ah, yes we do.” The agent's reply was carefully balanced, neither to inspire a penniless hick to go on, nor to frighten off a hick that had a lot of money she needed separating from.
”Well, this is Print-cess Kristine Longknife from Wardhaven way. I'd like to rent that s...o...b..at of yours. I got someplace to be tonight and I'm tired of showing up second best.”
”Let me see what we can do about that, Your Highness. Can I call you back in just a second?”
”A second, maybe. A minute and I'll be talking to someone about having my own limo built.”
”Yes, ma'am. Er, Your Highness. I'll be right back,” and the call ended.
”I didn't know you had a hillbilly voice,” Jack said. ”Do you really think this guy is dumb enough to fall for it?”
”So far he's over the side and headed down,” Kris said through a grin. ”I don't think that fellow has any idea who I am and everyone here seemed to expect some kind of redneck from the Rim. So, let's see what happens when I give 'em one.”
”Kris, he's calling a number. It's another one of those nine-oh-nine numbers that don't exist.”
Kris didn't like that.
”Oh happy days,” Nelly almost shouted. ”He didn't pay for all that much encryption. I have him.”
”Al, Al” came from Nelly in the Prestige Travel man's voice. ”Your tub hasn't moved all afternoon. I thought that brat wanted to go places.”
”She was right here, then suddenly, her bodyguard grabbed her and hustled her back in the house and I ain't heard a squeak from them all afternoon. So I'm just sitting here watching the flowers grow at this place. And boy do they got flowers.”
NELLY, CAN YOU GET A LOCATION ON THE PHONE RECEIVING THIS?.
I CAN AND DO HAVE IT.
On the wall screen, a map replaced Vicky's smiling face. The flas.h.i.+ng green dot was far out on the outskirts of town in a gated area of large twenty-acre plots.
”Well, at least we know that much,” Captain DeVar said.
That call ended and a second call opened, but not to the same area. This one managed to avoid giving out its location. It turned out the limo was no longer needed and would be available for the evening.
And Kris got rung back.
”Abby, I'm going to turn this over for you to negotiate. Are we going anywhere tonight?”
”Not so far. No one seems interested in your gorgeous presence after that art show.”
”Gee, I wonder why?” Jack said.
”Try to rent the limo for tomorrow,” Kris said, and took the incoming call. ”Howdy, I'm so glad you called back. Let my personal a.s.sistant take it from here.” Kris waved at Abby.
”Abby Nightingale, how may I help you?” came as smooth as honey. ”Ah, yes, the princess does occasionally make calls herself. It causes us no end of trouble.”
Kris scrunched up a face at Abby and might have thrown something, but nothing was handy.
”Oh dear, I'm afraid my employer is a mite bit addled where dates are concerned. That party is tomorrow night. She's going to spend a quiet night drinking at home tonight.”
Now Kris would have thrown something.
”Very well. Send me the contract and I will return it with a payment voucher. Always glad to do business with a professional.” And the call ended.
”Here's hoping we have somewhere to go tomorrow,” Abby said.
38.
While the problem of what to do with a limo tomorrow night hung ignored in the air, matters for today continued.
Penny reported that the first three warehouses they looked at had only normal security, and apparently just normal contents. They had three more to check.
Abby, with Sergeant Bruce tagging along to supervise a Marine tech, was dispatched to see how close they could get to Mr. von Schrader's apparent residence and examine it as best they could. Nelly sent them off with several of her best experimental probes.
Which left Kris with nothing better to do than immerse herself in the Nuu report on this fellow. She didn't find anything she liked.
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