Part 48 (1/2)

”As you wish. I wouldn't do that, miss.”

Belinda was trying to unfasten her bracelet.

There was a flash and a harsh pop. She yelped.

Silverman said, ”You can't take it off. It won't let you.”

I saw why the Dead Man thought so well of Silverman.

The old man told me, ”Give them a few days to get used to their jewelry. Then you can release them to their regular lives.”

I told him, ”Thank you, sir. I'll move your daughter as far up the list as I can.” A board meeting was coming up. I had some ideas to present, involving both Silverman and the employment of ratpeople to copy books. They'd let me talk as long as I didn't go trying to waken their consciences. I'd just need to talk business first.

”You're a good businessman,” Silverman told me, with a smile I didn't figure out till later. ”Thanks for everything.”

I said, ”I think we're done here, then. Belinda, Mr. Contague, I'll be back in a few days.”

Penny stayed behind. With her cats.

Morley was patient while I visited Buy Claxton. Who was riding her stay for all it was worth, now that her health was not endangered. Human nature, I suppose. When I came back, I decided, I'd take her upstairs and see if she couldn't get back on with the family. While the shyster panicked.

Silverman's att.i.tude soon explained itself.

My deceased a.s.sociate had been bitten by the entrepreneurial serpent. Possibly because he was tired of having to wake up and earn his keep a couple times a year.

He'd robbed the A-Laf cultists of everything there was to know about the nickel dogs-all right! Jackals! Then he'd rung in Silverman, who owned the skills needed to exploit that knowledge.