Chapter 69

Mike Swartz was as much use a fart in a bucket. Don"t call us we"ll call you. His business must be a front for something. But I have my gig at The Stork Club, so I don"t need him. I make my way back to the French House and as I turn the corner I do a double take. Standing by the entrance is a lady the spit of Red. I have to be sure of this, so I wait and scope her to see if I am mistaken, or just on drugs or too much mono sodium glutimate. She turns and there is no mistaking that ass. I walk slowly over so as not to spook her, she senses my approach and turns to face me.

"Joe baby, I was worried you were gone for 2 weeks."

"Two days you mean."

"No two weeks by the MWD, it doesn"t lie, that's almost 2 million credits. Another week and your bank account would be empty with no way back. No Gelt, no travel, it's a company rule."

'so you came to find me?"

"Your transender was switched off otherwise I would have recalled you."

"Is this normal, going after wayward clients."

"You are not just a client, you are the one I go to the movies with."

"But not normal."

I take her by the arm and guide her into the diner. I find a booth away from the window and sit her down."

"Don"t move I have a call to make."

I sit on a stool by the phone booth drop in two nickels and dial the number on my watch.

"I didn"t buzz," says Doil.

"Listen Doil I have a dilemma."

'so what's new."

"The girl from the Material Wormhole Destableiser has pitched up saying my credit is low and I have got to return now or it's never, unless I get more funds."

"Don"t worry about funds. We own them don"t forget. You can return when I say so."

"Is it Ok if she hangs about for a bit. I kinda like her."

"Fuck me, loves young dream. Yeh go ahead break your balls."

I return to the booth and decide to tell all. Red sits there open mouthed whilst I relate to her my part in saving the Galaxy.

"I didn"t realize you had turned into Flash Gordon, or I"d have worn my Dale Arden costume."