Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin

“But just because I… what?”

“Sure. That’s why I’m here. Now I know you said before you didn’t want to work for the Mob full time. That’s why I’m ready to talk a new deal with you. I want you to run the Mob’s operation here at the Bazaar … and I’m willing to pay top dollar.”

“How much is that in gold?”

Aahz was leaning forward now.

“Wait a minute! Whoa! Stop!” I interrupted. “You can’t be serious. I don’t have the time or the know-how to make this a profitable project.”

“It doesn’t have to be profitable,” Don argued. “Break even would be nice, or even just lose money slower. Anything to get the council to look elsewhere for things to gripe about at our monthly Meetings. You could do it in your extra time.”

I started to say something, but Aahz put a casual hand on my shoulder. I knew that warning. If I tried to interrupt or correct him, that grip would tighten until my bones creaked.

“Now let me see if I’ve got this right,” he said, showing all his teeth. “You want my man here to run your operation, but you don’t care if it doesn’t show a profit?”

“That’s right.”

“Of course, with things as shaky as they are now, you’d have to guarantee his salary.”

Don Bruce pursed his lips and looked at me. “How much does he cost?”

“Lots,” Aahz confided. “But less than the total salary of the force you’ve got here now.”

“Okay. He’s worth it.”

“Aahz …” I began, but the grip on my shoulder tightened.

“. . . And you aren’t so much concerned with the Mob’s reputation here on Deva as you are with how the Council treats you, right?”