M.Y.T.H. Inc In Action by Robert Asprin

“That’s right!” Hy Flie sez. “We were sittin’ right over there when this bombshell starts playing up to Junebug here!”

“Of course, they stick up for each other!” one of the guys in the front of the crowd snorts to the fellow next to him.

I don’t think he meant to be heard, but Shu Flie was standin’ right beside him and caught it.

“Are you callin’ my brother a liar?” he sez, startin’ for the loudmouth.

I’m thinking we got the fight in the bag, but one of the cops gets between ’em holdin’ them apart with a hand on each of their chests.

“Back off! Both of you!” he orders. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this …”

“GET YOUR HANDS OFF THAT SOLDIER!!”

The Military Police have arrived and come pushin’ through the crowd to join our discussion group.

“Military personnel are to be handled by the MPs and not pushed around by some cop with a chip on his shoulder!”

The sergeant in charge of the MPs is a real bruiser and just the kind of Joe I wanted to see … not too bright and dog-stubborn. He has three of his buddies with him, so we really outnumber the cops. Then I see some more police uniforms comin’ through the door and have to revise my count again. It looks like a real party shapin’ up.

“We weren’t pushing him around!” the first cop sez, steppin’ in nose to nose with the MP sergeant. “What’s more, this investigation involves a civilian, so until we find out what happened …”

“We caught some bimbo tryin’ to roll one of our boys!” Shu Flie shouts at the MP. “And now they’re all tryin’ to cover up for her!”