I consider mentionin’ my connections with the Mob, but decide they will be of little value in this circumstantial and may even be construed as a threat. Then something else occurs to me.
“Is General Badaxe available, sir?”
This gets the officer’s attention.
“You know General Badaxe?” he sez from under sky-high eyebrows.
“Not to any great extent, sir.” I admit. “We just met once in passin’.”
“Oh. Well, he is here at Headquarters, of course. I think you’ll find that he’s indisposed, however … at least he has been for the last couple of weeks.”
“Would that indisposition by any chance be female, sir? Extra, extra large … a lot of makeup and jewelry?”
This earns me a lot harder look from the officer before he answers.
“As a matter of fact, yes,” he sez at last. “You seem remarkably well informed for someone who has just arrived at Headquarters … or do you’ know the … young lady as well?”
For several reasons I figure it would be wisest not to admit the true relationship Nunzio and me has with Massha.
“She was with the general when I met him at court, sir,” I sez, sorta truthfully.
“You’ve been to the Royal Court?”
“Yes sir … but it was a while back … just before the king married Queen Hemlock.”
“I see,” the officer sez, thoughtful-like, then sets the paper he was holdin’ aside and starts rummagin’ again.
“Well in that case, perhaps I can find something a bit more pleasant in the way of an assignment.”
“Take your time sir,” I sez. “I can understand how things can be a bit disorganized with the general gone so much.”