“Is that a fact?” The policeman’s skepticism was open. “Tell me, boyo, what is it you do for them that they had to hire a Klahd instead of one of their local lads?” Maybe I was recovering from passing out, or maybe his sarcasm was getting to me, but I started to get a bit annoyed with the questions.
“I’m the president and founder,” I snapped, “and since I personally recruited the staff, they didn’t have whole bunches to say about my qualifications.” Actually, they had had a lot to say. Specifically, they were the ones who railroaded me into my current lofty position. Somehow, though, this didn’t seem to be the time to try to point that out.
“Really?” The policeman was still pushing, but he seemed a lot more respectful now. “It’s clear that there’s more to you than meets the eye, Mister Skeeve.”
“Steady, Skeeve,” the Djin said quietly. “Let’s not get too aggressive with the representatives of the local law.”
It was good advice, and I tried to get a handle on my temper.
“You can check it out if you like,” I said stiffly.
“Oh, I intend to. Would you mind tellin’ me what the president of a corporation from Deva is doin’ in our fair dimension? Are you here on business?”
“Well . . . I guess you could say that.”
“Good. Then I’m sure you won’t mind givin’ me the names of our citizens you’re dealin’ with.” Too late I saw the trap. As a businessman, I should have local references. This may seem like a silly oversight to you, but you’ll have to remember my background up to this point. Most of my ventures into the various dimensions have been more of the raider or rescue mission variety, so it never occurred to me there was another way of doing business. Of course, admitting this would probably do little toward improving the impression I was making on this stalwart of the law.
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