“Nice going, Skeeve!” Kalvin winked, flashing me a high sign. “I think we’re off the hook.”
I ignored him. The policeman’s comment about wasting his time had reignited my irritation. After all, he had been the one who had prolonged the interrogation. “Just a moment,” I said, as he started to turn away. “Does this mean you won’t be running that check on me?”
“Skeeve!” the Djin warned, but it was too late.
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t?” the policeman said, turning back to me again.
“It’s just that you’ve taken up so much of your valuable time asking questions about a simple fainting, I’d hate to see you waste any more.”
“Now don’t go tryin’ to tell me how to do my job. Mister Skeeve,” he snarled, pushing his face close to mine. “Per yer information, I’m not so sure this is as simple as you try to cut it out to be.”
“It isn’t?”
That last snappy response of mine was sort of squeaked out. I was suddenly aware that I was not as far out of the woods as I had believed.
“No, it isn’t. We have what seems to be a minor disturbance in a public restaurant, only the person at the center of it turns out to be travelin’ in disguise. What’s more, he’s from off-dimension and used to usin’ aliases, and even though he claims to be an honest businessman, there doesn’t seem to be anyone locally who can vouch for him, or any immediate way of confirmin’ his story. Now doesn’t that strike you as bein’ a little suspicious?”
“Well, if you put it that way . . .”
“I do! However, as I was sayin’, we’re pretty busy down at the station, and for all yer jabberin’ you seem harmless e.nough, so I don’t see much point to pursuin’ this further. Just remember, I’ve got you down in my book, boyo, and if there’s any trouble you’ll find I’m not so understandin’ next time!”