“It means we aren’t the only one sneaking people onto the staff,” the commander growled. “That’s the trouble with being impressed with your own cleverness. You tend to forget that there are other people out there just as clever.”
“All have same person approve reference check. Huey Mar-tin,” Tusk-anini supplied, stumbling a little over the name.
“The new casino manager,” Phule said grimly. “If he’s bent, we could have an uphill fight on our hands. Great work, Tusk-anini! If you hadn’t caught this, we could have walked into a swinging door.”
“Thank you, Captain,” the giant said, drawing himself up proudly to an even greater height.
“We’ll take it from here … and Tusk? Don’t say anything to anyone else about this. Okay?”
“Can keep secret, Captain. Not worry.”
The officers sat in silence for a few minutes after Tusk-anini had left.
Finally Phule heaved a sigh.
“Remember what I was saying about thinking everything was in hand?” he said.
“This assignment just keeps getting better and better,” Armstrong spat bitterly. “If you don’t mind my saying so, sir, Headquarters’ idea of an easy job in paradise leaves a lot to be desired!”
“What are we going to do, Captain?” Rembrandt asked, ignoring her partner’s irritation. “Should we alert the owner that he’s got a rat in the woodpile?”
“Not just yet,” Phule said thoughtfully. “First of all, we don’t know for sure what Br’er Huey is up to. He might just be indulging in a little feather-bedding.”
“Feather-bedding, sir?”
“Filling the roster with friends and family members,” Armstrong explained.