Disclaimer: I do not own Human Target and intend no copyright infringement.
Usually clients made contact by telephone first. Some of these calls were confused, others panicky. This one was weird.
"I've heard you provide a very special form of protection", a woman's voice said.
"Actually, we do, Ms. Smith", Winston confirmed. "Jeez, couldn't she have come up with something more creative for an alias?" "We've developed a rather unique method of not simply keeping our respective client safe but also eliminating the threat."
She made a noncommittal hmhm-sound. "What criteria do you apply when choosing a client?"
"Excuse me?"
"Is there anything that would keep you from accepting a client?"
Winston wondered if some equal rights organization was checking out the company. "We've had cases in which a client tried to con us…"
Ms. Smith made a dismissive mpf-sound. "Yes, that's understandable, but are there other…erm… characteristics that could keep you from taking a certain client?"
Winston frowned. This really sounded like some sort of trap. "We're strong supporters of gay rights, women rights, human rights…" Thinking of Guerrero, he silently added "…at least most of us."
"What about animal rights?"
Winston seriously considered simply hanging up the phone. "I'm sorry, but…"
"See, the thing is this…"
… … …
"That's what she said? And we're still going to meet her?" Chance eyed his usually very no-nonsense friend with more than mild confusion. "This is clearly some sort of nutcase. We've definitely got better things to do…"
"And what exactly would that be? Napping on the sofa in midday, under a pile of Chinese food? We haven't had a paying client in months, the roof is leaking, the mortgage is due and she offered good money", Winston exploded. "It's worth a try!"
"Is it really this bad?" Chance felt a pang of guilt. Their latest client had offered payment, but knowing that she had a small son he had told her it was okay…
"If you wouldn't insist on paying that lowlife friend of yours even when it's a pro bono case…"
Oh no, not that discussion again. Now Chance actually welcomed the alert system's signal that let them know their potential new client had arrived. Both hurried to the surveillance monitor to get a glimpse of the woman who claimed to be a…
"She looks perfectly normal to me", Chance stated. "Nutcase."
"She's wearing a long trench coat, gloves, sunglasses and a hat. It could still be", Winston insisted. They so desperately needed the money…
"I can't believe we're even having this conversation."
The woman stepped out of the elevator. "Mr. Winston? I'm Leda Smith. We talked on the phone." The part of her face that wasn't covered by the sunglasses was hidden behind a floral-patterned scarf.
Winston introduced Chance. She nodded and, after a moment of hesitation, removed scarf, sunglasses, hat, gloves and trench coat, revealing glowing ruby red eyes, pitch black talons and an equally black, hairy tail that ended in an arrow-shaped tip. Rather impressive fangs showed when she spoke.
Well, the good news was the woman was not a nutcase. She had told Winston the truth – she was a gargoyle.
Hey, they finally had a paying client again!
Hooray…
For the first time ever since they had started working together a year ago, Winston was actually relieved that they had Guerrero on the team, too, and that he was due to arrive in about ten minutes.