Chapter Four

-Second Thoughts Aren't Part of the Deal-

She pulled her hand from mine and retrieved a lace edged hanky from her clutch that she used to blot the tears from her eyes and face, careful not to smudge the mascara. Had I been played? Probably, but there was no turning back now.

I scrawled my fees and terms on my datapad and handed it to her. Yeah, I'm a sucker for hot babes in plum, but I still need to make a living and she could afford it. I bumped up the numbers, stopping just short of extortion, and included hazard pay, along with my flat fee and daily expenses. She didn't bat an eye, hell, her suit probably cost more than what I was asking. Score for me as long as I lived long enough to spend it.

"Of course I expect a retainer up front, Mrs. Del'Moor, say a quarter of my fee and I will provide receipts for expenses. The rest is due on delivery of your item."

She handed my datapad back to me. "Agreed, Mr. Deklinn. I will deposit what you ask into your account as soon as you provide the information. I will contact you later with my private transceiver code so that you can contact me day or night. It is that important to me."

I keyed in my account info, she accessed her account, made the transfer and I was suddenly fifteen thousand credits richer. Done and done.

I stood up with her and walked her to the door placing my hand at the small of her back as I ushered her through and then leaned against the frame as I watched her walk across my small reception area that emptied into the hallway. That touch was uncalled for, but I couldn't resist.

"A bit out of your league, Markus," said Tandy Sentorro from behind her desk.

"Uh-huh," I answered as I walked to my office window and looked down to see her escorted to her limo by a very big, very muscular Cathar. He popped an umbrella over her head and looked upward toward me after he opened the door for her, then he disappeared into the front seat of the vehicle. It swooped smoothly away into one of the many lanes of traffic before disappearing from view.

I headed back to the reception room and looked down at my secretary. "Get Minx and Tongo on the horn, Tandy. Tell them to meet me at The Slag Pit around 9 tonight."

"Ok, Markus, but does this mean I get paid? You owe me two weeks you know."

"Yes, my lovely, I'll take care of it tomorrow. You look really nice today, is that a new sweater?"

"Flattery will get you nowhere and I still want my pay, my rent's due."

I don't usually do well with someone nagging me, but Tandy was the exception. She has been with me since I opened the office five years ago and stuck with me through richer and poorer, better or worse, sickness and health. She'd nursed me through hangovers, stab wounds, blaster burns and fed me when I didn't have a spare credit to my name. I'd be lost without her. She was efficient, sassy, married for just over sixteen years now, and she didn't take crap from anyone, including me.

I went back to my desk, keyed in the account information and transferred her pay. "There, Tandy, you happy now?"

"A raise would be nice, but this'll do."

I finished up some work I still had outstanding. I let Mrs. Schnagle know that the only thing her husband was cheating on her with was a clandestine sabacc game, then contacted Inig Crase, a pilot friend of mine, about a shipment for Songa the Hutt. He could pay me my cut when it was delivered and he collected his fee.

I leaned back in my chair and went over the visit from earlier. I'd had a woman or two get under my skin before and it never ended well. All men are dogs, a fact I had come to terms with in my misspent youth, I was a sighthound with a good nose and an appreciation for the chase.

Problem is, the thrill went away soon after I'd caught them. A few weeks of hot, hot sex then they went into nesting mode, they can't help it, it's in the DNA. Domestication is not my gig and I may die old and alone, but everything is a trade off and I have no regrets. Freedom comes at a price.

My stomach growled and I looked at my chrono, 2 pm, I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

I took my heater from the desk drawer, checked the gas cartridge and slipped it into my shoulder holster, then rolled down my sleeves and put on my suit jacket, grabbed my trenchcoat and fedora and headed back into the reception area.

I pulled a sawbuck out of my pocket and flipped it in Tandy's direction. "Get you and Lom something good to eat for dinner, on me. I'll think about the raise tomorrow, I promise."