The three men left the dingy hotel and walked out into the main street of Spaceman's Row. In a few moments they arrived at the Café Cosmos. Roger was already there, seated at the same table and watching the door. When he saw Loring and Mason with Shinny, he eyed them warily.
"Hiya, kid!" greeted Loring. "Glad to see you took my advice and got away from 'Blast-off' Connel." Mason waved a salute, and the three men sat down.
Roger ignored Loring and Mason, speaking directly to Shinny. "Did you complete our deal?" he asked softly.
"Nope," answered Shinny. "I brought you another one instead."
Roger held out his hand. "My one hundred credits—now!"
"Never mind the credits, kid," said Loring, "we've got more important things to talk about."
Roger continued to look at Shinny, his palm outstretched on the top of the table. "One hundred credits," he repeated coldly.
Reluctantly, Shinny handed over the money. Slowly, carefully, Roger counted the bills, and then, after putting them away, he turned to face Loring for the first time.
"You said you have something important to discuss with me?" he drawled.