“You might just as well have taken the whole day off,” he snapped.
“Well, maybe I will,” retorted Tully.
“I guess that’s about enough from you,” said the filing chief. “I’ll find plenty of extra work for you to do and you may change your attitude and show a little respect.”
A dark wave of color swept over Tully’s face and Bob saw his fists clench. He stepped closer to Jacobs.
“I’ll get here just when I please,” he stormed, “and don’t think I’m going to let you boss me around. I’m a federal agent now and I’m working on a big case. Don’t you forget that.”
But in spite of the bravado, Arthur Jacobs stood his ground.
“I don’t care what you are,” he replied. “As far as I know you’re nothing but a clerk in my department and you’ll get to work on time and you’ll be respectful or you’ll get another job.”
“If you don’t believe I’m a federal agent, ask Bob; he’ll tell you.”
The filing chief turned to Bob.
“Tully is right. I saw him sworn into the service today,” said Bob. He was glad that Jacobs had not asked him about his own position.