"Fleetwood Cassidy," Fleetwood told the Towers. "Mr. Fleetwood Cassidy."
"Very well, Mr. Cassidy, just one mo.... Did you say Fleetwood Cassidy?"
"I did," Fleetwood said. "And tell Mr. Dermitt it's a matter of life and death."
"I see," the Towers mused with modulated forebearance, "it's a little joke, eh? Who shall we say is really calling?"
"Never mind," Fleetwood said. "Just say it's a friend on a matter of extreme urgency. Snap into it."
"Oh, very well," the Towers said, plainly piqued, "if you insist."
A silence followed, punctuated by several non-committal clicks and an intermittent buzzing. Finally the voice of the Towers resumed.
"Mr. Dermitt will speak to you, sir," it announced regretfully. "Please hold on while he changes instruments."
There was a final click and the voice of the Towers was supplanted by the voice of Grant Dermitt. It expressed an even blend of harassment and vexation.