He dealt himself out a board of Four Cards Up and had gone through about half the pack when Mike the Angel came in with Lieutenant Keku.
“Hello, Jake,” said Keku. “What’s to do?”
“Get out two more decks,” said Mike the Angel, “and we can all play solitaire.”
Von Liegnitz looked up sleepily. “I could probably think of duller things, Mike, but not just immediately. How about bridge?”
“We’ll need a fourth,” said Keku. “How about Pete?”
Mike the Angel shook his head. “Black Bart is sleeping—taking his beauty nap. So Pete has the duty. How about young Vaneski? He’s not a bad partner.”
“He is out, too,” said von Liegnitz. “He also is on duty.”
Mike the Angel lifted an inquisitive eyebrow. “Something busted? Why should the Maintenance Officer be on duty right now?”
“He is maintaining,” said von Liegnitz with deliberate dignity, “peace and order around here. He is now performing the duty of Answerman-in-Chief. He’s very good at it.”
Mike grinned. “Snookums?”