II
I didn't mind the brush-off but the idea of her calling for Perry Acree to toss me out fanned my slow burn to a blaze.
"That seed-sized cipher?" I scoffed. "Why, for two centi-credits I'd—"
Shanig's door opened and Perry came out. He added up the score in a blink and jumped to the conclusion that I was waiting to settle with him.
"Now look, Bill," he began. "I couldn't help it if—"
"That secret agent stunt of yours just cost me five thousand credits, Acree," I said, cutting him short. "I think you're going to be as sorry as Shanig before this is over."
He lost the little color he had. "I don't want trouble with you, Mr. Bailey! Cheryl, will you—"
The girl pushed her buzzer. Her eyes dodged mine, and I could read her mind like the back of a credit-note. She was making allowances for Perry but it hurt to call for help.
Shanig's office door opened again and his two uglies came out. Both of them had freeze guns and the yellow Martie wore my Quantrell blaster tucked into his belt, but it was plain that they didn't expect to need them.
"Hey, take it easy!" Perry wailed, not wanting any part of this. "That's Blaster Bill Bailey you jerks are—"