"I did," I said firmly. "Well, we won't keep you any longer, Geek. I know you'll want to get back to your club and clean up a bit. Otherwise we'll have to reduce the amount of our appraisal."
The Deveel started to snarl something, then thought better of it and slunk out into the night.
"Do you think that will make up for what we had to pay in damages, partner?" I said innocently.
"Skeeve, sometimes you amaze me," Aahz said, lifting his wine in a salute. "Now if there are no more surprises, I'm ready to party."
It was tempting, but I was on a roll and didn't want to let the moment slip away.
"There is one more thing," I announced. "Now that we've taken care of the Ax and the Kid, I think we should address the major problem that's come up...while everyone is here.''
"Major problem?" my partner scowled. "What's that?"
Taking a deep breath, I went for it.
Chapter Twenty
"So what else is new?"
-W. Cronkite
THE whole crew was staring at me as I rolled my goblet of wine back and forth in my hand, trying to decide where to start.
"If I've seemed a little distracted during this latest crisis," I said at last, "it's because I've been wrestling with another problem that's come to my attention...a big one. So big that, in my mind, the other stuff took a lower priority."
"Whatever you're talking about, partner," Aahz frowned, "I've missed it."
"You just said it, Aahz. The magic word is 'partner.' Things have been going real well for you and me, but we aren't the only ones in this household. When we were talking to Chumley and he said that his life wasn't all beer and skittles, it took me a while to puzzle out what he was talking about, but it finally came clear."
I looked at the troll.
"Business is off for you, isn't it, Chumley?"
"Well, I don't like to complain..."
"I know, but maybe you should once in a while, I had never stopped to think about it before, but you've been getting fewer and fewer assignments since you moved in with us, haven't you?"
"Is that true, Chumley?" Aahz said. "I never noticed..."
"No one's noticed because the attention has always been on us, Aahz. The Aahz and Skeeve team has been taking priority over everything and everyone else. We've been so busy living up to our big-name image that we've missed what it's doing to our colleagues, the ones who have to a large extent been responsible for our success."
"Oh, come now, Skeeve old boy," Chumley laughed uneasily. "I think you're exaggerating a bit there."
"Am I? Your business is off, and so is Tananda's. I hate to say it, but she was right when she left, we are stifling her with our current setup. Guido and Nunzio knock themselves out trying to be super-bodyguards because they're afraid we'll decide we don't really need them and send them packing. Even Massha thinks of herself as a non-contributing team member. Bunny's our newest arrival, and she tried to tell me that the only way she could help us is as an ornament!"
"I feel better about that after tonight, Skeeve," Bunny corrected. "Between negotiating with the Kid and getting the assignment to price out the Even-Odds, I think I can do something for you besides breathe heavy."
"Exactly!" I nodded. "That's what's giving me the courage to propose the plan I've cooked up."
"Plan? What plan?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Aahz. Actually, what I wanted to talk to all of you about. What we're dealing with in this household isn't really a partnership...it's a company. Everybody in this room contributes to the success of our group as a whole, and I think it's about time we restructured our setup to reflect that. What we really need is a system where all of us have a say as to what's going on. Then clients will be able to approach us as a group, and we quote prices, hand out assignments or subcontract, and share the profits as a group. That's my proposal, for what it's worth. What do the rest of you think? "
The silence stretched on until I started to wonder if they were trying to think of a tactful way to tell me I belonged in a rubber room.
"I don't know, Skeeve," Aahz said at last.
"What aren't you sure of?" I urged.
"I don't know if we should call ourselves Magic, Inc., or Chaos, Ltd."
"Magic, Inc., has already been used," Tananda argued. "Besides, I think the name should be a little more dignified and formal."
"You do that, then the clients are goin' to be surprised when they actually see us, know what I mean?" Guido put in. "We ain't exactly dignified and formal ourselves."
I leaned back in my chair and took a deep breath. If that was their only concern, my idea was at least deemed worthy of consideration. Massha caught my eye and winked. I toasted her back, feeling justifiably smug. "Does this company accept new applicants?"
We all turned to find Markie in the door, suitcase in her hand.
"I don't think I have to tell you all about my qualifications," she continued, "but I admire this group and would be proud to be a part of it."
The crew exchanged glances.
"Well, Markie.. "
"It's still nebulous..."
"You've got the Elemental stuff down cold..."
"What do you think, Skeeve?" Aahz said. "You're the one who's usually big on recruiting old enemies."
"No, "I said firmly.
They were all looking at me again.
"Sorry to sound so overbearing right after claiming I wanted everybody to have a say in things," I continued, "but if Markie's in, I'm out."
"What's the problem. Skeeve?" Markie frowned. "I thought we were still on pretty good terms."
"We are," I nodded. "I'm not mad at you. I won't work against your career or hit you or hold a grudge. You were just doing your job."
I raised my head and our eyes met.
"I just can't go along with how you work, is all. You say you admire our group--well, the glue that holds us together is trust. The way you operate is to get people to trust you, then betray it. Even if you stayed loyal to our group, I don't think I want to be associated in business with someone who thinks that's the way to turn a profit."
I stopped there, and no one else raised a voice to contradict me.
Markie picked up her suitcase and started for the door. At the last moment, though, she turned back to me and I could see tears in her eyes.
"I can't argue with what you're saying, Skeeve," she said, "but I can't help wishing you had settled for hitting me and let me join."
There was total silence as she made her departure.
"The young lady has raised a valid point," Chumley said at last. "What is our position on new members?"
"If we're open, I'd like to put Vic's name up for consideration," Massha chimed in.
"First we've got to decide if we need anyone else," Tananda corrected.
"That raises the whole question of free-lance vs. exclusive contracts," Nunzio said. "I don't think that it's realistic to have all our shares equal."
"I've been doodling up a plan on just that point, Nunzio," Bunny called, waving the napkin she had been scribbling on. "If you can hold on for a few minutes, I'll have something to propose officially."
As interested as I was in the proceedings, I had trouble concentrating on what was being said. For some reason, Markie's face kept crowding into my mind.
Sure, what I said was rough, but it was necessary. If you're going to run a business or a team, you've got to set a standard and adhere to it. There's no room for sentimentality. I had done the right thing, hadn't I? Hadn't I?
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