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from it.”
    It takes me several moments to realize that my normally agile mouth is stuck in the open position.
    “So where does that leave us?” I manage at last.
    “With a successful investigation under our belts along with a fat bonus for resolving the thing so fast. I’ve got a hunch, though, that part of that bonus is gag money to ensure we don’t spread it around that the owner was being flimflammed by his own brother-in-law.”
    Now I am indeed glad that we have resolved the pilferage assignment without implicatin’ any of the worker types I have been buddies with, but at the same time I am realizin’ that with the job over, I will not be around to help them out when the Doggie Doodle hits the fan.
    “Well, that’s that, I guess. We’d better report in to the Boss and see what’s been happenin’ while we’ve been gone.”
    “Is something wrong, Guido? You seem a little down.”
    “Aaah! It’s nothin’, Bunny. Just thinkin’ that I’ll miss some of the guys back at the plant, is all.”
    “Maybe not,” she sez, real mysterious like.
    Now it’s my turn to give her the hairy eyeball.
    “Now, Bunny,” I sez, “if you’ve got sumpin’ up your sleeve other than lint, I would suggest you share it with me. You know I am not good when it comes to surprises.”
    “Well, I was going to wait until we got back home, but I suppose it won’t hurt to give you a preview.”
    She looks around like there might be someone listenin’ in, then hunches forward so I can hear her whisper.
    “I picked up a rumor back at the plant office that there may be a union forming at the magic factory. I’m going to suggest to Skeeve that we do a little prospecting ... you know, put in a bid. Can you imagine what we could charge for breaking up a union?”
    I develop a sudden interest in the ceiling.
    “Uh, Bunny?” I sez. “I know you want to impress the Boss with how good you are at findin’ work for us, but I think in the longer run that it would be in the best interests of M.Y.T.H. Inc. to pass on this particular caper.”
    “But why? The owner stands to lose ten times as much if a union forms than he was dropping to embezzlement. We could make a real killing here. He already knows our work.”
    In response, I lean back and give her a slow smile.
    “When it comes to makin’ a killin’, Bunny, I would advise you not to try to teach your grandmother, which in this case is me, how to steal sheep. Furthermore, there are times when it is wisest not to let the client know too much about your work ... and trust me, Bunny, this is one such time!”

“... AN OUTSIDE AGITATOR and a union organizer! And to think I was paying him to slit my throat!!”
    I somehow managed to keep a straight face, which was harder than it sounds.
    “Actually, Mr. Bane, I was paying him to help uncover the source of your inventory leak, which he did, and you were paying him to work in your factory, which he also did. I’m not sure exactly what it is that you’re complaining about.”
    For a moment I thought the Deveel was going to come across the desk at my throat.
    “What I’m complaining about is that your so-called agent organized a union in my factory that’s costing me a bundle!”
    “There’s no proof he was involved ...”
    “So how come his name comes up every time ...”
    “... And even if he was, I’m not sure what concern it is of mine. I run a business, Mr. Bane, with employees, not slaves. What they do on their off hours is their affair, not mine.”
    “But he was acting as your agent!!!”
    “... To investigate the pilferage problem, which, I’m told, has been settled.”
    As we were speaking, Chumley poked his head into my office, saw what was going on, and came in all the way, shifting to his big bad troll persona as he did. In case you are wondering, I was working without a receptionist at the time, having deemed it wise to have both Bunny and Guido lie low for a while after finding out what had really happened