Jay extended a hand. Hartmann handed the papers over. Jay began flipping through them, and shook his head. "Pan Rudo, Etienne Faneuil, Philip Baron von Herzenhagen, George G. Battle ..."
"George G. Battle?" Jerry said the name much louder than he'd intended.
"Yes," Hartmann said, "you know him?"
Jerry cleared his throat. "We've met."
Jay handed the papers back to Hartmann, shaking his head. "What is the reason for these investigations, Senator? What are we looking for?"
Hartmann glanced away from Jay, toward the windows. "I'm afraid I can't divulge that. At least, not at this point."
"Then I'm afraid we can't be of any help to you," Jay said.
Hartmann arched an eyebrow and sat back in his chair. "Really? Why is that?"
"Well, if you're correct about how powerful these people are, we could be placing ourselves in real jeopardy if we go poking around." Jay shrugged. "Besides which, you're holding out information on us. I just don't like the way it smells, Senator."
Hartmann took the papers and tucked them back into his briefcase, then stood and gave Jay a tight smile. "I know your reputation, Mr. Ackroyd. You're not afraid of danger. Still, your reasons for refusing are your own. I trust you'll keep the nature of this meeting entirely confidential?"
Jay nodded. "That goes without saying, Senator. Goodbye."
Hartmann nodded and glanced over at Jerry. "Nice meeting you, Mr. Creighton." He brushed a piece of lint from his coat and walked imperiously from the office. If Hartmann was disappointed, it didn't register in his posture.
"You must not care for politicians," Jerry said.
Jay grinned. "Some I do, some I don't. Sascha?"
An eyeless man stepped from behind a partition in the corner. Sascha was one of the agency's key operatives. He was a skimmer, could pick up on a person's surface thoughts, though the depths were as much a mystery to him as anyone else. He'd been a bartender at the Crystal Palace until it burned down. Like Ezili, he'd become one of Ti Malice's mounts. They'd both done some pretty twisted stuff while under the little monster's influence. Jerry hadn't even known Sascha was in the room.
"Hartmann believes that the person who gave him this information is on the up-and-up. Her name is Hannah Davis, for what it's worth. I don't think he's convinced it's true, though." Sascha smoothed his moustache. "I don't think he likes you much either, Mr. Ackroyd."
"Nobody likes me. That's why I had to get married." Jay rubbed the back of his neck. "That's all we need for now, Sascha."
The eyeless joker walked in measured steps to the doorway, paused a second, then left.
"I'm always afraid he's going to send me to the cornfield," Jerry said, exhaling.
Jay laughed. "Yeah, he told me. You jumped a little high at Battle's name."
"Yeah," Jerry said. "Well, since he almost got me killed, I think I'm entitled."
It was true. When Jay was on Takis, Jerry had assumed his identity to get a little practical experience as a P.I. Battle had recruited him for a covert assault on the Rox, assuming he was the real Popinjay. Jerry managed to get caught in a flood in the caverns under the Rox, and had escaped by turning into the Creature from the Black Lagoon. He'd almost lost his mind, clawing and paddling his way through the dark waters under the Rox. The experience had terrified him on another level. Whenever he changed into something inhuman, he had to fight for control of his body. It had been a close thing as a gill-man; a slightly weaker will and he might be living in the East River, eating rotting fish.
"He sounded like a typical spook to me, just took a few more chances than most." Jay put his feet up on his desk. "You're not thinking of going after him on your own, are you?"
Jerry squirmed up from his chair and moved quickly to the door. "Of course not."
"Never hold out on your partner. It's the fifth rule of detective work."
"What are the first four rules?" Jerry asked from the doorway.
Ackroyd grinned. "Tell me the truth and I'll clue you in."
"You know I never lie," Jerry said. "Well, almost never."
Jay shook his head "Have it your way."
♥ ♦ ♣ ♠
Ezili was on top. Her cafe au lait skin was electric under his fingertips. Jerry looked into her red eyes. They were wild and unfocused, as if she were seeing some great truth far beyond either of them. He grabbed her shoulders hard and pushed upward. She leaned backward and bared her teeth. They were perfectly formed and perfectly white. Perfect, like every inch of her. Jerry closed his eyes and came. There was noise, almost inhuman. He thought Ezili must have made it, but wasn't sure. Ecstasy lingered a few moments, then passed, like the sun on a cloudy day.
He felt Ezili roll off him and he opened his eyes. She looked down at him, the wildness gone from her. Jerry got the feeling she was going to ask for something.
"How would you like to rub my feet?" he said, making a preemptive strike.
Ezili smiled and ran a finger down his calf. "Very well. Later will be for me." Her finger reached the bottom of his foot and she ran it lightly up to his toes.
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll bite off one of your toes. It would make a fine necklace."
Jerry ignored the threat and sank into contentment. "Okay. Later is definitely for you. Do you think Jay respects me?" The question revealed more than he'd wanted it to. Abandon had its drawbacks.
Ezili looked at his feet. "If he did, it would not show. Mr. Ackroyd always seeks the advantage. Old habits die with their owner."
"Interesting twist on that old adage." Jerry pulled one foot away and offered the other. "I know better than to ask if you respect me."
You get what you want from me. I get what I want from you. Is respect better than that?"
"Good question. You're full of them tonight."
Ezili took his feet out of her lap. "Now for me. Something unusual."
Jerry lifted his head up and bit his lip suspiciously. "What?"
"I want you to be a woman for me."
"You can't ... I mean, that's not exactly playing to my strength."
She smiled her Ezili-will-have-it smile. "Get up." She took his hand and led him over to the bedroom mirror. "I want you to watch yourself do it."
Jerry lusted after many beautiful women, but right now he couldn't think of a single one he wanted to be. "Where should I start?"
"Here," she said, running a lacquered fingernail over one of his nipples.
Jerry concentrated. Breasts formed on his chest. Big, but not as large as Ezili's, with dark nipples. There wasn't much hair on his chest, but he got rid of it anyway. Ezili glanced down at his crotch. Jerry sighed, then watched his pride and joy disappear and shift into a female organ. An image of a young Julie Newmar crept into his mind and transformed his flesh. He/she had a wanton look that might be a challenge even for Ezili.
"Satisfied?"
Ezili nuzzled Jerry/Julie's ear. "Aren't you glad I don't just fuck you because you're the boss?"
"If you ever tell Jay about this, I'll kill you."
Ezili laughed and pulled her lover into the bed. She positioned her head between Jerry's legs and blew lightly, then extended her tongue. Jerry felt a ribbon of pleasure knotting inside.
"The sweetest," Ezili said, then flicked her tongue across him again.
"Yes," Jerry whispered. "The sweetest."
♥ ♦ ♣ ♠
In spite of the fact that it was hell on his eyes, Jerry did his computer work in the dark. He liked being alone with the phosphor glow of the CRT while he prowled through a system. He'd had a few of the local hackers teach him system breaking, and in return provided them with top-of-the-line equipment.