"Unless you got any objections," Mahoney answered, "she's joining your Mantis team."
Sten had no objections at all.
The Eternal Emperor reverently dusted off the bottle, popped it open, then poured two healthy drinks. Mahoney picked up one. Looked at it suspiciously.
"Scotch again, boss?" he wanted to know.
"Yep. Except this time it's the real stuff."
"Where from?"
"I ain't saying."
Mahoney took a sip. Gagged.
"What the—?"
The Eternal Emperor beamed. Took a big slug. Rolled it around his mouth, savoring it.
"Just right," he said.
Filled up his glass again.
"You took care of everything? On the Sten matter?"
"Just like you said, boss."
The Emperor thought a minute.
"Let me know how he works out. I think that Sten is a boy to watch."
"He sure is, boss. He sure is."
Mahoney forced himself to finish his drink. And then held out his glass for more. In his job, you made sure you always kept the boss happy.
And the Eternal Emperor hated to drink alone.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
CHRIS BUNCH is a Ranger—an airborne-qualified Vietnam Vet—who's written about phenomena as varied as the Hell's Angels, the Rolling Stones, and Ronald Reagan.
ALLAN COLE grew up in the CIA in odd spots like Okinawa, Cyprus, and Taiwan. He's been a professional chef, investigative reporter, and national news editor of a major West Coast daily newspaper. He's won half a dozen writing awards in the process.
BUNCH AND COLE, friends since high school, have collaborated on everything from the world's worst pornographic novel to over fifty television scripts, as well as a feature movie. This is their second novel.