Garnish on the Side
I dressed in my uniform and went to visit Harry. The man who had fitted me with my identi-chip wished to dock me one point five percent of all I earned. It was clearly time for me to make my first payment.
When I walked into the store, the same slack-jawed youth was behind the table. "Uh," he said.
"I must speak with Harry."
"Uh," he said.
"I would guess he is in the back."
"Uh." He actually moved in an attempt to cut me off, but he was far too slow. "Uh, Harry's not, I, uh."
"Harry!" I said. My smile evidently disturbed him.
"Officer!" He should not play games of skill involving the ability to bluff. The underarms of his shirt were suddenly dark with sweat. "Is there a problem? My store's license to sell grey-level electronics is valid, and our inventory list is in order."
"You don't remember, do you? Jason Smith. You were kind enough to help me with my identi-chip difficulties."
Harry would have to launder his shirt twice at the rate he was going. "But you're a--you're wearing the uniform of--"
I sat on the corner of his desk. "I am now a licensed contractor with the People's Protectorate, Criminal Apprehension and Investigation Division." I swung one foot idly. "I believe we had an agreement regarding your take of a percentage of my wages."
"Oh, oh, holy mother."
"You may be wondering how I was able to secure my employment with such an august organization." I leaned in close. "If so, I assure you, that is not what you should be thinking about. You should be thinking about how I will be making my money that you wish to take part of." I leaned in closer. "Namely, by turning criminals in."
"I, I, I have records!"
"Wonderful! Where are they? I earn more when I have greater proof of a crime."
"I, they're, I."
"Or!" I paced around the room, idly slapping my stun stick into my open palm. "I wish to maximize my earning potential. I can think of no better way to do that than to have information on criminals. Criminals with whom I do not have a good working relationship.
"Would you like to have a good working relationship with me? Provide information on some of your less-savory colleagues? Think of the potential for you to earn free time, away from imprisonment."
Harry agreed that he would love to have a good working relationship with me.
When I walked into the store, the same slack-jawed youth was behind the table. "Uh," he said.
"I must speak with Harry."
"Uh," he said.
"I would guess he is in the back."
"Uh." He actually moved in an attempt to cut me off, but he was far too slow. "Uh, Harry's not, I, uh."
"Harry!" I said. My smile evidently disturbed him.
"Officer!" He should not play games of skill involving the ability to bluff. The underarms of his shirt were suddenly dark with sweat. "Is there a problem? My store's license to sell grey-level electronics is valid, and our inventory list is in order."
"You don't remember, do you? Jason Smith. You were kind enough to help me with my identi-chip difficulties."
Harry would have to launder his shirt twice at the rate he was going. "But you're a--you're wearing the uniform of--"
I sat on the corner of his desk. "I am now a licensed contractor with the People's Protectorate, Criminal Apprehension and Investigation Division." I swung one foot idly. "I believe we had an agreement regarding your take of a percentage of my wages."
"Oh, oh, holy mother."
"You may be wondering how I was able to secure my employment with such an august organization." I leaned in close. "If so, I assure you, that is not what you should be thinking about. You should be thinking about how I will be making my money that you wish to take part of." I leaned in closer. "Namely, by turning criminals in."
"I, I, I have records!"
"Wonderful! Where are they? I earn more when I have greater proof of a crime."
"I, they're, I."
"Or!" I paced around the room, idly slapping my stun stick into my open palm. "I wish to maximize my earning potential. I can think of no better way to do that than to have information on criminals. Criminals with whom I do not have a good working relationship.
"Would you like to have a good working relationship with me? Provide information on some of your less-savory colleagues? Think of the potential for you to earn free time, away from imprisonment."
Harry agreed that he would love to have a good working relationship with me.