I dialed the number. The phone made a faraway rattling sound.
"Hello, Twelve Stars Group. Your call is important to us. Please wait for a moment, all of our lines are busy." I was entertained for a few minutes by an orchestral choir doing something like Handel's Messiah. Then a female operator answered-she sounded saved.
"Hello, Twelve Stars Group. How may we help you?"
"I'm curious. I recently found a little charm, just a wee little thing. It looks like a swastika cradled in the oval or circular part of an Egyptian ankh. A friend told me that it belonged to you people."
"Why yes, sir. That is our Eternal Reich symbol…where?"
"Tell Brother Cane, or whatever he's called, he's an Authority Inspector in your group that chews brass toothpicks. Tell the ugly little prick, are you writing this down? Tell the ugly little prick that Wildclown has some information about a baby. Tell him I'll call him back."
"If you could hold the line, sir, I'll…"
I hung up and leaned back in my chair. I smiled. I resisted the urge to call back and hang up out of spite. A wave of giddiness surged through me. I had the distinct feeling that I was playing with what remained of my life. I would have to move fast. The King would know where Grey's office was. After all he had paid rent on it. The finger of doom stroked my chest like an old girlfriend might, if she wanted to get back together. The safari was nearing its completion. The grass was full of tigers, the trees full of pythons and spiders. I was standing hip deep in brush with only one bullet left in my gun.
I grabbed the phone again, dialed the Gazette.
"Ms. Mary Redding, please."
"Just a moment, sir."
A second of Muzak. "Mary Redding." Her voice sounded as fresh and clean as a breeze in Eden.
"Hello, Mary. It's me."
"Well, where have you been, Mr. Business? You sure don't know how to treat a girl. I've called and called. Even stopped by your place. Hey, what's with the Authority transport in front of your office?"
"I hope you gave them my best." I had expected that. "Friends of yours?"
"Where are you calling from? I'll play a hunch." Her tone was playful. I could imagine that fine line between her eyes darken slightly. "I think you're up to your ass in trouble."
"I was curious." I smiled at the receiver. "You mentioned justice to me once, as though you knew something about it, or had in fact seen it at some time. I know that it's an illusive bird, but was that true?"
"It's a fantasy of mine, yes." She paused. "It may be true."
"Well, other than myself have you ever met someone with a similar concept of justice? Someone, say, in a position of authority. Oh, at this point, I'd take just about anything. An irate meter maid or school crossing guard with a chip on his shoulder?"
Mary Redding laughed, then sobered. "It'll cost you another date, but, yes, I do know some people."
She was good. That much was certain. She had only slipped up once, and I had almost missed it. I remembered her then, naked curves and all. She was good in many ways.
"What are you up to?" She had read my silence right. "Something's going to happen."
"I'll call you back…" I hung up catching a muted "When?" from Mary. The order of the phone calls was the tough part. I had to play this perfectly. First a meal, yes, a condemned man always gets his last meal. Then the calls. The King first, he was dangerous, but the key. I called Elmo in.
"Elmo, go round me up a couple of sandwiches-the crushed plankton with dill on rye will do, and a big deli pickle, you know the kind I like." He nodded and turned to go. I called after him. "Don't let anyone see you, and don't take the car."
He smiled a "Yes, Boss" and was gone. I gazed after him, and then leaned back remembering my night with Mary Redding. Her strength was the most memorable part.