“I’m sorry if I come across as impatient, but I really need to find that portrait.”
“Why? Is the world going to end if you don’t lay hands on it right this second?”
“Will you work faster if I say yes?”
She sighed. “Look, I’m working on several leads right now.”
“What kind of leads?”
“The trade secret kind of leads. Look, do I come to your job and tell you how to take over a company or trade stock?”
“No,” I admitted.
“Then don’t come to my job and tell me how to do mine, okay? Thanks. I’ll let you know what I find out the second I do, night or day. I promise.”
“Night or day,” I repeated firmly.
“You’ve got it boss man. Now excuse me, I’ve got to get back to work.”
I heard the sounds of a video game in the background before the call ended, but I didn’t want to call her out on it.
I went to the startup’s offices and took a tour, shaking hands with people whose names I probably wouldn’t be able to remember. I owned so many companies. Not a brag, but an explanation why the rich jerk can't remember everyone’s name.
The ink had yet to dry on the paper when my phone rang. It was Megan.
I looked up at the room full of sycophants. “I’m sorry, can you clear the room? This is important.”
They cleared out like grease before Dawn and I took the call.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“Hello,” she said, her voice sweet and honeyed and magical in my ear. “How are you doing?”
“Oh, I only had a few hours of sleep, but I’m not complaining about that in the slightest.”
“Yeah, me neither.” She laughed anxiously, and swallowed. I got the feeling something was bothering her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um, well… I really hate to ask you this, but—”
Her voice trailed off. I prompted her to continue.
“Ask me what?”
She sighed. “Remember Junebug?”
“The digital artist with a penchant for vandalism?”
“The same. He’s been arrested, and he kind of mouthed off to the judge, and, well, his bail is set really high.”
I chuckled. “How high?”
“Fifteen thousand dollars, once you add in court fees.”
“That’s a pretty penny, all right. I’ve got you covered.”
“You do? I mean, he’ll pay you back after he goes to trial—”
