Gilded Latten Bones

'If it's that important he knows where to find me.'

Block looked at me like he had caught me pissing on an altar.

I was being outrageous. But I figured Rupert was too busy to take umbrage.

Somebody knocked.

84

Somebody proved to be cousin Artifice Tate. Singe brought him into the office. He handed her a worn leather courier case. It had the Tate crest embossed on it but almost completely rubbed off. 'These people can stand witness to the fact that I delivered this. Please look inside, then tell everyone what that is.'

He talked bold but didn't meet any eyes.

Singe opened the foxed brown case. She removed papers. She read. She said, 'This is the Amalgamated corporate response to our contention that we did not receive our quarterly dividends. These are deposit receipts, all legally executed. And, note, dated today. There is a letter of apology from a Nestor Tate admitting no malice, stating that because of outside distractions the chief accountant overlooked a number of dividend payments. Possibly, further, due to misbehavior by a family member who should not have had access to the financial offices.'

So. It was my fault because Tinnie had stuff besides business on her mind. But if it couldn't be pinned on me, then a straw man did something bad. 'They're going to put it onto Rose.'

Artifice said, 'Maybe. If it is her fault.'

I glanced at Morley. Once upon a time he and Tinnie's troubled cousin Rose had had a fiery thing.

He said, 'First Law.'

'And some luck.'

Singe said, 'Thank you, Artifice. Inform your uncles that we are impressed with the quickness and graciousness of their response. Would you care for refreshments before you go back into the heat?' She was busy writing again.

'No, thank you. But I'd like something written to acknowledge the fact that I did make it here and you got what I was supposed to deliver.'

I was going to like this Tate. He had attitude. Very subtle attitude.

'Already done,' Singe said. 'General, will you and the Windwalker add your chops? To make this exchange completely legal?'

Those two did as requested while I boggled. My little girl knew exactly what to do and was so businesslike nobody thought to demur.

She was getting scarier by the hour.

Block had on a half sneer that told me he saw me slipping to errand boy status around here.

Artifice did some shallow bows and headed for the front door armed with his ragged case and notarized receipt. Clever Garrett volunteered to let him out, fooling nobody. Including Artifice, who told me, as I opened the door, 'I'm sorry. I don't have anything for you from Tinnie. She suddenly don't have time for anything. She does play stuff all morning, then works the books at night.' He sucked in a bushel of air, released it in a long, sad sigh. 'Man, I think she gave up. She moved her stuff back to the compound when the ratgirl wouldn't let her see you. Marmie said she heard her crying last night.'

He reached out, rested a hand on my left shoulder. 'I don't know what I ought to be feeling, man. She's hurting. But I think you done your part. She dug the hole. I'm supposed to be on her side 'cause she's family, but. . What I'm trying to tell you is, whatever, the family won't be as unhappy with you as you probably think. We're gonna be all right with you. Unless you do something dumb now.'

I wondered if I would ever actually see Tinnie again.

'Thank you.' Which surprised him.

Would we become enemies? He was trying to say no. And I couldn't see it happening. Business trumps with the Tates. These days their principal business is manufacturing the wonders that spring from Kip's mind. And bad man Garrett has an undue influence over the genius boy.

Glower and grumble some might but they would not munch any feeding hand.

It might be gods help us all, though, if Kip ever ran dry.

All assuming everything went on the way it appeared to be headed now.

Is fear of your girl's family a good enough reason to keep a relationship going?

85

I stayed on the porch waiting for Sarge and Puddle. Let's hope those two never get into a last-man-standing ugly contest. The refs would call a draw after the twenty-seventh round.

'Hey, gents. What's up?'

'We just swung by to see how Morley was doing,' Puddle said. Clearly nervous.

'The Dead Man is snoozing.'

'You always say that.'

'And it's usually true. Even if it isn't right now, you want to see Morley, you got to come inside. Plus, it's too late. You're already inside his range.'

Up the steps they came.

Clever me, I scooted in, got Morley out of Singe's office and shut that door before his boys noticed General Block. No need having them wonder why the head tin whistle spent so much time at my house, close to their boss. I took them into the Dead Man's room.

Puddle told me, 'I don't like it in here wit' dat t'ing. It's creepy. But da cool air is nice.'

'I'm not real fond of being in here, either. But you're right about the air. Penny, my love, can you take a second to show these gentlemen the pictures you and Bird made?'

The girl had sass enough to mutter, 'I know a gentleman when I see one. There aren't any in this room.'

Sarge said, 'Hey, she's cute. I like dat. You wanna sell her?'

Penny stood up to it. Having Old Bones right there fired up her confidence. She said, 'We don't 'make' 'pictures.' ' Last word gotten, she did do as I asked.

I leaned close to Sarge, murmured, 'Little known fact. I need to keep it in mind myself. The kid is Belinda's half-sister.'

'Ouch!'

Not that Belinda ever showed the least indication of caring.

The boys ignored the painting of the man entirely. Had a renowned shy girl not been holding the drawings of the woman in leather I'm sure they would have paid the model some crudely enthusiastic compliments.

Morley asked, 'You guys know either of these people?'

Heads shook. Sarge stated the obvious. 'I wouldn't mind getting to know her. 'Specially if she's got a t'ing for old guys wit' big bellies an' not much hair.'

'Get in line.'

'Dat figures.'

Morley added, 'The man is the important one. I've seen him somewhere but I can't remember where or when. He's the boss of a gang of resurrection men. His name is Nat, Nate, Nathan, something like that.'

The henchmen shook their heads. Puddle said, 'We wouldn't never have nothing ta do wit' dat kinda creep.'

I believed him. The street climbed right up and proclaimed itself loudly in his speech. Along with abiding repugnance.

Good to know that Morley surrounded himself with associates who had moral limits.