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Tilly quietly closed the door behind us and turned to face me. "I owe you a considerable debt of gratitude," she said immediately, "I don't think I can ever fully repay you." "Well, you seem to have done well enough for yourself," I replied, looking around the office suite. It was an striking room, even by the standards of successful lawyers who were seeking to impress their clients. A floor-to-ceiling picture window formed one side, looking out over the rooftops and spires of one of the more up-market caverns, while the remaining walls were sparsely decorated with original paintings and objet d'art. Not a dusty shelf of tomes or a fading certificate to be seen. Set front-and-centre in the spacious room - itself a statement of wealth in the crowded demesne of the Goblins - was a desk big enough for a dragon to land on - not that we see dragons down here anymore. Unbidden, Tilly had crossed to a side table with a polished silver tray which held various filled decanters and cut-glass tumblers, and poured two very decent measures into two of the glasses. She handed one to me with a wry grin. "I recall this is how we first met, Findo," she said softly, "Or part of me did, anyhow." I sipped the scotch. It was excellent - much better than the intestinal medicine I had fed her all those years ago. "I have done well, and mostly doing it for myself," she said, taking a genteel sip, "Your old Professor was a great help, of course, but after a while I found that I had to be in charge of my own, err, re-integration." "So, this is both of you now?" I asked, looking her up and down curiously. "Yes. Yes, it is. Perhaps more Tillykerie than Tillyfor, but both of my erstwhile sisters are fully represented. I can remember them both but, at this distance in time, it merely feels like a confused childhood." "So you grew up," I said, "Got yourself an education, a career. And a husband, too, it seems." She nodded demurely. Suddenly it seemed as if Tillykerie had returned, if only for a second. "He's a nice guy. Supportive. Doesn't know a lot about my past," she said softly, adding, "And I'd like to keep it that way." "Client confidentiality," I said soothingly, "All your secrets - both of your secrets - are safe with me." "I want to reward you properly," Tilly said, "I know I gave you a few hundred bucks back then..." "Your company is already employing my services," I said dryly, "And you know my rate." "Twenty five dollars a day, plus reasonable expenses," she said ironically, "Fair enough. But, would you object if I put a little more business your way? When the occasion arises?" It was my turn for the wry grin. "You've got yourself a dead, lady," I said, raising the whisky glass in salute, "Findo Gask, Private Eye, at your service."
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 Part 107 |