“Make up your mind, Jerry,” Reich growled. “Do you want money or reinstatement?”

“It’s almost worth — No. Am I crazy? I’ll take reinstatement.”

“Then stop drooling.” Reich turned to Quizzard. “The price is one hundred thousand.”

“In sovereigns?”

“What else? Now, d’you want me to put the money up in advance or can we get to work right off?”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Reich,” Quizzard protested.

“Frab that,” Reich snapped. “I know you, Keno. You’ve got an idea you can find out what I want and then shop around for higher bids. I want you committed right now. That’s why I let you set the price.”

“Yeah,” Quizzard said slowly. “I had that idea, Reich.” He smiled and the milk-white eyes disappeared in folds of skin. “I still got that idea.”

“Then I’ll tell you right now who’ll buy from you. A man named Lincoln Powell. Trouble is, I don’t know what he’d pay.”

“Whatever it is, I don’t want it.” Quizzard spat.

“It’s me against Powell, Keno. That’s the whole auction. I’ve placed my bid. I’m still waiting to hear from you.”

“It’s a deal,” Quizzard replied.

“All right,” Reich said, “now listen to this. First job. I want a girl. Her name is Barbara D’Courtney.”

“The killing?” Quizzard nodded heavily. “I thought so.”

“Any objections?”

Quizzard jingled gold from one hand to the other and shook his head.

“I want the girl. She blew out of the Beaumont House last night and no one knows where she landed. I want her, Keno. I want her before the police get her.”

Quizzard nodded.

“She’s about twenty-five. About five-five. Around a hundred and twenty pounds. Stacked. Thin waist. Long legs…”

The fat lips smiled hungrily. The dead white eyes glistened.

“Yellow hair. Black eyes. Heart shaped face. Full mouth and a kind of aquiline nose… She’s got a face with character. It jabs out at you. Electric.”

“Clothes?”

“She was wearing a silk dressing gown last time I saw her. Frosty white and translucent… like a frozen window. No shoes. No stockings. No hat. No jewelry. She was off her beam… Crazy enough to tear out into the streets and disappear. I want her.” Something compelled Reich to add: “I want her undamaged. Understand?”

“With her hauling a freight like that? Have a heart, Reich.” Quizzard licked his fat lips. “You don’t stand a chance. She don’t stand a chance.”

“That’s what a hundred Ms are for. I stand a good chance if you get her fast enough.”

“I may have to slush for her.”

“Then slush. Check every bawdy house, bagnio, Blind Tiger, and frab-joint in the city. Pass the word down the grapevine. I’m willing to pay. I don’t want any fuss. I just want the girl. Understand?”

Quizzard nodded, still jingling the gold. “I understand.”

Suddenly Reich reached across the table and slashed Quizzard’s fat hands with the edge of his palm. The sovereigns chimed into the air and clattered into the four corners.

“And I don’t want any double-cross,” Reich growled in a deadly voice. “I want the girl.”