The manta bat circled the room again and went out the door, somehow pulling the thing closed behind it. Salzman clicked his pen and set it on his papers. “Coop, I think the floor is yours.”

Coop stared at the door for a few seconds more and turned to Salzman. “What was that?”

“That was Roderick. One of my assistants upstairs.”

“One of your Peculiar Science projects?”

“Yes. What do you think?”

Coop sighed. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but any job offer that starts with a kidnapping and ends with a delivery bat, it’s one I have to respectfully decline. We had a deal before, and that’s the one I want to stick to.”

Salzman frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. And yes, for what it’s worth, I think we could have approached you better at the beginning, but there it is. Even we can’t go back in time and fix things. Well, we can, but people tend to return without bones or veins or some damned thing. I don’t remember.”

“So, we’re okay? The original deal stands? I can just walk away?” said Coop.

“Of course. We’re men and women of our word around here,” said Salzman, stacking the papers in his folder. “I assume you turned in your company equipment from last night’s escapade?”

“Yes. Last night before I left.”

“Very good.”

“I have a couple more quick questions. Will I get back any of the money I used to get Giselle and me out of that bar in Squid City?”

“Do you have a receipt?” said Salzman.

“No.”

“Then I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

“Okay. How about getting reimbursed for the clothes Dick Tracy over there threw out of the van on the way over here?”

“Again, do you have a receipt?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. Well then, we can probably do something about that. Would one of you get him the forms to fill out?”

Giselle got up, went to a file cabinet in a corner of the room, and came back with some papers. She dropped them on the table in front of Coop without a word.

Nelson looked around. “So, that’s it? This guy does one little job and he gets to walk away scot-free after attacking me?” said Nelson.

“That is the way it looks,” said Salzman. He stood up, took the folder and the box under one arm, and held out his hand while Coop was filling out the form. “No chance of changing your mind?”

“I’m afraid not,” said Coop.

“Well, thanks for your good work. And a great personal thanks for the box.”

“Sure,” said Coop. “Glad to do it.”