"Laurell K. Hamilton - Anita Blake 05 - Bloody Bones" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Laurell K)

"No," Bert said.
"That's why you're doing it like this; no witnesses."
"Time is of the essence, Anita."
"Sure, Bert, but you didn't want to face Mr. John Burke with yet another
client that wants me over him."
Bert looked down at his blunt-fingered hands clasped on the desktop. He
looked up, grey eyes serious. "John is almost as good as you are, Anita. I
don't want to lose him."
"You think he'll walk if one more client asks for me?"
"His pride's hurt," Bert said.
"And there's so much of it to hurt," I said.
Bert smiled. "You needling him doesn't help."
I shrugged. It sounded petty to say he'd started it, but he had. We'd tried
dating, and John couldn't handle me being a female version of him. No; he
couldn't handle me being a better version of him.
"Try to behave yourself, Anita. Larry's not up to speed yet; we need John."
"I always behave myself, Bert."
He sighed. "If you didn't make me so much money, I wouldn't put up with
your shit."
"Ditto," I said.
That about summed up our relationship. Commerce at its best. We didn't like
each other, but we could do business together. Free enterprise at work.



2

At noon Bert called and said we had it. "Be at the office packed and ready
to go at two o'clock. Mr. Lionel Bayard will fly up with you and Larry."
"Who's Lionel Bayard?"
"A junior partner in the firm of Beadle, Beadle, Stirling, and Lowenstein.
He likes the sound of his own voice. Don't give him a rough time about it."
"Who, me?"
"Anita, don't tease the help. He may be wearing a three-thousand-dollar
suit, but he's still the help."
"I'll save it up for one of the partners. Surely Beadle, Beadle, Stirling,
or Lowenstein will appear in person sometime this weekend."
"Don't tease the bosses either," he said.
"Anything you say." My voice was utterly mild.
"You'll do whatever you want no matter what I say, won't you?"
"Gee, Bert, who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?"
"Just be here at two o'clock. I called Larry. He'll be here."
"I'll be there, Bert. I've got one stop to make, so if I'm a few minutes
late, don't worry."
"Don't be late."
"Be there as soon as I can." I hung up before he could argue with me.
I had to shower, change, and go to Seckman Junior High School. Richard
Zeeman taught science there. We had a date set up for tomorrow. At one point
Richard had asked me to marry him. That was sort of on hold, but I did owe him
more than a message on his answering machine, saying sorry, honey, can't make