Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

up on this desk. I swear there are people in this building who couldn’t take a dump after a vindaloo curry without the correct form signed by me. In triplicate. Ah, hell… would you like some tea, Flynn? It’s one of the few things they do right around here.” “I wouldn’t say no.”
    Toby hit the intercom switch. “Miss Lovett, a cup of tea for Mr. Flynn, please.”
    Flynn raised a plucked eyebrow. “Since when are you so formal?” Toby shrugged. “They expect it from the boss. I tried being relaxed and informal when I first moved in here, but it just made them uncomfortable. I suppose it’s hard to be easy and spontaneous with someone who can fire your ass just because he came in with a headache that morning.”
    The door opened, and a young woman with hardly any dress on and a quite astounding amount of cleavage tottered in on impossibly high heels. She smiled widely at Flynn, displaying perfect teeth of dazzling brightness, and presented him with a steaming cup of tea.
    “Thank you, dear,” said Flynn graciously. “Do you know, I just love your earrings. You must tell me where you found them.” “You wear them to the office, Flynn, and you’re fired,” said Toby. “Thank you.
    Miss Lovett. That will be all for now.”
    The young lady giggled for no apparent reason, heaved her cleavage in the direction of the door, and tottered out again. Flynn looked at Toby. “She’s my secretary,” said Toby defensively. “She takes
    dictation.” “Yeah,” said Flynn. “I’ll just bet she does. I would also bet good money that she has a room-temperature IQ and the personality of a piece of string.” “All right, she’s a bimbo, I admit it. I have someone else to do the actual secretarial work. Miss Lovett is more in the nature of… an office ornament. Something I can use to distract the union bosses when they come in with their latest wage claim. Upper management gave her to me. They thought it might keep me in the office more. Truth be told, she gets on my nerves something fierce. She has a voice that could frighten sheep, no talents you can discuss in polite company, and a laugh that could strip wallpaper off walls. Took me two weeks to train her to make a cup of tea. I’d fire her, but it would break her heart.” “Life is tough at the top,” said Flynn.
    “It is!” said Toby. “All I want is to get some work done. Some real work. I can’t just sit around all day, Flynn, ticking the right boxes and signing where indicated. It’s not in my nature. I need to be doing something. Something that matters. I always thought that with this job’s authority I’d finally be able to cover the kind of important stories I’d always wanted to go after. But it never works out that way. I may be the boss here, but I still have to answer to my bosses, the people who own Imperial News. And they’d be just as happy running a gossip show, as long as it didn’t affect profits. Every time I suggest a good target to go after, the word comes down from above: don’t make waves. “They were happy enough to take risks when they were only a minor company, desperate to do anything to grab viewing figures away from the big boys, but now they are one of the big boys, they’ve gone all nervous on me.
    They have something to lose these days. You know, Flynn… I should be happy. I’ve made it! I’ve got the job I always wanted! I run Imperial News! They don’t even challenge my expenses anymore. But I am bored, Flynn. Terribly, mind-numbingly bored.” “You know the answer, chief. Do what you did the last time we had this conversation. Pick a story and cover it yourself. Get out in the field and see how close to the wind you can sail this time. I’m always available to be your cameraman. For the standard rates. Plus danger money.” “I’d like to, Flynn, but… Oh, the hell with it. Stuff them all. If I stay in this room much longer, I’ll start putting down roots. I can always leave my deputy in charge for a while. Not too bright, and scared stiff of anyone who raises their voice to him, but I swear he actually likes shuffling papers. Come on, Flynn. Let’s get a move on. We have a story to cover.” “What, right now? I was think of somewhen tomorrow. I can’t go with you now.
    Clarence will have a hot-pot dinner waiting for me.” “Tell him to stick it back in the oven,” said Toby ruthlessly. “What I have in mind can’t wait. There’s a couple of targets I’ve been trying to get to