The Dark Lady

hard-working attorney. End of message.”
    “It wasn't much of an apartment anyway,” said Heath with an eloquent shrug. “Computer, play the next message.”
    “Valentine,” said Louis Nittermeier, sounding terribly agitated, “what the hell did you do on Far London? The police have been in touch with me three times today.” A pause. “Some guy named Abercrombie is screaming bloody murder, and from the little I've been able to find out about him, he doesn't seem to be the kind of man who can be bought off. I'm sure you're as innocent as a newborn babe... but just in case you aren't, you'd better not get within five hundred light-years of Far London until you get yourself a good lawyer there— and I emphasize the word good. I'm not licensed to practice out there, and I wouldn't know what buttons to push even if they let me in.” Another pause. “Just between old friends, don't you ever get tired of this? I mean, does every toothpick you own have to be made of gold— and twenty-four-karat gold at that? One of these days you're going to bite off more than you can chew, and they're going to land on you so hard that you never get up. For all I know, it's already happened with this Abercrombie.” A weary sigh. “Well, good luck, and don't forget to pay your faithful attorney. Out.”
    “How could he have known it was me ?” asked Heath, frowning. “I've never met the man in my life.”
    “He knows that you were the seller of the Mallachi painting, and that you returned to Far London with me,” I replied.
    He shook his head. “ Lots of people come to Far London every day. Why me? As far as he knows, I'm a legitimate dealer who sold him the piece he wanted.” He seemed to lose interest in the subject. “Computer, play the final message.”
    “This is Tai Chong,” said a familiar voice. “We seem to have a major problem here.” She paused for a moment and then continued in a carefully neutral tone. “It seems that someone stole four valuable paintings from the home of Malcolm Abercrombie three nights ago. I have absolutely no idea who committed this heinous crime, but for some reason Mr. Abercrombie has the obviously mistaken notion that you are responsible, Valentine. He's gotten the police to issue an arrest warrant, and, while I have no idea where you are, if this message chances to reach you, I thought I should apprise you of the situation and urge you to turn yourself in to the authorities so that you can clear your good name.”
    Heath grinned at her suggestion.
    “If you are with him, Leonardo, I regret to inform you that Mr. Abercrombie has charged you with complicity in this crime, and that you are now a fugitive from justice.”
    She paused again, and Heath turned to me.
    “You'll notice that she didn't tell you to surrender to the authorities,” he said in amused tones.
    “Why not?” I asked, sincerely puzzled.
    “Because she knows you'd do it.”
    “I am certain that I can smooth things over and get the charges against you dropped, Leonardo,” continued Tai Chong's voice, “but in the meantime, although I find this course of action repugnant, I have no choice but to suspend you without pay. My hands are tied in the matter; it is company policy to dissociate ourselves from anyone convicted of a felony— and while you most certainly have not been convicted of anything and will not be, the fact remains that this is the second felony warrant issued against you in the past two months.”
    I sat stunned as she continued speaking.
    “Your Pattern Mother contacted me when your weekly salary was not deposited in the House of Crsthionn account, and I had no alternative but to explain the situation to her. I regret to inform you that she knows the police are searching for you in connection with the theft. I will not rest until I have convinced her that you were in no way responsible for this unfortunate incident,” she added hastily. “I feel terrible about this, Leonardo, and I give you my word that I'll do everything in my power to see that you do not suffer unduly. You have always been loyal to me, and I will be loyal to you. Even if this thing drags on interminably, as now seems likely, there is a possibility that I will be able to use you as a free-lance consultant.”
    “My Pattern Mother knows?” I repeated, horror-stricken.
    “I have no idea where the two of you are, and of course I can have no idea of your destination— but if this message reaches you, Valentine, I am