Good Lord, Deliver Us Read Online Free Page B

Our gymnasium was built with a gift from that family's
trust, for instance. This time, the family is offering to
contribute the money to expand our soccer program.
    "But, you must realize,
other colleges are in competition for those funds. In this regard,
the college that acts quickly, gets the money." The small man sank
back to let his chair absorb him once again until only his Cheshire
smile remained. "Part of my responsibilities the securing of grants
for the college, the holdup on this project makes me look ... I
would not say bad ... but certainly not as effective as I would like to
be.
    "Which brings me to the
present."
    "Hiring me to investigate the
'ghost.'"
    "Yes ... that, too. On the other hand,
if the troublesome house were ... just speculating, mind you ... to
disappear .... If some magician could wave a wand and make the
house go up in smoke, as it were ... then all problems associated
with the house would vanish, too."
    So that was it! Here's how it had gone
down. Calder recommended Z to Ashlock. Ashlock called Scherer.
Scherer told the vice chancellor that Bob Zapolska was the kind of
no-good-son-of-a-bitch who stuck his nose in police business. That,
though he was too sneaky to get caught, Z had broken every law in
the book. Was the sort of slimy criminal who should be put away for
life! In short, just the kind of man Ashlock was looking for, a man
who, for money, would do anything! Like, "just speculating, mind
you," set fire to the house in question so that all Ashlock's
problems would "go up in smoke."
    No way!
    On the other hand, the man had wasted
Z's afternoon; time for which Z should be compensated. "What you're
saying is you're offering me this job."
    "Absolutely. At your usual rates ...
plus a two thousand-dollar bonus if the property is no longer a
problem by the weekend."
    "To prove there's no
ghost."
    The vice chancellor frowned, a
rain-squall-blowing-up-to-ruin-a-sunny-day frown.
    "That's not exactly what I had in
mind."
    "Oh?" Z said, pretending innocence. "I
thought I was being hired to hunt ghosts?"
    "If that's the only service you can
provide, then I'm afraid I'm not ....."
    "If I misunderstood,
there's a quick way to find out," Z purred, patting the baggy
pocket of his coat. "I always tape-record the conversations I have
with prospective clients. Got it all down. Be glad to replay it for
you. ... For anyone ."
    Realizing he'd been
trapped as neatly as a bird beneath a stick-propped box -- Ashlock
knowing that others might also "misunderstand" his intent -- the Vice Chancellor's smile
slid back. "Of course. Of course. You are certainly hired. What
I meant was that,
since your experience in the, shall we say, ghost hunting business,
is limited, any misunderstanding between us was about the nature of your
employment. You are hired, never fear. But more to, shall we say,
protect the person who will actually do the hunting."
    "I see," Z said, choosing to go along
with the latest lie. Work, after all, was work.
    "Yes," the Vice Chancellor continued,
more to himself than to Z. "Since Dr. Calder is a friend of yours,
why don't we just leave it at this? I'll contact Dr. Calder when I
need your services. He'll get in touch with you."
    "Soon," said Z, in his most persuasive
hiss.
    "Of course. Of course. Within the
week. It is just that, busy man that I am, there will be no further
need for face-to-face meetings between the two of us."
    Z was dismissed.
    Out of the office to breathe the
delightfully fresh air of the tightly enclosed hall, Z wanted to
warn the young secretary about her boss. Wanted to say that Ashlock
had the kind of teeth that feed on human flesh; including pretty,
perk-nosed blondes.
    But didn't. Though she looked young to
Z, she was a big girl. Or about to be.
    Instead, Z got out of the building as
fast as he could, into the even fresher air atop Bateman
hill.
    Found that, in spite of the breeze, he
was sweating -- but not from the heat.
    Panting -- but not from
overexertion.
    These