KB: 243, Rooms: 126, Objects:649, Tasks: 1359, Events: 4, Characters: 34

Introduction

It started, as did most of the bad things in my life, with a call from my assistant, Clancy.

"We got another one, boss," were his first words to me. Most assistants might have started a telephone conversation with 'hello, boss' or 'good morning, boss'. Not Clancy. "Or another three actually. The Chief wants you to handle it personally."

"Why me personally?" I asked. In all honesty I didn't care why me personally but I was always hopeful of wriggling my way out of a difficult case. Difficult often read danger as far as I was concerned because most of the hoodlums I'd encountered over the years had a problem with being arrested and tended to turn violent.

"Not sure, boss," replied Clancy from the other end of the phone. From the background sounds I guessed he was either in a pub or a bar. Then again, as Clancy tended to live in such places that wasn't saying much. "I think it's because he doesn't like you."

"You mean after the Incident?" Already it had assumed capital letter status in my mind.

Clancy nodded (or I guess so anyway) from the other end of the phone. "Anyway, the Chief says to get your slimy yellow ass down to the plaza asap before he comes and drags it down it and gives it a kicking in the bargain- er, those are his words, boss."

"I gathered that, Clancy. Where?"

"Your favourite place in the whole of the city, boss."

I groaned. Very loudly. There was only place that fit that description. "The Plaza."