Hail Hibbler by Ron Goulart

Author:Ron Goulart [Goulart, Ron]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Sci-Fi, Humour
ISBN: 9781453257180
Publisher: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
Published: 2012-11-02T11:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

“AH,” SAID FATHER HAMMERSMITH, “I do believe I’ve followed every single case Odd Jobs, Inc., ever dealt with, Mr. Pace. There was the Dr. Patchwork Matter and the Case of the Cockeyed Cyborg, the Puzzle of the Lycanthropic Veep, the Mysterious Affair of the Senatorial Simulacrum, the Odd Exploit of the Three Siamese Twins, the Adventure of the Basher Social, the—”

“No, the Basher business was handled by the Wild Talent Bureau,” put in Jake. “Hildy and I had nothing to do with it.”

He and the thin young priest were seated in a see-through parlor deep within the New Rome facility. Around them the activities of the Holy Streamlined Christian Church were being carried on. To the left miraculous cures were taking place at the Shrine of St. Bubbles, to the right monk-clothed robots were bottling Bubbles water.

“I don’t suppose you have an autographed photo you could give me.”

“We don’t hand out autographs or pictures, for security reasons.”

“A shame, since our church has nothing against idolatry, being so streamlined.”

Jake leaned forward in his lucite chair. “Since you are a fan, Father Hammersmith, you might get a big kick out of helping us on our latest mission.”

“Yes, that would indeed be exciting. When I saw you on the security monitor some minutes ago, so imaginatively disguised, I had a moment of real elation. ‘Whatever can the illustrious Jake Pace be seeking in the bowels of our church complex?’ I asked of myself. ‘Can it be he is seeking some kind of spiritual assistance which—’ ”

“I’m looking for Angel Tolliver.”

Hammersmith’s facial lines all began slanting toward his nose. “Who?”

“Girl named Angel Tolliver. She came here last week, seeking sanctuary.”

“No one of that name appeared here.”

From within the folds of his clerical robes Jake produced the sketch of the missing girl. “Here she is.”

The priest took the sketch, studied it. “That’s, Lord forgive my lack of charity, a very silly nose.”

“A fake, part of her disguise.”

Holding the picture at various distances from his narrowed eyes, Hammersmith finally said, “With a more conventional nose this might well be … yes, I do believe it’s Amanda.”

“Full name?”

“Why, Amanda Tenn. A very nice young woman despite her great wealth and pos—”

“Whoa now. Is she related to Ralph Emerson Tenn, the guy who controls Space Industries Systems?”

“She’s Tenn’s only daughter,” answered the priest. “He is not, I regret to say, sympathetic to our work here in—”

“I have to see her.”

The priest’s hands touched before slowly drifting apart. “She is no longer with us.”

“Where’d she go?”

“That I don’t know, Mr. Pace. She left no word behind.”

“When’d she take off?”

“I can’t be sure of the exact time. I saw her at the bingo service last night,” said Father Hammersmith. “Some time between then and breakfast this morning she slipped away. When she arrived she was very upset, confiding in me someone meant to kill her. Is that true, do you think?”

“Yeah, very true,” Jake assured him. “If Amanda was in trouble, why not go to her father? He could provide her damn good security.

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