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help me. They’re going to chop my fingers off if you don’t.”

Chapter 2
    M aybe it was because Eli looked so piteous standing there in front of me—he was practically wringing his hands—that I made what was going to turn out to be the first mistake of many. Instead of telling him to close the door behind him, I asked exactly who was going to chop his fingers off.
    Eli licked his lips again. “A guy named Chapman. Robert Chapman.” He let out a deep breath, seemingly relieved to say the name.
    â€œYou said they,” I reminded him while I automatically reached for the pad of paper—it was lavender, a color I loathe, but it had been on sale for ten cents—I always keep paper next to the register and printed Chapman’s name in caps. I told myself as I wrote that taking notes didn’t mean I was going to take the case, it was just something I’d gotten in the habit of doing.
    â€œThat was a figure of speech. It’s just this guy, this one guy.” Eli was whispering now. I had to ask him to speak up.
    â€œWho is he?”
    â€œThe guy that set up the deal.”
    I underlined Chapman’s name, wrote the word others next to it, and followed that with a question mark. “Do you have a phone number for him?”
    Eli swallowed and shook his head.
    â€œAn address?”
    Eli shook his head again.
    â€œAnything?”
    I tapped the pencil on the counter. The noise caught Zsa Zsa’s attention. She tilted her head in my direction, then came over and put her paws on my legs, demanding her due. I scratched behind her ears with my free hand. “All right Can you tell me what else he does? Where he comes from?”
    Eli looked sheepish. “I’m not sure,” he stammered. “I didn’t ask. Honest,” he added when I raised an eyebrow.
    â€œOkey-dokey.” Maybe Eli was telling the truth, maybe he was lying. The problem was, I didn’t figure him for that stupid, so why tell me a story that was this idiotic? Why not make up a better one, I thought as Zsa Zsa began butting my hand with her muzzle, her way of telling me to keep petting. It would be easy enough to do. I rubbed her chest and told Eli to continue. “Tell me about the deal,” I instructed.
    Manuel and Eli exchanged another glance. That did it for me. I crossed my arms over my chest. Zsa Zsa put her paws down and began nosing at a dust bunny on the floor. I clicked my tongue against my teeth and pushed the pad of paper away.
    â€œYou must think I’m really dumb,” I informed them. “Find someone else. I have enough to do without being lied to. You come in and ask me for my help, you offer to pay me what is for you a fairly substantial amount of money, but you won’t tell me what this is all about or who the players are. Forget about it.”
    Eli hung his head. Manuel weighed in.
    â€œCome on, Robin,” he said. “Don’t be like that. It’s not what you’re thinking.”
    I leaned forward slightly. “Exactly what am I thinking?”
    â€œThat Eli wants you to find a suitcase full of dope.”
    â€œNot at all.” I sat back. “Why would I think that? I was figuring that Chapman is some crazed comic book collector who is after Eli because he’s gone and lost a suitcase full of Green Hornet first editions.”
    Manuel drew himself up. “I thought we were friends.”
    â€œSo did I.”
    He put his hands on his hips. “Then why are you disrespecting me like this?” he demanded. “I’m really insulted, and I mean this sincerely, that your opinion of me is so low that you think I’d actually involve you in something like that.”
    â€œOh, PUHLEASE. Spare me the act. I’m not in the mood.” I rubbed my forehead. My left temple was throbbing. Had I eaten lunch today? I didn’t think so. The last items that had gone in my mouth were a cheese Danish and a cup of