As Far As You Know
Teasers
Shark Soiree
“Does it really matter what kind of glasses you use?”
Casper was startled by the voice. He looked around at the large man standing near the end of the banquet table. “This is supposed to be a black-tie charity dinner. Champagne is the typical beverage served at these events, so yes…it does matter.” He regarded the perfect line of tableware that he had set out and began to place plates on the other side.
“Who is going to drink all that? You? You Toreador must have iron stomachs.” Richard Mayson made another cursory inspection of the room. The sun had just set, and the Buhl Building’s automatic lights flickered on overhead. One of the tiny bulbs in the central chandelier was burned out. He pointed at it and said, “How many ghouls does it take to change a light bulb?”
“I would be grateful if you did not use certain words when other people might still be in the building,” Casper responded in an irritated tone. The new ambassador’s ghoul was becoming a pest.
“There’s no one here! Man, you Detroiters are paranoid. Down in Toledo they hold their meetings in the middle of birthday parties.” Richard noticed a faint impression in the carpet where another table had rested before the room was rearranged for the night’s event.
“Toledo wasn’t…compromised…twice in the last decade. Now that you’re here, you would do well to remember what can be found just across the river.”
“Really?” Mayson replied casually, watching the other ghoul. “I thought Detroit was more worried about Chicago these days.”
Casper stopped setting the table and glared at Mayson. “Tell Ambassador Trenton that I am not privy to political policy, and I wouldn’t reveal it if I was. Perhaps when Keeper Adonis arrives you may wish to take it up with him.”
Mayson leaned heavily on the table, his hands not quite accidentally nudging a plate slightly out of line. “I don’t always dig the dirt for my regnant. There are others who want to know too. Like the Prince, soon to be Duke, of South Bend. There’s a running bet there that Detroit is Maximo’s next target.”
Casper pretended not to be annoyed as he resumed his table setting. “I suppose you are an expert on the political ambitions of the Princes. Shall I inform the Keeper that you wish to address the assembly tonight?” Casper smiled pleasantly.
Mayson stared at Casper for a long moment before straightening up from the table. “So…what do you do with all the catered food after these shindigs?”
Casper was relieved at the change of subject. “There is an industrial-sized food disposal in the kitchen sink. I’ll show you how to use it when I’m finished in here.”
Mayson snorted. “What would the folks in the projects say if they saw you throw away a fifteen grand dinner?”
Casper smiled. “They wouldn’t see me doing it. They would see ⚠ <i>you.⚠ </i> Welcome to Detroit, ghoul.”
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