"What about the money from the first heist?" he sez.

'That's a good question," I sez. "Is there anything left from that?"

"Not much," 'Nardo sez. "Young as he is, the kid knows how to spend money."

"Tell you what," I sez. "I'll report that the attacks have been stopped. If the Boss wants to send me out to try to recover the loot, that will be a separate assignment. I don't think he'll bother, but even if he does, it will give you a big head start. Droppin' out of sight shouldn't be too tough. Just get him to dump that silly outfit."

"That's it then?" he sez. "We all just back away and everyone is happy?"

"It works for me," I sez with a shrug. "To be honest with you, the Boss ... that's the Great Skeeve ... isn't that much older than the kid there. We've gotten into some rough spots ourselves bailin' him out. It doesn't bother me at all that we all get off light on this one."

"I'm just glad we didn't have to go sideways to each other, Guido." 'Nardo sez. "However it came out, I wouldn't have liked the results."

"I guess that settles it," I sez. "Good luck to you, 'Nardo."

"And to you, my friend!"

Before I realize what he's doin', he steps forward and sweeps me into the big hug that's the traditional Mob greetin' and farewell.

There's a soft 'twang' behind me and I barely have time to shove him away when something slams into my arm.

"I didn't mean to do it, Guido. Honest!"

This is maybe the twelfth time Spyder has made this statement.

"It's okay, Spyder. Really," I sez. "These things happen. It goes with the job."

This is the same response I have given each time she has made her declaration. In fact, it is the same, word for, word. I have a little trouble comin' up with original lines or variations when I've been shot. Still, Spyder is still upset, so I do my best to calm her down.

"I mean, I didn't really mean to shoot," she sez ... again. "He surprised me when he stepped forward like that, and when I shifted to keep him covered, the crossbow just went off."

"It's my fault, really," I sez, tryin' to make light of it.

"I should have warned you about the hair-trigger. Cheer up. It could have been a lot worse."

"You're right! I could have killed you! Oh, Guido. I'm so sorry."

As you can tell, my efforts to calm her down have been less than sucessful.

"He knows you're sorry, dear," Pookie sez, takin' a hand. She has been bandagin' my arm and is now riggin' a sling. "Why don't you take a little walk and compose yourself while Guido and I finish up here?"

"Okay," Spyder sez, hangin' her head. She starts to go, then stops with her back to me. "Guido? I really am sorry."

She strides off before I can say anything in return.

"So, what do you think we should do now?" Pookie sez, finishin' the sling.

"I'm thinkin' we head back to the palace," I sez. "We've taken the investigation about as far as we can, so it's time to check in with the others and get their opinions on what to do next, if anything. Besides, with this ding in my arm I could use a little downtime before I go hun-tin' for any more trouble."

"If you don't mind, I think I'll stay out a while," Pookie sez. "Maybe keep Spyder with me. She could use a little more seasoning."

"Fine by me," I sez. "If you want, I'll send along some help. Maybe Nunzio."

"That would be great," she sez. "I think we'll be hanging around the Sherwood Arms subdivision. See if we can find out anything more about that crew that's working the game preserve. And Guido?"

"What?"

"When you get back to the palace, could you do me a favor? Could you say that I was the one who shot you accidentally, not Spyder?"

I give her a long look.

"Why would you want me to say that?"

"Like you said, it was an accident. It could have happened to anyone who wasn't familiar with the hair-trigger rig you use ... Spyder or me."

"Uh huh," I sez. "So why do you want to make it you instead of Spyder?"

"You know this is only a temporary job for me," she sez. "I mean, I enjoy working with this crew, but I figure I'll be moving along eventually. I think Spyder would like to try to join your crew on a permanent basis once she gets out of the army. Of the two of us, I think it would be better if the accident went on my record instead of hers."

"If that's the way you want it," I sez.

Secretly, though, I have my doubts about Spyder as a permanent member of our crew. While I'm not one to hold a grudge, I've found in the past I have trouble relaxing around someone who's shot me. Even if it was by accident.

It was late when I got back to the palace. I probably could have stretched the trip out a bit, but instead I pushed straight through.

Investigatin' the trouble with the tax collectors had been a welcome break from the palace routine, but that was done now ... at least, temporarily. Now I found my mind turnin' once more to the problems at the palace. The more I thought about it, the quicker I walked.

The Boss was in a spot. He either had to marry Queen Hemlock and help her run the kingdom, or turn her down, in which case she threatened to abdicate and stick him with runnin' it by himself. The trouble was that the problem involved dealin' with a woman, which was the Boss's weak suit. The Great Skeeve might be quick on his feet and faster with his brain when it came to magik, but plain old Skeeve was a babe in the woods where women were concerned. What was more, there wasn't much I could do as a bodyguard to help him ... except maybe seein' to it that Queen Hemlock didn't try to whack him if she didn't like his answer.

I was still thinkin' about all this when I finally reached the palace. Luckily, it was late enough that I figured everyone would have gone to bed, so I wouldn't have to worry about reportin' in until tomorrow. That would give me time to sort out what I was gonna say, and ensure that I had a clear head when it came to dealin' with questions. With that in mind, I headed for my room.

"Back already, Guido?" comes a voice from the shadows. "How did it go?"

I turn toward the voice as Aahz emerges from the shadows.

Now, I have to admit that Aahz is not my favorite member of the team. By this I do not mean he is not capable, as even without his powers he is able to hold his own in a brawl against all comers and is as shrewd and knowledgeable as anyone I have ever met. What keeps me from warmin' to him is his social skills, or lack thereof. He started out as the Boss's mentor, and even though that relationship was upgraded to a full partnership, he still tends to lean on Skeeve publicly more than I think is necessary. In fact, his idea of relatin' to most people ranges from impatient sarcasm to open scorn. While I figured that I'd have to report to him sooner or later, my own preference was leanin' toward later.

"Oh. Hi, Aahz," I sez. "What are you doin' up so late?"

"I was just sitting and thinking," he sez. "Enjoying the night air. Come on over and join me and fill me in on what happened."

Not really havin' much choice, I follow him back into the shadows. There is a wide opening in the wall of the corridor that looks out over the palace's courtyard ... the keep, I think they call it. Aahz sits on the low wall that is there to keep people from fallin' out, and gestures for me to take a seat next to him.

"So, what's the word?" he sez. "Did you find any signs of a brewing rebellion?"

"Not really," I sez. "We checked in with the tax boys, and they've been havin' a bit of trouble with havin' their collectors ambushed. Two different groups, it seems. It sounds to me, though, that it's more like a couple groups tryin' for some easy money than an actual rebellion."