a gypsy.
Her blouse was white, and quite frilly. She had on a billowing red
skirt, liberally encrusted with embroidered beads of a darker red. The
tattered hem of a petticoat hung below it. Her hair had been dark once,
but it was shot with threads of silver. There was a lot of it, and piled
up high so that her ears were exposed. They had pierced lobes, and heavy
gold rings hung from them.

Instinctively I closed my mind as tight as a clam. The mere sight of a
telepath triggers that reaction. Fred closed the door behind him,
continuing to stand just behind his captive. She glanced briefly at me
and then looked for a longer moment at Tony Carlucci, behind my desk.

"Joe," she said to him. "Joe, don't let them do this to me!"

I don't know how much coaching Anita had given Carlucci, but he knew
enough to call her "mother." And I knew enough to watch Fred Plaice the
instant Tony said: "Oh, mother! Why the devil couldn't you keep out of
sight!"

Fred was one mighty confused looking boy. The two-bit word is
consternation. He had it. Anita had given him the business.

"I'm sorry, madame," I said standing and walking over to where Tony was
emoting, with the back of his hand pressed to his eyes. "We threw you a
curve. Meet Mr. Tony Carlucci." Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "And I,
madame, am Joseph Tinker."

"Joe!" she cried, or wailed is a better word, and threw herself around
the desk to seize me in her arms. She smelled faintly of garlic, oregano
and some kind of incense, maybe sandalwood. A nice clean gypsy smell.
Cleaner than a lot of gypsies I can think of.

Fred pulled her off me, not too gently. I'd say he was a little sore
about something. Anita's eyes were slits of fury.

"Thanks, Tony," I said. "See you around."

"Honest Tony Carlucci," he said. "If you need a used 'copter, Joe, jet
on down to my dock. Nothing down. Listen, I got one that was never used
except in the spring by a little old lady who gave up walking for Lent.
I'll tell you what I'll do--"

"Wasting your time," Anita told him. "The Government provides Mr. Tinker
with any kind of transportation he needs. A thousand thanks, Tony. I
won't forget--" The rest was cut off as she gave him one of the more
polite bum's rushes. I think he would have liked to hang around to see
the rest of our little amateur theatrical.

* * * * *

Fred had his grin going. "Couldn't get the drift for a minute, Gyp," he
said, clapping me