child could speak into her ear. "She's so pretty!" gasped the younger Miss Tatts in whispered wonder. Piercely gave her an agreeing nod.
Mick arrived in time to see the elevator doors close behind the quintet. The silence was instantly shattered by an outburst of chatter. Mick wandered through the excited assembly. Loneshark saw Clint emerge a half-hour later from one of the internal elevators, pushing an empty luggage trolley. Loneshark greeted him. A quizzical expression highlighted the secret agent's features. "What have you been doing?"
"I brought the celebrities' wardrobe trunks up the service elevator to the penthouse suite."
"That's not what I'd classify as your typical maintenance duties."
"Yeah, well, this is no union position. I diligently perform any activities required of me without complaint!"
"Have you ever had a union job?"
"Never."
"Why not? You're the one who rather bitterly pointed out the slave-wage status of our billets here."
"Yes, but I prefer to fight my battles for wages with individual initiative."
"Are you winning any?"
"Not many."
"Then?"
"If you must know, Mister Loneshark, I couldn't see spending my life as a union man forever droning to a red-faced foreman a dull repetition of the two requisite phrases That ain't my job or I just went on break. I'd rather be poor than predictable." Mick snickered. Clint broke into a mild laugh. "Besides," Indigence added, "the executive-in-charge gave me a five-dollar tip!"
Jasmine's eyes were slanted slits. Miss Jade was pleased when Dweeb generously bestowed the five upon Clint with one hand while clapping the indigent worker on the shoulder with the other. She was pleased until Mr. Indigence turned his back. Dorky immediately inspected his hand, as though examining the exposed appendage for signs of contamination. Then Dweeb deliberately wiped the palm on his expensive suit coat. Executive Dorky didn't see Jasmine's ferocious stare. Miss Jade swiftly turned away, enraged over the executive's unforgivable slight of the man who commanded her utmost respect. Jasmine's glower unexpectedly fell onto the uplifted, innocent eyes of Precious, who brightly spouted, "Hi!" In spite of her anger, Miss Jade's powerful orbs instantly resumed a gracious glow. Precious, whose luxuriant yellow locks had grown longer and lovelier in the months since her television appearance, offered a scintillating smile to the gorgeous Miss Jade.
As Jasmine returned the radiant smile, Dweeb joined them and felt included in the rapturous warmth of the two dazzling displays. Dorky quickly made introductions. Dweeb then suggested
