Better The Devil You Know

Raymond Gill was eyeing the stranger in his doorway suspiciously. The charcoal pinstripe three-piece suit, the pair of black leather derbies and the lawyer briefcase — all perfectly fitted the image of an infernal commissioner. What didn't quite fit was the face. It was a new face which he hadn't expected to see. Not under the circumstances.

"What happened to Mr. Kozloff?" Ray demanded, putting as much firmness in his voice as he could muster.

The stranger exposed two rows of perfectly white teeth in a wry smile. "Job transfer. That happens every now and then, you know. Even in this line of work. Do you mind?" Without waiting for an answer, he stepped inside the apartment leaving its perplexed owner behind. Ray lingered for a moment, not quite certain what to do, then locked the door and followed the intruder into the living room.

"I'm afraid I didn't quite catch your name," Ray said as the stranger made himself comfortable in the easy chair.

"I didn't quite throw it at you. It's Hornsky. Mathew Hornsky, Fourth Rank Commissioner for Infernal Contract Department. And there's nothing for you to be afraid of so far, Mr. Gill. It's nothing but a regular procedure of contract renegotiation. A mere formality. Do you mind if I smoke?" No sooner had Ray opened his mouth than Hornsky produced a little cigar and lighted it with a vintage bronze lighter. The sweet smell of grape filled the room. Ray was trying hard to get his head around what he had just heard.

"Contract renegotiation? How do you mean? I thought the contract was final and not subject to any modifications."

"Well, technically, it isn't a modification to the previous contract. It is rather a new contract built along the same lines. Your previous commissioner, however sloppy, must have warned you about the possibility of such an arrangement. I can't believe he screwed up even this simple responsibility."

"Mr. Kozloff never mentioned anything of the kind... As a matter of fact, he made a very favorable impression — sounded like he knew all the ins and outs. We went over all the details with him carefully... Why can't I just stay under Mr. Kozloff's supervision?"

"I'm sorry but it is not possible. Mr. Kozloff has been transferred to another department due to his overall incompetence. He's now at a lower level of our Agency. Much lower indeed." Hornsky chuckled at this and blew a series of smoke rings that floated around the chandelier. "Put yourself at ease, Mr. Gill. As I said, this is a mere formality. Our Agency is highly reputed for its services and boasts the longest history of contracting ever. Your input and commitment to our cause have been essential, and we are willing to provide you with the highest-quality service. So why don't we get down to business?"

An hour and a half later Ray finally had the apartment to himself again. He was sitting in the easy chair, the freshly-drafted contract in his lap and a contented smile on his lips. He had to admit this Hornsky guy was major league. Compared to him, Kozloff was high-school baseball team against the NY Yankees. The new contract was far more precise, had much clearer wording, and even seemed to be more beneficial to Ray. He might now be able to enjoy even more wealth and glory for the same price of his eternal soul. That was a real bargain. He was lucky to have met Hornsky.

There was a knock on the door. Reluctantly, Ray shuffled to answer it and squinted through the peephole. His jaw dropped at what he saw. A gorgeous redhead in a navy blue skirt suit, holding a black leather briefcase, was standing at his door. He fumbled with the lock, his fingers shaking badly. Finally, he managed to unlock the door and just stood there dumbfounded.

"Good evening, Mr. Gill. I'm Gizelle van Hoof, Senior Commissioner for Infernal Contract Department. I'm here for the contract renegotiation routine. Please, don't worry. It won't take long."