A Dangerous Con: A Deal with Mr. Underby

  Nicholas Herding arrived at the Gangplank around noon, in a discreet and quiet manner.  He had neither guards or his girls with him as he was here on business to City Hall.  He did not even flirt with Underby’s secretary, who would have been a lovely addition to his establishment.  After a moment, she delivered him to the desk located in the bakery.

   As Nicholas studied the mayors assistant, and double-checked the sign on the desk, Underby looked up from the forms looking bored,  “Hm?”

 “Mister Underby?”  Nicholas asked to be certain, as this was hardly the place for the man he had heard of so frequently.  

  The man’s expression darkened as he narrowed his eyes at Nicholas, “Are you new to town?”  

   “No.”  Nicholas glanced about taking in everyone who was listening.  Except for the secretary they were very alone, and she was at the far end of the establishment.  Still, he lowered his voice, “I have been here for some time but I tend to stay…discreet.”

   “And yet you engage in the pretense of not knowing who I am.” Underby remarked with mild annoyance.  “Come now.”

   Nicholas smiled charmingly in response, “I have heard many unlikely stories in this city.  Twins pretending to be one another and the like.  I always feel best if I check twice.”

  “Wise,” Underby replied without conviction as he rubbed his chin and looked the gentleman over, noting his pride filled smile and shorter than expected stature.  “You are here, perhaps, for a pint of refreshment? I think most of the bartenders are off at the moment.”

  Nicholas shook his head as he leaned forward over the desk, whispering darkly, “No sir, I am here to discuss about private business with yourself.”

   “I see,” Underby checked on Buxombottom to ensure she was too far away to hear.  “What is this business?”

  “I know your reputation, as you have guessed, and I suspect you know my area of expertise,”  Nicholas spoke low yet distinctly.  Underby continued to watch him apathetically, but nodded once,  “I have a very profitable business and I am confident it will grow even more profitable in the near future.”

  “Mm hmm?” The man behind the desk ran his fingers over a letter opener.  Despite his bored expression he was clearly growing impatient.

   “However, lately, I have had some trouble with individuals disturbing my entertainers’ and guards work.”

  “Oh?”  Underby sat up slightly, for the first time betraying some interest in the conversation.

  Nicholas briefly explained the situation as he understood it.  The girl, the attackers attempting to aid her, the growing number of watchers in his area.  He didn’t mention names or associations yet, but concluded,“I have already hired more men to keep them at bay and protect my employees.  They have assaulted them brazenly.”

   Underby snorted,  “Why not simply get rid of her and them then?  That’s largely what the canals are for, after all.”

  Nicholas smiled, but shook his head, “I do not want to get rid of her.  She has proven to be wildly successful.  I fully intend to keep her, but these others…”

  “Firecracker, is she?”  Underby mused quietly as he pulled a piece of paper and a pencil closer.  “What’s her name?”  

  “The girl? Beryl. A Moreau cat,”  Nicholas replied happily.  Underby stared at the man and then slowly pushed the writing utensils away.  The procurer never noticed the stare as he indulged in praising his girls, something he enjoyed doing even after they tested his patience.  “A pure jewel in my collection.  The problem has only become more complicated as the Militia appears to be involved now.”

  “The Militia do not generally get involved in businesses such as your own…how did that begin?”  Underby listened to the man explain about Wright and the others.  The older man deflated while he sighed at the same time. Closing his eyes he replied, “Of course.  Tell me something…how did it come about that this Beryl cat started working for you?”

  “The same way as every girl starts working for me,” Nicholas replied, though he was surprised by the question.  “I met her alone in a bar.  I am an enterprising man, Mister Underby.  I never really hid what I was doing from her.  May I ask why that question?”

  “Knowledge of her past might gain insight into the present trouble, of course,” he replied cryptically but with a tone that made the procurer feel he had answered the question sufficiently.  “What would you like from me?”

  “Between the men and the Militia now involved, Beryl and the other girls have grown very distressed.  She briefly offered to leave but I would hear nothing for it.  Still, I admit they have a point, I can hardly keep working in those conditions.”

  Underby drummed his fingers against the desk as he considered Mr. Herdings tale, “What exactly is the Militia threatening?”

  “They increased their presence and I am sure they will take the first opportunity to shut my business down if not worse.”

  “Nonsense.”  If the militia was growing that bold or corrupt his network of spies would have informed him long before Nicholas.  For the other possibility, “What law do they say has been broken?”

 “They say nothing thus far but their presence, and the others, are unnerving to my girls and the customer’s.” Nicholas spread his hands in a show of laying his cards on the table. “I am just wishing to prevent what could happen.”

 “I see.  So you would like them to ignore your business?”  The gentleman smiled in response, but Underby betrayed no mirth.  “And what is in it for me?”

  Nicholas let his smile fade as he focused on the dangerous man across from him, “What I would like of you, is to keep the Militia and those others in check. Make them all leave me in peace. And in exchange, you would get a cut of my very profitable business.”

 “I could do that,” Underby mused for a moment before he added the hook. “For thirty per cent.”

  “Thirty!?!”  Nicholas choked out, catching the attention of Miss Buxombottom for the first time.  They stared at her until she went back to her work. Lowering his voice again he returned to Underby, “Thirty?  Come, Mister Underby, I doubt I could lose that much with letting them be.  What about ten percent?”

  “That is an exceedingly lenient sum to have to deal with Miss Heinrichs.  Have you ever actually met her? She’s very objectionable.”  Mr. Underby noted Nicholas smirk lightly.  The procurer was privately recalling his meeting with the unpleasant woman.  “Twenty.”

  Mr. Herding considered the offer for a moment, and decided not to push his luck against someone with Underby’s connections.  “Twenty then, it is a deal.”

  “One more thing,” Mr. Underby interjected as he held up a forestalling hand.  “I would like to meet this Beryl.  Privately.”

  Nicholas raised his eyebrows, surprised, but then his expression brightened.  “Well, seeing one of my girls in private, Mister Underby, that usually has a price attached.  But for you this one time will be free of charge.”

  “Of course, I can’t be seen in your establishment, you understand…” Underby looked at his secretary who was still oblivious to their quiet dealings.

  “That would be best for both of us.”  Nicholas agreed.  “Where should I send her when the streets are…safer?”

  “I have private chambers above the Bucket of Blood.  I assume you know it?”  Underby nodded as the man confirmed his rhetorical question.  “Excellent.  And I will have someone come by once a month to collect my fee.”

  “Very well,”  Nicholas winced slightly but he nodded.  The two bid each other good afternoon and the procurer departed.  After he left the pleasant demeanor faded from Underby’s features.  He leaned over his desk and pushed aside the nonsensical forms he’d been reading as he prepared several letters.