don't want them slipping through our fingers. I'm going to tell the Federation police to issue pick-up orders on all five of them. Maybe they'll be in custody by the time you've finished checking."

"Maybe," Manning said doubtfully.

"How are you getting along with Fanya?" J. Barnaby asked. There was something suspiciously like a chuckle in his voice.

"You know how I'm getting along with her," Manning said darkly. "But I'll soon wash up this case and then it'll be a different story."

"When you've finished this case," J. Barnaby said sternly, "I order you to come directly home. I forbid you to take any time to play around with that blonde. I—"

"Get lost," Manning said and cut the connection.

He collected his guide and they went looking for the second-hand asteroid dealer. They found him in his little office. It turned out that he, too, was looking for the Algolian undertaker. The latter had bought a crypt-asteroid from him the day before, but hadn't yet paid for it.

"You think he's skipped out?" Dzanku asked Manning.

"I don't know," Manning said evasively. "Why should he skip? He has a successful business. I wouldn't think he'd walk out on that."

"I don't know," the Rigelian said. "You can never tell...."

"You think he's mixed up in something crooked?"

"I didn't say that."

"You did a lot of business with him?" Manning asked.

"Yes."

"How did he pay you in the past?"

"Always in cash," Dzanku said. He hesitated, then went on. "As a matter of fact, Mr. Draco, that's why I was a little suspicious of him. You take an established business man, when he always pays in cash you begin to wonder how established he is. It looks like he might always be ready to move fast."

"I see what you mean," Manning said. "By the way, did you ever have any dealings with a Nottyl Nadyl?"

The Rigelian looked thoughtful, then shook his head. "I don't 

 Prev. P 32/42 next