SOTR: Jackson & Partners - Removals In its way, it was very much a people profession. Sometimes, regrettably but inevitably, certain people didn't get on with certain other people. Then more people were hired to resolve the dispute. Such resolutions were often quick, usually discreet, and invariably permanent. When Mary Lopez came in with the post, Cap'n Jackson, sometime scourge of the Seven Seas, was taking his leisure in the usual way. That is, he was leaning back in his chair with his boots on the desk, toying with a loaded flintlock pistol. Today he was wearing his eyepatch over his left eye. "Anything interesting, Pol?" he asked. She well knew that if he was using that hated nickname, he was bored out of his skull and trying to get a rise out of her. She restrained her temper. "There may be, Captain," she said. "This one's from Mr. Kendy. I recognise the handwriting." "Is that so? Then hand it over, lass." Mary did so. The bold captain picked up the hook he kept on his desk for such purposes, slit the letter open, and glanced swiftly over the contents. "Ah. Shiver my timbers, this could be just the job we need. I'll have a word with young McCrimmon directly. But I think I'll spend a few more minutes with you first, my fine young wench." A little while later, Mary, having made her escape from the office and put her hair up again, found herself approaching a door marked COMMON ROOM. As she walked in, the three occupants set their work aside and rose to their feet. "Morning, all," Mary said. She glanced at the two young women - one in a severe black dress, the other in an equally severe black catsuit. "Sorry, Tori, Thanata," she said. "Nothing for you just now." Calmly, both shrugged, and returned to their previous activities. In Tori's case, this involved cleaning and oiling a high-powered sniper rifle; while Thanata was, as ever, absorbed in the never-ending exploration of the world of chemistry, with particular reference to the detrimental effect certain compounds had on the biochemical balance of humans. "The Captain would like to see you now, Hamish," Mary concluded. "Aye? An' jist what would that be for?" the thuggish young man asked. "A job," Mary said. "Right up your street." She waited for him to leave the room before doing likewise. She'd seen the way he gripped his dagger, and had no wish to be used for impromptu target practice between here and the Captain's office. "So what's it all about?" Hamish asked over his shoulder, as the two of them ascended the dusty staircase. "Come on, Mary, spill it. I ken well enough that ye read the boss's letters upside down." /And in other positions too/, Mary thought, but knew better than to say it. "It's another commission from Mr. Kendy," she replied out loud. "Seems that certain authors are getting too fond of jokes about kilts..." [ "Doctor Who" is the property of the BBC. This Time Round was created by Tyler Dion. Some Other Time Round was created by K. Michael Wilcox. Day Kendy was created by Daibhid Ceannaideach. ] -- John Elliott Thinks: This is what a nice clean life leads to. Hmm, why did I ever lead one? -- Bluebottle, in the Goon Show