Time-delay joke!
“Don’t worry about it,” I told her. “We don’t always do that, either. You can’t go around thinking…” I abruptly shut up.
“That the big, bad Dominion ambassador of the North can’t be looking everywhere, surely?” I would have said her smile was melancholy, except Dominion Archmages are supposedly allergic to the stuff. “You’d be right, too. Except sometimes she can.” She took a drag. “I’m sure she enjoys those little moments when it’s unnecessary. A meal and a walk along the boardwalk is probably as much time as she can hope for. Ah, this is my hotel.”
I gave it a peer. The Cochimi Ritz wasn’t as flashy as the Xanadu, but it looked… cozier. Probably quieter. Absolutely I wouldn’t be able to get past the front door if I had a signed note from the King. Or if they had a sudden bout of ‘dead body in the library.’ That skeleton key lets me in everywhere.
“It suits you, ‘Betty.’” I gave her a nice little bow, because Lucas can kiss a hand, and not look ridiculous. “Enjoy the rest of your evening. Will you be here long?”
“For a while, Mr. Vargas, for a while. Thank you for dessert and the walk, by the way. I found it restful. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
I waited until she was half up the stairs. “You, too! Oh, and there was just one other thing…”
She turned to me, quizzical. “Yes, Mr. Vargas?”
I gave her my best smirk. “Don’t call me Shirley.”
That might have been the first time I’ve ever heard the Banshee laugh.