Clouds hung low over the city, gray and dismal. The shining metal thruway partially reflected their somber visage. A few vehicles scurried nervously through the city.
Keller turned away from the window dismally. His conscience was bothering him, and it affected his every movement. Looking over his humbly furnished office, he entertained the thought, not for the first time, that he should change jobs if he wanted to eat.
A buzz soundedāthe intercom system. That would be Sally, his secretary. It was a mystery what she would want. Usually she never bothered him except in case of an emergency, and the last client Keller had had dropped his case three months ago.
Apparently it was another customer, unlikely as it seemed. Keller heard voices outside, Sally's irritated and protesting, and a nervous baritone. Abruptly the door opened, disclosing a rugged, bushy-haired C-3 (average intelligence and advanced extra-sensory perception, but unexercised), who was in a bad state of nerves.
He seemed to have forced his way past Sally into the inner office.
Keller flashed a thought at Sally: **How does he look?**
**Not so hot,** she answered. **I didn't bother to scan muchādon't want to lower myself to that depthābut he seems to be a big payer. He's impatient, though. And he wants everything run his way.**
Oh, fine, thought Keller. My first victim in three months, and it has to be the Big Shot type.
He made the usual Q-R opening; curtly and efficiently:
"Your name?"
"UhāHarold Radcliffe."
"Why the hesitation?" But Keller had scanned it already. The man was simply cautious. He continued without letting Radcliffe answer:
"Age?" 33. "Occupation?" Hesitation: Salesman. "Residence?" After writing this and Radcliffe's telephone number down, he closed his grimy black notebook and sat back.
"And now, Mr. Radcliffe, why exactly did you come here?"
Radcliffe, unsure of himself at first, gathered confidence as he noticed Keller's interest growing. He began:
"Well sir, for this job I need one of the best detectivesā" he paused at Keller's grimaceā"and since you're one of the few detectives in the city who can read minds, and the only A-2 'tec in the stateā" He shrugged, and finished, "...