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“Please show ain,” Shaut demanded

“Shields, Mister Shaut,” Pro corrected as she opened her leather billfold and held it out for the es, detectives have shields”

“Whatever” He shrugged Facing hiestured to them “Please sit and tell me what I can do for two of New York’s finest”

Chu spoke first “We wanted to speak to you about e with one Albert Floss about an unnamed item”

“Christ,” Shaut said, displeased “Is Marvell sending the cops after me now?” He called out to his assistant, “You hear that, Brent, Marvell’s sending the cops after us”

Brent walked back into the roo emblazoned with the phrase “I’D RATHER MAKE RABBITS DISAPPEAR” and placed it in front of his employer, then added ruefully, “The man certainly has a problem, Mister Shaut”

“I’ll say he does,” Shaut said as Brent returned to the nearby roo to stand on—”

“You were in touch with Mister Marvell?” Pro interrupted

“Yeah, and tell hias Police visit him”

“Are you sure you are speaking about Max Marvell?” Chu queried

“Yeah, isn’t he the one who sent you? I mean I know that he’s buddies with the mayor, but that doesn’t mean he can send detectives to harass me—”

Chu cleared his throat, and Pro let him take over

“We aren’t here for Marvell, Mister Shaut,” Chu pointed out “We are here because of your relationship with Albert Floss”

“What? Yeah, I know Al He’s been around forever In fact, he was selling me information on a trick—an illusion”

“By any chance,” Pro coaxed, “the Prism?”