“I’m not faking,” I say, holding up a finger. “I’mreframing. My experience managing volatile assets, maintaining morale, resolving conflicts, teaching order?—”
“That was in a criminal empire.”
“Skills are transferable.”
“You don’t even like kids!”
“I likemykid.”
Garkin drops his sandwich. Again.
“You don’t evenknowif he’s your kid!”
“I’ll find out.”
“You’ll find out by impersonating a teacher and indoctrinating a classroom?”
“I’ll bond,” I say, matter-of-fact. “Integrate. Observe. Impress.”
“Boss,” Garkin says, dropping his head into his hands. “This is the worst plan you’ve ever had. And you once tried to bribe a customs officer with sentient jellyfish.”
“They were ethically sourced.”
He groans.
I stand.
“Get me some credentials. Real enough to pass a background scan.”
He sputters. “Do you want a forged diploma, too?”
“I want one that says I graduatedwith honors.In Early Developmental Psychology. Emphasis on Inter-Species Education.”
“You want a death certificate too? Because she’s going tokillyou.”
“I hope she’s angry. Angry means she still cares.”
“Or it means she’ll fry your ass with a stun baton.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “Get it done, Gark.”
He glares at me. “And the mob?”
“What about them?”
“They think you’re coming back.”
“Let them.”
I walk toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Garkin calls.
“Shopping.”
“For what?”
I pause.
