What does he want this time? It’s never enough. Probably he wants to boast about his new powers from the witch doctor, and persuade me to put pressure on the commissioner about giving him my job. I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to interfere any further. Yet when he arrived, Joshua seemed reticent, almost respectful. The bluster and innuendo were gone. He asked after his uncle’s health and listened as if he cared. He’s seen the witch doctor, Gobey thought. And something went wrong. Eventually the small talk bored him, and he jumped to what he knew was the point. “Did you see the man I suggested?” Joshua hesitated. “Yes, he seems very good.” Gobey wondered how anyone could know that. “But?” “I’m having second thoughts. He’s very expensive. And what he wants to do . . .” Gobey coughed and then couldn’t catch his breath.
