Impkray ran puffing into Leroy's office with a handful of papers in his hands.

  Leroy also had his hands full. Mostly with one of his secretaries. Impkray noticed the mostly unclad hellion just before Leroy's tail wrapped around his throat and hoisted him off his feet. The Boss's deep, grating voice had the power to shatter stone walls, and his anger was once again directed at his assistant. "How many times have I told you to knock first Impy?"

  A veteran of office politics, Impkray held tight to his papers and took his throttling without struggles. This bored Leroy and the little assistant found himself released. He straightened his tie, adjusted his glasses, and replied to his boss. "By my count 1,712 times sir. But also you've told me 5,617 times that business comes before pleasure, and 17, 666 times 'Where the hell are the new contracts?' so I figured you'd want to see these."

  The hellion found her pert bottom hitting the floor as Leroy stood up abruptly. She gathered her clothes and sashayed down the aisle past the sales guys at their desks, gathering a wolf whistle from each.

  Leroy was an imposing figure standing over eight feet tall with powerful legs, goat hooves, bulging muscles, perfectly manicured talons, and small horns jutting from his forehead. He preferred expensive pinstriped three-piece suits and snappy-looking hats. No one would ever mistake him for human. "Yer right Impy, business first. What all do we have in that pile."

  Impy started looking through them. "Some of the usual stuff. Renegotiated contracts from nobles who wanted to continue the deals their fathers made. Three witches expanding their coven to a full circle...a dragon that wants out of the contract to destroy villages behind on their taxes, claims someone is selling them cheap ballista with anti-dragon runes..six dozen warlocks who want power in exchange for piddly stuff like their shadows, firstborn, or souls."

  "Six dozen? That number is way up. How many years have you been letting those build up?"

  "Only three weeks, sir. Sorry sir, lots of running around to gather them all up."

  "What?! Seriously?"

  Impy nodded. "Yes sir, it's the influx of players. They get impatient and careless sir."

  Leroy laughed. "God I love those guys. So honest in their lust for power and willingness to do evil. So easy to trick. After all, 'It's just a game'. That never gets old. This is like the old days, Impy when the world was young and everyone wanted to stake a claim. I'd deal with angels one day, the guys in the rebellion the next day, and the dragons on the weekends. Everyone needed something. Those were the glory days, Impy. Even the gods needed to deal with me, back then. Big on power, bad people skills. They couldn't talk to each other without getting into an argument about how to build the world."

  "If wish I could have been there, sir. My batch didn't hatch until after the Engine was up and running. But I do have something else of interest for you. Two of the free agents managed to get signatures on two deals for long-term extended contracts with mortals, sir. One from the Light, one from the Dark."

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  Leroy's pointed ears perked up, as he lit a large cigar. "Oh, nice. You did good finding out about these Impy. There'll be a little extra in your coin sack this week. Now get out there and find some more. I'm off to gather these up."

  Leroy didn't make deals himself. That was for new guys and small-time chislers. Leroy was far beyond that now. He was a consolidator. He gathered up contracts, bundled them up, and resold them to the big investors. Say a god needs 1000 followers for the next season? Call Leroy. Have a spell that needs the souls of 12 mostly honest men? Call Leroy.

  As a fallen angel, he could work both sides of the street. His office might be down in the hot zone, but he still had friends up top, and he was useful to everyone.

  He had to get a move on though. It was the last night of the year. Buy a contract tonight, and Ka-Ching! The yearly payment was due the next day. Don't like it? Then don't use hell's calendar. It was all in the contract. He'd especially have to get on those two warranties right away. Long-term warranties were especially hellish, and always led to getting a prime soul.

  "Now, don't look at me that way honey. I'm here to help you out. You've got a sweet contract there. But really, think about it. You want the prestige of doing the deal, not the drudgery of collecting each year. You'll be moving up soon in your firm. And I must say, you are looking mighty firm from where I sit. Collections are for newbs."

  Lilibet wasn't sure. She was looking forward to seeing the butcher again, but that was pleasure, not business. And it was a risk returning, year after year. Butchers could become short-tempered and nasty as they aged. She could still hear that angel screaming. Maybe getting a chunk of cash and selling the contract was for the best. "I see your point, Leroy. But I want 30 years of profits, not 25, that wasn't an easy one to negotiate."

  Leroy laughed inside. They always tried to bring the price up, which is why he offered low first. And always complained about how hard they worked to close the deal. "You drive a hard bargain, Lil. But it's a good deal for both of us. You get money in the short run; I'll take my profit in the long run."

  "Now, don't look at me that way Arny. I'm here to help you out. Me and your dad go way back. I'm wearing horns now, but I used to hit for your team. Love your new look, by the way, looks great. Sets you apart from the rest of the crowd, you look like you've been through hell. You've got a sweet contract there. But really, think about it. You want the prestige of doing the deal, not the drudgery of collecting each year. You'll be moving up soon in your firm. And I must say, that is one firm handshake you have there. You'll do good kid."

  Arney wasn't sure. He hadn't enjoyed his time in the pit, but he felt he'd made a connection with the butcher and could help him see the light. But how would he react every year when it was business and he came around to collect? He could still feel the heat of the pit. Maybe getting a chunk of cash and selling the contract was for the best. He could still protect the little town and work to turn the Butcher into a true soldier of the light. "I see your point, Leroy. But I want 30 years of profits, not 25, that wasn't an easy one to negotiate."

  "You drive a hard bargain, Arney."

  Leroy tossed the two contracts in his briefcase. He could care less about the details. Hell, and Heaven both used standard contracts and tied the borrower’s soul to them. Sure, he was on the hook for something, but it was amazing how many loopholes those contracts have in them. He rarely had to lift a finger or spend a dime, no matter what happened.