Excerpt from Hugger Mugger by Robert B. Parker, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Security South."

Meant nothing to me.

"The on-site supervisor is a man named Delroy. Jon Delroy."

That meant nothing to me either.

"Will Mr. Delroy be pleased to see me?"

"He'll cooperate," Clive said.

"No," Penny said. "I don't think he will be pleased to see you."
Clive looked at her.

"Well, it's the truth, Daddy. He will be absolutely goddamned livid."

Clive smiled. He couldn't help being condescending, but it was a genuine smile. He liked his daughter.

"Penny has been quiet during our interview, Mr. Spenser. But don't assume that it's habitual."

"Jon will have trouble with you bringing in someone over him," Penny said. "Mr. Spenser may as well know that now."

Clive nodded.

"He's not really 'over' Jon," Clive said. "But Jon may feel a bit compromised. That a problem to you, Mr. Spenser?"

"No."

"Really?" Penny said. "You think you can work with someone like that?"

"I'll win him over," I said.

"How?"

"Northern charm," I said.

"Isn't that an oxymoron?" she said.

"You're right," I said. "Maybe I'll just threaten him."

Reprinted from Hugger Mugger by Robert B. Parker by permission of Putnam Pub. Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc. Copyright (c) 2000 by Robert B. Parker. All rights reserved. This excerpt, or any parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.