Chapter One
"I refuse to accept it in that condition," Ace said, glaring at the man who was
holding out a clipboard and expecting him to sign the acceptance papers.
"Look, mister, I'm just the deliveryman, and nobody said anything about busted
crates. So just sign it so I can get out of here."
Ace kept his hands at his side. "Maybe you can't read, but I can," he said. "The fine
print on that contract says that once I accept shipment, it's my responsibility. That
means that if it's broken, then it's my problem. But if I find out that it's broken
before I sign, then it's your problem. Got it?"
For a moment the man stood there opening and closing his mouth. "Do you know what's
in that thing?"
"I most certainly do, since I'm the one who ordered it. And paid for it, I might
add."
The man still didn't seem to understand. "So let's get it out of here so we can — "
"No," Ace said. "We open it here and now."
At that the man looked about him pointedly, as though Ace didn't understand exactly
where they were. They were in the baggage claim area of the Fort Lauderdale airport.
Right now there were only a few porters removing unclaimed bags from the carousels,
but any minute the escalator to the left might start deli ... read full excerpt from: High Tide ebook
