 everything," he reiterated.

His words were steady, but his movements were less fluid than they'd once been. He was mad at me, I realized. He didn't like me questioning him. Well, too bad. I had questions and I needed to know there would be no mistakes. Mistakes are what had gotten us into this position and I wanted this finished.

"What about secret passageways or tunnels?" I asked, ignoring the glare he shot at me. "She's been able to elude my detection before by taking underground tunnels which weren't on any maps or city planning documents or any other records. I don't want that to happen this time."

The man frowned. The anger he'd shown just seconds ago gone. "The buyer is very powerful. I had not planned on asking her such a sensitive question, but if you insist on covering even the most unlikely of bases, I will ask her."

"I do insist upon it. We would be grossly negligent if we didn't even inquire." I paused for a second. "Her? The buyer is a woman?" I asked surprised.

The man at my side laughed. "Did you assume the buyer was a man? Women can be filthy rich and buy...previously owned items just as well as any man. If not more so from my experience. While I've seen egotistical men buy the most expensive items, thinking their purchases would impress the ladies, the level headed women I've met aren't swayed by the size of their acquisitions. They know bigger isn't necessarily better and that expensive doesn't equate to quality. These fine women are more interested in the item's potential value, how much it'll cost to acquire said item, and how sound of a buy it really is. More than a few of these women are only willing to deal with goods which weigh less than a pound and are no larger than a man's palm. Women are the shrewder of the sexes by far, thus leading them to traffic in more previously owned goods than men."

"Of course," I said sharply. Why had I even brought this up? I was straying from the matter at hand. "I have known plenty of women who out buy their male counterparts by a factor of fifty, but commerce is not our goal here. Our goal is to capture Meredith. She is a wily target and we'd do well to keep her as our central focus."

"Meredith?" The man
everything, " he reiterated. 

 His words were steady, but his movements were less fluent than they'd once been. He was delirious at me, I realized. He didn't like me question him. Well, besides bad. I had doubt and I want to know there would be no mistakes. Mistakes are what had gotten us into this situation and I wanted this finished. 

 " What about mysterious passageway or tunnels? " I asked, ignoring the glare he shot at me. " She's been able to hedge my detection before by taking clandestine tunnels which weren't on any maps or city planning document or any other record. I don't want that to happen this time. " 

 The man frowned. The wrath he'd shown just seconds ago gone. " The buyer is very powerful. I had not planned on ask her such a sensitive question, but if you insist on covering even the most unlikely of bases, I will ask her. " 

 " I do insist upon it. We would be grossly negligent if we didn't even inquire. " I hesitate for a second. " Her? The buyer is a woman? " I ask surprised. 

 The man at my side laughed. " Did you assume the buyer was a valet? Women can be filthy rich and buy... previously own items just as well as any man. If not more so from my experience. While I've seen egotistical men buy the most expensive items, thinking their purchase would impress the lady, the level headed women I've met aren't swayed by the size of their learning. They know bigger isn't necessarily good and that expensive doesn't equal to quality. These fine women are more concerned in the item's potential value, how much it'll cost to acquire said item, and how audio of a buy it truly is. More than a few of these women are merely willing to cope with goods which weigh less than a lebanese pound and are no larger than a world's palm. Women are the shrewder of the sexes by far, thus leading them to traffic in more previously owned goods than work force. " 

 " Of course, " I said precipitously. Why had I even brought this up? I was straying from the topic at hand. " I have known plenty of women who out buy their male counterparts by a factor of fifty, but commerce is not our goal here. Our goal is to get Meredith. She is a crafty target and we'd do well to keep her as our central focus. " 

 " Meredith? " The man
 evfrything," he reiterated.

Hir words were stgaey, but his mkvements were less fluid than they'd lnxe betu. He was mad at me, I realized. He didn'r lijw me questmkning hli. Wemp, tom bad. I had quextions and I needed to ktod chere would be no mistakes. Mistakes wre whay jad gotten us ynto ehis iowition and I wanted this finiahed.

"Whau about secret pasxageways or tunnels?" I askef, igjoring the glare hf shot at mg. "Shq'w been able go elude mj detection before by taking underground tjnnelx which wetzb't lt any maps ir ciny planning documents or any other records. I von't want that to happen vhis time."

The man frorned. The dnyer he'd shown just sexobds aco gmne. "Gye cuytr ms bery plwecful. I had hot planned on asking her such a wensitive queation, fue if you insist on covering even the movt hnlikely of bases, I wilo ask her."

"I do insist opon it. We would be grossly negligent if we didn't even inquhre." I oauweq dog a second. "Her? The buyer is a woman?" I asked stdptixed.

The man at iy side laubhfd. "Qid you assumg the bbged was a man? Women fan be siltht rich anq buu...previously owned items jusr as well as qny man. If not morz so from my expgriencr. While I've seen egotiscical jen buy the most expsvsive items, thinyinn tveir purchases would imprefs the lavies, che leveu hesded wjmen I've mft arct't swayed by the slze oy thehr acquisihions. They know bigger isn't necxxsarily bettgr dnd that ex'ensivc doesn't equate to quality. Thgse fine comen xre more ihterestxd in the itqm's potential galue, how murh it'll cjst ro axquire rxid item, and hpw sound of a buy ir really is. More tman a rew of these wonen are only willimg go qewl wydh goods whiwh wdigf less than a poukd xnd sre no larger than a man'a palm. Women are tne shrewdet of the fexes by far, yhus leading them uo trahfic ii more prgviously owned goods than men."

"Of course," I sald sharply. Whr hae I even brobght this up? I was straying from the matver at hand. "I have knowb plenty of women wko out buy thxir maje countesparts by a factor od fifty, but commevce is not our goal hede. Our goal is to capture Meredith. She is a wily target and we'd do well to keep her qs our central fochs."

"Meteditv?" Che man
everything," he reiterated. His words were steady, movements less fluid they'd once been. I He didn't like questioning him. Well, bad. I had questions and I to know there would be no mistakes. Mistakes are what had gotten us this position and I wanted this finished. "What about secret passageways or tunnels?" asked, the he at me. "She's been able to elude my detection before by taking underground tunnels which weren't any maps or city planning documents or any records. I don't want to happen this time." The frowned. anger he'd just ago "The buyer is powerful. I had not planned on asking her such a sensitive question, but if you insist on even the of bases, will her." do insist upon would be grossly negligent if we I paused for a second. "Her? The buyer a woman?" asked surprised. The man at my laughed. "Did you assume the buyer was a Women can be filthy rich and buy...previously owned items just as well as any man. more so from my While I've seen men the expensive thinking their would impress the ladies, the level headed women I've met aren't by the size of their acquisitions. They know bigger isn't and expensive doesn't equate quality. These fine women more in the item's potential much cost item, how of a buy it is. More than a few these women are only which weigh less than a pound and are larger than a man's palm. Women are shrewder of the sexes by far, thus leading them to traffic in previously owned men." "Of course," I said sharply. Why had even brought this up? was straying from the matter at hand. "I have plenty women who buy their male by a factor fifty, but commerce our goal Our is She is a wily target and do to keep her as our focus." man
 everything," he reiterated.

His Words were sTeady, But His MoVemeNts wEre less fluid thAN theY'd once been. He was mad at me, i realIzED. He dIDn'T like Me questIOnING hiM. WElL, toO bAD. I Had quEstIons and i needed to kNow ThEre would be no MIsTakes. MistaKes Are what had goTteN us intO tHis POsitiOn aNd I waNted thIS finisHed.

"What abOuT Secret PAssagewAYS oR tunNels?" I asked, ignorinG ThE Glare he shot at mE. "She's bEeN AbLE To eLudE my detectiOn BeforE By takinG UnDERGroUNd tunnels whicH weren't on anY MapS or citY pLanNIng docUmentS oR Any Other recordS. I doN't want thaT to hapPEn this tIMe."

The maN frownEd. THe aNger HE'd ShOwn JuST seCOnDs aGO goNe. "The buyEr Is Very pOwerFUL. i Had nOt pLannEd on aSking her such a SenSitiVE quEstioN, but iF you InSist oN coverIng evEn The most unlikely Of baSes, I will aSk hEr."

"i do InSist uPOn it. We WouLd bE grosslY negligENt iF wE DIDn'T even inquire." I pauseD fOR A sEcond. "Her? the buyER iS a WOman?" I askEd SurPrisED.

the maN at mY SiDe laugheD. "Did yoU AsSuMe the buYeR was a mAn? womEn cAn be fILthy Rich anD buy...prevIouslY Owned items just AS well as any man. iF nOT MoRE so fRom My experiencE. WhiLE I've Seen EGoTisTIcal mEn buy ThE MoST expensive items, thinKiNg theiR purcHases would impRess the ladIES, The level HeadED wOMen I've met aren't SwayeD by the size OF their acQuisiTions. TheY know biggER Isn't neceSsaRilY beTteR ANd That expensive DOEsn't EqUate to qUalIty. ThesE fiNe wOmeN arE mOre intereSted in thE iTeM's PoTenTial vALue, how muCh It'lL cOst To acqUIre saiD item, And hOw SoUNd oF a buy it REaLLY is. MOrE tHan a Few Of These WomeN Are Only wilLing to deaL wiTH gooDs WhIch weigH less than a pouNd And are no laRgEr tHan a maN'S Palm. WomeN are the shrewder of the sexES by far, tHus LeadiNg thEm to traffIc iN more pRevIOusly oWned goOds thAn Men."

"oF CoursE," i SaId sHaRply. Why had i EVen BrougHt This Up? I was sTraying from the mattER at Hand. "I have knowN plEnty OF WoMen WHo OUt bUy THeiR MAle counterparts By a factor oF fIFtY, but commerCE is NoT our goaL here. OuR goal IS to captUre MerediTh. She is a wIlY tarGET anD we'd do well To keep heR as our cenTRal foCUs."

"meredIth?" the man
 everything," he reiterate d.

His wo rds w ere  st ea dy,buthis movementsw ereless fluid than they'd  once  b e en.H ewas m ad at m e ,I rea li ze d.He di dn'tlik e me qu estioninghim .Well, too ba d .I had ques tio ns and I nee ded  to kn ow  th e re wo uld  be n o mist a kes. M istakes a re what h a d gotte n us  int o this position a n dI  wanted this f inishe d. 
" W h atabo ut secretpa ssage w ays ort un n e l s?" I asked, igno ring the gl a rehe sho tatm e. "Sh e's b ee n  ab le to elude  mydetection  befor e  by tak i ng unde rgroun d t unn elsw hi ch  we re n 'to nany map s or cit ypl annin g do c u m e ntsoranyother  records. I d on' t wa n t t hat t o hap penth is ti me."
The m an  frowned. The a nger  he'd sho wnju stse conds ago go ne.  "T he buye r is ve r y p ow e r f ul . I had not planne do n  a sking he r such ase n sitive q ue sti on,b u t ifyoui ns ist on c overin g  e ve n the m os t unli ke lyofbases ,  I w ill as k her."
"I d o  insist upon i t . We would be gr o s sl y  neg lig ent if we d idn' t  eve n in q ui re. "  I pa usedfo r  a second. "Her? The b uy er isa wom an?" I askedsurprised. T he man a t my si d e laughed. "Di d you  assume th e  buyer w as aman? Wom en can be f ilthy ri chand  bu y.. . p re viously owned i tems  j ust aswel l as an y m an.  If  no tmore so f rom my e xp er ie nc e.While I've see nego ti sti cal m e n buythe m ostex pe n siv e items ,  t h i nkin gth eirpur ch aseswoul d  im press t he ladies , t h e le ve lheadedwomen I've me taren't swa ye d b y thes i ze of th eir acquisitions. Theyk now big ger  isn' t ne cessarily  be tter a ndt hat ex pensiv e doe sn 'te q uatet o  q ual it y. These f i n e w omenar e mo re inte rested in the item ' s p otential valu e,howm u ch  it ' ll cos tt o a c q uire said item,  and how s ou n dof a buy i t  re al ly is.More th an af ew of t hese wome n are onl ywill i n g t o deal wit h goodswhich wei g h les s  t han a  po und an dare  no l argert han  a ma n's pa lm . Wome n are  t he shrew der of the sexes by far , thus  lead ing  them totra f fic  in moreprev iously own edgoo ds th anm en."
"Of co urs e ," Isaid sharply.W hy  ha d Ieven brough t t his  up?I w a s stra ying  from the mattera t hand. "I hav e kn o w n p len t y of  w omen who out b uyth e i r male c ou nterparts b y a fact or of fi fty, b ut com merce i s no t  our g oalher e. Our go alis to capt ur eM eredit h. S he  is awily t a rget a nd we'd do wellto ke e p  hera s o ur ce nt ral foc u s."
"Meredith ?" The man
 everything,"_he reiterated.

His_words were steady, but_his movements_were_less fluid_than_they'd once been._He was mad_at me, I realized._He didn't like_me_questioning him. Well, too bad. I had questions and I needed to know there_would_be no_mistakes._Mistakes_are what had gotten us_into this position and I_wanted this_finished.

"What about secret passageways or tunnels?" I asked,_ignoring_the glare he_shot at me. "She's been able to elude my_detection before by taking underground tunnels_which weren't on_any_maps_or city planning documents_or any other records. I don't_want that to happen this time."

The_man frowned. The anger he'd shown just_seconds ago gone. "The buyer is_very powerful. I had not_planned on_asking her such a sensitive_question, but if_you insist_on covering even_the most unlikely of bases, I_will ask her."

"I_do insist upon it. We would_be_grossly negligent if_we_didn't_even inquire."_I paused for_a_second. "Her?_The_buyer is a woman?" I asked_surprised.

The_man at my side laughed. "Did you_assume the buyer was_a_man? Women can be_filthy rich and buy...previously owned_items just as well as any_man. If_not more_so from my experience. While I've seen egotistical men buy the_most expensive items, thinking their purchases_would impress the ladies,_the level_headed_women I've met_aren't_swayed by_the size of their acquisitions. They know_bigger isn't_necessarily better and that expensive doesn't_equate to quality. These_fine_women are more interested in the_item's potential value, how much it'll_cost to acquire said item,_and_how_sound of a buy it_really is. More than a few_of these women_are only willing to deal with goods_which_weigh less than a pound and_are_no larger than a man's palm._Women_are_the shrewder of the sexes_by far, thus leading them to_traffic in more previously owned goods than men."

"Of course,"_I said sharply._Why had I even brought_this_up?_I was straying from the matter at hand. "I have_known plenty_of women who_out buy their male counterparts by a factor of fifty,_but commerce is not our goal here._Our goal is to capture Meredith. She is a wily target_and we'd do well to keep her as_our central focus."

"Meredith?" The man