The good lady swooped down and deposited a bowl of mook in front of me. Squawking triumphantly she wheeled around to land across across the table, to where her own bowl of equally foul-looking mook lurked.

Despondently, I prodded at the stuff in the bowl before spooning it slowly into my mouth.

The good lady's expectant look fizzled away into something like disappointment as she saw me eat without complaint.

It's 'Veta.'

She said, tilting her head to the side in puzzlement at the lack of reaction to the milky-looking mucus in our bowls.

That's nice, dear.

I mumbled in between slippery mouthfuls.

Don't you want to know what it is?

I looked up for a moment and shook my head sadly.

No. It's lovely, though. Mmm. Yum.

I uttered without conviction.

Lovely!?! it's not lovely at all! What the hell is wrong with you? You don't seem yourself?

She sounded peeved as if I were wearing a dress and was insisting on being called Linda.

Oh, you know. Work 'n stuff.

I sighed heavily.

Work? You love work normally. What's wrong at work?

I swung my head up like a doleful horse.

It's the other Testers... They're not talking to me. In fact, some of them are saying I am in the management's pocket, a Shill and not to be trusted!?

Absentmindedly, I wiped at my chin where some of the mook glistened like oily man-muck.

The good lady pursed her lips and thought for a second before speaking. No doubt preparing a soothing and sympathetic response for her man.

Well, aren't you a management shill? You took that card to get you free coffees in return for a move back to head office last week?

I glared at her as it she had just accused me of having small and ineffectual testicles.

I am not a management shill!!

I squeaked in outrage.

Didn't you get a free eco cup too?

She asked with a look so smug it could dry washing.

Hmmph. I thought you might be on my side. Shoulda known better.

I stood and stiffly walked to the doorway. As I picked up my hat and coat I turned back and shot her a withering glance.

And that muck you just made me eat was shit!!

You're shit!!

She yelled at my retreating back.

I cursed under my breath and left the house. Sometimes this multi-dimensional, private detective thing was a hard gig.

I fingered my fedora thoughtfully.

But someone has to do it.

I headed off to work. It was time to find myself a case. Something to take my mind off my woes.

Something I could get my back-teeth into...