“No, it’s not,” Sharpe admitted, “and this apartment would be a discreet place for you to accept delivery.”
“Oh, good,” she said, brightening.
“You understand that you must pay in cash?”
“I wasn’t planning to write a check or use my American Express card,” she said.
“Good, because you’re talking about quite a lot of cash.” He quoted a number.
“Goodness, that much?”
“That much.”
“Well, it’s not my money,” she said. “I guess if that’s the going rate, they’ll have to pay it.”
“Do you think they might object to that amount?” Sharpe asked.
“They left it entirely to my discretion, and I leave it entirely to yours, Derek.”
“All right. How soon can you have the cash?”
“I already have it,” Mitzi said. “I always keep some cash in the safe. I hate ATMs-such small bills!”
“I agree entirely,” Sharpe said. “Would you like to give me the money now?”
“I believe I’d prefer cash on delivery,” Mitzi said. “That’s how my daddy brought me up.”
“Well…”
“I’m good for it, Derek. I hope you know that.”
“Of course I know that, Mitzi. I’ll send the man over with it tomorrow morning, if that’s all right.”
Mitzi shook her head. “I’m perfectly happy to receive the package here,” she said, “but I won’t have some drug dealer in this apartment. I’d be scared to death.”
“Well, suppose I send Hildy Parsons over with it.”
Mitzi shook her head again. “I wouldn’t ask Hildy to do that,” she said. “I hardly know her.”
“Oh, she won’t know what’s she’s delivering,” Sharpe said.
“I don’t care about that. I mean, if she had some sort of accident and got caught with it I’d never forgive myself. I’m surprised you’d let her do such a thing, Derek.”
“You want me to deliver it myself?” he asked.
She put her hand on his. “Oh, Derek, would you?”
“Well…”
“I’d be your friend forever,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I might even buy a picture… or two.”
Sharpe smiled broadly. “I’d be very happy to help you out,” Derek said.
“And if my friends are happy with what they get, could you get them more in the future?”
“I’m sure I could,” Derek said. “Tell me, how are they going to get the package back to Charleston?”
“They have their own jet,” she said.