Marline, or Marv as she was better known around the shop, had finished fixing her short-cut hair, looked about as ready as she was able to get for her date.
"What do you think, Hank?" she asked, looking at the feet of the one mechanic still working for her, who was under a truck.
Hank rolled himself out from under the vehicle. "If I didn't prefer men, I might think of asking you to some diner for dinner."
Marv chuckled. "Thanks."
Hank rolled himself back under. "Just need to tighten one more bolt, and Mr. Person's truck will be good for him to pick up up tomorrow."
"I'm sure he'll be glad to hear that," said Marv. "Those Scapali guys charge too much to be a fair rate."
"They have money though," said Hank. "They keep asking."
"And I still say 'No' to their offer," said Marv. "Their price is insulting."
"Then there's those Jameson guys, still trying to collect the money you owe," said Hank.
"I still say that someone used my business to commit some kind of fraud," said Marv. "They aren't getting the deed to the place."
"Dumb question, but where would the deed be?" Hank asked, as he came back out.
Marv chuckled. "That's one secret I'm keeping," she said. "If you don't know, you can't accidently tell anyone."
"Close to your heart, right?" Hank asked, putting a somewhat grease-stained hand over his left breast.
Marv chuckled. "A little further away." Her phone buzzed, just as the door knocked.
"I'm here," the phone said.
"Date's here?" Hank asked.
"I think so," said Marv.
"Kind of funny for him to knock on the door and text you at the same time though," said Hank. "Mind if I take a look?"
"Like a big brother, right?" Marv asked, with a chuckle.
"I do owe you," said Hank. "You let me work for you, criminal record and all."
"Sometimes one needs a second chance," said Marv, as she double checked the mirror, one last time.
She then heard the door open, and Hank call out, "You Two! What are you doing here?"
Marv looked, and saw both Steve Scapali and John Jameson enter the place.
"Let's talk business," said Steve. "Seems you owe quite a bit of money on this shop, Marline. I'm willing to take this debt off of your hands, in exchange for the shop."
"Only my mother and teachers were allowed to call me Marline," said Marv. "You're not."
"My agency will collect one day, or another," said John. "After that, the shop will be sold. This might be your last chance for a peaceful solution."
"If that's a threat, I can report you to the Better Business Bureau," said Marv. "In fact, if you're working together on this, I can report you both for Conflict of Interest."
Steve chuckled. "Try it. I have lawyers."
"As do I," said John.
"And we have them too," said another voice.
Marv looked, and saw, wearing suits, and giving off the vibe that screamed "Bodyguard" a lion-like man, as well as one that looked like a cheetah.
"Um, is one of you Pelor?" she asked.
"He's in the vehicle," the lion-man said. "He sent us in to make sure that there wasn't trouble."
"Not at the moment," said Marv. "Mr. Scapali and Mr. Jameson were both leaving." She looked at them. "Right?"
"Some other time," said Steve.
"Remember what we said," said John.
The two left, walking around the bodyguards, who watched them leave.
Marv sighed. She looked at the two feline-like beings. "Um, thanks."
The cheetah smiled. "Not a problem, miss."
Marv then saw Hank peek his head into the doorway. "You alright?"
"Sorry I couldn't help, Marv," Hank said, looking embarrassed. "They just pushed past me."
"Well, I hired you to fix cars, not play security," said Marv.
"Whomever your date is, they've got serious money," said Hank, as he came in, stepping around the bodyguards, carefully. "They showed up in a stretch limousine, the kind that allows for twenty people in the back."
"Pelor, and his family are, indeed, wealthy," said the lion-man.
"Maybe he can help out," Hank said, quietly.
"Only if he sends those who need their cars looked after," said Marv. She looked at the bodyguards. "Um, how many are with us?"
"Us, another bodyguard, and the driver, who does a good job in a pinch, and yourself and Pelor," said the cheetah-man.
"Alright," Marv said, as she walked to the door. "Hank, clean and close up shop for the night. See you tomorrow."
"Call me if you need a ride," said Hank.
Marv looked at him, and chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind."
As Marv stepped outside, she was surprised to see the stretch limousine. The price on it was certainly easily a hundred thousand dollars. She had to admit, the grease monkey in her wanted to pop the hood and check the engine out. "If he ever needs a mechanic, I hope he has me in mind."
The two bodyguards chuckled, before escorting her to the limousine. They opened the back door, and allowed her in.
That was when Marv saw that Pelor was
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