Title: "Romeo & Juliet Were Italians" (4/6)
Author/pseudonym:  Mistress Marilyn camelotslash-2 at qwest.net
Fandom: 'Magnum P.I.'
Pairing: Thomas Magnum/Rick Wright
Rating: NC-17, although there may be parts without graphic sex
Date: Written in the early 1980s
Archive: Yes, contact me first
Series: Six-part novel
Category: Slash
Disclaimer: These characters belong to Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, not to me. Just borrowing them and speculating on their fictional lives.
Summary: Magnum and Rick become lovers and deal with the outcome, including the reaction of their friends and their own feelings. This story was evidently set during the first season of 'Magnum P.I.' and references many characters from
that series.
Warnings: Explicit m/m sex and some violence.

Part Four

T.C. set down his beer shaking his head. "You mean Rick actually turned down that Lisa chick? Man, that is serious!"

"Yep," Magnum said. "He told her that he was with me, so to speak."

"Man, that took guts. I didn't know Orville had it in him."

Magnum smiled, shaking his head. "I wasn't sure he did, either. It really made my day." He looked out at the green-colored water reflecting the mid-afternoon sunlight. He could see dots of high white clouds, but they were too far away to even cast a shadow. Magnum pursed his lips, musing for a moment; he couldn't remember anything but a sunny day for the past two weeks.

T.C. sat forward, his lips and eyes holding the shadow of a leer. "So, how's it goin' with you two? Any new action you want to tell me about?"

"T.C.!  Come on."

"Man, I don't get it. Here I am, one of your best friends, and you won't even tell me about the stuff you do with your other best friend!"

Magnum squinted. "Cut it out. You know Rick doesn't like me to talk about it here at the Club."

T.C. snorted, reaching for his beer. "Hell, Higgie already knows, so what's the difference? If he don't care, nobody will! I should stand up right here and yell out, 'Thomas and Rick are lovers.' I bet nobody'd even look twice."

Magnum looked around. The Club was surprisingly empty for such an ideal day; Magnum decided it must be the normal mid-week lull. "You better not," he protested, giggling. "Rick would kill you."

"Huh! I'd like to see that little squirt come close to killin' me! Speak of the devil, here he comes now."

Magnum looked up to see Rick approaching their table. Rick was clad in a yellow shirt, one of Magnum's favorites, open at the throat with the glint of a gold chain showing against the exposed brown skin. His blue jeans were piped at the legs, hugging his stomach and buttocks. Magnum watched him appreciatively.

"Hi, Thomas, T.C.! What's up? Did you deliver that summons, Thomas?"

Magnum nodded. "Yeah. One hundred bucks."

T.C. grinned. "Well, boy, you didn't tell me that. I guess you're buyin' the beer! Who'd you corner today?"

"A professor over at the University. He hasn't been paying his child support, I guess, and his wife is taking him to court."

"Poor guy. The don't pay those dudes enough to live, not to mention keepin' blood suckin' wives happy!" T.C. sat back, shaking his head.

"T.C.! It was non-payment of child support, for God's sake. If the guy's got kids, he should have to pay something!"

"Cool down, T.M. I'm not givin' you any static. I'm just making a comment."

Rick looked over at Magnum, the breeze ruffling his well-coifed head. "Did you see what's-her-name while you were there?"

"Who? Margo?" Magnum's face colored slightly.

"Yeah. Margo. She works there, doesn't she?"

T.C. rubbed his hands together. "You know, while you were there, you shoulda looked for that Playboy Playmate -- Miss March. Oooh boy, what a looker. She works there, too."

Both Magnum and Rick looked at T.C. without comment. Then they looked back at one another.

"I did see her for a minute," Magnum said, wishing that he didn't feel so guilty. "She wondered why I hadn't called her lately."

T.C. chuckled. "Hell, every chick on this island's gonna know about you guys pretty soon."

Rick kept his gaze on Magnum. "You didn't tell her, did you, Thomas?"

"No, not really. Margo doesn't even know you, and hell, I never even knew her all that well. We'd only been seeing each other for a little while." He looked down at the table. "But I hate to just drop a girl like that -- without any explanation."

"Did you tell her there was another woman?" Rick asked.

Magnum nodded, grimacing. "Sort of. An old flame sort of thing. I didn't really say who."

"You guys gonna have a fight?" T.C. asked.

"No!" Magnum and Rick answered in unison.

"Well, that's a relief!"

Rick moved over behind Magnum, resting his hands on Magnum's shoulders. "T.C., will you excuse us for a while?" he asked. "I really want to talk to Thomas inside, if it's okay."

"Suits me, unless you two want me to watch. Maybe I could give you boys a few pointers."

Rick grinned. "I bet. Keep it in mind, and we'll let you know. Thomas?"

"Okay, Rick." Magnum stood up, reluctantly.

T.C. waved a finger at Magnum. "You take care, T.M. Don't let the little guy take advantage of you! And, hey Rick, would you mind checkin' to see if those high brows of yours are ready for their ride yet?"

Rick nodded. "Sure, sure, T.C. I'll take care of it. Thanks for making time for it."

"A fare's a fare."

Magnum gave T.C. a little salute as he followed Rick into his office. Rick picked up his telephone and Magnum eased into a chair.

"Kimo, tell the Stephenson's that T.C.'s waiting out by the beach when they get here, okay? Thanks. I'll be out for the rest of the afternoon. Right. You can reach me through the service."

"What's up, Rick?" Magnum asked as Rick settled the phone back on his desk.

Rick ran a hand through his hair. "Nothin'. I just thought we should get something straight."

"What? Are you upset that I lied to Margo?"

"No. Hell, no. You're the one who hates to lie. I'm the one who doesn't want to advertise about us, remember? This is something else."

"What then?"

Rick moved over to the couch and sat down. He leaned back, studying Magnum. "Do you want to still see Margo?"

"Margo? No!"

"Look, Thomas, if you do, it's okay with me. I want you to feel free to do what you want."

Magnum stood up quickly, gesturing with his hands. "Absolutely not. I feel bad about Margo, but I don't want to see her again."

"But you liked her a lot, didn't you? You were lovers."

Magnum sighed. "Sure, sure I liked her. But Romeo liked Rosa what's-her-name before he met Juliet, too."

Rick snorted. "Romeo and Juliet! Jesus, Thomas, you really have some imagination!"

"I can't help it if I'm romantic! It's just the way I feel, okay? I'm not trying to make you the same way, but you'll just have to live with it." He sat down, tiredly, his eyes turned to the floor.

Rick stood up and walked to Magnum's chair. He squatted next to him, looking up into Magnum's dark eyes. "It's okay, Thomas. I was a shit. But I do want you to feel free to see whoever you want."

"Whomever. And I only want to see you right now. If you want to see somebody else, go ahead!"

Rick sighed. "No. Just you. Hey, let's go out to dinner and then back to your place, what do you say?"

Magnum looked up, smiling. "Great!"

"Thomas," Rick said, rising. "Romeo and Juliet were Italians, weren't they?"

Magnum grinned. "What else?"

*  *  *  *  *

"Huh?" Magnum came awake slowly, his mind still far away in his dreams. His blurry eyes could barely make out the face of Rick beside him in the dark room.

"Thomas, you awake?"

"Yeah. Yeah. What's the matter?"

Rick seemed relieved; Magnum could read his mood even with the absence of light. Rick must have had a bad dream, he thought.

"What is it, Rick?" he asked again.

"It's nothin'. I just wanted you to wake up. I want you to make love to me."

Magnum turned over, rubbing his eyes. "Oh."

Rick's right hand went up around Magnum's neck. He snuggled close. "I woke up a minute ago," he explained. "I was dreamin' about you, I guess. I tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn't. I just felt so hot ..."

Magnum smiled. "Okay. I guess I can understand that. You don't have to apologize."

"I'm not. I just want you to hurry up."

"Hurry up?"

"Yeah, hurry up and get it up. Get over here on me."

Magnum felt himself tingle. He giggled. "You're too much, you know that? But it's a great way to wake up."

Rick buried his face in Magnum's left shoulder, fumbling with his right hand at Magnum's crotch. "Come on, Thomas," he urged.

Magnum felt himself warming, responding to Rick's closeness. His breath quickened as his penis filled out in Rick's hand. He was now completely awake.

"Yeah, Thomas. That's it. That's good."

"God, Rick."

"Come on, baby. Climb on top of me. Rub your cock on me. Please."

Magnum rolled away. His body felt unbearably warm. "Just a minute. Take it easy." He reached out for a tube on a table next to the bed. He handed it to Rick. "Here. Use this."

Rick looked puzzled. Magnum's eyes had become accustomed to the dark; he could make out the color of Rick's now blue shaded eyes. "No, Thomas," Rick protested, "I don't want you to fuck me. I want to rub your cock against mine."

"Well, spread this on, damn it. Both of us."

Rick's eyes showed understanding and he complied without another word. He squeezed the lubricating gel into the palm of his hand and began to lathe Magnum's full erection with the cool stuff. Then he applied an ample amount to his own penis before tossing the tube away. "There," he announced with satisfaction. "Now."

Magnum grinned. "Good boy," he teased. "That's more like it. You should learn to follow orders, Rick, you know?"

"Sure, sure. I do my best. Now, come on, Thomas. Please!"

Magnum decided that Rick had been teased long enough. He pulled close to the small man and eased his legs over Rick's lower body. Then he moved over, so that it would have been possible to do a push-up over his lover, if he had so wished. He lowered himself slowly, until his penis was just brushing Rick's. The heat from Rick's erection startled him.

"You weren't kidding," he commented. "You really are hot!"

Rick groaned. "Yes, Thomas. Do that."

Magnum reached down to kiss Rick before moving his pelvis any more. Rick responded impatiently, pushing up against him with his lower body, as well as his lips.

"You just can't wait, can you?" Magnum asked.

"Okay, I can't. I can't. I've been layin' here thinkin' about this for a long time, while you were still asleep. I just don't want to wait any longer." Rick's voice sounded almost angry. Magnum enjoyed his excitement. He felt a strange sense of power that he hadn't before in his love making with Rick. He slowly rubbed his penis up the length of Rick's, feeling the greasy slide of the gel over his flesh.

"Oh, yes," Rick breathed.

"You'd better take it easy," Magnum warned. "I've only just started!"

Rick answered with a groan. Magnum smiled down at him, rolling his hips. He carefully guided himself up, down, and over Rick's penis. He started to breathe very hard.

"God, Thomas, that feels so good." Rick's hands went up around Magnum's back, gripping and releasing his flesh in a kneading motion. Magnum felt perspiration begin to trickle through the heavy hair on his chest, dampening his crotch even more and making the contact even slicker.

"Oh, oh, oh," Rick crooned in time to Magnum's motions. Magnum felt himself pulsing and heard his own moaning in time to Rick's. The entire act became of yo-yo like rhythm -- in and out breathing, up and down motion, pulsing of his blood, aware of a small, yet undeniable crescendo. He wanted to retain control of the situation, but felt it slipping away. The act was too warm, too wet, too new; he was too excited.

"Oh, Thomas, come on me -- God, make me wet!" Rick shouted. Magnum felt his friend's penis burst beneath him, and the warm stream splash his chest. Rick continued to urge Magnum to climax as his own continued. His movements were jerky beneath Magnum for a second, coaxing Magnum to give in.

"Yes, Rick!" Magnum groaned, stiffening. He felt himself break loose over Rick, a steaming release. As his orgasm began to lessen, then to slowly subside, he dropped down, his arms and back aching, flattening the smaller Rick into the bed.

In a few seconds Magnum regained himself enough to move off of Rick, but Rick showed reluctance to let him go.

"Kiss me," Rick said into Magnum's ear.

"Yes," Magnum agreed, covering Rick's mouth with his own. He sucked Rick's tongue forcefully into his mouth, then pushed it out and shoved his own between Rick's teeth. He remembered the momentary control he felt over Rick earlier, and reveled in it, intending to call it back. Rick was more his than ever. The sense of possession became extremely sensuous.

Magnum finally pulled away, groping to his own side of the bed. His body was already cooling, the semen drying in the fur on his chest. He sighed, reaching for the sheet and pulling it over himself and Rick.

"That was nice, Rick," Magnum said. "I'm so glad you woke me."

"Fuck me now, Thomas."

"What?"

"Fuck my ass."

"Rick! I can't! I just got off."

Rick pulled close to Magnum. "So what?" he breathed into Magnum's neck. "You know you can get it up again pretty soon."

"Rick, I'm beat. I'm really tired."

"Please, Thomas."

Magnum felt himself stir at Rick's entreaty. He wanted Rick to ask him again.

"Maybe," he said flatly.

Rick caught on. "Please, Thomas. Please."

"Okay," Magnum agreed, responding avidly.

Magnum reached for Rick, but the small man pulled away, rolling across the bed and jumping to the floor. Magnum squinted over at him, wondering what the hell the man was up to crawling around in the dark. In a moment Rick's head appeared, popping up above Magnum's side of the bed.

"Here," he said, handing the small tube to Magnum. "I found it."

Magnum laughed. "Great. Get up here, or have you changed your mind?"

"No, no," Rick protested. "No way in the world! I'll be right there." He crawled up on the bed, groping over Magnum laughing and tickling the big man as he passed. Magnum lifted his strong legs and knocked Rick over, his breath coming hard. He enjoyed the physical contact, remembering his slight superiority in the situation. Now he wanted to test his strength.

Rick grunted, burrowing his face in the pillow. He raised his buttocks toward Magnum, who smiled and shoved his own pillow beneath Rick's pelvis. "Grease me up," Rick said in a muffled voice.

Magnum nodded to himself, squeezing the clear jelly into his left hand. He sat up on his haunches behind Rick, his penis starting to rise toward his belly. He pushed forward a bit and allowed it to rub against Rick's upper buttocks. Then he reached his hand down and began to grease Rick's anus.

Rick gasped as Magnum's finger slid into his rectum. Magnum maneuvered in and out for a moment, slowly opening the tight muscle. Rick relaxed as much as he could, and Magnum felt the slight change. He pushed his finger in deeper, then moved it in a circular motion, opening the muscle still more. Rick rocked up toward him.

When Magnum had decided that Rick was ready, he pulled his finger away to oil himself. Rick groaned in protest. "Don't stop yet, Thomas. I like that."

Magnum ignored him, taking time in preparing himself, enjoying Rick's excitement. Magnum's penis was now again fully erect, but he was in no hurry. He waited for Rick to speak.

"Thomas, come on. Thomas!" Rick wiggled his buttocks at Magnum suggestively. "Hurry up!"

"I'm getting ready. You want me to be ready, don't you?"

"Damn it, you're teasing me, that's what you're doing. Why don't you just cut it out and fuck me?"

"Take it easy. I will. But maybe I won't if you don't let up."

"Shit, Thomas, you're really getting off on this."

"Aren't you?"

"Just fuck me and I'll tell you later!"

Magnum reached out a hand and squeezed Rick's right buttock savagely. "I will."

Rick gasped, his body jumping back toward Magnum. "Please," he begged. "Please, Thomas. God."

Magnum smiled, squeezing the other side of Rick's ass experimentally. "You really like that, don't you?"

"Do it, baby. Do it." Rick was beside himself with excitement.

Magnum decided that he had gone far enough. He pushed Rick down on to the pillow and moved toward him. He stared down at Rick's exposed anus, imagining how it would feel inside him, remembering other times. He smiled.

Rick groaned as Magnum pushed himself inside. For a moment he moved frantically beneath Magnum, then he lay very still. Magnum grabbed Rick's hips and drove in, ignoring the man's lack of reaction, enjoying the game. In a sense Rick had begged to be raped and was now -- finally -- succumbing to it.

Magnum pushed himself into Rick, pulling back only when he had gone as far in as he could. Rick's muscles had completely relaxed, and Magnum felt that he had become as open as possible. The fit was tight, but not uncomfortably so, and Magnum closed his eyes, concentrating for a moment on his own sensations.

After a few moments Magnum could feel Rick's anal muscles spasm; he listened to Rick's labored breathing and realized that the man was climaxing, although he was hardly making a sound. This excited Magnum further and he drove in quickly, finding his own orgasm slower in coming. He dug his fingers into Rick's hips, angry that he had so little control over himself and afraid that he would be sore before he had finished. He wanted to force Rick to speak to him or to urge him on in some other way; he was becoming annoyed at Rick's subservience. Rick remained quiet and still as Magnum pumped on, his thrusts almost violent.

Finally Magnum felt himself thrown over the edge; he let himself fall with the sensation of relief, stiffening over Rick's back and pressing close. When he had finished and his breath had quieted enough to allow other sensory information to penetrate his consciousness, Magnum noticed that Rick was trembling and sighing beneath him. He climbed away from the man with a sudden sense of concern and of guilt that he had ignored Rick's feelings so totally. Rick was evidently weeping.

"Rick? Rick, did I hurt you?" Magnum reached around his friend's neck, attempting to pull the man to him. Rick resisted. "What is it? Please tell me, Rick."

Rick pulled silently away, moving off the bed. Holding a hand to his buttocks, he stumbled into the bathroom, shutting the door. Magnum lay on the bed watching with dismay. He heard Rick turn the water on in the sink, and then the shower. He finally got up and switched on the light, checking himself for signs of blood. Finding none, he sat back down, his arms weak with fatigue and stress. He knew that he should join Rick in the shower, but he felt that the man did not want him there, so he waited.

When Rick walked back into the bedroom he was flushed and damp, his hair darkened by the water and sticking to his face. Magnum looked up at him with concern, almost afraid to speak. Rick sighed and sat down.

"I'm okay, Thomas. It was great. Really. Just what I wanted. You didn't hurt me -- at least not that bad. I wanted it to hurt a little. I wanted it just like it was."

Magnum moved next to him, wrapping the warm, moist body in his arms. He lowered his face to Rick's neck. "Then what was the matter? Why were you crying?" He wanted to add 'darling' or 'baby' to his words, but was afraid of Rick's reaction.

"I don't know. I can't explain it. It was just what I needed. You gotta believe that. I can't tell you any more."

Magnum squeezed the small man, dismayed that his possession of Rick had slipped away so easily. There was something Rick wouldn't tell him -- another secret, another wall between them. He had yet to completely break through. And yet, remembering Rick's reaction to their lovemaking and his pleas for more, Magnum felt a certainty that he would break through, sooner or later.

"It's okay," he assured Rick. "As long as you're all right." He reached over and kissed Rick tenderly, just brushing his lips against Rick's. "I love you," he said.

Rick nodded silently. Magnum sighed, pulling away and standing slowly up. "I guess I better take a shower," he said.

"No. In the morning. You're dead on your feet. You wore yourself out," Rick said softly.

Magnum allowed himself to be coaxed back into bed, where he and Rick curled together. He settled against Rick, contented to be where he was, but almost embarrassed about his somewhat sadistic passion. For several minutes his thoughts ran around, unable to collect into a reasonable explanation. He was so tired ... He nearly drifted off; then Rick's voice called him back.

"I don't want you to feel guilty, Thomas. You were really great before. So masterful. I loved it."

"But for a while there, I didn't give a damn about you," Magnum protested weakly. "I just used you."

"So what? You did what I asked, what I tried so hard to make you do. You let yourself go. It was great. I want you to feel that you can always do that with me."

Magnum closed his eyes, which had been nervously roaming around the still lit room. Why hadn't Rick turned off the light, he wondered. He tried to speak, but he was too tired. "Yes," he managed to say before allowing his eyes to drop. Rick huddled closer. Everything was all right.

*  *  *  *  *

The lawn of Robin Master's estate was wide, sloping, and still surprisingly green, despite the lack of recent precipitation. The frequent rains earlier in the year had made much of Oahu lush and fresh, and the special care that Jonathan Higgins required of the gardener was all that was necessary to make Robin's Nest a showplace. For Thomas Magnum the beautiful setting was in no way surprising; it seemed to fit perfectly with the ideal weather and the moods of his closet associates. He had never known a more idyllic period in his life. Now, looking across the grass, he reflected that when the inevitable change came, he would be much more prepared for it. He was squirreling away a lovely collection of nuts for whatever 'winter' the fates decided to send his way. Being a very practical romantic, he expected a change in the weather.

"So, how goes the war, you tow?" T.C. asked, leaning back in his chair.

Magnum and Rick looked at one another, smiling. The three friends were grouped around a table set up on the lawn of the estate, enjoying late morning coffee.

"Just fine," Magnum answered, still looking at Rick.

"Yep," Rick agreed. "Not bad at all."

"You two come up with any new twists on anything?" T.C. asked, chuckling to himself.

Magnum and Rick laughed. "Too many to name," Rick answered. "You'd be amazed."

"You guys tell anybody else about this relationship? Like maybe Mac?"

Magnum looked incredulous. "Hell, no. Why would we do that?"

"Well, he's your buddy, too," T.C. protested. "You told me."

Rick's eyes narrowed. "You're different," he explained sarcastically. "You were in the Marines with me. Mac was in the Navy with Thomas. Just like I told Lisa and Thomas didn't tell Margo. You kinda see the pattern there."

Magnum stared at Rick. "That's not funny, Rick."

Rick grinned. "Nope. It sure isn't."

"I don't keep it from people! Everybody who should know, does." Magnum's voice was raising, his face reddening.

"Sure, sure, Thomas. I know." Rick nodded, his eyes glimmering.

T.C. chortled. "Huh! You sure got him figured! Big he man!"

"Cut it out, T.C.!" Magnum ordered. "Just keep quiet."

"You two gonna have another argument? I thought everything was quiet in paradise."

"We're not arguing," Magnum said, glaring.

"Nope, we're sure not. And, we aren't goin' to. Besides," Rick said, pushing his chair back, "I gotta get to the Club before Higgins has a fit. I'm hours late already."

T.C. grinned at his friend. "You sure are keepin' casual hours lately, Orville. I wonder what's keepin' you away from your work."

Magnum smiled at Rick. "Same thing that always kept him away from his duty in Nam. Sort of."

"Not exactly. Well, I'll be off," Rick said, rising. He smoothed his pants. "Don't take it to heart, Thomas. I know you think you have everything under control."

Magnum studied Rick's cheerful face, wondering what the hell the man meant by that. Rick had been very easy going since the night he had inexplicably wept.

Rick walked past Magnum, pausing to kiss the man on the cheek. "See you later, sweetheart," he said.

Magnum smiled and felt his cheeks warm. T.C. was grinning at him. "Bye," he called to Rick's now disappearing back. "Be back here early and you can cook me dinner."

"Nope," Rick yelled, turning. "You come to my place tonight. We'll eat at the Club and sleep in my bed. It needs a good oiling.

Magnum waved an assent at him, and Rick hurried away. Magnum looked down before again venturing a peek at T.C.

"Maybe Orville never used to kiss you much before, but he sure as hell called you 'sweetheart.' Sometimes I wonder if anything's changed."

Magnum considered his words. He liked the thought. Nothing really had changed. He and Rick were still friends. T.C. was their friend. They were all bonded by their pasts and their presents. But he and Rick loved one another in a very special way. So things hadn't changed -- they had improved.

"In a way, you're right," he told T.C. "Things haven't changed."

"Nope," T.C. agreed, nodding. "You and Rick always loved each other. You just wasted too much time with other people and women and the like. Now you don't. Hey, you had a case lately, Thomas?"

"Huh?" He and Rick had always loved one another. But had they been in love with one another? How long did it take to fall in love? Could it really happen in one night? Or had it slowly been happening over the last few years? Or had it always been there, just showing itself for the first time that night? Magnum wondered if he really knew. Yes, he had loved Rick for years. No, he had not consciously thought himself in love with him until the morning of their first lovemaking. Emotions are such a strange thing, Magnum though, attempting to turn his attention back to T.C.

"You all there, T.M.?"

"Yeah, sure. I just got to thinking about something. What did you ask me?"

"Whether you'd had a case lately. Shoot, man, you really are out of it!" T.C. stood up, looking around the grounds of the estate. "This place is sure nice. Hey, you and Rick spend much time in the hot tub?"

Magnum laughed, thinking about the night he and Rick had soaked until their fingers and toes had turned a wrinkled white. He nodded.

"Too bad you can't get Rick to move his butt a little more and run or swim with you. He could really use the exercise." T.C. paused a moment, studying Magnum's smile. "Well, maybe he's gettin' enough exercise right now."

"Maybe," Magnum agreed.

"You take care of yourself, T.M. I gotta get movin'. Hope you get some work."

Magnum nodded. "You, too, buddy!"

Higgins walked out from the patio, the two Doberman Pinschers, Zeus and Apollo, at his heels. "Hey, Higgie baby!" T.C. called, waving to the small man. "You take care of yourself and them mangy pothounds!"

Higgins grimaced at T.C. as the large black man left. Then he stood next to Magnum, waiting expectantly.

"What is it, Higgins?" Magnum finally obliged him by asking.

"There was a call for you at the main house. A case, I believe. I took the number." He handed a neatly typed sheet of paper to Magnum. Magnum studied it as Higgins continued. "Magnum, you know I don't approve of your calls coming in on the house phone. It's bad enough that all your friends have Robin Masters' private number, but it really is too much when your clients are identifying you and your dubious profession with the estate itself. As you know, I often answer the telephone 'Robin Masters' Estate.' I really do not enjoy having some unknown and probably scurrilous individual connecting you and Robin Masters' estate. Really, Magnum, I cannot understand how these people even get the number. It's quite mysterious -"

"Higgins, Higgins! That's enough. I got the message. Thanks." Magnum stood up and brushed past Higgins. The two dogs growled. Magnum smiled down at them. "Hi, guys." He looked back at Higgins and then pointedly to the dogs. "Bye guys." He walked away.

He could hear Higgins talking to the dogs as he walked away. "Really, lads," Higgins began, but Magnum blocked out the rest. He chuckled to himself as he went to return his phone call. It would be nice to have a job.

End Part Four