The Truth (Discworld 25)

'Can I put zis shirt on my expenses?'

'Yes, I think so.'

'Good. And now it is all over and time for revards and medals,' said the vampire cheerfully, adjusting his jacket. 'So vhere are your troubles now?'

'Just starting,' said William. 'I think I'm going to be seeing the inside of the Watch House in less than an hour,'

In fact it was forty-three minutes later that William de Worde was Helping the Watch, as they say, with Their Inquiries.

On the other side of the table Commander Vimes was carefully re-reading the Times. He was, William knew, taking longer than necessary in order to make him nervous.

'I can help you with any long words you don't recognize,' he volunteered.

'It's very good,' said Vimes, ignoring this. 'But I need to know more. I need to know the names. I think you know the names. Where did they meet? Things like that. I need to know them,'

'Some things are a mystery to me,' said William. 'You've got more than enough evidence to release Lord Vetinari,'

'I want to know more,'

'Not from me,'

'Come on, Mr de Worde. We're on the same side here!'

'No. We're just on two different sides that happen to be side by side,'

'Mr de Worde, earlier today you assaulted one of my officers. Do you know how much trouble you are in already?'

'I expected better of you than that, Mister Vimes,' said William. 'Are you saying I assaulted an officer in uniform? An officer who identified themself to me?'

'Be careful, Mr de Worde,'

'I was being followed by a werewolf, commander. I took steps to... inconvenience it so that I could get away. Would you like to debate this publicly?'

I'm being an arrogant, lying, supercilious bastard, thought William. And I'm good at it.

'Then you give me no choice but to arrest you for concealing--'

'I demand a lawyer,' said William.

'Really? And who did you have in mind at this time of night?'

'Mr Slant.'

'Slant? You think he'll come out for you?'

'No. I know he'll come out. Believe me.'

'Oh, he will, will he?'

"Trust me.'

'Come now,' said Vimes, smiling. 'Do we need this? It's the duty of every citizen to help the Watch, isn't it?'

I don't know. I know the Watch think it is. I've never seen it written down,' said William. 'There again, I never knew it was the right of the Watch to spy on innocent people.'

He saw the smile freeze.

'It was for your own good,' Vimes growled.