The client had a reputation for not paying his bills, but my brother-in-law, George, took the handyman's job anyway. And when he finished, sure enough, he left with a promise that the check would be in the mail soon. Days later, no check, but he did get called back by the client, who complained of an awful smell coming from the den.
"I have an idea what it might be," said George. "But before I do anything, I need to be paid for the first job."
Desperate, the man paid him on the spot. With that, George walked over to the fireplace and pulled out the dead fish he'd stashed there days earlier.