"That, my good man, will depend very much on who it is, and what they've actually done," Belli chuckled, an oily darkness underlying his tone as he spoke. An example would doubtless need to be set, but the kind of example would have to wait until the crime had been sussed out. Belli wasn't yet sure who'd taken the incubus, or to what purpose. It could be anything from a misguided attempt at ransom to a sudden, unhealthy dose of anonymity. For all he knew, the damn thing had run off under the delusion of true love.
Over the countless years he'd been in business, Samuel Belli had learned that nearly anything was possible. If it was a runaway situation, the incubus would need to be tracked down and bound. If it was actually theft, then Mike's proficiency at power tools would likely come in handy. As he'd said, there was no point in suffering thieves.
"I should think when we do have all of our information, there will be particulars, yes." A punishment would have to be messy enough to discourage further attempts... but if the kidnapper (or lover) was one of their more well-connected clients, Belli would want to proceed somewhat more carefully than if it was a stranger. The employees were a whole other issue, entirely, as some where a lot more replaceable than others.
"Yes, yes. Daily by phone will be fine. I've had some extra money wired to your account to pay for expenses. Gas, housing, whathaveyou. And I'll be expecting a call from you tomorrow." The lines around his eyes deepened with amusement. "Sometime before noon, preferably. Oh, and do drive carefully," he added, brightly enough, but already turning away again. Attention falling back on the city. His city. "You'd be much harder to replace than an incubus."
It was meant as a compliment. Not that he couldn't replace Mike. The world was full of McBrayers. But they weren't all that easy to tame or train, and drawing another one out would take time.