Chimera Read Free

gambler who never noticed it. Casino patrons screamed and shoved to get clear of the fight. Someone shouted, "He's got a gun!" I wondered who they were talking about, until I realized that it'd taken that long for the rumors of my action to cross the packed room. Arthur was running for his office, for no reason that I wanted to wait around to learn. The orca was caught in the crowd without a clear path for attacking my client or me. Bruno's position was better. I saw him working my way.
    I wanted to dive under a table and head for the doors. I might've, if I didn't have the cat to consider. Call that my second chance to drop the case. Credit the decision to stay to professional pride or professional self-preservation: detectives who abandon clients in times of trouble don't get many referrals.
    The client in question was no better off than me. The bearman yanked her off his back and threw her at least ten yards away. Her sunglasses flew off her head, but I was too far away to see her eyes. She twisted in midair to land nimbly on her feet on a card table, sending chips and startled players in all directions.
    The casino would get a lot of free publicity tonight, I thought. Yet I doubted we'd get any thanks from Arthur.
    The bearman growled and charged the cat. She leaped onto the stage, and dancers fled. A heavily-muscled dogman dancer glanced wildly from her to the bearman, then dove under the curtain at the back of the stage.
    Bruno had made his way to me by then, so I gave him my personal gold star for effort. I'd like to think my sensei would've approved of my punch, a clean snap from the hips that drove my entire weight through my fist into his chin.
    He dropped like a brick. I flexed my hand, grimaced, and said, "Cheer up, Bruno. I think you got your two fingers."
    Never be clever in battle. The orca tackled me from behind, and we crashed against a roulette table. I couldn't let him get a good grip, so I rolled desperately, catching glimpses of the madhouse around us as the orca scrambled after me.
    Most of the customers had fled the main room. Onstage, the cat was climbing a side curtain. Below her, the bear roared and ripped the curtain down, and I figured the fight was over for both of us. But the cat kicked out, releasing the curtain. She landed lightly beside us and rose with a side kick to the orca's chest that knocked him off me.
    I scrambled across the floor, snatched up my SIG, and aimed it at the charging bear. Proving he was smarter than he looked, he halted.
    I glanced at the cat. "Thanks."
    She nodded. "Likewise."
    Her eyes were golden brown with black slitted pupils. They suited her. Her jaguar hair fell in tangles around her face. The tip of a pointed, lightly furred ear protruded from her wild locks. She gave me a defiant look and tucked her hair behind her cat ears.
    We backed across the deserted room toward the front door. Arthur's three guardians watched sullenly. I kept my pistol high to remind them that what some people called the great equalizer should be called the great promoter: with the gun in my hand, I was the most deadly species in the room.
    I told the cat, "I don't work for chimeras. Nothing personal. It's my policy."
    She said, "Fine. Where's my refund?"
    She had me there. I couldn't think of a way to get out of the job that would leave any white showing in the poor knight's armor. "All right. One day's work."
    Police sirens approaching Wonderland cut off any response she might've had. We turned our backs on Arthur's pets to run for freedom—too late. Steel fire walls dropped soundlessly in every window and archway, sealing the room.
    Bruno and his buddies trotted toward us. I spun around with the SIG to let them know that nothing was going to happen to us until we'd talked to the cops. As they skidded to a halt, I said, "Why don't you boys wait on the far side of the room?"
    They didn't like that, but when Bruno nodded, the other two gave in. All three retreated.
    I whispered to the cat,