Stalking the Dragon Read Free

Mallory thought the huge man was going to start crying in earnest. Instead, Brody stifled a sob and left the office.
    â€œWhat did you think?” asked Mallory.
    â€œThe man clearly has an unhealthy relationship with his dragon,” replied Periwinkle. “By next month you'll be asking for movies of them together.”
    â€œWhat useful did you think?” said Mallory wearily.
    â€œI think he looks silly in buckskins.”
    Mallory turned to Felina. “I don't suppose there's much sense asking you for an opinion.”
    â€œSure there is, John Justin,” she said.
    â€œOkay, I'm asking.”
    â€œWhat's an opinion?”
    â€œForget it.”
    â€œI can't until you tell me what it is.”
    â€œIt's just like a Turkish cigarette, only different,” said Mallory.
    Felina smiled. “Good. Now I can forget it.”
    â€œForget what?” asked Winnifred Carruthers, entering the office and kicking off her galoshes.
    â€œI don't remember,” said Felina.
    â€œIt's starting to snow out, John Justin,” said Winnifred, hanging up her overcoat. “I thought maybe I'd make a pot of tea to warm me up before I walk the rest of the way to my apartment.”
    â€œYou're not going to your apartment,” said Mallory.
    â€œI'm not?”
    â€œNo. I'd planned to take you out for dinner, but we just picked up a job.”
    â€œWhat kind?”
    He told her about Brody and showed her the wad of hundreds. “We got about twenty-two hours to find the dragon if we want that bonus.”
    â€œThe case is solved,” announced Winnifred. “Do we have to return Fluffy to get the bonus, or merely tell this Brody where she is?”
    â€œHe's paying us to bring her back to him.”
    â€œThen the case is solved and there's no bonus.”
    â€œI don't suppose you'd care to explain that?” asked Mallory.
    â€œDon't you read anything but the Racing Form , John Justin?” said Winnifred.
    â€œHe reads all those men's magazines he has hidden in the bottom drawer of his desk,” offered Periwinkle helpfully. “Well, he looks at the pictures, anyway.”
    â€œIf everyone's through dumping on me, perhaps my partner can tell me how we solved the case and lost our bonus less than five minutes after I accepted the damned job?”
    â€œFluffy is the favorite for Eastminster,” began Winnifred.
    â€œI know that.”
    â€œCan you guess who owns the second choice?”
    There was a momentary silence.
    â€œPlease don't tell me what I know you're going to tell me,” said Mallory.
    Winnifred smiled grimly. “You guessed.”

C HAPTER 2
    5:48 PM –6:37 PM
    â€œWell,” said Mallory, “I suppose the next step is to see if he's really got the dragon.”
    â€œHe's the most powerful demon on the East Coast,” said Winnifred. “Are you sure you wouldn't rather just return our retainer?”
    â€œWe'd be setting an unacceptable precedent,” replied Mallory.
    â€œBut you're talking about the Grundy !”
    â€œHe and I are old friends.”
    â€œYou're mortal enemies,” Winnifred corrected him.
    â€œThat too,” admitted Mallory. “You're sure he has the second choice?”
    â€œA chimera, yes,” said Winnifred. “It won here last year, before the dragon had begun showing.”
    â€œWell, I might as well get it over with,” said Mallory, picking up the phone. “You want to leave?”
    â€œNo,” said Winnifred. “We're partners. I won't desert you, John Justin.”
    â€œ I'd like to leave,” offered Periwinkle.
    â€œYou're part of the furnishings,” said Mallory. He turned to Felina. “How about you? Everyone else has voiced an opinion.”
    â€œWill he tear you limb from limb, pluck your eyes out, cut off your head, and make a stylish jacket out of your skin?” she asked.
    Mallory shrugged. “He might.”
    â€œThen