"Mike Resnick - Velvet Comet 2 - Eros At Zenith" - читать интересную книгу автора (Resnick Mike)

other before I begin my investigation."
"I think we understand each other very well," she responded easily. "You're concerned
with social graces and I'm concerned with apprehending a killer. Given our respective
professions, doesn't that seem a little backward to you?"
"Do you plan to answer my question or not?" he demanded.
"You haven't asked one. Look," she said reasonably, "I'm not the enemy, Mr. Crane.
Neither is the Dragon Lady. We are both fully prepared to give you whatever assistance
you require. The enemy is out there"—she nodded her head toward the door— "quite
possibly preparing to kill again."
Crane stared at her for a moment. "I realize that people find me abrasive and
demanding…" he began.
"You left out tyrannical," she noted dryly.
"And tyrannical," he acknowledged. "I can't do anything about the abrasiveness, and I
freely admit to being demanding. I'm dedicated to my work, and I expect my
subordinates to be just as dedicated. I will not tolerate laziness, disobedience, or
insubordination. As long as everyone keeps that in mind, I can be a reasonably pleasant
person to get along with."
"Then we both have the same goal," she answered. "You won't tolerate sloppy work in
hunting down the murderer, and I won't tolerate a continued threat to my patrons. I see
no reason why we can't work together." She paused. "I just hope you're as good a
detective as Vainmill seems to think you are."
"Better," he said unselfconsciously. "And I'm more than a detective—I'm a damage
control expert."
"Do we need one?"
"If the patrons find out what's happened, you're going to need a dozen of them," he
replied. "How many people know about it so far?"
"Not counting the doctors who might have examined the body, there are just four of us,"
said the Black Pearl. "The maintenance man who found the body, the Dragon Lady, the
security woman who helped her move it, and myself."
"Five," he corrected her. "You're forgetting Oglevie."
"That's right," she said, nodding her head. "And he's so eminently forgettable, too. How
is Uriah Heep this morning?"
He frowned. "Uriah…?"
She smiled. "Don't worry about it. It's just my pet name for him. I suppose the Dragon
Lady had to tell him so that he wouldn't be so surprised that he repeated it at the top of
his lungs when you mentioned it to him."
"I take it you don't think too much of Mr. Oglevie?" noted Crane.
"As a matter of fact, I try not to think of him at all," she replied. "Still, he's the Dragon
Lady's second in command."
"Really? I wouldn't have guessed it from his manner."
"There are no end of things you wouldn't guess from his manner," she said. She shot him
a quick glance. "I see the wheels starting to turn, Mr. Crane. Forget it. Paxton Oglevie
wouldn't have the intestinal fortitude to kill one of the insects he so closely resembles."
"Then why have you gone out of your way to give me an unflattering picture of him?"
he asked her.
"Because you're probably going to have to spend some time in his company, and I felt
you should be forewarned. After all, that's what friends are for— and you and I are
going to be friends, Mr. Crane."
"Are we?"
She nodded firmly. "Absolutely—unless you can think of some reason why we should be