Eros at Zenith: Book 2 of Tales of the Velvet Comet Read Online Free PDF

before my time, called the Leather Madonna, who made it for ten years.”
    “I wish I knew where you people get your names,” said Crane.
    “I never knew her, so I have no idea how she came by hers,” said the Dragon Lady. She paused as the waiter delivered their coffee and Crane's soup.
    “Anyway, Security is a different story. Do you know that I'm only the second Chief of Security in the Comet 's 46 years of existence?”
    “No, I didn't know,” said Crane, sipping his soup.
    “It's true. My predecessor, a man named Rasputin,”—Crane winced, but said nothing—“took me under his wing, so to speak, and taught me everything I know. And I've been a damned good Security Chief, too. I was rather hoping to retire with an unblemished record,” she added regretfully.
    “You're off the hook on this one,” he replied. “If we don't come up with the killer, it's my neck that'll be on the chopping block, not yours.”
    She shook her head. “It happened while I was in charge of the ship's security.”
    “Then we'll catch him while you're in charge of the ship's security, and everyone will be happy,” said Crane, finishing his soup. “That was excellent,” he said, indicating the empty bowl. “If the rest of the meal is like this, I'm surprised that all the employees aren't lugging around a little extra weight.”
    “No one can eat meals like this every day,” she said. “Not even me. They're much too rich.”
    “ I can.”
    “But you're a very tense, very energetic young man. You work it all off.” She appraised him thoughtfully.
    “Actually, you could do with fifteen more pounds.”
    “Is that your professional opinion?” he asked sardonically.
    “Of course not,” she said with a laugh. “Professionally, all a patron ever had to be was alive, healthy, and possessed of a proper credit rating.”
    “And a man,” added Crane.
    “Usually.”
    He was about to say something when the waiter reappeared with his shellfish, sitting atop a bed of rice and covered with a thick cream sauce.
    “It's as good as it looks,” said Crane after taking a bite. “You're sure you don't want a taste?”
    “No, thank you.” She paused. “You don't really eat a meal like this every day, do you?”
    “Whenever I can,” he replied. “What's the good of making money if you can't enjoy it?”
    “I got the feeling from your dossier that the only thing you really enjoyed was catching criminals.”
    “You make me sound like some kind of avenging angel,” he said. “The thrill is in putting all the disparate pieces of the puzzle together. What happens to the killer after he's apprehended is really of very little concern to me.”
    “Since you're not on a crusade to eradicate murder in our time, what led you to specialize in it?” asked the Dragon Lady.
    “It gets the most publicity, so there's the best chance for advancement.”
    “Would I be correct in assuming that you plan to be the Chairman of Vainmill by the time you're 40?” she asked with a smile.
    “It would be nice,” he admitted. “However, I'm fully prepared to wait until I'm 45.”
    “You sound as if you're serious.”
    “It isn't one of the things I joke about,” he replied.
    He finished his shellfish in silence, then signaled to the waiter and ordered Deluros-grown strawberries in a Rebecca sauce for dessert.
    “God, if I could have eaten like that and kept my figure, I'd still be working in the Resort!” said the Dragon Lady.
    “You didn't find it distasteful?”
    “Not the work,” she replied. “Just the conditioning.”
    He shrugged. “To each his own. Tell me about the Black Pearl.”
    “What do you want to know about her?”
    “I met her before. She's very beautiful, but so is everyone else on this ship. Why is she the madam?”
    “She shares a quality in common with you.”
    “And what is that?”
    “She's a survivor.”
    “And that's all?”
    “Of course not. She's a very competent administrator, and she was bright enough to