Read Online Chimera by Will Shetterly - Free Book Online

email?"
    I told her, and she sent me a copy of the cat's list. We both knew the cat could recreate it with ease, but it was a nice gesture.
    Prof returned from his phone call. "Virus scans are underway. If you're concerned, we could have every copbot examined over the next five days."
    "No sooner?"
    "You could pull them all at once, if you don't mind cutting the police force in half. We might have them back on the streets in less than a day."
    Blake shook her head. "Okay, five days." She looked at us. "You'll sign promises not to talk about this. Break the promise, and you both get put under protective custody somewhere unpleasant."
    I said, "I love sweet talk."
    Blake said, "My bosses might think I shouldn't give you a choice."
    "Don't worry. I'll sign."
    Blake and I looked at the cat. She sighed. "Ditto."
    Blake glanced at the cat and me. "C'mon."
    We headed for the front entrance. I took that as a good sign. The cat said, "When do I get my luggage back?"
    "When we've finished going over it for clues." Blake heard the cat's sigh and added, "Tomorrow afternoon, most likely. We'll call when we're done."
    "Well. It could be worse."
    In the lobby, Blake said, "I need to make a few arrangements. Wait here."
    While Blake went up to the main desk, the cat and I each took a different bench in the corner. We had the place to ourselves, which would've been nicer if it hadn't smelled like a drunk had slept there recently. I said, "What hotel were you going to stay at?"
    "The Queen of Angels. Why?"
    "Whose name was the reservation in?"
    "Oh."
    "None of the big hotels take unescorted chimeras. There's always the Range in Crittertown."
    She frowned, and I remembered that the Range had a reputation for more than good restaurants and the best chimera entertainers. That's where furries—men and women who like sex with chimeras—prefer to go, either with a chimera date or in search of one.
    I said, "I can't vouch for the rooms, but the main restaurant's great."
    "It's not cheap."
    "No. But you don't want a cheap hotel in Crittertown."
    "That's all right. I know someone who said I should stay with her. I'll take her up on it."
    I pulled out my phone. "Want to give her a ring?"
    The cat hesitated.
    I said, "If it's local, I won't even put the charge on your bill."
    "No. She said to show up anytime."
    Blake returned with a copbot in tow. The cat said, "You said police protection. You didn't say anything about a walking toaster."
    Blake said, "Prof already checked this one. You can trust it."
    The cat narrowed her eyes in doubt. Blake ignored that and handed me a computer and stylus. I signed a promise not to talk about this case until an arrest had been made or the department took it public. Then Zoe signed the same promise. Blake folded up the computer and put it in her pocket.
    We left by the front door with the copbot bringing up the rear. I put myself between it and the cat, but that didn't seem to make her any more comfortable. I understood why Blake had pulled a bot for guard duty—a human would've expected time-and-a-half—but I wished she had found an alternative. At that moment, keeping the cat in police custody and letting me spend the next day alone on her case sounded pretty good to me.
    A Personal Rapid Transit station was in front of police headquarters. Three or four perts sat on the station's side rail, waiting for someone to press the call button. Blake did just that. A pert rolled forward. She put a pass in the card slot, the door slid open, and she gestured for us to get in.
    The cat and I shrugged at each other and took the forward-facing seats; Blake and the copbot, the rear-facing ones.
    The car said, "Destination, please?"
    Blake glanced at us. The cat said, "I'm in no hurry. You go first."
    I pressed the talk button and said, "Lankershim and Vineland."
    As the pert slid out onto the main rail, Blake said, "Crittertown?"
    I nodded.
    The cat said, "Hey! The person I'm staying with is just around the corner from