Read Online Lion And The Falcon (Furry United Coalition) by Eve Langlais - Free Book Online Page B

scent, I’ll wager it was one of our escaped patients. For whatever reason, whoever broke in had themselves a feast, or a food fight. Whatever they did, they sure left a mess.”
    “Which the daughter came across when she popped in to visit her mother.”
    “Where is the daughter?” Nolan asked.
    “In the bedroom. We thought it best to remove her from the scene of the crime.”
    “Someone needs to tell her the good news.” Given the way Peter and Clarice feigned interest in the walls and floor, it seemed clear who they thought should get the job. Well, at least I have something positive to relay. Nolan headed back out to the hall and after a little searching, found a closed door from whence came soft sobbing. He walked in and found a slightly younger version of Agnes sniffling on a bed covered in a flowered quilt.
    “ I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name from the FUC agent outside, but I’m Dr. Manners.”
    “A doctor? Fat lot of good that does with my mother in—in—pieces,” wailed Agnes’ daughter with a bullfrog bellow.
    “ Yes, about that mess you found. False alarm. Your mother isn’t dead.”
    “Not dead?” The daughter blinked her large , bulbous eyes. “But I saw the body.”
    “N o, you saw chunks of meat. However, they don’t belong to your mother. Now…” He paused as if prompting her.
    “Patricia.”
    “Lovely name, Patricia.” He poured on the charm and she relaxed, even giving him a tremulous smile in reply. “Let me ask, do you have a cell phone, Patricia?”
    “Yes. Of course. Why?”
    “Please dial your mother.”
    As if on autopilot, Agnes’ daughter pulled out her cellphone and hit a button. Nolan heard it ring once, then twice before Agnes answered with her customary brusque, “What?”
    “Mother! Where the hell are you?” croaked Patricia.
    “Having a beer at the tavern, why?”
    “You’re in a bar?”
    “Ain’t I allowed a drink ?”
    “But we were supposed to have dinner.”
    “Tomorrow.”
    “No , today.”
    “No , tomorrow. I have it marked on my calendar.”
    When it looked like Patricia would keep arguing, Nolan held out his hand. “Do you mind if I speak to your mother for a moment?” Patricia slapped the device into his hand, her tears completely dry, her lips pursed in annoyance with her no longer dead mother. “Agnes, this is Dr. Manners. So sorry to disturb you.”
    “D r. Manners? Why are you on Patricia’s phone? What are you doing with my daughter? Or should I say, what have you done? My Patty is a good girl. I won’t have you breaking her heart.”
    Casting a glance over at the now simmering Patricia with her frizzy hair, sallow complexion and thin-lipped scowl, he held in a shudder. “I assure you, it’s not what you think. It seems there was bit of a mix up at your house. Someone broke in and made a bit of a mess, scaring your lovely daughter.”
    “Is she okay?” Matronly concern overla id her previous, suspicious tone.
    “She’ s fine, just a little shaken up, but happy to know you’re safe. She had a bit of scare when she came over and found your kitchen in a mess. We all had a bit of a fright until we determined you weren’t harmed.”
    A long-suffering sigh left the matron. “Oh bloody hell. I’ll never hear the end of it. I take it whatever mess is in my house will be cleaned by FUC?”
    “I’ll make sure of it myself.”
    “See if you can’t get them to paint while you’re at it. I hate the peach-colored walls. Something in a soothing mauve would be nice.”
    “I’ll see what I can do. Needless to say, we’re going to need you to stay somewhere else for a while.”
    “Is it the…” Agnes lowered her voice . “Patients?”
    “Yes , I fear. Somehow, one of them found your home. We’re going to need you to lay low for a while.”
    “Not a problem. I’ll bunk with Patty at our summer cottage. No one knows where that is.”
    “Excellent. We’ll have your daughter pack you a bag and someone will escort her home