Cat People by Gary Brandner Read Free Book Online Page A

peephole into the room where it's holed up."
    "Black leopard," Oliver said.
    "Whatever."
    "That's very strange," Oliver said, looking over at Alice.
    "Oh, I don't know," said Brant. "That thing like to tore off a woman's foot, and I'm not about to go into that room, read him his rights, and snap the cuffs on him."
    "No, I didn't mean that," Oliver said quickly. "I mean it's strange because the New Orleans Zoo doesn't have a black leopard. We're a pretty small operation, you know, compared to the Audubon."
    "As far as I'm concerned, you get that cat out of the Pleasure Dome and your zoo has its leopard. I've got a feeling nobody's going to claim it."
    "I'll be glad to do what I can," Oliver said. "Is this massage parlor on Bourbon Street?"
    "Where else?"
    "This is my assistant, Alice Moore. If you'll give me the address, we can be there in fifteen minutes."
    "I've got a car right outside. I can run you down."
    "I'll need my truck," Oliver said. "I have to pick up some equipment and another man. It shouldn't take me long."
    The sergeant shrugged his massive shoulders. "Take your time. That pussycat isn't going anywhere, and I can guarantee you nobody is going in after him before you get there."
    He wrote down the address of the Pleasure Dome on the back of one of his cards, handed it to Oliver, and walked back out to the waiting car.
    A few minutes later Alice sat in the cab of Oliver's truck outside a peeling stucco apartment house. Oliver came out of the building, walked to the back of the truck, and rechecked the assortment of animal-handling equipment they had picked up at the zoo. He rattled the door on the sturdy steel cage they had brought along, then walked to the front and got in behind the wheel. His eyes shone with excitement.
    "Is Joe coming?" Alice asked.
    "He wasn't too happy about it, but he'll be along in a minute."
    "I wish we didn't have to take him. I don't think he's really comfortable working with animals."
    "Joe's still learning," Oliver said. "He's strong, and we might need his help in handling the leopard. I'd a lot rather have one man too many than one too few."
    "I suppose so," Alice said, but she did not sound convinced.
    The apartment door opened and Joe Creigh came out, tucking a plaid shirt into the waistband of a tight pair of Levis. His lank blond hair fell damply across his forehead.
    He pulled open the truck door and climbed in on the other side of Alice. "This is a hell of a time to go out chasing some freaking cat. I hope there's going to be overtime."
    "I'll turn in the request," Oliver said, "but don't start spending it yet. You know how they are about the budget."
    "Don't I! Those freaking animals eat better than the help does."
    Oliver shot the truck into gear and headed for the French Quarter.
    A fair-sized crowd had gathered in the block of Bourbon Street where the Pleasure Dome was. Two police cars and a city emergency truck sat out in front with their lights blinking. Half a dozen uniformed policemen were busy steering the curious away from the entrance to the building. Up the street the musicians in the New Original Dixie Bar honked on.
    As Oliver cruised up the block one of the policemen came over and put a hand on the window sill. "This street is blocked off. You'll have to go around."
    "I'm Oliver Yates, from the New Orleans Zoo. Sergeant Brant asked me to come down."
    "Oh, right." The policeman removed his hand. "Sergeant Brant is waiting for you upstairs."
    Oliver left the truck with some satisfaction in a "No Parking" zone and crossed the sidewalk to the entrance. Alice and Joe followed. They climbed the stairs, now bright with police floodlights, to the lobby of the massage parlor. Eddie Mays was sitting in a chair, perspiring heavily, while he answered questions for policemen. Sergeant Brant saw Oliver and beckoned him over.
    "Anything new?" Oliver asked.
    Brant shook his head. "Status quo. The cat's still locked in the room, and the innkeeper, here, is having a little trouble