Free Transylvania's Most Wanted by M L Dunn Page B

didn’t know that,” Red
said concernedly. “I hope they’ll not be wandering around town
then.”
    “They will be confined to the hotel,”
Colonel Popov said. “It should not be a problem.”
    “It would be nice if we had a way to
recognize them,” Red said.
    Colonel Popov seemed to think about this a
moment. “I will require them to all wear white handkerchiefs in
their breast pockets. You will be able to recognize them from the
red star on their handkerchiefs, but please do not let anyone know
this that does not need to.”
    “I think I can keep it a secret,” Red
said.
    “In fact could you have your men, the ones
attending the ball anyway,” Colonel Popov said. “Wear something
too, so we’ll recognize them?”
    “I’ll have all my men attending the ball
wear black armbands.”
    “Very good,” Colonel Popov said, and then he
smiled for the first time since he’d entered the room. He excused
himself then and left.
    “May I see that letter?” Red asked.
    Chief Rogers handed him it.
    Red looked at it a moment, read it, flipped
it over and then held it out toward Tom. “Look at the z here,” he
said and Tom looked where he was indicating.
    “It’s backwards.”
    “Yes,” Red said. “Just like someone from the
U.R.R.K., having learned English as their second language, might
make the mistake of doing.”
    “I hope to see you at the ball tonight
Inspector Flynn,” Count Vasili said as he glanced at the
letter.
    “I don’t know,” Tom said. “I don’t own a
tuxedo.”
    “You could borrow one of mine,” the count
said. “I would be honored if you and your bride would come.”
    “He’ll be there,” Red said shaking hands
with Count Vasili and then the count shook hands with Chief Rogers.
Then he smiled at Tom before sweeping out of the room. His valet,
waiting in the hallway, placed his overcoat over him, as he walked
past him.
    “ How was this letter
delivered?” Red asked turning to Chief Rogers.
    “My secretary found it on her desk. She
stepped away for a moment and when she came back, it was lying
there.”
    “Any envelope with it?”
    “No, that’s it.”
    “Pandora could be behind it,” Tom said.
    “There was close to a hundred creatures that
got thrown out of there twenty two years ago,” Chief Rogers said.
“That realm is full of disgruntled creatures. They should lock ‘em
up in one city like we do here. From what I’ve heard they are on
the brink of civil war there. Imagine that, war being fought in
what’s supposed to be a higher realm. I guess when you consider the
circumstances new arrivals there just come from and mix in a bunch
of malcontent vampires and then some trouble making witches, that’s
what you can expect,” Chief Rogers said. “But I don’t want any such
trouble here,” he said bringing a finger down hard on his desk. “I
want Pandora found and arrested and I want The Triumph sealed up
like King Tut’s tomb,” he said as he threw his coat on like he was
trying to smother a fire with it. “Gates and I got a meeting with
the mayor, he wants an explanation of what the hell has been going
on around here the last couple of days,” he said looking at
Commander Gates and then Red before heading out his office. “When
you actually come up with something useful - let me know.”
    Tom followed Red out the office, and as Red
stopped to hand the secretary the note back, Tom looked out the
window to see Count Vasili and his valet hurrying to get out of the
sunlight and inside their car. The car looked expensive and well
cared-for. It had dark windows, a well-polished bat emblem on the
hood and was parked just in front of the building.
    “Imagine looking like that when you’re three
hundred years old,” Captain Clarke remarked as Count Vasili’s
driver opened the door for the count and he ducked into the back
seat. “Got some information for you,” he told Red when Red joined
them by the window.
    “From the firemen you sent down into