Free Eros at Zenith: Book 2 of Tales of the Velvet Comet by Mike Resnick Page B

never ever thought to look into it. He's not just smart—he's thorough.”
    “Now if he could just acquire a personality...”
    “He isn't a finished product yet.”
    “I don't think I follow you,” said the Black Pearl.
    “He's like a very good wine,” replied the Dragon Lady. “He'll get better with age.” She smiled. “Just like you.”
    “Maybe I'll get better—but unlike Mr. Charm, I already know how to conduct myself in public.”
    “That's your job. His is catching murderers.”
    “You sound as if you admire him,” said the Black Pearl.
    “I admire his ability. And,” added the Dragon Lady, “I find him rather attractive.”
    “You're kidding! Don't tell me you go for the gaunt, ascetic type?”
    “I take it that you don't think he's good-looking?”
    “He reminds me of Cassius,” replied the Black Pearl. “He's got a lean and hungry look about him.”
    “I hadn't noticed,” said the Dragon Lady.
    “I thought it was your job to observe people,” the Black Pearl pointed out.
    “Possibly he only appears lean and hungry when he looks at you . You're a very beautiful woman.”
    “This ship is overrun with beautiful women. Why pick on me?”
    “Sexual chemistry isn't always predictable. One can't always choose the object of one's desire.”
    “What are you talking about?” demanded the Black Pearl. “I don't even like him!”
    “I wasn't referring to you,” replied the Dragon Lady.
    “I think Mr. Crane is the one with the problem, and because he is a very private and very fastidious man, I think he resents it.”
    “Why take it out on me?”
    “I think he's taking it out on himself. You just happen to be in the way.”
    “That's the silliest thing I ever heard.”
    “If you say so.”
    The Black Pearl was silent for a moment. “Do you really think so?”
    “It's a possibility.”
    “As if I didn't have enough problems!” she muttered.
    The Dragon Lady merely shrugged.
    Suddenly the Black Pearl looked sharply at her.
    “If you find him so damned attractive, why don't you go to bed with him? It might make life a little easier on all of us.”
    The Dragon Lady smiled. “I'd be happy to,” she said sincerely, “but I think he's much too conventional.”
    “He has something against prostitutes?”
    “No. But I think he looks upon me more as a mother figure than a bedmate. I'm too old for him.”
    “You're not that old.”
    “I agree. But it's Mr. Crane who will need convincing.”
    “So convince him.”
    “I don't want to shock him,” said the Dragon Lady. “After all, I have to continue working with him.”
    “I wonder what he's doing now?” mused the Black Pearl.
    “Well, considering that it's currently 0500 hours, I imagine he's sleeping.”
    “Alone?”
    “I have no idea,” said the Dragon Lady.
    “It might be interesting to find out,” suggested the Black Pearl. She activated her tabletop computer and asked it who Crane had selected as his companion.
    “Well, I'll be damned!” she exclaimed a moment later, looking up from a small readout screen. “Your Mr. Crane isn't quite as conventional as you thought.”
    “Oh?”
    “He selected Chocolate Pudding!” said the Black Pearl, amused. “I'll bet she's got him chained to the bed and is whipping the hell out of him.”
    “I don't think so,” said the Dragon Lady.
    “It's her specialty,” noted the madam. “That's why people ask for her.”
    “I don't think that's why Mr. Crane asked for her.”
    “What other reason could he have?” asked the Black Pearl.
    “That should be obvious.”
    “Not to me, it isn't.”
    “Look at her, and then look at yourself in a mirror,” suggested the Dragon Lady. “You're both black, you're both tall, you both have large bustlines. In fact, she's even wearing her hair in a similar style these days.”
    “There may be a vague superficial resemblance, but we hardly look alike!” scoffed the Black Pearl.
    “Then let's just say that a vague superficial resemblance was