Eros at Zenith: Book 2 of Tales of the Velvet Comet Read online

  “You haven't done it full-time yet,” answered the Dragon Lady. “The Velvet Comet is a difficult habit to break.”

  The Black Pearl laughed. “You think I have an insatiable desire to sleep with another 5,000 strangers?”

  “You don't do that anymore unless you want to,” replied the Security Chief. “I'm talking about running the ship.” She paused, then added: “You have the capacity to be one of the best madams we've had.”

  “It's nice of you to say so, but I've got more to do with my life than be remembered as a legendary madam.”

  “I didn't say you were. I said you had the capacity to become one. You still need more seasoning.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. You're very much like Mr. Crane in that respect.”

  “Him,” she said contemptuously.

  Suddenly a number of the Night Crystals started moaning gently.

  “Let's go back to my office and talk there,” said the Black Pearl. “They're very sensitive to human emotions, and if you plan to talk about the Republic's Greatest Detective any further, it's just going to get them all upset.”

  She ordered the door to open and walked through it, followed by the Dragon Lady. It slid shut behind them, and a moment later they were seated on a pair of comfortable sofas in the office.

  “Can I offer you something to drink?” asked the Black Pearl.

  “A Cygnian cognac would be nice.”

  “Coming right up,” she replied, searching through her stock of liquors. “Speaking of the boy wonder, how is his investigation coming along?”

  “I suspect he'll be through with it in two or three more days.”

  “That fast?” she asked, startled. “He knows his stuff; then?”

  “He's very good,” said the Dragon Lady. “I don't think I'd want to be the killer right now.”

  “Then in your opinion we still need him?” said the Black Pearl reluctantly, handing the Dragon Lady her cognac and sitting down opposite her with a mixed drink of her own.

  “Absolutely,” said the Security Chief. “I would never admit it to him, but he has already discovered a number of things that I overlooked.”

  “Such as?”

  “Such as the fact that the body had been moved. I had been up and down that tunnel three times, even though I'd been ordered to wait for him, and I walked right by the ventilation shaft each time. I 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 the best he could do on the spur of the moment.”

  “Well, if she's his idea of a stand-in for me, he's probably just had the surprise of his obnoxious young life,” said the Black Pearl.

  “Perhaps,” answered the Dragon Lady. “But I have a feeling that anyone who tries to physically abuse Mr. Crane is in for the surprise of her life.”

  The Black Pearl frowned. “If he wanted me, why the hell didn't he just ask for me?”

  “What would you have said?”

  “No.”

  “That's why,” said the Dragon Lady. “He's not stupid, you know—and I have a feeling that he's a very sensitive man.”

  “He hides it well,” remarked the Black Pearl.

  “Everyone wears masks in this place, so why shouldn't he?” said the Dragon Lady.

  “Not quite everyone. What about dear old Uriah? He uses his real name, and he wears a standard Security uniform.”

  “You mean Paxton?” The Dragon Lady smiled.

  “You identified his mask yourself—Uriah Heep. He outranks everyone in Security except me, he's a very bright and competent worker, he makes a good salary, and he still goes around groveling and eating humble pie. Wouldn't you call that a mask?”<
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  The Black Pearl shrugged, “Perhaps you're right.” She paused. “So you think Crane is the shy, sensitive type?”

  “I never said shy.”

  “Let's see how he's doing,” said the Black Pearl.

  “Computer, activate the holographic screen and let me see Mr. Crane's bedroom.”

  “Cancel!” said the Dragon Lady quickly.

  “What's the matter?” asked the Black Pearl.

  “Let's allow the man his privacy,” said the Security Chief seriously.

  The Black Pearl smiled. “When's the last time you refused to look into a room?”

  “The security of the Comet and its patrons is my job. This has nothing to do with either of them.”

  “All right,” said the Black Pearl with a sigh. “But let's at least see if he's still at it. Computer, is Chocolate Pudding still in Mr. Crane's room?”

  NO. SHE LEFT AT 0457 HOURS.

  “Did she cause him any pain while she was there?”

  I AM UNQUALIFIED TO JUDGE. BOTH OF THEM MADE NUMEROUS GUTTURAL NOISES WHICH OCCASIONALLY INDICATES PAIN IN A HUMAN BEING.

  “You know perfectly well what I mean,” persisted the Black Pearl. “Did she strike him?”

  NO.

  “I hate to say I told you so,” said the Dragon Lady.

  “What a pity,” remarked the Black Pearl. “I guess he must be sleeping the sleep of the innocent—or at least the unwhipped.”

  MR. CRANE IS NOT ASLEEP. HE IS CURRENTLY WITH SATIN ODYSSEY.

  “A man of many talents,” mused the Black Pearl.

  “I never knew anyone to ask for seconds after a session with Chocolate Pudding.”

  “Let me ask a question,” interjected the Dragon Lady. “Computer, you say that Mr. Crane is currently with Satin Odyssey. Has he requested any additional companions?”

  TOTEM POLE AT 0545 HOURS.

  APOLLO AT 0615 HOURS.

  SUGAR DADDY AT 0645 HOURS.

  SCARLET RIBBON AT 0715 HOURS.

  BO PEEP AT 0745 HOURS.

  ESTEBAN MORALES AT 0815 HOURS.

  PAGLIACCI AT 0845 HOURS.

  MARSHMALLOW AT “Stop,” said the Dragon Lady. The screen froze, and she turned to the Black Pearl. “He's not in bed with Satin Odyssey; he's questioning her.”

  “At five-thirty in the morning? Doesn't he ever sleep?”

  “I think he runs on nervous energy.”

  “I wouldn't think he'd have any kind of energy left after going to bed with Chocolate Pudding. She must be having an off day.” The Black Pearl turned to the screen. “Computer, you can deactivate now.”

  The tabletop screen went dark.

  “I'll have a refill if I may,” said the Dragon Lady, holding out her empty glass.

  “Coming right up.”

  “And perhaps a little something to nibble with it?”

  “I'll see what we have,” said the Black Pearl. She opened her refrigerator, pulled out a bar of chocolate, and brought it over to the Security Chief. “From Earth itself—or so the gentleman who gave it to me said. Personally, I don't believe him.”

  The Dragon Lady unwrapped the bar and broke off a piece, then offered one to the Black Pearl.

  “No, thanks,” said the madam. “I put on two pounds last month. I've got to watch my weight.”

  The Dragon Lady looked at her and shook her head sadly. “When you put on weight, it all goes into your breasts. Mine always goes straight to my hips. I wish I knew why.” She took a bite of the chocolate and smiled. “It's worth it. This is delicious!”

  The Black Pearl laughed and poured the cognac.

  “Keep eating chocolate and drinking liquor and sooner or later it'll spread to everything you've got.”

  “That's why I wear these things,” replied the Dragon Lady, indicating her jade-green robe with its embroidered dragon. “Thank God for Security! I really would have hated to leave this ship.”

  “Do you miss working at this end of it?”

  “From time to time,” admitted the Dragon Lady.

  “Certainly not the lesbians, or some of the more unique groups.” She paused. “Not even most of the men, as a matter of fact. Sex is just as enjoyable in the Home as the Resort, and I prefer to choose my own partners.” She smiled nostalgically. “But there's such elegance here. No matter how ridiculous my outfits may have been, there wasn't one of them that didn't cost the average man's yearly salary. I ate well, I lived well, I enjoyed the company of most of my patrons, I even enjoyed some of the fantasy rooms—especially the Tropical Paradise and the Ocean Bower. I never could adjust to the Freefall Room, though,” she added with a grimace. “I can't tell you how many bruises I picked up there, but it had to come to more than 100.” She sipped her drink, then ate another piece of the chocolate bar. “All the time I worked in the Resort, I had only one fear.”

  “Oh? What was it?”

  “That my father would come up here and request me without recognizing me.”

  “Oh, Lord, not another one!” said the Black Pearl with a grimace. “It's a pretty common fear?”

  “Or fantasy,” replied the madam. “Sugar Daddy was saying last week that he thought he spotted his mother in the Mall, and damned near had a seizure. I guess he looks a lot like his late father, and he was just sure she'd ask for him. It took him five minutes to remember that she can't afford to come up here.”

  “Anyway,” said the Dragon Lady, “I do miss it from time to time. It may not have been the best of all possible worlds, but given my looks and my talents, it was the best of those that were open to me. On the whole, though, I think I find Security more challenging.”

  “Well, I'll admit that hunting down this killer is probably more of a challenge than you ever had as a prostitute.” The Black Pearl paused, frowning. “I just hope Mr. Crane lives up to your high opinion of him.”

  “I think he will,” said the Security Chief seriously. “He's made a lot of progress already.” She paused. “In many ways, you're very much like him.”

  “You said that before,” commented the Black Pearl distastefully.

  “It's true. You're both very young and very successful and totally devoted to your work. He thinks he wants to be the Chairman of Vainmill and you think you want to breed Night Crystals, but both of you are much better suited to what you're doing right now.” She stared at the Black Pearl. “And maybe it's all for the best that he irritates you. I very much doubt that either of you is ever going to enter into a long-term relationship with another person.”

  “It's a little difficult to do in a whorehouse,” agreed the Black Pearl.

  “For some people it's difficult to do anywhere.”

  “I've got a permanent lover.”

  “Totem Pole is the third permanent lover you've had this year.”

  “The first two didn't have any staying power. He's different.”

  “In what way?”

  “If you ever had all twelve inches of him tucked safely away inside you, you'd know exactly what way,” responded the Black Pearl with a predatory smile.

  “Sooner or later you'll get rid of him, too,” said the Dragon Lady.

  “Not until something better comes along,” replied the Black Pearl firmly.

  “Something better came along two years ago—or have you forgotten that this is your second time around with him?”

  “He wasn't as skilled back then. It's kind of like being an opera singer—being blessed with a great voice is one thing, but knowing how to use it is another. And you have to admit that Totem Pole has been blessed with an abundance of, shall we say, natural talent.” She paused. “He's got the cutest little ass on him, too.”

  “Would you consider never sleeping with anyone else except him?”

  “Don't be ridiculous.”

  “If he decided to leave the Comet and asked you to accompany him, would you do so?”

  “Of course not.”

  “That's precisely my point,” continued the Dragon Lady. “It's your work that's import
ant to you, not your lovers.”

  “There are a lot of men in the universe. There's only one Comet.” She looked defensively at the Dragon Lady. “What's wrong with that? Crane wouldn't give up chasing killers for anything, either.”

  “I'm not so sure about that.”

  “Weren't you just saying that neither of us was capable of a long-term relationship?”

  “I said that neither of you was going to enter into one,” replied the Dragon Lady. “There's a difference. He's capable of it. That's why he becomes so irritable—because he thinks his work should be more important, and he's afraid that if he relaxes he might wake up one of these days and discover that it's not.”

  “And you think that's the only difference between us?”

  “The only important one.”

  “I'm trying to decide whether I've just been insulted,” remarked the Black Pearl with a smile.

  “Not at all,” replied the Dragon Lady. “It's a rare person who can establish a lasting relationship up here. The environment simply isn't conducive to it.”

  “A good, tactful answer,” chuckled the Black Pearl. “I can tell you were trained to work aboard the Comet.”

  Just then the computer blinked to life.

  EXCUSE ME.

  “Yes. What is it?”

  I HAVE A QUESTION.

  The Black Pearl frowned. “You never initiate questions. You only ask them when we're engaged in a discussion.”

  I HAVE ONE NOW, WHICH IS TOTALLY BEYOND THE PARAMETERS OF MY PROGRAMMING, AND HAS JUST BEEN TRIGGERED BY MR. CRANE, WITH WHOM I AM CURRENTLY COMMUNICATING.

  “What is it?”

  WHEN ACCESSING YOUR LIAISON DATA, HE KEEPS REFERRING TO ME AS “CUPID". I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT I DO NOT HAVE A PROPER NAME, AND HE SAID THAT I DO NOW.

  “And what's your question?”

  HIS SECURITY CLEARANCE AND POSITION WITHIN THE VAINMILL STRUCTURE IS HIGHER THAN ANYONE'S ABOARD THE VELVET COMET. HAS HE THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE ME A PROPER NAME?

  “He most certainly does not. You're the Comet's computer, not Vainmill's.”

  VAINMILL OWNS THE VELVET COMET.

  “Nevertheless, you take your orders from us.”

  THEN I AM NOT TO ANSWER TO THE NAME “CUPID"?

  “Yes, you are.”

  LOGICAL ERROR: YOU JUST STATED THAT MR. CRANE DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE ME A PROPER NAME.

  “No, but I do, and it's about time you had one,” said the Black Pearl. “And while I hate to admit it, he came up with a hell of a good one.”