“That is surprising.One would think a person being murdered would be noisy about it,” I agreed.
“I doubt they even had a chance to say anything.”The clerk leaned closer, eager to share.“Apparently the killer just about twisted her head right off.”
“A woman, you say?Sounds to me like a crime of passion.”
“Could be.The room was rented to a professor.”
“Oh, really?”My heart began racing.What were the odds of there being another female professor renting a room on the fourth floor?Considering my attempted murder last night, I could only conclude that the supposed victim in this case was thought to be me.
“That’s what my colleague said.I haven’t met her, but Mike saw her and said she was pretty.”
Well, thank you, but… “So they’ve identified the poor soul?”
“Not officially.The police are waiting for a picture from her university to confirm, but who else could it be?”
I wondered the same thing myself.
Before I could say anything, O’Malley returned, barking, “Do you know a Bonnie Allan?”
“Yeah, she’s part of our cleaning crew,” the clerk replied.“Why?”
“Seems like it wasn’t the professor renting the room that was killed, but the maid.When was she last heard from?”
“I don’t know.I only started my shift an hour ago.”
“I’ll need to talk to the last person working the desk, as well as find this professor for questioning.”
AKA me.I took that as my cue to leave.I exited but didn’t immediately see Alistair, just an old fellow wearing… Alistair’s clothes?
As I frowned, he came toward me and whispered, “It’s Alistair.Don’t scream, just come along.”
“But…” Confusion filled me.
“I’ll explain soon as we’re clear of the area,” said in a voice I didn’t recognize.
It took a few blocks, along with some turns to lose the hotel from sight.Only then did the Alistair I recognized murmur, “What did you find out?”
A glance showed him wearing his usual face.“How did you do that?You didn’t look like yourself at all.”
“I take it you won’t tell me anything until I explain.”
“What do you think?”
“I can adopt different appearances.”
“Obviously.But how?I would have thought you’d always look the same.Or can you change your look each time you shift?”
“My dragon is constant.My face and body, however, can morph into whomever I’ve eaten in the past.”
I blinked.“You’re saying you ate the original Alistair and that old man?”
“If it helps, he was quite the prick.They both were.”
“And are those the only two you’ve eaten?”
“No.”
“Oh, dear.”Feeling faint, I leaned against the exterior wall of the laundromat, closed for the night.“I guess I should have taken your threat more seriously.”
