She glanced at Billy. "Do you understand what he's talking about?"

She glanced at Billy. "Do you understand what he's talking about?"

"Curiosity killed the cat, y'know," said Billy.

"Yeah, but I've got nine lives and I haven't used 'em all up yet. So come on, kids, give. What's the

problem? What can ole Gomez do to help?"

"The problem is how we're going to find the necromancer and stop him from killing any more people

before the fiesta starts," said Kira. "It's only four more days and there's only three of us to cover the

whole town. So, smarty cat, got any bright ideas?"

"Hey, you came to the right guy," said Gomez. "I'll put the word out."

Kira frowned. "You'll put the word out? To who?"

"That's towhom , doll. To all the other cats out there. Put it on the grapevine, let it spread. Fill the night

with lambent eyes, watching from the shadows and back alleys, patter of little cat feet skittering across

the rooftops and along the streets, all on the prowl for the predator who strikes at night. God, that's

colorful, I love that."

Gomez arched his back and extended his claws into the rug. "What can I say? When you've got it,

you've got it."

"A flea collar might get rid of it," said Kira.

"Wait a minute," Merlin said, "that's not a bad idea. Cats can go a lot of places people can't and they can

observe unobtrusively. If the Dark One strikes again, and we can be certain that he will, there's a chance

some cat might witness it and follow him to wherever he's hiding. Gomez, how many cats do you think

you can muster?"

"How many do you need, Ace? I've got a lot of pull in this town. Lot of kitties and other thaumagenes

owe me."

"Oweyou?" Kira said. "How? For what?"

"How do you think I lost this eye? There's some bad cats out there, dollface. Like to howl and throw

their weight around, grab any kitty that they like and use her like a piece of catnip. I don't stand for that

sort of thing. It's no way to treat a lady. So, yeah, I've done the Sir Galahad bit a few times and there's

one or two ladies out there who've got a warm spot in their hearts for this old campaigner. You just say

the word and I'll call in a few favors."

"This has got to be one of the most surreal conversations that I've ever had," said Kira, glancing at Billy.

"Acat is making me an offer I can't refuse."

"Hey, any friends of Paulie are friends of mine," said Gomez. "It's no sweat."

"It's a good offer," Billy replied. "I say we take it."