The Vampire's Slave

Chapter 8

"You're unusually preoccupied this morning, Mannix," Roe said before he took a sip of coffee.

"Sorry," Mannix replied, trying to keep his mind on his guest.

"Rough night last night?"

"No. Just worried about something."

The corners of Roe's mouth quirked into a wry smile. "Let me guess. Your latest girlfriend?"

Mannix grinned like an embarrassed schoolboy. "Yeah. How'd you guess?"

"Can't think of much else for a rich, handsome young man to be worried about on a Saturday morning."

"Maybe I forgot to wax my car."

"Ha! Who is she?"

"My dark blue convertible, of course," Mannix replied, deciding to misinterpret the question.

"The girlfriend, not the car," Roe said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, her name's Rette."

"Interesting name." He glanced down at his watch. "Sorry, Mannix, but I have to go. A couple of old friends and I are going sailing today," he said standing up.

"Have fun, then. Don't get seasick."

Roe chuckled. "I won't."

Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw—

For he's the master criminal who can defy the Law.

He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair:

For when they reach the scene of crime—Macavity's not there!

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,

He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity.

His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare,

And when you reach the scene of crime—Macavity's not there!

You may seek him in the basement, you may look up in the air—

But I tell you once and once again, Macavity's not there!

Macavity's a ginger cat, he's very tall and thin;

You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in.

His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly domed;

His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.

He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake;

And when you think he's half asleep, he's always wide awake.

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,

For he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.

You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square—

But when a crime's discovered, then Macavity's not there!

He's outwardly respectable. (They say he cheats at cards.)

And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard's

And when the larder's looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,

Or when the milk is missing, or another Peke's been stifled,

Or the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair

Ay, there's the wonder of the thing! Macavity's not there!

And when the Foreign Office find a Treaty's gone astray,