"Men always want to talk to me," she said, sneering. "I don't have to associate with the customers—not even those who can buy Moonfoam."
Heydrick noticed suddenly that the sand-leopard was with her. The animal's tail swished savagely back and forth. Its lips curled and a snarling burr of sound came from the ugly rows of teeth. It seemed like an echo of the girl's sneer. Klathgar put down one hand to stroke the beast's spade-shaped head. It rubbed against her in silent ecstasy.
"Perhaps I can change your mind," suggested Heydrick. "Won't you sit down?"
"You flatter yourself," she snapped. "I can hear what you have to say standing up."
"I wonder if you can," Heydrick mused aloud. "First, who are you?" The ghost of fear trembled behind her mask.
Klathgar laughed. "Ask anybody who I am. Klathgar. The Red Leopard."
Heydrick threw Ria Tarsen's dossier card on the table, face up. Klathgar glanced at it without a flicker of emotion.
"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" she asked contemptuously.
"It should—it's yours."
Her laugh was shrill. "At least you have a new approach. In either case, you're mistaken. What's your racket?"