She? Unfamiliar jealousy filled me.
As if Apollo sensed it, he squeezed my hand. “Her name is Rhonda, and she’s almost sixty. We met when I started flying here regularly. She’s what you might call a liaison for VIPS.”
“And you think she’ll give you the info you want?” I couldn’t help but sound dubious.
“Maybe. Guess it will depend on how convincing I am. I’m going to tell her Malone stole something when visiting my home and I want it back without involving authorities.”
“Hold on, I thought your plan was to call the cops on Malone,” Tutu interjected.
“I’m rethinking that idea. I’m not sure I want Malone singing like a bird to authorities about Tigger.”
“He probably would out of spite,” I murmured. “But letting him loose isn’t a great plan either.”
“When are you both going to see that dropping him in the volcano is the best idea?” Tutu reiterated.
“We are not murderers,” I snapped.
“He is,” Tutu countered. “If Tigger were bigger, I’d let him have a go at this evil doctor.”
“If Tigger were bigger, we probably wouldn’t have to ride to his rescue.”
“While you two figure out a plan for Malone that doesn’t have us arrested for manslaughter, I’m going to try and charm Rhonda into coughing up flight info.” Apollo exited the vehicle and strutted off with a confidence I couldn’t help but admire.
“Who knew adopting a lizard would be so complicated,” I grumbled.
“More like he adopted us,” my grandfather stated. “Which is why we need to do what’s necessary to protect him.”
I whirled in my seat. “We are not killing Malone.”
“What if he just happened to wander too close to a cliff or stepped out into traffic?”
“Tutu.” I injected a warning note.
“So long as that man is alive, our dragon will be in danger.”
“Since when is Tigger our dragon? Aren’t you the man who tried to clobber him with a broom?”
“That was before I realized he was special. Now, as his Grand Vizier, it is my duty?—”
“His what?”
“Grand Vizier. I told him if I was going to work for him, I needed a more impressive title than chief strategist.”
“And what does a Grand Vizier do?”
“We’re still hammering out my duties, but I’m pretty sure handling his enemies is part of it.”
I rubbed my face. “I can’t believe this.”
“I’m sure if you ask, he’ll give you a nicer title too.”
“Not that. The fact he got kidnapped, hell, the whole fact I even know a talking dragon.”
“It is pretty incredible.”
It truly was. I glanced out the window. The storm had eased enough that regular operations had begun resuming. Airport workers bustled as they got planes ready for take-off.
One jet in particular, a smaller craft parked not far from us, for some reason drew my eye. I couldn’t have said why. It had no unusual markings. Nothing about it set it apart, and yet I found myself saying to Tutu, “Stay here while I check something out.”
