Chapter 10 Constable Andy Parker sat bolt upright in bed and froze, staring into the pitch

darkness of his empty apartment. He fumbled by the side of the bed for the light switch,

and with the sudden click of the lamp some of the shadows fell away. He felt for the clock

and struggled to force his eyes to comprehend what he saw.

"'Two fifteen.'

He fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling for a few moments.

His heart was racing.

He supposed that even in his dreams he was unable to stop worrying about his mysterious chief and the remarkable young woman who followed him into danger with such joy.

"'I've never needed you to worry about them before,

Parker, he told himself yet again to no avail. He stared at the ceiling for another minute,

becoming more and more awake with each passing moment. He sighed and pulled himself up. Maybe

some milk would help him sleep. He wobbled to his feet and pulled his robe on as he padded towards the door.

"'He felt for the light in the narrow hallway, and, not finding it, carried on as best he could into the kitchen.

"'He clicked the light switch over the sink as he rubbed his eyes and peered into the icebox.

"'Puzzled at what he found, or rather what he didn't, he stuck his

head in further. I finished it, said a voice behind him, rolling quietly in like a far-off

peal of thunder. It was all that Andy Parker could do not to jump and crack his head on the door of the

icebox. He turned and peered over his shoulder.

A tall figure in a long gray coat clung to the shadows in the corner, a red mask upon his face,

and a glass of milk in his hand. The Red Panda grinned, just a little, from the corner of his

mouth. Andy Parker had served his mysterious chief long enough to know

that he didn't let just anyone see that grin, even for a second, and for a moment he stopped

...