Asprin, Robert Lynn – Catwoman – Tiger Hunt (With Lynn Abbey)

“Sometimes we use dolls to get the really troubled ones talking,” Mother Joseph concluded hastily. “But with Rose, I think a cat will unlock her tongue—” She smiled at her own witicism. The smile vanished when Selina did not react. “Well, if you’ll give Rose the box when we go downstairs—“

“There’s a dinner in this eventually, isn’t there? Roast chicken, dressing—the works, right?”

Mother Joseph rose from her chair. “Apple pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert, exactly as promised.”

Aware that the nun was annoyed, but unable to pinpoint the cause, Selina followed her meekly down the stairs. When the mission stuck to saving bodies, Selina had no trouble with them. Hot meals, clean sheets, showers, and the walk-in clinic were things everybody in this neighborhood needed from time to time. But saving souls, whether with religion or psychology, was a big waste of time. If this Rose person didn’t have what it took to survive . . . If, God help her, she needed a kitten!

“Did you say something?” Mother Joseph asked. They were at the bottom of the stairway.

Selina slumped her shoulders. “Nope.” Nuns were sharp enough to hear a person’s thoughts, but they weren’t sharp enough to know their softhearted idea of help was worse than no help at all.

Picking Rose out from the other women in the old-fashioned kitchen was easy: she was the only one not wearing a veil. As soon as she saw the long blond hair, Selina realized she did not know Rose D’Onofreo—or know of her. When sleek limousines with dark windows came cruising the East End streets after midnight, they were looking for hair like that. Rose might have been born in a tenement bathroom, but she had uptown looks.