The nightclub was always nearly deserted at this time of day. One of the singers was doing vocal exercises as the live band tuned their instruments. There were a handful of patrons already drinking; businessmen mostly, their pressed three-piece suits clashing with the colorful interior of the club
– something that would not have been so obvious in the muted lighting there would be in the evening. To the back of the bar, at the other end from where I was sitting, I saw a rather angry-looking lion furry. He was elderly,

As he leaned forward and beckoned the bartender I could see he was dressed as a teacher would, though his gaze made me shiver as I felt like a gazelle ready to be pounced on by a lion and devoured while still alive.

The bartender placed a glass of brandy in front of me. “I didn’t order anything,” I said.
He smiled and pointed over at the furry. “He ordered it for you.”
I looked over at him and raised my glass to salute him; he tipped his hat and nodded at me before settling back into the dark corner of the bar.

The bartender leaned against the bar. “Don’t worry, miss, the professor always likes to buy drinks for pretty girls that come in at this time. He’s harmless,” he said.

“What kind of professor is he?” I asked him.

“I teach art. You know, it’s rude to talk about someone when they are in the room.” The deep, raspy voice came from the dark corner of the bar as the lion leaned forward.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to—” Before I could finish my sentence he cut me off.
“Yes, you did. It doesn’t matter, you get used to it,” he said.

His words made me feel bad. He was right, I hadn’t cared that he was sitting right there. “Thanks for the brandy. Why don’t you come sit over here with me?” I asked as I gave him one of my best apologetic smiles.

He growled as he got up. As he stepped into the light I could finally see his full form; he was a middle-aged looking lion, dressed in a brown checkered tweed jacket and matching three-piece suit. The pipe in his mouth hung between his front teeth, and there was an air of faded pride about him. It gave his face the look of a weathered statue. In that moment I felt like a small kid seeing an important person for the first time ever.

He pulled out the bar stool beside me and sat down, extending his large paw toward me. “Professor Victor Linnaeus, Professor of Arts at the Billingham University.”

I took has paw in my hand and shook it. “Tara Duluc.” As I took my hand out of my pocket to grab his paw the note with the riddle fell down to the floor. Victor got up and knelt to pick it up, giving it a quick glance as he did so.

“That’s a good one; haven’t heard that one in some time,” he said.
I could only stare at him as he placed the note on the bar. “You know this riddle?” I asked him in disbelief. “But it’s a human one, isn’t it?”

He shrugged and took a hit from his pipe. “I teach art to all kinds of creature, even human. A student once presented me with this one,” he said.

“Do you know the answer?” I asked, surprised and glad that finally something was falling into place.

“You mean you don’t? It’s not that hard, you know,” he said with a smug smile on his face. In a way I thought he was glad he was once more the one who knew something that another didn’t. His golden eyes lit up as he blew out a large puff of smoke. “Tomorrow,” he said.

“I don’t want to have to come back tomorrow for the answer to this riddle; no matter how much I like your company.” I was frustrated; was this guy leading me on?

He smiled and shook his head, making his mane shake back and forth. “Thanks for the compliment, but tomorrow is the answer, little one,” he replied.

I was confused. He had given me the answer but it had not solved anything; in fact it had made things more complex. Tomorrow? What would be happening then? Would the girl die tomorrow? I looked at Victor. “I owe you a drink. I have to go now, but you’ve helped me a lot.” I lifted my hat and walked for the door, leaving Victor behind, probably wondering why I was leaving so soon.

Next Chapter: A new lead