Napoleon stared at the dog and the dog defiantly stared back at him. It was sitting atop the sofa in Waverly's office, unmoving or perhaps challenging was the better word?
He was called Asta, so named after the wire-haired terrier in the 'Thin Man' movie series from the 1930's and 40's and chronicled the adventures of Nick and Nora Charles...and their dog.
Solo recalled those films, with Myrna Loy as Nora and William Powell as Nick Charles who was a martini-swilling, wise cracking detective...based upon the writing of Dashiell Hammett.
They were portrayed as high society people and Asta their dog was a high-society pup who seemed to be able to find dead bodies and sniff out guns hidden in drain pipes. The movies were light-hearted and enjoyable as there was great chemistry between all the stars, including Skippy who played the role of Asta.
But this Asta, the one who was staring Napoleon down at the moment was anything like the silver screen dog, that one was prone to hiding under beds with his paws over his eyes when the going got rough.
No, this dog was formidable, he could just tell and it was a good thing Illya wasn't here at the moment as the creature would probably go for the Russian, sensing his fear of canines.
Napoleon had yet to meet Asta's owners who were close friends of Alexander Waverly's and as the doors opened to the conference room where Solo and the dog waited, Waverly and his friends entered.
Napoleon's jaw dropped as he saw the couple...they were the spitting image of Myrna Loy and William Powell, and as soon as the dog spotted them he barked, running to them, wagging its stub of a tail and leaping up and down at their feet.
"Oh Asta behave! Remember we're guests here," the woman said. Her voice reeked of culture, and lofty manners.
"Ah yes Mr. Solo, good of you to be here on time," Waverly spoke." May I introduce Mr. and Mrs Charles."
"Charles? As in Nick and Nora Charles..."
"The one and only," Nick extending his hand in greeting.
"Beg pardon, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you William Powell who starred in the Thin Man series?"
"Well of course I am my good man, but that's my screen name. In real life I'm Nick Charles. Now I know that's confusing as I'm sure you probably thought that Nick and Nora Charles were created by Hammett, but in reality he based his characters on my wife and myself, and Asta too. Who I see you've met, though this isn't the original Asta. Dearest, what is he the third?"
"Darling, I don't have time to keep track of such trivialities," Nora held out her hand, and Napoleon quickly took it and kissed it.
"Ahhh, it's nice to see Alexander that you employ true gentlemen."
Waverly cleared his throat, "Well yes for the most part."
"So let me get this straight," Napoleon grinned. You portrayed yourselves in your Thin Man movies, and you're not really Myrna Loy and William Powell."
"Well we are really Myrna and Bill too," Nora said. "That's what we're known by in Hollywood. Nick though in reality is retired from his private eye days which were long ago. Mr. Hammett hired me for a job and was inspired to write about my adventures. Since Nora and I had already established ourselves as actors in Hollywood, it was simple for us to step into the roles as ourselves. Now we a performing much less, goodness Nick what was your last role?
"Oh that movie with Hank Fonda and Cagney... Mister Roberts. I had difficulty remembering my lines, plus I was having bouts of illness, and the shoot in Hawaii was tough. That's when I decided it was time to retire. I tell you there was never a dull moment on set when it came to the director John Ford and Fonda, who never saw eye to eye. Ford actually slugged him in the jaw! Yes sir, what a dilly of a film that was!" Nick cracked wise. "Ford left the film after that, never worked with Fonda again. Mervyn LeRoy and later Joshua Logan took over as directors, but in the end Ford was given screen credit as well. Now Alex, what about those drinks you promised.
"If I may impose Mr. Solo if you could be so good as to make a round of martini's ...gin please?" Waverly asked.
Napoleon dutifully welt to the liquor cabinet and did as requested and had the drinks made in a few minutes. He poured a scotch on the rocks for himself as he wasn't a fan of gin.
"This is all very fascinating but may I ask is this a social visit Mr. and Mrs. Charles? I have a funny feeling it isn't." He handed them their drinks.
"Nick and Nora if you please? And to answer your question, not quite."
Solo's eyebrows rose only in mild surprise.
"We've asked Alex to help us solve a mystery...you see Asta found a gun this morning beneath the stoop of our brownstone here in New York, and not a block away a body was found, a publishing acquaintance of ours," Nora said as she sipped her martini. "We're not quite sure how to go about it? If we get the police involved then our secret lives would be revealed, and we're not up to that sort of hoopla any longer. Here in New York we're out of the limelight and can live very happily. Back in Palm Springs we have to live a lie and apart from each other," Nora sighed.
"Now this is where you come in Mr. Solo," Waverly said."You'll be teaming up with Asta, as the dog has excellent instincts, and nose."
Napoleon cast a sly glance at his boss. He had a feeling this assignment was going to be like and old fashioned murder mystery, and he was sure Illya, who was on assignment in Sumatra, would never believe this one.
He looked at the dog again, who growled at him this time…
"Peachy," Solo said under his breath.