2 Lady Luck Runs Out by Shannon Esposito Page A

entrance.
    I adjusted my straw bag and straightened my shoulders. "Come on. That's the biggest one we'll see today."
    "It better be," Mallory whispered.
    We paid the guy at the window and stepped through the door. The air inside the building was warm and moist. The lighting was dim. The smell was not pleasant. Rows and rows of glass cages lined the room. In the middle of the room sat tables with displays of skeletons, papery skins and laminated information about the reptiles.
    I walked cautiously to the first glass cage to my right and peered in.  Curled up on the pebbles and straw was a mass of light brownish muscle with beady black eyes. I read the sign on its cage.
    "The King Cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world." Yikes. I glanced at him. "Well, hello there largest venomous snake in the world. So glad you're behind that glass." I fought a shiver.
    "He's kind of cute." Mallory pressed her face closer to the glass. "Hey, big guy. It's gotta be boring in there for you."
    "I'm not sure snakes can get bored." Though, who knows? Maybe they do. I moved to the next cage, leaving Mallory to her conversation. "Wow, hey, Mal, check this guy out." I scooted over to make room for her. We stared at the slim snake decorated with red, yellow and black bands of color.
    "You're a pretty one," Malory said, leaning down to get closer. "Must be a girl."
    I glanced at the sign. "Eastern Coral Snake. Reclusive, has to literary chew on you to inject venom."
    Mallory laughed. "Poor thing. It needs longer fangs." She moved on to the next cage.
    I glanced around. What was that noise? It sounded like someone had turned on a sprinkler. I crossed the room and peered into the cages. Some of the snakes were very active, bobbing around and pressing themselves against the glass. They were all stunning in their own way.
     Ah, there was the source of the noise. I stepped closer, feeling just a bit uncomfortable as I stared the large rattlesnake in the eye. It was coiled up, a pile of brown scaly muscle, the end of its tail shimmying in warning.
    "That's her," a male voice said behind me.
    I jumped a little and turned. "Oh, hey, McGillis. Startled me. I didn't hear you come in. This is her? Oh, the snake that killed Rose Faraday?"
    He had his hands resting on narrow hips, an appreciative smile on his face. "Yep. She's a bugger, too."
    Mallory joined us. "So, this is the murderess."
    I shot her a look. "She was just doing what comes naturally to snakes. Following her instincts." I pictured the man-sized shadow creeping up to the lanai from the vision. Yeah, he or she was the one responsible for Rose's death. Not this stunning creature behind the glass. How was I going to find out who that person was?
    "So, McGillis, I know that these snakes are native to Florida but do people also keep them as pets?"
    "Well, not pets per se . But there are currently five people in St. Pete that have class three licenses to own venomous reptiles."
    "Do you think this snake could have..." I chose my wording carefully, "escaped from one of those people and ended up in Rose's living room?"
    He stared at the snake for a moment. "I suppose it's possible. That would explain her close proximity to civilization. They're pretty shy and tend to stay away from people. But we are acquainted with all the herps in the area and I don't recall any of 'em keeping a rattler. Besides, if she was a pet, she should have been microchipped. It's the law."
    "Herps?"
    "Herpetologists. People who are into reptiles."
    "Oh." I nodded and wiped at my brow with the back of my hand. Boy, it was warm in here. "Is there a public record of those licenses?"
    "Everything is a matter of public record nowadays." His eyes darkened and then he forced a smile. "Hey, do you want to watch a feeding?"
    "What do y'all feed them?" Mallory asked, a touch of panic in her voice.
    "Nothin' live, don't worry," he chuckled. "Frozen rats or mice."
    My stomach clenched. Even if they weren't live, I didn't want to see