“I am not a monkey,” the female ape bellowed, her massive head shaking with rage, spittle spewing out.

“I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be frightened or nauseous,” Stella mocked, taking a judicious step backward. Dr. Munroe coughed around his pipe in surprise at the detective’s audacity. His wife did not share his bemusement at the situation.

Valeen, the violent ape and love of the doctor’s life, screamed unintelligibly, but Stella leapt forward undaunted and with a practiced and deadly accurate finger poked the big fem-bully in the eye. The ape bellowed and fell to the floor with a mighty crash, shaking Dr. Munroe’s desk and his confidence. With more than a little strut in her walk Stella retrieved her .38 from the corner of the floor where it had skidded.

“Silly apes so sensitive about their eyes,” she said with a shake of her head and a disappointed tsk-tsk. “Now where were we, doctor?”

“Up a creek,” came his weak reply.

Waving her .38 carelessly Stella remarked, “And I’ve got the paddle, sugar.”