by M. A. Owens
She started toward the door, but Kerdy stepped up and grabbed her arm. “The weapon they used to attack him… did anyone see it, or the cat who used it?”
Priscilla glared at her paw, shrugging it off. “They’re still looking into it. Someone saw a strangely dressed cat just before it happened, but they didn’t see him carrying any explosives, so they don’t think it was him. It just happened, so they’re doing interviews. If you’ll excuse me.”
Priscilla slammed the door as she walked out, and I heard the ‘open and closed’ sign smash onto the ground.
I backed against the wall, slumping onto the floor. I took off my hat and rubbed my face where Priscilla had slapped me, trying to absorb everything. Trying to think.
“Come back later, Kerdy. Now’s not the time,” I finally said.
She shook her head. “No, I’m afraid now’s even more the time than I thought.”
“So help me, Kerdy, I’ll throw you out of here myself.”
“I think I know who tried to kill your friend, Trigger, and I think I know how he did it.”
I stood back to my feet. I’d had enough. “Oh, come on! You expect me to believe that? You figured it out that fast, huh? From almost no information? I’m going to give you to the count of three, and we’re going to get paws on.”
“This is bigger than you realize, Trigger.”
“One.”
“I can help you.”
“Two.”
She sighed. “The cat’s name is Saul, and he’s from the outside, like me. He used a weapon he stole from our armory, an energy blaster, something unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It gathers power from—” She shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. The point is he’s obviously working for whoever that cat is you’ve angered, which means we’re after the same cats. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. He’s bound to be sent after you at some point. And when he does…”
I held up my paw. “Alright, that’s enough. I’m mad. Really mad, but I’m not stupid. First thing we’re doing is going to see Harvey. His wife will just have to be angry with me. Tomorrow, you can come with me to see Chief Petey. He needs to know what you know, or no deal.”
“Chief? But isn’t Patches the chief? I haven’t been away for that long, have I?” she asked, puzzled.
I rubbed my eyes with my paws. “Will you tell Petey?”
“Alright, if you think it’s necessary. I will, but we can’t go telling everyone. That weapon, and the one using it, were never meant to be in this city.”
I nodded. “I’ll take the case.”
3
I gave Kerdy the keys to my apartment and sent her on her way, then phoned Petey to pick up Lily and place her in protective custody. Once that was out of the way, I went to the hospital to check on Harvey. As expected, none of the staff would talk to me about his condition, and when Priscilla saw me I thought she’d come over and tear my head off. I sat in the waiting room, hoping to overhear what the surgeon told her when he finished.
I was there for what felt like a slow eternity. Seconds became minutes. Minutes became more minutes. More minutes became an hour. Hour into hours. Eventually I lost track. When the surgeon finally came out, I did not like his expression in the least. He looked extremely tired.
“Priscilla, right?” he asked, holding onto a clipboard with one paw, and reaching out to shake her paw with the other.
“Yes,” she replied, rushing through the introduction. “Tell me how he is, doctor. Please don’t sugarcoat.”
He sighed, and adjusting his glasses, reading over the papers in the clipboard, occasionally flipping back and forth between them. He threw up his arms, sighing even louder this time. “Mrs. Priscilla, I’m not sure how to put this. He’s stable, for now, but… that could change any time. The other good news is that Mr. Rick, his employer, has requested that he be transferred over to Adria District’s hospital as soon as he is stable enough, at his expense. Their technology and funding far outstrips ours, so his chances will improve tremendously, especially…” He trailed off.
“Especially considering… the bad news, which is what?” she pressed.
“He’s going to require several more surgeries. Several ribs were broken, both arms, one leg. One arm is badly broken. We’re not sure why, but his internal injuries are consistent with someone who was near a powerful explosion, but the police say there was no sign of an explosion nearby.”
Must be the weapon Kerdy mentioned. She was going to have to spill it. I needed to know more about this thing, and the cat using it. All of this through a brick wall? That wasn’t even the worst part. Saint, of all cats, had this weapon and the cat who knew how to use it working for him. Worst part? Yeah, right. That wasn’t even the worst part. The worst part is that we couldn’t even count on the ACPD to back Black District in taking care of this. Was that even the worst part? Was hard to pick with everything going on.
“Can I go in and talk to him?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, ma’am. I’m sorry. He’s still under, and we’re not sure when he’ll wake up. Possibly not before we transfer him to Adria. I just want you to know we’re doing everything we can.”
She didn’t answer. This was all I needed to know. I’d get up and leave quietly without her noticing. The last thing she needed was more stress. I made it only a few steps before she noticed.
“Detective!” she shouted, startling everyone that had been sitting in the quiet room.
I turned toward her, ready to accept whatever words she had for me.
“You’ll catch this scumbag, right? You’ll make him pay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, tipping my hat. “Count on it.”
I hadn’t realized just how late it had gotten to be until I stepped out into the cool night air. It felt amazing, given today’s heatwave. Only a few lamps illuminated the street, and there were no other dogs or cats to be seen. Just me, sticking to the thin strip of light, looking for anywhere to be that wasn’t my apartment. I knew better than to try to sleep. What I wouldn’t give for an early breakfast.
That’s it. Elly’s Diner was open twenty-four hours a day now. It was easy to pick out, given it was the only neon light that lit up the night near my street. Though, I wondered how long she’d be able to keep it up now. She’d only recently been able to extend her hours, on account of how much safer the streets were becoming. The thought wasn’t a comforting one.
I sat down and tossed my hat onto the table, and buried my face into my paws. I was exhausted, despite knowing for an absolute fact that I wouldn’t be able to sleep. What made me trust Kerdy with my apartment, anyway? Guess I didn’t really have time to think it through, even though, having that time now, I came to the same conclusion. I could trust her. How did I know? Same way I knew everything else. I didn’t. Just a hunch.
“Working late, Mr. Trigger?”
A feminine feline voice startled me. It was the waitress I’d met several times on my early morning biscuit runs for Petey. I liked to soften the blow any time I knew I’d be stepping over the line a bit which, unfortunately for me, and even more unfortunately for Petey, was more or less every time.
“Yeah, you could say that,” I said, deciding not to add more than that.
“You working with any clients on the explosion incident earlier today?” she asked.
“Yeah, you could say that.” I slapped my paw into my forehead, realizing I’d just repeated the same answer again. “I mean… yes. The dog in the explosion was a friend of mine. Have any of your patrons mentioned anything about it?”
She shook her head. “Not much, but I’m not sure I’d trust cafe patrons very much, detective. Everyone has their own version of the story designed to sound a little more elaborate than the last dog or cat that told it.”
I nodded. I knew exactly what she meant. It wasn’t just cafe customers that had that problem. It was every dog and cat ever born into the world, if my experience was any sign.
“Anything stand out to you, th
ough? Commonalities?” I asked.
“Hmm,” she said, scratching her chin. “Let me think about that while I get your coffee, and… a plate of scrambled eggs? It’s on the house.”
I smiled. The first time I’d smiled all day, I realized. “Thank you, ma’am. Say… I don’t think I’ve ever asked your name. Pretty doggone rude of me, now that I think of it.”
She smiled, sweetly. “Not at all, detective. Like your place, my name’s on the sign,” she said, pointing to the neon sign behind her.”
“No kidding. You’re Elly? I’m surprised.”
She tilted her head. “What about that surprises you?”
“Just that…” I started. “Well, I guess you just don’t see a lot of owners willing to get their paws dirty running their own business.”
“True, but I’ve spent too long getting my paws dirty for other dogs and cats. Doesn’t bother me to get them dirty for myself for a change.”
I nodded, smiling again. “Yes, ma’am.”
She was gone only a few minutes before returning, and in that time the only other patron had left. She sat down across from me, bringing an extra coffee of her own, sliding my coffee and a plate of eggs to my end of the table.
“There. Hope you like it.”
“Even if I didn’t, I’d not dare complain about free food, but I’m betting it’s top shelf, and I’m only a betting dog when it comes to a sure thing.”
She grinned. “It’s the least I can do. It’s because of you and the ACPD that I’m even able to run this business during the night the way I do. Just before you showed up, an officer stopped by to say hello. It’s wonderful what’s happening to this district. I had a long cry today when I heard that the victim of the blast was Harvey. His Second Chance Foundation set me up with the money to open. I’ll be so upset if he…” Seemed she wasn’t completely done with the tears after all, but she quickly wiped them away as quickly as they came, with a sniff. “He’s going to make it, isn’t he?”
I nodded, slowly. Reluctantly. “Well… they think so, ma’am. They hope so. I sure hope so.”
We started down into our coffees for a moment, deep in the same thought that we didn’t want to keep thinking. I didn’t want to think about a world without Harvey. And, most of all, I didn’t want to think about a world where it was my fault. Sadness and anger fought one another for space inside my skull.
Finally, Elly broke the silence. “But, you asked me about the stories that my patrons have been telling. One claimed there was a cat nearby who looked like he didn’t belong. Like he wasn’t from around here. He was so close they thought they were going to find him injured by the explosion, but when they ran over to see what had happened, he was nowhere to be found.”
I stabbed my fork into the eggs a few times, getting a bite ready. “I keep hearing that he didn’t fit in. That’s not the first time I’ve heard that. Anyone mention anything specific?” I asked, shoving the fork into my mouth.
“He was a big cat, lots of scars. Mostly, though, it was the way he was dressed. His clothes looked unusual, but no one mentioned anything specific. Also, please keep in mind that you’re hearing this after it’s already passed through many mouths and ears. I’d heard other things I won’t even repeat, just because I’ve been around long enough to know when something’s clearly made up just to impress others. You know what I mean?”
I nodded, swallowing the rest of the eggs I’d been briefly chewing. “Yes, ma’am. I most definitely know exactly what you mean.”
As I finished my sentence and was following it up with a sip of coffee, another cat came along and sat at one of the other tables.
“Hi there! Be with you in just a moment,” Elly shouted to them. The elderly cat just smiled and nodded. I’ll bet that cat had stories to tell, too. Under better circumstances, I might ask her to tell me a few. But, under better circumstances, I’d be at home asleep in my Kerdy-free apartment. I checked my watch. Petey would be early today and I may as well beat the sun.
“Say, Elly, mind if I get a variety bag of biscuits to go? I’m going to see Petey after I leave here, and your biscuits make the best bribe. Make it about fifteen. I’ll wait.”
She smiled and nodded, then went and took the old cat’s order at the other table.
I didn’t have to wait long before she returned. “These are on the house too, detective.”
“Oh no,” I protested. “That’s a decent sized order there. Here,” I said, reaching into my pocket.
She shook her head. “Don’t you dare, Trigger. You hear me? Keep that money in your pocket. Tell Petey hello for me.”
I sighed, knowing immediately I was fighting a losing battle, and withdrew my paw from my pocket. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“I know you’re an old-fashioned, polite sort of dog, but you can call me Elly.”
“Yes ma’am… err… Elly. Thank you for the excellent food and conversation. Be seeing you.”
I got up and pushed in my chair, saying a silent goodbye to the empty plate and coffee mug I’d left at the table.
Even after everything that had been so awful about today… well, technically yesterday… I knew today wouldn’t be much different.
4
I swung by my apartment to pick up Kerdy, before heading to what I suppose was now the Black District Police Department, or BDPD. Petey at the BDPD… as if all of this wasn’t enough of a mouthful already.
As we were walking, I couldn’t help but notice Kerdy didn’t have that noisy leg brace on anymore. She’d been wearing it the last time we’d met, when I was working on the Grand Gobbler case, and it didn’t look like the kind of injury that you’d heal from. In fact, it was more than just the lack of noise that got my attention. It was the fact she walked like a year old kitten. I had trouble keeping up.
“You seem to be doing pretty good on that leg of yours,” I pointed out, hoping to prompt an explanation.
“Yes, I am,” she said. And that’s all she said.
“That was a nasty setup you had on there the last time we met. Remember?”
“It was.”
I sighed. “Are you trying to tell me they can fix something like that outside the city? Seems a little far-fetched.”
She stopped in her tracks and stared at me with that signature Kerdy stare, like I was the biggest idiot who had ever been born and she was tiring of it.
“Yes, Trigger, that’s what I’m telling you. I thought you wanted me to save the explanations for Petey.”
“Give me a break,” I said. “Petey doesn’t give a hoot about your leg. That’s why I’m asking. I do, because the little things matter the most sometimes. No, more than sometimes. It’s almost always the little things that come back to bite you in the rear end if you just dismiss them. So, how about it? Want to tell me how you got over a severely injured leg like it was a common cold?”
She glared at me for a moment, but her glare gradually softened, as she seemed to accept my reasoning.
“It’s an artificial leg. Something different than what you’d expect. Trust me, you don’t want me to go pulling up my pant leg here in the middle of the street. It’ll attract too much attention. I only got the new one because I didn’t plan on being back here… at least so soon. Ever, if I had my way. Satisfied?”
“For now. We’re almost there, anyway.”
We entered the department, and the mood wasn’t much changed from the day before, other than some curious glances, and faces that looked like they’d gotten about as good of a night’s sleep as I had.
“Good morning, Private T,” Lulu tried, with only a shadow of her usual over-the-top chipperness.
I held up the bag of biscuits. “The usual bribe enough to see the boss?”
She nodded. “I think that’ll do.”
I sat the bag on the desk, letting Lulu pilfer through to get out what she wanted, then picked it up and made my way to Petey’s office. The door was already open, but Petey didn’t even notice us walking inside. He was resting his
head on his paws, staring down at his desk. It startled him when I dropped the bag on his desk.
“I’m told I still have to pay for the boss’s time, so have at it.”
He looked up at me, then to Kerdy, with his eyes widening a bit.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“Kerdy,” she said, flatly.
“Kerdy?” he asked.
“That’s what I said,” she snapped.
He looked to me. “Sorry Trigger, but if you’re bringing her in, I’m not interested at the moment. I can barely afford to keep myself here, much less a cat who isn’t causing problems for me. We’re supposed to arrest anyone rumored to be from the outside, so we can verify their status, but here’s a new rule… get out of my sight, stay out of trouble, and have a great life.”
“Woah, Petey,” I said, holding up my paws. “I figured that’s what your position was on the matter, but that’s not why I brought her here. She’s connected to that attack on Harvey.”
“Attempted murder, and that’s if he pulls through,” Petey corrected. “Don’t tell me she’s the strange cat they spotted nearby just before it happened.”
Kerdy was tired of waiting for her turn. “Shut your yaps for a minute, and I can clear a few things up for you. I’m not the cat that was nearby, but I am pursuing him. He’s wanted for high crimes against his people. He’ll face our laws, and our justice, or I’ll drag his corpse out of the city in a sack, whichever I find to be more convenient. What do you say? Ready to listen?”
Petey nodded, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, listening is an understatement. You have my complete, undivided attention. Don’t mind me if I eat while I listen. Helps me focus.”
Kerdy ignored him, closed the office door, and we both sat down in the chairs in front of his desk. Petey and I grabbed a couple of biscuits from the bag and ate as we listened. Seems Petey and I both had the impression that this was going to be a long story.
