“The Wolves to my right are members of the UUI security team, Frau Ilse Schuylkill and Colonel Wyatt Where, US Army Retired. Seated next to them are Mr. Mauritius Meerkat, Doctor Bear’s Executive Assistant and Mr. Otto Otter, his Special Projects Manager. (We were all getting promotions today. I’ll have to thank Wolford, later.)
Before the deliberations could begin, a light flashed on the white board and the same Phox associate ran to a partly hidden projector and started making adjustments. A blurred image of Special Agent Badger appeared and her voice echoed around the room. More tuning on both ends and she was off and running, introducing herself and recognizing the boardroom participants. The circle was complete.
The Professor looked at Octavius and rumbled, “Well, Bear, you certainly came prepared. FBI, Australian Police, even the US Army. You must really be worried.”
Keeping his voice to a not too well modulated roar, Octavius countered, “Hercules, it’s you that should be worried. If you come out of this in one piece, I’ll be surprised.”
Phileas Phox, afraid that he might lose control before things even got started, made calming noises and was joined by Wolford signaling for quiet.
The Weasel said, “Let us proceed with the discussion. We have carefully researched the situation and find that our client has been significantly damaged.”
The Bear roared, “What research? Where is your proof?”
Wolford followed up. “What evidence can you offer to back up your claims, Mr. Phox?”
Wallaroo chimed in. “The Australian Council of Industries would like the answer to that question, too.”
“So would the FBI. We strongly suspect that you and the Professor are attempting to engage in extortion based on trumped up assertions.”
Felicity Fox, the Ferret, shouted in a very un-ladylike way. “That is slander and you know it.”
The skunk just sat there glassy-eyed.
The Bear stood up erect and, glaring at the Muskox, roared, “OK, Hercules, listen closely. Do you really think I would hand over a hundred million dollars to a no-talent twit like you and your sorry solicitors? Not likely! You will not get a penny from me or UUI. You are a disgrace to the world of science and I will ensure that you never threaten anyone again.”
The Professor stood on all fours and to the surprise of many of us, roared back, sounding for all the world like an angry lion. Then he lowered his shaggy head, ran and butted Octavius amidships with his curved horns. The Bear toppled back and fell, half on the couch and half on the floor. As he scrambled to his feet he reached out and grabbed the Muskox by the horns and proceeded to twist his head left and right.
By that time, the two Wolves and Bruce broke Octavius’ grip and separated the contenders. Wolford stood between the two opponents and said, “I think, Mr. Phox, that we have reached a point where there is no benefit to continuing this meeting. You have had our initial reply in writing and we await your response supported by any facts you think you may have. We also have several witnesses including national and international law enforcement to your client’s assault on my client. We will consider whether to press charges. Meanwhile, we will bid you and your associates a good day.”
The Phox team was busy trying to restrain the Professor and we had managed to calm Octavius down sufficiently to convince him to leave while we were ahead. He wasn’t happy but he acquiesced. The Professor kept shouting, “Don’t you threaten me, you no good Ursine. You’ll be sorry.”
Octavius, always wanting the last word, shouted back, “I think it’s you who will be sorry.”
By this time, we had reached the reception area, rang for two elevators and managed to push The Great Bear into one of the cars. Otto and I joined him. The others, including the bouncing Wallaroo, took the other. Wolford said “Let’s meet in the lobby.”
As I exited the elevator, my cell phone rang. The Bearoness! “Maury? I can’t reach the Frau or Colonel. It’s snowing heavily here. I think you’d better scrub the flight back and stay over. There must be enough room in that huge hotel for all of you. The snow is supposed to stop about five tomorrow morning. I’ll call with a weather report and let you know when we have enough clear space for you to land. The Cubs are having a ball in the snow. Someone found a sled.”
I decided not to report on the debacle we just participated in. Time enough tomorrow. “Thanks, Belinda. I’ll inform the troops. Tell Mlle Woof to wrap up warm. She’ll probably end up in a snowbank with McTavish and Arabella.’
Stuck in Detroit with an angry Bear. Oh well, at least the hotel is nice and the Detroit weather is cool and clear.
Our group was standing in the lobby of the 200 building, trying to decide whether to go to dinner before returning to the airport when I arrived with the Cincinnati weather report. Octavius blew out his cheeks. “What else can go wrong? Frau Schuylkill, can you get us rooms in the hotel? Colonel, you’d better call the airport and let them know we’ll be changing our departure time to the morning. Same for our ground transportation. I guess we’d better find a restaurant. Let’s get out of this building. The Professor has his office one floor below the law firm. I don’t feel like running into him.”
We moved over to the hotel lobby where the Frau began registering our accommodations. Otto and I would share a room as would the married Wolves. Wolford took a single. So did Bruce. Octavius got a suite only to accommodate his size. We agreed to meet at six o’clock for dinner. I took care of those reservations.
Six o’clock came and went and we were all settled into our table with one major exception - Octavius. He finally arrived twenty minutes late as we were finishing off pre-dinner cocktails. A bit of theater as the staff found a seat large enough for him. He looked a bit mussed and ruffled.
“Sorry I’m late! These hotels haven’t got bathroom accommodations for animals my size. I had to improvise. Have you ordered? No? I’ll pass on the cocktail. I don’t suppose we brought any mead, did we, Frau Ilse?”
The She Wolf reached down by her chair and passed a keglet to the Bear. For the first time today, he smiled.
Dinner proceeded without incident. We agreed to hold a council of war back in Cincinnati at the Bear’s Lair tomorrow. After today’s violence, several of us believed the law firm might back off a bit. We’d have to see if we could separate them from their client. We may have scared them with our law enforcement friends.
Chapter Five
It looks like there’s trouble ahead.
The Muskox Professor is dead.
His lawyers proclaim
The Great Bear’s to blame.
Did they do the killing instead?
At six AM, my phone rang. It was the Bearoness. The snow had stopped and the mansion staff was clearing out a space for the Ursa Minor to land. I set about rousing the troops. Octavius was eager to get going and had to be talked into allowing the group to grab breakfast before we left.
Down to the garage and off to DTW airport. Onto the refueled helicopter. We were airborne by nine o’clock. The Great Bear was grumbling about delays. Perhaps he just wanted to get home to the Cubs and Belinda. In spite of his youth in the Arctic, he sure doesn’t like snow. Anyway, within a few minutes, he was sound asleep and the trip went on without incident or further griping.
Touchdown Cincinnati! (Nobody kicked the extra point.) We were greeted by two snow covered Cubs. Mlle Woof, who is all white and curly haired (Bichon Frisé) kept appearing and disappearing in the snow as she circled around her charges. The Bearoness was standing off to the side accompanied by Howard and the Condor. I assume Marlin was in his tank or the pool.
We had agreed to have a war council at two PM in the conference room. I invited Howard, Marlin and L. Condor to join us. I logged into Ursula. It goes without saying that Belinda needed no invitation. But someone else did. To my surprise, standing next to the Bearoness was her business partn
er and part owner of Polar Paradise, editor and publisher of Sow and Purr media and Octavius’ prime pain in the tail - the irrepressible Chita. It seems Belinda had made a stop in London on her way to Cincinnati and had invited the Cat to join her on the supersonic run to the Bear’s Lair. This should add to the fun.
Super-Magician Frau Schuylkill got off the chopper, headed for the mansion kitchen and started whipping up lunch. The Colonel and the hangar staff set about battening down the Ursa Minor. The rest of us trudged into the house with the Cubs capering around us.
My smartphone rang again. This time it was Special Agent Badger. “Meerkat, your boss can expect a call from the Detroit Police very shortly. Early this morning, they fished the body of Professor Hercules Ovibos out of the Detroit River. Dead with a broken neck. Octavius is very definitely an “Animal of Interest.” I too, am definitely interested. The law firm had recorded your entire meeting and a copy is now in the hands of the Detroit cops. The Bear will probably have to make another trip north tout suite. Let him know and tell Wolford and Bruce. I’ve asked the police to keep me in the loop and I’d like that same favor from you folks.”
“Ouch! Thanks for the heads-up, Honey. I’ll get to Octavius right away.”
The Bear was in his office. I signaled for Wolford and Bruce to join me there.
Octavius looked up from his desk and asked, ‘I thought we were getting together at two.”
I looked at my companions. “Change in plans. I just got a call from Honey Badger. The Professor’s body was fished out of the Detroit River this morning. Dead from a broken neck. The Detroit Police have named you as an ‘Animal of Interest’ and will, no doubt, want you to appear there ASAP. You should be getting a call shortly. It seems our friendly law firm had been recording yesterday’s meeting and has turned a copy of the tape over to the authorities. They all but accused you of murder.”
“The Detroit police suspect me? That’s outrageous. That damn Muskox attacked me!”
Wolford interrupted, “Yes, but you were probably heard issuing threats as we were leaving the office. I recall you both were shouting, ‘You’ll be sorry’ or words to that effect. Look, we need to be cooperative. Your reputation and history with law enforcement should go a long way in your favor. When the police call, let me talk to them. Bruce, call Special Agent Badger and see what she can do to keep this on a low burner. No arrests! If possible, keep the press out of it for the time being. We’ll be happy to be interviewed by the Police. Can we do it without having to travel north? We need to get a copy of that tape. Do we know who is leading the investigation?”
Frau Schuylkill stuck her head in the door. “Herr Bear, there is a Captain Ford of the Detroit police on the phone for you. He says it’s very important. Is something wrong?”
Wolford said, “I’ll take it, Frau Ilse. Maury, can you bring everyone up to speed? I’ll brief you at the end of the call.”
I stepped outside and called the team, including Belinda and Chita. The Cubs were out cavorting in the snow with Mlle Woof. I got hold of Howard, Ursula and the Condor and connected to Marlin. “Folks, it seems our belligerent Muskox is no more. He was found early this morning floating face down in the Detroit River with a broken neck. There had been an altercation between the Bear and the Muskox during the meeting in the lawyers’ office and Octavius is considered an ‘Animal of Interest’ by the Detroit police. It’s all nonsense, of course, but he and Wolford and Inspector Wallaroo are on the phone with the police right now. The FBI called earlier to warn us, so we know where they stand.”
Reactions from the group ranged from disbelief to outrage.
“It seems the law firm recorded the meeting and turned a copy over to the cops. I wonder if that recording has been tampered with. I wouldn’t put it past those low-lifes to try to frame Octavius. Condo, can you and Ursula hack into the lawyers’ systems and see what you can retrieve? Otto, do you think you can get up there and gain access to the Professor’s office with your special ‘now you see me, now you don’t’ talents? There may be some evidence that will give us a lead on what actually happened. Colonel, can you fly him up there? Obviously, we’ll have to steer clear of the constabulary.”
Belinda volunteered to make the flight but that would get the Cubs all upset. And the Bearoness makes a splash wherever she goes. The Colonel was probably the better candidate.
“Wolford and Bruce are trying to make it unnecessary for Octavius to appear in Detroit. We’ll see how that works out.”
Aided by a little intervention by FBI Special Agent Badger who listed off a litany of Octavius’ crime fighting history, coupled with the Federal Government’s awards to him for distinguished services, Captain Ford agreed to an on-line interview but wanted a high ranking member of the Cincinnati police to be present at the Bear’s Lair when it took place. They also wanted the Bear’s passport in law enforcement’s paws.
The player I had not counted on, given her tenuous relationship with Octavius, was Chita. She volunteered to go along with the Colonel and Otto to Detroit and have a meeting with the Phox firm about assisting her in a (fictitious) legal tangle relating to some jewelry she had acquired by suspicious means. Illegal catnip? No telling what she could find out about them. We had three objectives. Clear Octavius’ name. Find the real killer and put Phox, Fox and Foxx out of business permanently. This last goal suited Chita like a diamond necklace.
Frau Schuylkill wasn’t too happy about being kept on the home front but there was the Cincinnati police to contend with. I was relegated to doing my coordination and juggling act. Howard approached me and asked if I wanted Marlin, Ursula and him to do a little more research on his Particle Physics associates. Was there any connection between any of them and the now deceased Professor? Answer: Go for it!!
I called Special Agent Badger back and asked for more details on the Muskox’ demise. The coroner hadn’t finished his analysis, but it looks like he was struck several times on his head and neck with the classical “blunt instrument.” He was dead before being dumped in the river. Nothing distinctive about his clothes, if any. He was a shaggy beast with a thick coat that nearly hangs to the ground. He had “no-nonsense” horns and a thick plate in his forehead. Together they provided a formidable offensive or defensive combo for taking on enemies. Goodness knows he had enough of them. No indication yet of poison or soporifics, but they would have dramatically changed the odds in an attacker’s favor. Estimated time of death-sometime between 6 and 8 PM last evening.
His office, one floor below the Phox group, is staffed by a secretary/office manager and two research assistants - all musk oxen. They had all left for the day while the Professor was in the meeting with Octavius, the UUI team and the lawyers. He was known to have a violent temper and his staff turned over frequently as a result. They, too, are being treated as ‘Animals of Interest’ as well as a few of his former employees. But at the moment, Octavius is the prime suspect, thanks to the lawyers’ tape. That’s all the Special Agent had or was willing to disclose.
Never in a million years would I suspect Octavius of murder. Besides, he was with us at dinner from 6 and 8 PM. Except, except, except, he arrived twenty minutes late, looking disheveled. A blank space that needs to be filled. I called in Wolford, Bruce and the Wolves and as a group, we went to the Great Bear’s office to bring him up to speed.
Chapter Six
Condors fly through the Andean air.
In the States they’re incredibly rare.
They can endlessly soar
On wings ten feet or more.
Climbing thousands of feet with no care.
He was sitting behind his massive desk looking not at all happy. “OK, what news of fresh disasters do you have for me now?”
“Well,” I replied. “the Detroit Police are examining that tape of the meeting. I don’t think you come across as a particularly mild-mannered husband and parent.
(Snort from the Bear) Wolford talked them out of you having to be there physically for a deposition, but they are arranging for the Cincinnati Police to come by and represent them in a joint interview over Skype. That should happen in just a bit. Meanwhile, Condo and Ursula are hacking into the systems at the Phox firm and the Professor’s office. The Colonel is flying Otto back up to Detroit along with Inspector Wallaroo to physically search the offices. Not strictly legal but this is war! Wolford and I are staying here to assist in your interview and oh, yes! Madame Catt (Chita) is going along to the Phox firm to seek representation in a (fictitious) case of suspected jewelry fraud. We have to avoid entrapment there but it’s one way of getting inside the lawyer’s fortress and watching how they work. Who knows what she’ll turn up as a client?”
The Bear was not pleased. “I don’t like any of this, but I can’t think of any other tactic that can squash this whole thing. What we really need to do is find the real killer. Any thoughts on that?”
“Well, there are the old-time favorites: Motive, Means and Opportunity.”
“As for motive” said Wolford, “You might want to include most of this cosmos and several other alternate worlds. It seems the Muskox was just about universally hated. Employees; victims - real and prospective; members of the science and technology communities; publishers; academics. God knows what his personal life was like, if he had any. I can’t imagine a female putting up with him.”
Octavius looked up at the ceiling. “You forgot one group. The Phox Law firm. They may have seen him as their potential meal ticket until he and this phony suit got out of control. You know, kill him off, blame me and frame me, cut their losses and get on to more lucrative opportunities.”
I piped up. “I’d be willing to put some money on that possibility. They are a slimy bunch.”
Back to Wolford. “As for means, any old, disposable, blunt instrument could do the trick and with his office one floor below the law firm, there would be ample opportunities.”
The Suit Case Page 4