by M. A. Owens
“That’s great. It’ll be nice to have the company around here.”
“Speaking of which, has anyone been by looking for me the past few days?” I asked.
Zelda opened the giant notebook sitting on her desk, flipping back through the last few pages. “As usual, most folk aren’t willing to leave information when you’re not here, but there was a younger cat who suspected his wife of cheating. Oh, and the next day there was a younger cat who suspected her husband cheating… I wonder if they’re a couple… There’s also Lily, who came by to say hello. You know, you should really go see her sometime. She’s such a sweet girl.”
I could practically feel Petey’s grin behind me. “She sure is. Anyone else?”
“Just the dog who thought his neighbor was messing around his garden. He insisted you got the meeting place wrong and was furious. I had to show him my own notes to prove to him you had agreed to meet at the diner. He finally admitted his mistake and gave his number and home address this time. Plum Street. It’s a short street, and his is the only house with a garden.”
“If you don’t mind, call and tell him that he’s the next case on my list. But it may be a while.”
“One step ahead of you, detective.”
“You’re the best, Zelda. I’d be useless without you.”
She beamed. “That’s very kind of you to say. It’s nice for an old lady like me just to have something to do, and to buy a new book from time to time.”
“That does sound pretty nice when you put it like that.” I nodded to Petey. “Alright, we better get to it, then. Hold all my calls, Zelda.”
“You got it,” she said.
He and I stepped into my office, and I motioned for him to close the door behind him. I sat down at my desk, and he sat across from me. “So, what’s in the envelope you brought with you from the department?”
“Ah, so you did notice.”
“Of course. Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“Fair enough. It’s our first lead.” He pulled the envelope out of his jacket and tossed it on the desk, then opened it and emptied the contents. “You and I can put together a little undercover getup and have a chat with this cat. He’s one of the few registered FLP cats in the district, and he's even one of the higher ups.”
I took one look at the paper, let out a lengthy sigh, looked up at Petey, and shook my head. I tapped the photo at the top of the page. “Won’t work, Petey. Cat knows me. In fact, he’s not even here anymore.”
He leaned back in his chair. “You know Chancey?”
“Unfortunately. He was one of the two cats that picked me up for those two involuntary meetings. Even if he were here in Black District now for some reason, it wouldn’t be wise to show him my face, disguise or no disguise. How many one-eyed Chihuahuas go around asking people questions?”
“See, Trigger. You’re always so negative. Sure, maybe we can’t just go talk to the guy right now, but what else can we do?”
“Call it a day and go play a round of golf?” I joked.
“Hilarious. Maybe narrow it down a bit.”
“We look into all of his connections now, knowing how closely connected he is to Saint. But you know… Hold on, wait just a minute!”
He leaned in closer. “Yeah?”
“Take a look at this,” I said, pointing to the sheet. “Turns out he has a sister, Petey.”
“She the other cat that picked you up?”
“Even better, turns out I met her before I met him. She’s got a cushy job at the bank headquarters. Herman’s right-paw cat.”
He laughed. “See what I mean? You think that is our inside cat at the bank?”
“Maybe… Seems a little too obvious to me. Then again, I have a tendency to over-analyze things.”
“Me too. Was always something I admired about Buddy when we were partners. He knew how to go with this gut without spending too much time thinking everything over.”
“Yeah, because he had you for a partner. You did all the analysis, I’d guess. Say, what was it like working with Buddy, anyway?”
“You should know. You’ve worked with him before.”
“Yeah, but that was just the once. You guys worked cases every day for years, right?”
“Well… To be honest, we didn’t get along so great at first. He was a cop’s cop. He liked to run his mouth and was always looking to make a show of our accomplishments. I’m the opposite. I just want to work my cases and go home. My wife prefers that too.”
“You know, that reminds me, I’ve never met your wife.”
“Really? We’ll have to get together sometime. Have you over for dinner. She makes a mean chicken casserole.”
“I’ll take you up on that. But back to Buddy.”
“Right. Buddy and I became good friends in time. Turns out we complemented each other well. But, I still think we both do better on our own. I think Patches thought so too, and that’s why he sent Buddy over to Adria for the high-profile position and left me to my own devices in the Black District.”
“That bitterness I detect there, lieutenant?”
“Oh, no. None, and sorry if I gave that impression. Buddy was the right dog for that job if there ever was one. He’s a born leader, and he’s got the guts and energy to keep things together in all the chaos of Adria. I’m wired a little different, is all. Know what I mean?”
I grinned, confident I knew exactly what he meant. “I think so. Let’s get back to the case. We’ve been able to make more sense of everything that’s happened so far. It’s virtually guaranteed that Sunny is the informant. It fits with everything so far. It would also explain why Chancey is a higher up in the FLP, and why he moved to Adria District. It explains almost everything. Still, it will be dangerous to move around in Adria right now. We’ll need a disguise, but is there nothing we can do here first?”
Petey slumped back in his chair, scratching his chin. “That friend of yours who was so good with forgeries, he still in the district?”
“You don’t already know who it is? Alright, but if I tell you who it is do you promise to leave the guy alone? So help me, if anything-”
“You mean, do I agree to overlook a very serious crime of forging two fake identities for the purpose of misleading district security and possibly using them to mislead or otherwise defraud who knows how many others in the Adria District?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Yeah, Petey. That’s exactly what I mean.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“It’s Harvey.”
He tilted his head. “What?”
“Harvey.”
Petey stood up and paced a slow circle around the room, his paw against his forehead, and his mouth partway open. “Harvey? The beagle, Harvey?”
“Harvey, Petey. We were at his wedding, Harvey. He embarrassed me to death, remember?”
“I would’ve never guessed it. Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word of it.”
“Good. Before we head over there, any suggestions on a disguise?”
“Unless you think it’s too compromised, reuse that Carson disguise you used over there before. Might make it easier if both new identities don’t magically appear in records at the same time.”
I nodded. “Good call. Carson the insurance investigator is back in action. What about you?”
“Well, I’d like to be an insurance investigator too.”
“Alright, so you’re the boss, tagging along to give me a field exam?”
He grinned. “I was thinking the opposite. I don’t give off the convincing boss vibe. Clumsy, speak slowly, and folk almost never assume I’m a cop when they meet me. Let’s play into that. How about… Marley? Rookie investigator already in trouble for dropping the ball on his first case, now tagging along with a more experienced investigator, his last chance to redeem himself and keep his job.”
“Sure, but there’s only one big problem with that.”
“What’s that?”
“What if I end up enjoying bossing you around to
o much?”
19
Petey wanted to stop by his house on the way to Rose Garden Estates to see Harvey. He wanted to change into street clothes, just in case someone could be watching, and I wouldn’t be seen walking around with a police officer. Not that Petey really looked like a police officer, anyway. Between the baggy raincoat and wrinkled suit, I didn’t think anyone would make the connection, so I told him we could forget it and save the daylight. He agreed.
Rose Garden Estates had changed little since last I visited, which, just as with all my other friends, was far too long. The place still stood out like a sore thumb in the Black District. It was a gated community complete with white picket fences and a park in the middle where no pups or kittens ever played. Everyone there was ancient for the most part.
There were, however, a couple of young dogs, one of which was Lily, whose missing ruby collar spurred my unexpected meeting with Rico, the master thief who just so happened to be the secret master thief alter ego of Rick, one of the richest business dogs in the city. This then led me to this very neighborhood where I met Lily’s aunt, Agatha, who had an insurance fraud scheme set in motion that set me on the course of my next big adventure. Hunting down the Grand Gobbler, one of the most valuable golden statues that ever existed, a gift to the very first mayor of the city. And here we were again. Small city.
The security dog at the gate recognized both Petey and I, and let us through without hassle. I couldn’t help but notice that Petey was looking every house up and down, like he was some kind of real estate agent.
“Thinking of moving here when you retire?” I asked.
He laughed. “On a lieutenant’s salary? Yeah, right. If I’m lucky, I can retire somewhere the roof doesn’t leak. No, I don’t like it here all that much. No offense. I know you have some friends here. It’s just that place like this seems a little too… perfect. Know what I mean?”
I nodded. “I was actually just thinking about that. You know, all the major cases I’ve had, starting with the Mr. B case, then the Grand Gobbler case, and now this one, they all have this place in common.”
“This would be the perfect place to hide out. I’ll bet this place hides some important dogs and cats. Maybe some of Mr. B’s employees. Maybe anybody. If I wanted to disappear somewhere, this place would be at the top of my list.”
I looked down at my feet as I walked, contemplating for a moment. “You know, that’s kind of a scary thought.”
“Hey, private detective!” I heard a shout coming from our left. I looked over to see that it was Rover, the young lawyer I met when investigating a series of robberies here a while back.
“Yeah?” I shouted in return.
“What kind of trouble are you bringing with you today?” he asked without looking up from watering his flowers.
“Hello to you too, Rover. I guess I have that kind of reputation, don’t I? Just visiting friends today. I’m off the clock.”
“Well, that’s a relief. But let me know if I should run in and lock up all my valuables. Give a dog fair warning, will ya?”
He was already snickering, but I wasn’t entirely sure he was joking. Rover wasn’t exactly what I would call a friendly dog. Then again, I guess neither was I.
“Valuables are safe today, far as I know.”
He said nothing else. He just raised one paw in a dismissive gesture, again without looking up from his flowers. I half expected to run into Lily, but her house was farther down from Harvey’s. We wouldn’t be going that far.
A few moments later we were standing in front of Harvey’s door, and I knocked nervously. Priscilla, his wife, answered the door with a pup in her arms. It took me a moment to make the connection. I grinned, and pointed to the pup, then to her, then to Harvey as he came up behind her. “Is that who I think it is?”
Petey nudged my shoulder. “I think he’s trying to ask you if that beautiful pup there belongs to you.”
She smiled. “Why yes, yes he does. We were just released from the hospital two weeks ago. Come on in.”
Harvey held out a cigar box in front of Petey and I. “Cigar?”
Each one was individually wrapped with a single blue ribbon. I’d almost forgotten about this custom. I think it was more common in Adria than here, where dogs and cats can afford decent cigars.
“No thanks,” I said. “Can’t stand those things.”
Petey reached in and grabbed a couple. “Oh, don’t mind if I do. I’ll take Trigger’s too, if that’s alright.”
“Don’t mind at all. Take a few more, actually. I got extra.”
Petey stuffed about half a dozen in his pocket.
“Didn’t take you for a cigar smoker, Petey,” I said.
Petey winked at me. What was he up to?
“Actually, I agree with Trigger. These aren’t exactly high-dollar cigars, and I’m not a big fan either. Anyway, what brings you two here?” Harvey asked.
Petey put his paw on my shoulder again, likely sensing my tension at hearing the question. He spoke quietly. “Mr. Harvey, I’m afraid it’s not your foundation I’m here about today. The problem I need help with is bigger than the Black District. In fact, do you have an office where we can sit down and talk about this, just us boys? I wouldn’t mind lighting up one of these cigars, I just don’t want to do it around the pup or the wife.”
Harvey nodded, motioning us to follow.
Petey was an old-fashioned sort of dog. I knew that he was just trying to spare Priscilla, who he assumed was a fragile lady, the stress of her husband being involved in potentially dangerous business. If I knew ahead of time that Petey was going to try to trick her, I could have warned him ahead of time to save his breath. Just as I expected, Priscilla called out to us from behind, and I immediately braced for impact. “Excuse me, Lieutenant. You don’t think I actually believe that you want to smoke that cigar, and you’re just sparing me the second-hand smoke, do you?”
Petey turned around slowly, with one of those Petey smiles plastered sheepishly on his face. “Ma’am?”
“You’re just saying that, so you can ask Harvey to do something dangerous again without me around. Did I guess right?”
Petey scratched the back of his neck. “You caught me red-pawed.”
She sighed. “Thank you for coming clean, at least. We can discuss this right here in the kitchen, or you can show yourselves out.”
Petey elbowed me in the shoulder, then looked back to her, still smiling. “You know, if you ever need a job, you should come talk to me at the department.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Lieutenant,” she said. “So, what brings you here?”
“I’m afraid we need an expertly forged identity, complete with papers, ma’am.”
“Is this an official request from the ACPD?”
“No, ma’am. I’m sorry to say this, but it’s a personal request,” he said.
She looked to Harvey. “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. It would be illegal if they tried to make you do it. They can’t.”
Petey nodded. “Yes, ma’am. That is correct.”
Harvey walked up behind the two of us, putting a paw on each of our shoulders. “I’ll do it. But you really should come by more often, just to visit. Not just Trigger, but both of you.”
I let out an enormous sigh of relief. “Sure, but I think you and I have the same problem.”
“Yeah, and what’s that?” Harvey asked.
“We can’t stop getting dragged into things we didn’t ask to be dragged into. Thanks for being willing to save the city one more time, pal.”
“No need to be so dramatic. Come with me. Let’s dust off these old tools and get to work. I’m making you two help me, that way if the police do come knocking on my door, you two are going down with me as my accomplices.”
Petey laughed, apparently finding the joke a lot funnier than I did, as we followed Harvey to his basement in our work.
20
In the next few hours, Petey and I learned more a
bout making counterfeit documents than any dog (or cat for that matter) had any business knowing. It impressed me that Harvey had kept all his tools and not just thrown them out, the way he seemed to have thrown out that old life in every other way.
“Okay, ‘Marley’, here’s everything you’ll need to have on you. Of course, one thing some seem to forget is that it doesn’t just stop there. Marley needs some history. Work history. Sometimes a minor criminal history, just to throw others off your scent. In your case, I simply had you investigated for trespassing charges that you were later exonerated from. You were set up. See how these little webs of distraction we weave can work to put someone off from why they were looking into these records in the first place?”
Petey scratched the back of his neck, grinning. “You’re an artist, Harvey. You know that?”
Harvey shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Well, I’ve had many people tell me that in my life. Let’s just say you’re the first who said it that I’ll take as a compliment.” He turned his attention to me. “You really think this is that dangerous, like maybe even another Mr. B situation?”
I took a deep breath and hesitated. “I sure hope not, Harvey. But if I’m being honest? Yeah, I think so. He has too many paws tied, and almost no one will be able to do anything about it until it’s too late to do anything about it at all. By the time the police can get involved with the political party, he may already have too many cops on the payroll. Even if Patches does something about it, he may have unreliable officers feeding him false information or judges dismissing the cases he sends before them anyway. Same old story, just a different cat. I’d bet my good eye that he’s done things that would give Mr. B pause. There’s nothing more dangerous than getting on the bad side of an ideologue, and I think he’s given me my last chance to make what he believes is the right choice.”
Harvey half smiled, not sure what to say, and looked back down at his work.
Petey patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. We won’t let that happen. Well, we’ll do our best, anyway.”