Shorts: The Furry Years (10 page)

"My Dear old Uncle kicked off last night, I'm due a small fortune."

He looked down his muzzle at me, Bruce was a brown Bear and stood over a foot taller than I did. "Yeah. Right."

"Okay, so it's a lie. But I'm in a position to make some cash and I want to do something with it when I'm done. I also want the job here."

"I don't employ crooks Pen."

"I'm legal," I growled quietly and flicked my tail in annoyance. Accusations like that always set me off these days.

"Then what is it?" He growled back.

"I can't say." This sure wasn't turning out right, suddenly the whole conversation was getting well out of hand. Too many years of honest living I guess. Or at least trying to be.

"Sure right."

"If I haven't told Kera, I'm sure as hell not going to tell you Bruce!" I grumped glaring up at him.

"Then maybe I should have a talk with her about you myself," He growled back. "I promised her Mom I'd make sure she stayed clear of trouble." He looked me over, "And if there's one thing you are Pen, it's trouble.

"You don't act like any Engineer I've ever seen. And you move too well, more like a fighter even if you are just a middle weight."

"You cause problems between me and Kera...." I growled, angry now.

"And you're not afraid of anything either," He interrupted glaring down at me. "Not what I'd expect of somebody growing up in a college. I think you'd better leave Pen."

I hooked his leg and shoved him back with a simple Judo throw. Growling I moved inside and kicked the door closed behind me.

"Don't" I said as he started to get up. "You
really
want to know?" My temper was not one of my better points.

"You're not making any points with me Pen," He looked totally non-plussed. He didn't smell of fear either. That was good. Surprising for a 'simple club owner', but good.

"I used to work for the Government." I started to pace back and forth, keeping my anger in check.

"So you've told us."

"What I told you wasn't exactly true."

"That's obvious. Can I get up?"

"Nope, I'm still mad and I'm trying to make a point." I let my tail lash to vent some of my anger.

"Well I'm lost," he growled. Bruce may be old but he was still a tough customer. Probably figuring it would be easy to trash some averaged sized Leopard.

"I stole things for the Government, from other countries. They needed an Engineer, because it was military stuff. They picked me 'cause I had a background."

"Oh? What kind?"

"Not important. But it was work for them, or else ..." I paused, the implications weren't lost on him.

"Anyway, to put it briefly, I've been
asked
to handle one last case. I'm making them pay through the nose. Bruce, I need to do something with this money so I'll never have to do something like this again for them."

"So why am I on the floor?"

"Cause that's where I am dammit! And they're keeping me there too! Why do you think I can't find real work? I wanted out instead of dying on the job like a good little spy. They don't like people who quit Bruce." Suddenly I didn't feel so mad about the whole thing anymore. Maybe confession is good for the soul.

"Sounds like a fun group."

"Oh, a real garden party for sure. You can get up now."

"Thanks."

I helped him up.

"But you're still not the Bar type Pen. Too much of a temper."

"Well if you can think of something, I'd appreciate it. I really do care for Kera and I want to marry her. But I don't want to be dragging her down."

"Everybody wants to stand on their own two feet," he agreed. "I'll look around. Will you be at work tonight?"

"Sure," I smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Why won't you tell Kera anyway?" He asked as we walked over to the door. "It's not that big a deal, at least it doesn't sound like it."

"Because I want to forget every second of it. I want to pretend I never did any of it. It wasn't pretty and nothing I'm proud of." I looked at his puzzled expression, "Don't ask, it's a dirty, deadly business and you
don't
want to know!"

I opened the door then and left.

I took my time going home. I didn't know when the info I wanted would show up, or the money. So I just kicked back and cruised a while, taking my time on the trip home and stopping in at some of the shops on the way.

I eventually came home and went upstairs to my small apartment. Opening the door I stepped in. I smelt him at the same time that I heard him.

"Hello Onri. Oh wait, it's Pen now isn't it?"

Turning quickly I saw my uninvited guest sitting in a chair across the room. He wasn't armed, or at least he wasn't holding a gun.

"Jared! What a surprise!" I smiled without feeling, keeping my tail and ears under control. "What brings you here to my humble abode?"

"A two room studio? Don't they pay spies in your country?" He didn't sound happy.

"I quit, they ruined me. But if you know my real name you probably know that too. Why are you here? To kill me?"

"I should you know!" He growled, his own eyes going to slits momentarily. "My sister was heart broken when you left. She really loved you, you know."

"It wouldn't have worked Jared, I was after all, a spy. Sooner or later I would have been caught and executed. Probably by you."

"You could have turned."

"Then
they
would have come and got me!" I sighed, letting my shoulders and tail droop a bit. "Listen, don't think I didn't consider all of this back then.

"I'm sorry about it okay? Now why are you here?"

"I need your help I'm sorry to say," he said whiskers drooping and looking downcast.

"Just you?" I asked incredulously.

"Well, my country does." He looked back up and smiled craftily.

"Can I move?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Thanks. Now why should I help your country?" I walked over to the kitchenette and made myself a drink. A stiff one.

"How about me?"

"Oh yes, where are my manners?" I made him one too. "This is all I have, sorry." I handed it to him.

"That's fine," he replied and took a sip.

"So why should I betray my country and help you?"

"Because you're not betraying them and I'll pay you."

"Let's see the cash."

He pulled out a thick sheaf of bills. I walked over and took it.

"Forty grand." He said.

I pocketed it. "It'll pay for the interview. What's the job?"

"You're familiar with the Harnian State Religion of course?"

"Please," I sighed again, "don't insult me. The religion of the All-Father, the one mystical being that created us all. Each different yet the same. The separate parts making the greater whole." I paused, "Of course I am."

"You sound as if you almost believe!" He said surprised.

"I almost do," I smiled. "One of the qualities of a good spy. I
like
your country Jared. Even the government isn't all that bad. Not really any worse than what we've got here.

"But what does this have to do with the job?"

"Simple, our scholars have tracked down a very important document to our faith."

"Scholars?" I asked surprised.

"Scholars and Spies," he chuckled. "Anyway, it's a keystone to our dogma. The treatise on differing intelligences by the All-Father himself."

My ears stood up in surprise. That was an important document I bet!

"It was stolen two centuries ago from the Abbey of Stryj in the
Carpathian mountains
. The State and the Church finally tracked it here."

"They've been looking for it for two hundred Years??"

"The Church has," he admitted. "But the State got involved about thirty years ago."

"How do you know it's here?" I paced back and forth a bit, sipping my drink and thinking while letting my tail wave lazily.

"The manuscript itself was hidden inside a bronze statue of the All-Father. One of our agents saw it for sale at a secret auction four years ago. We finally tracked it here."

"So what do you need me for?" I asked looking at him.

"Its in the city, we just don't know where."

"You-Don't-Know-Where?" I laughed, "Oh come on now! You really expect me to believe that?"

"The statue was stolen from its last owner. Its gems turned up on the open market. As the Statue itself was bronze we figure it's still intact, its secret safe. So we need the help of a local. You."

I thought about it. I could help them and not get in trouble for it. Probably that is. The All-Father was very popular in this country too.

I could also charge Charilldel a fortune for 'spying' on them while I did. It would really piss him off once I told him the whole story, that's for sure!

"I'll do it." I frowned, "But I want some more cash, and your word."

"My word on what?" He asked, nose twitching suspiciously.

"That no 'Hit Teams' will ever come looking for me." I smiled, "I have enough problems worrying about my own countrymen already. One less group would be nice."

"That presents no problem." He smiled himself then and got up. "After all, it is the 'game of Foxes' and as a Fox I salute the only Leopard spy I ever met."

"Ever met and didn't kill you mean."

"That too!" And he smiled even wider, whiskers twitching again.

I showed him out, damn if he didn't poke me in the stomach as he walked by too! Then I sat down and gave in to the urge to shake violently for a while.

"That was too close for comfort!" I mumbled quietly to myself and looked at the new grooves my claws had dug in the floor. A few minutes later a thought hit me and I searched for bugs. Surprisingly I found none.

The files didn't show up till I was on my way out to the Silver Moon. They were delivered by a courier service and the envelope contained thirty grand, cash. I hid the files in my stash and went to work.

I took the bus this time so I wouldn't be late. It was packed of course, though most people were on their way home and I was heading out. I looked around for a tail, didn't spot one of course but that didn't mean there wasn't one. I'd have to start keeping my eyes open again.

I walked in the front door of the club just before six.

"Hi Pen," Said a large white Wolf who was one of the regular bouncers.

"Hi Jason." I walked over, "What's the drill?"

"Simple, anyone causes trouble with the performers or the other patrons, you give them a warning. If they don't behave then, they leave."

I cracked my knuckles thinking.

"Violence is a
last
resort" He warned growling slightly, his tail lashing once. "We don't want fights, it's bad for business."

"Oh okay," I sighed jokingly. "Actually I've never seen anybody really misbehave in here before Jason. I expect this to be an easy job."

"Hah! Not hardly. You're supposed to find trouble and stop it before it starts. Plus play go-fer for the Barkeeps, the Performers and Bruce." He led me to the stage entrance.

"Plus never sit down. It looks bad."

I nodded and made a few mental notes. "So where do I start and what do I do?"

"Front door, help the cashier with the cover charge, and don't let anyone in you think'll cause trouble."

"How should I know?"

"The cashier will point them out." He chuckled, "But I doubt we'll get any."

"What will you be doing?"