Shorts: The Furry Years (11 page)

"Watching the dressing room entrance mostly. And circulating. Once the crush at the front door subsides, make sure you do that too."

"Okay."

"But first follow me."

So I followed him down into the basement, where I was loaded with cases of beer by Witnauer to take up to the bar. After four trips I was sent to my station at the door.

The night went pretty well. Kera came in about seven and gave me a real big hug and kiss.

"Thanks Pen," She smiled, her tail dancing in obvious delight.

"No, thank you Kera," I purred back. "I appreciate the help."

She purred as well then and headed for the dressing rooms. Phil, the Rabbit working the cash register shot me a grin too.

"Made her day."

"Yeah, mine too."

The other employees showed up over the next hour as the patrons started to fill the place. There were quite a few employees of the Silver Moon. A four piece band, seven other performers, another bartender, two waitresses, a waiter, one cook and a busboy.

I had been coming here for years as a customer, but I never realized there were so many working here.

It was a busy night, and things moved along fairly quick. I only had to ask two people to behave; it was a quiet night in that aspect. I did stop and watch Kera's first act. It was good as always, though the song she sang and the way she winked at me made it obvious that the first one was for me.

Too bad I was working now, I couldn't meet her in her dressing room after her first act!

As it was a Thursday night, the Club closed relatively early. By
two o'clock
, the last patron was ushered out and the doors were locked.

"How'd it go?" Bruce asked coming up to me as I waited by the door letting the last few customers out.

"Fine. How late do you need me?"

"Just help Jason put the chairs up and lock the place. Then you can go."

"Okay."

It didn't take long and Kera was waiting for me when I finished.

"Hey stud, what's up?" She grinned.

"Obviously you!" I laughed.

"Oh? And you're not?" She purred sliding closer to me.

My tail stood up a little higher and my ears perked up.

"I didn't say that love!" And I gave her a little nip. "Want some company?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" She purred again.

We left together for her place.

The next morning I gave her the money. All seventy grand worth.

"Pen!" She gasped, "Where did you get this?"

"I've been asked to help someone recover some stolen property." I smiled.

"Seventy grand worth?" She growled warningly, her ears laid back along her skull.

"Probably more actually," I sighed. "And yes it could be dangerous. But that's only where half of that came from."

"Oh?" Her ears not only went back down, but her eyes were getting slitted and her tail was starting to lash back and forth.

"The rest is from my old boss. He wants me to spy on these people and I'm making him pay."

"I thought you used to work for the Government." It was a simple statement. She didn't seem clear on what was going on, or very happy about it either.

"I did, and he still does. They work for a different one. It's all legal, safer than what I used to do - at least I hope it is. And I don't want to go into debates. At least not now."

I looked at her pleadingly, "Please?

"Why?"

"It involves a lot of stuff I'd rather forget. But if you really want to know," I sighed then, "I'll tell you."

"Later," She smiled her ears perking back up and her tail curling around my waist. "Just as long as you're not a criminal."

"I'm not," I smiled. After all, a spy is a legal occupation, at least in your own country's eye that is!

"What should I do with this?" She asked eyeing the stack I had given her.

"Save it, deposit it, whatever. Just be discrete. I don't want people wondering where you got it from. But your folks had money so I figure you won't get asked too many questions."

"My folks had money!" She laughed. "Where'd you get that idea?"

"Well compared to mine they did!" I laughed back. "Probably why I never learned to save."

We cuddled a little while longer, then I kissed her goodbye and left.

"You be careful," she gently reminded me as gave her a parting nip.

"Of course!" I grinned back.

I took the early morning bus back to my place, when I got there Jared was waiting inside.

"You keep this up and I'll have you arrested for breaking and entering," I growled annoyed.

"Sorry, old habits die hard," he grinned. "Besides, I'm here on a diplomatic passport. I'm immune."

I threw my hands up at that. "Still, I'd like my privacy. Okay?"

"Don't worry, I didn't look around."

I went to the next room and checked my stash. It was undisturbed, so I took him at his word. Pulling out the documents there, I walked back into the other room and collapsed on the couch.

"Where were you last night anyway?"

"Ask your tail man," I growled flicking my tail in agitation.

"Didn't bother with assigning one."

"Then why ask?"

"Old habits," he sighed. "What's that?" He indicated the envelope that I had emptied and was going through.

"Nosey bastard aren't you?" I laughed and handed him a photo of himself. Obviously taken as he left the local Harnian mission one morning.

"Lousy shot," he observed. "I thought you quit?"

"They asked me to take a special job. I needed the cash." I looked up at him, "And frankly when I heard you were in town I got concerned about my health."

"When was this?"

"Two nights ago. Before you showed up."

"This complicates things then."

"Not really. I won't turn in my report till after you've gotten your statue. I was just told to spy, not steal."

"How can I trust you?" He asked eyes narrowing.

"Cause I
hate
them," I snarled. "But I like you, more or less."

"Oh really?" He said sarcastically.

"Actually it's a favor to your sister." I looked up at him again, and showed my fangs. "I don't want her to wear black."

"What makes you think that you could?"

"There's a mine under your butt."

"What, that small thing under the cushions? I disarmed it yesterday"

"There's a claymore under the floorboards, I'm not stupid you know."

"I guess not," he stood suddenly, "and if I killed you and she found out.... Well it wouldn't be pretty. Even if she has found another."

"I'm glad to hear that," I smiled slightly. "Now, show me what you've got and give me another thirty grand."

"Rather steep isn't it?" He pulled out an envelope like the one I was going through.

"Then leave."

He dug out the cash instead, tail fluffed in annoyance. Now that he was standing he was much easier to read.

"Let me think a bit okay?" I told him and started going over what I had.

He dragged the chair to a different spot and sat down. I smiled at that and started looking through all the info.

The stuff from my side was mostly pictures of everybody who had recently arrived in the area. Other than Jared's picture I only recognized two others. One was Jared's assistant, the other was his muscle, a Badger named Reg. Somebody I usually avoided.

"Has Reg really killed all these people?" I asked trying to goad him as I looked over the stuff.

"Them and more," he smiled craftily.

Smart ass Fox.

"Keep him away from me, okay?" I growled. "Any of his kind of trouble and the other agencies will be all over the place."

"I understand."

"Good"

I fished through the rest of what 'my side' had provided. There was a badge and an ID inside as well. I pocketed those, they might come in handy, and it made me official too.

Next I examined what he had given me. There were several drawings of the statue. One was what it probably looked like without the gems. That was good. Then there was some info on who had sold one of the gems from it. That was good too.

Especially as I knew him.

"Okay, let’s go." I tossed it all in the sink and burned it. Except the one drawing I wanted.

"Both of us?" He looked surprised.

"Sure, why not? Somebody has to pay for my expenses!" I chuckled, rumbling deep in my throat.

"Where to then?"

"This fence who sold the stone, Rundle."

"You know where he is?" He asked surprised.

"You could say that," I chuckled again. "You bring a car?"

"Of course."

"A driver?"

"No."

"Good, give me the keys. I'll drive."

He grumbled a little, but handed them over.

A half hour later we drove into the less respectable part of town. I kept far away from here myself. Too many bad memories.

Things hadn't changed much and I quickly found the alley I wanted. I parked in front and got out. Jared followed.

"Here?" He looked around with disgust. "I think we should go get Reg, and maybe a Marine or two as well!"

"The Marines wouldn't last." I commented as I walked into the alley. Jared followed cautiously.

I followed the route by memory and the door was still there. I checked it, it was unlocked so I opened it and stepped in.

There was a young tiger standing behind the counter with a shotgun. He growled and looked at the two of us. "Get your pampered police asses out of here before I shoot 'em off!"

"Cool it kid. Tell your boss that Penknife is here."

"Penknife?" He asked still growling. "I've never seen or heard of no Penknife!"

"Then I suggest you ask Runner before one gets jammed through you neck," I purred. "We'll wait."

He eyed us both then left the room for a minute. I could hear him use a phone of some kind, but it had some kind of a hush screen on it. I couldn't hear what he said.

When he came back he had a whole different attitude.

"Follow me," he said.

A few doorways later we ended up in a nicely furnished room. It had one occupant, a Pack Rat.

"Penknife! Long time guy! Where you been?" He said getting up and shaking my hand.

"Here and there Runner. How is everybody?"

"Lets see, been a long time since you disappeared. Lev, Kenny and Crants are dead. Crants OD'ed, the others got it in fights. Cherise left town when Lev died, I hear she's doing well. Stoc and Terr both left town and haven't been heard from. Your brother died in a holdup back around when you dropped out. Everybody wondered why you weren't at the funeral. Where'd you go anyway?" He eyed me curiously.

"I was with him," I said quietly. "That's why I didn't come back."

"Oh, lying low?" He grinned.

"No, I got caught."

"Oh!" He said getting quiet. "Nobody saw nothing about it. Sorry or we would have visited you."

"That's okay. I wasn't anyplace you could visit. First offense and all that crap, so they offered me one of those 'deals'. I took it of course and was shipped out immediately."