Shorts: The Furry Years (12 page)

"So why are you here now?"

"You sold a gem last year, I want to know who you fronted for."

"You know I can't tell you that Pen!" He groaned looking worried and his eyes started darting back and forth as his fur bristled.

I handed him the sketch. "My friend here is looking for this piece. It's a religious item, so the gems don't matter worth a damn. I want to see if the guys who stole it know where it is."

"Who's your friend?" He said looking at Jared for the first time.

"I'm Jared." He said introducing himself. "And I'll pay for the info."

"I don't know, I could get my butt in a sling for this Pen."

"Tell them I held a gun to your head." I purred smiling.

"With Tiberious there and his shotgun?" He motioned to the Tiger who smiled evilly. "Nobody'd believe it!"

I flicked my hand up. The car keys which hand been cupped in my hand hit the Tiger square in the eye. I caught the barrel with my foot in a crescent kick, then rushed in brushing the gun aside. I quickly followed up with a groin and throat combination, and grabbed the shotgun as it discharged. I pulled it free as Tiberious doubled over and collapsed to the floor.

Then I pointed it at Runner.

"Did I mention that I'm much nastier now than I used to be?" I growled. "This is important to a lot of people Runner. And I'm the nicest one in the lot."

"You wouldn't kill me would you Pen?" Runner gasped quivering from nose to tail tip.

"No
I
wouldn't. But the next guy they send won't have that qualm. He won't be a friend."

"The
Stark Street
group did it." He said slowly.

"They're still around?" I asked surprised.

"Yes, they got into car theft and 'ave made a good racket of it. They found the statue in a trunk.

"It's a whole new group of people mostly now. Fat Jack still runs it though. A lot of young cubs with something to prove. Watch yourself."

"Sure, Thanks." I worked the action on the shotgun and emptied it.

"Give him a couple of grand" I said to Jared who had watched it all non-plussed.

"Why?"

"Good will."

While he did that I tossed the gun to the young Tiger who was still gasping and holding his crotch.

"Keep further away from the customers kid. At least twenty feet. Or you won't be in this job much longer. And don't put so much faith in guns, some of us wear body armor nowadays."

Then I grabbed Jared and we left.

"Penknife?" He asked as we drove off.

"I used to like to carve my name in things," I said quietly.

"Like trees and stuff?" He laughed.

"No, like people," I growled and looked away for a second so he wouldn't see the expression that passed across my muzzle.

He stopped laughing and looked over at me. "I think I'm glad that you didn't marry my sister after all. How did you end up in espionage anyway?"

"I was always good with alarms and stuff. So my brother and I figured that if I got a good education, we could start ripping off Banks and offices after hours. Then he got shot in a simple gas station robbery. The cops grabbed me the next day, but they couldn't prove much.

"So I got the old, 'Jail or Military' Deal. Because of my education the agency picked me up after basic. But once my time was done they didn't like me walking.

"Now you know. Not pretty is it?"

"Must have killed your folks." Was all he said.

"Wouldn't know, I was two when we were dumped. How my brother managed to keep us both alive I'll never know." I growled bitterly, my tail lashing against the back of the seat in anger.

"Sorry!"

"That's okay." I said relaxing, but it took a second to free my claws from the holes they had dug in the steering wheel. "It still grates though, even after all this time. Until my Brother bought it I didn't even think there was anything wrong with it. Now I know better."

"So where do we go next?" He asked quietly changing the subject.

"
Stark Street
. Fat Jack should be easy to find"

"Then what?"

"We dicker, that's what."

"Think he still has it?"

"Who knows?" I grinned, my ears perking back up. "But it'll be interesting finding out!"

We cruised down
Stark street
. There were several auto body shops so I picked one and walked inside. One the third try I walked into an office and saw a large Ram sitting behind the desk.

"Ah, Fat Jack." I grinned, "Just the person I was looking for!"

"Do I know you two?" He asked squinting at Jared and me.

"Oh surely you haven't forgotten me now. Or should we shave your back and see if my name's still there?"

"I thought you were dead Penknife," He grumbled.

"Wishful thinking."

"What do you want with me?"

"This," I handed him the sketch. "Ever seen it?"

"No, why?"

"Please Jack, don't lie. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't."

"You calling me a liar?" He reached under his desk.

I dodged around to the side, gun drawn. "Move slow Jack,
real
slow. I'd really hate to have to shoot you."

"Yeah sure." He said slowly pulling his hands out.

Jared slowly came out from behind the file cabinet he had dove behind.

"Now, you were going to tell me about this piece of bronze you have."

"I don't know what you're talking about Penknife, I really don't. Now I suggest you leave before I have you arrested!"

"Oh really now, arrested?"

"I'm a business man now, and not without influence in this community!"

"Oh please!" I chuckled rumbling, "And slide back from the desk while you're at it." I gestured with my pistol.

He slid slowly back from the table.

"He's stalling Pen," Jared said.

"Yes, I noticed." I looked under the desk, I didn't see a gun. Strange.

"Police, freeze!"

I froze. Looking in the mirror on one of the walls I noticed two cops, the one talking was a large black bear. The Raccoon was the one with the nasty looking autorifle.

"Drop the gun! Now!"

I carefully placed it on the desk.

"Really Jack, I'm surprised at you!" I grinned. "Officer, may I pull out my ID?"

"Why?"

"It will be self explanatory."

"Okay, but any funny moves and you're dead!"

How cliche I thought as I carefully dug out the Badge and ID. I showed it to the Cops.

They eyed me cautiously. "We'll have to call this in and check it out."

"By all means do."

"What about him?" They pointed to Jared.

"You worry about that," I nodded at my ID, "And I'll worry about him, got it?"

"Sure," replied the Bear. He sent his partner out to call the whole thing in. Two minutes later he returned, very surprised and smelling of it.

"It's legit," was all he would say.

I retrieved the wallet. "Thanks. Now if you gentlemen would leave us?"

"Hey wait!" Cried Fat Jack, "This guy's a criminal! And he's threatening me! You can just leave!"

"Sorry sir, it's out of our jurisdiction. Besides, the Federal police aren't criminals. You have nothing to fear from this gentleman."

And with that they left.

"Your friends seem to not be of the highest morals" observed Jared wryly.

"Well this one was never a friend," I growled. "This is a cash deal Jack, not a shakedown. Either sell us the statue, or tell us who has it."

"Why should I sell it to you?" He asked regaining his composure.

"Well I can give you several reasons," I replied. "First off as a Religious article, only one group of people are interested in it." I flicked my tail and nodded in Jared's direction. "And he's their Rep. So you won't get cash offers from anybody else.

"Secondly, if he doesn't get it, the more radical members might decide to come back and get it for free. You know how religious people don't mind killin' if it's for their god."

"A good point Penknife, but not good enough ..."

"Wait, I'm not finished," I interrupted. "Lastly, I'll arrest you and make a federal case out of it. Then you'll get nothing at all."

"Hey, I've got nothin' to hide. Search me!" He grinned.

"I'll bet the Taxation Bureau would find something," I smirked. "Even if we had to make them really dig!"

He got real quiet suddenly, the tax guys nailed a lot of people. Nobody messed with them.

"You would too, wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would Jack, it'd be so much more fun than just shooting you. Now one last time, the statue?"

"I ain't got it," he mumbled after a minute of looking worried.

"Who does?" I growled.

"Remember Dim? That Clydesdale who used to be kinda' strange?"

"Yeah, what about him?"

"He works down at the foundry. I sold it to him for scrap." He apologized.

"What!" Jared cried, eyes wide and tail all fluffed out with shock. I was surprised by that, he was usually a real cool customer. Never would have figured him as one of the devout.

"Hey, I'm sorry. If I knew I woulda' kept it for any reward. It was just bronze."

"Take it easy," I said to Jared who was noticeably upset, almost snarling but not making any sound. I couldn't tell if he was dismayed or angry. "I'll have to check your story of course." I said growling deeply, ears down and eyes slit, "If I find out you're lying, you'll regret it!"

"Hey, I'm telling the truth."

I pulled out a hundred and gave it to him. "then give me Dim's address and we'll see okay?"

He did and I dragged Jared out of there. I was beginning to doubt Fat Jack's long term health outlook.

"Destroyed! I can't believe it! All these years of work wasted! And the manuscript forever lost!" He howled.

"Oh shut UP!" I growled. "Maybe Dim still has it. The guy was strange, he might have decided to keep the thing okay?"

"I doubt it," he growled back sullenly.

"Well lets just go and see, okay?"

"Fine."

We went and had and early dinner, then hung out at Dim's place until he showed up. Jared wanted to wait inside but I vetoed that idea. Some people consider that rude.

Eventually a large brown and white Clydesdale came up the stairs into the hallway.

"Excuse me, are you Dim?" I asked politely, even if it did sound stupid.

"It's Deven if you must know sir," he said looking down. I recognized him then, it was Dim alright.

"Oh, Penknife if I remember correctly right?" He continued surprising me greatly.

"It's just Pen now Deven. Sorry that I only remembered your nickname.

"That's okay. What do you want? I don't get in trouble anymore though, I have to warn you."

"It's about a statue that Fat Jack sold you for scrap a while back. We're looking to buy it."

"It is a religious artifact of great value to my church," Jared added forlornly. "I will pay handsomely for its return."

"Damn," he cursed quietly to himself. "Jack swore to me that it wasn't hot."

"You should know better than to trust that one!" Jared hissed.