Chatter, the soft clinking of coffee cups and cutlery at desks nearby, and the occasional
beeps and message tones from computers accompanied by the rapid tapping of keys as
their occupants typed. A typical backdrop of noise for the upper level of the North
Quadrant Police Department headquarters.
Amid the bustle of foot traffic across the open plan floor were various felids and
mustelids that comprised law enforcement officers and other staff. Most of the grunt work
and actual handling of criminals was done on the floor below. Up here was primarily
logistics, paperwork and the far more tedious side of the law. A division sized for murids
was set up where they were able to monitor a series of screens linked to surveillance
cameras around the district and contact nearby posted emergency response units at any
signs of trouble.
Standing nearby, wearing a basic set of trousers with a white button up shirt and grey
jacket, was a jaded looking mouse glaring silently at the screens. Dark brown eyes blinked
sporadically as they switched gaze from one screen to the next from below a dark grey
teardrop fedora. Jonas Thorn, murid detective for the past year, had spent many hours of
downtime between cases standing on this spot where he could see the monitors clearly.
His focus was sharp, his mind absorbing and cataloguing every detail as the felids and
other citizens on the screens went about their daily lives. Some of these screens
connected to railway stations, some to major shopping centres, government buildings,
even the street this very precinct was on.
He heard the leg of a nearby chair scrape, but otherwise silence. A slight shift in the
scents on the nearby air led him to deduce that someone had taken a seat at the nearest
desk, essentially a spare that had been vacant for the last two months. Whoever it was,
they were keeping as silent as they had been when they sat down. Most likely a felid, he
deduced. As to why they were here, his best guess was that they were waiting for him, since
nobody else was lingering in this area.
'Can I help you, Miss?' He asked without taking his eyes from the screens.
'Wow, you are good.' A young sounding woman's name replied. 'How did you know I was a
woman without looking?'
Still without turning his head, Jonas smirked. 'It's subtle, but there are very light
differences in pheromones that males and females give off. It's a skill worth honing if you
plan on being a detective. Shall I assume that is why you are here?' With this question, the
mouse finally stepped to his left, turning as he did to face the young woman sitting in the
chair beside the empty desk.
At first, Jonas thought he was looking at a smaller, slender serval. But the notion
vanished from his mind almost immediately as he looked her over. Even with the similar fur
colour beneath her uniform, her ears were too rounded, she was far more slender than any
felid he'd seen, her tail was longer than a serval's, with ringed dark brown stripes that
matched the colour of the spots on her face. And her face...
Despite his efforts, his expression must have betrayed his confusion. She laughed,
displaying a slim muzzle that had a few extra teeth compared to the usual number a felid
would have. He suppressed the desire to flinch as the sight of her teeth was accompanied
by a view of the glistening dark of her throat. From a vantage point as low as he was
accustomed to viewing from, it wasn't an uncommon thing, but it was no less unpleasant a
sight for a murid to be faced with.
'What's wrong?' She asked, catching his expression but not having any insight as to why
he would be uncomfortable. Her pale green eyes widened, and Jonas realised they were
larger compared to her face than any felid's he had seen.
He felt his curiosity return to replace the discomfort. 'I'm sorry, but I don't like not
knowing things about the people around me. So, if I may be blunt, what are you?'
'I'm... Zaila. Zaila Ven.' The woman replied. 'New transfer to this department. Been Law
Enforcement back home for about four years. Emigrated here to be a detective. They told
me you're one of the best, so I wanted to ask if you'd take a partner?'
'That's very concise and direct.' Jonas smirked. 'I was actually asking what species you
are Miss, since you don't look like any felid I recognise.'
'Ohh.' Zaila smiled as she replied, seeming to slightly blush. 'I understand. I'm a genet.
We are sort of related to felids, I think? But a little different. We're native to the southwest of
the continent, down where the jungles go through the tropical region.'
'Not part of the Eastern Sovereignty?' Jonas asked.
'No.' Zaila shook her head. 'Always eligible for immigration, but it wasn't something that
interested me until...'
'Until Equality.' Jonas deduced, taking a few steps closer and noticing with interest that
the claws on her toes and fingertips seemed as though they were partially retracted. Not
fully sheathed, and not fully extended either. If not for the slight movement as she shifted
her weight, he might have thought they were just naturally short.
'Y-yes.' She replied. 'People like... uhh, murids and lapids, they don't get to be citizens
back home. I wanted to see what a city like this was like. How it works. If it can work.'
'If it can work depends on who you are.' Jonas said bluntly. 'If you're a felid, or felid
adjacent I guess, things are fine. If you're a canid, people look at you funny because canids
aren't common here. And if you're someone like me? Well. Nothing is easy. Everything is
dangerous. Everyone is dangerous. Especially the ones trying their hardest to be nice.'
'Is that a no on the partner idea?' Zaila asked, her smile fading slightly as the
disappointment set in.
'Not quite.' Jonas smirked again. 'Someone who can drive a car would definitely be
someone I could find useful.'
'I'm so glad you're giving me a chance!' Zaila grinned excitedly. As she lowered her hand
to the centre platform of the car's console, Jonas stepped off and sat himself in the murid
sized seat. It was secure, swivelled to give him access to the console's functions and could
raise or lower fairly rapidly if he needed to see through the windscreen. For the time being,
he stayed at console level and connected his phone to the terminal to easier control it.
After a few moments of connecting while Zaila started the car, he sighed and looked back
up at her face, still full of excitement.
'Remember, it's a trial run.' He said plainly. 'I'm not continuing this if I don't think you have
the aptitude for the job. You know where we're going? I want to make sure I've read this
report by the time we're there.'
'Of course.' Zaila nodded, her smile shrinking but not disappearing. 'It's a place called
Tales and Tails. Some sort of nightclub.'
'Right.' Jonas sighed. 'How nice of the chief to give us a case at a predator's strip club.'
'Not the first case I dreamed of either.' Zaila shrugged. 'But it should be straightforward
by the looks of things.'
As Jonas read, he shook his head slowly. 'As much as I'd like to agree with you on that,
don't ever make that assumption. The laws around hunting may be designed with predator
psychology in mind, but they're also ripe for exploitation in covering up other crimes.'
Zaila narrowed her eyes and tilted her head slightly as the car slowly rolled backwards
out of its parking space. As she looked from the mirror to over her shoulder, she glanced
briefly at Jonas to ensure she was secure in his seat. Once they were out of the large station
garage and on the road, she finally replied. 'I guess it's easy to dispose of witnesses when
you can frame it under legal hunting rights.'
'Exactly.' Jonas agreed, still reading. 'It's far from an ideal system, but working in law
enforcement you do also see occasional outcomes of carnivores trying to bury or suppress
their instincts. It's never pretty, and usually results in the one thing they were trying to
avoid.'
'Oh...' Zaila's smile finally vanished as she realised what Jonas was implying. A carnivore
would only suppress their instincts to protect preyfolk they had formed bonds with, and if
they were also the person they were around most often... 'That sounds tragic.'
'It is.' Jonas nodded. 'So whatever you do, don't fall in love with me.'
'Are you joking?' Zaila asked. 'Are you... teasing me?'
'Yes.' Jonas replied. 'I heard levity helps put people at ease in early interactions.' The
complete lack of change in his facial expressions as he remained focused on reading what
was on the screen caused Zaila to do a double take.
She had nothing further to add, so focused on driving as Jonas brushed up on the report.
As the silence continued through the rest of the car ride, Jonas was also taking the time to
take notice of the genet's body language and driving habits through a few cursory glances.
She was confident, handled the car well, her large eyes constantly panning for details and
hazards. At least in the car, he could trust her to keep him safe.
As the car pulled into the parking lot of the nightclub, Jonas raised the platform to look
out through the windscreen. The place was mostly empty, perfectly normal for this time of
the day. Though they were technically closed to customers, there would still be staff
present making good of the time to either rehearse acts or just clean the place. Hopefully
someone would be able to provide answers.
'Is this right?' Zaila asked, fiddling with the straps of the murid passenger attachment
that held a small pouch over the right of her chest. 'It's right on top of my boob.'
'Yes, that's right.' Jonas nodded, securing a disc shaped device to his back. 'Any lower
and I'd be stuck underneath it. Any higher and I'm too close to your chin.'
Zaila narrowed her eyes and smiled wryly. 'Did you come up with these?' She offered her
hand to him, carefully conveying him to the pouch and holding her hand below until he had
positioned himself inside it correctly.
'No.' He answered bluntly. 'I'd have had the pouch on your shoulder. Though I suppose if
a canid was wearing it, their longer muzzle might make looking right hazardous for the
passenger.'
'Well let's get to it.' Zaila asked, stepping out of the car and closing the door. 'I'm gonna
let you take the lead obviously, but let me know if there's anything I should be keeping an
eye out for.'
'It's a strip club, and you're not wearing shoes.' Jonas smirked. 'Watch every step.'
'Ew...' Zaila sighed as she stepped up to the door and pressed the doorbell. A few
moments passed before faint footsteps could be heard on the other side. Finally the door
opened slightly, and on the other side stood a middle-aged wildcat holding a broom. His
eye met Zaila's, briefly glancing to Jonas before going back to hers.
'Place is closed.' He said. 'You delivering something?'
'Detectives actually.' Jonas replied, drawing the cat's gaze back to him. 'Is the owner or a
manager available to speak to?'
'Uh... sure.' The cat replied distastefully. 'Wait here, I'll let her know.'
'Thank you.' Jonas nodded, his expression concealing the satisfaction of seeing a felid
clearly unhappy with being talked down to by a mouse. He felt the slight shift in Zaila's
breathing, noting that she was clearly trying to conceal her own amusement. After almost a
minute the door opened again, fully this time and revealing a tired looking caracal woman
in a loose fitting robe. Her eyes instantly met those of Jonas before she raised her gaze to
meet that of Zaila.
'Something the problem, detectives?' She asked.
'We suspect one of your employees may be involved with illicit substance use.' Jonas
answered in a deadpan voice. 'We were wondering if you could identify one of your
employees for us and tell us if you think there is reason to pursue these allegations.'
'I have a lot of employees.' The woman smirked. 'You'll have to narrow it down.'
'A snow leopard.' Jonas said in a dry voice.
The caracal's smirk faded instantly. 'Well that'll do it. I only have one of those. But she's
not here right now. I do maintain a couple spare rooms here for dancers on the last end of
the night in case they can't get home. But she was here two nights ago, not last night.'
'Did anyone use the same room as her last night?' Zaila asked. Jonas kept quiet, hiding
his irritation at being cut off but also slightly proud given he had been about to ask that
exact question.
'I don't think so.' The felid shook her head slowly.
'We'd like to take a look in that room.' Jonas pressed, not hiding his urgency. 'Before your
cleaners have had too much time with it.'
'Why?' The woman asked. 'What do you expect to find?'
'Hopefully nothing.' Zaila replied with a smile. 'But you wouldn't want to remain unaware
if there was illegal activity happening in your establishment, I'm sure.'
'Of course.' The woman sighed. 'Alright. I'll show you the room. Beatrice Verma, by the
way.'
'Pleasure.' Jonas nodded. 'This is Detective Zaila Ven, I'm Detective Jonas Thorn.'
'You'll have to forgive me if I seem a little out of sorts.' Beatrice explained, beckoning
them inside and closing the door. As she led them towards the stairs, she gestured to the
messy state of the floor and tables in the downstairs entertaining area. 'This place
obviously runs into the late hours of the night. We don't close up until two or three in the
morning sometimes. And taking the stage wears me out more than it used to.'
'You dance?' Zaila asked as they ascended the stairs. 'I thought you were the owner?'
'Former best employee.' Beatrice grinned. 'It's still a fun thing to do sometimes.' As they
reached the third floor of the building, she led them to a room around from the main
hallway. From here she opened a door to a small and messy bedroom. 'Misty stays in here
when she does the last dance. Or when she's too exhausted to get herself home.'
'Thank you.' Zaila nodded. 'We'll take a look around. Shouldn't be too long.'
'All the time you need.' Beatrice shrugged. 'I'll be two rooms up, hopefully asleep if you
need anything.' As she left, Jonas undid the strap that held him to Zaila's chest and
gestured to her to step closer to the bed. Once she was close enough, he jumped to the
mattress and began slowly walking from the foot of the bed towards the pillows, scanning
as he went.
'What do you want me to do?' Zaila asked.
'Check the floor under the bed and inside those cabinets for anything you think shouldn't
be there.' Jonas instructed.
'This isn't a breach of privacy?' Zaila raised an eyebrow.
'This isn't... Misty's private apartment.' Jonas shook his head. 'Beatrice owns this
establishment and she gave her blessing. If one of her staff left something illicit behind,
this case will be open and shut by lunchtime.'
'Alright.' Zaila nodded and sighed, lowering herself to the floor and peering under the bed.
After a few moments of seeing nothing but lint and clumps of discarded fur, she stood and
began checking the drawers of the dresser. 'O-oh, eww...'
'What is it?' Jonas asked, trying not to breathe too deep as the scents of the mattress
reached his nose.
'Umm... toys?' Zaila replied, pushing the drawer closed. 'Toys of an adult nature. L-lots of
them.'
'Hm.' Jonas might have laughed, but was focused on several gleams on the mattress near
the pillow. 'Maybe this will be more what we need. Do you have any specimen bags on
you?'
'Uh, yea.' Zaila pulled a pair of small bags out of her pants pockets and stepped over to
the bed. She watched as Jonas lifted a few handfuls of fine, pale coloured fur from the
crinkles on the mattress cover sheet.
'Here, bag these.' He held the strands up to her, ten lifted another from near his feet. As
she worked, he ran his fingers partially along the length of the newest fur strand.
'What are we hoping for?' She asked.
'Sirrux.' Jonas replied. 'The body expels the drug through sweat. There should be traces
on her fur. The lab should be able to confirm it, but in the meantime...' He sighed after a
deep breath, and ran the fur strand across his tongue.
'That's gross.' Zaila suppressed a small laugh.
'Don't you swallow mice alive?' Jonas retorted, his face pursing as he felt a small tingle
slowly spread across his tongue. As his eyes lost focus briefly, he turned to look at the
genet and let the smirk return to his face.
'I sure do.' Zaila replied with a sarcastic grin. 'I guess it's weird seeing a mouse do
something like that. So um, why did you do it?'
'There is definitely sirrux sweat on this fur.' Jonas nodded. 'We get the lab to confirm that,
we get genetic tests to confirm that it belongs to Misty, and we have confirmation that she's
using illicit narcotics.'
'Then we... arrest her?' Zaila asked.
'No.' Jonas shook his head, beckoning for a lift and dropping the loose fur. 'We keep an
eye on her, and see if we can't figure out who her dealer is. From there? Who knows. We
decide that once we know more.'
'Right.' Zaila nodded, lifting Jonas back to the pouch at her chest. 'So we play the long
term game rather than arresting criminals on sight. That makes a lot more sense.'
Once the pair were back at the station, Zaila submitted the collected fur samples for
testing while Jonas used an adapter terminal to submit the report for the morning's
investigation. After both had taken their time to clear their heads after that, they met up
close to midday in the upper floor's lunch room. Jonas made use of the wall mounted
walkways to keep off the floor, putting him at roughly chest height to the genet as she made
herself a sandwich out of tomatoes, rye bread and some sort of meat that Jonas tried not to
identify.
'How did the tests go?' Jonas asked, stepping onto the counter along the north wall
where various murid sized food amenities had been provided via installations across the
wall. It was essentially a smaller replica of the lunch room itself, complete with its own
refrigerator and sink.
'Well they confirmed sirrux straight away.' Zaila replied, taking a seat at the table closest
to the corner where Jonas was preparing his own lunch. 'Just running the DNA tests now to
confirm against the database. We'll know whether or not it was Misty soon enough. Uhh,
actually, maybe we should have seen if that nightclub owner knew her real name?'
'Good thought to have.' Jonas nodded. 'A little late though.'
'Well it's gonna be awkward going back to ask now...' Zaila sighed. As she took the first
bite of her sandwich, her free hand began to drum the table. A clear sign of nervousness
that Jonas picked up on immediately.
'We won't have to.' Jonas chuckled. 'If the DNA tests confirm any snow leopard, we'll
know her name. Beatrice mentioned she only has one snow leopard on staff.'
'Right...' Zaila nodded, smiling as she narrowed her eyes at him. 'You really remember
every little thing that gets mentioned, huh?'
'As much as possible.' Jonas nodded, taking a bite of his own lunch as he took a seat.
'And that's another good habit to get into, Detective.'
'Does that mean you're still willing to partner with me?' Zaila asked, the smile from that
morning back on her face.
'Of course.' Jonas replied, concealing any emotion he may have had. 'Like I said, I need
someone who can drive.'
