An explosion set off the fire alarms , as Kowalski's lab door swung open.
"What did you break this time?" I asked, resisting the urge to laugh.
"Ha Ha, Funny." Kowalski chuckled sarcastically.
"I like to think so." I responded.
"Hey guys." Marlene dropped through the hatch, "Skipper, Phil and Mason have a letter for you."
"Really?" I stood up "What does it say?"
"I don't know. Some weird, spazzy, parrot dropped it off." Marlene leaned against a bowling pin ninja.
"That's weird. Did you catch his name or anything?" I asked, growing more and more suspicious.
"He said he was with some Animal Crime Investigative Team."
My heart leapt. A.C.I.S. That's where Grace worked. Kowalski picked up on my eagerness and we both raced for the hatch at the same time. Ending up stuck in the opening.
"What's going on?" I heard Marlene ask.
"It's most likely a letter from Grace." Private answered.
"Really?" Marlene sounded excited "It's been like, a year now hasn't it."
Kowalski and I both fell back through the hatch, getting tangled up on the ground.
"1 year, 3 months, 2 weeks and 4 days." Kowalski corrected pushing away from me.
"Someone's been counting the days." Marlene replied. "It's nice to know you aren't obsessive, Kowalski."
"You first." I told Kowalski.
"You are the commanding officer, so you first." he replied
"Ok." I said cheerfully as I dove out the entrance and slid all the way over to the chimp habitat.
"Hey boys." I quickly said "What's going on?"
"You just want you letter, Skipper, stop playing that game." Mason rolled his eyes and held out the letter.
"It says:" Mason began "Hey Skipper, Just wanted to let you have a quick update. Grace is doing great as the leader of ACIS."
Kowalski slid up next to me.
"She has been trying for a few weeks now to get your status renewed. We have reason to believe that the dog has climbed a tree again and are sending a fire truck to get it down. See you soon, Akela aka Jungle Book."
To anyone else that letter just sounded like the work of a druggie. But to me, it was the complex coded language of a very experienced agent called Grace.
"Dogs can't climb trees," Kowalski began "are you sure you read that right?"
"100%" Mason answered.
"Come on, Kowalski." I demanded. "We need to go make sure the fire truck has a ladder."
"I'm so confused!" he threw himself on the ground.
I leaned over and whispered to him, "There's a secret underground meeting, Grace is coming back to the zoo and we are going undercover."
"You got all that from that little sentence?" Kowalski asked.
"Yes now come on, Kowalski." I had to physically drag him back to our habitat.
"Are you sure?" Marlene asked, "I mean she was supposed to be back 6 months ago too."
"Yeah, but, Marlene, The fire truck is on it's way!" I couldn't help but be excited. I really missed Grace, and if I did then I knew for a fact the Kowalski did.
He had a "thing" for my ex-partner. Well, scratch the 'ex' if we busted this underground ring then I would be sure to get my spot back with ACIS.
Anyways, Kowalski's affliction with Grace had never amounted even to the flirting stage.
What wasn't to like about Grace though, minus the fact that she was a mammal. Grace was smart, a skilled fighter, like all four of us penguins rolled into one. Grace wasn't without her faults though. She couldn't swim, and she couldn't take a hit to the left shoulder, or roll onto her left side at all, on account of a scar that damaged her muscle and part of the bone.
"I still don't get the whole fire truck thing." Marlene responded.
"Don't worry about it." I smiled "Forget you ever heard this conversation tonight."
"Ok your on something." Marlene rolled her eyes and started towards the ladder. "I'm going home. Anyone care to escort a lady home?"
Kowalski and Private were busy talking about what the underground operation could be, and Rico was laying in his bunk whistling and looking at a magazine.
I sighed, "I'll do it." I followed her outside and into the cool fall night.
Julien's music blocked out most of the sounds of the New York. Crazy lemur parties.
"Skipper?" Marlene asked.
"Hmm? Yeah?" I caught myself looking at Grace's empty habitat.
"You ok?" Marlene stopped walking.
"Yeah, I just miss Grace that's all." It was new to open up to Marlene like this, especially considering I had only just realized that I missed Grace.
"That's weird."
"What?" I asked
"You went 3 years without her. And she spent a week here total, and you miss her after a year. I can't imagine what you felt after 3 years without her."
"2 years 11 months and 29 days actually." I replied.
"Oh, now who's being obsessive?"
After a moment of silence Marlene and I both started laughing.
"Night Skipper." Marlene hopped her fence and disappeared from my sight.
I looked over at my habitat. Too bad I wasn't going back for another hour or so. I needed a drink. And I knew just where to go.
Mario's was practically empty so, I found my way over to the usual seat. A booth in the corner to the left of the door. I studied the pictures on the wall. A picture of Grace and I was the one I was looking for. It was taken right before our mission to Denmark. And was starting to fade a little. The frame was cracked from a bar fight, between Grace and some other chick.
I could still remember what the fight was about.
"Hey Skipper! Your girlfriend's on the news!" Mario's thick Italian accent slid over to me. I looked up to see the familiar golden brown wolf on the TV. Her aqua blue eyes sparkled even on the faded screen.
"Turn it up." I told Mario, he already beat me to it though. Stupid greyhound.
"-and the top agent of ACIS is the person of interest in an affair."
"What?" Mario and I both yelped
"Special Agent Grace Rivera is thought to be cheating on her husband of 6 months with her ex-team member." A picture rolled across the screen of Grace standing by the helicopter the day she was leaving, the picture taken at the exact same time when I hugged her. As luck would have it, from the camera angle it was hard to tell that it was just a hug.
The screen flipped to Grace, walking down the courthouse steps, surrounded by the flashing lights and questions. "Agent Rivera Are you having an affair?" one voice yelled out.
"If I was, first off. I wouldn't tell you. Secondly, I would prefer that next time you worded your question differently, and Third, I would pick someone of my own SPECIES!" Grace was being defiant, she slid into a limo, closely followed by Hawk and Deliah.
"Agent Lamardi!" The same voice called out. "Is it true that you have not been able to file for full custody of Grace?"
Grace leapt out of the limo and got in the face of the reporter.
"You are rude. These are questions that nobody gives a shit about. Mmk? You want an answer? Go find the damn penguin in the picture and get his side of the story."
"Where would this penguin be."
"Mario's." Grace snapped "It's on the corner of Main street and Eva Avenue."
Mario and I both sat there in quiet. I first of all couldn't believe that Grace knew where I was, maybe it was just a lucky guess.
"That was live from Fairbanks, California." The reporter said. "Call in now with your opinions on the Grace Rivera Scandal." A number flashed on the screen. And the TV clicked off.
Mario looked at me, then the door opened and closed.
"Hey Mario, I just need two shots of the strong stuff." said a sleepy male voice.
Mario disappeared into the back. "Hey, aren't you that penguin from the news?" he asked me.
"Do you make a living from asking stupid questions to total strangers?" I asked .
"Was she good?"
"You are weird." I said. Standing up and making my way towards the door. No sooner had I stepped out then I was greeted by the flashing lights and random questions, that Grace had met. Only I didn't have Hawk, and a limo to run to. I pushed my way into the crowd, then a buffeting sound caught my attention.
A helicopter flew over and paused above me.
"Really?" I caught myself screaming at the sky.
A ladder rolled down and Akela slid down. "Whose the dog now?" he laughed.
I grabbed the rope ladder and watched as the lights below grew fainter
and fainter.
"You have know clue how happy I am to see you." I sighed once I was safe inside the helicopter.
"Yeah, same here." Akela answered, panting.
"Nice letter by the way." I sat back and looked out the window.
"Yeah. I thought it would do you good to hear from us." Akela laid down and crossed his front paws.
I had seen Akela, and Grace do that numerous times, it was weird that both genders of canines were 'allowed' to cross their legs. Human males got beat up if they did.
Akela put his head on the helicopter's floor and looked up at me with his deep brown eyes, almost like he was saying 'I can see your soul.'
"Will you stop that?" I asked after a moment. "I understand that you have your DT but really?"
He laughed, and turned away from me. "Your mind entertains me, that's all."
I gave him a shocked look. "My mind entertains you? You work as a criminal psychiatrist."
He laughed again.
_Grace_
Deliah half smiled at me, as she jumped into the limo after Hawk shoved me in. "Maybe you need a vacation darling." she settled into the seat across from me.
"We will discuss this after the board meeting." I sighed.
I already had a headache, so there was no telling how the meeting would go over.
"You libel to rip Sarge's throat out if he confronts you." Hawk said, flashing me a concerned look.
"Yeah, I'm also likely to kill that reporter, Angie." I laid down in the seat and listened to the radio. It was turned onto some station that I hadn't ever heard of. 7673 Radio.
The announcer came on, she sounded nice. Very lady-like.
"Now, to the most talked about person on TV right now. Special Agent Grace Rivera. Why Can't they just leave her alone? I know for a fact that nothing happened between Grace and that New Yorker. He's not even her type! If any of you just saw the interview on News channel please call in with your opinions. Now, we go to a little Papa Roach for some music."
"Well, that's a nice radio announcer." I rolled my eyes.
Hawk looked at me. "I think you should take a vacation. Deliah and I can handle the agency for a week, or two. Or a month."
"Hawk." I sighed.
Silence overtook the car, only the radio was left
"And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel.
I tried to help you once
Against my own advice
I saw you going down
but you never realized
That your drowning in the water
I offered you my hand
Compassion's in my nature
Tonight is our last stand"
The limo pulled up outside of ACIS headquarters.
Human buildings were measured in greatness by how many floors they had.
In the animal kingdom, the buildings were measured by how low they went. Usually, a shack or cave was the entrance floor, with the other floors spreading down below.
"Ready for this?" Hawk asked
"Yeah." I sighed standing up and looking in the mirror. My fur was losing the reminants of the white dye, turning back to it's typical brownish-gold.
"I need a hair cut." I mumbled, shaking so that my fur laid down better.
"Yes, you do." Hawk growled.
I moved towards the door. Hawk gave me one last look and opened the door.
A different crowd, with different questions was gathered.
"Agent Grace." A blonde cat reporter called out "What is the standing on the new recruits?"
I new I could answer these questions without getting myself fired.
"The new team is still uhh up in the air. We should have an idea of when or even if they will join later this year."
"Agent Rivera?" a scrappy brown dog appeared at the front of the lines
"What is your history with the new team?"
"I worked with Sk-,their leader, for many years. I met them through him and when I took over at ACIS I had to return the favor to them."
"What did they do to deserve a 'favor'?" the cat asked again
"Next question."
"Why wouldn't you answer that question?" another reporter asked
"Because it's confidential." I turned and raced into HQ.
"Ok. Be good you two." Deliah threatened. She wasn't allowed in the meeting room with us, because she was "only intel" according to Sarge.
Hawk and I slipped into the meeting room, before anyone else.
"You know that it's going to come out eventually." Hawk filled a few bowls with water.
"Yeah, but for now, let's keep it hidden." I said bringing him more bowls.
"When they find out it's going to be bad for both you and Skipper." Hawk whispered, looking nervously around.
"Yeah I know but- Oh crap. I left those files in my office. I'll be right back."
I darted out of the room before Hawk could ask about the nonexistent files.
I entered my office and looked around. No sign of Akela, or Skipper's profile. I mentally swore.
"Umm, Kit?" I asked walking to the secretary's desk. "Have you seen Akela? Or the blue folder. I thought I left them on my desk but I didn't see them."
The red-tailed hawk spun around in her desk chair. "Top shelf, black filing cabinet. S- for Skipper."
"Thanks!" I called out running back into my office. I reached the filing cabinet and moved to open it when I realized something. I never told Kitka anything about looking at Skipper's file.
I looked down at the floor, thinking about asking Kitka how she knew what I was looking at. Then, I noticed something in the trash can. A tan folder with red letters on it. CONFIDENTIAL.
"Grace?" Kitka called from the lobby. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah." I grabbed the folder from the trash and Skipper's blue folder. Quickly adding the rest of the boys just to hide the tan folder. "Yeah I'm fine." I threw the folders into my bag just as she walked in.
"You don't seem well." she responded. "Maybe you should lie down."
"I have to go to that meeting." I raced for the door. "Wait. Akela?"
"He left this morning said he had some fire to put out." Kitka sounded confused.
"Really?" I asked
She nodded.
"God Damn it! I'm gonna kill him!-"
The phone ringing cut off my rant. Kitka picked it up and held it away from her. "I think it's for you." she whispered.
I could hear Hawk screaming into the phone with Sarge's unmistakable yelling in the background. "If she was my daughter-"
"Grace. Get here. NOW." then Hawk hung up.
"Ooops." I said racing out the door, I took the stairs hoping to save some time.
I could hear Hawk and Sarge's argument from 2 floors away.
I took off at top speed towards the meeting room. As I turned into the room, my back paws slipped out from underneath me and I hit the freshly waxed floor, slid 30 feet and slammed into the end of the hallway.
I mumbled multiple curse words as I hauled myself up.
I looked towards the meeting room only to see all of the most important members of the Order standing there, watching, as their leader hit the wall.
"As a first order of buisness. I vote we invest in some 'fresh wax' signs." Hawk said as I limped into the room.
I rolled my eyes.
"I need a damn vacation!" I shouted to Kitka, as I threw my bag on the floor in front of her desk.
"Want me to schedule you for a day spa?" she asked, not looking up from whatever she was typing.
"What? N-No. I don't like being touched. Let alone massaged"
She laughed. "I can book you a flight to Denmark if you wanted?"
"Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather not go back to the place that almost killed me."
She shrugged and clicked some buttons on her computer screen. "So, what is the 'Grace and Akela story'?"
I poked my head out of my office. "Huh?"
"I just over heard Missy talking about her and Akela's date. I just wanted to clear things up."
"Akela and I are not together. I am single." I turned around and walked back to my desk, thought about working on a case.
"Yeah, they just live together and share a kid." a familar voice entered the room.
"Johnson!" I yelped exitedly, leaping over my desk to greet him.
"Hey, pup! How are ya?" the penguin answered
"I'm great. And you?" I couldn't help but smile at him.
"Manfready saw you on the news this morning and niether of us recognized you without Skipper beside you."
I smiled, "Yeah. I've invited him up here alot but I never got any response. Did we Kit?" I looked at the secretary.
"Uh..No" she answered pausing for a moment on her typing.
"Well, I just met you kid, Bluea down stairs, and take. it. from. me. She has your eyes."
I laughed slightly. "Hawk should be around here somewhere." I quickly remembered
"Yeah, I'd better go see that old flea sack." Johnson turned and started to walk away "It was nice seeing ya, Gracie May. Say hi to Tux for me!"
"There's so much not right him." I muttered, walking back into my office.
I sat down at my desk and opened the folder from the trash.
Inside was a number of letters, some typed, but most hand written. All addressed to ACIS Agent H. Lamardi.
"Hawk." I breathed.
Suddenly an alarm started going off. 1 long ring. 2 short rings. another long ring.
"Lockdown?" I questioned. I made my way over to Kitka's desk. She was already pulling a blueprintt of the computer up. A flashing red dot appeared on the ground floor.
"Aircraft hanger." we both said at the same time
"Kopi!" I called, racing out the door. I liked using Danish to replace common words. and 'kopi' was extreme jinx. The only way out of it was if the kopi-caller said your full name. I didn't Kitka's full name. Oops.
I arived in the aircraft hanger just in time to see one of the planes turn on. "Hell no you aren't" I whispered.
I rolled under another plane and slid into the control booth. 'I knew there was a reason they waxed these floors I thought as I pushed the 'CLOSE DOOR' button.
The door started closing very slowy. I did some quick math in my head. And realized the door wouldn't close in time.
I used the table as a launch pad to jump to the airwalk. I picked up speed with the plane. I was pretty sure I could beat it to the door and pull the rope down to close the door manually.
I grabbed the rope and pulled. The door didn't drop any faster. I needed more weight. I quickly jumped over the edge of the airwalk. I hit the concreate runway on my right shoulder. The door slammed to the ground shortly after I did. That plane wasn't taking off. but is was still coming right at me. I quickly moved to stand up but the rope was tangled around my back legs and stomache.
"You've got to be kidding." I snapped. I noticed how close the plane was and took my number one option.
I rolled out of the way of the front tire. The rope untangled from me and wrapped around the airplane's axel.
I was pulled against the plane then off the ground and into the plane.
"Well lookie here boss. We got ourselves a chaetin' agent." a thick southern drawl said.
I looked out the front windsheild of the plane, and braced myself for impact.
The door gave under the weight of the plane but some how the rope pulled the plane back towards hq. The would-be plane jackers and I were slamed up against the tail of the plane as it dangled from the mouth of the cave. I scrambled up a few seats before collapsing.
I heard Hawk calling my name, and then something about the med team. Then, everything faded to black.