We spent twenty minutes browsing through old vases and various chairs and tables of the Robo Series when I found myself closer to where Redd was observing the room. The con artist seemed very protective of his goods, both genuine and forged. I didn't look at him, but I could tell he was watching me with some interest. As far as Punchy and I knew, he didn't have any hint that we were working for the Mayor during all of our visits to the underground market. Then again, it occurred to me that Redd probably suspected that someone was tailing him, whether from the law-enforcing-side of society or from some unsavory rivals.
I stopped to inspect a row of three classic paintings. I recognized the Mona Lisa and Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring out of them; the third showed a man and a woman with an umbrella walking rigidly down a dreary street packed with other equally drab couples walking in the other direction. I bent to look closer at the Vermeer. The girl's eyes were almost as big as the golf ball-sized rock hanging from her ear lobe. I wasn't an art connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I could still appreciate the artist's skill. The highlights in the piece shown like the jewels my Mom had sent me in a letter one Christmas two years ago.
Now the question was whether this painting was the real thing or not. Anyone could trace over the painting and make a replica with the right equipment and I was willing to bet this fox had more than enough money to hire some skilled workers for the job. Along the girl's blue headband was a line of bumpy ridges from the stroke of a paintbrush that was never covered up. I wanted to touch the ridge, but I saw Redd's nose twitch when I raised my hand.
He stepped to my side and said, cheerfully, "I see you've been eying this painting for some time now. Very good, yes? If you're interested in taking it away with you this evening I'm sure we can negotiate a reasonable deal. I'd guarantee it, in fact!"
I smiled and cupped my cheek demurely in my hand, "That would be fantastic, actually. I know just the place for it in our house."
Redd laughed and it sounded innocent enough. His narrow eyes refocused on me, or at least I thought they did. With those slits it was hard to tell. "For a fellow member of my family, I could part with it for just 3,500 bells! How does that sound, hm?"
Ouch. Though I'd heard of steeper prices coming from him. I acted like the information didn't faze me and tapped my lips with my index finger as though deep in thought. Of course I had already made up my mind to buy the thing, but I wanted Punchy to get at least one good look at the painting to determine if it was worth the effort to buy it and take it to the museum to be appraised. There was only one opportunity to get evidence tonight and it would be best to make it good.
"I think I had better ask my husband if it's all right," I said, looking around the shop for the black and white cat. I only half listened to Redd's "Of course, of course!" as my eyes scanned the shop. As if on cue, Punchy suddenly came out from behind a Green Bookshelf and shuffled over when I beckoned to him. Dang, he was getting good with that slumped walk.
"What do you think of this, honey? Redd says it's only 3,500 bells and I think it would look so good over the Fireplace." Since my back was to Redd, I was sure he couldn't see how sharp my gaze was. Punchy just nodded with half-lidded eyes and leaned forward to inspect the painting himself. Unlike me, he actually touched a particularly wide strip of yellow highlight on the surface. Redd's nose twitched again, but he didn't make any move to stop the gesture.
Finally, Punchy straightened up and said, "Wow, this looks great! I say we take it, mrmpht!"
If Redd had started clapping his hands with glee at that moment, I wouldn't have been surprised. As it was, he just took the painting down from the shelf and took it over to a counter in the middle of the room, all the while saying, "Wonderful! Just wonderful! No raccoon with an apron is gonna have anything like this in stock! I knew when you first walked in today that we could understand each other, but I say that every time you take the time out of your busy schedule to come to the city and visit me, don't I?"
"Moris almost didn't let us through the door," I said, pouting. "He said he didn't recognize us at first."
Redd didn't turn around to look at us, instead concentrating on delicately wrapping the painting with brown packing paper. "Oh well, that's what happens to someone who spends as much time in the dark like he does. I've told him to get a stronger light for the front porch so that he doesn't hurt the feelings of any of our dear customers, but he just won't listen to me. Good help with better eyesight is hard to find these days but Moris had been loyal to my family for so long I just can't bring myself to let him go."
For some reason, I seriously doubted that was why a brighter light hadn't been installed above the door.
"It's a good choice, mrmpht! He looks like a sturdy guy," Punchy said, inspecting his claws. "If someone like that were around our house, I would sure feel a lot safer."
"He is one of my best employees," Redd said. "He's been with me for five years now since I got him from that slimy cad Nook. You should have seen him. Malnourished, entirely too thin." As he spoke, he made motions with his paws for emphasis. "Worked like a slave with hardly ten bells a day for payment. But I fixed all that and he's happier than ever as part of Crazy Redd's family."
"He used to work for Tom Nook? I'll bet he had tons of business experience," I said.
"Yes, well, he did say that, from personal experience, Nook's wares were only a fraction of the quality that you can get from Crazy Redd's!" Redd paused and looked at me, as though sizing me up. He turned around and reached up to rub his beady nose, "Besides, at least people don't go missing in my business."
"What was that?" My response was almost automatic, without me entirely processing what he'd just said. My throat suddenly felt very dry. "Are you saying Nook has something to do with these scary disappearances?"
Redd laughed a light, though bitter, laugh. "Call it a hunch, my dear. I've always thought that Nook had a dark, untrustworthy soul." He reached up almost absentmindedly to re-pin a loose corner of his old, black banner on the wall inscribed with the words 'black Redd's Market.' "Although I have to admit, it probably seems very low of me to accuse my competition of such a vile act. Think nothing of it!"
The door to the room opened and Moris sidled inside. He glanced at Punchy and me before inclining his furry head towards Redd.
"Twiggy and Tibby are here, boss," he said, looking neutrally at the ground.
"Ah, then I'm afraid we must cut this visit short, but rest assured that we'll be open for the next two days, same time, same place," As he talked, he shoved the wrapped painting into my hands and with one paw on both me and Punchy's backs, steered us to the back door. "Don't forget, cousins, we here at Crazy Redd's are always happy to be of service!"
The door slammed shut behind us the moment the chilly air hit my face and exposed leg. The light over the door flickered before resuming its dull hum through the night as Punchy and I just stood there, staring at one another without a word.
A/N: Wooo! Not dead just yet! How long has it been since my last update? Two weeks? Three weeks? Two months? If you've seen any of my other works, you'll know I can take forever to update. I'm ashamed for both me and my lazy Muse! Stupid Muse! But he keeps me writing so I suppose I should give him a cookie to make him happy. :) Feedback and intelligent criticism is always welcome! I want to improve as much as I can. Just keep the flames to yourself, please.
Disclaimer: Pretty much everything belongs to Nintendo, folks.
