Beatrice Howlington had experienced a tumultuous 24 hours. Nothing of her plan had gone correctly, and instead of being able to report the failure of her assignment to her superior, she was stuck surrounded by several...prostitutes? The she-Wolf wasn't quite sure to be honest. She had arrested several during her time on the beat, with the need for "warm company" allowing for the industry to thrive. Still the mammals who surrounded her did not fit the known stereotype for a street walker.
Some wore close to nothing, sequin seeming to be the favorite choice, while others wore sweats. The vixen sitting across from the she-Wolf was wearing a snug suit with pencil skirt. This same Fox was the one who brought Beatrice to the almost abandoned looking house they were staying in. On the outside the place looked like a dump, but on the inside there were signs of cleaning. The smell of bleach and fresh paint was still apparent to the canine's superior nose. The house didn't seem to have any form of heat other than an old electric heater that buzzed continuously. The orange glow mixing with the afternoon sun to bathe what could have been a dining room at one point in time with an ember like glow. It only heightened the red of the vixen's fur and made her already deep blue eyes stand out. Beatrice wouldn't say she was intimidated, but she was certainly wary of the smaller mammal.
The vixen, who Beatrice thinks named Cherry, brought clothes for the she-Wolf that fit her surprisingly well. They were simple garments, a white cotton longed sleeve shirt with a black hoodie and sweatpants to match. Considering the fact that Reggie only had lingerie that seemed to be made for a larger mammal, Beatrice was quite happy with the clothing brought. The Fox didn't say a word to the lupine, other than necessary instructions to follow. Reggie didn't say anything to either of the females. The Weasel seemed lost in his thoughts as he nursed a burnt coffee at the desk that they had shared hours ago. The she-Wolf was worried about the mustela. He didn't say it outright, but his lack of knowledge when it came to the happenings in the Z.P.D. suggested that he had been out of the loop for quite some time. While Beatrice technically hadn't been on the beat for three months, she had still stayed in contact with the officers in the Precinct so that she always had relevant information. Add in her weekly calls to her parents and the Deputy Chief, and this assingment simply felt like a long vacation for her. She couldn't imagine being so cut off from her friends and family for so long.
"So...'" started the vixen, startling the lupine out of her thoughts, "how do you know ex?"
"Ex?" replied Beatrice, not understanding what the Fox was talking about.
"Yeah, you know, ex," interrupted a Tiger from behind the Fox. The Big Cat wore a tight, evening wear black dress, that split midway up her right thigh, and a pink scarf wrapped around her neck. She stepped forward and placed her paws flat on the table as she leaned over the table. Her attempt at intimidation was laughable to the Wolf who dealt with larger mammals on a regular basis. "The Weasel whose apartment you were staying at...wearing my clothes." The last part said with a growl emanating from the larger mammal as the feline bared her teeth slightly.
Beatrice cocked her head in confusion. Reggie didn't explain what his cover was, and in return she didn't explain hers. The she-Wolf assumed that the less they know about each others specific actions, the better. At the moment the lupine felt unprepared. Her lack of information made her hesitant to talk to the females about anything dealing with the Weasel. He must have trusted them enough to put the she-Wolf in their protection, but they obviously knew nothing of the mustela personally. Her gaze shifted from the feline to the seated vulpine. The Fox's eyes weren't blinking and that only added to the discomfort that Beatrice felt. "I...I don't know what your talking about." The she-Wolf responded hesitantly.
Neither mammal looked impressed by the lupine's response. The feline opened her mouth to retort, but was stopped by hoof on her arm. "Now Saff there's no need for that," a sheep calmly said, rubbing the arm of the Tiger, "we both know that you wear it better." The ewe turned towards the Wolf and gave an apologetic smile, "Sorry Doll. My kitty can be territorial with clothing." The Tiger chuffed, but the sheep simply giggled and gave the feline a one armed hug. The herbivore l was wearing a golden sequin dress that showed off much of the white wool and left little to the imagination. It looked closer to something Beatrice would see at the club than whatever the odd pair seemed to be dressed for. "It's ok darling, me and you still have date night!" The Tiger eventually hugged the ewe back, but not without giving the Wolf a hard glare.
"What's the name of the mammal that helped you?" The vixen asked, drawing attention of the lupine.
Beatrice shifted in her seat and looked away, ears pinning to the back of her head. "Oh..you know...ex and all..." The Wolf's response was laughably terrible, even to her! If a suspect had responded that way to the officer during an investigation, she would know immediately that they were lying. The lupine stole a glance at the Fox and saw how unimpressive her response really was.
The vixen's eyes pierced right through the canine as her tail visibly flicked behind her. "His Full name."
The she-Wolf grabbed her tail and brought it to her lap. Her shoulders slouched and she looked away in defeat. Beatrice had no idea what alias Reggie went by, but she also knew she couldn't reveal anything personal about the Weasel either. What was she to do?
A heavy came from the Fox. "Ladies I think we've been lied too."
There was clapping and a cheerful bleat came from the ewe. "Oh goody, do I get to bring out the candles and handcuffs?"
Beatrice couldn't stop the frightened whine that escaped her and wrapped her arms around herself defensively as she stared wide eye at the trio of mammals across from her. "Wh-what do you need that for?"
Before the sheep could respond, the vixen cut in. "We aren't going to do anything to you honey, and besides," the Fox begun as she turned towards the ewe, "I thought you said you were out?"
"Doll, you know I have my ways," the ewe dropped her voice to a stage whisper, "and Saffron said she would try it tonight."
The Tiger groaned and wiped a paw over her eyes, "Why are we discussing this in front of a stranger?"
"Oh my gosh Saff, are you embarrassed to talk about sex?" The ewe tittered, a hoof trying to cover her mirth.
"No!" protested the feline a little too loud. "I just...you know...it's just...ugh!" The Big Cat gave up with a huff and folded her arms, reeking of embarrassment.
If the she-Wolf wasn't so uncertain about her possibility of escaping her predicament, she may have found the uneasiness of the Tiger hilarious. Instead Beatrice hugged herself even more so as her eyes darted between the mammals around her. "What are you going to do to me?" She felt the cuts that had been left by Reggie, and the gash on her left thigh was still painful, but the Weasel had done his best to simply make it look like torture. The lupine wasn't sure she could actually take any form of it.
"You're safe here," responded the vixen soothingly, her eyes lessening their harshness as she reached a paw across the table towards the Wolf. "I promise no one is going to hurt you," her blue eyes shifted to the sheep for a split second before focusing back on the she-Wolf, "we just need to know what's going on and who you are. I'm assuming we can't go to the police correct?"
Beatrice was about to respond, when a voice from behind cut her off "Not that the Zee Pee Dee does anythin fur us anyways."
"Candy," the vixen admonished, "there's no reason to speak like that honey. I believe we will need them soon enough."
There was an angry bleat behind the she-Wolf before an irate Goat appeared to her left. The caprinae was wearing a fluffy blue robe, and from what Beatrice could see, only the robe. The lupine stared forward as the Goat continued.
"Lets not sugar coat it Cherr! Them cops in Precinct Six have wanderin paws when it comes ta us an you know it!"
"Wait what?" The final comment had the she-Wolf full attention, "what are you talking about?!" They couldn't be talking about her fellow Officers? She trusted all of them with her life!
"In our line of work, those with power like to abuse it," started the Fox gingerly, "the police are second only in power to our...pimps...if you will." There was a sadness behind her words, and the emotions behind her eyes spoke volumes to how much abuse that the vixen had taken.
The Goat snorted, "Abuse! How many times have one of us bein offered to be let go if we 'got em' off.'" The herbivore made airquotes with her hooves as she spoke, "and let's not forget what happened to poor Snowflake!"
Beatrice saw a shiver run through each of the females present. The room was all of a sudden filled with odor of fear from all present. "What happened?" asked the she-Wolf hesitantly. It didn't sound like a feel good story, but if there was any wrongdoing in Precinct Six then she needed to know.
The vixen grimaced, "Do you know a Polar Bear Sergeant by the name Bjorn Tassut?"
Beatrice scoffed and waved flippantly at the Fox, he was the largest Bear in the Z.P.D. and had a reputation for being rough with criminals. "Everyone knows Tassuat."
"Well the Sergeant had found Snowflake working a corner. She didn't have any customers and she told me it was a slow night, but the Bear came up to her and told her that he would arrest her on trumped up drug possession charges." The Fox shifted in her seat as her gaze dropped, the Tiger placed a gentle paw on the vulpine's shoulder. "She said he had a baggy and everything, and that if...if she didn't do what he said..." The female started to tear up. There was a heavy silence as the Fox sniffled and wiped away her falling tears. She gasps for air and let's out a deep breath. "We found her the next morning, and she was a mess." The vixen's tone was rushed, but she continued on. "Apparently the Sergeant has a fetish for abuse and...she was so small..."
"The worst kind," belated the sheep, a murmur of agreement and nodding of heads joined her.
"Did...is she...?" Beatrice tried to start, but her words failed her.
"She was an Arctic Fox," replied the vixen, "too small to survive that type of punishment...but she told me everything before she...passed..." The Fox wiped another tear away with the back of her paw. "After that I try to take care of all of the girls as best as I can. I don't think I could handle another funeral."
"An the detectives covered it up," the Goat continued on, "told us straight ta our faces that she deserved ta die like that!" She spat out the final words, her hooves bunching up as she leaned forward as if to headbutt the wall. "There ain't ever a good cop!"
"That can't be true," Beatrice exclaimed, "Precinct Six officers uphold the law! They don't break It! The-they aren't killers o-or fiends! They...they..." The she-Wolf lost her steam under the unwavering gazes of the mammals around her. Only the Goat looked insulted, but the rest with melancholy expressions. The lupine felt as though they felt guilty for her! "They...they all aren't bad..."
"No their not, and you would know wouldn't you?" The vixen addressed to Beatrice. The blue eyes gaining their intensity, yet they still shimmered with wetness. "You're a cop." It wasn't a question, but a statement.
The she-Wolf couldn't look at any of the females around her. They went from captors to victims in her mind, and to find out that the police were responsible for some of their pain. The lupine couldn't find the words to express herself, so she simply nodded. There were several gasps around her, and out of the corner of her eye, the Wolf saw the Goat back away from her.
"But...why would ex-?"
"Because he is one, isn't he?"
Once again Beatrice couldn't look at her questioner and once again simply nodded. She her heart sank as the she-Wolf felt as if she committed the greatest betrayal. Reggie had saved her and found her a safe place to hide, and she revealed his biggest secret. Tears of her own started to bubble as a low whimper emitted from the she-Wolf. The young officer felt useless and curled her knees to her chest and closed her eyes, hiding her muzzle between her legs as she made herself as small as possible. The females continued to talk, but Beatrice heard very little.
"But that would mean-"
"...Betrayed!"
"...owe ex..."
The talking continued at length, but Beatrice was lost in her own anguish. She had failed and nothing would change that in her mind. The spiral of disgust and failure continued for the lupine for an unknown amount of time. Every doubt and doubter that objected to her becoming an officer seemed to be proven correct. She was too weak mentally and physically. Maybe she deserved to be an Omega...
"Hey darling," came the voice of the vixen softly, a smaller paw gently placed on the lupine's arm, "don't beat yourself up over this."
The she-Wolf chuckled dryly, "That's my nickname."
"What is?"
"Beatty," Beatrice mumbled into her knees as her ears laid completely flat, "cause I'm easy to beat up." It was a nickname bestowed upon her by the Pack. Whenever another middling Wolf was in a bad mood, and no Omegas were around, they always picked on Beatrice. Being lowest in the rankings allowed for that to happen and no one batted an eye at the behaviour.
"Well Beatrice, because I think you would prefer for me to call you that, call me Cherry." The vixen turned to the Goat, "Candy can you get the hot water started? I think we need some tea. Also for the love of the Creator please put some clothes on. I see plenty of naked mammals when I work, I don't need to see it here."
The Goat huffed, but it sounded half hearted, "Alright Mother, I'll put some clothes on now that we have guests." The herbivore walked away, muttering something about "mother hens in red" and "nosey fox's."
"Do you need us Cher?" Asked the Tiger. Her and the ewe had been quiet for the last several minutes and for a moment Beatrice had forgotten they were still present.
"No I have this Saff, you and Jezz enjoy the night out," Cherry then frowned, "have your phones on you. I have a weird feeling about tonight."
"Don't worry doll, we'll be safe," the ewe added, hugging the feline closer to her, "especially when I have such a strong kitty with me." The Tiger huffed in annoyance, but the sheep simply belated and pulled the larger mammal. "Come on Saff," the herbivore said impatiently, "tonight is going to be great!"
"Which one of us is older again?"
"Hush doll, and move that tight butt!"
Beatrice giggled at the antics of the retreating couple. Her ears rose from the back of her head and she started to relax. The she-Wolf breathed deeply, getting a lung full of bleach and paint once more. She turned to the Fox still standing next to her. "You need answers don't you?"
Cherry smiled softly, "I think we need tea first, but I think Some Goat didn't turn the hot water on!" An anrgy bleat was the only response the vixen received, but the smirk on her muzzle showed that's all she expected. "I also have a feeling you need to talk about more than our Weasely friend, isn't that right?"
The lupine looked away shyly, "I mean...if that's ok?"
The vixen giggled, " Honey the first thing you learn as a prostitute is how to listen to your client. Listening to you complain about work and family is my bread and butter."
Beatrice perked up, "Really?"
Cherry now laughed, a paw trying to hide her mirth, "The stories I could tell you. In fact I thought ex was going to be a talker the first time I met him."
The she-Wolf smiled, "I would love to hear about that."
It felt like Beatrice had just drifted to sleep on the old mattress on the ground, wrapped in a second hand comforter that had seen better days, when a paw shook her awake. "Huh-wha...uh?"
"Beatrice, they grabbed ex!" A voice exclaimed frantically.
It was several seconds before the lupine recognized the voice as Cherry, and then the words sunk in. "What do you mean he's been taken?" exclaimed the Wolf as she struggled to free herself from her entangled blanket. A small yip left her as she accidently jostled the wound on her left thigh, but that didn't even slow down her struggle. Finally Beatrice freed herself and started to rise, before almost falling. She wasn't able to put weight on her left leg and Cherry helped her by bracing underneath the Wolf and allowing some weight off of her injured leg. "What happened, do we know?"
"I put one of the girls on his apartment, because...well I expected him to do something stupid."
The Wolf nodded in agreement as she hobbled to the doorway and out of what the residence use as a bedroom. "He didn't seem to be doing well."
"I've known him now for three months...or at least I thought I did...either way Xander rarely acts without a plan. But now..."
Beatrice stopped, "Xander...as in Xander Claws...ex stands for that!?" Even the she-Wolf had heard about the acts of the Weasel that became Kedi's new muscle. He was said to be cunning, ruthless, and run a prostitution ring that was rivaled by none. To find out that Reggie was "Xander" had some important pieces fitting together. The lupine shook her head with a growl, "Nevermind that, he needs our help. What happened?"
"Ivan Svinya and Ikan Skaal came by less than an hour ago and left with a bag that looked mammal shaped. Ginger said they made quick work of whatever they did in the building and not a scratch could be seen. That definitely isn't like ex."
The she-Wolf nodded. The Weasel had proven himself in the ring at the Academy for his unrelenting style. She had only sparred with him once, but it had been more than enough. "They could have caught while he was sleeping or even darted him." They made it back to table they had sat at earlier in the day, the sun closer to rising than when it set. The heater remained on, providing the only light, as Beatrice settled herself into a chair. "Do we know where they went?"
The Fox had pulled out a phone and was staring at it intently as she seated herself on the other side of the table. She nibbled "She didn't say, and none of the other girls has seen them. I called everyone back tonight...it's too dangerous for any of them to be out."
"We need to do something," pressed the she-Wolf, gritting her teeth as she spoke, "we can't just sit around and do nothing!"
"And what do you think we can do huh? Just gather a posse together and go take on the most hardened criminals NOT in Mr. Big's family!?"
Beatrice looked away from the irate vulpine, but an idea came to mind. "We don't need to make a posse, I'm part of the largest one in the city!" She turned to the hesitant vulpine, "If the Z.P.D. is looking for him, then he may have a chance!"
"Wait," started Cherry, her paws coming up defensively, "the reason you aren't back their already is because of a leak, you told me that yourself. So why is it ok now?"
"It was to protect Reggie, he told Kedi that he had killed me, but if I all of a sudden turned up alive he would be in danger-"
"-but that doesn't matter now because ex is already in danger!" filled in the vixen. She typed a number into the phone and brought it to her ear, "Jezz has my car, but I can get us a ride. It'll be forty five minutes before we leave though."
"Their forty five minutes away?"
Cherry grimaced, "He's only fifteen away, but what I need to do for the ride-"
The Fox was cut off as Beatrice launched over the table and snatched the phone from the smaller mammal. A surprised "hey" came from the vixen, but the she-Wolf ignored the protest and canceled the call. "I know you and the girls have been helping...what did you call him, ex?"
"Well you just called him Reggie so..."
"Shush. I've been sitting on the hind paw for too long and you and him have been skirting the grey area of the law in getting your information. Now that I'm involved it's by the book. No trading favors that way. I'll howl at the sun before I let you do that for me." Beatrice dialed in a number she knew by heart and hoped that he wasn't too asleep. The phone rang once, then twice, a third time before finally the call connected and the sound of the ruffling of fabric came from the other end.
"...ullo?" A sleepy voice answered.
"Arnie! I need your help!" Arnold Howlington, lieutenant in Precinct One and cousin by marriage. The Red Wolf was also the only one outside of her parents who supported her decision to join the Z.P.D. If anyone could help Beatrice, it was him.
There was silence on the other end before the other wolf spoke, "Beatty!? Is that really you? Where are you!? The entire pack has been worried!" The male continued to ramble. "Are you hurt? Can you ralk? Is someone there with you? I swear if someone hurt you..." A loud growl came from the phone, loud enough that Beatrice pulled the phone away before continuing.
"Arnie I'm fine," she tried to say calmly, trying to sooth the lupine on the other end, "I can explain more later, but right now I need a police escort too..." The she-Wolf trailed off as she looked towards Cherry for the address.
"Thirteen thirteen, Frostbite Way," the vixen smoothly provided.
"...Thirteen thirteen Frostbite Way, and no lights or sirens. We need to move fast and I need them here ASAP!"
The sound of writing on paper could be heard, "Got it, are you safe?"
"Yes, but they need to hurry."
"Understood."
"No you don't...Anrie a Precinct One officer has been abducted."
There was a much heavier silence from the other end that seemed to permeate the small room. Finally Arnold spoke, "Eta eight minutes, I'm picking you up myself." He hung up the phone.
The she-Wolf stared at the phone before her gaze went to the smaller mammal in the room. The tension was still present as the need to act but unable to move settled on both females. "He'll be here in eight," started the lupine, "I would grab whatever you need now."
Cherry nodded, "I need to slip into my sexy secretary, it looks more professional, and honey I'm not walking into Precinct Six looking like this." The Fox gestured up and down to her sleeping wear of a long shirt.
Beatrice smiled, "Then I guess we better get ready." The Fox smiled as well. Then, as if shocked into action, both mammals bolted to their respective posts. The she-Wolf to wait impatiently for Arnold to arrive, and the vixen into an unknown room.