- 11:45am, July 1st, Howlett Residence -
"He was in our home and you DIDN'T SHOOT HIM?!" Understandably Howlett was pissed, having a serial killer in his home, just feet away from his mate and threatening both him and his team merely with his presence was enough to set his emotions in a spin.
The team was sitting around the table in the dining area of the complex, discussing the events of the previous night with Lucy at the helm. The feline had explained all that transpired when everyone else was in their rooms, right down to the finest of details. A particular skill that she took pride in was her ability to think under pressure such as that.
"Initially I was ready to drop him but... the more he talked... the more I.. I believed him" she said. Lucy hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, as to be expected after coming face to face with an assassin. "Sir, believe me I don't want to work with him but... I think he could be useful."
Jay slammed his fists down on the table, the bowls of cereal and cutlery jumping a few inches from the table top. "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF HE WANTS TO, NOT HAPPENING!"
"Hun, calm down... we will figure this out as a team" Atreyu butted in, stroking the Wolf's paw to ease his heightened emotions. "It didn't seem like he meant us any harm right?"
"I suppose so but still... he is a murderer" the wolf said in a calmer voice. Ru's words have a soothing effect on her mate.
"Mrs Benson is correct, from what I've heard Charon seems willing to come to an agreement and from my knowledge of the Ghost... he may be of service to us" Tristan emerged from Bixby's room dressed in his best suit, dark navy in colour with a black tie.
"Well don't you look handsome!" Bixby immediately spoke up, his heart aflutter at the well dressed coyote, even more spiffing than Alex.
"Shh babe, I know it" Tristan winked at the Hare, sending shivers up the Hare's spine and dirty thoughts rushing through his head. "Now, Detective Howlett if I may interject, I myself have had dealings with individuals in my career that have been associated with Charon, if you would have me I may be helpful to your investigation."
"And what exactly do you mean dealings?" the wolf asked. He knew that Tristan was working in Animalia around the same time as himself but their paths never crossed.
"Well you see, back in Animalia I was a criminal prosecutor for the city. There have been a few occasions that the name has came up during a case. Mostly psychopaths trying to pin the blame on another well known killer just because a knife wound vaguely looked similar. I haven't exactly built up a case against Charon but I know enough about him to be useful based on third party accounts. Lucy darling, I believe you have written down all that transpired between the both of you this morning, may I have a look at your notes?"
"Hmm? Ohh of course!" the Lynx was a little set back from Tristan's grasp on the English language, how he embellished his words, choosing them carefully. She knew he was well educated, not dissimilar to Alex. When she woke up this morning she immediately wrote down their conversation, word for word, carefully detailing his actions along with any peculiarities in his mannerisms. Lucy passed her notes on Charon over to Tristan, watching anxiously as the taller Coyote ran his claw along the lines of the paper, taking note of every detail.
"And this is 100% accurate yes?" he asked as he looked up from behind the pages. Lucy hadn't noticed the canine had slipped on a small pair of reading glasses that perfectly framed his glowing golden-hazel eyes.
"Yes, sir" she said, the sir part accidentally slipping out as if she was speaking to a superior.
"Heh, sir... Okay my dear, there are a few things that seem a little odd in my personal opinion, i will highlight them in red pen if you wish?" Tristan reached into his satchel that was hung around another one of the dining room table chairs and grabbed a few highlighters and a red marker.
"Sure, what have you got?" Lucy asked inquisitively.
"First off, you are all rookie officers, with the exception of Howlett of course, and thus aren't on the system yet... so how did he know about this apartment? He couldn't have followed you as he was already here and waiting and Detective Howlett would have made sure to keep the location of this place off the books so again, he is resourceful. On that same page we can rest assured that we are completely safe, if he knows where we live then he could kill us all in our sleep, as he hasn't done that then its reasonable to assume this partnership is legit."
Jenson spat at the prospect of a team up, despite it being the logical choice. "This is ridiculous. He is a killer, we should be out chasing him not entertaining the thought of recruiting him!" Understandably Howlett was annoyed. This killer was within feet of not only him but the one thing in the world he cares for, Atreyu. "No, I wont work with that bastard..."
"You may not have the choice, Detective..." Tristan said as he continued to outline certain phrases and mannerisms in red marker. "Another thing that stood out is when he said 'associates'... the Ghost exclusively works alone. A study conducted on the Ghost revealed that he most likely has deep rooted paranoia, there is no way he would willingly be working with someone else. And further more Ghost has been around for a number of years, as has Charon... so why all of a sudden is Charon gunning for the rabbit? It doesn't make much sense"
All members of the party gathered around the table shrugged their shoulders in unison. Tristan's theories proved sound, it didn't make much sense for Charon to be in Zootopia, never mind trying to complete a contract hit on another assassin.
Tristan stopped in the middle of outlining a point. "Bixby what do you make of this?" he said as he slid the final page over to his mate.
The hare studied the phrase for a few seconds, taking note of various points and possible subliminal messages.
"I...I think I know what your getting at hun..." Bixby said, looking across the table at his mate. "It makes sense in a way, but it's an out-there theory..."
"Lucy dear, how many of your romantic partners currently reside within the city? And have you been keeping in contact with any of them as of late?" Tristan asked the feline, much to her surprise.
Lucy's romantic life seems to be the subject of conversation a lot lately, between having feelings for Alex and now this...
"What exactly does that have to do with this Charon character?" she asked, a little hot under the collar, not expecting to bring up her sexual history.
"I merely ask as there is a possibility that one of your previous partners may have some information that could help in the investigation... at the end of your conversation he said he doesn't want to see you killed... in one aspect that implies that he has a personal connection to you. Most likely not the case however we cannot rule out the possibility that Charon could be a former lover of yours, it explains why he talked to you personally and not Alex or Bixby or even Mrs Akri..."
"Tris, please, call me Ru"
"Sorry ma'am..er... Ru. Anyway, would you mind providing the names and have the Detective run a background check on them, maybe a follow up interview on their location this morning?" Tristan asked as he stood from the table and grabbed his satchel.
"Uh... sure i guess, if it helps" Lucy reached for a pen and some paper but before she could write anything down the loud and obnoxious sound of Howlett's phone kicked into life.
The wolf noticed the caller ID of Chief Bogo and answered immediately. "Yes sir?... we are at home discussing the case... yes sir... no... no that's... that's impossible... we will be right there..." and with a click Jay shut off his phone.
All ears were pointed in the wolfs direction. Something was amiss, from what little the team actually knew of the detective there was one thing that stood out. The wolf rarely stumbled with his words. Whatever the Chief told him, they all knew that it was going to be a long day.
Bixby was the first to break the silence. "Jay? What's up?"
Howlett was getting more furious by the second. "That bastard Rabbit... that... fuck!"
"Sir please calm down and tell us, we can't help, we can't be a team if you keep us in the dark..." Lucy chimed in, at this stage very concerned for the team's leader.
"Ugh... that fucking Rabbit shot and killed Bill Clause..." Jay revealed. Within the hour Ghost had managed to kill the team's first criminal suspect.
"And you think its a message?" Alex thought out loud, unintentionally making his theory sound more like a question than an observation.
"I don't know, but we have to attend a meeting at the Precinct immediately" Howlett said, his paws still shaking from the news...
- 12:30pm, July 1st, Precinct 1 -
"So tell me, when will you be bringing in the Ghost? Will it be this afternoon? Or perhaps tomorrow? Come on Detective speak up, no need to be shy" Bogo was pacing up and down his office. Slightly peeved would be a severe underestimate. Not only had an assassin made a mockery of his Precinct but made his officers and his facilities look inadequate.
"I don't know" Howlett muttered, he emotions betraying him.
Bogo made eye contact with the wolf for the first time since he arrived at the station. "Mr Clause was released into our custody just this morning and now he is dead. Laying upstairs in a pool of his own blood and grey matter and I have no physical evidence to go on. From your reputation in the APD I was expecting a bit more... capabilities when i brought you in and-..."
"JUST REMEMBER YOU BROUGHT ME HERE! YOU NEEDED MY HELP!" Howlett snapped at the Buffalo, the Black Dog in him rearing its ugly head in a vicious and threatening way. Threatening not for the chief, but for Howlett... for his job and his team.
"Calm down Detective or ill have you send back to where you came from... I put you on the bank robbery as a trial and you did splendidly, however, i also expected YOU of all mammals to be using your time wisely in finding this Rabbit... and you have nothing to show for it?
"With all due respect, I have a team of rookies helping me go after an assas-…"
"Just remember that YOU were the one to choose these newbies, not I!... I had hope you knew what you were doing!" Bogo shouted, slamming his over-sized hooves down on the desk, leaving behind a noticeable divot in the wood.
"I need time to train them up. Lucy is the one mammal in this precinct that has a hope in hell to fight him in close-quarters... Bixby's intelligence is a major asset to tracking him down, and once I get some fur or a drop of blood, there is no escape from Alex's nose... but I still need time to train them..."
"You need more than time Jenson, you need a miracle... That's why I made a call to the Major Crimes Division in Huntington... there sending over an agent once he becomes available." Bogo sat down in his chair, appearing to calm down a little. Much to Howlett's confusion.
"Sending who?" Jay asked. There were very few individuals that could match the Ghost in combat or intellect... and even less that he was willing to work with.
"Agent Savage... he is currently on an undercover assignment in the middle east but when he returns, he will be the newest member of your team. Do I make myself clear?" The chief made his demands clear. The team was to have a fifth member, much to Jay's distaste.
"That jumped up little furball? He's a kiss-ass, a mediocre sniper and barely worth anyone's time!" He spat back at the Chief. Savage was at the bottom of said list of mammals to work with, but unfortunately the choice was out of his paws. Perhaps this addition would prove useful?... perhaps as cannon fodder.
"I said... Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?" Bogo said in the calmest manner he could muster.
"Ugh... yes sir..." Jay said, rolling his eyes and cursing the name 'savage' under his breath.
"Good... oh and Detective Howlett just remember... I'm a lover, not a fighter but if you fail me I will happily use my hoof to fuck you up and down this Precinct... am I understood?"
"Yes. Sir" Howlett saluted, trying to hold back his laughter at the Chief's well-prepared threat.
"Good... you have until October 18th to capture the Ghost, by any means necessary. Should you fail you will be sent back to the APD, and your precious team will be fired. Now leave"
- 10:30pm, War's Warehouse Roof -
A lone figure sat atop the empty roof space, admiring the lights of the city as the sun began to set behind the monstrously tall buildings at its core.
Ghost was still on a high after completing his first assassination assignment under War's orders. Orders... something the Ghost will have to get used to.
The Lapin was eager to prove himself as a valuable asset to the mammoth Rhino that held the keys to his family's safe release. He knew that once his usefulness ended, so too would his family's lives.
One bullet. One life. One more day Ghost's father would remain in the world of the living.
One bullet. One life. One more day his sisters could go outside and pick the summer flowers.
One bullet. One life. One more day his mother could bake her famous wild berry pie.
One bullet.
Ghost had placed his mask on the tin roof in front of him. He knew there was no one around, not at this time of the evening. Most would be going to sleep. Addy and Niki were told to get some rest by the rabbit, both of them looked particularly drained so out of the kindness of his black heart he gave them the night off.
The rabbit wasn't wearing his sidearm, nor his ballistic vest... hell he wasn't even wearing a shirt. He enjoyed the sun's dying rays basking his body during sunset. He was almost meditation to him, or what form of relaxation a highly strung, paranoid assassin could attain. No the only other item he had was a cell phone. With only 1 number saved in the contacts, this was all he needed.
He hovered his paw over the 'call' symbol for the past 15 minutes, every fiber in his body wanted him to press it but his mind kept telling him no. No, this could be dangerous for them... he couldn't tell them anything, even if he wanted to.
Tears began to form in the corners of his eyes, his paw began to shake. Never before had he conjured the courage to press the button. But tonight, he thought to himself, tonight was the night. He closed his eyes and pressed the flashing green button.
Ghost's heart was pounding. This decision gave a stout chill up his spine. A tingle in his paws. A much bigger thrill than an assassinati-...
"Hello?...hello?... who is this?..."
Ghost's eyes erupted into waterfalls of salty tears. The voice on the other end of the phone was a voice that he hadn't heard in 10 years. The voice that filled him with both feelings of pure joy and profound sadness.
The voice of his father.
"Hello?... If you kids don't stop crank-calling ill be forced ta call the police, ya hear?...HELLOOO?..."
Ghost could die a happy bunny, knowing that they were all safe for the time being. Just the knowledge that his father hadn't changed one bit convinced him that everything was okay, even just for that second... that second was enough. The tears running down his face coupled with his sadness and joy caused his nose to stuff up a little. He sniffed to help clear it.
"Someone there?... Is that?... Son?... my Little Snowflake... is that you?..."
With a click, Ghost hung up the phone, throwing it to the side causing the battery to break free from the main body of the cell. By this point the once fearless Rabbit was a sniveling mess. He lay back on the tin roof and gazed up towards the sky just as the stars were beginning to break through the orange and blue haze.
The fearless assassin at this moment in time was a 12 year old bunny, a mess of emotions and tears. desperately missing his family but unable to return to them. To keep them safe.
The act of hearing his father's voice and the subsequent flood of emotions had taken its toll on the bunny. He was exhausted after his day of planning a kill and the escape that ensued.
The bunny closed his eyes, the last thing he seen was the north star, burning brightly above as he drifted off to sleep.
- 1:34am, July 2nd, Howlett Residence -
Not a single sound could be heard from the apartment, the snores and uh... other noises... were confined to each individuals private quarters. The majority of the buildings occupants, along with most of the city, were asleep after a long hard day in their jobs, taking care of their kids or in some cases... shooting a criminal from 600m through solid concrete... The city now however fell silent.
For one rookie detective however, this was not the case... there was meetings to attend.
Lucy Benson, the Hellcat of Team Howlett was standing outside on the balcony, overlooking the city and reading through her phone, chilling in the night breeze. Well, not so much chilling exactly. The lynx was waiting for someone in particular. Someone who could be an valuable ally, or a deadly foe.
She didn't have to wait long however. A tingling sensation sprouted on the nape of her neck, not from a cold wind but from something much more sinister. The feline resisted against all her instincts to reach for her Sig, this conversation would be a peaceful one, until she got answers at least.
"Beautiful night, wouldn't you agree Officer Benson?" said a voice, standing on the ledge of the balcony, out of her line of sight and striking distance. She wondered tho, could this phantom survive a fall from such height...
"It's dark... and cold... merciless" Lucy replied, biting her tongue from lashing out at him.
"Are we still talking about the night... or have you done some research?" the voice asked, already knowing the answer but seeking a way into a stable conversation with the young future detective.
Lucy didn't reply but instead, gave a half cocked smirk in the killers general direction. "You hacked my phone and sent a text from me to myself... wanting to meet me here... untraceable... smart"
"I'm afraid my dear I haven't requested an audience here with you to compare intellect..." Charon started but was interrupted by the Lynx.
"...Jay is fixated on hunting the Ghost, mostly without the help of scum such as yourself..." Lucy spat back at the masked murderer. Turning to meet his demonic gaze. His ferocious crimson eyes burning in the dead of night but alas, Lucy had experienced horrors much worse than what Charon processed. Horrors that haunted her to the core.
"Ouch... Detective... words hurt..." Charon jested.
"I am serious, Charon, stay out of our way. Don't think for one second that if you get in our way we will spare you prosecution because you showed restraint here, now... You could be the mayor of Zootopia for all i know but that doesn't mean Jay wont put a bullet in you... so please..."
Charon stepped over the balcony railing and rested his feet on the stable ground of the tiled floor. Stepping into the light gave Lucy a more comprehensive view of her target.
Charon wasn't wearing his usual cloak, instead he looked more like a comic book supervillain than anything else. Even his mask had changed. No longer was one side of the mask charred and cracked but was now made whole, finished in bone white and looked slightly thicker than the previous. He still wore a hood to conceal the rest of his head that was fastened to a ballistic vest on his chest and abdomen, coupled with a small backpack strapped to the rear. Below that he wore a black, skin tight fabric shirt, long sleeve of course, that stretched down and met with his usual gloves. His lower body still consisted of dark coloured cargo/military pants, sporting plenty of pockets and pouches. Holding them up was a belt, a few additional pouches built into it with a drop leg holster fitted to the right side. This holster however did not hold a pistol, instead were an assortment of throwing knives and sleeper darts.
"Well check you out... Halloween come early?" Lucy joked, trying to make light of the situation but failing miserably.
"Officer Bens-..." Charon began but was rudely cut off by the Lynx.
"Lets skip the official titles huh? Call me Lucy. So what do they call you?" she asked, attempting to trick him.
"...Charon... but nice try tho... and no, this get up is the only thing keeping me from having an unfriendly encounter with a speeding bullet... the vest is DragonSkin, the shirt and pants are Kevlar with an Underarmour coating and the mask is ballistic... will stop up to a .44 Magnum. So you see Miss Bens... Lucy... make no mistake, I am hunting the Ghost with or without your help. Without will be harder but ill manage. And I could really use your help..." Charon moved in closer to Lucy, both still looking out at the city lights. The killers movements were slow and methodical but reminiscent of a school kit moving in on his crush. "Lucy? May I ask you something personal?"
Lucy was taken aback by Charon's forwardness. It almost seemed as if the two had been friends for a very long time. "What is it?"
"What happened to you that broke you so badly?..."
Lucy was shocked. This phantom had seen right through her, to the deepest corners of her soul. He knew she was hurting. "And why in the hell should I tell you something like that? We are not friends... we are not ally's... and I wouldn't even class you as an innocent bystander..."
"Because right now I am the closest thing you have to a willing ear... I will listen in confidence" Charon confided, meaning every word... there would be no one to tell anyway. Charon leaned in closer, within a foot of each other now still bedazzled by the neon of Zootopia. The Assassin placed his paw on top of Lucy's, comforting her on this cold, unforgiving night.
"A willing ear huh..." she said as she looked down at the larger mammals paw resting upon her own. "My father was a drunk... a cheat... a substance abuser... a... an abuser...he took delight in coming home from work, drunk already, wanting to pick a fight with anyone and everyone... my mom took a beating just as much as the rest of us. My brothers tho... they soon learned that this kind of treatment seemed to be normal. They became physical... with me... with my mom... coupled with my dad beating us left and right... then when his fists got tired... he retired to... to my bedroom..."
"Oh Lucy..." Charon muttered, his concern genuine as he looked into the Lynx's tear filled eyes and finally he could see all her pain and anger coming to the surface. "If you wish we can stop..."
"I don't know why im telling you this... it just feels... right" Lucy revealed as she used her free paw to wipe away some tears but the torrent kept coming. "I finally decided to join the ZPD...to make a difference to young girls like me... to save them... but that dream almost came crumbling down... The night before I was due to leave my father found my diary and my savings... he knew what I was up to and tried to stop me... that's when... that's when it happened... I became the Hellcat... Charon I... I killed my father... I tore him apart... My claws slashed and slashed and... and then I just ran... to the train station."
"Lucy, you shouldn't feel guilty for what you did. That bastard had it coming. He deserved it, unlike you... you my dear need to let go of this burden. Trust me it will consume you. And for what its worth... you may have saved your mothers life down the line... or your brothers..." Charon's words hit home. With that, a smile emerged from the sadness upon Lucy's face. Getting a secret as big as this off her chest felt indescribable. The weight lifted from her shoulders and the immeasurable guilt that went along with it faded into nothing.
"T...thank you...Charon" the young kitten muttered as she placed her other paw on top of his.
Lucy couldn't see the mammals face but she knew he was smiling just as much as she was... and crying.
"I must go now, Lucy... please remember that you are in control of your future... your past transgressions do not determine your path in life." And with those wise words of wisdom Charon hoisted himself back over the balcony and onto the stone outcrop of the building. Before he disappeared completely from view he took one final looks back at his new friend, hoping that she took his words seriously. His crimson eyes glowing in the backdrop of the shadowy city.
Lucy took one final look back at him also before retreating back into the safety of the apartment. Back into the soft, warm bed beside the mammal that made her heart flutter for no reason. She lay beside the peacefully sleeping Coyote for a few minutes, playing back her rendezvous with the mystery mammal one more time...
"I hope I'm wrong about you... for everyone's sake..."