Chapter 11: Final Evidence
Bageera and Jazz crept to the notorious cats' den. Undoubtedly, Tugger would have spread the word that the two detectives had "left" since he thought they were dead. Bageera and Jazz wanted him to continue thinking this. As long as he thought they were dead, the more they could look around without his interference. However, that meant they had to stay hidden from all the other Jellicles as well.
They arrived at the den unnoticed. Bageera kicked the door open and went inside. Rumpelteazer was alone, sitting on the blankets they used for bedding. She was crying into her arms. Mungojerrie wasn't anywhere in sight.
When she looked up and saw who had just kicked in her door, the sadness in Rumpelteazer's eyes turned to fury. She ran at Bageera and began hitting him in the chest. It didn't hurt, but the rage behind the blows almost stung. Bageera grabbed her by the wrists and held her back.
"Why did you have to show up?" Rumpelteazer demanded, struggling to get free. "Why did you have to come here and destroy everything we tried to make for ourselves?"
"Where is he?" Bageera demanded.
"Why?" Rumpelteazer snapped. "So you can just hurt him more? He doesn't deserve what you did to him!"
Rage burned in Bageera's eyes to match that of Rumpelteazer's. "You have no idea what he did to us and our tribe!" he bellowed.
"Whatever he did," Rumpelteazer said, "he didn't deserve what happened to him." The tears returned to her eyes. "I didn't even get to say good-bye."
"He's gone?" Bageera asked, his rage momentarily forgotten in a flash of dread.
"Yeah," Rumpelteazer said, pulling away from the tom. "When Munkustrap and Alonzo got back from Old Deuteronomy's they told me he was exiled from the tribe. They ran him off."
"Where did he go?" Jazz asked.
"How should I know?"
"You must have some idea," Jazz coaxed.
"What of it?" Rumpelteazer demanded. "Why should I help you two? You just want to pin what Macavity did on him."
"Damn it!" Bageera shouted. "He didn't do it! We know he didn't do it! And we can prove he didn't do it! But to do that, we must find him! He has evidence vital to this case!"
"There's proof that can clear his name?" Rumpelteazer asked, genuinely curious. "What evidence? He didn't take anything with him. Maybe it's still here."
"No," Bageera said. "He has it on him. That's why we need to know where he is."
Rumpelteazer chewed her lower lip. If she didn't know where he was for sure, she obviously had some idea. But she was battling with herself, trying to decide whether or not to trust the detectives.
"Before 'jerrie was accepted back into the tribe, we had a home near Victoria Grove," she said at last. "If he went anywhere, it would be there."
"Take me," Bageera said. Then he turned to Jazz. "I need you to go find that kitten we met the first day we were here. Her name's Jemima."
"Why do we need her?" Jazz asked.
"I'll explain everything later," Bageera said. "Just find her and any other kittens who saw the fight at the Ball."
"What about your face?" Jazz asked. "Those scratches could get infected. You should let me cauterize them for you."
She brought her paw up and made as if she were going to snap sparks into his face. He reached out and grabbed her paw, lowering it.
"Please," he said. "Just find the kittens. And try to stay hidden."
Jazz nodded before sneaking off after her target. Bageera turned back to Rumpelteazer. "Take me," he repeated.
xxx
The two of them snuck out of the junkyard without being seen through one of the many routes that the notorious couple had for just such occasions. Then it was a long trek through the crowded streets of London until they came to the grove. Bageera looked around, examining the area. There was stray fur here and there. Orange in color. There were also prints scattered around. Mungojerrie had been here very recently.
Bageera started looking around for further traces of the tom in question. After half an hour he was starting to get worried. Had Mungojerrie left this place? Had he moved on already? If he had, then the detectives were out of luck. They had no idea where else he could have gone and tracking him down might take too long.
He began searching down side streets near the grove. And it was in his second alley that Bageera came across a calico tail sticking out from under stray newspapers. He rushed over and pulled the paper away. Underneath was Mungojerrie, sleeping. His scratched face was towards the heavens.
"There you are," Bageera said, startling the tom to consciousness.
"You?" Mungojerrie said in disbelief. He scrambled backwards, trying to get away from the massive tom before him. "I don't believe it. Why can't I get away from you?"
"We were destined for each other," Bageera said, grabbing the crook by the chest fur and pulling him to his feet.
He grabbed Mungojerrie under the muzzle and turned his face from side to side, inspecting it. Looking around, he spotted a low window. He pulled Mungojerrie over and looked at their faces in the reflective glass. A smile spread across Bageera's face.
"I never thought I'd say this," he said. "But I'm glad to see you."
"Why?" Mungojerrie asked, trying to get away. "So you can kill me?" He jerked away, leaving some fur in Bageera's paw. "Fine. If you want to kill me, go ahead. I don't care anymore. You destroyed my life like I destroyed yours. But if killing me is the only way to get solace, then go ahead." He looked down at his paws. "I have no reason to live anymore, anyway."
"I'm not going to kill you," Bageera said. "As much as I'd like to, I have use of you. And it would look far better if I showed your living body to Munkustrap instead of your dead carcass."
"What more do you want from me?" Mungojerrie demanded. "You've already exiled me from my tribe. Old Deuteronomy thinks I had something to do with the Ball. I can't get within ear shot of the Tribe. I'll never see Rumpelteazer again. What more do you want?"
That's when Rumpelteazer showed up. She popped up next to Bageera and looked at Mungojerrie. They looked at each other before falling into each other's arms.
"'Teazer?" Mungojerrie asked in shock. "What are you doing here? Why did you leave the tribe?"
"Bageera said he can clear you," Rumpelteazer said. "Isn't that great, 'Jerrie? Now you can come home."
Mungojerrie frowned in confusion and looked up at Bageera. "Why would you help me?"
"I don't want to," Bageera said. "Believe me; it would give me no greater pleasure than to see you turned out and exiled. Unfortunately for that dream, in order to get the bigger catch, I need to release the smaller one."
"You mean Macavity?" Mungojerrie asked. "You know where he is?"
"I know exactly where he is," Bageera said. "But I need you to come back to the junkyard with me so I can prove it."
Mungojerrie gave Bageera a hard stare. It was clear that Mungojerrie hated Macavity as much as the detectives did. Then he looked at his sister and his gaze softened to sweet affection. After a few moments, he nodded.
"Very well," he said. "If it will help bring Macavity to justice, I'll do whatever you want me to do."
Bageera smiled. "Good. All I need is for you to accompany me to Munkustrap's den."
"Okay," Mungojerrie said. "Let's go."
He and Rumpelteazer followed Bageera out of the alley hand in hand. They weren't sure what Bageera had in mind. But if it would help, then they were going to cooperate.
xxx
"What are you doing here?" the gray tom-kit asked.
Jazz had found Jemima. The problem was that she was with a couple other kittens. Pouncival and Victoria, she thought.
"Yeah," Victoria said. "We heard you two left."
"Who said that?" Jazz asked.
"Mama," Victoria said. "She said she heard it from the Rum Tum Tugger." She smiled at the tom's name. Jemima almost swooned as well.
"Well he was wrong," Jazz said. "Jemima?" she asked in her most soothing voice. "Would you like to help me with something?"
"What?" Pouncival asked, moving to sit next to Jemima. "What do you need?"
Jazz cursed to herself. She could manage kittens on a one-to-one basis. But groups of them were tricky. She had to be careful what she said.
"I need you to come with me to see Munkustrap," Jazz said directly to Jemima.
She shrank back slightly.
"You're not in trouble," Jazz reassured her. "There's just something I need you to help clear up." She looked at the other kittens. "Your friends can come too, if they want."
"Okay," Pouncival and Victoria said at once. Jemima was silent. Victoria began to nuzzle her.
"It's okay," she said. "We'll be with you."
Jemima nodded and got to her paws. With the three kittens in tow, Jazz began to make her way back to Munkustrap's den.
xxx
Munkustrap wasn't home when Jazz showed up. But Demeter was. She let Jazz and the three kittens in to wait. After about an hour and a half, Bageera showed up with Rumpelteazer and Mungojerrie. Munkustrap was still out and dusk was setting in. Demeter sat with them, comforting the kittens who were getting bored waiting for the protector to show up.
Jazz and Bageera were starting to get worried that something had happened to him when he finally showed up. He was still limping and his arm was stiff, but he seemed fine other than that. Then he saw Mungojerrie.
"He was exiled from the Tribe," Munkustrap said. "What is he doing here?"
"I'm glad you asked," Bageera said. "And to answer that, I need the Rum Tum Tugger here as well."
"What?" Munkustrap asked. "Why?"
"We have something to tell you that will shock you beyond all belief," Bageera said. "It is so outrageous, that to prove it is true, he must be present."
"Outrageous?" Munkustrap asked. "How outrageous?"
"Life ruining," Bageera said.
Munkustrap stared at Bageera for a moment. "You sure aren't the subtle type, are you?"
"That's her job," Bageera said, nodding to Jazz. "Would you please go fetch him for us? And be sure not to tell him that any of us will be present."
Munkustrap gave Bageera a long look. Then he looked over at Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. Then at the kittens who were looking awestruck. Then he shrugged and went for the curious cat.
xxx
It seemed to take forever for the two toms to return. Jazz paced restlessly in the sleeping area. Demeter was keeping the kittens entertained to keep them present. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer were in another corner, talking quietly to themselves. Bageera wasn't sure what they were saying, but he didn't really care. As long as Mungojerrie was here, they could talk about whatever they wanted. Bageera spent the time going from one group to another, asking specific questions about the ball.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, Bageera heard the sounds of paws approaching the den. But to his consternation, he heard three sets of paws, not two. He swore as he realized that Tugger must have brought Mistoffelees with him. That could prove to be a problem. Nothing to do about it now. Maybe, just maybe he could work it to his favor. He had to think fast.
"Alright," Tugger said. "What do you need to show me that's so important it couldn't wait until we finished talking?" Bageera assumed he meant he was talking to Mistoffelees when Munkustrap showed up.
"I'm told it's rather important," Munkustrap said. "And it was specifically requested that you be here."
"Oh yeah?" Tugger asked, curiosity getting the better of him. "And who requested that?"
Bageera smiled as he came out of the sleeping area, Jazz right behind him. "We did," he said with a smile.
He had to admit one thing about the toms before him: they could hide their surprise very well. The only thing that gave away the fact that Tugger was shocked beyond words at the sight of them was a quick twitch of the tail. Mistoffelees, who was with them, didn't even show that. All his years of creating illusions had allowed him to hide his emotions perfectly.
"And why's that?" he asked, voice steady.
"We're here to call you on your crimes," Bageera said, bluntly. "The crimes of killing our tribe and of taking Old Deuteronomy at the Jellicle Ball among so many others."
There was a slight pause as everyone looked at Bageera as if he were crazy.
"Excuse me?" Tugger finally said. "Are you saying I had something to do with the Ball? That I'm working for Macavity?"
"Of course not," Bageera said, calmer than anything. "I'm saying you are Macavity."
xxx
Please review and take up reading again for chapter 12.
