12.  The Cat

Max, Mark and Murphy were now hiding in an ally across from the warehouse in question.  Max looked up at the huge dog biscuit with the 'Tasty Tidbits' logo on it that stood as large as a billboard on the roof of the building.

"That is the second biggest bone I've ever seen in my life."  He whispered.

"What was the biggest?"  Murphy asked, beginning to drool all over Mark's shoe.

"It's classified."  Max told him smugly.

Mark, getting miffed about his wet and slimy foot was about to inform his pet that the thing was made of wood and it wouldn't taste good so his saliva glands need not overwork themselves but he never got a chance to say it for he was interrupted by a loud crash behind them.  They all jumped about three feet in the air and turned around, expecting to find an enemy agent with a gun trained at their heads.  Instead they found a rather skinny calico cat emerging from among the spilled contents of a trashcan.  They all heaved a sigh of relief as they realized the perpetrator was not about to murder them. 

As the cat just stood, staring apprehensively at them Mark had an idea.  "Can you talk to cats?" 

"Of course I don't talk to cats!  They're always so snobby."  Murphy looked down his nose at the calico, who was watching the conversation with considerable interest.

"No, that's not what I mean."  Mark said hurriedly not wanting it to get away.  "Ask it if it knows anything."

"Of course she doesn't know anything.  She's a cat for crying out loud!"

"I mean has she seen anything suspicious!!"

"Oh.  I guess I could do that."  Then he mumbled under his breath.  "But I'd rather chase 'em."  As he walked over to the cat she arched her back and jumped onto some boxes.  From all Max and Mark could see they were just moving their ears, tails and occasionally making a small sound or two.  After this rather silent discussion Murphy turned back to his human companions. 

"She says we shouldn't go in there."

"Why?" 

"She's looked in the windows before because it smells like food in there- speaking of which I'm hungry."

"Just tell us what she said."

"Well I don't quite understand what she means but she says the humans that work there control most of the animals around here with some strange force.  Sounds like something out of a comic book huh?  'Attack of the Zombie Kitties'."

"Murphy!  We don't want to hear about your comic books, okay!  Ask her if she'll help us."

At this Max mumbled to himself.  "Forget the James Bond image.  From now on it's gonna be Max Doolittle, I just know it."  Then he spoke up, slightly irritated.  "This is insane!  How is a cat going to help us?  Even if it could why would it bother?"

"I know it sounds crazy, but, hey, Cache has a whole army of cats working for her.  And besides, your agency has dogs working for them.  You told me yourself that one of your partners is canine."

"Yeah, well…that's different!"  He protested.  "That's a cat!"

"Prejudice are we?"  Mark crossed his arms.

"No, but…"

"Look it's worth a try.  She can get in there without being noticed.  They will think that she's one of their minions.  That way she can look around and tell us where your friends are."

"She doesn't look anything like an onion."  Murphy put in.

"No, not onion.  Minion.  Like as in slaves that do the dirty work."

"Oh."

Max had thought about it and he had to agree with Mark.  It was worth a try.  He had to get 99 and the Chief out of there even if the methods were unorthodox and he said so.

"So ask her if she'll help."

After another body-language discussion Murphy turned back.  "She says 'what's in it for her'."        

"What ever she wants."  Mark said hurriedly.

Max frowned.  "You can't offer her that.  I mean what if she wants a castle in Spain or the Sahara dessert or something?"

This time it was Marks turn to roll his eyes.  "What would a cat want with the Sahara?"

"Maybe she wants an expensive litter box."  Max explained matter-of-factly.  "Come on, the most she's gonna ask for is a couple cans of caviar."

Murphy interrupted.  "She will."

"Great!"  Mark exclaimed.

Max proceeded to give instruction.  "Tell her: when she gets in to find the entrance that's least guarded.  Than look for a perfect, gorgeous, statuesque, flawless, elegant—"

"Okay!  We get the point."

Max crossed his arms and made sure to get a couple more words in.  "—Beautiful, stunning brunette.  She'll most likely be restrained in some way with an older balding and rather grouchy man.  Once you've done that come back and report to us."

"And what ever you do don't eat the food."  Mark added.

Murphy translated.  The cat jumped down and seemed to nod at the two men as she let out a quick 'mew' and trotted across the street toward the warehouse.

"She says 'wish me luck'."

Now all they had to do was wait.