Chapter 5

The group of six sat at a picnic table as Mickey finished, "…we were hoping you might know of something left from those days. Especially from that movie."

"Hells Heels," Felix mumbled in thought.

"Was that one done in the desert?" Kitty asked.

"Yeah, it was," Oswald said, nodding his head.

Kitty turned to Felix and asked, "What happened to that old photo album?"

"Which one? Most of them are in my attic," Felix offered. "Why?"

"You stupid cat, you were there," Kitty said with a laugh.

"I was?"

"He was?"

"Universal was being cheap and only rented out the place just long enough for you two to film at the same time," Kitty reminded.

"I don't remember that," Oswald admitted.

"Oh right, I think I do remember that," Felix said. He pointed his finger at Oswald and said, "You three had some song to do, right? And kept getting it wrong or something?"

"Yeah, my gun kept malfunctioning on me," Oswald said. "We had to reshoot that scene a few times to the point Lantz was getting mad about the wasted film."

"Felix took a picture that day," Kitty informed. "Would that help prove your case?"

"It just might!" Mickey exclaimed, smiling wide.

"Well, what are we doing wasting our time here?" Felix said, pushing himself up to stand over the table.

"Well, there's a catch," Woody said, finally piping up. "Is your neighbor a short old guy with a white mustache?"

"What, no," Felix said, surprise evident on his face. His brows furled as he added, "That sounds like the Professor."

"We were afraid of that," Mickey said, his smile gone as Felix sat back down.

"Who is he?" Ortensia asked.

"He's a crazy old man that took his roll to heart," Kitty informed, rolling her eyes.

"I've got this bag," Felix started to explain to the couple. "I don't know where it came from but we started to use it in the shows and they cast him as my rival, always trying to steal it."

"Why is he trying to steal your bag?" Oswald asked. "I get he goes by Nutty, didn't realize he was."

"It's like Marry Poppins's bag," Mickey offered.

"Okay, all powerful bag," Oswald summarized. He let out a sigh as he realized, "And we led him straight to you."

"Well, we did leave him in the parking lot," Woody said, throwing his thumb over his shoulder back towards the entryway.

"You didn't leave the bag in the car, did you?" Kitty asked.

"No, but I'm not gonna say where I put it either," Felix admitted. "Knowing him, he's watching us."

"Great, so how are we gonna leave without him knowing?" Woody asked, leaning his head on his fist. His eyes flashed wide as he turned to Mickey, the two sharing a silent thought. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked with a laugh.

The two looked towards Ortensia as Mickey said, "Yap, I think so."

"Why are you two looking at me like that?" Ortensia asked, eyeing the two.

"Hey! I know that look!" Oswald exclaimed, eyeing Mickey down. "What are you planning to get my wife into?"

-.-.-.-

"I can't believe I agreed to this," Ortensia mumbled as Kitty helped wipe away the last of her make-up, the two girls stood in front of the bathroom mirror.

"I can't believe your laws are this weird," Kitty admitted, studying Ortensia's face. She took the wipe in her hand and worked at the make-up around Ortensia's eyes, forcing her to close her eyes.

"Well the whole thing is unprecedented," Ortensia offered. "Toons don't normally have their contracts traded."

"Not traded, but bough out does happen," Kitty said, taking her hand away so Ortensia could open her eyes. "Felix and all of us under his contract have gone through that. I figured with all Disney had bought out, the laws would've changed with them. See if I got it all."

Ortensia turned to the mirror, taking in a breath at the male looking cat staring back at her. "They don't normally move into Mouseton, and it's their laws that's using a stupid prop as proof Oswald really was wanted dead or alive." The girl leaned against the sink, closing her eyes against the tears that wanted to flow. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"Don't be," Kitty offered, rubbing the girl's back. She waited while keeping up the action before asking, "Do you wanna minute?"

"No, I'll be fine," Ortensia offered, gaining control of her emotions again. She stood straight and released the sink as Kitty dropped her hand.

"Girls! He's gone!" Oswald called out as he poked his head through the door.

"Oswald!" Kitty exclaimed.

"What?"

"Get out of the lady's restroom!" Kitty ordered as Ortensia let out a laugh.

"Esh, not like it's the first time I've seen the girl's bathroom," Oswald mumbled as he pulled his head back out.

Ortensia and Kitty followed him out to find Woody and Mickey talking.

"…he might've gone back to Felix's," Mickey was saying. "If he really was keeping an eye on us, that'd be the next best guess on where Felix'd put the bag."

"Then we should go with a plan," Woody pointed out. They looked up as the three rejoined them only to let out a laugh. "Whoa, you really look like Felix."

"Speaking of, where is he?" Ortensia asked.

"Bathroom," Oswald informed, throwing his thumb back the way they had come.

"I'm back," Felix's voice said, turning all eyes to the cat. He froze as his eyes fell on Ortensia. "Whoa, that's creepy."

"Thanks, I guess?" Ortensia said, eyeing the cat.

"Sorry, dealt with a copycat once," Felix explained, shaking his head.

"Come on, we need to get back to your place," Mickey said, leading the way out of the park. The group followed him out as he added, "Felix, give her the keys."

"What?!"

"Come on, Felix," Kitty said, reaching into the cat's pants pocket as they walked. She pulled out a set of keys and added, "It's not that far to the house, your car'll be fine."

"I'm not a bad driver, if that helps," Ortensia offered as she was passed the keys.

"Woody, you sit in the front with the girls, we'll sit in the back," Mickey ordered.

"Shouldn't we swap jackets?" Ortensia asked. "He's already seen me in this one."

"Good point," Felix said, already unzipping his blue jacket. He handed it to the girl, getting her green jacket and threw it on as the car came in sight. He pulled open the driver side door and pushed the seat forward to climb into the back with Oswald right behind him.

Ortensia jumped into the driver seat and quickly pulled the seat forward so she could reach the peddles as Kitty and Woody sat down on seat beside her. "Sorry Felix," Ortensia offered as she lowered the seat. "You're never gonna get this seat back to how you like it."

"Don't remind me," Felix whined.

Ortensia turned over the engine and backed them out of the spot before saying, "Someone's gonna have to tell me where I'm going. I couldn't watch the way here."

"Take a left at the gate," Kitty said from her cramped seat in between Ortensia and Woody.

"The crazy Professor doesn't ever try and kidnap you, does he?" Oswald asked the cat in his wife's jacket.

"No, he has," Felix offered, only to realize why Oswald was asking.

"Nope. Ortensia, stop the car," Oswald said.

"Oswald," Ortensia said, already turning left.

"At the second light, turn right," Kitty said.

"I don't want to lose you again to some mad doctor," Oswald said, his voice rising.

"And I don't want you going to jail for a movie," Ortensia said, her voice matching as the cat gripped the steering wheel tighter than she needed.

Felix tried to scoot closer to Mickey in the back seat, trying to get away from the couple's dispute.

"Ozzy, she's not going alone," Mickey tried to point out. "I wouldn't've even brought up the idea if I thought she'd be in danger."

"And it's not like I can't hold my own," Ortensia pointed out, turning at the light.

"Right on Sunset Drive," Kitty said, keeping her job as GPS.

"Oh yes, says the girl who got kidnapped on a train," Oswald pointed out.

"Oswald!" Ortensia growled.

Oswald shrunk down in his seat. "I'm just worried about you, Ortensia," Oswald offered in a soft voice. "Sorry."

Ortensia took the right into the neighborhood, a soft smile on her face. "No, I'm sorry," she said. "I need you to worry about me."

"Um, third street on the right," Kitty offered, not wanting to interrupt.

"I know where I am now, thanks though," Ortensia said, smiling at the girl next to her.

"Shoot, we were right," Woody said as they turned down Felix's street. "He's already there."

Ortensia passed the car parked on the side of the street before pulling into the driveway. She cut the engine and looked out the window to the house for any sings of movement. "Where is he?"

"Wish I knew," Felix said, looking over his shoulder through the back window.

"We're not gonna find him staying in the car," Mickey pointed out.

Ortensia pushed open her door and said, "Come this way, Kitty, incase he's watching."

Kitty nodded her head before following the black cat out of the car.

Ortensia flipped through the few keys on the ring, finding one that looked to be the house key, and led Kitty to the door. Reaching out to grab the screen door, the door swung out on its own accord and knocked the two cats back. "Hey!" Ortensia cried out in surprise.

"Don't any of you move a muscle!" the Professor ordered, standing on the front step as the screen door banged close behind him. In one hand he held an old photo album and the other pointed a pistol at the group. "I know this has proof to where you're hiding that bag of yours. For once and for all, I will get that bag."

"What? You have gone nuts," Woody exclaimed.

"Quiet!" the Professor exclaimed, pointing the gun at the blue woodpecker. He pulled the trigger, shooting out a purple goo that stuck Woody where he fell on the lawn.

"What on earth!?" Woody exclaimed, fighting to get up only to be held fast to the yard.

"You're not gonna get away with this!" Mickey exclaimed, jumping forwards with arms extended.

"Really?" The Professor shot at Mickey, sticking him to the walkway. "And just to make sure," he added, one shot sticking Ortensia and Kitty where they sat and two more to catch Oswald and Felix by the feet. The Professor let out a laugh as he walked past the incapacitated group. "And with this, that bag will be mine!" the Professor laughed to himself.

"Seriously, a goo gun!" Oswald exclaimed, struggling against the goo only to lose his balance and fall forward. He caught himself by his hands, letting out a startled scream.

"I'm surprised at him, really," Felix offered, twisting to watch the old man climb into his car and drive away. Straightening himself, he pulled his feet out of the goo, leaving his shoes.

"Show off," Oswald mumbled, pushing himself back up so he was standing.

Felix jumped over Mickey to get to the steps up to his house. Pulling open the screen door he let out a whistle before disappearing inside.

"Any idea where the Professor'd go?" Mickey asked with a grunt as he struggled against the goo.

"I guess it'd depend on how he's thinking," Kitty offered.

"What do you mean?" Woody asked.

"Well, if he thinks that picture has something to do with where Felix's bag is, he might try to find it," Kitty explained.

"That's what I was thinking," Felix admitted as he pushed open the screen door to leave the house. He had a carpet bag in one hand, digging through it with the other as the screen door slammed shut behind him.

"I won't be able to go with you then, 'cause I've got work tomorrow," Woody admitted.

"That actually works out," Mickey said, thinking through plans. "If we're going on a wild goose chase and he's staying in town."

"I'll be able to find out!" Woody exclaimed, following along.

"Finally! Stupid bag didn't know what to give me," Felix exclaimed as he pulled out a spray bottle. Siting the bag on the step he knelt down next to Kitty and started spraying the goo holding her down.

"Whoa, that stuff really works," Kitty let out as the goo quickly dried where it was sprayed.

"Maybe we should keep that out," Oswald offered, watching in awe as after a few sprays Kitty was free.

"The bag doesn't really like that," Felix admitted, turning to start and spray the goo holding Ortensia down. "It seems to have a mind of its own."

"It sure is a weird bag," Ortensia said as part of the goo dried up. She looked at Felix as he sprayed the remaining goo holding her down and asked, "And you said you don't know who made it or gave it to you?"

"No clue, it just showed up one day," Felix admitted.