LOVE FOREVER AFTER
Encounters
After phoning Launchpad to get his sidekick's help on the case, Darkwing Duck made his way to S.H.U.S.H. headquarters. It was rather an odd feeling as he headed there, knowing his secret identity was effectively hiding from them. Hiding from law enforcement was practically an admission of guilt ... Darkwing gulped as he approached the low-set sandstone building.
'But I'm not guilty!' Darkwing argued with the feeling. 'I just know what Grizlykoff's like ... first hand.' He closed his eyes, recalling the agents who'd been waiting outside the library for his ten year old daughter. Darkwing growled as he shoved his way past the swinging doors and the guards stationed there. 'If I didn't know that bear better, I'd think Grizlykoff was the one that killed Curtis Mane ... and my-many other people.' He stopped in front of Terri's desk. "Hello, Mrs Smith."
She jumped in surprise. "Mr. Darkwing! You mustn't keep sneaking up on people in this office, you know. People around here do have firearms."
"Pfft, I'm used to it." Darkwing shrugged dismissively. "I'm looking for some information and I figure there's no one better to ask than you."
"What a coincidence, Mr. Darkwing. I have a question for you as well."
"If I told people my secrets, I-well, I wouldn't ... be mysterious, you know, that counts for, well ... a lot; that's why."
"Security is important. I may not be able to answer your question either for the exact same reason, Mr. Darkwing." She returned.
"Touche. Um ... you wouldn't happen to know where Grizlykoff is, would you, Mrs Smith?"
"Oh. He's on leave. The director thought he was rather too stressed yesterday about the case you two were on and so-."
"Then I'll go to his apartment. He's probably ... hibernating or something. Thanks, Mrs Smith."
"Oh, you're welcome ... Mr. Darkwing?"
"Yes?"
"Where did you learn how to sneak around so well?"
He smiled over the counter at her; he'd have to tell her his whole life story in order to answer that question ... "How are your boys doing, Mrs Smith?"
Her eyes opened widely at him. "You've gone through my desk!"
"There's a photo of them right there beside your screen-."
"-That's only visible from back here! So why were you going through my desk? What were you looking for?"
Darkwing shook his head; the case of Ammonia Pine's abduction of director Hooter was long since resolved and had no bearing on the case he was on now. "Um, so how did someone as sharp as you get landed with a desk job, anyway?"
"I appreciate your opinion, thank you. Now will you kindly stop misdirecting me and just go and save Agent Grizlykoff?"
"Thanks." He sighed in relief of his reprive and tipped his hat to her before heading out.
When nobody answered the door at the String residence, Launchpad then tried the neighbours's doors and had more success. Between them he learned about the Strings' party and the emergency paramedic team that had carried one of the guests away. As far as anybody on the rest of the floor knew, Ham and Preena were still at the hospital.
Launchpad stepped through the doors of the emergency waiting room and looked around. 'Maybe try the corridor ...' He glanced through the window of the internal door; no, but he might get lucky and find Preena down some corridor. He moved over to the counter to talk to the receptionist. "Hi, Mrs McD."
"Oh, if it isn't Mr. McQueue. You're going to have to fill out a form-."
"Heh, no, I'm just looking for a visitor today, not a patient." He smiled at the woman.
"Well ... alright, Mr. McQuack. But only because you asked so politely. Unlike that short friend of yours."
"Oh, heh. DW's alright, he just has a lot on his mind and-."
"Forgets how to behave properly? Well, don't you go causing any nonsense today, you hear?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You can start by using the front door like a normal person!"
"Uh, sure. I can do that. Thanks, Mrs McD."
A long five minutes of wending corridors Launchpad found Preena alone in the corridor. "Mrs Preena String? My name's Launchpad McQuack; I'm with S.H.U.S.H. investigating a case."
She turned her head to him. "Yeah? What do you want?"
"How is your dad doing?"
"I don't know what you want me to tell you, McQuack; he's in surgery right now!" She gritted at him. "You public servants really pick lousy times to show up. Why don't you cut to the chase?"
"I'm sorry to have to bother you at a time like this but it is kinda important and it is about your dad ..."
Preena glanced back at the doors in front of her before turning back to Launchpad. "So what?" She responded weakly.
"Uh, so why'd your dad came back to St. Canard?"
"Because he wanted to see me!" Preena cried out at Launchpad in the desolation of the hospital corridor. "This is all my fault. I should've looked after him better."
"Nobody can predict what'll happen in the future ... otherwise it wouldn't be the future." Launchpad consoled her. "What brought it on, do you suppose?"
"I'm a business woman, Mr. McQuack, not a doctor. All I can tell you is that I heard my father scream and by the time I got to him he was already on the floor."
"Did you maybe notice anything weird? Maybe like someone you didn't know at the party?"
Ham came from around the corner holding two coffees.
"Yes, actually there was someone, Mr. McQuack."
'Uh-oh.' Launchpad felt a pit of doom in his stomach as Ham gave Preena one of the paper cups. 'I was hoping you weren't going to say that.'
"That mutt, he certainly wasn't invited ..."
"Now, honey, remember the resolution we made after the reunion?"
Preena wrapped her arms tight around Ham's arm. "I mean; he was an old dog. Not really well off. He said he was going to call for the ambulance but instead he piked out on us; the scrawny freeloader! If I ever find out his name I'll sic my attorney onto him. I called the emergency line to see why the paramedics were taking so long and they said the call was never logged! Do you think that mutton had a beef with my father?"
"Uh, he's a suspect. We believe your father might've had a connection with him."
"Why, I wouldn't know about any of that. I barely even know my father. He left when I was just a little girl."
The door beside them opened. "Mr. and Mrs. String?" The doctor quietly closed the door behind him, his surgical mask around his neck. "I'm very sorry, Mrs. String. We were too late to save your father. He's gone."
Preena erupted into tears and buried her face in Ham's sleeve.
A downhearted Launchpad walked out of the hospital and pressed speed dial on his cell phone.
"Uh, bad news, DW."
"What's that, LP?"
"Cameron Lott just died."
"From a gunshot wound? Did you-."
"No, DW; he had a heart attack. It happened late last night."
"Was there any sign of our suspect at the time?"
"Yep."
"Oh, how convenient for him."
"Preena said her dad screamed. DW, now, I know my first aid inside out and I know that's not a symptom of a heart attack."
"I agree, LP, Cameron Lott must've died of fright."
Launchpad gulped. "Gee. Remind me about that the next time Gosalyn gets the urge to tell us another ghost story."
"... By any chance did Preena mention her party crasher looked slightly unkempt?"
"Um ... it was more the cut of his suit that she didn't like, DW."
"Did she mention an aged appearance?"
"Yeah, she said he was an elderly dog. You'd think-."
"Bingo, LP! Our fire bug murderer's come out of the woodwork!"
"You've found him, DW? Where ..." The line disconnected. "... Are you?"
"DW can handle it." Launchpad reassured himself. He briefly considered what would be the best use of his time. "Maybe I should check out the judge; just to be safe."