Chapter 2: Surveying the Situation

"Macavity?" Munkustrap asked. "Why are you after Macavity?"

Bageera was about to answer, but Jazz cut him off.

"Personal reasons that are unimportant at this time," she said. "Suffice to say we are trying to stop him, not join him."

"Fair enough," Munkustrap said. "But why are you looking here?"

"We have reason to believe he was here at the Jellicle Ball last night," Jazz said. "And that you fought him."

Bageera noticed Munkustrap cast a quick glance at Demeter. He couldn't tell what he was trying to convey, but he was trying to say something. Demeter understood and shook her head ever so slightly. Bageera let it pass.

"And what do you want from us?" Munkustrap asked.

"We would like to speak with some of the Jellicles here," Jazz said. "Get an understanding of what happened last night. Maybe we can get a lead so we can continue our search."

Munkustrap thought for a moment. "I need to discuss this with my father," he said. "And with my fellow protector. You can stay for the day while I go speak with them. If you want to ask around, go ahead. But try not to disturb anyone here."

"Fair enough," Jazz said.

"Now if you'll excuse me," Munkustrap said, "I must find Alonzo." He began to limp away. "We must go see my father."

"You shouldn't go," Demeter said. "You're still hurt."

"I need to," Munkustrap said.

They began to argue, letting Bageera know they were mates, not siblings by the subtle nuances of their words. He grabbed Jazz by the arm and dragged her out of the den. This was one argument they didn't need to get involved with.

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They began by scoping out the battlegrounds. The tracks in the dirt were somewhat smeared from wind and the dancing that followed the obvious fight, but Bageera pieced together what he could from what he saw.

"They definitely fought here," he said. "Looks like Macavity tried to cat-nap someone."

"How can you tell that?" Jazz asked as she peered at the ground where Bageera was looking.

"The tracks," Bageera said. "He jumped out here and swiped at several of the nearby Jellicles. Then he grabbed someone…" he trailed of as he looked at the tracks more closely, frowning. "Probably Demeter," he said, prodding a paw print.

"You can't know that," Jazz said.

"It's her paw size," Bageera said.

"You don't know how many Jellicles have that paw size," Jazz said. "It could be anyone. It doesn't even have to be female."

"You know I'm right," Bageera said. "I usually am."

"Whatever."

"Then Munkustrap must have come in and they fought over her. Another Jellicle came in and got her away. Then Munkustrap and Macavity exchanged blows." He followed a trail in the dirt. "It continued over this way, then doubled back… Here is where Macavity wounded the protector." He pointed out the concentrated spatter of dark brown.

"Then that other Jellicle joined in," he continued. "Most likely Alonzo. The other protector," he said, answering Jazz's unasked question. "Either Alonzo or Macavity was wounded greatly around here," he said, standing over a dry pool of blood. "Most likely Macavity in the left side."

He looked at Jazz and, reading her expression, said, "Tracks leading away from the pool are erratic, almost unidentifiable. The impression here," he pointed to a seemingly random swirl of dirt, "is off a Jellicle being thrown to one side. It's too small to be Macavity. Therefore, it has to be Alonzo. Leaving Macavity to stagger off as…" he followed another pattern of tracks. "As he was attacked by other Jellicles in the area."

He looked up the side of an old car with a plate that said "TSE 1," following a blood trail with his eyes. "He ran up there." He climbed up and looked around. A quick scan of some jumper cables revealed blood. "I'd say he came up here and shorted out the area, making his escape under the cloak of darkness."

He jumped down to Jazz who just looked at him in confused awe.

"How do you do that?" she asked.

"A gift," he said with a shrug.

"What's a gift?"

The two detectives turned around and saw a little kitten. She had a black and brown coat with white around the muzzle. A spiky collar wrapped around her neck. She was looking at them from behind an old headboard.

"Who are you?" Bageera asked

The kitten shrank back behind the headboard until only her eyes and ears were visible. Jazz smack Bageera on the arm.

"That's not how you talk to kittens," she said.

"Hey," Bageera said. "I have the observation thing. You're the people cat."

Jazz sighed in irritation and went over to the kitten slowly, smiling.

"Hello," she said, softly. "It's okay. We won't hurt you."

The little kitten came out from behind the headboard a little. Now her head was showing.

"That's it," Jazz said. "Come on out."

The little kitten came out all the way and sat, nervously picking at her tail, eyes towards the ground.

"What's your name?" Jazz asked. The kitten didn't answer. "Tell you what," Jazz continued. "We'll tell you our names if you tell us yours. Deal?" The kitten didn't move. "My name is Jazz," she said. "This is my partner, Bageera." She waited for a moment. "What's your name?"

The kitten looked up slightly. "Jemima," she almost whispered.

"That's a beautiful name," Jazz said.

Jemima smiled in spite of herself. Then she seemed to grow more courageous and re-asked her question.

"What's a gift?" she asked.

"Bageera has an amazing sense of observation," Jazz said. "He can reconstruct entire scenes with just dirt patterns."

"Neat," Jemima said. "What else can you do?" she asked Bageera directly.

"Not much," Bageera said.

Jazz looked at him curiously. Bageera gave her a look that said to let it go. He would explain later.

"You're new," Jemima said. "I haven't seen you before. And you weren't at the Ball last night, either."

"Yes," Jazz said. "We're just passing through, looking for someone."

"Who?" she asked.

"Could you tell us what happened here last night?" Bageera asked, trying to mimic Jazz's soothing tone.

Jemima looked worried. "It was bad," she said. "He just showed up and started attacking everybody."

"Who?" Jazz asked. "Macavity."

"Yeah," Jemima said. "He tried to take Old Deuteronomy. But Quaxo- I mean Mr. Mistoffelees saved him."

"Who?" Jazz asked.

"Mr. Mistoffelees," Jemima said. "He's new, too. Kind of."

"How so?" Jazz asked.

"Well," Jemima said, biting her lip. "I'm not supposed to talk about it. Papa said I shouldn't."

"Macavity tried to take Old Deuteronomy?" Jazz asked, getting back to the main line of questioning. Jemima nodded. "Ha," she said to Bageera. "You were wrong. He didn't take Demeter."

"No, but he tried," Jemima said. "Later he came back and tried to take her, too. But Munkustrap fought him off long enough for Papa to get her to safety."

"Is your father the other protector?" Bageera asked.

Jemima nodded.

"Ha," Bageera said. "Then what happened?"

"Well," Jemima said. "Munkustrap and Macavity fought. Then Macavity wounded Munkustrap. Papa went to fight, but he was injured more. The other Jellicles had to fight him off. He fought back, scratching one tom across the face before he ran up over the TSE 1 and turned out the lights."

"Really?" Jazz said, giving Bageera a look.

"Yeah. All the kittens saw it."

"Well. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jemima said.

"Damn," Jazz said to Bageera when the kitten had left. "You're good."

"I know," Bageera said. "We need to talk to this Mistoffelees."

"So it would seem," Jazz said.

xxx

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