Warning this chapter includes mild swearing, but that's about it

In response to the anonymous review I got from C: I'm really glad that you like the story so far, I do have some Misto and Victoria scenes and they will have a special connection, but I'm afraid I won't be making them a couple in this story.

"I'm sorry Quaxo but that's the cheapest location I have, if you can't afford it then I'm sorry but I can't help you." Jellyorum peered over her spectacles to look at Tux who was standing before her.

"Don't you have an apartment, or a room even that's vacant?" asked Quaxo trying to keep the desperateness out of his voice. Jellyorum glanced back at her computer screen and typed quickly.

"No I'm afraid that all positions are taken" Answered Jelly. Quaxo sat down in his chair and chewed his lip. What was he going to do now? He had no place to live. As an absolutely last resort he might be able to ask his Uncle Bustopher for help, but frankly, he'd much rather go homeless than choose that option. Jellyorum glanced at him sympathetically.

"You know" she said softly "there was a tom here the other day who was looking for a house like yourself. But I had nothing that he could afford, perhaps if I contacted him you two could work out a living arrangement." Quaxo pricked up his ears hopefully

"Erm, who is this tom?" asked Quaxo

"Rum Tum Tugger, I believe he is the second son of old Deuteronomy and is in line to become leader of the Jellicles once the latter has passed away."

Quaxo hesitated. Sure this was a wondrous offer that seemed to conveniently solve all his problems in one swipe. But with another Jellicle sharing living quarters, a Jellicle that probably had no time for oddballs such as himself, how long would it last? Still was he in a position to do anything but accept? It was a choice between that and living on the streets, or even worse, with Bustopher. Quaxo decided to seize the offer. Even though it would certainly end with him standing here again after a few months.

"Okay then, how do I get in touch with him?"

"I can do that" smiled Jellyorum and I think I have a place here that would suit you two to the whisker." After typing furiously for a few seconds she turned the computer round to show Quaxo the residence. "I know it's not that big but it has a rather nice veranda, and is near a local shopping canter which is very useful for young toms" she smiled.

Quaxo looked at the picture. What he saw was a small, two bedroomed flat with a veranda out the front and a slightly scruffy garden. Quaxo liked it immediately. Letting his mind drift he wondered what the garden would look like with a few outdoor lamps in it. 'Don't even think that far Quaxo, you don't even know what Rum Tum Tugger is like, or even if he wants to share this place with you.' The tux sighed and placed a firm hold on his unrealistic daydreaming's.

"This place looks ideal Jelly" said Quaxo with more feeling than he's meant to revel. Luckily she didn't seem to notice.

"I'll call Tugger immediately" she said "and the house's owner, if we're lucky you might be able to move in within a few days!" at once she picked up a telephone and started dialling the relevant numbers.

Quaxo sat there and tried to not let his worries plague him. Would Tugger like the arrangement, and more importantly how long would the arrangement last?

A few days later Quaxo had his things packed into one large suitcase and was ready to move. Tugger was apparently fine with sharing the flat with him and would be arriving later that day. The magician summoned his magic and snapped his fingers, the case rose into the air and hovered a foot off the ground. With a casual flick of the wrist he managed to guide it out of his room, down the stairs and into the hallway. It was while floating there that the case started beeping madly. Quaxo sighed, his uncle was calling.

Undoing the case he rummaged around until he found his phone inside a box of tissues, flipping it open he answered it with "what is it Bustopher?"

"Today's your moving day am I right?" boomed his uncle's voice from the phone. Quaxo winced and replied,

"Yes Bustopher" his uncle snorted.

"How long do you expect this housemate to last?"

"I would reply to that Bustopher but I don't think that question is worth of an answer"

"You mean it doesn't require an answer" his uncle said, Quaxo winced again

"I mean what I say" Bustopher chuckled, he knew he'd hit a soft spot. Then his voice turned serious and he asked the question that had been the whole reason he'd called.

"So do you need anyhelp with moving? Do you require assistance to move your large quantity of lamps?"

"No, but thank you for the offer"

"Well then I wish you luck with your new residence" said his uncle in what might have almost been a warm tone. He could have added 'you're going to need it' but he didn't.

"Thank you uncle" said Quaxo and hung up. That was the nature of their relationship. No love lost and harsh words frequently exchanged by either side, but the bottom line was that they made sure the other was at least vaguely alright and alive somewhere in the world. Some called it a love-hate relationship, Quaxo preferred to think of it as indifferent-hate… with occasional concern.

Looking down the street he was glad to see it was deserted, he always enjoyed solitude but rarely had a chance to experience it. The new flat was just a short walk away; if he was quick he could be unpacked by lunchtime.

Later that afternoon Quaxo sat contentedly in his new room with his simple possessions around him. His reading lamp was beside his bed, next to his alarm clock. Books and papers that dealt with magic and sorcery lined the walls. Oswald was in his tank and swimming happily in circles. After the Alonzo incident Quaxo had decided to keep him in his room. And his safe was parked in the corner, it contained a few selective potions that he liked to keep nearby but would be extremely dangerous if they fell into the wrong hands. His lamps remained in the case waiting to be placed in any convenient location he could find where they wouldn't be bumped into. Quaxo smiled at his case, obtaining it had probably been one of his better ideas, it had saved him from many moving van fees, and of course being magic its storage space was pretty much unlimited.

Suddenly his phone rang again, a different tone this time; it was the tone that he kept for his work. Quaxo cursed and started looking for the phone. After a long time (he was surprised that the caller was still ringing, he fished it out from under his bed and answered "This is Magical Mr Mistoffelees, how may I help you?" a crisp, no nonsense voice answered

"Quaxo this is Detective Munkustrap, your help is required at the London theatre." Munkustrap was a detective in the police force who lived a few street's away with his mate and two daughters. Quaxo could tell from his tone of voice that he was feeling rather irratable.

"Ah hello Munkustrap, what's happened now? Has the Scotland Yard lost its way to the ticket booth?"

"That's Detective Munkustrap" said Munkustrap irritably "and no we are not lost. There's been a robbery and the theatre manager is asking for a magician, you're the best there is."

"I'm flattered that you think so. What evidence was at the scene?"

"I'd prefer to tell you the details in person"

"Oh so no evidence was there? Or did you forget to look for any?"

"Just shut up and get over here Quaxo!" Quaxo chuckled, it probably wasn't the best idea to wind Munkustrap up like this, but still, it was fun.

"I'm on my way" he called down the phone and hung up before Munkustrap could come up with a reply. Stuffing his phone in the sock drawer he climbed onto the bed, jumped into the air and vanished. Leaving behind only a shower of sparkles.

Appearing at the front of the London theatre he saw that the entire entrance was sealed off with plastic police tape saying crime scene do not cross Quaxo ignored the warning and stepped underneath to tape. Just inside the building Munkustrap was waiting for him.

"The theatre owner is called Gus. Be careful what you say to him he's still rather shaken up." Quaxo nodded his thanks and made his way to the figure that Munkustrap had pointed at. Gus looked up as Quaxo approached. He was quite an old tom but the shock of the robbery had left him looking positively ancient. Quaxo could see that his face was riddled with disbelief and helplessness, nothing like this had ever happened to him before and he didn't know what to do. The magician walked up and took one of the theatre cat's trembling paws.

"Can I help you sir?" he asked. Gus looked at him wearily.

"Are you?"

"Magical Mr Mistoffelees? Yes that's me. Do you want to tell me what happened" Quaxo sat the elderly tom down and conjured up a hot chocolate for him out of thin air. Gus took it and his paws only shook a little as he drank it. Setting the cup beside him he told his story.

"I was shutting up the theatre after the afternoon show as usual when I heard a voice in the green room, that's the room which the actors relax in during intervals. I went there to see who was in there and then…"

"Go on" encouraged the magician. Gus shuddered and continued in a quieter voice.

"The voice spoke to me, it told me not to move"

"It said this to you?"

"Yes, no, I mean, sort of..."

"What do you mean?" Gus frowned and chose his words carefully"

"Yes it spoke to me but it used words that I've never heard before, they didn't even sound like words if you know what I mean. But somehow I understood their meaning."

"I see. Anything else"

"Yes the voice told me not to move, and, well I couldn't, it was like I had lost all control over my own body. I was then told to open the theatre safe and take all the money out." Gus voice choked and tears started falling down his face. His hands stated shaking uncontrollably followed by the rest of his body; it got so bad that Quaxo had to grab him before he fell over.

"And then I opened the safe and took out all the money that was in there" Gus sobbed "I swear by the Everlasting cat that I never wanted to, the voice forced me to do it. That's why I asked for a magician Mistoffelees, you understand these things better than the police would." Gus gripped Quaxo's hand tightly imploring for an explanation. Quaxo selected his words carefully.

"It certainly seems to be a magician, a powerful magician's work. But I'll do my best Gus, I know that you didn't have a choice. Don't worry." Gus gave him a watery smile.

"Thank you Mistoffelees" he whispered. Quaxo nodded and left, he needed to talk to Munkustrap. The tom himself was overseeing a team of officers who we're scouring the crime scene for clues. The magician sidled up next to him.

"What do you think happened?" asked Munkustrap.

"A magician forced Gus into opening the safe for him. This magician, is obviously very skilful, he has a high amount of control over his powers. I think a full city investigation needs to be constructed to try and track them down." Munkustrap snorted.

"Has it even occurred to you Quaxo that this guy might just be covering his tracks? Spinning up a fable so we don't suspect him?" Quaxo frowned

"Gus is the theatre manager!"

"My point exactly" replied Munkustrap "he was the only one who had access to the safe, we've found only his fingerprints."

"That's because Gus was forced to do it by the magician!"

"Well why didn't the magician just take the safe? They way you'd probably do it."

"His magic is obviously different from mine!" Quaxo rolled his eyes in exasperation "he clearly specialises in the mind rather than matter." Munkustrap sighed.

"Look Quaxo as much as I'd like to believe you, the evidence clearly shows that Gus is the only suspect."

"The evidence is showing you exactly the opposite!" yelled Quaxo gesturing towards Gus huddled in the corner. "There is no way that tom would rob his own theatre."

"That's just intuition"

"It's just common sense! Munk have I ever been wrong before?" Munk hesitated

"No" he sighed at last.

"My point exactly" finished Quaxo with triumph. Munk stood there for a few moments then spoke in a low voice so only Quaxo could here.

"Okay let's get this straight. I don't believe you and I don't believe the theatre guy either. But every other time I haven't believed you I've ended up looking like an idiot. So here's the deal. I keep Gus in the cells, but only until you can prove to me with strong evidence that it wasn't him. Once that happens I'll give you my word that Gus will be sent back home with apologies and flowers and an the best fish paste I can obtain. Understood?" Quaxo looked Munkustrap in the eye.

"Understood" he replied. Walking away from Munkustrap he headed to where the police had gathered bits of 'evidence' from the crime scene and placed them in little plastic baggies. A young police officer was watching over them.

"What's your name?" Quaxo asked the brown patched tom.

"Sergeant Tumblebrutus sir"

"Would you be able to show me any helpful evidence Tumblebrutus?" Tumblebrutus began sifting through the plastic bags.

"I'm afraid there isn't much sir, hardly anything in fact. This guy left absolutely nothing for us to follow up. Most of the stuff here is so the police look like they're making progress."

"It's not always about what's there Tumblebrutus" Quaxo said "what's not there can be just as important." Tumblebrutus looked at him then back at the plastic bags, slowly he took one that was buried underneath all the others.

"There is this sir. I found it in the hall. The other's said that it was most likely dropped by accident by some actor. But I…"

"You don't think so" Tumblebrutus shook his head. He showed Quaxo a plastic bag that contained a single scrap of paper. The paper had a single letter stamped on it in red ink.

M

Quaxo stared at the paper for a long time but couldn't find anything more. At last he looked back at Tumblebrutus. "It be great if you could hold onto this" he said quietly "I think it might be something important". Tumblebrutus nodded.

Quaxo then decided that that was all he could find out here. He got up and made his way past the police cats who were still rushing around. He waved goodbye to Gus who was now sitting with handcuffs around his wrists. Gus waved limply back. Then he headed out the door, deciding to take a walk before teleporting back to the flat.

I honestly think this is the longest chapter I've ever written, feel proud of me.

Reviews are awesome "hint hint"