The fox that caught the hare

Ever since that day she came back from that delivery, Mirth had been sending her all over Town, dropping off a variety of rattling packages and picking up hefty sums as payment. Though whoever she was assigned to visit was immediately rude and pushy, she never once had any trouble after the customer knew she was "Mirth's boy", as most of them put it. In fact, they were so busy falling over themselves to make good their promises with Mirth, that Roxanne usually had a few moments to snoop about. She hadn't found anything useful yet, but she felt like she was getting that much closer to finding what they needed. She did find out that the boxes usually either contained vials of assorted liquids or medical supplies; like plastic tubing, rubber gloves, needles, surgical tape, among other things. Well, she had a sneaking suspicion she was involved in something illegal, but what she didn't understand was why they were simply stockpiling the narcotics in warehouse upon warehouse. What was it all for? Who were the buyers?

Roxanne told this to Megamind who was just as stumped as she. He hadn't uncovered much more information than Roxanne had. All anyone seemed to know was someone up top was hording the rare parts, but the question was who?

"My bets on Mirth," Roxanne finally said, lying on her back in Megamind's room after supper.

Megamind looked up from his sketch pad, "Why do you say that?"

"Well think about it. He's got his sticky fingers in everywhere else, why not this," she reasoned.

Megamind drew a few more lines, "I suppose your right. He has a ton of influence; drugs, slaves, cars, the arena. But keep in mind he is only partial owner of all those- trades."

"Well maybe he's partial owner of the pods too."

"Ah, but that's the kicker. Everyone who actually knew anything told us it was a single company who stripped the shuttles. Not one suggested that there were multiple parties, so it must be a solo ownership."

"Well what if our informants just didn't know that much," Roxanne rolled over facing Megamind, "there is a possibility that it could be a single profiteer, but we need more solid information."

"That's what we've been slaving away trying to get for two weeks," Megamind said irately, "and we've turned up less than I'd hoped. We're going around in circles now."

"Well we've got to try harder," Roxanne sighed.

Megamind added another precise line to his sketch, "well I'm not sure how much more I can do locked up in that shop all the time. Mirth is pressuring me to finish this blasted contraption, and I really don't want to arm him with a laser cannon that can shoot clean through five feet of sheet metal. I don't want to be on the receiving end, if you know what I mean."

"I know, I know," Roxanne slumped over the edge of the lumpy bed, "what we need is a miracle."

Suddenly, as if to answer her hopeless statement, a small pebble hit the window with an audible tink. Roxanne leapt over to the window and peered down as a second bounced off the window. She saw a cloaked figure with sad, wide amber eyes.

"A friend of yours," Megamind asked.

"Blossom," she answered, "we'd better go see what's up before she gets scared off. She might have important information."

Megamind was up and out the door before Roxanne had even left the window. She caught sight of the drawing Megamind had been working on for hours. At center stage was a half done sketch of a laser cannon wreathed by little thumbnail doodles of three dimensional shapes and a very accurate drawing of her lying on her back. She smiled at it warmly, turning for the door. She felt like she was going to get a crush on him if he kept up the cuteness.

Blossom took up Roxanne in a tight embrace as tears welled up in her eyes, "Oh Richard," she sobbed nuzzling her chest, "I'm so frightened!"

Megamind's eyes widened at the tiny red head clinging desperately to Roxanne. He silently asked what was going on, to which Roxanne made a face that made it clear it was a long story. Roxanne hushed and soothed Blossom as she led her to room eleven. With her she brought a mug of warm honeyed tea, letting Blossom nurse it till she settled down enough to speak coherently.

"Oh it was dreadful," Blossom sobbed softly, "I can't believe he killed her."

"Who killed who," Roxanne asked softly.

"My friend, Angel," her voice shook, "I asked her to help me out, and now - now they might come after me next! I should never have started snooping, it's taboo. I shouldn't have asked - I shouldn't have -Hell, I shouldn't even be here."

Blossom started to get up; Roxanne placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder which caused her to sink back into her chair, her lip quivering.

"I'm so sorry your friend got mixed up in this," Roxanne said softly bowing her head, "it shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry for encouraging you to seek out dangerous information like that," Roxanne looked up into her red rimmed eyes.

"No don't -," Blossom shook her head, not allowing Roxanne to finish, "It's not your fault Richard. We knew the dangers and I could have declined the job, but we got careless and slipped up."

Blossom wiped away her tears with her wrist, smudging her running mascara, "Right after you left I got with my roommate Angle and started planning out how we were going to find the information you wanted. We found a lead the other day from an old drunken Trog who apparently use to be part of the dismantling team until he got fired. Well, one bit lead to another and before we knew it we saw the strip yard itself. It has its own side entrance on the south east side of the gate so people don't get too curious as to what goes on in there. Angel and I went to go and follow one of the carts to the basement where they hide the best stuff, and they spotted her when we got too close," Blossom hiccupped, getting ready to let her tears spill over again, "and while I got away, one of the guards- he -," she started sobbing again, shakily holding up a blue pin with a decorative legged snake.

"Mirth," Roxanne said bitterly taking the pin gently from her grasp. Blossom had been holding it so tight and so long that a perfect red outline was etched into her trembling palm.

"One of his guard's badges," Megamind observed.

"I told you," Roxanne said smugly. She turned to comfort Blossom again, and it wasn't until a long while that she was successful.

Blossom fell asleep some time later, snuggled under Roxanne's sheets, "Well I won't be able to sleep in there tonight."

"Why not," Megamind jeered, "afraid your girlfriend will find out that you aren't packing?"

"No, I'm being a gentleman, "Roxanne said as she curled up on the bed.

Megamind smiled sleepily from the couch, "Alright, whatever you say, 'Mr. Man'. Good night."

Minion and Roxanne both mumbled replies, before settling down for the night.

0o0o0o0o

The next morning Roxanne found her room empty. Blossom had run off in the middle of the night, probably to return to the brothel. Megamind and Minion were going to check out the place Blossom had spoken of the night before, before they went into 'work'. Roxanne beat them to their usual table with the usual breakfast and saw the usual envelopes. Roxanne opened hers and read it silently. Megamind sat across from her and tucked into his plate of food.

"That's odd," Roxanne said aloud.

"What is," Megamind asked through a mouth full of sausage.

"Mirth wants me to report directly to him, something about not wanting a breach in security."

Megamind took the letter from her grip and read it over quickly while Minion read over his shoulder, "Something stinks, and it's not just this old tavern. Are you sure you should go?"

"What choice do I have? Mirth will think something's up if I don't show."

"Just be careful Miss. Ritchi," Minion cautioned, "you're going into the lion's den from the looks of it."

0o0o0o0o

So there she was, being guided down the vast hallways of Mirth's Mansion by the same snooty servant that usually took the payments and letters of receival. She noted his funny little walk, almost like a trained poodle tiptoeing around. She had fun imagining him as such.

The servant ushered her into the dead animal room, where Mirth gazed into the blazing hearth. He leaned on the cool stone mantle, leisurely swirling the last sip of wine in his crystal glass. He looked up, his face still and serene. As always he was well groomed and dressed to the T. He strode over slowly, with a pace that sounded like a slowly ticking grandfather clock. It set Roxanne on edge, her heart thudded nervously and she was starting to feel the need to back away slowly, but she kept her composure as she stood waiting by the couches. He took the love seat across from her, leaning casually back as a servant poured them both a glass of wine. She knew better than to decline, so she took hers despite the little voice that said she needed to stay alert.

"So, Richard, how have you been? It's been a while since we've spoken in person,"

Roxanne nodded, "It has hasn't it? I trust business has been good?

Mirth chuckled deeply, "Why, you should know, little Ritchi. You're the one that does the foot work," he took a sip of the crimson liquid in his glass in a painfully slow motion, "By the way, have you had any trouble with the position?"

Roxanne cringed at the nickname. She could already tell he was going to prolong her torture with small talk, dancing around the issue until he'd had his fun for the day. He was talking so slowly it seemed like he was trying to kill time, too. Roxanne had to be careful not to let her poker face slip; one false move could just very well end her. She suddenly found the irony of his name so overwhelming it was stupid. He was the bringer of anything but happiness as far as she was concerned.

Roxanne shrugged, "a few rough customers, but nothing I couldn't handle."

"I'm glad you're adjusting well to your new position. Our last messenger boy- well, couldn't quite cut it."

Roxanne absent mindedly took a tiny sip of wine, the way he had phrased that last comment made her heart jump, "Well I'm glad I am filling the need, sir."

"Indeed you are," Mirth smiled, "It's so hard to find good help now a days."

"I'd imagine they all headed to New Towne."

"They did. Even my mentor became tired of this place," he looked thoughtfully at his half empty glass, "and I suppose I grow tired as well."

Roxanne blinked at his sullen expression, "Sir?"

Mirth shook his head as if to disperse the melancholy thoughts, "Anyway, I hope you'll stay on with us a bit longer at least. The operation my corporation has been planning is finally coming to its climax. Those who have helped to make it possible will be greatly rewarded."

"And, what would the reward be, per say?"

"The single most sought after gift that this planet could give-," Mirth stood, quietly making his way over to Roxanne, "a pocket full of riches and-," He leaned down to whisper in her ear like it was a highly guarded secret, "Freedom."

Roxanne blinked at his statement with wide eyes, trying to understand how he could achieve this. Maybe he was building something to get rid of their captors with the fabled parts, but then what were the drugs for?

Mirth took her silence as shock and awe, "are you going to finish your wine Miss. Ritchi, or are you going to spill it over your lap."

Roxanne took a reflexive swallow before realizing a mistake in his address to her. She choked on her too large gulp for a moment before panting out, "pardon me?"

Mirth grinned like the fox that caught the hare, "You heard me Roxanne. Did you honestly think there were no recording devises in those rooms I gave you? I heard it all you little minx."

Roxanne face fell, "awe, shit," she groaned.

"Shit, indeed, little Roxy," Mirth said grimly, his face deadly serious, "You're in a world of it, little spying bitch."

Suddenly the room was spinning and dots began to burst before her eyes. Her knees buckled beneath her and she sank to the floor. She started getting tunnel vision and her head felt as if she was topping head over heels down a hole. He had spiked her drink.

"Well I'm screwed now," she thought miserably as she blacked out on the floor in a heap, "Way to go, Miss top reporter."