The crowd of animals gathered around the limp body of Mort. A large and obvious knife hole was on his side. His eyes were still open in shock; his jaws still agape in a final scream that would never come, frozen forever by cruel, cruel time.

"The blood's still fresh," remarked Private. "However killed him is close."

The animals looked at each other.

"Were any of us missing during Skipper's speech?" Marlene asked.

Phil shook his head.

"Look!" said Maurice. "The manhole to the sewers is open!"

Lying on the open manhole was a bloody knife.

"Whoever it is wants us to go down there," Minerva said shakily. "Why else would he not cover up his footprints?"

Everyone was quiet.

"I'll go down." Skipper leaped in front of them.

"But, Skip-" Private started.

"No, Private. This is man's work. Keep an eye on him, Marlene."

The otter nodded and put an arm around the young penguin.

Private saluted Skipper as he slid down into the darkness.

Was it just him or did his captain just wink at him?

***

Skipper leaped down onto the stone floor. It was almost pitch black in there. He led himself by moving with one flipper on the wall. That's when he heard the familiar flap of bird feet against stone.

"Come on, Private. I told you not to follow me." he said, turning around.

Then a match lit on and he found himself facing Kowalski.

The tall penguin clicked a button and the manhole closed, leaving only light being Kowalski slowing dying match.

"That's a handy device you got there, Kowalski. I'd love too ask you questions about it, but I have my own. Two, really. One, how did you survive the explosion? Two, why did you kill Rico and Mort?"

Kowalski chuckled lightly. "You are smarter than I thought, Skipper. Anyways, for the first question. With all the training you've given me, I was quite able to untie myself and slip down into the secret entrance to the sewers before the bomb set off. Thus, creating the false reality that I was dead. Why did I murder Rico? That's something I can't tell you. Rico and I go way back. Way back. Why do you think I joined your team? I've been planning this for years. All this time, Skipper, you've been training a murderer."

Skipper pushed away the feelings of guilt, sadness and anger. He would nee to have a sharp mind. One wrong word, one wrong step, could set Kowalski off.

"Why did you kill Mort then?" Skipper asked.

"Well, you were going to get blamed pretty soon if I didn't step in. I may be a killer, but I'm still a friend. So if Mort got killed while you were talking, you wouldn't be the killer." Kowalski paused. "You do know, now that I've told you all this, I'm going to have to kill you?"

Skipper nodded grimly. That's when he saw movement behind Kowalski.

"Any last words, Skipper?" Kowalski asked.

"Yes. One, Kowalski, you're a great actor. I really believed you were about to die in the souvenir shop. Two… Private, now!"

Private leaped out of the darkness, and before Kowalski had time to even turn around, he clamped the crowbar down on Kowalski's head. The tall penguin dropped to the floor.

"Good work, Private!" Skipper gave the small penguin a high five.

"But what are we going to do with Kowalski?" Private said, looking down at the unconscious penguin.

"I don't know Private. But just be glad it's all over."

***

One more chapter to go! Then I'll finish the story I'm writing "King Kowalski" and post it too.

Note: Just because Kowalski is evil in this fanfiction doesn't mean he'll be in my others.

Fun Fact: Originally it was either Kowalski, Private or Skipper who was going to be killed and Rico who would be the killer. But I figured Kowalski would be an interesting killer.

~Lukos