Chapter 6

"No I haven't noticed anyone looking like that." The bird behind the reception desk admitted as she handed back the wanted paper.

"You mind if we look around a bit?" Mickey asked, folding up the paper to put back in his pocket.

"Sure, most everyone's outside today on the slopes though." The bird said. "After that blizzard yesterday it's given them all a new layer to ski on."

"Thanks, ma'am." Mickey nodded before turning to look at Oswald who was on his cell. He walked closer only to realize the rabbit was talking to Ortensia.

"Don't worry, I'll keep safe." Oswald said. He looked up at Mickey and held up a finger as if to give him a moment. "I love you too." He finished, ending the call and putting the device in his pocket. "What'd she say?"

"She hasn't noticed anyone looking like him, but…" Mickey trailed off, the rabbit nodding his head.

"We just need to keep an eye out for anyone that could be him in disguise." Oswald nodded, putting his hands in his jacket pockets. "Let's split up, I'll take the slopes if you'll take the halls."

"Sure, and if we see him, call." Mickey nodded as Oswald started walking towards the back entrance.

Mickey turned towards the hotel part of the resort, keeping his ears and eyes opened for anything reminiscent of Putrid Pete. After walking around for almost an hour Mickey headed down to the small restaurant on the ground floor and sat close to the piano to give his feet a rest.

"Can I get you something to drink, sir?"

Mickey looked up in surprise before nodding, "Ya, a coke please." The mouse watched the waiter walk away before putting his head on his hand propped up on the table. Keeping an eye around him all he noticed was more people that he'd already seen while he'd been walking around.

"I'm telling ya, she was the prudiest dame I'd seen in a long time." A voice said, only for his audience to laugh. Mickey turned towards the bar and saw a big creature talking with a dog next to him. The mouse was about to get up only to notice the creature had both feet, lacking a peg leg. He sat back down as his ears listened in on their conversation.

"And she was all over you, right?" the friend laughed. "Come on, we all know that's a big ol' fish tale."

"It happened, and if I hadn't've been so drunk I would've gotten a picture!" the man said, slamming his fist on the bar.

"Sure, sure. So what happened to her?" the bar tender asked, smiling down at the man.

"I don't know. I woke up and she'd disappeared." The man admitted.

"And so did yer brains." The friend laughed. "She probably robed you after you knocked out."

"Well, sumthing happened." The man growled.

"Here's your coke." The waiter announced, getting Mickey to turn back to his own table.

"Thanks." Mickey smiled, taking the drink before Oswald appeared next to the waiter.

"I'll take a Sprite." Oswald said, catching the waiter before he left.

"Any sign of him?" Mickey asked as Oswald sat down across the table from the mouse.

"No, and it looks like you've had the same luck, huh?" Oswald asked, his ears drooping as he leaned against the table.

"I'm afraid we might've just found ourselves on a wild goose chase." Mickey admitted with a sigh. "It was a good idea though."

"Well, any other ideas?" Oswald asked as he watched the mouse drum his fingers on the table.

"Other than I've gotta get music in my phone so when Turkey In The Straw gets stuck in my head I can have something else to listen to?" Mickey offered, giving Oswald the title to the song he was drumming out with his hand. The mouse shook his head no in defeat.

A woman sat down at the piano and started to play, giving Mickey sweet relief.

"Well, Russell hasn't seemed to gotten any new leads." Oswald informed. "I talked to him not too long ago and he said no one's seen hide nor hair of Pete."

"A Sprite for the bunny, here ya go, sir." A waitress said, announcing the drink's arrival as she sat it down.

"Rabbit." Oswald said as he turned to look at the waitress only to stop in surprise. "Ortensia? What are you doing here?"

The cat sat down next to her husband as she pulled out a sheet of paper from her purse. Her smile faded as she handed it to him. "Actually this."

Oswald took the paper and quickly read the email, "Look out, Pete's planning on coming down and getting you." He looked up at her and asked, "Who sent this?"

"That's just it, I don't know." Ortensia admitted. "The sender line was blank. We figured it was safest if we came up here before even telling you two."

"We?" Mickey asked.

"Yoo hoo." A familiar voice said from the piano only for them to realize Minnie had been playing. "I'll finish this song and join you."

"What about the bunny children?" Oswald asked.

"Daisy's watching them." Ortensia said.

"How'd you two get here?" Mickey asked, just in time for Minnie to finish her song and receive a small applause due to the lack of people in the restaurant.

Minnie sat down in the last chair and explained, "We took a train to, um, isn't it called Points End? It's just north of here but cause of Klondike being closed we had to go the long way."

"From Points End we got a ride with two trainee sled dog teams down here." Ortensia finished. "That's why I called you, Oswald, to find out where you were."

"Ya, and now your brother's going to kill me." Oswald realized.

"Why?" Ortensia asked, stealing a sip of Oswald's drink.

"I said you were back home." Oswald explained. "He and your pop both know Pete's after you."

"Excuse me." A voice said, turning the four to see dog with a patch over his right eye now standing behind Oswald. "You wouldn't happen-Oswald?"

"Harry?" Oswald asked, the two showing the same surprise.

"What the hell, man, you know Pete's after yer wife and what do you do, bring her here!" the dog hissed, keeping his voice low. He glanced back at the bar to see it now empty. "All of you, git outta here before he comes back and sees ya."

"Pete's here?" Mickey asked, keeping his voice down to the same level as he stood up.

"Yes, now git out." Harry said, worry shown in his face.

"Wait, how are you even here?" Oswald asked, standing up to look the dog in his good eye.

"Later, Pete'll be back any minute." Harry pushed. "I'll do what I can to keep him here and you can come up with a better plan that keeps the dams safe."

Mickey took a look at Minnie's confused face before nodding back at the dog. "Alright." He looked at Oswald and Ortensia and motioned to follow him. "I'd rather it not be a bar fight anyway."

"You better keep your end of this, Harry." Oswald said, pointing a finger in the dog's chest as a warning.

"Git going, I will." Harry said, pushing Oswald's hand away as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I don't like this." Ortensia mumbled as the four walked out of the restaurant.

"Ya, and who is Harry?" Mickey asked.

"We'll explain on the way to Mr. Whiskers." Oswald said with a growl in his voice.