Change of Plans

The black car screeched to a halt in front of the police station. Snake hissed loudly under his breath, staring into nothingness. "What's up, Snake? You look worried," Diane asked.

"I really don't like the idea of leaving Wolf with Luggins."

"For Wolf's sake or Luggins?"

"Both. Wolf doesn't have the patience to deal with Luggins. And if this Lambs girl is so deadly, then why was Luggins okay with having Wolf there-"

"Barely," Shark murmured.

"But had such an issue with us?"

Diane sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Right now, all we can do is play our cards right. And right now, I think Wolf made the right call about not telling Luggins about the folder."

"That's the other thing," Snake said as they entered the police station. "Something about this whole thing doesn't smell right. Shouldn't the cops have records of undercover work?"

"We do," Bob said, "But what's all this about a folder?" Diane showed the folder to Bill and Bob. Bill scratched his thick black hair.

"Hmm, this does look like a California police record. But I don't think I've ever seen it."

"Can you look it up?" Webs asked Bill.

"You don't understand, lad," Bob said. "Bill here knows more about the inner cranks of the police records than anyone on the West Coast."

"But it's still worth a shot," Bill replied. They quickly found a computer behind the front desk. As he typed away, the team saw Bill's eyes narrow. "That's what I was afraid of."

"What?" Snake asked.

"Police records are numerically ordered. There's a GR-887 and a GR-889."

"So there has to be a GR-888," Diane guessed.

"But there isn't," Bill replied. "It's possible it's somewhere on the data servers or in the files we keep, but I'll have to do more digging for that."

"Anything techno, I'm your spider," Webs spoke up, jumping onto Bill's shoulder.

"Good, that means we can get back to Wolf," Snake said.

"What, why?" Diane asked.

"I really don't like the idea of Wolf doing this alone. It's obvious that Luggins isn't telling the whole story and if Wolf gets caught up in the fray with all this mess," Snake hissed, "Then we've got to do our best to protect him."

"You sure?" Diane asked worried, "This Lambs person seems like she means business."

"You mess with one of us, you mess with the rest of us," Snake declared. Diane nodded. "Shark, Piranha, let's get going."

"Alright! I get to drive."

"Shark is driving," Snake reminded Piranha.

"Ayo, why can't I drive?"

"Because you and I can't reach the petals."

"Oh right."

"Be careful, you guys," Diane said softly. "And make sure Wolf is okay."

"We will," Shark smiled as they left the precinct. Hopping into the car, Snake pushed his sunglasses up his serpentine snout, relaxing into the passenger seat. Shark slipped into the driver seat, having to adjust several stuff to make himself fit. "Whew, man. I don't know why Foxington and Wolf aren't married yet. They worry about each other enough to make a worry baby."

Snake laughed, "Until Mr. 'We Aren't Dating' changes his mind, I don't think we got any 'worry baby' on the horizon."

"Come on, hermanos. Let's go!"

"First, we got to get something from the Lair," Snake said.

"What's that?"

"Doris."

Shark looked back at Piranha who only shrugged. "Why?"

"I forgot to feed her and she needs to get outside," Snake hissed a little annoyed. The other two guessed it was because he didn't like forgetting the little kitten. No one understood Snake's fascination with the little cat. "And if Wolf is going to be with Luggins for more than two minutes, then he's going to need the emotional support."

"That's true," Shark chuckled a bit.

The team sped down the lanes and screeched to a halt in the lair's garage door. The door opened up and a furry little cat hopped into the car and huddled into Snake's tail. "Aww, I missed you too little guy. Alright, let's go." As they rushed back to the police chief's house, Snake pensively gazed at the midmorning sun. "You know, I think I remember Lambs."

"What?" Shark and Piranha exclaimed.

"Yeah, vaguely. She was a merchant on the other side of the country if I remember correctly."

"How do you know her?" Shark asked.

Snake smirked, tilting his rosy-tinted sunglasses down a bit. "I wasn't always just stealing things."

"Whoa, hardcore man," Shark chuckled.

"But if I remember correctly, she was a hitman- er woman. But I also remember her having a sidekick or something. I don't remember, she was just coming onto the scene when I switch to just stealing things."

"So you know how dangerous she is," Piranha said.

"She's definitely more dangerous than I remember," Snake murmured. Doris purred and mewled worriedly as she nuzzled into Snake's scaly skin. "Either way, we've got to make sure Wolf doesn't get too involved."

"Or get his head cut off," Piranha muttered.

"I don't think Lambs will off Wolf. I remember she didn't play around with her target. As long as Luggins' is the target, we should be fine."

"Then why give the folder to Wolf?" Shark asked as they sped closer to Luggins' house.

Snake shrugged as they came to a stop at the front of the house. "I don't know. I just hope Luggins' is the target." The trio stepped out of the car and walked over to the house. Knocking on the door, they were greeted by a tired, lethargic, and grumpy Wolf. His eyes were sunken in and droopy. He hunched and leaned on the doorpost like it was his walking staff. Even his fur seemed frazzled and unkempt, something that Wolf prided himself in keeping neat. "Whoa, you look like death."

"I feel like death," Wolf murmured. "Luggins's paranoia has been going on non-stop. I just got some peace and quiet. What are you guys doing here?"

"We're here to make sure you don't do anything you regret," Snake hissed in a warning tone. Wolf rolled his eyes, welcoming them inside.

"I haven't yet. She just won't stop taking jabs that I'm the one looking out for her," Wolf groaned and plopped into a chair. Doris jumped into his lap and curled into a sleeping position. The canine smiled and stroked her fur. "At least you guys are here. I don't think I could take more of her nervous whimpering."

"Yeaaah about that. We're not buying Luggins' story," Snake said.

"By the way, where is she?" Shark asked.

"I don't know. She said she needed to get something from the garage," Wolf waved away.

"And you're doing what now?"

"Giving my ears a break," Wolf muttered.

Suddenly, Doris rose from her rest and stared at the door. Her eyes sharpened into slits as she hissed. "What's wrong girl?" Wolf asked.

Knock, knock

Everyone looked at the door. They don't remember closing it. Shark slowly stepped toward the door. "Careful," Snake warned as Shark opened it.

"Relax, it's probably the-" He stopped short when an electric buzz jolted through his body.

"SHARK!" The fish fell to the ground. A woman dressed in a black suit strolled in, tilting down her white-rimmed sunglasses.

"Huh, not the person I was looking for," her fluffy wool head spun to the canine. "Ah, there you are, Wolf."

"Wh-What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"I thought you said-"

"Things have... changed," Lambs smirked.

Snake and Piranha barred her way. "If you want to get to him, you'll have to get through us."

The sheep rose an eyebrow, leering. "Very well."

Snake and Piranha launched at her. Lambs ducked away from Snake and stopped Piranha's tiny foot with her hooves. She punched and grabbed Snake and tossed the two of them into a huddle in the corner before shocking both of them with her taser. "Wait no!" Wolf shouted.

"Don't worry," She said, tasing the two of them into unconsciousness. "I'm not gonna hurt your friends."

Doris hissed at the sheep viciously. She sprang from the wolf's lap, bearing her sharp teeth and claws. Lambs simply pulled a bag from her pocket and caught the kitten in mid-air. She set the kitten bag down and removed her sunglasses. "Heh, wouldn't take you for a cat person."

"What do you want with me?"

"Don't worry," She grinned aiming the taser at him. "Like I said, you're not the one I'm after."

"S-S-S-S-So then there's no reason to tase me?"

"Mmm, nah," She pressed the button and the wolf spasmed into a limp noodle. "I still need you for my plan."

Wolf's eyes drooped into a fast river of unconsciousness.

Continued...