The End of the Mystery
The drive back to the police station tensed everyone's churning stomach.
Among other things.
GROOOWWWLLL!
"Alright, we need to get food, now," Wolf grumbled. The others agreed.
"I think there's some snacks in my office," Luggins muttered.
"Did you make them or Lillia?" Snake asked. Luggins scoffed as Wolf hid a chuckle.
"It was one time, and I said I was sorry."
"I've never gone to the bathroom that much before."
Luggins groaned as the four of them went into the office where they found a surprise waiting for them. "Governor Foxington?"
"Diane? What are you doing here?"
"I... have some news about the protests," Foxington sighed. Wolf's ears flopped while Luggins sighed long. "They want the investigation for the Golden Dolphin to come to an end."
"Absolutely not," Luggins grunted.
"And it's starting to gain some support in the city council," Diane continued.
"Regardless of whether or not people want this thing destroyed, we still have to make sure that it IS destroyed," Wolf said. "Besides, someone's life could've been taken."
Diane rose an eyebrow. "Could've been?"
"Uhhh I don't know if that was supposed to be confidential," Wolf chuckled, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. Luggins groaned into her hand.
"We have... two possible leads that we're trying to figure out," Luggins explained. "If all goes well, we will find the Golden Dolphin and destroy it."
"What?" Snake, Wolf, and Webs exclaimed.
"I never said that the protestors were wrong. I'm just saying they're fighting the wrong people. This thing has become a thorn in our butts. And I'm tired of having so many of my officers dancing around a piece of shiny metal just to catch the next criminal. There are more serious things we could be doing."
Wolf stood silent for a moment, gazing at Luggins' crossed arms and set glare. She was tired. Deeply tired. She kept rubbing her eyes from the stress and frustration forming on her face. Wolf sighed, "Alright, fine, but we have to find this thing before anything else."
"We want to rule out that real estate owner. Once we get that information, then we can go after the other lead," Luggins replied.
Diane nodded. "What do I tell the public?"
"Why do you-"
"Ever since this case, you haven't been in the right headspace to give information," Diane explained to Luggins.
The ginger officer sighed but nodded. "Tell them that after we're done with the case, the destruction of the Golden Dolphin will be done."
"But the investigation will keep going," Wolf added.
Growl!
"After we eat," Wolf chuckled.
Luggins reached underneath her desk where a mini refrigerator stood. She took out a couple of fruits, fig bars, and granola while Snake and Webs got something from the vending machines out front. While they ate, Luggins explained their leads to the governor. Foxington widened her eyes.
"That's... that's going to be hard for publicity."
"Yeah, but we're trying to make sure we have everything," Luggins sighed, "That way these guys don't just get a slap on the wrist."
"You're the Police Chief, aren't you?" Wolf argued.
"Yet there are people above me that might make things complicated," Luggins added.
Wolf grumbled, "Why does it feel like 'justice' in this country is all about profit instead of doing the right thing?"
"That's the problem," Diane shrugged, "What is 'right' always changes with people."
"Hey, can we stop with the meta-questions?" Luggins interjected, sitting up from her chair, "Sure, police work, governing, and doing justice isn't easy, and usually bad people find their way to the top. So what?" Diane and Wolf looked at her. "We're mortals. Human or human-like. We have the same failures as everyone else."
"Doesn't mean people should get off scot-free."
"But it doesn't mean we should beat ourselves up for it. We just have to try our absolute best. That's what you taught me," Luggins answered Wolf. The wolf gave a long sigh. Just then, Snake and Webs came back in, frowning. Luggins groaned wearily, "Tell me you've got good news."
The snake grimaced, "It's good news in one way but bad in another. Webs contacted the real estate while we went to the vending machine. She said that she turned over that property to the police during a stakeout and was scheduled to get it back after the explosion date."
Luggins squinted her eyes. "What do you mean turned over the property?"
"Two cops came up to her asking if they could use her house for police work. She didn't remember their names but the description she gave matches the Barnes," Snake explained. Luggins gritted her teeth. "And, we just got in touch with Dr. Mao. The body is the guy from the Delgarno case."
"Right!" Luggins shot up from her seat. She grabbed her phone and dialed someone. "Hey have you two found them? Good. We'll meet you there."
"Who was that?" Wolf asked.
"Remember that private investigation to figure out where Robert Barnes went? I told Shark and Piranha to do it."
Snake and Wolf glanced at each other. "Why?"
"Shark's good at hiding in plain sight. Piranha is good at shutting people up who ask too many questions."
"You already know how to use my friends like a criminal mastermind?" Wolf sniffled, wiping his eye. "I'm so proud."
"Webs, work with Gov. Foxington on the presses and media. I do not want anything else to surprise us. Snake and Wolf, you're coming with me."
"To take in two criminals, right?" Wolf asked for clarification.
The ginger officer glared over her shoulder. "Yes."
"Just make sure you do this by the book."
"At this point," Luggins muttered, "I'm going to slap them with the book."
At a house perched atop a mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a man looked at the setting sun, smelling the salt air. He inhaled deeply, stretching his arms as he walked back inside. "You love the view?" Said the man's lighter-skinned brother sitting on the luxury couch.
"Of course, this is amazing!" The tannish man sat down on an opposite couch. "Thankfully, our 'family' has deep pockets in the taxpayer vault."
"You sure that Luggins doesn't know about the purchase?"
"Calm down Hubert," Robert smirked, sipping the can of beer on the coffee table. "When I bought this thing, Lugs was still annoyed with the Bad Guys. Trust me, it slipped right underneath her nose. She's probably spinning her wheels trying to figure out where the culprits for your death are."
"What about DNA?"
"What about it?" Robert smirked, "Even if they manage to scratch together some kind of DNA in that wreckage, we'll be in Italy with our trusty dolphin by the time they figure it out," Robert pointed to the Golden Dolphin on the table.
"And you doubted me about the tunnel," Hubert smirked.
"I honestly didn't think you would make it out of the van in time," Robert chuckled.
"You know I'm much faster than you when it comes to getting out of a tight snag."
Ding Dong.
The brothers looked at each other and then at the door. "Package for Mr. Porland?" came the voice at the door.
"Ah, must be the shoes I bought," Robert grinned.
"You already bought stuff?" Hubert groused, "What happened to stay low?!"
"Relax. I used a fake name," Robert made it to the door. "There's no way that big ox Lugs is going to figure out it was us. And by the time she does, we'll be learning how to speak Italian."
Robert opened the door and dropped his can of beer. "Buonasera cucciolotto." A fist rammed straight into Rob's face, knocking him flat on his back. "Hai il mio delfino." Loosely translated, this means, "Good evening whelp. You have my dolphin."
Hubert, seeing the ginger officer cracking her knuckles, ran for the balcony, only to see a helicopter right outside the sliding door, waiting for him. Officers flowed in like water through an aqueduct. Hubert and Robert were handcuffed within seconds while the Bad Guys came in with Luggins.
"How... How did you-"
"You're right, Rob," Luggins spoke up, "I wouldn't have figured you guys out if I weren't working with the Bad... with Wolf and his crew. But you forgot that I don't give up easily." The officers stood Hubert and Robert up and shoved them into the police vans. "Try and fake your death now, Bastardos!"
Wolf smirked, raising his eyebrow. "You know Italian?"
"I'm half Italian on my mom's side," Luggins replied.
"But you're a ginger."
"They have gingers in Italy. But my dad's Irish."
"That's an interesting mix."
Shark grabbed the Golden Dolphin on the table and presented it to Luggins. "Now what do we do?"
"We'll take it to the smelters and destroy it," Luggins sighed.
"Hopefully destroying it won't become a Lord of the Rings journey," Snake joked. The others laughed as they walked back to the car. Luggins looked at the golden statue, frowning a little.
"Hey, something up?" Wolf asked.
"Hm? Nothing. I just... was it all worth it? I mean, how many bad guys wanted this thing just for the status? And now... now it's on the way to be destroyed," She paused. "It just makes me wonder what's going to be the next 'Golden Dolphin' for people to steal."
Wolf gave a great sigh, resting his arm around Luggins' shoulders. "I don't know, Lugs. But as long as there are bad guys, the good guys are going to have to stand up and fight them off. Like my dad used to say, 'Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.'"
Luggins smirked as they walked to the car, "Your dad didn't say that."
"Alright, alright. That was from a Superman show or something."
"I didn't take you for a copycat."
"I dabble," Wolf grinned. Luggins shook her head with a smirk as they rode back to the police station to finally put the mystery of the Dolphin to rest.
The End