The ride back to the station in the pick-up was unusually quiet, the T.R.U. members finding their boots more interesting than any possible conversation. There was no banter or jokes to share, just the silence that losing one of their own brought. Grimm pulled the magazine from his rifle and yanked back on the charging handle, ejecting the chambered round. He plucked the round out of the air with a gloved hand to bring it to eye level. He stuffed it into the breast pocket of his uniform under his vest.
"Fucking sucks," An officer across from Grimm grunted. "Hawk was a good officer."
"Amen," Someone else agreed.
"Fucking bastards," Another grunted. Now that someone had finally said what they all were thinking it opened a flood gate. Officers swearing vengeance, other telling stories that involved Hawk yet others saying it'd be hard on his wife.
"At least we took down the lab and got a hundred kilos of that Lemon Dust stuff," Angel said.
"Yeah?" Grimm asked. "How long till another lab springs up? Maybe they already got another one cooking the shit now. A good man's life is sure as shit not worth one lab and a hundred kilos of yellow dust."
"His death saved hundreds maybe thousands of Pokémon," A T.R.U. member chimed in. Grimm shot the officer a look that was cold even without his mask.
"Cause that's what it's all about huh? Fucking Pokémon," Grimm grunted. "Jesus Christ, human life got that cheap?" No one said anything, the silence from before returning quickly.
"Who are you to determine what a human's life is worth? To say it is more than a Pokémon?" Angel questioned his voice calm and even. "Who am I to say what it is? Do Pokémon not get a chance to live their lives like anyone of us? Would Hawk's life been better spent taking down a meth lab to save a hundred human lives?" The sniper asked his sharp eyes locked on Grimm's with a look of pity. The fire in both Grimm's eyes and stomach cooled at Angel's words.
"Damn Angel you some kind of preacher?" An officer asked before Grimm could respond. Angel stared at Grimm a little longer and gave him a curt nod just before he shrugged. Both Grimm and Angel sat back on the truck's bench, Grimm angry. Not at Angel, for he did make some valid points but at himself for letting his anger get the better of him. A raid was a raid and a bust was a bust. Hawk dying would have sucked just as much if he had been saving orphans. Losing an officer was a hard pill to swallow no matter the reason.
"Hey least we stopped it before the tournament really kicked off," Peterson said. "Imagine if that shit went into the hands of out of towners. Fuckos be coming here to get that shit." There was more mumbles of agreement. The silence returned once more and stayed with the officers until the trucks pulled into the department's motor pool. The T.R.U. members dismounted once the engines were turned off. Lieutenant Savage moved to stand behind the trucks as the officers dismounted. Out of instinct they formed a loose horse shoe around him. Once they were all standing in front of him Savage removed his cap and ran a hand over his buzzed head.
"I'm going to say the same thing that I told you when this group was first formed," Savage said eyes sweeping those of the other T.R.U. members. "This is a job where you can do everything right, follow your training to the letter and still people get hurt. With that being said, that knowledge doesn't lessen the blow. Does anyone want to say anything?" The Lieutenant's gaze shifted to Angel.
"Hawk was a good officer," Angel stated what was already known. "He'd also kick all of our asses if moping around over him kept us from getting work done." The group chuckled quietly several heads nodded, even Grimm's. "So let's make him proud."
"Well said," Savage said placing his cap back on his head. "Angel, Blackfoot, Knight you three have tournament duty, patrol uniform. Reaper." Grimm turned to look at the T.R.U. leader. "Pokécenter protection detail, half tact along with your partner. Draw gear for her as well. The rest of you normal patrol. Good work gentlemen let's keep the peace."
"Protect and serve!" The officers sounded off with the motto of police officers across the region. Grimm shuffled into the station following the rest of the officers into the locker room. He changed back into his patrol uniform but kept his T.R.U. vest and after he strapped it back across his chest he let Eris out. She appeared in a flash of bright and took her normal stoic statue like stance staring up at him while awaiting orders.
"Let's go," He said slinging his rifle over his shoulder. She followed at his side her paws tapping the concert floor the sound only stopped once they reached the carpeted bull pin. The chatter of officers and suspects alike filled the air, mixed with phones ringing. Grimm walked briskly to the double doors that lead to the armory. The officer behind the mesh cage nodded in greeting.
"Making a return?" She asked gesturing to Grimm's rifle.
"Naw, not yet still need it," Grimm explained patting the stock. "I need a vest for her, too." He nodded towards Eris. The armorer nodded and walked back into the actual weapon's vault. She returned a moment later holding a canine bullet proof vest.
"Sign here," She ordered pointing to the log book. Grimm nodded and signed out the vest before taking it in hand and leading Eris back to the parking lot.
"Sit," Grimm commanded. Eris followed the order immediately, sitting on her haunches and peering up at Grimm expectedly. He knelt down and fastened the canine vest around Eris's body something he seemed to know how to do very well. Despite it being the first time Eris had worn one. The vest covering her chest, front flanks and most of her back the word 'Police Pokémon' was stenciled on the flanks. The vest was form fitted to compensate for the bone ridges along her back. Once he had secured the vest he smiled and gave her head a quick scratch between the horns.
"You look good," He said as he stood back up. He walked to his cruiser and opened the door for her. She hopped up effortlessly even with the extra weight and took her usual spot in the back seat. Grimm took his, behind the wheel after stowing his rifle in the rack built in between the driver and passenger seat. Grimm started the engine and eased the vehicle out into the street heading for the Pokécenter. Eris gazed straight ahead half looking out the windshield half checking on her master. Her lips curled up the most they could in the equivalent of a canine smile. 'He's starting to like me,' She thought.
"I prefer diamonds and gold myself but layers of bullet proof Kevlar is soooo the gift that man would get for those he cares about," A feminine disembodied voice echoed around the cruiser. Eris snapped her head around looking for the source. She looked down at the bench seat and saw a pair of red eyes staring up at her. A moment later the eyes shot out of the seat and took the form of a Haunter. Eris reacted by adopting a combat stance, growling and bearing her teeth.
"What?" Girmm asked suddenly alarmed. He flicked his eyes to the rear view mirror and could see only Eris growling at the air. He considered turning around in his seat but he was still driving and would have to wait for a stop light or a place to turn off.
"He cannot see or hear me," The ghost Pokémon explained with a giggle. "I also wish you no harm so do him a favor and calm down before you cause him to get into an accident." Eris jerked her head to look at Grimm and saw his eyes flicking from the road and the rear view mirror quickly. Her gaze snapped back to the invading Haunter and stayed there while she worked her options over. Her actions were putting her master on edge and distracting him which could be fatal while he drove. He could not see this Pokémon otherwise he would've stopped but that also meant she could not simply attack this Pokémon either. She was a ghost type and immune to physical attack and to her master's eyes it'd appear she'd have set his back seat on fire for no reason. Undoing everything they had worked so hard for. Making her decision, though very reluctantly, she took on her normal stance and resumed looking out of the window. She whimpered softly to get her master's attention once more.
"You alright?" He asked eyes looking at her from the mirror. She simply nodded and lowered her head in apology. Grimm looked unsure and concerned. Yet he had known conventional canines to get the 'puppy crazies' sudden, unexplained and uncharacteristic behavior. She did look okay now and he didn't know enough about Pokémon to question her. Before he could think more on this a horn sounded drawing his attention to the road once more.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Eris asked still looking ahead. To Grimm's ear she had said 'hound, doom, hound, hou, hou, houndooom.' The haunter giggled her grin never fading.
"You sound just like him, direct and to the point no time for nonsense. After all, they say that a pet takes after their owner," The Haunter said reaching out with a hand to pet Eris's head. The Houndoom jerked her head to the side avoiding the touch. This only caused the ghost to giggle once more. "So much like him already."
"What do you want?" Eris demanded again.
"You're no fun," The Haunter fane pouted. "But I am here to help your master and by extension you. Your master is in danger."
"Danger?' Eris near gasped. Breaking the charade and snapping her head to look at the other Pokémon. Eris quickly looked ahead again. "What danger? Speak!" She demanded.
"Those feathers you found, that message on the wall in the warehouse," The Haunter explained. Eris knew that had upset her master but she didn't know why. "Those things were left for him by a group that had attacked him long before you two met. Every wonder how he got those scars?" Before Eris could answer the question the ghost had floated up to the front of the car floating near Grimm's head. Eris then knew that her master could not see her otherwise he'd react. The ghost pointed to the three parallel scars on his cheek.
"The only flaw in a handsome man," The Haunter reached out with a hand and brushed her fingers along the scar. Grimm did nothing, Eris growled in her throat. "Yet the scars add a certain roughness that can be very attractive. Don't you think?" She asked turning back to look at Eris. Eris glared at the other Pokémon.
"You said my master was in danger and you want to help," Eris said her voice cold.
"Not biting huh?" The ghost mused floating back to Eris. "Just like him. You two are a cute couple. Yes I want to help your master but only my master can help him. You'll need to convince him to accept my mater's help. He'll listen to you."
"How can I do that?" Eris demanded. She was annoyed with this ghost's games. "He cannot understand me or any Pokémon for that matter."
"Don't be so sure sweetie," The Haunter said her voice like honey. Before Eris could question this any further the ghost had vanished. The Houndoom looked around the cruiser while at the same time sniffing the air. She could find no trace of the ghost and that unnerved her, how could that ghost could just come and go as she pleased. Eris was not sure what the Haunter meant by convincing her master but she decided to try any way. Especially if he was in danger.
"Master?" She called out to Grimm.
"Huh?" Grimm asked flicking his eyes to the mirror. Eris's heart raced. He could understand him! That Haunter was right!
"Master! You can understand me!" Eris said happily her tail wagging. "I am so very glad for this!"
"You hungry girl?" Grimm asked eyes returning to the road. 'He is taking this very well,' Eris thought thinking Grimm would have been more startled to suddenly understand her.
"No, I am not hungry but I am worried for your life," She said.
"Hang on I'll get you something to eat once we get to the center," Grimm explained.
"No. I am not hungry. I am worried for your life," Eris repeated confused. "Did you not hear me?"
"Just hang on girl we are almost there," Grimm explained pointing to the Pokécenter that was in sight now. Eris was only more confused before the realization came crashing down on her with such crushing weight that she whimpered. Grimm could not understand her at all! He was just reacting to her noses and her saying her name over and over again. Mistaking her warning for being hungry. Her heart sank and then it burned in anger. Curse that Haunter toying with her like that. If she ever saw her again she'd have her revenge no matter the consequences!
Grimm pulled into the parking lot and eased into a spot next to the other police cruiser already there. Grabbing his rifle and clipping the leash to Eris's collar the armored and armed pair walked into the center. Catching many a weary look from the trainers there, both local and out of town. They made it over to the desk that was in the opposite corner from front desk used by Nurse Joy and her Pokémon. Standing behind the desk was another T.R.U. officer like Grimm in half tactical gear, aka 'half tact': patrol uniform with T.R.U. vest and rifle.
"You my relief?" The on duty officer asked.
"Yep," Grimm said with a nod. The officer walked past Grimm with a nod but Grimm stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. Grimm lowered his voice. "Hawk is gone." Grimm explained as this officer had missed out on the raid. "Suspect with a shotgun got him on the basement stairs in the raid this morning."
"Shit," The officer swore. "The suspect?"
"Down hard," Grimm said.
"Good," The other T.R.U. member grunted.
"Going be a wake?"
"Probably, no details yet," Grimm shrugged. The exchange complete the other officer walked out of the center and Grimm walked to his post behind the desk. He stood resting his back on the wall but only just enough to take some of his weight. To everyone else look at him, it appeared that he was standing unaided. As Grimm kept a watchful eye on the coming and goings of trainers and Pokémon he wondered how long the T.R.U. was going to keep their presence here. He knew till at least the end of the tournament with all the out of town trainers staying here.
That's how it went, Grimm standing watch, Eris at his side only taking breaks for the bathroom. Occasionally the pair would walk through the halls making sure everything was in order. Even traveling down the area where the trainers stayed. One time a couple of underage teens tried to hide the beer they were taking into their room. Grimm stopped them with a stern look, holding out his hand wordlessly confiscated their alcohol. He continued down the hallway and dropped the six pack into a medical waste bin. Dispatch sent another T.R.U. officer to relieve the pair so they could take an hour for lunch.
They went to the dinner that was right across the street from the center. The same one Ramirez had taken Grimm to when he told him he was getting reassigned. It was a Pokémon friendly place meaning they didn't have to be in their Pokéball. Something Grimm didn't care about but it was alright that Eris could eat with him. Grimm sat at the counter with Eris taking the stool to his left. The other customers stayed away from the counter as a cop in full body armor seemed to put them ill at ease. Grimm ordered a burger with fries and got Eris one of the Pokémon meals.
"I know I'm not the easiest S.O.B. to work with," Grimm admitted placing a hand on the back of Eris's neck. "I also understand you didn't necessarily choose this life. You were born into it." He gave the back of her neck a scratch. "So going forward lets both make the best of this. You're my partner and I've got your back just like you had mine."
Eris could feel his intent even if it was a bit back handed. Her master had accepted her. While it was certainly not what any Pokémon dreams for, just being 'accepted' and not 'wanted', it was a starting point. She knew with acceptance came trust and if she built enough of that trust their bond would really form then! Still if only there was some way or something she could do to help change her master's mind. She could feel that he was still scared deep down but work had distracted him from that fear.
After lunch the pair resumed their shift at Pokécenter Grimm taking up sentry near the desk with Eris at his side. He was getting ready to settle into the routine once again when he spotted a pair of Pokémon. They were a pair of Sneasel and they were carrying a bucket between them. With the awkward movement and the strain it seemed to be putting on them he could tell it was filled with a slashing liquid. The thing that stood out the most was the fact they were both wearing the traditional French Maid outfit complete with hat and wrist straps. Grimm saw them and frowned as he couldn't help but wonder if these were the same pair from the mill. As if they could read his mind one of them looked over at him and winked before starting to clean the windows.
Grimm's mind raced: What were those two doing here? Did they work here now? Why the hell were they wearing that outfit? What were they planning? All of his instincts told him those two were up to something. He just felt something any cops picks up after working a beat long enough. When people were up to no good it almost provoked a physical reaction like how static electricity made the hair on the back of the neck stood up. He looked around and saw Nurse Joy walking by and she didn't look busy for once so Grimm held up a hand to get her attention.
"Hey Doc," Grimm said. "Are those the two rescue Pokémon?" He nodded to the pair of Sneasel washing the windows. She followed his gaze.
"The Sneasel?" She asked facing Grimm once again a smile on her face. "The very same."
"So uh, what's their deal?"
"Deal?"
"They seemed to be cleaning the windows," Grimm pointed out. "Do they work here?"
"Oh! Well kind of. They have been cleared for adoption but didn't want to be kept in Pokéballs," Joy explained. "They asked if they could be kept out and they would help out around here."
"I see….so what's with the outfits?" Grimm asked, causing Joy to frown briefly.
"You know….I'm not sure where they got them or why they are wearing them," She admitted. "They just started wearing them and I find it pretty cute so I don't mind it one bit." Her smile had returned. Grimm simply shrugged.
"If you say so Doc," He said returning to staring at the nearly empty lobby. It was opening night for the tournament tonight and there was going to be a ceremony at the stadium tonight. Battles started tomorrow. Nurse Joy resumed her rounds. Grimm was just about to do another walk through when a familiar face walked through the front door. "Ramirez!" Grimm greeted his former partner.
"What's up?" Ramirez asked approaching the desk. He was still in his uniform obviously still on shift but his new rookie partner wasn't with him.
"You know just living the dream," Grimm said. "What are you doing here?"
"Ahhh the ol' ball and chain," Ramirez said with a wave of his hand. "With the tournament starting tomorrow my son want to go and see if he can't get some 'pick up battles'. My wife is worried as she does." The two shared a knowing look. "So she wanted me to pick up some supplies for his Pokémon." Grimm nodded he remembered Ramirez did that before but he also didn't know the Pokémon Center solid supplies and thought it was just the stores.
"What kind of things and why from here?" Grimm asked.
"Ahh," Ramirez said with another wave of the hand. "As you know a teenager and a home-maker wife trying to finish her degree is really expensive. I can't afford fancy new stuff so Nurse Joy, bless her, sells me almost expired bandages, dressing and potions. Things that the center would have to get rid of. At a discount of course."
"Oh. Uh," Grimm remarked. He had no idea the Pokécenter did that.
"Just don't tell anyone," Ramirez said with a chuckle. "I need the deal and if too many people find out and try to score in on this there won't be anything less for your old partner." Grimm smirked and chuckled himself.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't do you like that," Grimm said with a curt nod.
"Thanks, see ya around," He said slapping Grimm on the shoulder before chasing after Nurse Joy. "Hey Joy my wife get ahold of you?" He asked just before he followed her down a hallway and out of sight and earshot. Grimm smiled at his skinflint former partner. A little while later Ramirez returned carrying a duffle bag like he did last time. He smiled at Grimm and gave him a two fingered salute just before he walked out the door. Nurse Joy returned as well.
"Well Adam I'm off to the tournament ceremony since I have to be on the committee," She explained. Grimm nodded. The mayor and the chief of police were also on that committee. "I don't expect any patients this late at night since everyone will be waiting till tomorrow. The ones staying here I don't foresee them coming back until late. So the place is yours until you get back. If you could just do the end of day inventory I've already done mine."
"No problem Doc," Grimm said with a curt nod. The Pokémon in the Pokécenter had to be inventoried and reconciled against intake and outtake patient logs. To ensure they were all accounted for. To help ensure accuracy, and any chance of 'purposeful miscounts' the center staff and the police liaison did their own separate inventory.
"Have a good night Adam!" Joy said cheerfully just before she exited the center and into the dusk hued night. Once she was out of sight Grimm did one last look around the lobby and finding it still empty, even the pair of cleaning Sneasel were absent, Grimm did a walkthrough of the rooms. Those as well were empty. Grimm walked to the front desk and took a seat behind the computer Eris trotting beside him. The first thing Grimm did was bring up the records for Pokémon currently in the center with Trainer ID numbers assigned to them. He brought up the intake and outtake logs as well and compared them side by side. Transferring the list to a tablet he stood up.
"If anyone comes in bark and let me know," He told Eris. "Got it?" She nodded her head and moved around the desk to sit beside it so she could watch the front doors. Grimm went back into the room where the Pokéballs were kept. He did the hard part of matching each ball number with the assigned shelf space and using his scanner from his equipment belt scanned the ball to confirm that the right Pokémon was in the ball.
While Grimm worked Eris watched the front ready to bark if anyone came through the front doors. She felt proud to have such a task on her own to stand sentry for not just her master but those inside of it. She was so focused on the doors that she almost didn't hear the pair approach her. They were light footed and while they weren't actively trying to avoid making nose they had an uncanny ability of doing it naturally. Still she faintly heard them and turned her head to face them. The pair of Sneasel were walking towards her still wearing their maid outfits.
"What do we have here?" One of them asked stopping a few paces from Eris placing her hands on her hips. The other Sneasel stood beside the first. "The law dog's dog eh?" Eris was unsure of what to do. From what she understood these Pokémon worked here but what they could do or not do was beyond her knowledge. Still she did not like that statement it reminded her of that Haunter that had ambushed her today. What would her master do?
"Do you require some assistance?" Eris asked his tone neutral. Both Sneeasel looked at each other and smiled before looking back at the Houndoom.
"You even sound like him," The one that first spoke remarked. "Such a fitting couple you are." It took all of Eris's willpower to not growl at them now. That was almost word for word what the Haunter had said.
"Do you need help?" Eris asked again her voice strained.
"Oh no we're good," The same Sneasel said. It seemed only one ever did the talking. "I just wanted to know something and maybe you can answer." Eris stared at the Sneasel waiting for her to continue. "Have you seen him naked?" While she wasn't exactly sure who 'him' was she reasoned it had to be her master.
"Of course," Eris answered. To her seeing her master nude one the morning after they met was not unsettling or strange. It was just what it was. It would be like him seeing her without her police vest. The Sneasel giggled.
"How big was his thing?"
"What thing?" Eris asked confused.
"His dick," The Sneasel clarified. Eris only cocked her head. "His penis?" Eris still looked confused. The Sneasel sighed growing frustrated. "The thing that dangles between his legs?"
"I do not know and why do you want to know?" Eris questioned. To be honest she still didn't know what they were talking about but knew it was nothing good. The pair giggled again.
"You are sweet," She said. The pair shared another giggled and walked away leaving Eris very confused. With a displeased grunt she returned to standing sentry. Staring out the glass doors into the night kept at bay by street lamps.
Grimm returned to the front desk not long after the exchanged between Eris and the Sneasel. He logged his inventory and was pleased, but not surprised it matched Joy's inventory. Next Grimm pulled up the records for Pokéballs that did not have a trainer ID number assigned to them. These were the Pokémon that were found injured in the wild and brought in for treatment by a Good Samaritan, or Pokémon that were confiscated by police. Either a suspect's Pokémon that was caught legally but their trainer lost their Pokémon rights or Pokémon that they had no right to own to begin with. In recent times all the Pokémon rescued from the mill were in this log.
When Grimm pulled up the records he found that there were 106 Pokéballs that didn't have a trainer ID. Grimm looked at the number and slowly started to frown. Shouldn't the number have been a lot higher? He could've sworn more Pokémon then that had been taking out of that mill and this was the numbers for all the Pokémon in the center and not just the mill Pokémon. He checked the outtake logs and found that there had been no recent removes of those Pokémon. He even checked to see how many if any Pokémon had been 'put to sleep' and there was none. Next he checked the intake log for that day and found that 87 Pokémon were brought in that day with no trainer ID number. His frown deepened, he was certain there had been more Pokémon then that in that run down hotel. However he was going to need proof if he was going to bring this up with anyone.
Using the center's computer he logged onto the police's data base using his ID and password. He searched though the after action reports until he found the one from the Pokémon mill raid. He opened the file and started to read through it quickly, skimming it until he found what he wanted. He bypassed number of suspects arrested, number of suspects killed, number of officers wounded and finally stopped on number of Pokémon confiscated: 87. There it was on the official report filed and on record only 87 Pokémon were recovered from the mill. There it was in black and white that the Pokémon center's records were correct. So why did Grimm still feel like that was off? Maybe there was a mistake from when the report was hand jammed in the field till when it was entered into the computer?
Grimm looked at the phone next to the computer. He could call Tank a T.R.U. member that had entered the Pokémon pins and had helped with the count. Ask him if he happened to still know the count off the top of his head. It would be unlikely and not to mention it was late and he could be off shift by now. Why was he even so sure about the numbers being wrong? Grimm couldn't say but it was just a feeling that wouldn't pass. He'd dial Tank's desk and if he didn't answer he'd drop it and move on. Grimm picked up the phone and dialed holding the receiver to his ear with his shoulder.
As the phone started to ring a thought suddenly flashed into his mind from the day of the raid. That small foxlike Pokémon the Vulpix, Lieutenant Savage had called it. He had been meaning to ask Nurse Joy how she was doing how the treatment was going with the Pokémon in general. He'd just check her status himself and started to type Vulpix into the search bar back in the Pokécenter records. The phone had been ringing out during this time and just as Grimm was about to hang it up thinking Tank wasn't going to answer when the other end clicked.
"Mason City Police Department, Officer Dunham speaking," Tank's voice spoke into Grimm's ear. From the sound of his voice Grimm could tell that Tank was displeased with receiving a phone call so late at night and probably so close to the end of his shift.
"Tank, it's Reaper," Grimm said not able to hit the search button yet.
"Hey what can I do for you?" Tank asked sounded happier now that he knew who it was.
"Do you happened to remember the number of Pokémon that were found at the hotel mill we raided a few days ago? If not, it's not a big deal," Grimm said holding his breath now. He was hoping Tank wouldn't question why he wanted to know because Grimm had no idea what to tell him.
"Yeah," Tank said right away his tone still light. "I couldn't for get it because it happened to be my old locker number at the academy. 138." Grimm's eyes widen. He hadn't been expecting an answer in the first place and if he did he was expecting a different number then the report but not that big of a difference. 51 Pokémon were unaccounted for if Tank was correct.
"You sure?" Grimm asked making sure to keep his own tone light.
"100 percent," Tank said. Grimm held his breath but then asked.
"Hey Tank you read the official report for the raid?" Grimm asked holding his breath again.
"Of course," Tank said. Grimm thinking he said that a bit too quickly.
"Tank," Grimm said sternly and the other officer sighed over the phone.
"Alright, alright you got me," Tank admitted. "Why would I read a report when I was there and went through it Reaper? Don't tell me you read those things?"
"Not usually no," Grimm admitted and then chuckled softly to lighten the mood. "Alright brother that was all I needed, you take it easy."
"You to brother…oh! Reaper," Tank said quickly stopping Grimm from hanging up the phone. "You coming to Hawk's wake tomorrow night at The Shield Bar?"
"Yeah," Grimm said without thinking.
"Alright," Tank said cheerfully. "See ya."
"Bye," Grimm muttered hanging up the phone. A new theory briefly came to him. Maybe the numbers were just wrong in the system and the missing 51 Pokémon were actually at the center? Grimm almost got up to go count but then stopped realizing how stupid it was. If that was the case then the inventories done would have seen that the number of Pokéballs didn't match the numbers in the computer and it'd be corrected. Grimm felt something nudge his right hand and he looked down to find Eris nosing into his palm. She could sense he was upset and reacted in kind. Grimm started to pet her. 51 Pokémon seemed to be missing, Pokémon that had been chemically addicted to sex with an illegal drug and the only people that had their hands on the Pokémon after the suspects were the police.
Before they could fully set in for Grimm the computer beeped letting him know it had finished the search. He looked at the screen he must of hit enter while he was speaking on the phone. No records exist that match search parameters was displayed across the screen. He looked up to see what he searched and confirmed it was Vulpix. Any doubt Grimm had that there was a mistake vanished in that moment. He knew for a fact that a Vulpix was recovered from the mill yet there were no records for it ever showing up at the center. Grimm frowned and pet Eris's head and said the only thing he could think of.
"Fuck me."