FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The chime sounding as I entered my office reminded me of Marcus' gift. Tomorrow, I told myself. I locked the door and put away the stunner before heading up the stairs. I'd spend the drive back trying to think of a way I could get access to the camera net, but the only thing I thought of was to call Yanick and see what he could do.

I ate the last slices of mushroom pizza while I checked my message center. Over the last twelve hours I'd received fifty messages, many for the guys who'd been here, but a lot from names I didn't recognize. What kind of talk was happening? They all wanted to know when was the next orgy.

This was the first time I'd done this, and they acted like it was going to be a regular thing. Maybe it should be, I'd have to think about it, but another time. Right now I wanted sleep.

* * * * *

When I headed out for my run, there was a manila envelope at the bottom of the stairs, inside the hall. How had it ended up there? I checked the door, it was locked. The lock didn't show any sign of tampering. All right, it was too unreliable, it had let in people during the orgy, and now who ever had dropped this. I'd call a lock smith as soon as businesses opened, and they were getting upgraded.

Zee and Marcus had a nice one, top of the line, it took key card and biometric, but best of all it had a sensor that recognized you and unlocked the door as you reached it. I was getting myself one of those.

I grabbed the envelope, it was half an inch thick and had a good weight to it. I went to my office, and looked it over to make sure nothing had been tampered with. No seeing any indications I then used one of the programs Yanick had included on my phone to scan for listening devices. That came back negative. That was weird, why break into my building just to drop this off?

I sat at my desk. The envelope wasn't sealed, the flap was folded in. I used a stylus to pry it out and looked in. A stack of paper I could see shapes on the top one; pictures. I tipped the stack onto my desk, and with them a folded piece of paper came.

At first I thought it was a print out, the writing was so neat, but it was hand written, I could feel the indentation on the paper. 'I saw you looking around downtown. This must be way you are looking for. No one has asked to see these images, so you are the only one who knows. You owe me one hundred twentyfour pumpkin spiced doughnut."

I spread the pictures on the desk. I could see someone in them, not me. They were dark and grainy, but I could tell the man wore a long coat against the cool temperature. These were the pictures I hadn't known how to get.

Why had Ryan gotten them to me? I wasn't a detective anymore, he knew. He noticed everything, he knew I hadn't been there for a hundred twenty-four days.... No that was wrong, I'd been gone for over six months now, that was above one eighty. Right, he wasn't counting the weekends since I didn't normally go in on those.

But he knew, it was clear. Which mean he had broken the rules by getting them to me. Ryan never broke the rules, ever. If not for the reminder of the donuts I owed him, I'd think it was someone else who had done it. I set that aside for the moment.

I forgot my run. I spent the next hours going over the pictures, looking for any details that could tell me who the person was. There was nothing. I could tell he was a man, but nothing else. He kept his face away from the cameras, and because of how dark it was I could barely make out the cut of the coat.

It took out those where I could see store fronts, and placed them in order, using the net to confirm where they stores were in relation to each other. I might have patrolled the area when I was in uniform, and I had been there the previous evening, but storefronts had never been something I paid attention to.

I also couldn't go there by stepping out of my body. Traveling out of body was strange. I could move half a mile away from my body, then it was like the air became thicker and thicker until I couldn't press forward anymore.

I hadn't been able to recreate what I'd done to travel instantly to the Hearth in Belize in the spring. My best guess was that the thread connecting Carmichael and Damian had been the conduit that had allowed it. I hadn't seen any other thread since then, except for my own.

I ignored my growling stomach as I studied the time line I'd constructed. He'd traveled three blocks, Ryan had included only one picture without the man in it, and it was the end of that block. How the ermine had known I'd do this I had no idea, but he was clearly telling me where the man's trace ended.

I didn't like the idea he might have simply vanished. I didn't want this to involve magic, but I couldn't ignore it. Raphael had made it clear I had enemies within the Society. Those who hadn't been able to do anything about how they felt about the Stenton could be feeling comfortable enough now that I was the only one. Could this be about keeping me away from the briefcase?

I didn't even want the damn thing, did I? I should hand this over to Raphael and let him deal with it. Yeah, I should. But I wouldn't. If someone wanted to keep me away from it, damn it, I was going to get it back.

My stomach growled. I couldn't ignore my hunger anymore. I looked at the ceiling, and considered going for more pizza, but I didn't think I could stomach another slice. Anyway, it was morning, I wanted something sweet.

My gaze feel on Ryan's note, and I grinned.

* * * * *

The smell of fresh baked donuts wafted over me as I opened the door, and my hunger redoubled.

"Good Morning!" Denise smiled at me from behind the counter. "Running late?"

"Not running at all. I'm working on something. Give me two crullers, whatever flavors, and a large coffee, with vanilla creamer."

She placed on before me, on a napkin. I ate half of it in one bite -- maple. She raised an eyebrow as she put the second one down.

"Haven't eaten anything since getting up," I explained. "Do you have any pumpkin spice donuts?"

"No, there isn't much demand for them until November."

I nodded. My previous bakery most have had a clientele who liked them all year long. "If I ordered a dozen, could you make them?"

"We don't normally take special orders under five dozen."

She placed my coffee down. "But you're a regular, so I'll convince dad to do it."

"Thanks. I'd like them with caramel frosting." I took a long swallow of the heavenly drink.

"When do you need them by?"

"What's the earliest you can have them ready?"

"It'll be a few hours. Dad's gone to take a nap. He was up at three getting today's donuts going."

"Whenever they're ready today that'll be fine. DO you deliver?"

"No, sorry. My brother's the one who does the deliveries, and he's in school. He needs to know a day ahead of time."

That was going to be a problem. I couldn't bring them myself. I wouldn't be allowed past the desk sergeant, and Alice would want to know why I was giving Ryan donuts. I had to find a way around that, I really wanted to thank him.

Then I thought of something. I called Kevin, and he was up.

I explained the situation, and he was happy to help.

I gave Denise Kevin's number. "When they're ready call him and he'll do the delivery." I paused. So long as it was before five, Mike would be manning the desk. "When he does, add one raspberry filled powdered donut, in it's own box. On the box write 'for Mike'. In it, with the donut I'll need a card that says; 'Mike, this donut is a bribe. I need you to get the other box to Ryan, without attracting attention. Sign it--" I cringed.

"--The donut cheetah."

A smile grew on her muzzle as she entered the information in her computer.

"With the dozen donuts, the card will say; 'Thank you. The rest will be coming." She raised an eyebrow. "I owe him a lot of donuts."

"Should I warn dad?"

"Let me figure out how I'll go about it first. I send them all at onces." A dozen a week would take what? Three months? Was he expecting me to continue to send him donuts after that? Hell, if it allowed me to continue to have access to the camera net,

I'd send him a dozen a week for he rest of my life.

I paid, and had finished my second donut before I reached my car.