{"sf1_id":322964,"sf2_id":"RnoAoBAe","title":"Decrypting a Fox: Part 3","author":"Revresbo","words":608,"posted_at":"2012-01-04T09:01:00.000Z","tags":["Fox","Sci-Fi","Short","Wolf"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/322964-decrypting-a-fox-part-3","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/RnoAoBAe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/cf/2c/cf2c5924-be69-412d-82f1-229b3437c2f6","description":"#3 of Richard\n\nThis part is short, I know, but I only promised five hundred words a day, and it is late. Anyway, this is the third installment of Richard's story. Hope you enjoy.","content":"They stopped outside the alley where Richard had met the wolf.\u0026nbsp; The wolf got out, and Richard followed, not taking another glance at the badger and the rabbit pulling away.\u0026nbsp; \"Well?\" Richard asked as the wolf began walking.\n\n\"Well what?\"\u0026nbsp; The wolf paused to eye the fox.\n\n\"My money.\u0026nbsp; You promised me five hundred when the job was done.\"\n\n\"You fucked up, kid.\"\n\n\"What?\"\u0026nbsp; Richard was incredulous.\u0026nbsp; \"You got what you wanted, and we got away easy.\u0026nbsp; They were still two minutes away when we left!\"\n\n\"I said I'd pay you if you could get us in without raising the alarm.\u0026nbsp; You didn't.\"\n\n\"You have what you want.\"\u0026nbsp; Richard was seething.\u0026nbsp; \"It made no difference.\u0026nbsp; They'll assume it was some malfunction.\u0026nbsp; A clean job.\u0026nbsp; I want my money.\"\n\n\"Or you'll what, kid?\"\u0026nbsp; The wolf turned to face him, leering.\u0026nbsp; \"You're a pipsqueak.\u0026nbsp; I say you didn't perform, and people who don't perform don't get paid.\"\n\nRichard bared his teeth.\u0026nbsp; He was short, yes, even for a fox his age, but that didn't change he had done everything he was asked to do.\u0026nbsp; He deserved it.\u0026nbsp; He was not going to be denied.\u0026nbsp; Not again.\u0026nbsp; \"My.\u0026nbsp; Money.\"\n\n\"Go home, kid.\u0026nbsp; Run back to mommy and daddy.\u0026nbsp; Ask them for your money.\"\n\nThat was the last straw.\u0026nbsp; Richard's muzzle pulled into a snarl.\u0026nbsp; He could see the amusement on the wolf's face at his rage, but the wolf quickly sobered when Richard pulled the pistol he had in his jacket.\n\n\"My.\u0026nbsp; Money.\"\n\nThe wolf quickly took stock of the situation.\u0026nbsp; It wasn't his first time staring down the barrel of a gun, but he had to admit the kid had surprised him.\u0026nbsp; The safety catch was off, the kid had a firm, two-handed grip, and the gun didn't waver.\u0026nbsp; The wolf didn't show it, but he was mildly impressed.\u0026nbsp; He would have never guessed the kid had it in him.\n\n\"You sure you want to do that, sonny?\"\n\n\"A simple deal, you said.\u0026nbsp; We go in, we go out, I get five hundred credits, we never see each other again.\u0026nbsp; Now, you give me my money, or I swear you'll never see anyone again.\"\n\nThe wolf took a long, measured look at the pistol.\u0026nbsp; A small part of him noticed it was a nice piece of work, but the rest just noticed that it still hadn't moved a centimetre.\u0026nbsp; \"Fine, kid.\"\u0026nbsp; He pulled out his wallet--slowly, just in case--and counted out five hundreds.\u0026nbsp; \"Straight cash.\"\u0026nbsp; He threw it on the ground.\u0026nbsp; \"Don't spend it all at once.\"\u0026nbsp; Without another word, the wolf turned and walked off into the night.\n\nRichard lowered the pistol as the wolf rounded a corner.\u0026nbsp; He flicked the safety back on and wiped a hand across his brow.\u0026nbsp; He hadn't been entirely sure what he would have done if the wolf had said no.\u0026nbsp; He was loathe to murder, but he desperately needed the cash, and he had put himself on the line for that wolf.\u0026nbsp; He holstered the pistol and examined the bills.\u0026nbsp; They were genuine.\u0026nbsp; He put them in his wallet and sighed.\u0026nbsp; It was late.\u0026nbsp; Eating would have to wait until the morning.\u0026nbsp; He glanced ruefully at his stomach.\u0026nbsp; He was small, yes, but even smaller than he should be.\u0026nbsp; Food had been hard to come by, but this would keep him eating for a while.\n\nThe fox turned and walked down the street.\u0026nbsp; There was a disused park nearby.\u0026nbsp; A bench would serve as a bed.\u0026nbsp; In the morning, he would treat himself to some eggs.\u0026nbsp; He went to sleep with a smile on his face and drool dripping down his muzzle.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Richard","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/322499-decrypting-a-fox-part-2.json"}}