# Decrypting a Fox: Part 3

Author: Revresbo
Tags: Fox, Sci-Fi, Short, Wolf

#3 of Richard

This 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.

They stopped outside the alley where Richard had met the wolf.&nbsp; The wolf got out, and Richard followed, not taking another glance at the badger and the rabbit pulling away.&nbsp; "Well?" Richard asked as the wolf began walking.

"Well what?"&nbsp; The wolf paused to eye the fox.

"My money.&nbsp; You promised me five hundred when the job was done."

"You fucked up, kid."

"What?"&nbsp; Richard was incredulous.&nbsp; "You got what you wanted, and we got away easy.&nbsp; They were still two minutes away when we left!"

"I said I'd pay you if you could get us in without raising the alarm.&nbsp; You didn't."

"You have what you want."&nbsp; Richard was seething.&nbsp; "It made no difference.&nbsp; They'll assume it was some malfunction.&nbsp; A clean job.&nbsp; I want my money."

"Or you'll what, kid?"&nbsp; The wolf turned to face him, leering.&nbsp; "You're a pipsqueak.&nbsp; I say you didn't perform, and people who don't perform don't get paid."

Richard bared his teeth.&nbsp; He was short, yes, even for a fox his age, but that didn't change he had done everything he was asked to do.&nbsp; He deserved it.&nbsp; He was not going to be denied.&nbsp; Not again.&nbsp; "My.&nbsp; Money."

"Go home, kid.&nbsp; Run back to mommy and daddy.&nbsp; Ask them for your money."

That was the last straw.&nbsp; Richard's muzzle pulled into a snarl.&nbsp; 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.

"My.&nbsp; Money."

The wolf quickly took stock of the situation.&nbsp; It wasn't his first time staring down the barrel of a gun, but he had to admit the kid had surprised him.&nbsp; The safety catch was off, the kid had a firm, two-handed grip, and the gun didn't waver.&nbsp; The wolf didn't show it, but he was mildly impressed.&nbsp; He would have never guessed the kid had it in him.

"You sure you want to do that, sonny?"

"A simple deal, you said.&nbsp; We go in, we go out, I get five hundred credits, we never see each other again.&nbsp; Now, you give me my money, or I swear you'll never see anyone again."

The wolf took a long, measured look at the pistol.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; "Fine, kid."&nbsp; He pulled out his wallet--slowly, just in case--and counted out five hundreds.&nbsp; "Straight cash."&nbsp; He threw it on the ground.&nbsp; "Don't spend it all at once."&nbsp; Without another word, the wolf turned and walked off into the night.

Richard lowered the pistol as the wolf rounded a corner.&nbsp; He flicked the safety back on and wiped a hand across his brow.&nbsp; He hadn't been entirely sure what he would have done if the wolf had said no.&nbsp; He was loathe to murder, but he desperately needed the cash, and he had put himself on the line for that wolf.&nbsp; He holstered the pistol and examined the bills.&nbsp; They were genuine.&nbsp; He put them in his wallet and sighed.&nbsp; It was late.&nbsp; Eating would have to wait until the morning.&nbsp; He glanced ruefully at his stomach.&nbsp; He was small, yes, but even smaller than he should be.&nbsp; Food had been hard to come by, but this would keep him eating for a while.

The fox turned and walked down the street.&nbsp; There was a disused park nearby.&nbsp; A bench would serve as a bed.&nbsp; In the morning, he would treat himself to some eggs.&nbsp; He went to sleep with a smile on his face and drool dripping down his muzzle.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/RnoAoBAe
Part of the series Richard
Previous: https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/322499-decrypting-a-fox-part-2.md