FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO NED

That was a scene Ned wanted instantly to forget; watching the kid collapse, dead, but with the expression of horror petrified on his muzzle. Killed in cold blood, defenceless, by the very coyote who Ned was beginning to think he loved.

Oh, if he looked at the deed in a purely unemotional, logical mind, he understood why Garrett had done what he had. It had been a precautionary action, meant to protect the four of them from further harm on part of both the police and the Black Panthers. Olympia said that killing all of Javon's men would send the Panther leader a message not to fuck with the Chinese Triad again, and hopefully he had got the message. But the memory of the kid's pleading prior to his death - after Garrett had initially promised he'd be released unharmed if he talked - that, Ned could not forget. It was not difficult to think that, if Garrett and Olympia were not criminals, killing the leopard would have been unnecessary, and a twinge of resentment arose in him.

Of course, this is what I get for allowing myself to be involved with the crime world, he thought. I'd better get used to it - a fucking mole - but no, that sort of thinking got him no where.

Nor could he and Scarlett shake the shock of what the young leopard had told them. The Panthers believed that the Prophet was a cop, or otherwise involved with the city government. Senator Johnson did not fit the physical description, but if he was indeed involved with this scheme, he was clearly just a background man, a puppeteer, not the one who usually carried out the murders. The real killer would have to be someone from San Fernando, possibly from the police force, which meant that he could be someone Ned knew. Even a friend.

What a horror that could prove to be.

Such thoughts were still on his mind the next morning when he, Garrett, and Olympia arrived, nice and early, at the campus centre of Bay State University.

The campus was already crowded with traffic, despite their early arrival. Captain Williston had ordered all of Lennox's division to be there at least an hour before Congressman Van Holling was intended to speak, preferably earlier. They would be only a few of many lawmen and women who'd be immersed in the event, but SF Metro, Homicide Division, were the people responsible for catching the Prophet, if he indeed was to be present at the event.

Garrett and Olympia had insisted on coming, both of them. That was just as well; the unsettling thoughts of the previous evening aside, Ned was coming to appreciate having the coyote accompany him to public events. They were in the Mustang again, but with Ned's SF Metro ID, they were able to get into the police parking, which allowed them to access the main area easier. Part of the campus had been fenced off, and police were posted at each entrance to watch for "suspicious characters." Ned and his companions were able to avoid this, however, as they went through the police entrance.

Campus officials had erected a podium near the back of the campus centre square, and it was near this platform that many of the officers were gathered. Ned wove through sparse gatherings of civilians and students, sending a wary glance at the reporters and media cameramen who were already beginning to congregate near the podium, and, spotting Lennox and Arkady, made for these officers.

Olympia's presence did not go unnoticed by Captain Williston, who intercepted the trio as they approached the other officers. "Miss Rogan!" the Doberman greeted her warmly. "I didn't expect ta see you here."

"I would not miss such a noble event" the white wolf said.

The Police Chief looked like he was not likely to let Olympia alone for a while, so Ned and Garrett left her with him and continued on to the other members of Homicide.

"Parker" Lennox's ears perked towards him. "I'm glad you're here. Arkady has requested you assist him with guarding the congressman."

Guarding the congressman? Ned couldn't help allowing his tail a happy wag. "As one of his personal guards?"

"More or less" Arkady took over. The fox sounded tired, his eyes lacking the fire that was in Lennox's. Arkady was one of those people who became so enthralled in his career that it consumed him, so that he worked late nights only to be the first at the station in the morning....policework was his life...but, if that made him happy, then perhaps that was best. "There will be other cops up there, but the Chief thought it best to have a few Homicide guys there too, since it's our case. Nolan and I will be responsible for that, but I asked that you and Scarlett accompany us too."

That made Ned's tail wag even harder. There was no denying that he and Scarlett were the favoured rookies; their chances of being the next two detectives growing by the day. "Where is Scarlett?"

"Already with Van Holling" the fox replied. He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "We'd best get back."

Ned turned around to give Garrett a quick smile. He knew the coyote would not likely be allowed to be near the congressman; only police were being granted that. "See you when this is over?"

The coyote smiled and leaned up to give him quick kiss. "Of course. Stay safe."

"You too" Ned's tail slowed its wagging just a bit, as he remembered what Garrett had told him on the drive - he and Olympia were both armed with two throwing knives, just in case events at the congressman's speech went badly. Ned wasn't sure he liked the idea of the two Triad members being armed - if that was discovered, it could cause some trouble - but, then again, they were probably better at fighting than most of the police present, so many having a few talented mafia present wasn't such a bad thing, when they had a homophobic serial killer running around.

Garrett gave him another kiss and stepped back, just as Captain Williston and Olympia walked up. The Doberman gave Olympia one last grin before re-joining Lennox, while Ned was left to explain to Olympia where he was going.

The white wolf didn't reply to that, just studied him thoughtfully. "You do not trust me" she observed.

"How can I?" Ned glanced around, voice lowered.

"Very well. Think of me as the Moriarty to your Sherlock" she flicked an ear. "But that does not mean we cannot be friends."

Ned thought about that as he followed Arkady up to the podium. Could he ever regard Olympia Rogan as a friend? He had after all decided to proceed with his relationship with Garrett, despite the coyote's nefarious lifestyle, so why couldn't he seem to do the same with the white wolf? Perhaps it was because, to some extent, he blamed Olympia for making Garrett into who he was. No, though. Garrett liked who he was; he seemed to think Olympia had given him a gift. One does not become something without allowing himself to do so.

And Olympia had gone out of her way to be helpful in learning who'd sold the dagger, so perhaps he should give her a chance at friendship.

Or perhaps not.

"Ned?" he realised Arkady was giving him a questioning look, head tilted to the side. "Want to meet the congressman?"

Representative Friedrich Van Holling was an Alsatian, and he had the face and body of a movie star. The guy was already up on the podium, along with his boyfriend, Conner Wilson, a bear who might have been considered good-looking in some circles, but who looked entirely ordinary next to his gorgeous boyfriend. Melanie Van Holling, the congressman's nine-year-old daughter, was standing next to her father, saying something to....Nolan and Scarlett. Several other cops were also present, along with what appeared to be a few college faculty.

"Did he not bring any staff?" Ned asked, noticing the lack of people in suits. Most of the politicians he'd seen travelled with a virtual army of assistants, secretaries, chauffeurs, and publicists, but Van Holling seemed to be mostly alone.

And he was, Arkady said. Rather than bring along staff, Van Holling had decided to dismiss most of them in light of the potential danger from the Prophet. As it was, his only companions were his daughter, boyfriend, and his personal secretary, a bespectacled young cross-fox vixen with the unfortunate name of Miss Emily Spinach.

Nolan looked up as they approached, a faint glimmer of relief passing across his face. As quiet as he was, the grey wolf was probably less than thrilled to have to entertain the congressman. Scarlett also looked their way, and from the grin on her muzzle and the wag of her tail, Ned guessed she'd probably be making some dirty remarks about the hot shepherd later.

"This is my partner, Sergeant Denison" Nolan introduced the fox, "and Officer Lewis's partner, Officer Parker." He inclined his muzzle towards Ned. "They will form the rest of your escort today."

As a rule, Ned disliked politicians, regardless of their party - from his perspective, they were usually all greedy career legislators, dedicated more to party lines than to their country, or ones like Mayor Wong who could talk the talk but never backed it up with action. Somehow, though, from the moment he met Friedrich Van Holling, he liked him. Maybe it was the good looks; maybe it was the easy smile, the way the dog's big shepherd ears tilted towards them as he held a paw out; or maybe it was just the realism of the dog's friendliness, without seeming faked like public officials often did. All in all, Van Holling was just an all-American boy, who'd happened to become a congressman.

"Thanks for coming out today" Van Holling said, after Ned and Arkady had shook paws not only with the congressman but with Wilson and Emily Spinach. Ned had resisted the impulse to smirk when he'd seen that the vixen had worn a skirt and suit jacket that were the same colour as the vegetable with which she shared her name. "You know, I could have cancelled this talk after that killer made his threats, but what kind of message would that send? When you get into rough territory, you grit your fangs and fight it out. You don't tuck your tail and run like a scared pup."

That must have been the army talk coming through. "Your dedication is honourable" Arkady responded. "I don't think you'll have any trouble today."

"Dad's a soldier" the pup, Melanie, retorted. "He can protect himself without a bunch of wimpy cops."

With most parents, such a remark would have earned the kid an embarrassed scolding, but Van Holling just laughed and laid a paw on his daughter's shoulder. "Forgive my daughter, sergeant. She forgets that occasionally there are limits to my abilities."

"No matter" the fox waved a paw. "I'm sure your father can handle himself" he told Melanie. "I have three kids and they think the same thing about me."

Melanie's ears perked at the mention of other kids, but Arkady had gone back to talking to her father, something about how the event would proceed. Ned's focus had drifted to Scarlett, who raised her eyebrows in a "isn't he hot?" kind of gesture.

Ned smirked. Knowing Garrett, he'd probably have a choice comment about the attractive congressman too. Maybe that was part of why he got elected? It was like with President Kennedy; people like attractive politicians; not that they came along very often, though.

"Mr Van Holling, sir. Your speech." This was Miss Spinach, who'd held out her clipboard. "Did you need to review it again before we begin?"

The Alsatian considered this possibility briefly before shaking his head. "Nope, I think I'm set. Thanks, though, Emily."

During all of this, Conner Wilson had remained almost silent, standing beside his handsome boyfriend and smiling shyly when he talked. The bear seemed like an ordinary guy who felt out of place amid all the black-tie formality, and for a moment, Ned was remembered of the night Garrett had taken him through the VIP entrance at the Mayor's gala, and he felt sorry for Wilson.

The crowd had been growing in size dramatically, so that now, the campus centre was crowded with a mass of college students and ordinary citizens. Watching the thousands of spectators, Ned couldn't help but wonder if one of those figures watching the podium was the Prophet himself. Hopefully he wasn't; but even if he was - there was no way he could get close enough to Van Holling to do the congressman harm, not without exposing himself.

"Let's move back a bit" Arkady cautioned, so he, Ned, Scarlett, and Nolan moved back, allowing Van Holling to move up to the front of the podium, along with Melanie (who seemed just as confident in the limelight as her father) and Wilson (who seemed to wish he was anywhere but where he was). Miss Spinach and the other cops had also moved back, as one of the campus representatives, a fat cougar, took the stand.

"I am most honoured to present our guest speaker, Representative Friedrich Van Holling, direct from Washington" the fat cougar prattled, holding a paw out to indicate the dog. "I could go on and on about this man's accomplishments, but since I know you're all here to hear him speak, not me, I will let him tell you himself."

This brief introduction said, the cougar stepped aside, visibly panting even from his quick speech, while Van Holling stepped up to the microphone, holding up a paw in greeting to the crowd, some of whom began clapping.

"Tell me you're not already undressing him with your eyes" Scarlett whispered, elbowing Ned. "Did you see those muscles?"

Ned smirked. "Unlike you, I remember I'm in a relationship" he told her, eyeing Nolan, who'd remained focused on the congressman.

"Doesn't hurt to look" she muttered, flicking her tail against his legs. "From here, you can get a pretty nice view of his-"

"Enough" he lifted a jowl just enough to expose one fang. "Listen."

Van Holling had been thanking the university for allowing him to speak there, and was now talking about his family. "As a both a gay man and a father, my foremost desire is to always be an example of a modern American family. As such, I'd love to introduce my daughter Melanie," he put his arm around the girl as she joined him at the microphone, fearlessly waving her little paw at the audience, some of whom clapped for her too, "and my boyfriend, Connor."

Wilson seemed to sigh audibly, and then uneasily walked towards the stand.

If it wasn't for Ned's sensitive lupine ears, he never would have heard it.

The buzz was very faint, but still perceptible, and as Ned realised what it was - a cell phone on vibrate - he saw Wilson flinch ever so slightly, and begin to move a paw towards his suit pocket - only to return it to his side. This wasn't the time to answer cell phones.

Someone sucked in his breath sharply. Arkady. "Oh, no" the fox whispered, and then he sprang forward. What?

Van Holling was oblivious, saying something about how he and Wilson had met; in the army, apparently. Melanie was still waving, smiling, enjoying the attention of several thousand eyes on her. Wilson moved to join them at the microphone.

"Congressman, get down!" Arkady screamed, grabbing at Wilson's shoulder.

And Ned understood.

Connor Wilson exploded.

Perhaps that was a misleading description. The bear didn't so much explode; rather he jerked, his suit jacket ripping apart in a burst of blood as he collapsed lifelessly onto the podium. Arkady had almost reached him when the bomb - a cell phone bomb; someone, the Prophet of course, had called Wilson's phone at the right moment to trigger the explosion - had gone off, knocking the fox, unharmed to the floor.

There was a moment of stunned silence.

Then the crowd went hysterical.

Arkady vaulted back to his feet, rushing to the microphone, even as Ned, Scarlett, and Nolan warily ran to Wilson. The bear was clearly dead; his torso was blown open, his neck hung back.

Van Holling's army background must have taught him to react instantly, because when Arkady had shouted his warning, the dog had pushed his daughter to the floor and sheltered her with his body. Accordingly, neither seemed harmed, but when the congressman saw his boyfriend sprawled bloodily on the stand, he gave a curse of anguish and ran to them, pulling the bloody bear to his chest and burying his muzzle in Wilson's shoulder, oblivious to the blood soaking into his expensive suit.

Only those in the front of the crowd could really have seen what had happened, but the panic had spread, and most of the audience was now attempting to flee, running in frenzy away from the podium. Later Ned would learn that many of those in the crowd thought that Wilson had been shot, judging merely by the way he'd jerked and then fallen, so they feared that a mass shooting was about to begin.

What to do? Ned wasn't prepared for something like this; how to respond? Van Holling was still wordlessly clutching his dead boyfriend's body; Emily Spinach had seized Melanie by the paw before the pup could see the body, turning the girl's muzzle into her own breast and holding her, her own ears flat. Arkady was shouting something at one of the street cops; Nolan and Scarlett were trying to run off the reporters and cameramen who were already crowding in like vultures. It was chaos.

Exactly what the Prophet wanted.