Chapter 1
The train rocked back and fourth as it pulled into the station.
"FINAL STOP! AGENDA FALLS!" came the shout of the conductor.
As the human stood off he received death glares from his anthro counterparts. Some even calling him a 'No fur' and 'Hairless monkey'.
On the station platform he found his name on a greeting card held by a horse. The horse cleared his throat as he approached.
"Mr. Fang I presume?" the horse asked.
"Aye, are you the chauffeur that Mr. Leonheart said would meet me here?" the human, Mr. Fang asked in return.
"I am. Do you have any other baggage that we need to collect?"
"No I have all my equipment with me in my overnight bag. If I need anything else I'll go and get it myself."
"Very well, please follow me."
With that both of them headed towards the exit into a cool autumn evening. At the bottom of the stairs sat a black Oldsmobile 98. The horse opened the back door and Fang climbed inside.
"I see he prefers the Detroit cars" Fang said as the horse climbed in the front.
"Mr. Leonheart always had a soft spot for those cars."
Fang chuckled at the reply. With that the car pulled out of the station lot and headed towards the wealthy district.
The car pulled up to a large iron gate guarded by two lions. One aimed a gun at the car which made Fang reach for his.
"Relax. They know not to fire unless its with good reason. Its just a formality" the horse said lowing the window.
Fang nodded and released his grip.
"Hershal, you're back already" the other lion asked.
"Yeah. Got there just as the train came in. Though not what I was expecting" Hershal said.
The lion peeked inside and growled.
"Lousy no fur."
He turned and waved a hand to which the gate opened. Hershal drove past the guards and up a cobblestone driveway. As they pulled up to the house Fang noticed it was more of a mansion than a house. He frowned at this.
"The rich are always the same. Flount their money in some way."
"Well, he does pay well" Hershal said opening the door.
Both horse and human walked up the steps and entered the mansion to a grand stair case. Inside wolfs in maid and bulter uniforms busied themselves with chorse. Three more lions walked through with each carrying a rifle.
"The more I watch the more I think it was one of the guards" Fang said to himself.
"Then you'd be wrong darling" came a sweet, sad feminine voice.
Fang turned to see a lioness in a leopard print dress exiting a room. She had a seldom look on her face.
"Then my apologies madam. Are you perhaps the one who contacted me?"
"Not me. But my son. He's in his study right now awaiting your arrival" the lioness said.
Fang nodded and Hershal led him to the study.
Hershal knocked on the door three times then waited a few minutes before a scarred lioness opened the door.
"Mr. Leonheart has a guest."
With that single sentence the door was opened fully and Fang was gestured inside. He stepped in and the lioness closed the door behind him.
Inside the study there was a big wall of books with a rolling ladder, a fireplace with two chairs sat in front of it, and a desk sitting in front of a large window over looking the Falls.
" Leave us Vivian. I have things to discuss with our guest" a voice said from a chair that Fang had failed to notice.
Vivian nodded and silently left. The only sound of her exit was the soft opening and closing of the door.
After a few seconds Fang heard the sigh of someone who was tired.
"Of all the days to call a private investigator, it had to be on my daughter's bar acceptance."
"Well, a congratulations to her. But thats not why I'm here. Is it?"
The chair turned to reveal a lion with a golden coat of fur and a fury red mane.
"No it's not. Its about an investigation that hasn't gone anywhere, and it's costed five lives" the lion said.
"Alright. What details can you spare?" Fang asked getting straight to work.
The lion smirked.
"Eger to get to work. I like that. Alright, first I want to say thank you for agreeing to speak with me on this. It's a close family matter and I've asked the papers not to do any articles about it. Secondly, all the victims are of my family. Each killed in some brutal manner or another. The corener has already ruled his findings but I want another opinion. Do you think you can do it?"
Fang nodded before he replied.
"I'll need to know where they were killed as well as gain access to everything I can. And if you don't mind. I'll need to ask your family some questions."
"Of course. We'll start with the closest family member. My great grandfather lived next door to the falls. Says he enjoyed the view of the mornings."
Fang nodded and left.
"I'll see what I can find out. And if I have any questions I can rely on you to give honest answers?"
"If you are suggesting that it was me I ask you tread carefully" the lion growled.
"I didn't say you did it. But just know that answer has me a bit suspicious of you now."
With that Fang left and headed out to begin his task.
At the house near the falls police tape still clung to everything.
"You'd think they make it look more respectable" Fang said to no one as he crossed the line.
He took slow calulated steps to view the crime scene. Outside everything looked like it was frozen in time save for the grass growing.
"Looks like its been about three months."
He stepped up onto the front porch of the modest looking house and noticed bullet holes in one of the posts. Judging by the diameter it looked like 9mm.
"Seems his grandfather was a victim of a home robbery gone bad."
He slowly entered the house through the unlocked door and pulled out a flashlight. He turned it on and found the main floor hallway in a mess. Picture frames smashed or laying on the floor. Walls broken or completely destroyed.
"He must have fought back with everything he had."
He slowly walked through the hall noticing more bullet holes. Noticing that the holes weren't like outside. As if,
"As if he forced his assailant to use up their ammunition. Clever."
Once he made a note of the holes he entered the room at the far end of the house. The kitchen. Looking down he saw the dried up remains of blood and brain matter inside a chaulk outline. There he truly began his investigation.
Knowing there were bullet holes he had determined that either a revolver or mag fed pistol had been used. He shined his light around and a small glint flashes for a bright second. It was just underneath the oven.
"Guess they didn't look as hard as they thought" he said pulling on a pair of gloves.
He knelt down and retrieved the object. It was a bullet casing. He had been right as it was a 9mm casing. He continued his search and found what helped pull a bit of the puzzle together. The assailant had failed to grab the magazine that was sitting in the corner under the fridge.
Fang had the evidence for weapon used. But which brand it was was still questionable. He bagged both items and headed into a different room. This room had a single chair and table. And on said table was a still full shot glass of whiskey with the whiskey bottle still capped as if it was just poured.
Looking over the room he noticed something odd about the room itself. While it did look out at the falls it was pointed more towards the harbor at the base.
"An old seafarer that still loves the sea perhaps?"
As he took another step there was a dull thunk has his foot hit something big and solid. He looked down and saw a safe. It was still closed but by the drag marks surrounding it it appeared that someone tried to move it but couldn't.
"A home invasion and robbery turned into murder. Hmm, I think I see a small clue. But why try to steal a safe and then leave it."
He took pictures and notes before leaving the house as he found it. Though unbeknownst to him, he had had a sniper scope on him the moment he entered the room.
On the other side of the falls was a lone bobcat staring through the scope of a 270 rifle.
"The boss isn't going to like this" he said as he watched the human leave house.
Feels like I rushed a bit but would even be a story if someone parts weren't rushed. Anyway tell what you think and we'll see if we can continue this story.
