Work Text:
People.
The city is crawling with them. How's that saying go? Can't live with them can't without? I guess it depends on the person and the sucker that gets stuck with one. People are nothing but trouble in my opinion, only as good as the day-old tuna they throw out.
My name is Calico Jones and I'm a private detective. Currently, I'm on the search for trouble.
It all started when she had sauntered into my ally. She stood out. Her pristine fluffy white fur, clipped claws and bejeweled pink collar with a gold gilded tag inscribed with a name. ‘’Princess” and she sure did look the part despite being surrounded by the large dumpster cans, and rusted fire escapes.
"Are you Calico Jones?" Princess asked as she sat in front of my cardboard box her fluffy white tail curling around her front paws " I was told you’re the best option to come to when it comes to finding a person"
Peaking at Princess with one eye I yawned. Taking a moment to stretch out of my curled napping position I asked "Why does a house cat like you feel the need to travel deep in the city to find a person?"
"Not just any person! MY PERSON Mr. Jones!" She hissed, fur puffing up in her irritation.
"Are you sure they aren't at work? Got for a day trip?" I asked as I settled myself as a loaf tucking my front paws under me.
It was normal for these house cat types to get overly worried if their person was even a half hour late to fill their half empty bowl.
"Mr. Jones! Listen to me, my person was taken! He was beaten and removed from my home by two large people late last night." her ears pressed back against her skull tail whipping around behind her as she responded.
"OH that does sound a little more serious. But why come to me? Let the authorities handle it." My tail flicked dismissively at her.
A low growl emanated from Princess, her elegant white fur puffing up along her back. “Those so-called authorities do not care about my person.” She spat before taking a moment to calm down. “Mr. Jones, my person worked for the authorities. They are the reason he has gone missing.”
It didn’t take long for Princess to explain to me the circumstances behind her person's kidnapping. As far as she knew he was working for the authorities while also completing tasks with what she called a rough bunch. It was not until she mentioned that one of the kidnappers mentioned the name ‘De Mato’ that my interest peaked.
“What exactly did they say when they mentioned De Mato?’ I asked my full attention to her story.
“I do not quite remember just that they were going to go see whoever this De Mato person. Does this mean you will help me?” she asked
“I won’t be making any promises, princess but I’ll look into it. Either way you should head back. The city isn’t kind after dark.”
“thank you Calico Jones!”
De Mato. It had been too long since I had heard that name. My fur bristled at the thought of that man and the people he controlled. I would call him a rat, but that would be an insult to my dinner.
It took two days of tracking and contacting old friends before I found the location that De Mato and his goons had taken princess’s person.
The moon was full and smoke wafted off the ocean water onto the docks creating the perfect cover as I slinked around shipping containers to a large warehouse. Using a few boxes, it was easy to jump up to a higher level window and peer down into a side room that might have once been an office.
There in the center of the room under a swinging bulb was a man. The man was tied to a chair back to the window and looking worse than the hair ball I coughed up that morning. Luck was on my side as the window turned out to be unlocked allowing me to simply press my weight to it and push my way inside. As I left down the awning window swung shut loud enough to alert the man.
“wha..” the man looked around in confusion as he could not turn around enough to see what had caused the noise. Now that I was closer I could see he was tied by his hands to the back supports of the chair.
“I’m telling you I heard something, just go look while I get this cement started.” said A voice from deeper inside of the warehouse followed by the sound of footsteps making their way to the office.
As quick as I could I started to bite through the rope cord working at the binds. With the combined efforts of my teeth and the man's struggles the rope snapped and the door opened……