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Chapter Text

Name: Francis Lucille Brown
Born: July 23, 1906
Age: 21
Nationality: French-Irish domestic.
Coat: Blue vase with a light shade.
Hair: Auburn
Occupation: Tutor, Waitress/hostess, and Caberette singer
Education: Bachelor's degree
Friends/Allies:
Roark "Rocky" Rickaby,
Calvin "Freckle" McMurray
Ivy Pepper
Likes: books, detective shows, helping kids, singing, and dancing
Dislikes: People who mistreat her family, Abusers, hypocrites, and evil perverts

Relatives:
Harold Brown (Great Grandfather)
Redser Brown ✝️(Maternal Grandpa)
Agnes Brown (Maternal Grandma)
Mark Brown(uncle)
Frankie ✝️(uncle)
Rory (uncle)
Dermott (uncle)
Simon(uncle)
Trevor(uncle)
Fraîcheur ✝️(Father)
Cathy (Mother)
Brendan (brother)
Roberta (aunt)
Liam (cousin)

Francis is the eldest child of Catherine and Fraîcheur. While Francis is Irish on her mother's side, she was born and raised in Paris. Her father's heritage is a mystery since he lost his family young and they never left anything about their history. She's multilingual but she still has her French accent. In her youth, her parents used to take her on holiday to visit her mother's family in Dublin. When she was five the Browns had to move to America for work. Her parents helped with the move and papers. Francis' first time visiting St. Louis, her family met the McMurrays and Rocky but barely remembers since she was young and only visited on holidays. Her father had her learn self-defense and how to read people to prepare her. She had trouble making friends at first but as she got older she spent time with her peers. After she graduated her father was in an accident and died. Since it was just Francis, her mother, and her brother now, they moved to America to be with the rest of the family. Francis was happy to be with family but was sad since she would be leaving her life to start anew. Oh well, she always did like an adventure.

Ivy Pepper
Francis' first female friend who wasn't an employee of her family. Despite the age difference, the two get along very well. She admires her spirit. Supports her crush on Freckle and tries to help her talk to him.

Calvin "Freckle" McMurray
Has known him since he was a toddler. Though she was closer to Rocky, the two have more of a sibling bond. When Rocky moved out her camaraderie with Freckle grew. Freckles even showed her his letter from Rocky.

Roark "Rocky" Rickaby
As kids, she, and Rocky, would play together during summer visits to Granny, she also played with Calvin when he was old enough. Periodically the trio would play house, pirates, tag, or Doctor. But over the years they unintentionally stopped playing together and grew their separate ways as most kids do. Of course, Rocky moving to his uncle's farm at sixteen could be a factor as well.

1925: While running errands Francis reunited with a visiting Rocky who started working at Lackadaisy. She was happy to see him but worried his luck would put him in danger.  She invited him for dinner unknown that the McMurray's were coming as well. It was a nice reunion until her granny started debating with Nina.

Currently, their relationship is still as friends but due to his job, he doesn't hang out with her as much. Even when she's living in the same town their outings remain short. They both enjoy making music together.

Cathy Brown(e)

• Born: May 12, 1888, in Dublin Ireland
• Age: 39
• Species: Irish Domestic
• Color: Blonde hair, light cream beige coat.
• Gender: Female
• Occupation: Psychologist, Business owner, Counselor, and T.A.
• Education: Doctoral degree from France, currently taking remedial courses.

Relatives:

• Mother: Agnes Brown(e)
• Father: Redser Brown(e) deceased)
• Harold Brown (Grandfather)
• Roberta (sister-in-law)
• Liam (Nephew)

Sibling(s):

1. Mark Brown (brother)
2. Frankie ✝️(Brother)
3. Rory (Brother)
4. Dermott (Brother)
5. Simon (Brother)
6. Trevor (brother)

Spouse(s):
Fraîcheur ✝️(husband)

Children:
Francis (Daughter)
Brendan (son)

She's already studied to be a psychologist in Paris. However, due to immigration and education transfers, she has to complete certain courses and training at night school and works as an Assistant.

Cathleen Elizabeth "Cathy" Brown is the only daughter and third child of Agnes Brown, and according to Cathy she and Agnes are just like one another. While currently studying to be a psychologist at a night school, she also reads psychology articles. Cathy is a kind, loving person who gets along with all of the Brown family and some people look up to her for advice.

Growing up the only girl was not easy especially when you're part of the low working class in Dublin. She always felt overlooked but Granddad was there for her. When it came time for university she was accepted into many but chose only three. However Agnes couldn't afford to send her, so she said no. That didn't stop her so she gathered her savings she was short, but Grandad gave her the rest plus extra to tide her over. After her first semester, she befriended Fraîcheur. They fell in love and became expected of their first child so they got married. When her family found out they were furious but relaxed when they found out he would be able to care for Cathy and the baby. It also helped that he offered to alleviate their financial issues or a dowery as Agnes prefers to call it.

Cathy has been in 2 relationships. Firstly, Teddy Branigon, when she was sixteen years old but then they broke up. In Paris where she went to college, she met Fraîcheur Smith, who impregnated her and became her husband. 

Fraîcheur was more than her lover he was her friend and they shared everything. He even took her last name since it was given to him by the state. Yet despite being an orphan with little background he inherited a good fortune from his late parents and used it to help support Cathy and their family. He even helped take care of their daughter so Cathy could finish school. He continued being a great provider when their son was born and they were running into financial problems. Then when he passed away Cathy was so heartbroken she and the kids moved in with her mother in America not from grief but from a letter from Fraîcheur in case he should pass.

Cathy loves her children and nephews equally and wants the best for them. Granted she was more occupied with studying but always found a way to make time for them. She was especially supportive of her daughter Francis when she decided to continue her education. But now their relationship is a bit strained since Fraîcheur death. Cathy still supports her even when she performs in the cabaret shows.

Agnes Brown(e)

OCCUPATION: Produce stand vendor/ restaurant owner
BORN: 1 September 1868
BIRTHPLACE: West Ireland
Species: Irish Domestic
Color: Orange
SPOUSE(S): Nicolas George (Redser) Browne
CHILDREN:

1. Mark Harold Browne
2. Rory Browne
3. Dermot Browne
4. Cathy Browne
5. Trevor Browne

Agnes Loretta Brown(e) is an Irish stall owner, who sells fruit and vegetables from her stall. She is also co-owner of a restaurant that her Daughter and Son-in-law bought for their family to support themselves.

Agnes is the undisputed head of the family following the death of her husband some years ago. She has 6 sons and a daughter and their relationships are quite volatile.

Agnes loves the clan very dearly, and always does what she feels is best for them, but often manages to put her foot in it. She swears too much and winds up her children, particularly her only daughter, Cathy. She involves herself in their business, such as Cathy's love life, after she became a widow. She spars at first with Mark's wife, Roberta, but she grows close. She only ever wants what is best for her children, and supports them through everything, even when her granddaughter Francis performs cabaret. She would do anything for any child and she cares for them all equally and has a hilarious and hateful yet slightly caring relationship with her in her words useless father-in-law, Harold.

Relationships:
Agnes loves all her children and grandchildren, but sometimes has problems with her recently widowed daughter, Cathy. This is most likely because she is rapidly approaching middle age and still hasn't found the right man, and dates men that Agnes doesn't approve of.

She was never fond of her late son-in-law Fraîcheur in the past and never addressed him by his name just Franky. She was livid when she heard he impregnated Cathy and they got married with no wedding. Still, she warmed up to him when he offered to help with the family's finances. Though she prefers to call it a dowry. Her respect and suspicions grew when he helped them move to America and established a restaurant to help them get started. She also blames him for making her neighbors with Nina. Then when he passes she is so sad for her daughter for she knows what it was like when Redser died.

She is frenemies with her daughter-in-law, Roberta, the wife of her son, Mark.

She dislikes her neighbor, Nina McMurry, the mother of Calvin (Freckle) Francis childhood playmate. Agnes is more brash than Nina and is more skeptical of certain passages. However, sometimes this dislike subsides for whatever reason.

Despite her quarrel with Nina, she has no dislike for her son Calvin. Now she can see that the boy has more backbone than he lets on. Still, she finds him to be a better companion for her granddaughter than his cousin Rocky. Now Agnes is picky about who her children fraternize with. While aware that Francis considers Rocky a good friend Agnes is not fond of how much trouble he causes especially when he blocks her car.

Now as for Ivy Pepper Agnes doesn't hate her she just doesn't like what she does for a living. Of course, that could be due to confusion since Agnes keeps confusing a slapper with a flapper. Which leads her to believe Ivy is involved with sex work. Hopefully, Cathy and Francis can get her to understand that the two are not the same.

She dislikes her father-in-law, Harold Brown(e), giving him the nickname "The man that God forgot", but is known simply as Grandad. Agnes is his full-time carer. She is not cruel, but won't be heartbroken when he passes away. But despite that, he has respect for him as he was there whenever the family needed him, especially Cathy. Course Agnes is still upset that he gave Cathy money for college behind her back.

Personality:
Mrs. Brown is a well-loved person who enjoys meddling in other people's lives, especially their love lives despite having none of her own. Her children love her, however, she sometimes gets on their nerves by not understanding things properly. She is rude at times but will do anything to help her family and friends, and will irritate anyone who she believes is a threat to her family's well-being. Despite her introduction, in the sitcom, Agnes is quite warm and friendly right from the beginning

Mrs. Brown has a habit of mispronouncing words which Cathy or Francis will correct for her.

Chapter Text

Another day another dollar. I got home late because of my job. So now I'm just enjoying the quiet. Mama was at her night classes so she was tired too.

"Franny! Get up! Your breakfast is getting cold!" Never mind.

"I'm coming, granny!" I get up and change my clothes. "God that woman is part vampire" I whispered. In case it wasn't clear I'm Francis, Francis Lucile Brown. I'm a 21-year-old gray-blue cat. I'm the only daughter to the only daughter of the Family.

I used to live in Paris with my immediate family. My mother was from Dublin and met my father while studying in France. He took her last name. But after papa passed we moved into my grandparent's house in St. Louis. Don't get me wrong I love my granny but she can be so. "Girls!" Loud. I head downstairs to the kitchen. "Morning granny" I greeted and sat at the table.

"Morning love," said Agnes Brown an old Irish woman, Aka my granny, as she pours me a cup of tea "Did you sleep well?"

"I was" I still didn't like the wake-up call but I know she only meant well.

"Well you should've been asleep in the bed" she scolded as she looked at me "instead of chirping with that Daisy slapper on the phone,"

"It's flapper, Grandmama." I tried to correct her.

"I don't care what they call it here it's not decent. And those two, well one, wanker" Granny stated "I can't imagine why your mother lets you hang around cats like that?" Then my mother comes to the kitchen. "Cats like what?" she asked.

"That Peppa Girl and her Toms. Laurel and Hardy."

"Oh Mammy, Freckle's not that bad and Ivy's a nice girl" Mama expressed. "Bright too, she's in my AP class."

"Cathy, what nice school girl works at a speakeasy flappin' for money?"

"Calm down mammy, it's not what you think," My mother Catherine tries to explain.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Sees her daughter shakes her head, "I know what happens in bars remember that's when I made one of you's," the old woman said.

"Mammy let's change the subject," my mother suggested.

"Fine," Granny agreed as she sat down, "You just missed the boys."

"I'm sure we'll see them later."

"So, Francis, now that you're up what are your plans?"

"Going for a stroll around the neighborhood maybe pop by Rocky's for a session" I quickly answered.

Granny: "That fuckin' jinx."

"Mammy!" Mama lightly scolded even though she was not fond of Rocky either, probably because he spilled syrup on her book. "Cathy the boy is so annoying Nina kicked him out!" she stated, "and you know how much patience she's had with that boy."

"I thought you didn't get along with Mrs. McMurray?" I asked, aware of their tiffs.

"Course not love she's a bitch," she said with no hesitation "Mammy!" Not stopping Granny continues to rant about Nina "She thinks she's better than us just because she's lived here longer and her son hasn't gone to jail," I remember that day everyone was speechless which is a given in this family. "May I be excused?"

"Sure love," Mama said and I left for my room. "Well, mammy you weren't exactly Miss Manners during that bible study."

"All I said was that the stories were fictional and she blew that out of proportion," She added "I never said I wasn't a believer!"

"Well, mammy at least they know that much. Still, I wish you wouldn't argue with people so much, especially during these times."

"Please I've been through wars, immigration, and you kids." the old Irish woman stated, "And I'm still here so I think I can handle myself" There's a moment of silence.

I come back down dressed in pants, a coat, a button-up shirt, and a hat. Looking twice you wouldn't realize I was a girl. "How do I look?"

"Like a boy with no stones."

"Great then I'm off, au revoir" I walk out.

"I swear that girl has more balls than all your brothers put together" Agnes sighed concerned for her eldest grandchild "Why does she wear that when she looks so lovely in dresses?"

"She feels more comfortable in pants and she's not the only one a lot of women are wearing pants nowadays, especially in Paris."

"Yeah but at least you can tell they're still women. Franny hides her figure and she has a lovely one, not like some of those skinny slappers you see here."

As I headed out the door I was greeted with the sight of a familiar car parked in front of the house. I go over for a quick peek inside and surprise, surprise, it's... "Bonjour Rocky!" I yelled causing the sleeping to wake up screaming. "Ah! Franky! I wished you'd stop doing that" he said unlocking the door to let me in.

"Sorry, next time remember not to leave your window open when you are asleep," I joked as I sat in the car. "What can I say it was a busy night. You should stop by sometime."

"Thanks, but alas I'm already expected at another nighttime establishment. That's legal." I pointed out teasingly.

"Boring. Come on you love the crazy stuff we get into," he retorted.

"I know," I sighed "but it's my family's business and you know how that goes."

"Yeah. Hey did you hear about the missing people?"

"I read something about it last week why is it related to your activities?"

"Kind of. One of the Johns was a customer and not even a regular."

"Then how can you tell if he's missing?" I asked "He had a crush on Miss Mitzi, plus his picture was in the paper."

"Rocky, pardon my indifference but most of your clients are shady one way or another. Isn't there a chance that it's just a simple whacking gone wrong?"

"No if that was the case there would be no headline," He said and then with his crooked smile, "Course with my luck it may keep the heat off us for a while."

"With your luck, you'll be driving through a chicken farm. Again."

"It was pigs and it was only once," I gave him a blank look. "Okay more than once" He turns the radio on. "Did you have to set it on fire? and trick Freckle into your scheme."

"It was to cheer him up!" He excused "And in self-defense, they tried to kill us first!"

"I don't care about dead moonshiners I was thinking about the poor pigs."

"Franny they were being paid off," he joked referring to the cops. "ha-ha," I said in a deadpan tone.

"GOOD MORNING ST. LOUIS! This is your host (h/n). This has been one heck of a year. The alcohol ban may still be in effect but the world keeps going. From the great flood to the flight of the Spirit of St. Louis! But it doesn't stop there, oh no there's been scientific news in medicine and technology. With us today are Dr. Claudica and Inventor Raul Dumont"

"Thank you for having us"

"Now Dr. Claud your work in genetics has been credited for explaining certain aspects of offspring,"

"That right. We have been able to determine health histories and start treatment for patients" she answers.

"Dr., have you helped many clinics in Europe and the U.S.?"

"Yes, I believe it is right to share this with the medical world to benefit everyone, especially expecting parents"

"Fascinating and Mr. Dumont what of your new invention"

"I and several others have been working on a new device that may change the way we store information"

"I believe they are called typewriters and archives"

"Not this one, for one thing, you won't have to worry about running out of ink or paper when typing unless it needs to be printed."

"What but how would folks even read it?"

"The same way people can listen and talk on radios, phones, and watch TV. It's all electromechanical."

"So you're saying this thing is going to be a combination of those do-dads in one?"

"Not exactly, currently we are still prototyping but so far the results are promising."

"Well, that's all the time we have folks but tune it at night for another segment."

Chapter Text

Francis' P.o.v.

We arrived at the McMurry's home and saw Freckle, an 18-year-old orange cat, mowing the lawn. "Hey, Freckle!" Rocky greeted. "Hello, Freckle," I added.

"Hey guys," Freckle replied. "I'm almost done. Can you wait while I finish up?"

"Sure," Rocky said. "And while you're at it, you might want to wash up."

Now, Rocky and I were waiting for Freckle when we saw his mother, Nina McMurray, in the garden. "Hey, Aunt Nina," Rocky greeted his plump but sweet-looking aunt.

"Do you have any laundry for me?" she asked him in a friendly yet annoyed tone, aware of her nephew's recklessness.

"Nope," he answered, and she noticed me, "And who is this?" she asked while trying to place me.

"Oh, you remember Franky," Rocky said. "From that dinner a couple of weeks ago"

"Francis Brown at your service," I bowed my head, "Nice to see you again, Madame McMurry."

"Oh, yes, now I remember," she said. "Agnes Brown's brood."

"Her granddaughter from Paris to be precise," I replied. She doesn't seem to dislike me for my heritage but her smile strains a bit. Granny tends to cause that reaction a lot when she's mentioned.

"Explains your accent love, though your hair is red," she notes curiously, "In fact, I don't think I've ever met a cat with your coat before either." She's not the only one there are a lot of cats with similar coats to mine but so far none in Missouri.

"I took after my father but my hair is a bit of a mystery," Which is true all Browns are shades of brunettes, blondes, ravens, or grey and my dad's family is gone so no clue.

"Well nothing to fret over, it looks well on you," she said.

"Thank you," I said to her politely, and then Freckle came up.

"You ready cuz?" Rocky asked.

"Yeah," he replied and turned to Nina "I'm done with my chores ma, I'll be back later."

"Well don't stay out too long there's been a lot of people missing so please be careful and steer out of trouble," she says as she hugs him.

"I will ma," he said as they hugged.

"I meant Roark, love" she joked, patting his back before turning to her nephew. "You may not live here anymore but you're still family, so please try to maintain yourself." She implored her nephew, while Mrs. McMurry can be annoyed with Rocky she still cares.

"Yes Aunty," he said smiling at her and giving her a quick hug, "Well let's go!" He shouts as he rushes to the car with us following.

As we're driving off and waving goodbye to Mrs. McMurry she yells, "And keep away from those slappers!" I laughed seeing Freckle's cute red face and Rocky well he just had his usual smile.

"Okay since Ivy's still at school how about we go find some fun," Rocky said.

"I still have some small errands to run," said Freckle.

"And I have a library book to return."

"I said fun!"

"It will only take a second Rocky and Freckle's errands are for the Daisy chain so it can't be that bad right?"

"Hmm"

"Plus, I can show you the dirty books they keep in the library," he perked up when I said this and looked intrigued.

"Doesn't the library clean them?" Freckle innocently asked.

"Not that kind of dirty Freck," I explained and added. "They are how you say erotic."

"Oh, oh!" Finally understanding. Unlike his cousin, Freckle is a bit shyer when it comes to anything risqué especially when your mother is a devoted churchgoer.

"Are there any pictures?" asked a cheeky Rocky.

"Eyes on the road" I turn his head forward, not wanting to be road kill, "and no. At least not in those books but I can show you a diagram of a naked body."

"What kind of library is this?!" asked Freckle not able to believe such a place exists or that I would go to one.

Rocky: "A fun place if what Franky says is true?"

"Well turn here and you'll find out for yourselves," he did so and we arrived at the library. As we entered I headed over to the front desk and returned my book. Since I know in my dear granny's words I can't leave Rocky alone for shit. Course it was a normal library Rocky was frowning as we walked around or at least joking frowning while looking at me. "Are you sure this place has those books?"

"Yes, and keep it down all right we're almost there!" I ordered as I led them to the section where they keep the books. "before I show you two anything I want you to promise that you'll try not to react loudly, deal?"

"Deal," they both said I noticed Freckle looking pensive poor boy "Freckle if you're not comfortable you don't have to listen"

"It's fine sides I need to stay close."

"All right now show me!"

"Shush!" I show them the books with no pictures just a cover and descriptive words. "Okay, so I did say there are books that have detailed sex scenes but no pictures like these two," I hand the books to them and they look at them.

"The Nunnery Tales," Rocky said disappointed.

"Dracula," Stated Freckle "Not that I'm complaining Fran, but these don't..."

"There's nothing sexy about nuns and vamps," exclaimed Rocky.

"Well Dracula is more horrific," I took the book from Freckle to open the passage, "but it does have a few parts that can be suggestive" I give the book back "See" he sees, and is a little flustered and confused. "and that's just for biting."

"So, the baby killing wasn't the only reason it's not for kids," Rocky added.

"I regret ever reading that part to you," I said.

"It was Halloween, but anyway what about this one?" Rocky asked, referring to the one I gave him. "A boy dressed as a girl to take refuge in a nunnery isn't exactly my idea of spicy." I turned to the page with the sex scene. Rocky reads it his smile getting bigger and his tail straighten up.

"What's it say?" Asked Freckle starting to get scared by his cousin's wider-than-normal smile. "See for yourself" The orange cat does as suggested and shouts "JESUS!" In shock.

"Shhhhh!"

"Sorry" he whispered "but I just can't believe anyone would do that in..."

"Well, I don't know anyone who has in real life. Maybe the author?" I joke trying to lighten the mood. "I'm kidding Freckle, that story is more fictional than Dracula."

"Oh, I knew that it's just so..."

"Titillating," Rocky said still reading the book.

"Rocky you're getting drool on the pages," I take it from him before he gets too excited.

Rocky pouts and Freckle suggests, "I think we should go now."

"Hold on what about those pictures you mentioned?"

"Rocky." Freckle groaned already uncomfortable from this. "There's no need-"

"It's okay Freckle I'm a lady of my word," I pulled Rocky aside and showed him a marital aide book. He smirks stupidly and says, "Why Mademoiselle are you hinting at something?"

"Oui, you need a date," I smile and open the book, "This book is the Kama Sutra but they changed the cover."

"Kama Sutra isn't that..." I cut him off by showing him the first position, "Voilà! I told you they had books for everyone."

No comment. "Rocky. Rocky, are you?" I turn and see him with a craze and happy look though he is biting his lip. "And that's our cue to go. come on boys." I dragged Rocky to the front entrance and had Freckle get him in the car as I had something else I had to do.

"Hello, I'd like to get these books," I told the clerk. As they rang me up, little did I know something was added to my stack as I reached for my card.

In the car, the cousins are recounting their visit to the library. One confused and one fascinated. Guess who is what.

"Just when the palace was getting interesting," Rocky whined to his quiet family "Right Freck?"

"Honestly I'm still shocked that the library carries them what if kids read them?"

"Freck, when we were kids barely anyone spent time in the library," Rocky told his cousin.

"I guess,"

"And who knows maybe you can show Ivy sometimes" Rocky hinted.

"No way!" Freckle said, "She'd kill me."

"Nah, she likes you and sides Francis tutored her before so it's most likely she knows," Rocky says.

"Oh," at the mention of the redheaded feline, Freckle can't help but ponder, "Why did Francis show us?"

"Because we wanted to see for ourselves."

"No that was you," he corrected the unstable tabby before he could clarify more Francis had entered the car with books in her arms. "You got more books?" The older cat asked while starting the car.

"Yes, I did. Now what were you two talking about before I got here?" Francis asked.

"Frecks, was curious why you seemed to chill showing us the goods," the blue-eyed violinist stated, earning a dirty look from the youngest of the trio.

"Oh," she realizes "Well I'm more comfortable with talking to friends about books of all kinds. Especially ones I think they'll like," she admitted, "but if I made you uncomfortable..."

"Not entirely, but I was concerned that you would be more offended."

"It takes a lot more to affect me," Francis continued. "I do admit I was a bit nervous when I showed the picture book."

"I can see why. Compared to that the words in the books seem tamed."

"No, I was nervous about Rocky's mad giggling getting us kicked out."

"Hey, you showed the sexy book which I didn't get to fully explore."

"Well, now you know where to find them."

"Not sure I'll have the time for reading..."

"No need for excuses Rocky you're old enough to make your own decisions," Francis said while looking at her watch. "Shoot! can you drop me off at work?" She asked the brown cat and he nodded as he made a turn in the direction of the eatery.

"Merci," she thanked him as she got out to work the lunch rush.

Francis POV

As I enter I see people are seated and the staff are already working. I quickly head to the changing rooms. "Hey," I greeted Betty a dark brown cat with short black hair. "You're late," she stated not happy being the one to open the doors.

"Sorry, I was with the guys you know how they are" I replied but she gave me a blank look. "Quoi?"

"You know what they do right?"

"Yes, but they're not bad," She looked skeptical I'd talk more but time was not on my side, "I got to work. Talk later." I said as I rushed out to start my shift.

I know Betty means well and she's right bootlegging is dangerous. So are the guys sometimes but they're the first ones I met that treated me with respect so they can't be all bad. Still, I wish they weren't breaking the law but what can you do? There are worse things at least they only kill in self-defense as far as I know. Despite going to the bar once I've tried to stay as far from their errands as much as possible but little did I know I'd be entering their world from a much darker lens than anyone would ever know.

Chapter Text

Catherine Brown is in the restaurant office doing paperwork when a female hostess interrupts her. Wondering why an employee would approach her outside of an emergency, Catherine asks, "What is it?" The hostess informed Catherine that a customer requested to speak with the owners. Catherine acknowledged and walked towards the balcony, where she saw Asa Sweet and his three associates.

Asa owned the Marigold Hotel, and a secret speakeasy, much like the Lackadaisy Cafe, but his establishment was known to be more dangerous. Asa noticed Catherine and approached her. "Madame Brown, I presume," Asa said, kissing her hand.

"Yes, and you must be Mr. Asa Sweet, the proprietor of the Marigold Hotel. I'm surprised to see you here," Catherine replied.

"I sometimes dine out from the hotel. I decided to come here tonight to observe," Asa explained vaguely.

"Observe what exactly?" Catherine asked. "If your nightclub is supplying a certain beverage," Asa replied.

"I assure you, Mr. Sweet, we have nothing of the sort. You can even ask the commissioner himself. He's sitting over there," Catherine said, pointing to the commissioner's table. The commissioner waved to her.

"With all due respect, Mrs. Brown, I find it hard to believe a simple eatery can be popular with just dinner and a show," Asa said skeptically.

The lights go off and the music starts playing as the curtains open while a masked Francis wearing a white dress with long, puffed sleeves, a closed collar, and angel wings walks out with the crowd clapping.

Once the clapping died down she began to sing, and the few patrons in the establishment were hypnotized by her beauty and her melodious singing. Especially Commissioner Maynott, who smiled at the sweet young woman.

 🎶She's resplendent🎶
🎶So confident🎶

🎶La Seine La Seine La Seine🎶

🎶I realized🎶
🎶I'm hypnotized🎶

🎶La Seine La Seine La Seine🎶

Her movements on stage were soft and elegant, like a feather flying in the breeze, caught in a gentle current of air. And her mellifluous voice made the Parisians forget about her problems, about the flood and her poverty.

🎶I hear the moon🎶
🎶Singing a tune🎶

🎶La Seine La Seine La Seine🎶

Is she divine?
Is it the wine?

La Seine La Seine La Seine

I don't know, don't know
So don't ask me why

As if there were not a ban on alcohol, as if people weren't missing from their homes, as if somewhere in St. Louis, there was not a disconsolate beast looking for a place to hide from the screams of people.

That's how we are, the Seine and I

I don't know, don't know
So don't ask me why

That's how we are, the Seine and I

I don't know, don't know
So don't ask me why
That's how we are, the Seine and I

That's how we are, the Seine and I🎶

Francis' P.O.V.

While I was bowing, I looked towards the place where my mother was with a man in a suit, she made a face at me so that she would also smile at him. Which I, out of simple courtesy, did anyway. However, I couldn't help but notice a strange expression in her eyes. 

 she made those gestures it was either for extortion or suiters. and I am hoping it's the first one.

Once the curtain closed, I was able to think about her expression. Whenever she made those gestures, it was either to warn me of extortionist or to impress potential suitors. I hope it's the former. Oh well after the last performance, I will find out.

After performing a few more numbers, I retired to the dressing rooms, where my mother greeted me warmly and gave me a beautiful bouquet with a big smile.

"You did an amazing job, as always, love," she said as she hugged me and kissed my cheek. "The night was slow, but it went well," She praised my work and expressed her satisfaction. When I asked about the man she had been talking to earlier, she revealed that he was Asa Sweet from the prestigious Marigold establishment. She told me that he wanted to investigate us, which made me feel uneasy and uncertain.

"Quoi!? Why would he do that? We've never even been to the Marigold."

"I don't know, Love. But Sweets heard about the restaurant and assumed we served alcohol."

"Did you inform him that the police frequently visit?"

"Yes, Commissioner O'Leary even greeted us. Despite his determination to search the place, your show successfully prevented him."

"Is that so?" I asked. "Our shows are well-received, but they're not erotic," She gave me a dry look. "At least, not entirely."

"I'm glad we were able to help," I added.

"I guess Mr. Sweet was impressed and wanted me to send his best to you," she said as she pointed to the bouquet she gave me.

"He wasn't interested, was he?" I asked worried. I don't go for older guys especially when they order their thugs to shoot my friends. But I'm probably biased. Not!

"I couldn't tell, but two of his goons kept smirking and talking in Creole," she explained "The bespectacled one was void of any emotion, but when you changed outfits, he was more annoyed than intrigued."

"Mordecai Heller was here," I guessed.

"You know him?"

"Rocky told me about him, they used to work together till Monsieur Atlas passed."

"I see," She sits on the couch as I put my pants on. "Francis, maybe you shouldn't associate with them anymore," Mama suggested and I was not pleased, "Mama, I don't even go with them on their errands," I argued.

"You did once and were almost pitched forked by drunken pig farmers," she scolds.

"Only once, and they're dead now," I added, but she still looked unconvinced. "Mama, you know it's been hard for me to make friends since we came here, and you said, Ivy..."

"I know what I said, but Marigold's appearance rattled me. What if the boys had been here tonight? Do you think they would have kept the peace?" she argued.

I knew she had a point, but I didn't want to pause my friendships cause of a false alarm. I also didn't want my family hurt if we got caught in the middle. Mama lifts my head. "I know it's hard love, but hopefully it'll only be for a couple of weeks, and Sweets' attention will shift. All right?"

"Oui, mama," I smiled at her, and we shared a quick hug as she left to get her purse and coat.

Alone looking at myself in the mirror, seeing my face tired of performing, I lost all my shine from the stage.

It was already around eleven at night, and the cabaret had closed.

After donning my coat, and hat, I made my way out the door and towards the garden. Once a residential complex, our family had since converted half of the building into a restaurant, reserving the upper levels for storage. Mama and I frequently utilized the garden as a convenient shortcut home or as an idyllic setting for outdoor dining. However, on this particular evening, an uneasy feeling permeated the air.

As we exited the door, we noticed a mysterious figure lying beneath the big tree. "Who could that be?" Mama asked. My response was uncertain as the figure remained dormant. "Perhaps it's a homeless person who has fallen asleep," I proposed, approaching cautiously.

"Well be careful they could be mentally unstable." I nodded and grabbed the rake. I carefully walked over to the body to see who it was and as I finally reached it. Someone screamed causing me to drop the rake on the body and I finally noticed that the neck was shredded to the bone.

"M'on D'où!" I shrieked in horror, but I didn't move from my spot nor could I turn my eyes away. I didn't know then but I knew this was a message one way or the other.

After discovering the body, we promptly notified the police. While the officers were examining the scene, Commissioner O'Leary approached us. I inquired about the severity of the situation, to which he responded with a regretful sigh, "Judging by the initial observations, it's not looking good. We'll have to temporarily close this area off from the public."

"Oh dear, how long will that be a week, a month?" Cathy asked worriedly. We're not prepared to close for long periods the only thing left would be Granny's produce stand.

"I'm afraid I can't say, Mrs. Brown," he said honestly. "If there are no traces of the body or incident occurring inside your business then we'll allow you to re-open."

"I guess I have some calls to make," my mother announced as she went inside her office leaving us alone.

"Commissioner, who was the man that was," I gestured with my hands, "You know." However, before he could respond...

"Sascha Ballad, one of the missing persons' Of course now his status has changed," said a deep and ragged voice. I turned to see an old tom in a trench coat, holding a cigar, but what stood out about him was that only one of his eyes was open. "Bluebeard we have been over this your too close to retirement to be on this case," Commissioner O'Leary affirmed to the cat named Bluebeard.

"Relax I just came to confirm if it was him before I handed my notes over" he replied and then he caught me staring, "Got something on your mind kid?"

"Oh, pardon a moi," I apologized embarrassed at getting caught, "I didn't mean to stare I just never seen you around before."

"Uh-huh," He said taking another puff but I could tell he wasn't convinced.

"Francis this is one of our veterans, Detective Bluebeard," The commissioner said interrupting this tense moment. "Translation oldest," he snarked while putting out his cigar, "Anyway bright eyes besides finding the poor bastard did you know him beforehand?"

"Can't say, a lot of people old and new come through here. Makes it hard to keep track," I replied.

"Did you notice anyone unusual tonight, Frenchie?"

"Bluebeard," Warned the Commissioner but the other cop just dismissed it.

"Usual crowd, though a Monsieur Asa Sweet was in attendance," I said and got both of their attention. "Was he alone?" He asked. "He had three of his workers with him but you'll have to ask my mother for more details."

"I'll do that," volunteered the Commissioner. "You keep your eye on this one" He pointed to Bluebeard. "I ain't no babysitter," he grunted.

"Good cause I was talking to Francis," he quipped as he went to talk to my mother.

"So green eyes,"

"Francis." I corrected.

"Whatever, you were pretty quick to name Sweets," he noted, and honestly, I wasn't surprised. I think the fuzz is aware of Sweet's side hustle but decides to overlook it or can't prove it. Hopefully, poor Sascha's death will change that.

"Aside from the victim, he was the only new face I've seen and I didn't catch his associates' names," I half lied about the last part and he seems to not believe me but then again he is an old dick.

"Monsieur Bluebeard what have the police gathered about Sascha?"

"He got killed."

"Funny," I quipped "Seriously, do you have any idea who or what killed him? And why did he end up here?"

"Not sure, but I have a few theories," he casually replied but then turned serious "Till then stay out this kid, this is a police matter."

"It happened in my province where I work and own with my family! I can't simply stay out even if I wanted to."

"Look kid if you or the people here have no connection to the victim then you got nothing to be concerned with," he tried to assure me, "But keep your eyes out ever since that ban, crime has been a bitch to keep at bay." No argument there. People have been doing desperate things for money and booze even before prohibition. I take another look at Sasha's body and frown. I just hope this isn't the fate of the other lost ones. This feels so surreal and that smell was- Wait a minute! "He smelled!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Sascha, when I got close he had a distinct odor on him."

"Dead bodies tend to smell."

"But this wasn't from defecation or decay, I believe it was a faint mix of perfume and sex," I told him.

"So he got lucky from some dame and got iced by her pimp or John?" He concluded indifferently, completely dismissing my clue, "But it might help us in narrowing it down when we bring this to the lab. So not bad kid." I smiled a bit at his comment at least he won't completely forget what I said. As he left I saw my mother walking towards me I guess she was done.

"Come now love, Commissioner O'Leary is giving us an escort home," she said as we walked to the front. "Can they afford to do that? The case is still fresh."

"It's just a quick run and we'll need our sleep for tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow?"

"We need to give our statements to the station and they want our customer book for names." With that said we got in the car and the police drove us home.

The following night or morning, the mother-daughter duo were met with a pissed Agnes and a sleeping Grandad. "Where the fuck have you two been?!"

"Mammy, it's been a long night," Catherine implored.

"Gee, I wonder why? Maybe it's from staying out late without calling," she said "Oh and your son is safe in bed. You're welcome."

"I did call, I left a message with Granddad," she explained as said man released a loud snore. "That man can't write for shit," Agnes said as Grandad was still napping.

"Mammy calm down we had to stay late to talk with the police."

"The police!" Granddad woke up from that news. "What for? Were we robbed?"

"No there was an incident we had to inform the police about."

"Someone was fresh with the girls! The dirty bastards!"

"A dead body was found in the backyard," I bluntly replied too tired to care about subtlety.

"Jesus Christ," Granny said doing a Hail Mary, "Well that's what happens when you force yourself on women-"

"Mammy the dead body was the only reason I called the cops," Corrected Cathy.

"Anyone, we know?" asked Granddad.

"Depends, if you're familiar with the name Sascha Ballad," I asked.

"Nothing comes to mind, love," Granny replied, but Granddad had an 'oh' look and held up the paper. "What now Grandad?"

"I think Grandad heard about the name from the missing cat's article. Right?" he nods in confirmation. "Well, mystery solved they're all dead, may they rest in peace," She bows her head.

"Relax Mammy, only one body was discovered," Mama assured her mother, "Not that it matters much though we have to close the restaurant till the cops are done."

"And with our luck, a hand will be found in the stand." wisecracked Granny.

"Mammy can we please discuss this later we need to sleep today's been exhausting."

"I suppose so," she agreed "Come on Granddad off to bed we'll hear more in the morning," she said as we all headed to our rooms.

Still, it is strange there was a murder yet no one had seen or heard anything. Before I turn in I can't help but think about the irony of it all this morning I was talking to Rocky about the missing cats and now one of them shows up dead. I dawn my nightgown and let out a big yawn. I better get some sleep. Figures, I get a day off and I have to get up early. As my head hit the pillow I was out.

Chapter Text

"Francis... Francis..." said a voice calling out in pain.

I woke up to the sound of cats yowling and a man laughing. I looked towards the doorway, and then I heard the horrible noises again. It was as if the man was laughing while torturing the cats. I tried to wake up, but when I turned he was gone. I quickly jumped off the bed and ran out into the hall. I looked around and called for my family, but there was no answer.

It wasn't until I looked forward that I saw my father walking upstairs to a doorway with a white light. And to my horror, he walked in and vanished.

"Papa!"

Knowing that something could happen, I bolted up the stairs. Once I was at the top, I walked into the white void. I looked everywhere for my papa. I even called his name a couple of times, but there was still no answer. I heard footsteps behind me. My heart pounding with fear, I slowly turned around and to my horror, I saw a strange man wearing a white lab coat. His face was blacked out so I couldn't see it.

Not knowing who it was, I tried to run out of the room before I realized the entrance had disappeared. I turned back to the man with a scared and angry look. We just stood there, staring at each other. I got in a fighting stance, ready to fight if he made a move. Surprisingly enough, he didn't.

Instead, he snapped his fingers and out from behind him appeared mutilated cats with swords and syringes. After a minute or two, he pointed at me and the cats all charged at me. I fought well with punches, kicks, and killing blows. But little did I know, there was another cat behind me who stuck a syringe into me and injected its contents. I screeched in pain and then fell to the ground on my back. all I could do was look up at the ominous man.

Before I knew it, all of my limbs and tail were restricted in a flash! I screamed bloody murder as I was squirming and bleeding on the ground. I even coughed up blood. I looked up to see the cat standing over me, looking at me with his glowing yellow eyes. He then slowly raised the needle above my neck, ready to inject me. In a flash, he quickly brought the syringe down.

"NO! NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOO!" I screamed as I lay on the bed, kicking and screaming like a maniac. It wasn't until I heard someone calling my name while shaking me that everything turned blank. "FRANCIS, WAKE UP!" And just like that, I opened my eyes and quickly tried to sit up. Unfortunately, my head was under theirs so we ended up headbutting each other by accident. "Ow!" We both yelled in unison.

After a minute of pain, I sat up to see who woke me and found, "Rocky?" I asked still rubbing my forehead. "What are you doing in my room?"

"Ahh," He groaned painfully, "I came here because you left your books in my car," he replied while rubbing his head. "But I heard some weird noises. You were kicking and screaming," he replied.

"I had a bad dream I can't explain it but-" I cut myself off when I realized..."Wait a minute, how did you get in here? You don't have keys."

He tosses me a pair of keys, "You also left your keys too," he declared as I caught them in my hands. Well, I feel, as they say, guilty, "Merci and sorry last night was très folle."

"Folle?" Rocky repeated a little confused "Is that French for foul as in bad?"

"Folle, is French for, as you say, crazy, but last night was also bad," I explained rubbing my arms.

"What happened?"

"Remember the missing cats from the paper?" He nodded. "Well one of them turned up at my job. Dead."

"Woah, did the cops find more bodies?" He asked with excitement and curiosity in his eyes. "No, just Sasha Ballad. Oh, Rocky, it was awful the man's throat was so sliced up I'm surprised his head stayed on."

"Man, that's brutal. Sounds like a hit job."

"I thought so too, especially since the Marigold gang was there," I said.

"What?!"

"I know, and Asa Sweet was there."

"What?! Why? Do they know we're?" I shook my head no. "According to Mama, they assumed we were selling booze," I answered.

"What else did they do?"

"They just ate, asked questions, and watched the performances," he wanted to hear more. "Rocky, what are the chances that Marigold did this?"

"From my experience a million, but they usually use guns for their targets," I held my knees up to my chin thinking and he noted, "Are you all right though Franky?" He asked in concern.

"I'm managing. I wasn't expecting to find a dead body on my way home. But I'm fine for now. That dream didn't make it any better though."

"What happened in the dream?"

"It's a bit confusing, but I recall seeing a man controlling dead cats like marionettes while laughing maniacally. Then, I heard a voice calling my name. I think it was my father."

"Sounds intense, what does it mean?"

"No clue." I shrugged my shoulders. "I admit I was scared when I saw the body, but after the police escorted me and Mama home my nerves were calm till now," I stated.

"Man, that..." he said then his eyes widened "Wait are the cops here right now?!" He gets up to peek through the curtains. I giggled at his behavior, "No, the police are probably at the restaurant. They'll be there till they find all evidence."

"Oh," he relaxed at this news, "So what happens now?"

"I have to go with Mama to give a proper statement."

"When does that happen?"

"Well," I looked at the time and saw it was a minute to six, "Two hours from now, and I don't feel like staying in bed," I got up and stretched. "You can hang around for a bit if you want."

"Thanks."

"Just try to keep quiet. My family is still asleep and Grand-mere will not hesitate to kill you," I warned.

"Relax Franky. I know the drill; besides, I think old Aggie is starting to warm up to me," he joked.

"True she only throws one shoe at you for blocking the car," I replied.

"See progress," I rolled my eyes and smiled as I headed to the bathroom.

Bathroom

Alone with my thoughts, I still can't get that nightmare out of my head. What could it mean? Too many horror stories, was I more affected by the body than I thought or was it just a fear of getting killed by gangs like the Marigolds? I know they weren't in my dream, but they were there last night and there are plenty to be scared of. I start to wash my body, cleansing myself of last night's aggravations.

You're probably wondering if that was the case why am I associating with the likes of Lackadaisy? The simple answer would be Rocky and Freckle, I've known them since I was a kid. Not by much since I lived in Paris till now but when they introduced me to the folks at Lackadaisy I didn't feel scared or threatened.

I'm well aware that Rocky and Freckle are not as harmless as they appear. I was there when Freckle failed the police academy. Rocky, set a moonshine-producing farm on fire as retaliation for tying him to train tracks. But I still don't feel nervous around them, I know I'd get hurt due to them but not by them, at least not intentionally. I sighed in frustration at my jumbled mind, though I was more stressed from what was to come from the whole dead body fiasco.

I stepped out of the shower, wrapped my hair in a towel, dried my body, and put on my robe. As I was done in the bathroom I went to my room to get dressed, paying no mind to the sounds of a soothing violin. I gathered my outfit for today, underwear, a blouse, and pants. As I opened my robe I heard a screech and turned to see Rocky, violin in hand, staring at me with wide eyes. "Rocky!" I whispered in panic. I quickly closed my robe before he saw anything. More. "I'm sorry I swear I didn't see anything. I think," Well that's reassuring.

"Oh, and how long were you going to sit there while I changed?"

"I was lost in my art," he justified "Besides I assumed you were going to change in the bathroom or behind that divider you brought from home," he pointed to the object which I pulled up to cover my body but my head was visible so I can still stare at him annoyed. But I can't be mad at him I forgot he was here. He could have said something but I guess the violin music should have clued me in. He does get into his music she thought to herself. "Okay Rocky we both should have been more aware," I said.

"If it helps I'm pretty sure I didn't see anything," he tried to reassure me again as I got dressed thankful for the divider for the privacy.

"Thanks, but you were more distracted than I was and I did say you could stay," I said as I put on my pants. "In the future, it might be best if you didn't stay in my room when I'm back from the shower," I suggested as I revealed myself fully dressed and we headed down for some breakfast.

"Back at ya Franks, I certainly wouldn't want scoundrels to peek at my temple," he gestured to his body while posing dramatically causing me to laugh.

"So, Monsieur Temple, what piece were you performing this time?" I asked him as I started on breakfast in the kitchen.

"Oh, a little of this and a dash of that." he shrugged. "You know the usual."

"Well, it sounded great. You should try getting more work on your talent," I said as I stirred the eggs with cinnamon.

"I am part of the Lackadaisy band."

"Yes, and I'm sure you play wonderfully with them," I noted as I got the bread, "I meant performing in more public venues."

"I am doing well with tips in the streets. Of course, I can't stay in one place too long," I sigh at his statements as I start cooking. "Work with me Rocky, I mean-"

"Oh, sure I'd love to work at your job. I'd have to ask Miss Mitzi but I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Of course, I'd only work when Sweet is not there," he said.

"No, Rocky, that's not-" I paused, "We could use a violin player," I said as I placed two plates of French toast on the table. "But not right now. It's too risky the police are investigating remember."

"Oh yeah," he recalled as he stuffed his French toast in his mouth. "So, about Marigold."

"I don't think you have to worry they only came to scare us, on a false rumor. I doubt they'll be back soon especially if they're aware of the body."

"Think they did it?"

"Maybe but it also could have been sex-related."

"Huh?" A piece of toast fell from his open mouth. "Oh, the body smelled like sex and I think perfume."

"Oh, but why would they leave the body in the open?"

"Probably an amateur or a message," I said and saw my mother coming into the kitchen dressed. "Morning mama," I greeted.

"Morning love," she said as she poured a cup of coffee. "You're up early."

"I had a weird dream. But I'm all right," I replied offhandedly.

"Morning Miss Cathy."

"Hello Rocky," she greeted. "I thought I heard violin music," she announced.

"Sorry," the tabby said feeling guilty for waking her up.

"Don't be, it was a nice wake-up call," she assured him. "Definitely a nice change from Mammy's," she added remembering how loud granny can be. "You're quite talented."

"Thank you," he blushed at the widows' kind words.

"Oh, mama. Rocky brought my books. I left them in his car," I said just to clear up any inquiries about him being here.

"That's nice, but why so early?" She inquired. "You could have brought them later."

"Yeah, funny story I came here last night to give them, but I fell asleep," he explained then returned to his pancakes.

"Mama, what time do the police expect us?" I asked trying to change the subject before we stumble into this morning's accidental peep show.

"I think now would be a good time to head over. The sooner the better I say," she said as she grabbed an apple for the road. "Rocky, would you mind dropping us off?"

"I don't know," Normally he would not mind but since the police are involved.

"You only have to drop us off a block away from the meeting place we can walk the rest of the way."

"Well, then I'd love to," he chugged his milk and walked to the car.

"What's wrong with our car?" I asked my mother as I followed her out.

"Mammy needs it to run errands," she answered.

—A block from the police station—

After Rocky dropped us off I stayed back a little. "Hey, Rocky."

"Yeah?" I pulled out the books I got. "I knew I left them here. I figured you'd have fun with it when you're not busy."

"Oh, thanks," he said, knowing which ones she got. "No problem I encourage reading for all genres just read it in a private room," I advised with a smile as I followed Mama to the station.

Third P.O.V.

Inside the station was hectic as both mother and daughter were separated to give their statements. After Francis was done with hers she bumped into a familiar dick.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in," said Detective Bluebeard condescendingly.

"Morning Officer Bluebeard," Francis politely greeted despite being a bit annoyed by the wiseass cat. "Have there been any developments on the case?"

"None I can divulge, but it looks like you won't be working any time soon."

"Why? Did they find another body or something?" She asked not knowing how accurate her question was till Bluebeard said "How did? Only the cops who...," he grumbled his words shocked at how well Francis guessed.

"I didn't," She said just as surprised with herself. "I was just-, Wait," She paused, "You mean to say that there's another victim!" Francis loudly exclaimed which caught the attention of the Commissioner.

"Bluebeard what is going on?"

"Francis found out about our little break."

"What? They weren't supposed to hear this."

"Why not? it affects The Brown's business if the investigation continues," Francis inquired.

"It seems Bluebeard didn't tell you everything," he said a bit relieved. "Follow me, you two Bluebeard," he ordered the two cats as they approached his office.

~In the Commissioner's office~

Taking a seat O'Leary looks at the two across from him, "Now what I say cannot be repeated to the public till we have gathered more evidence. Are we clear?" They nodded. "Good. Now then Francis you know that Sasha was reported missing correct?"

"Oui, his picture was in the paper along with the other missing cats." She replied.

"Well, it seems that he wasn't the only one that was found," O'Leary said.

"You mean they're all," Francis asked as she realized what the man was implying.

"As a door nail," Bluebeard confirmed, "and Sasha was the fourth one."

Francis' eyes widen at the news, "The other three were dead before Sasha," The two cops nodded. "Then why wasn't it written in the obituaries?"

"We recently got a call from the coroners. They just confirmed the identities of the bodies that were found over the last months," O'Leary explained.

"And they all had their throats cut like Ballad." Added Bluebeard. "Not looking good for the others."

"If the other three were found before, that means the bodies were in different locations. Correct?" Francis concluded hoping it meant the restaurant would be open soon.

"Correct, only Sasha Ballad's body was found at your venue," confirmed O'Leary.

"And according to the lab, he was dead for a day before he was found. Odds are he was killed somewhere else," Bluebeard said.

"Problem is, we don't know where and we still have people left for questioning," O'Leary sighed.

"Say why don't you come along with me to talk to the people at the restaurant they probably provide more for their boss kid," the old cop joked.

"Great idea Bluebeard. I'll inform Mrs. Brown after she's done with her statements," Commissioner O'Leary stated as he stood up.

"Wait! I was kidding!"

"I'm not. If you want to stay on this case you have to cooperate with others and Francis is going to do it," Ordered Commissioner O'Leary.

"Green eyes isn't even a cop," Declared the grumpy Maine.

"True, but their family owns the restaurant. So behave and don't scare the witnesses," he concluded and walked out leaving the two cats in his office.

"I can't believe this," Bluebaerd grunted while rubbing his face in frustration. "Come on runt, you better be useful when we get there," he orders her as they both head to the restaurant.

Francis' P.O.V.

On the way to the scene where it all started, Bluebeard took out a cigar and lit it. I didn't like the idea of interrogating my co-workers with a one-eyed P.I. with the personality of a friendly crab. As we walked closer Bluebaerd finally broke the silence I was so enjoying it. "Hey, Green eyes there's something I want to know."

"What?"

"Sascha was the fourth victim but can you guess what he had in common with the other stiffs?"

"They were reported missing," I joked.

"Smartass, what else?"

"I don't know they were all European shorthairs, looking for sex," I randomly said but then I saw the same look he gave me when I guessed about the other victims.

"How the hell did you know that? Aside from Sascha, I didn't even know those facts till I read the coroner's report."

"I... Oh, look! We're here," I pointed to the restaurant and saw the crowd of familiar people waiting with the police. As I walked closer Betty saw me.

"Francis! Thank goodness you are here," she said, relieved. "We got a call from your mother saying the police need to question us. What's going on?" Betty asked.

I thought Mama told everyone about the investigation. She probably had to leave out some details though. "Well..."

"This is an investigation in progress Miss any questions you have will be answered when it is your turn understand?" Bluebeard replied. "And who are you?" Betty inquired, sassily.

"Betty this is Detective Bluebeard, I'm helping him while he questions some of the staff," She looked at me confused "Bluebeard? Like the pirate that killed his wives for their money."

"I prefer a good clean divorce than a messy killing," Bluebeard joked.

"Hey Bluebeard, they're ready for ya," said a young policeman. The old Maine turned to me. "Come on kid, time to show you how a real cop does it."

After a quiet bye to Betty, I followed Bluebeard inside to start questioning. With any luck, we can wrap things up soon.

Chapter Text

After a quick bye to Betty, I followed Bluebeard inside to start questioning. The staff present last night gave statements, including an interrogation. We interviewed our employees to gather information about yesterday and if they had seen Sasha Ballad before he went missing. Some employees mentioned serving him once, but no one noted anything unusual. Bluebeard even asked about the missing cats and the date of their disappearances. Only a few employees recognized them. One of the victims Benjamin Button, a regular at the eatery for breakfast and lunch.

"Can you describe his actions before the time he disappeared?" Bluebeard asked the waiter showing them the date. "Well, the only thing I can account for was that he was coming in more than usual," the waiter replied.

"Elaborate," Bluebeard insisted.

"Mr. Benjamin only came by a few days a week for either lunch or breakfast," The waiter recalled. "Come to think of it, he seemed to only come once on those days."

"Until the week following his disappearance, Interesting. Did he bring anyone with him when he came?"

"No, he usually dined at the bar seating,"

"Was there a customer, that spoke to him? or even sat next to him more than once?" I asked. But the waiter only shrugged. "Not sure, I only interacted with him when writing his order."

"And yet Benny's the one you remember."

"Customers that come on slow days tend to get more attention," the waiter added "We try making small talk to keep things friendly but most customers tend to keep to themselves."

"Right and the rest?"

"What rest?" I pointed to the photo of said cats. "Hmmm. Sorry, I don't remember serving them. Maybe this person," The waiter pointed to an M.B.N.D photo. "But that's all I know."

"Thank you for your time. We'll be in touch. NEXT!" he shouted as we interviewed more people. After we interviewed the cooks and hostesses, we found nothing new just that Benjamin wanted to travel someday, and had a small crush on one of the girls. We moved on to ask questions about the next regular aside from Benjamin my co-workers can recall.

The next victim was pointed out. Tom-tom, or Thomas O'Malley, was a regular who came to see the shows. So now we are interviewing staff who worked the night shift when Thomas showed up. I didn't know much about him since Bluebeard had the files but he said I would be interested in him for some reason.

"So, Tommy Boy only came for the shows before he went missing, right?" He asked Betty who I was nervous to be questioned right now.

"Yes," she responded, "He would order food sometimes but he mostly had either coffee or tea."

"Was he close to any of the staff? Performers? Waitress? Hostesses?"

"He was friendly to anyone serving him. He talked to a few of the musicians when they were on break."

"And what about you, Miss?"

"You don't have to-"

"It's fine Francis," she says before staring back at Bluebeard. "I admit I was friends with Tom-tom he was nice and he taught me the song he used to sing with his friends. I asked him if he wanted to perform his music with me on stage but he said he was fine watching."

"Wait a minute the song? The one by The Scat Cat Crew. He gave you that song." I couldn't believe it the only song she could be talking about was one of my favorites as a kid.

"Yes, he was one of the writers. He said it was the song that changed his life." She said admiringly. I didn't catch her tone, my mind was somewhere else Thomas O'Malley, the O'Malley was in my club saw my performance, and taught my friend his song and now he's dead. Damn you fate!

"Sounds like there was more than just dancing?" Hinted Bluebeard.

"I assure you our relationship was platonic Detective but can't say I don't see your point. I was skeptical about Tom-tom's intentions when he first approached me even when his identity was confirmed I still keep my guard up."

"So, what changed your mind?"

"He always wore his wedding ring and a watch with a picture of his wife. He would always go on about how they met and fell in love." Betty said smiling at how much love he showed in his stories.

"And he didn't try anything? Say the weeping widow act?"

"Widow yes, weeping act no. O'Malley was sad when his wife passed but after some time he decided to travel, America happened to be his last stop before he went home," She said looking down "I feel sorry for his kids they'll be so heartbroken."

"Did O'Malley ever take you to his temporary residence during lessons?"

"No, we used the stage here during non-show times," she said, "A lot of staff will confirm especially the band."

"And Francis's Family?"

"All staff members are free to practice on stage as long as they clean up and put in the time they were present," I confirmed.

"Are we done? I don't mean to be rude but my legs are falling asleep." Betty asked.

"No, we're not. As for your legs, you're allowed to stretch them while we chat," Bluebeard and I moved to a corner to chat away from Betty. "Well, smartass one of the lost ones was not only a regular but also friends with your girl there. Care to comment," he inquired.

"I know how this looks but I haven't been in St. Louise that long. All Betty told me when we got better acquainted was that she had a friend who used to be a musician who wanted to hear her perform a special song so he offered to teach her. I didn't know he was a famous person."

"Not many people due unless they're from Europe besides the old tom went from place to place no telling what or whom he did."

"Betty has rules when it comes to dating and if they were they're both single adults. Unless you're referring to something else regarding the case?"

"Think kid Tom-tom wasn't the only Short-hair that frequented the place and all the victims had evidence of sexual activity."

"But Betty never smelled like she had sex in the times I was around her. Plus, I would have remembered her perfume the one on Sasha doesn't match hers," I noted.

"Oh, really she never came in looking like she had a bad night or a good time?"

"You know something let's ask her. Hey Betty," I said as I went to her and away from Bluebeard, "When did you notice Tom-tom missing?"

"To be honest I didn't. At first, I thought he went back home but when I saw the paper I was surprised I even told a friend I had on the force what I knew about him. You can check the records for my statement."

"I believe you but can you elaborate more on his behavior before he went missing."

"Before, he said he had no more to teach me. St. Louise was his last stop before he returned home; so, I knew he was leaving soon. We still talked during work hours. He was smiling more and dancing like he was a young man again."

"He ever told you why?"

"Never asked, but I think he was dating someone."

"Really? What gave you that impression?"

"Just a hunch but Thomas mentioned that he was considering getting back into the dating scene," she recalled, "When his behavior altered, I started to suspect. Yet he never brought a girl with him. So, I started thinking he was using drugs, but he never acted loopy."

"Did O'Malley say he was involved in anything illegal?"

"He said he frequented a lot of speakeasies during his travels, including some around here?"

"Any names?"

"No, he wouldn't say. He wanted to keep his head down. Never drunk in public, even when he got livelier, so, who knows."

"Betty, did he ever come in smelling odd?"

"Odd? Like what?"

"Anything that stands out?"

"Well, Tom-tom did have this weird scent on him. Nothing bad, he just smelled different. I thought it was a new cologne, though now that you mention it, I think there was a hint of perfume."

It appears we may have a femme fatal in our mists. Could the killer be a woman, a black widow, a jealous man, a pimp, or a mafioso who hated clients not paying or keeping their mouths shut?

We continued questioning the rest. Everyone's statements about Thomas match up, yet no one can recall the others. They didn't even reveal anything strange the previous night or before it. Except that Asa Sweet came by.

"Well, hot shot this has been fun. Not only was a lost one found dead on your doorstep, but two of them were customers and one was close to your employee. What do you make of that?"

"Aside from being out of work longer than expected, all I can say is that my theory about this being sex-related is coming together."

"What makes you say that smartass?"

"You said it yourself the victims were sexually active before they died. Betty even confirmed that Tom-tom had a certain smell on him most likely the same scent I caught from Sascha."

"The boys at the lab confirmed the sex part but have no clue about the perfume, and it's not the only one. Got a call they found traces of some unknown drug in the bodies."

"Did they rule out a possible O.D.? Maybe the culprit only made it look like a murder?"

"The eggheads claim it's not even close to coke or any poison they have on file. They sent squads to victims' homes to find any sign of this new drug." He checked his watch. "Come on kid, let's get something to eat, I'm starving," he said.

"I can always make something here."

"Thanks, but I prefer to have something quicker."

Bluebeard took us to a quaint Chinese eatery where they have something called delivery. "Hey, Zhao! One usual and one beginner to go."

"Hey, Bluebird haven't seen you in a while."

"Well, I've been busy what with retiring and this last case on still working on."

"Oh, and I see you got a new partner a young one at that."

"No, the kid is just here as a tag-along. One of my leads led to their family restaurant."

"oh, a rich kid huh? They sure don't dress like one."

"That's because I'm not I work there along with my family," explained Francis.

"Oh, a foreigner. French, right?"

"Oui, and Irish on my mother's side."

"So, what brings you here?" he asked as he started packing our order.

"A relative died so we moved in with my grandmother."

"Your Grandmother lives here?"

"Yes, she and the rest of my mother's family moved from Ireland when I was five."

Before he could ask more Bluebeard cleared his throat signaling that he wanted his food. "Sorry. Here's your order." After the exchange, we left to sit in the park.

~Park~

"Here you go kid enjoy," he handed me a box and I opened it.

"Bluebeard how often do you come around this area?" I asked but he was too busy stuffing his face. Can't say I blame him after one bite, I was hooked. This food was delicious! I can't believe I never knew that restaurant was here. The same goes for the park too, I hadn't made the effort to explore the neighborhood when we moved here. I just went to work and straight home. During my time off, I usually stay close to Granny's neighborhood when I go out or when Ivy invites me to hang out with her and the boys. I guess I never gave it any thought before.

"Hey, wiseass, you going to eat it or paint a picture of it?"

"I was thinking about how there's a lot in this town I haven't explored yet."

"Don't get too curious. Some places are better left unexplored, and now isn't the right time for a tour." He said as he resumed eating. "God, I missed this. No one makes fish as Zhao does. Can't believe I went weeks without it."

After we finished eating, a flock of birds flew up from the bushes and into the sky. I'd be lying if I said it didn't startle me a little. We suddenly heard what sounded like cackling in front of us. I instantly knew who it was when we turned to see them.

"Hi, pussycat." They both said evilly in unison.

Francis had a blank look, but underneath she was irritated. 'I should have known these two buffoons would appear sometime.' They started walking to us as if they were prepared to fight or steal something.

"Well, whaddya know. Herman and Hermann. Do me a favor, and don't tell me again how rewarding and rich life can be without balls. I'm quite ready to take your word for it. If you ain't got'em between your legs, you're lighter on your feet at least." Bluebeard said, obviously being a sarcastic smart-aleck.

I nearly laughed when he said that. For some reason I found myself laughing at that remark. I don't know why, I just did. Word on the street is they had an operation that left them sterile.

"At least the gene pool is safe," I said to myself.

We suddenly heard the bushes moving and saw a big intimidating cat named...

"Kong." Bluebeard said, "How can you associate with these miserable ratfinks?"

Kong laughed evilly like a maniac. "Bluebeard, you ugly old fur ball." He said, "I see you've been cruising the gay scene for a change. That cute little thing behind you sure is a juicy number. You going to show us some of the tricks he taught you?" I guess his eyesight is as bad as Bluebeard's.

Bluebeard growled. "No, he'd rather show you personally I think. That's if you think you're up to it." He said.

Kong was still laughing as he walked out of the bushes. He looked at us, menacingly.

"I can see you're scratching for a fight. Okay, you've got one!" Said Bluebeard.

Kong jumped out in front of us.

"Oh, pretty frightening. I can see you wanna show off for my friend Francis." Bluebeard turned to us for a second, then back to the other cat. "So, I'd better make it clear; I won't stand by and watch three take on two." He said as he unsheathed his claws as Kong also did.

"So okay. Come and get it, asshole!" Bluebeard growled. I unsheathed my claws and hissed. He was doing a decent job while I was doing a not-so-good job. All of a sudden, Kong busted out laughing.

"Heh heh. Hey, man, I'm pissing myself with fright." He said.

He then looked at Francis. "As for you cutie pie, you can bet your sweet whiskers that you and I, just the two of us got a date. And in the not-too-distant future." He warned me. But before he left he turned to Bluebeard.

"One more thing. Hey, Bluebeard you're a detective maybe you can solve the case of the dead bastard that's stinking up that garage on the (blank) street!"

"Dead?"

"Exactly what I said cutie pie, some dumb ass left a body in the garage," he said as he and his two lackeys walked away.

"Should we follow them?" I asked.

"No, the street Kong said is in the other direction."

"You're not saying..."

"Leave no stone unturned. Besides if it's a joke I can arrest them for perjury."

A minute later, we arrived at what appeared to be a garage. So that part was true. I spotted a trail of blood leading inside. When we both looked up, we saw the corpse that Kong said was here. Unfortunately, he's one of the missing cats now he's the fifth victim. It was a gruesome sight. Similar to Sasha his throat had been torn open, but there was something else that was... strange. He looked like he was holding something in his hand.

"Who was he?" I asked as Bluebeard was done calling the station.

"Went by Deep Purple. I knew him but not much. That makes five dead toms so far."

"Was Deep Purple actively dating?"

"Purple? Hah, no. He hadn't been 'getting in his game' lately. He was about as old as Methuselah but looked even older."

"Hmm." Francis hummed in thought.

"Is that all you got to say?" Bluebeard huffed. "You're beginning to get on my nerves, wiseass."

"If you'd like, I think I can sum up Purple's last few minutes:" Francis said. "The murderer attacked outside. That's obvious by the blood in the garden." she peered over the motorcycle to get a closer look at the body. "Somehow, he was able to drag himself in here. Not too bad for a fella his age." she turned back to Bluebeard. "Didn't you say Purple was too old to be interested in females?"

"More like sex, but yeah." Bluebeard nodded. "Why?"

"Use your nose! Purple had gotten excited before he died!" Francis said, almost excitedly.

Bluebeard sniffed the air. The old cat could indeed smell the remaining male musk that male cats released when trying to attract a mate. "Strange I thought he was too old to realize it."

"One big factor of the murders, as far as I can tell, is mating. Perhaps the murderer doesn't want or like competition for females, and wants to wipe out the males."

Bluebeard nodded in agreement the only victims, so far, had been strictly males. The females have not been found.

"Or, perhaps," Francis continued. "He has an objection to fornication."

"In my day we called it screwing," Bluebeard said. "And I still think it's a gang job the drugs and sex don't rule that out."

"Bluebeard, think about it. An icepick didn't cause this, or Sascha's death. This was done by teeth and claws." Bluebeard said nothing as Francis looked at them and realized, "You already knew that didn't you?"

"Had a hunch, but the lab hasn't been able to place an animal at the scenes or have an idea of which animal could do it." He admitted, "Got to say your quite the dick. Ever thought of joining the force?"

"I prefer reading mysteries than solving them but the thought has crossed my mind. A friend of mine tried to join but he was turned down."

"Give me his name I'll see if I can help."

"That's uncharacteristically sweet of you but I'd have to ask him. Calvin has his reasons and his new job keeps him busy." I said trying to change the subject. "To solve this mystery, I'm going to have to know every soul and inch of this neighborhood. And you're just the cat who can help me with that, Bluebeard."

"But will I be so willing? That's the question." As Bluebeard stepped out of the garage, he paused and said, "Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet someone. Now he's a clever bastard."

"So when did the station say they'd get here?"

"Soon but we're not waiting for them. Follow me."

"Where are going?"

"To mass. If those three bozos knew about Purpler. I assume everyone else knows too."

Chapter Text

Bluebeard led Francis through the neighborhood, telling her a small story, now and then. Francis listened while looking around. Despite the unpleasant gift from last night, the vicinity was nice-looking. Still, this neighborhood has gained a reputation for housing people of interest. She thought to herself. I better be more careful from now on. Unless Mama decides to sell the building.

Interrupting her internal conversation, Bluebeard decided to talk about the altercation in the park. "Hey, Francis. Back there with Kong, you seemed to recognize his identical playmates. Care to elaborate?" He asked her.

"Hmm? Oh, The Herman twins." He nodded. "My co-workers and I have had the displeasure of having them attend our restaurant," Francis clarified to the old man. "Although I've never met nor heard of Kong until now. Does he accompany them often?"

"It's the other way around. Kong is their Boss. Those two don't even piss without Kong's permission."

"What do they do?" Francis asked curiously.

"Hard to say. Nothing decent or that critical. Otherwise, I would have locked those assholes up and thrown away the key by now."

"I wonder if that's changed," she thought to herself. "Bluebeard, I know the Herman's are quick to pick a fight. Yet, they've never proven to be lethal."

"Hell, the smallest of my staff was able to beat them." She thought. "Kong, on the other hand, acts as though he never lost a fight, and by the size of him, it's not hard to see why," Bluebeard smirks at her observation and starts laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Kong tends to run from a fight he can't finish. The big bastard is pretty light on his feet." joked Bluebeard.

"Oh, I guess Kong is not as big and bad as he Proclaims. Plus if he was the suspect why would he tell us about Purple if he knows Bluebeard's a detective?" She thought.

Seeing her quiet expression he speaks. "I get where you're going with this Francis. Kong's the biggest ass in town, literally and figuratively. But aside from the usual fist fight Kong's never come close to killing someone."

"Could have fooled me, he looked eager for a fight when he saw me."

"Like I said ass. Don't worry, stay clear of him, and he won't hurt ya." the old cop assured her as they resumed walking.

That evening, Francis and Bluebeard arrived at a tall, old, and familiar house. "Bluebeard, why are we back at my family's restaurant?" without pausing to respond, Bluebeard kept moving for the door.

Irritated Francis was about to ask again but stopped when something snagged her gaze.

In the attic, Francis could see a blue light mildly flashing and hear other cats from the same level. She looked at Bluebeard with a mistrusting expression as they ascended inside and up the steps. "I guess I should have told you. There's a church that holds sermons in this place." He explained. "Especially after there's been a loss. They pray to this dead prophet called Claudandus."

Francis was confused. "I never heard of such a religion. Was he a saint of some kind or a god?" She asked.

"According to the sect leader, he was a normal cat that saved everyone at the cost of his own life," he explained as they entered the attic. Hundreds of cats were already sitting, including Kong and the Herman twins. There was a machine in the back of the room, with a large box to its left. Sitting on the box was a large Persian cat. "That's the sect's leader, Joker," Bluebeard whispered in the girl's ear. He looks similar to Kong. I wonder if they're related? "He always greets new members, so when he sees you, he'll want to meet you afterward."

Francis nodded as the Persian began shouting, "After only a slight punishment, he received great blessings! Because God had tested him and found him worthy of it! In the name of Brother Claudandus!" He pressed a lever on the box, making a large bolt of blue lightning strike between two bolts on the machine. Two random cats approached the machine, and to Francis' shock, they leaped into the electricity. Her own green eyes widened at the pained shrieks. She shook in fright as they fell to the ground, twitching and still screeching in pain. She looked at Bluebeard but he was just standing there. Noticing her distress he whispered they were not dead though her worry didn't subside.

Francis looked around trying to block out the screams and smells of burnt fur. Outside, it began raining. Thunder and lightning accompanied it. Making the service more dramatic.

"He suffered the cruelest tortures, day after day!" Joker yelled over the shrieking cats and buzzing electricity. "But his vision is eternal, and he remains our inspiration!"

'Why does he let those cats torture themselves? Is it really in the name of a dead cat? Would Claudandus, whoever he was, really want other cats to kill themselves?'

"In the name of Brother Claudandus! In the name of Brother Claudandus, who sacrificed himself for our selfless lives! Claudandus! Oh, holy one, Claudandus! Hear us! Look down on our suffering! Hear thou our prayer!"

When the cats began chanting, Francis glanced up at the ceiling, sighing. Her eyes widened when she saw a familiar beige and brown face with blue eyes staring down at the ceremony through a hole in the ceiling. I guess Rocky was bored.

When he saw her looking, Rocky raised a hand to his mouth, silently shushing her. She nodded and took her eyes off him.

"Those who believe in him will know the truth!" Joker continued. "And the chosen shall know his blessing and mercy!"

"What were you lookin' at?" Bluebeard whispered.

Francis glanced up at the ceiling, where Rocky was still watching. "Huh. Boyfriend?" Bluebeard chuckled again. "Friend, and a reckless one," she whispered.

Rocky shifted his paws, causing debris to fall in front of and on Joker. Pausing in his monotonous chanting, the older cat looked up at the ceiling, eyes narrowing. Precisely before Joker yelled that someone was upstairs, Francis took off out of the room and up the stairs as fast as she could. She found Rocky kneeling by a piece of wood propped up against another hole in the ceiling. "You're not reporting me, are you?" He asked with a nervous smile.

"Just run!" Not pausing, Francis climbed up the board and pulled herself through the hole into the attic. Behind her, she heard footsteps thundering, voices screeching, and the board creaking as Rocky climbed up. When Rocky began slipping, Francis grabbed his arms and pulled him out of the hole. Looking down, she saw the board had cracked in half, and a few angry-looking cats scattered on the lower floor below.

"Thanks." Rocky panting. Then, he gasped. Turning, Francis' jaw dropped at the sight of the room they were in. It was full of medical supplies, including a full operating table. "Looks like Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory from Hell." Francis gulped.

Both cats' ears perked up at a sudden noise. A trap door with a large crate on top began shaking. "Let's go," Francis said. "I don't want to be around when that opens. And I have a hunch I know what's below it."

Rocky nodded as he followed the cat to the opposite side of the room. The moonlight shined in front of them through a hole in the wall, big enough for one cat at a time to squeeze through. It had stopped storming by then.

She wasted no time running for it and getting out. The wood left two or three scrapes on her exposed skin, but she ignored them as she paused, watching Rocky pop out, but become halfway stuck. "Franky! Help me! They're right on my tail!" He yelled.

She grabbed his scruff and gave it a good tug. He popped out, and they both fell down the roof. Francis stopped herself on the gutter and pulled Rocky back up as well. They both ran down the gutter just as a few cats slid down the roof behind them.

Soon, both cats were running down gutters and over roofs, not wasting a second to look back at the hoard of cats trailing after them. They made it to the ground, pausing by a gutter pipe. A cat stood nearby, hissing angrily at them. Francis brushed dirt in the cat's face and shot up the tube. She could hear Rocky climbing up after her. They popped out onto another roof and were chased onto a board sticking out over a ledge, solely secured by a heavy sandbag. We're trapped! Francis whimpered.

A long-haired cat tackled Rocky with a growl. The tan and brown tom wrestled momentarily with his opponent before kicking him off into the sandbag. The cat sat back and watched as the board fell, taking Francis and Rocky with it. They jumped off and landed in a leafless tree. Rocky landed on a thick branch with a thump, while Francis dug her claws into the bark and slowed to a stop above him before jumping off and following him off of the tree and onto another roof.

This was not how I wanted to spend my night! I'll  attend  the Claudandus sect ten times over this! At least I wasn't being chased by dozens of mad cats.

After several more minutes of running, Francis and Rocky finally slowed to a walk, pausing behind a chimney by a skylight. They could hear the other cats meowing and chattering all around them. "I can smell him," One drawled. "Him and that silent, feminine one. They must be around here... they were here."

Francis backed away from the approaching shadows, gasping when she felt the window beneath her give away. She grabbed Rocky's hand, as they fell into a well-lit, warm room below. The skylight closed above them, and they could see the cats walk by, unaware that they had missed their targets by a few seconds. Both cats sighed with relief.

"You're both new in the neighborhood," A kind voice said behind them. "Aren't you?"

Rocky and Francis spun around to see a beautiful Russian Blue using a rocking chair in front of the fireplace. They couldn't see her face, but they could see she had a golden collar, a pink shawl, and a modest dress to pull everything together.

"Yes, that's right," Rocky said. "Though Franky's been here longer. My name's Rocky—"

"Friend or foe?" The female asked suddenly.

"Friends." Rocky immediately answered. "Friends forever."

"Two friends who fell, suddenly out of the sky." She turned her head towards them. She had icy-blue eyes with very thin pupils.

"Well, not exactly," Francis shook her head. "Only through the skylight not from the sky."

"We were running from some lunatics from the Claudandus sect. They were against me watching their freaky ritual; Franky helped me escape."

"That sounds typical of them." The Russian Blue said, sitting on the wide windowsill. "Tell me, has it gotten light outside yet?"

Francis' ears tilted in sadness and realization. "Yes," Rocky said, jumping up and sitting beside her. "But surely you can see that for your—"

Francis coughed shortly, frowning slightly at him from the other side of the Russian Blue. He gasped softly in realization. "You're blind!" Then Francis punched his arm. "OW!"

"I'm not blind," She shook her head. "I just can't see." She got up to stand in front of the fire.

"Do you ever go out?" Francis asked as she and Rocky followed her.

"Sometimes. Though whenever I became pregnant my husband kept me indoors mostly except for appointments and church. But not a day goes by that I haven't wished I could see this world, malicious and cruel though it is."

Francis stood by the Russian Blue and leaned on her shoulder in condolence. "I, I'm sorry." Francis sighed, laying a paw on hers.

"Why? There are worse things in life, Francis. We can get used to anything... except having to live in a dog kennel." She and Francis both chuckled at the joke. Rocky smiled.

"Have you always been like this?" Francis asked, then cleared her throat. "I mean..."

"Been blind?" The Russian Blue asked.

"Mm-hmm." Francis nodded.

"Yes, since birth." The female said playing with her locket. "But it's so strange, I see pictures. Pictures in my mind."

"What kind of pictures?" Francis asked.

"I see numerous people gathered around me. And they're so big and somehow bright. This man bends over me, smiling. He has something shiny in his hand, and it causes terrible pain... and then I fall asleep." Sniffling, the female walked back to the windowsill.

Rocky exchanged a knowing glance with Francis, who nodded and said to the Russian Blue, "I don't think you were blind from birth. Some scientist must have done something terrible to you."

"How can that be?" The female disagreed. "The doctors and scientists I've met are the kindest creatures I know. Who else would give a useless thing like me a home? Or a chance to see?"

"What do you mean?"

"I have gone through many operations and thanks to them there are glorious moments where I can see shapes though it doesn't last long hopefully after a few more I'll be able to see them permanently. or at least my children."

"That's wonderful! A serenade for the lovely lady's dream!" Rocky started to play his violin making the two ladies smile at the music.

"May I change the subject, err..."

"Felicity." The Russian Blue finally introduced herself.

"Have you heard anything you would describe as 'unusual' in the past several weeks?" Francis asked.

Twisting her mouth in a thinking expression, Felicity nodded, "I mostly listen to the beautiful music performed nearby. Though there have been the death cries."

Francis' ears perked up. "This means you're the first witness to the killings!" Francis said excitedly, jumping onto the windowsill as well.

"I don't see why this is so interesting?"

"Why?! Felicity! We're talking murder!"

"Murder? Oh, no, I'm sure you're wrong." Felicity shook her head. "It's more likely that it's just sex that has gone too far."

Francis pinned back one ear in confusion. "How do mean?" Francis asked.

"The death cries. Always unturreted by Tom Cats. I could tell that they were sexually excited. And then there is someone else there. Someone they know."

"And did this someone speak to these 'excited' males?"

"Yes, though I'm sorry to say I didn't hear what he said. But there was this urgency in the tone of his voice. A persuasive conviction; it was as if he was trying to convince or tell the other males something."

"And then?"

"And then I'd hear those awful cries." Felicity shuddered.

Rocky pursed his lips in thought. So, that's another cat saying the murder motives are related to sex. Interesting. But the question remains, Does he want all of the females to himself? Or is he against sex in general? I better warn Zib.

"Do you know anything else about the Claudandus sect?" Francis asked Felicity.

"Not much, I'm afraid." She said. "Only that the subject of their prayers is a dead martyr called Claudandus, who lived long ago. He was tortured almost all his life. Tormented horribly."

"Oh, my." Francis sighed.

A squeak from the ceiling suddenly sounded. All three cats looked up to see Bluebeard looking down through the sky window. "Why'd you run off?" He asked. "The brothers just wanted to talk with you."

"Oh, sure," Francis scoffed, Standing on the floor. "With 300 bolts loosening our tongues?" she turned back to Felicity and promised, "I'll be back soon. But at the moment, I need to have a word with my 'friend,' here."

As she climbed up to the ceiling, Rocky had a feeling Francis was irritated at Bluebeard, not because of being nearly caught and possibly electrocuted, but from something else. That's right. He's the guy that brought her to the sect in the first place.

"Hey, Skinny? You coming or what?" Bluebeard asked.

"Go on, Rocky," Felicity said. "I'll be fine here."

Standing and hugging the Russian Blue, Rocky followed Francis out of the sky window and onto the roof. They both looked back to see Felicity sitting in the middle of the floor, gazing up at the ceiling.

"I'll catch up to you and Bluebeard in a moment," Francis said as the two watched her return and sat down next to Felicity.

Francis' P.O.V.

"Why didn't you go? By the tone of your friend, it sounds important." She asked and I chuckled and said. "I'd rather not be present when Bluebeard starts drilling Rocky." We both chuckled for a moment and then it died down.

"What's it like?" I suddenly asked and she perked her ears and asked, "To be blind?"

"Yes." I answered quietly and she gave off a soft sigh and said, "Before the operations. Everything was so empty, and dark. All I saw was black back then. Like an endless sleep. The pictures in my head were my only small window to the world outside this darkness... They still are most days. What I wouldn't give, just to see something."

"Maybe you can," I said and she turned her head to me, her aqua eyes sparkling with interest, I think... She tilted her head and asked "Really? How? What can I see?"

"Well... we can start with me." I said and then I asked, "You remember the color white from your pictures? The color the people were wearing." Felicity was silent for a moment and then said "Yes, I think I have the idea of the color white now. And after the operation I got an idea of yellow and red," I smiled and then said "All right. Red is the color of my hair. Here feel it," I grabbed her hand to touch it. "Oh, it's a bit curly and it feels soft," she said as she continued to observe Francis through her hands.

Felicity was silent for a while and then she smiled and said, "I think I can imagine you now. Although, when you walk I hear a small jingle, do you have a collar on?"

"Yes. It has a heart-shaped charm on it. Here..." I moved my hand under my heart and guided it around to make the shape of a heart in the air. I smiled even more and said, "That's the shape of a heart."

"And your eyes and fur?" She asked, her voice becoming happier with each word. I thought for a moment and wondered how I was going to explain this color. Then it hit me.

"In your pictures. Did you ever see yourself? Your eyes and fur I mean?" Felicity was quiet again and then she nodded and said, "Yes, I think I caught a glimpse of my tail and paws. And my eyes at one point. They are a strange color though."

"It's the color blue. My eyes are green. And my fur is similar to yours but grayer. I have a lighter shade from my nose to my belly," I said and Felicity smiled and said "I now have another picture in my mind. One of a beautiful girl, named Francis. With a remarkable singing voice." We both smiled and I was really happy. I had found myself another friend. And hopefully, one that won't be running from cults or chasing dead cats."

"Franky," Rocky called as he stuck his head through the window. I looked up and then he informed "Come on. Bluebeard is taking us to meet the leader so they won't off us." I nodded and then said "All right. I'm coming." I leaped from the window ledge and then said to Felicity "I'll be back later. All right? Then we can work on making you more pictures."

"All right," Felicity said in a sad but elated tone. Maybe it was because I was leaving, or she would have to wait to see more of this world.

I leaped up onto the dresser and then out the skylight. Out there, Francis and Bluebeard were waiting on the edge of the roof for me. I gave them a nod and then looked back into the room. Felicity walked slowly under the skylight and looked up at me. And I could swear, for a moment, she could see me.

But I turned away from the skylight and followed the two toms away from Felicity.

Third P.o.v.

"I hope we're doing the right thing, leaving her here alone." Francis sighed.

Rocky nodded in agreement, glancing back at the roof as he followed Francis and Bluebeard back to the house. "So, you care to explain what the hell is going on in my workplace?" she glared at the old Maine.

"Like I said the church of Claudandus has been using this attic for mass before your family even bought it. And before you start jumping, the police are aware of it. Some of them even grew up in The Sect."

"Does my mother know about it? And why doesn't the sect establish a church somewhere else?"

"You'll have to ask the leader himself," Bluebeard deflected seeing Joker come up. "Speak of the devil."

"Aw, brother Bluebeard so good to see you and you brought the trespassers."

"Father these are some new friends of mine, they're helping me with a case. I apologize for the inconvenience earlier they're still adjusting to the neighborhood."

"I see. Then by all means welcome," Joker said, approaching them. "And who might you be, my child?" he asked Francis.

"Francis Brown, Monsieur," She said. "And the tabby behind me is my friend Rocky. He's sorry for earlier he didn't mean any harm, he tends to get curious."

Rocky nodded bowing his head respectfully to the larger and older cat. "I see." Joker nodded. "Sister Francis, Are you related to Agnus Brown by any chance?"

"She is my grandmother. Do you know her?"

The church head nodded. "I had the pleasure of meeting her when the building came into your family's possession."

"So, she is aware of your events in the attic and allows you to hold them here." He nodded in confirmation. "Is she a member?"

"No. Sister Agnes has made no plans to join our sect but has attended our gatherings on occasion. A shame."

"Don't take it to heart. She's not exactly what one would call a traditional catholic woman. She has more faith in hard work than words no matter how powerful."

"Indeed, I find that quite admirable about her despite not joining. Lucky for us two new faces appeared. Did you two enjoy the service this evening?"

In truth, Francis had been very frightened when the cats leaped into the electricity of their own free will. But she didn't want to appear impolite—not to mention she was afraid of what Joker would do to her and Rocky if she said no—so she nodded with a slight smile. "It was different."

"Your first time here?" He asked softly.

She nodded again. "I expect first-timers to be frightened. So were they, almost ceased our deal with them, luckily everything was shorted out."

"Father Joker if I may why do you have your congregation meet here surely there are better venues to hold your sermons."

"My you're an inquisitive one." he smiled "Very well, though my answer will have to be cut short. When the sect was still in the process of forming our meetings were first held in this building. It was here we established our first sanctuary," he explained. "Now we only gather here when a loss has occurred. As a tribute to our past before the prophet saved us."

"And the electricity?" she blurted as she quickly covered her mouth.

"A reminder to some, a challenge for others. Go home now. And may Brother Claudandus protect you from the murderer."

She bowed again before following Bluebeard. Once outside, she shuddered heavily, tail lashing. The one-eyed Manx laughed at her. "Ah, you'll get used to it green eyes. By the way your friend, Cocky, how much does he know?" he asked pointing to the tabby in question.

"Only what Felicity told us."

He grunted at her answer not happy having another kid tailing him on a case. "Well make sure to keep your trap shut this is a critical investigation. The last thing we need is a city-wide panic. Got it runt?"

"Yes Officer," Rocky answered giving Bluebeard a salute.

After confiding to Bluebeard about their chat with Felicity he called the prescient to send someone over to her. The sun was rising, and the sect was cleared out.
Aware of the time Francis proposed they all had some breakfast and a rest before they continued. Agreeing the two toms followed her inside the restaurant.

Chapter Text

At one table, all three cats were devouring the fish Francis cooked. Yet, Francis is still upset with Bluebeard.

"Funny, first you were against me getting involved. Then you start to accept my help. And then you go and withhold important evidence?"

(Didn't think it was that important.) replied Bluebeard, but his words came out muffled from the fish in his mouth.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Shit. The sect is harmless. A pastime! A cheap thrill or two to see who's chicken and who ain't. It's all bull shit anyway!"

"That's not what I'd called it right Rocky?" he nodded in agreement.

"The Sect has been going for fifty years. Heck, Joker was a kid when it started. Now he's teaching the gospel of Claudanus as its high priest. The peacock's attracted quite the following since then too. That's all."

"After that warm greeting he gave me, I guess that only applies to the neighborhood residents?" said Rocky.

"He has his moments. But I promise, the sect is harmless. No one knows who Claudandus was or if he even existed. Now, may I finish eating?"

"Yeah, yeah, eat. And then take me to this 'clever bastard' you mentioned."

The only response she got was happy chewing from the old man. "For a smartass, you can cook a mean fish!"

"I learned from the best. Hopefully, they aren't too worried about my absence."

"You did call them," Uttered Rocky.

"Oui, but you know my family, they worry, and with good reason. Still, I find it strange that Granny never mentioned the sect."

"Do you happen to know anything about that Captain?" asked Rocky.

"Great another smartass." he sighed. "No. I don't. Like Joker said she's not a member or a resident. She probably thinks it's bullshit too."

"You may have a point. Still what about the deal Joker mentioned?"

"Ask your granny. All I recall that day was Joker volunteering us to help with the repairs and as you can see only a few rooms were renovated."

"Hey yeah. Why is that Frankie?" Rocky asked. "I know you said your parents could only afford to pay for a few but why haven't the rest of your clan tried to fix the rest?"

Francis shrugged, "Never came up. Plus, it never presented a problem before, the path to the attic is usually closed off from customers." Then she had another thought.

"Bluebeard, what can you tell us about the church?"

"Not that different from other churches. There are picnics, weddings, funerals, and charity events. All that helping your fellow man spiel."

"Huh. If it wasn't for the electrical game of chicken one might assume it was a normal church."

"Exactly. Though, unlike numerous churches, the sect permits bums to use the temple as a rest stop."

"Some churches have done that."

"Year-round? And do they also allow prostitutes, immigrants, single parents, and other misfits, to join their congregation?" Bluebeard ranted leaving the two silent. "Didn't think so."

"I thought you said it was bullshit."

"The story of Claudius is BS. The other stuff well that's different sides it's nice to have a community that tolerates you."

"Even Kong?" Francis asked.

"Who's Kong?" Inquired Rocky.

"Remember the Herman twins?" he nodded remembering a brief encounter when he visited the eatery. "Well, a big Persian cat named Kong is their leader. Asses of a feather do stick together."

Bluebeard nodded, "True, however, Kong has been here his whole life so he knows how to behave. But if he or his cronies go too far no one would blame me for booking them. Heck even Joker gave me his blessings."

"That reminds me. Is there a genetic connection between Kong and Joker?"

Bluebeard nodded. "Yeah. Believe it or not, Joker is his grandfather."

"Really? Is Joker that old or is Kong younger than he looks?"

"Woah! I thought Priests weren't allowed to have sex." Rocky said.

"He wasn't back then. Joker became a father at fifteen. Then he became a grandfather when was thirty-three."

"I take it, Joker was also a married priest. Correct?"

"He's buried two wives. One from cancer and the other from a car crash."

"Two? He got re-married as a priest."

"Yeah, the clergy are free to decide if they wish to be married or not even after they become a clergy head."

"Even date?"

"Yup," he confirmed.

"Wow, I guess this church is different. What about nuns?"

"Again, it's a choice." he gets up to stretch. "Anyway, I'm going to sleep. We got a good two hours before my friend wakes up. I suggest you do the same, " he said, leaving the two alone.

"So, is there a place for me?" Asked Rocky.

Francis led Rocky to a bedroom on the second floor. There is a bed and a book self by the side each other and a window.

"I take it you've been here before," he asked her.

"I take my breaks in here sometimes. It needs a good cleaning now and then but it's cozy."

"So, is there a couch I can crash or..."

"Come lay down on the bed and rest Rocky. It's been a long day," she ordered him as she entered for him to sit.

"All right," he replied and lay down on the right side. "are you sure?"

"The bed is big enough for two. Plus, I'm going to read for a while before I go to bed."

"You still worried about that dream?"

"Yeah and after finding that laboratory I don't think they are going away any time soon," she admitted. seeing his concerned face, she added. "I'll be fine Rocky, you go ahead and sleep."

"Okay, but when that nightmare returns I'll make sure to wake you up. Deal?"

She smiles at his words. "Deal. Sweet dreams Rocky and Merci."

...

Later that morning, Bluebeard led Rocky and Francis out of the house to Rocky's car. Which was conveniently parked nearby. After much persuasion (yelling) Rocky reluctantly permitted Bluebeard to drive them in his car. "I looked up the name in the dictionary," the redheaded cat said. "And Claudius is Latin for, 'he who must or should be sealed.' 

"Interesting. What do you think it means?" asked the bootlegging violinist.

"Let me put the old thinking cap on," Bluebeard said sincerely.

"Oh, so you do think?"

"I think all the time. Surprising eh? I even wrote a book once," Bluebeard laughed.

"Wait a second are you D.B. Manx? Author of Nine Lives?" asked Francis.

Bluebeard nodded yes to confirm. "I take it you're a reader."

Francis nodded with a smile and sat back. "Well, you just keep on surprising me, Bluebeard," she said.

"If your real name is D.B. Manx why do you go by Bluebeard?" Rocky asked.

"Bluebeard is my last name. The name I use is an alias."

"Detective Bluebeard Manx. Correct?"

"Yup. Now let's move on. The house isn't too far off. Just a few blocks to go."

They arrived at a tall house that reminded Francis of a castle she saw on a trip she took with her parents. She saw movement in the window on the second floor but presumed it was the cat they were going to meet.

All three cats hopped out of the car and headed right for the door. Bluebeard spits flehm at the porch and marks it. "Bluebeard was here." He sighed, chuckling when Francis had an indifferent expression at the old man's crude habits. After a buzz, she and Rocky hurried in.

Inside, the house had what looked like a dentist's chair. On the wall opposite were two ancient-looking, sexual paintings. Francis hardly heard Rocky and Bluebeard discussing whether the owner of the house was an art collector or a pimp. She was uninterested in the paintings, but somehow couldn't look away.

"I think Franny's broken." Bluebeard laughed, snapping the redhead out of her spell. She shook herself and glanced away, cheeks red in embarrassment. She followed both toms upstairs into another room, with another large painting. This one was of an eerie-looking man with his hands clasped together at his stomach. The bottom of the painting was labeled, "G.J. Mendel."

Francis hummed in thought as he stared at the name. "Delighted to see you, my friends." An old voice said.

Turning around, the three cats saw an old Brown Havana typing on a strange device. Upon closer inspection, a light-brown stripe began from his head down his unclothed tail. "I do hope you enjoyed your tour of the house." He turned around and stood to greet them. He had a square jaw and small brown eyes. "Bluebeard so good to see you again."

"Same here, this know-it—this clever cat is Francis," Bluebeard introduced. "And this even cleverer brother is Pascal."

"Francis? Francis... Well, I'm delighted to meet you."

Rocky nudged Bluebeard with his shoulder, smirking. "Oh yeah, and this goofball is Rocky."

Pascal's ears perked up. "Oh, I see. Well, I'm delighted to meet you, Rocky. I think we'll all get along just fine. May I offer any of you something to eat?"

"Thanks, but we've eaten already," Francis said.

Rocky shook his head, smiling politely. "Ah, speak for yourself," Bluebeard muttered to Francis, and then said, "I think I can stomach a few more mouthfuls myself."

"Well, you know where the kitchen is," Pascal said. "You'll find some kidneys in a dish."

Licking his lips noisily, Bluebeard walked down the stairs. Francis rolled her eyes with a smile. His stomach is bigger than his eyes.

"If I may, I've never seen a typewriter like this before," Francis said as she and Pascal moved to the table. Rocky sat on the desk chair nearby, perking his ears up curiously at the bright screen. "It looks like a T.V."

"That's because it's not a simple typewriter," he proclaimed. "Can you two keep a secret?" they nodded. "Good. A former protege of mine has been working on a device that will change how we store and gather information. Observe," he used a shift key to make the screen all white. Then he started typing words, then deleting them, which impressed the young couple.

"That's amazing!"

"Rocky, that guy on the radio, they talked about making something like this." Francis reminded him.

"Correct, and this is one of his latest prototypes," Pastel confirmed.

"Incredible! I thought it would take years, but here it is."

"It is quite a marvel, but it's still in its birthing process. Any information I write stays in the device, making it difficult to share with others."

"And that implies..." Rocky asked.

"He can't print his writing on paper."

"Oh," Rocky said.

"And if the device shuts off while I'm still writing," he turns it off. "The progress I made will be lost."

"Interesting. So, what have you been doing with it?"

"I've been trying, in my own modest and feeble way, to use the device to track down the murderer lurking around the neighborhood." He turned it on and punched in a few letters. "Do either of you know the meaning of this word: Felidae?"

Rocky shook his head. "Could it be the technical name for us felines?" Francis tried.

"Felidae... evolution has created a large variety of different creatures. But not one deserves more respect and admiration than the genus Felidae." With a few more clicks of the keyboard and shift stick, a list of several cats popped up.

"Wow. What are these lists of?" Francis asked.

"Merely the residents of our home: names, ages, genders, races—that reminds me, I have yet to enter you and Rocky," Pascal said.

"How interesting."

"Indeed. While limited it has proven to be a time saver. And it could help us catch a murderer as well, perhaps."

Then Francis started to ask. "Did you know that all of the victims were—"

"Yes, Bluebeard mentioned earlier. They were all after a female in heat." Pascal interrupted.

Tilting an ear in thought, Rocky nudged Pascal, drew a paw across his neck, and gestured at the list. "I think he's saying to gather all of the dead profiles and see if they have a common feature." Francis translated.

Rocky nodded. "Hmm...simple enough." Pascal tapped the keyboard again. A new list appeared with five names, including Sasha and Deep Purple. "Well, apparently they weren't any special breeds of Felidae."

"But they had some things in common: males and European Shorthairs—"

"No, not all of them," Pascal shook his head. "I haven't entered the sixth victim yet."

"There's been another?" Rocky's eyes widened.

'Please don't tell me it's who I think it was!' Francis shook her head as the letters were typed in F-E-L-I-C-I-T-Y.

"Felicity?!" Francis cried, staring at the screen.

"Yes," Pascal sighed. "Felicity, I'm afraid."

"Pascal, no! That can't be true! I left her only a few hours ago!" Francis rushed out of the room and ran to the stairs.

Rocky followed after her, barely hearing Pascal say that someone had told him before he, Francis, and Bluebeard had arrived.

Francis ran by Bluebeard, who had just finished his second meal of the day. "What's your hurry?" He asked, not getting an answer. He grabbed Rocky's tail as he ran by, effectively stopping him in his tracks. "Where's de 'ire?" He mumbled.

"There's been a sixth murder," Pascal explained, coming into the kitchen. "Poor innocent Felicity. Francis is running back to find her." He turned to Rocky. "The informant told me it was too horrific to imagine. I think you better stay here, boy."

"No way. I'm in this besides I got the keys," Rocky explained as he rushed out the door. Before the two older cats could stop him.

Francis P.O.V.

As the sun began to climb over the clouds in the sky, I raced through the district running past my job, and then leaped up onto a tree. I weaved around the wooden branches and shot up onto a roof. My shoes scrabbled on the tiles as I ran up to the part where the sides connected and looked around. After fixing a map in my head, I leaped to the next roof and the next.

My legs burned, first from being chased and now this. I was tired and just wanted to sleep. Felicity couldn't be dead, she just couldn't be. But the facts were winding up in my head. The open skylight, and the information she knows. But, please... if there is a god, don't let her be dead.

I leaped up and landed on dark red shutters. Taking a second to catch my breath, I quietly made my way over to the opened skylight. Taking a deep breath, I leaned over the edge and peered inside. And that is when I saw the truth.

Felicity was sprawled out on the floor, her light blue fur matted with blood, her hair untied. Her legs parted to the side making it look like she was sleeping, but that wasn't the worst part. She was decapitated. Her head was ripped away from her body, lying in the opposite direction from where her body was facing. Blood still trickled out of her mouth, and her eyes... were wide open.

I closed my eyes, afraid I would never forget if I looked at her any longer. But it was too late. I will never forget this; thinking back to her cold dead eyes. Longing to see the world, no matter how close to death she was.

Third P.O.V

Rocky managed to catch up to Francis on the way to see Felicity however unlike her he had a bit of trouble getting across the roofs. Regardless he still arrived but all for naught as he saw his grey-blue friend kneeling by the open skylight.

"Please tell me it was someone that looked like her," he thought. He went to Francis's side to see what happened. As Francis noticed his arrival she threw herself at him crying softly in his arms. Confused Rocky gently patted her back with his left hand and caught a glimpse at the beastly scene committed.

"Oh no," he said quietly, bringing Francis closer to his body as they both mourned the loss of their friend. They remained unnoticed by investigators who saw the grieving couple up there when they arrived. But decided to wait till they stopped crying to have them questioned.

As Bluebeard left Pascal's house, Francis and Rocky returned from the scene. Rocky was forlorn but Francis was gloomier. Her eyes were wide, and her face was pale. "She's dead." She said numbly as they stood by a tree. Francis collapsed on her side, still staring blankly. Bluebeard sat in a tiny, nearby tree, and Rocky sat by the two, lowering his head in sadness. I should have followed my gut and stayed with her. I could have protected her.

"Pascal said the one who told him said it was horrid," Bluebeard finally said, breaking the silence.

"...It was the worst I've ever seen," Francis sighed. "She was laying in the middle of the floor...her head... was ripped from her body."

Rocky retched audibly at the thought. "And her eyes were wide open, as if even in the face of death, the thing she longed for, more than anything, was to see."

Francis brushed a tear from her eye, sniffling. "It's sad, but life goes on," Bluebeard said in a surprisingly solemn tone.

"Did you read that cliché from that book you say you wrote?!" Francis snapped, sitting up.

Rocky jumped back from the blue shorthair's anger. "I was only trying to help. Could have been worse at least her family wasn't harmed," Bluebeard said.

"I swear that whoever murdered Felicity is going to pay!" Francis growled. Then, she shouted to the sky, "Do you hear me, you bastard?! You're going to pay!"

"We'll get you, shit-head!" Bluebeard joined in.

"YEAH!" Rocky simply hissed loudly and angrily.

"I don't care what Pascal thinks," Francis continued. "Felicity was killed because she knew too much." She began walking down by side the stone wall, muttering to herself.

"I'm sorry, kid," Bluebeard said to Rocky. "I didn't know her well, but I assume you did?"

Rocky shrugged, still pondering. Does this mean the murderers decided to target women as well? What did poor Felicity do to have to suffer such a cruel fate? Had she refused something that the murderer wanted to do? Or is Francis right in that she knew too much about the killings? Who could be next? he shuddered at the thought as he eyed Francis in concern.

"Don't worry," Bluebeard stood up. "I'm not going to let that shit-head get near green eyes, okay."

Rocky smiled in appreciation, feeling a bit better that she had friends who would protect her when he and Freckle weren't around. He shook Bluebeard's hand and both followed Francis down the wall.

After a while Bluebeard was the one to take their statements, unfortunately, he had to report back in person leaving the couple to themselves. After a moment of silence, Rocky spoke. "You want me to take you home?"

"No thanks, Rocky."

"Fran, what happened wasn't your fault. Like you said she knew too much," Rocky said. "Maybe your family can help."

"Rocky after today I think I'd be more comfortable at the restaurant," Francis said as she reached the front door.

"What? But Frankie this is where the first body was found not to mention the sect. Do you honestly think it's safe now?"

"Aren't you supposed to be getting booze somewhere?" She asked as she began to dial the hallway phone. Silent the eccentric tom zipped his head around looking for another phone. "there's one in the office," Francis informed. "thanks." Rocky rushed out leaving her alone. 

After Francis explained to her mother she headed to the room she and Rocky shared the night they last saw Felicity. She removed her bra, and pants before she lay down on the bed. Using her coat as a blanket she laid down on her side reflecting on today's events.

"Okay! I just talked to Ivy and told her everything that's happened." Said Rocky as he entered the room and sat on the left side of the bed. "Everything at Lackadaisy is fine, after I left a nice old man came by willing to donate his alcohol reserves due to his health." He said as he removed his shoes. "Ivy sounded worried when I told her what happened I kept telling her you're okay but you should probably give her a call later just to..." he stops as he sees her back still facing him.

Concerned Rocky decided to sleep somewhere else to give Francis some space. But before he could he was pulled back by a teary-eyed Francis. With glossy eyes, she quietly begged him to stay by her side. Rocky never being one to turn her down returned and the two of them held each other on the bed using their jackets as blankets. Oblivious to the fact that Francis has no pants. Regardless sleep had quickly come to claim the sad and worried cats unaware that the horrors were going to keep escalating.

~Francis is floating around in a blue and grey haze with only her fur for protection, not caring about what will happen to her. She started hearing violin music soon she saw the notes appear and decided to follow it down. The further she went the sadder the melody but she liked it so she continued onward. Finally, she reached the end and was floating in front of a tom. She couldn't make out the figure's face, so she reached her hand out and was met with a reassuring hug. "the circus always makes everyone smile." The figure said as new musical notes engulfed the two cats bringing them closer and closer until they embraced each other in a way that made her forget her troubles and embrace the here and now. ~

Later that evening, unable to sleep from something moving, Rocky opened his eyes to find he was on top of someone. A woman and not just any woman, Francis whose legs he was between. Carefully Rocky stepped out of the room he and Francis shared and began walking. He had no idea where he was going; he simply stared at the ground, watching one shoe step in front of the other on the sidewalk, and eventually by the stone wall.

He paused when he realized someone was following him. His ears tilted back, but he heard no one. He sniffed at the air, finding the scent of an unfamiliar cat behind him. Oh no! Is this the murderer? he slowly walked further down the wall, listening cautiously. Behind him, he heard slow footsteps. With a hiss, he jumped and spun in midair, turning himself around.

"Hush! I mean no harm!" The female exclaimed.

Rocky blinked in surprise. The creature tailing him was indeed a lady but was unlike one he had ever seen. She had a slender build with a bushy tail, a thin face, and gorgeous yellow fur that almost looked golden in the dim light of nearby light poles. She had narrow golden eyes, Voluminous lashes, a darker yellow stripe that led from her nose down to the tip of her tail, a lighter belly, and tufted ear tips.

Rocky backed a step away, curling his lips back in a smile to reveal his sharp teeth, and pinning his ears back. "Be still! I am not the murderer you seek," She said, sitting down.

Rocky also slowly sat down, though he kept a skeptical eye on the tom. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you my name at the moment, but would your name happen to be Francis?"

Rocky perked his ears up in surprise, nodding. "I've come to warn you: cease this meaningless mission of finding the murderer," The woman said. "Or you may find yourself between a rock and a hard place."

Rocky furrowed his eyebrows, lashing his tail back and forth. "This isn't a warning of hostility, but to ensure that more innocent lives aren't taken... or else, not so innocent. You be the judge." She walked away and disappeared into the bushes.

What on earth? That was certainly an odd character. She didn't seem very concerned about my or anyone else's safety. And what did she mean by 'not so innocent'?

Feeling a little shaken about the encounter, Rocky continued on his midnight walk, though his mind played back the encounter with the strange tom. What sort of breed was she though? She didn't look like any feline I've ever seen. She looked more exotic and... wild.

Rocky ventured on his nightly walk, finding himself at Francis's house again. His feet took him inside, pausing at the staircase. He saw Francis exit the bedroom to the left of the staircase. He trotted up to her, waving his hand in greeting. "Oh, good evening, Rocky." he nodded still unsure how to bring up their hug. "Couldn't sleep?"

He shook his head. "Me neither. I just woke up from a horrific nightmare."

He sat down and cocked his head in curiosity. "Was it the same one you had before?" she shook her head no. "what happened in this one?"

"It started as a nice dream but the next thing I know I was in a field. It was made of dead cats, as far as the eye could see." Francis began explaining, sitting next to him. "Then, a giant man rose out of the field, raving about Felidae being the answer to the puzzle, hybrid plant experiments, and some things Pascal said. I'm sure I recognize the man... well, never mind. It was a simple nightmare." She stood up and nudged open a door that was across the bedroom she had just exited. "Whenever my mind is full and racing, I usually go hunting to calm the nerves. Care to join me?"

Rocky nodded with a smile and followed the girl down to the basement. It was a room full of old furniture, papers, and random junk. In a small clearing, illuminated by lightning through a small window near the ceiling, were about half a dozen rats, grooming themselves and chewing on random pieces of garbage.

Francis slowly circled the group, while Rocky snuck in straight on. Then, they pounced. Squeaking, the rats ran for cover. One climbed up a stack of books and onto a table. Rocky and Francis ran after it. Francis bumped a strange box, causing a small television to come alive. Rocky skidded to a stop and looked at it curiously. As Francis caught and released the rat on the floor, he twisted a knob on the box, eliminating the fuzziness some. "...funding for a year." An elderly voice said as a scene of a laboratory appeared on the television screen. The date in the upper right corner said Jan 24th,19XX.

"This lab is my dream. PharmarOx has spared no expense. My assistants are Zeibold and Grey." Two young men appeared on the screen, wearing doctor smocks, facial masks, and latex gloves. One had white skin and red hair, while the other had darker skin and black hair. But no sign of fur they must be sphinx'. The red-head was adjusting some knobs on a machine, while the darker-skinned man held a test tube of butter-colored, steaming solution.

An elderly man in a lab coat set a dark gray cat on a table and petted its back, seemingly calming it. "I know that my tissue bonding adhesive will revolutionize medical science." The elderly man rolled the cat onto its side and pinned it to the table with metal rings, similar to large handcuffs. As it struggled and screeched, the redhead took out a scalpel and made a small incision in the back of the cat's head. The black man took out some of the solutions with a dropper and put a drop on the wound on the cat's head. It immediately began bubbling, making the wound bigger, and the cat writhed in pain before slowly dying.

"The first experiment has failed," The elderly man said. "Instead of bonding the edges of the wound together, the mixture edged its way through the skull and into the brain. I can only conclude that the solution needs to be diluted further." The man drank from an alcoholic bottle, sighing.

The video cut forward to Apr 25th, 19XX. Two cats were pinned to the table this time. A patch of fur was removed from the back of one of the cats' heads, the skin was sliced, and the mixture was dripped on. Again, the skull was melted away, and the brain was exposed. As the cat died, the elderly man drank again, groaning, "It simply defies logic!"

The video cut to a day later, showing the redhead setting a young, familiar-looking Havana Brown cat on the floor. "This morning, a strapping young stray found its way to the lab." The elderly man said as the cat explored the room very curiously. "We have decided to make him our mascot."

The video cut again to the first of May in the same year. "So many experiments gone wrong," The elderly man sighed as the Havana Brown was strapped to the table, like the other cats before him. "Now we only have our nameless mascot as a test subject."

The cat's shoulder was sliced, and the solution dripped on. Expecting another failure, the elderly man grabbed his bottle, went to take a sip, and dropped it in shock. "A miracle! I applied the mixture, and the wound healed perfectly!"

The man took the groggy cat to a cage, saying proudly, "This young stray has proven to be an invaluable service to science." He shut the door and hung up a wooden sign. "I have named him Claudandus," Sophia and Francis's ears perked up in surprise. "And he will go down in medical his—"

The video suddenly cut ahead to Jun 19th, 19XX. Claudandus was lying on a table, being injected with anesthesia. "We had to dissect Claudandus," The elderly man sighed. "Something in his genetic makeup enables him to absorb the healing mixture without any side effects, unlike the other subjects. He must be a mutant."

Rocky cringed downward as they drilled into his head and slit his belly open. Francis patted his back as the video, now saying Aug 28th, 19xx, showed the elderly man shaking a bottle while drunkenly slurring that their funding had been cut. "But I am Professor Preterius! A shortage of test subjects? No problem."

Now it was the eleventh of October, and Zeibold had left the laboratory. Pretorius let him leave, saying he would continue on his own. "Sacrifices must be made!"

Now the twentieth of November, Preterius said that thanks to his breeding program, and Claudandus, he had kittens to experiment on. He banged on Claudandus's cage, shouting about a new super race of cats.

The next clip had no date and showed the front of Claudandus's cage. "Yes, Claudandus talked to me!" He giggled, almost sounding drunk. "How fascinating! The animal... has no sense of humor."

Out of the shadows of the cage appeared the angry face of Claudandus, now older.

The video became too gray and fuzzy to be able to make out anything, though both cats could hear Preterius talking about letting Claudandus out of his cage and accepting a fight challenge. Francis twisted the knob on the VCR, but the video quality wouldn't change. "I think that's it," Francis said. "There's no more. And quite frankly... I don't wish to see anymore."

Rocky nodded in agreement, pressing the stop button on the box. No wonder the sect worships Claudandus. To have survived those tortures for that long... I couldn't imagine. But why does he look so familiar?

Suddenly, the peace was shattered when a familiar yell sounded. Whipping around, Rocky and Francis saw Kong jump down through the window and onto the floor. Crushing the rat Francis had caught and left, he snarled, "I did say that you and I would have a chat in the not-too-distant future, didn't I?"

"I would love to have a chat, but I have more important things to do," Francis said politely, jumping down to the floor and circling away from Kong.

"Well, you're going to have to squeeze me in." The larger cat said.

"Kong, don't you think we should talk about more important things at least?"

"Sure, sure," He nodded. "I'm listening."

"I need your help," Rocky drew his head back in surprise, though neither cat noticed. "To find the crazy bastard who's killing all of our neighbors."

"You're looking right at him," Kong said.

"What?!"

"You?!" Francis echoed Rocky's surprise. "But Kong, why you?"

"Why me? Well, like you, they didn't show me respect."

Rocky glanced at Francis as she shook her head. Francis didn't like Kong, but she didn't believe that he would kill anyone. "There's no denying you're a tough guy, but I'm not convinced the blood is on your paws."

"Well then, let's see if I can convince you." Kong laughed.

Behind Rocky and Francis were two Snickers. Glancing back, they saw the Hermans standing on a tall stack of books and junk. "Three against two?" Francis frowned. "Is this fair?"

"Fair? Aw, hell no." Even Kong shook his head, though he didn't do anything to call the Hermans off.

Dodging the larger cat, Francis, and Rocky scurried up another stack of books and through a bookshelf, only to find the window was boarded up. Turning around, they saw they were cornered. "Leave her to me," Kong snarled. "You two can have the ugly runt."

When the twins leaped, he and Francis jumped away as well, slicing both cats as they went. When they landed, Kong grabbed Rocky by the scruff and began shaking him about before they could move. Growling, Francis leaped onto Kong's back and sunk her claws and teeth into the large hump. "Let go of my friend, you big brute!"

Then out of nowhere, gunshots were fired as the door busted open. "Police! Hands Up!" shouted a male voice. Causing the fighting cats to stop putting their hands up.

While Kong was distracted, Francis sliced Kong's lip, making him drop the smaller tom and yell in pain. As he leaped away, Rocky grabbed Francis' hand and ran for the door, though not before kicking some dust in his face. "Little bitch!" Kong screamed. "Get back here!"

Francis and Rocky managed to leap out the door and take off, with the mysterious gunman following. Even though it was raining heavily. "Excellent timing cousin you nailed that act," Rocky said to the man revealed to be Freckle.

"When Ivy told me, I had to come down and check if you two were okay. looks like I was right to do so." He fired warning shots at the perpetrators. "Care to tell me who those guys are?"

"Jerks. Bullies. Shoot them as much as you want just don't kill them," Francis explained while running.

They ran out of the yard, only to find Kong and the Hermans climbing over the fence after them. They ran through yards and over small buildings, even falling into a fountain once.

As they slowed to a stop, panting, Rocky could smell something. Something that smelled like copper and death. And it was right under their feet.

Freckle gasped in horror at what he saw and muttered in an Irish tone. "Mother of God!"

Rocky mirrored his cousin's horror as he shouted "Oh, no! Not this!"

Francis looked down as well; at the cats' feet was a dead she-cat laying on her side, eyes wide open. Only this time was worse: her belly had been sliced open, and several underdeveloped kittens lay by her in the grass and blood.

A loud, horrified scream sounded into the stormy night.

Chapter Text

Francis's Pov
I don't know how loud I was screaming or when I stopped. All I knew was I was wet, tired, and horrified with a sore throat. Those poor babies never had a chance.

"My god..." Rocky whispered as he stared at the horror in front of him. I couldn't say anything. My fur slowly raised and bristled. The unknown mother's blue eyes stared off into nothing and her mouth lay open like she was gasping for breath. I slowly backed away from the body, feeling myself start to shake. Freckle hadn't said a word either just starting at the body trying to keep it all in.

"Looks like they ran out of steam. That's what happens to you if you eat too much junk food." Kong growled as he reached the top of the wall and looked down at us.

I panted for breath and turned around and said, "Yeah I'm out of breath. And I'm not the only one!"

Kong leaped down growling and Francis moved to the side. Kong asked, "What bullshit are you talking about now?" Kong looked past Francis and gasped, "Solitaire!"

Kong rushed forward and pushed Francis aside. "Oh, Solitaire! What has happened to you? What the hell has that evil bastard done?!" He called to the dead female. He then called out, "Oh my lovey Solitaire..."

Francis moved back to talk to the Herman twins while Rocky and Freckle backed up near a bush. If Kong was wailing about Solitaire like this, then maybe that was his spouse and his kits...

But somehow I doubt that. I thought to myself. "Who was she?"

"Solitaire was the boss's favorite girl. Odds are that's his family you see," the female twin answered sadly.

Everyone stayed quiet aside from Kong's wailing. I didn't know what to say a minute ago Kong was trying to kill us now he's crying over one of his 'girlfriends' it's unreal. Did he love her? I guess even a thug like Kong has a heart.

No Pov

"Who? WHO? Dammit!" Kong ranted and looked at the trio. "You... No, you were not there. The time was too short..." he concluded. "But who then? Who?!" he wails.

Then a police car came up and they were about to scatter when Francis saw a familiar face. "Bluebeard!" she yelled as she rushed to the old man. "What the hell is going on here?"

"...Slit belly...kits...innocent kits...blood...so much blood..." Francis panted still shaken from the scene.

"Francis, snap out of it!" Bluebeard exclaimed, pushing her shoulders with his paws so she was sitting. "What happened?"

"Rocky and I were exploring and found a strange film. About a mad scientist and Claudius."

"He's real."

"Yes but never mind that. Kong and the Hermans came in and chased us out. Freckle came to help us, but as we got to the garden..." she took a breath. "There was a dead female cat. Oh, it was worse than the last ones. Even Felicity's death."

"How so?"

She sniffled, wiping the still-fresh tearstains from her cheeks with her paw. "She was with kits. Her belly was slit open, and the kits... they lay in the grass. They weren't ready to be born.... they were far from ready." She covered her eyes with her paws. "What did they do to deserve this cruel fate?" She sobbed, the picture of the dead female cat and her kittens flashing in her mind.

"Now it's kittens?! Ones that didn't need to die?!" Bluebeard snarled. What could be gained from this?

"You're right, those kits didn't need to die." He looked down at Francis, who was still crying. Other than her smart-aleck tones, Bluebeard had never heard her voice weakened before.

"I'm going to radio in. Damn it! With the rain we might not have any evidence," he groaned as he grabbed the radio. "You going to be okay kid? I can take you home."

Francis nodded and said, "I'll be fine I just need to process," with that said she went to talk to her friends to see how they were doing. Like her, they claimed they were going to be fine but right now they weren't all right with what happened.

Francis' p.o.v.

"It's funny I wanted him to leave us alone but I didn't expect this," Rocky said in a guilty tone.

Not used to seeing Rocky look so serious I place a hand on his shoulder, "Rocky this was a murder, not a wish gone bad. You had nothing to do with this?" I assured him still shaken at what I had seen.

Then a sudden shift in the shadows next to us made me look to my right. I saw old weary yellow eyes. We moved closer as we saw the faint-out light of a cat hidden in the shadows. He flinched at my gaze and backed up in the bush. He seemed to cower and then he said, "Please. I did not mean any harm. I have broken the sacred rule and visited the land of the day during the night. Please do not harm the Guardian of the Dead."

"Hey, no one is going to hurt you," I said softly and then I looked out to see Kong rounding on the others babbling about how he was going to murder the murderer.

Rocky whispered, "Uh, Franny, what if he..." he pointed to Solitare. I considered Rocky's thought and when I looked back at the cat hidden in the shadows, I doubted he was a murderer. He was too scared, even by me and he was nearly twice my size just by looking at his faint shape.

"You got to get out of here. If Kong sees you, he will turn you inside out!" I whispered and walked away from him. The cat didn't say much to me; he just muttered some kind of prayer of thanks and then bolted out of the bush. But to my horror Kong whirled around and saw him just as he made cover for the tree.

"You're going to die!" Kong yelled and in a frantic the old cat looked at us and leaped up the wall. Kong went past us to case him along with the Herman twins.
"Kong wait!" Rocky and I followed them hoping to prevent another murder.

I tried to implore Kong to wait so Bluebeard could question the old cat. We were right behind him as we landed in an old yard littered with various items. Including an old bathtub that was flipped over. No sign of the old man.

"Damn it all to hell!" Kong shouted frustrated that he lost his target. "You runts! Any idea where the coward disappeared to, smartass?" he asked us rudely.

"With this lousy weather, I can't tell which direction home is," I replied. "Kong listen we need to bring him in for question-"

"He's further, Boss," said Herman.

"But only three gardens remain and then it's the end of the line. Then we'll grab him!" said the second Herman.

"Yeah, yeah!" Kong nodded. "Yeah! Let's go!" Ignoring my plead they continued with their chase. I signed frustrated not with Kong's stupidity but with everything.

This whole case was awful from the start and tonight was the worst yet. "I'm done I should have minded my business when I found that body."

"Franny," Rocky said trying to comfort her.

"I'm not a cop, I should have just left when I had the chance."

"Why didn't you?" asked Rocky.

"I don't know, or I can't explain. At first, it was cause my job was affected, and then Felicity... Oh, poor Felicity." I couldn't stop then, "Now... I've had enough of this nightmare!" I yelled as Rocky patted my back. "Not that it matters if I stay, all my theories about the murders are destroyed. What would the killer gain by killing a pregnant woman?!"

"Wasn't there a serial killer that did a similar method? Jack the stripper?"

"Ripper. Jack's victims were mostly women of the night so that theory is flimsy," I noted and he smiled at me happy to see me correcting him. The moment was cut short as we saw the old grey cat appear out from the tub and leave to a hidden passage.

Third P.o.v.

"Curious, and curiouser. It seems we've found the rabbit's hole to a land of wonder!" Rocky claimed. "Come on if he did see something we got to take him to Bluebeard before Kong gets a hold of him."

Francis nodded and observed him moving to the hidden cavern. Rocky went first to see if there was anything dangerous but as he moved forward. "Woah!" he yelled as he disappeared downward.

"Rocky?!" Francis jumped from the wall and ran to where she heard him fall, finding a hole.

She looked down the hole and sniffed. She could smell his scent and an older, sicklier scent of the other tom. Does he live down here?

She gasped when she felt something crash into her from behind, causing both of them to somersault down the tunnel. Francis fell flat on her front, and Bluebeard laid halfway down her back with Freckle at the back.

"Freckle!" Rocky exclaimed. "I was wondering when you'd show up. And you as well, Bluebeard."

The one-eyed Manx pushed himself up, grumbling, "I'm gettin' too old for slides." He pulled Francis to her feet as well.

"Not so loud!" Francis shushed before turning around and walking deeper into the tunnel.

"Not so loud?' What difference does it make?" Bluebeard asked as he and Freckle followed the couple. "Kong's wailing like a banshee already. Properly met Freckle, saw poor Solitaire, called an ambulance and we followed you down here! Where are we anyway?"

"No idea," Francis shrugged. As they looked around the place.

Bluebeard glanced at Freckle, who had been silent during the whole exchange. "Why so quiet?" He whispered.

"I guess I'm still processing what I saw." He whispered back. "I've seen some bad stuff but nothing like that," Freckle said recalling the times he's had to defend himself and Rocky.

"In my field, you get used to it. Accustomed, not comfortable. A good cop always feels shitty when it happens. Understand?" The young orange cat nodded making the Manx relax.

Francis gasped, pausing along with Rocky. Freckle and Bluebeard looked as well and saw bare cat skeletons on the walls, and skulls in the ceiling. "Catacombs."

"If that's a joke," Bluebeard snorted.

"Shh," Rocky shushed, smiling. Francis simply rolled her eyes at the two cats and continued towards a light. "This reminds me of the ones in Paris," she noted. "But with more bodies."

They came into a large room with a pedestal in the middle, and moonlight shining down through a small hole in the ceiling. All around the walls were hundreds upon hundreds of bodies, each in different stages of decay. Some of them were even dried, bleached-white skeletons.

"Get an eyeful of that!" Bluebeard exclaimed. "A mass grave! Whatta ya make of it?"

Francis sniffed at the air and wrinkled her nose. "You smell that?"

Bluebeard and Freckle sniffed as well. "Yeah," He curled his lip as Freckle pinched his nose. "Disgusting!"

"The stench of decay. Kong was right, the old cat is the killer." Rocky said.

"Except Sascha wasn't found here," Bluebeard pointed out. "Or Deep Purple. Or Felicity." Recalling that the state has them.

Freckle was staring at what appeared to be a fresh body. It still had its fur and flesh, and it seemed to be almost breathing. Francis sniffed at it, recognizing the old, sickly scent she smelled at the mouth of the tunnel.

Both he and Francis jumped at a noise behind them. Looking back, they saw Rocky had accidentally knocked a skeleton to the ground. He looked up at them almost sheepishly, Bluebeard was annoyed. Suddenly both toms bared their teeth, growling.

Looking back ahead, Francis and Freckle came nose-to-nose with the older cat, who was alive and well. Freckle scrambled back with a small shriek of fright. Bluebeard stood in front of the group hissing and holding his gun.

"Do not attack the guardian of the dead!" The old cat pleaded, raising his hands as if to shield himself. "Although, the guardian has sinned in breaking the holy rule. He knows that he must pay dearly." He crouched down in submission.

"Do you always talk like this before you go for someone's throat?!" Bluebeard snapped, approaching the cat and poking him. "What's your name, 'friend'?"

Francis scowled at Bluebeard before standing in front of the old cat, smiling kindly. Getting a better look, he was a gray Persian with small ears and sad yellow eyes. His tail and left arm were bare, and he looked very thin.

"My name is Jesaja," He answered in his sad voice.

"Is this your doing?" Bluebeard asked. "Did you have these cats killed, and dragged them down here?"

"Oh, no, stranger," Jesaja shook his head. "It was not me. The dead come down here to me, sent by the Prophet." He walked by the group to the skeleton Rocky had knocked over.

"A real nutcase, if you ask me," Bluebeard whispered to them.

"Hush!" Francis said out loud. "Let him speak," She turned to the older cat. "Do tell us, where do you come from, Jesaja?" And how this eiry place came to be."

Jesaja gathered the skull and bones of the skeleton. "Well, dear sister, there once was a suffering dreamland. I was born there, along with many others. It was a place of great sorrow until the Prophet came upon us and brought with him salvation," He replaced the skeleton as he continued to speak. "God heard the pleading prayers of the Prophet. And when the day exploded into light, the dreamland was destroyed, and all who were tormented fled away."

"What happened to the Prophet?" Francis asked.

"He was taken into heaven," Jesaja answered. "Father Joker told me this."

"Joker?" Francis, Bluebeard, and Rocky glanced at each other in surprise. "The leader of the Claudandus sect?"

"This temple had been his home, even before he rescued me and took me in as his own. We were brothers," Jesaja slowly walked to the light-covered pedestal. "But then one day, Father Joker had to leave to spread the Prophet's message to others."

"Did Joker have this grave when he took you in?" Francis asked, walking to the small pit the pedestal stood in.

"No. When Father Joker and I lived here together, it wasn't like how you see it now. However, one day, after Father Joker had left, I heard mysterious, frightening sounds in the tunnel. I went to investigate, and to my horror, I found a dead sister." He climbed to the top of the pedestal, bathing in the moonlight. "And all at once, the Lord spoke to me."

"And what did he say?" Francis asked politely. She wondered whether the Lord had indeed spoken to him, but she wanted to learn his side of the story, as she was sure the others did as well.

"He said that I had been chosen to be the guardian of the dead. That I was to keep the lost souls of our brothers and sisters down here and to never again return to the outside world."

"So you're some kind of underground mortician," Rocky said as Freckle nudged him.

"You have been by yourself all these years?" The female asked.

Jesaja nodded, "I did have a wife and a child. They were there when the prophet spoke to me."

"What happened to them?"

"Like Joker they too had to leave me. My bride had fallen ill, our son was grown by then and moved them to the surface. I haven't spoken to them in years, since only I couldn't leave. Now all has changed. I have not heard the Prophet's voice in so long, nor has he brought the dead down here. I have been... forgotten." He sighed.

"So, that's why you surfaced tonight?" Francis asked. "To find new bodies to take to their final resting places?"

Jesaja simply glanced at Francis and nodded.

"Could you tell me something about the victims? I mean, were they... did they smell sexually-excited, when you found them?" Francis asked.

"That was often the case, my friend," He nodded. "But others... others had been mutilated."

"And were there any... who were pregnant?" Francis asked uneasily.

"In the beginning no. But as the years went... oh yes... many." Jesaja sniffed.

Francis climbed up the pedestal to join him, and laid a hand on his, ears tilted in sadness and sympathy. "You are a kind individual, dear sister," He said. "You and our brothers. But I'm afraid it is time for you to leave. I do hope nothing happens to any of you."

"And I you, Jesaja," Francis answered. "I hope that someday, this whole nightmare will end."

"Sooner than you think," said Bluebeard. "Jesaja, I need to bring you in."

"What?! Oh please no I promise never to leave again!"

"Sorry pal, this isn't something I can ignore. You break the law you need to answer for it."

"But Bluebeard he's not the murderer," Freckle said.

"No, but he is guilty of evidence tampering, and aiding in criminal activity just to name a few," stated Bluebeard and then sighed. "Look Jesaja I know you're innocent. Plus you seem like a decent guy but this isn't healthy. You need to come with me for questioning, and a nurse."

"He might be right Jesaja you've said it yourself your wife was sick and had to leave," Francis said.

"But the prophet... What if I anger him more? He'll punish me and my loved ones might be affected?"

"We won't let that happen. We'll come with you to the station," Francis offered.

"I got a squad of police and medics on the scene already we can go to the hospital first," Bluebeard said. "I can even arrange it so your family can see you."

At the Manx words, Jesaja nodded scared for what was to come but excited to see his family again.

As the group plus Jesaja, surfaced from the catacombs they made their way to the scene of Solitare's murder. Though some were shocked to see an ambulance.

"What's with the medics?"

"Bluebeard I know you said Jesaja needs an exam but this is too much, did someone else get hurt?"

"Wasn't for him," he said and the young cats were confused. "Come on."

"Hey, I got a witness here and he needs medical attention," the responders lead the grey cat inside. Bluebeard said he'll be back to go with him. The Manx walks to the trio.

"You gonna tell them or should I," he asked Freckle who caught what the old Dectective referred to.

"Tell us what?" asked Rocky. Freckle cleared his throat, "After you two left Bluebeard went to get a closer look at the lady and... She... Uh..." he paused.

"She was breathing," Bluebeard added for the nervous teen who nodded in agreement.

The couple's eyes widened, "What?!" they said together. "How is that possible? She was cut open!" Francis stated.

"According to the medics, it was only her womb," Freckle answered. "It was freaky, when she moved I almost pissed myself." seeing the lack of response he coughed awkwardly. "She's at the hospital being treated."

"I don't know what to say. I'm glad she's alive but her stomach and her babies it's still too gruesome," said Francis.

"I know kid, but now we have two witnesses to help us nail the bastard, and they're under police custody," he added.

"Ivy went with her to help keep her company," Freckle added.

"Ms. Pepper was with you?" Rocky asked.

"She was tailing us by the car till we stopped. She saw that Solitaire was breathing," Freckle explained.

"Yeah you sure have a weird group of friends here kid," Bluebeard said to Francis as he went to ride with Jesaja to the hospital. "Lucky you got people looking out for you, especially this firecracker." he snickered making Freckle blush at the old man's words.

As the siren flared the ambulance started to head out. Leaving the three friends by themselves. "Should we follow them?" asked Rocky.

"Yes, though we should wait in the car," Francis said as she started walking to the car. "Why?" asked Rocky as he followed. "Hospitals are always crowded so it may take a while," she replied as she entered the vehicle.

At the hospital, Rocky dropped Freckle at the front so he could see Ivy and check on the witnesses. Now it was Rocky and Francis in the car alone waiting for Freckle to return with news. But the air was tense so Rocky not one for silence turned the radio on.

Buzz "We interrupt this station for a special news bulletin. This just in, two women have been found abandoned in front of a fertility clinic bleeding. The ladies were reported as missing. For months people were baffled by where they vanished now they found but had no memory of where they went or who they were with. More at seven." Buzz

"Looks like Solitare was the unlucky one huh?" Rocky asked as he saw Francis just staring out the window. "Franky, are you holding up okay?"

She turned and started sobbing, placing her head in her hands. "I don't know what to do. I hate this, I'm happy that Solitaire is alive but I can't get those babies out of my head!" she said, "How can anyone do that? They even didn't ask to be made."

"Weren't you the one that argued with Freckle about abortion rights?"

"Excuse me!" she said offended. "What are you talking about?" she asked the tabby holding his hands in defense.

"I mean you said that in certain circumstances a woman has a right to choose, preferably by a professional," he recalled, "Even if you don't like it."

"That's different Rocky. They get a choice in what they want done. I may not know Solitaire but I know she didn't want to be left for dead with an open stomach!" Francis explained. "I just wish I could understand why her babies were targeted?"

"Maybe they belong to the killer's lover," Rocky theorized. "Doubt it Solitare was Kong's girl those kits were..." she paused "Unless... Did she... Probably not... Though it is Kong so maybe..." during Francis's private conversation with herself. Rocky was about to interrupt her till she shouted, "I need to talk to her. Come on!" she dragged him out of the car and rushed them to the front desk.

They couldn't get in as visiting hours were closed and had to wait for the gang. Rocky and Francis went back to the car.

"So you mind telling me what brought on your burst of energy?" he asked hoping for a straight answer instead of being pulled out of the car.

"Rocky the kits, did you notice anything strange about them?"

"They looked like dead rats," he answered bluntly. "Not that. What you said earlier I think they weren't Kong's." Francis explained.

"How can you tell? They didn't even have separate toes." he said, "And wasn't she Kong's lover?"

"Solitaire may be one of his favorites but he probably isn't hers."

"Huh? Oh yeah, I guess if I was her I wouldn't be loyal to Kong either," he realized. "So what does that imply? Can't be him he was chasing us. Jesaja only hides and organizes the bodies. And we don't know if she was an escort so..."

"Think about it, Rocky what connects Kong and Jesaja? Or who?"

"Joker?"

"Correct! Think about it, Joker was there with Claudandus at the lab and he lived with Jesaja in the catacombs. Plus he's a religious fanatic they always tend to have darker intentions."

"That's why I agree with your granny about the known alcoholic priests they tend to be more honest," he added. "But why target his potential family?"

"I guess Joker thought she betrayed Kong and convinced himself the babies had no relation to him."

"I don't know Franky, Joker is nuts no doubt about that. It's just that this guy openly allows hookers and bums to join his sect."

"It's different when it's your own family especially when you have no clue about their lifestyle," she explained. "Anyway (yawns) I need to question Solitare. She's the only one who can solve this," she yawned again trying to stay awake.

"In the meantime what's say we take a nice long nap," he said as he brought her in his arms forcing her to lay down with her on top of him. "But I'm not sleepy, I need to be alert when they come back..." she protested then fell asleep. "Sweet dreams Francis," Rocky said as he kissed her forehead.

Chapter Text

A knock on the window woke the two friends from their nap. They turned to see it was Ivy Pepper herself in her normal attire. "Ivy why are you-"

"Freckle told me that Francis was here," she turns her attention to the green-eyed woman, "I'm glad to see you're alright," Ivy says to Francis who responds, "Is Solitaire alright? Has Bluebeard spoken to her yet?"

"She's fine, but he felt that you should talk to her?"

"Really?"

"He's busy with Jesaja and you're the only one that's followed the case," she explained. Francis nodded and followed her to visit the survivor in question.

As they got through the front desk, Francis was greeted by the sight of Solitare in bed with an IV hooked up to her. She opened her eyes and smiled at Francis. "Hey, I know you, you're the Brown girl, right?"

"How did you-"

"I saw one of your shows, and your granny helped me out once," she said.

"I see. Solitaire forgive me for being callous but can you tell me anything about what happened before we found you?" Francis asked not happy with her decorum with the injured woman. Though Solitaire didn't seem to mind she was saddened at the reminder. "I had just finished my shift.  Then I made my way to Kong's place since he was closer. It started raining so I went for a shortcut. Big mistake huh?" she said. "I felt a sharp pain in my neck and then nothing. I felt nothing."

"You weren't able to see what they looked like or their clothes?"

She shook her head, "I didn't even know my eyes were open till they told me. I wish I did so I could see the fucker that..." she paused trying to calm herself. "It was raining anyway I doubt they could find anything."

"Solitaire, do you have any idea why the killer was after you?"

"I don't know, wait you think I asked for this?" She accused defensively.

"No, Of course not! I merely want to know if this is related to the other murders."

"The others? But I'm not a horny tom or a lost one."

"True but neither was Felicity, she was a witness and..."

"I haven't seen anything sketchy, I'm a receptionist for a college dean. I don't even go out that much," she says.

"What about socially? A scorn suitor or an ex?"

"Don't pigeon hold me, I fool around but I'm not the only one so don't bother," she said.

"I'm not here to judge, I'm trying to understand why you or your... Children were targeted?" Francis said and Solitaire didn't know what to say she just turned her head. "I didn't want them in the first place. When I found out I went straight to the clinic and they said I was too far along. So adoption was the next best option."

"Did anyone else know?"

"The staff, and Father Joker. He said he could help me find a place for them," she replied.

Joker again, Francis thought. "So Kong had no idea? Or your lovers?"

"Nope. I didn't want to tell them. And tell cutie over there to stop judging me." She referred to Freckle who was uncomfortable. "Sorry, his mother's a devoted catholic, Freckle's just shy," I explained.

"Excuse noted and not needed. I'm not married and neither are my lovers okay. They saw others like I did, and knew about it."

"So no one ever got jealous, even Kong?"

"Kong likes to believe his girls are loyal to him but in reality, they are not. So he makes it hard for us to find more options," she said. Solitaire has as much love for Kong as Bluebeard. 'Maybe Kong hired someone to do it?'

"So the kits weren't his or anyone that was involved?"

"As a principal, I avoid married people. Too much baggage. As for Kong no idea, despite his best efforts he wasn't the only one I slept with when it might have happened."

"Can you give us their names?"

"Just one cat around that time," Soloitare says, "Tuck something, didn't talk much but he was remarkable. Golden fur, well-built, strange eyes, and phenomenal in bed," she said blissfully.

"Sounds like you're in love, where did you meet?" Francis asked since Tuck sounded familiar, "Did he say anything about his home life?"

"At a bar and no. Despite his exotic appearance, he was an average man. With an average job and kept to a schedule. Bastard decided to stop seeing me a month ago," She said annoyed by his shortcomings.

"Why?"

"He said he wanted a real relationship and that I wasn't the one. What a crock of shit!" She fumed but then her eyes widened. "Do you think he did this?"

"Or had someone else do it. Though I got to ask what about Claudandius? Did he ever come up?"

"The dead prophet? I don't know, we never spoke of religion, he did say he was a believer. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Probably nothing but thank you for telling me. If you ever need anything?"

"Don't. I can take care of myself," she declined.

"Regardless, I'm glad you're alright Solitare. I hope there are more survivors like you than victims like... the others," Francis said as she left the room with her friends as the doctor came to see Solitaire.

After the hospital, the group made their way back to their homes. Freckle and Ivy decided to head home leaving Rocky, Francis, and Bluebeard to walk the rest of the way which wasn't far. Francis couldn't stop thinking about Solitaire's statement, while helpful it's not much, since she was drugged. Still, some parts could be useful.

Bluebeard rambled on about home-cooked meals he wanted. Francis seemed to be thinking, but she kept on glancing back at Bluebeard with an annoyed look. "Cod?! Can't you think of anything besides food?" Francis asked, irritated, pausing and causing Bluebeard to bump into her, and Rocky into Bluebeard. "Can't you realize what this means? It's not seven murders we have to worry about, it's hundreds! They go back many years, probably starting after the closing of the laboratory." She glanced at Rocky, who nodded.

"The "suffering dreamland" Jesaja had been born in and escaped from must have been the laboratory, and the Prophet must have been Claudandus." Bluebeard paused and glared at Rocky. Francis glared back at him and said "Don't you see what we have found? We thought we were dealing with a crime syndicate like the bootleggers when in reality it's just a cult that showed up after a certain lab was shut down."

"No kidding..." Bluebeard grumbled and then Francis added, "This is serious Bluebeard. And when we were talking, you made an important observation down there."

"No kidding!" Bluebeard said smiling and then I asked "And when was that?"

"Back at the underground grave, Bluebeard," Francis said. "What you said made me think. Why weren't the last few bodies down there as well? Sascha, Deep Purple, Solitaire, or... or Felicity?" Francis asked Rocky was quiet for a moment and then she suggested "I'm going to head over to Pascal and ask him about it."

Bluebeard yawned and said, "Whatever we do can we do it quickly? I'm getting tired of this whole mess!" Francis rolled her eyes and changed her direction heading for Pascal's house. But was stopped.

"Franky maybe we should get some sleep it's been a long day... night," Rocky suggested. "He's got a point kid after a night like that sleep is not something to avoid," Bluebeard added. Outnumbered Francis had no choice but to call it a day and continued home.

I went to my room and took a nap hoping the dream state I had before might throw new light on the mystery.

~In the dreamscape~

I'm in a familiar place where there are clouds or a mist. I walk around and I see all the cats I've met and knew. I spot a yellow cat with blue eyes on a sphinx statue. "I've been searching for you," I said.

"Yes of course, clever Francis, I'm the prophet, I'm the human, I'm the beast and I'm also Felidae. Come with us Francis, all that has been, all there will be has no meaning anymore. Come with us, Francis."

"Come with us wherever you go you'll find something preferable to death."

"Come with us on our long wonderful journey," said Felidae as he leaped.

"What will we find when we arrive?"

"Everything that we've lost Francis?"

~Real-world~

By the time Francis woke up the sun had risen but then when she saw that Rocky was not in the room, she went to look for him. Her ear flicked at the sound of a strange noise almost like it was calling her name. She followed it and caught a whiff of an intoxicating aroma. Her sense was leading her upstairs in front of a door. Realizing where she was she shook her head trying to recollect herself but then she heard another noise and pressed her ear on the door.  Letting her Inquisitive nature get the best of her Francis slowly opened the door to see what was going on. Instead, she saw two people entangled in an amorous exchange on a bed. What's more incredible is that one of them is Rocky!

Chapter Text

Rocky's Pov

I was sleeping next to Francis when I heard a voice calling her name. Francis was asleep so I went to investigate. I closed the door and made my way to the noise it was coming from inside the house. As I got closer the voice was coming from an open door. As I went towards it I saw a familiar feline.

"Hello Francis, did you miss me?" she asked but I was too in shock. Not only did she appear out of nowhere but she was naked. "What are you? Why are you?"

"Shhh, relax and all will be revealed," she said as she moved me to the bed. I would have moved away but I was entranced something about her was... Was... Hard to resist. Her golden fur, full hips, and sultry walk made it harder for me to speak.

She pushed me onto the bed and started to get friendly. She rubbed herself on me and cooed. I didn't know what to do she smelled so nice. The way she felt was unreal and I was wearing clothes. The next thing I know I am giving it to her and she's calling my name. Well, Francis' name, who I hope won't kill me.

Just as I switched positions to be on top she became quiet. I opened my eyes and noticed her looking at the door smiling.

"I see we have company," she said as I turned my head and blanched. Right there in the doorway was Francis, green eyes wide with shock or quiet rage. Her pouty lips formed an o. Using a dress shirt as a nightgown.

"Hey, Franky I can explain," I tried to speak but I was ignored.

"Who are you?" she asked my mysterious lady friend. "Where did you come from?"

Now I was shocked, she just saw me getting involved, and now she's asking questions like it's no big deal. I guess those books she showed me and Freckle have made her used to it.

No P.O.V.

"Well Franky, I'm a friend of this gentleman here," she gestured to Rocky who was using a pillow to cover his excitement. "I assume you are a good friend as well," implied the fem fatal sensing the red-haired girl might be more than a friend.

"Please mademoiselle, explain yourself I'm tired of riddles," Francis said facepalming.

"I have just the remedy for that," the taller woman went to Francis and embraced her. Francis was about to move away from her but couldn't as she was intoxicated by her smell. "Why do you smell so good?"

"It's called instinct and something tells me you've been holding back yours for some time," she noted at the redheaded female. "I... Who are you?" Francis asked. "Call me Cleo," the mysterious female said as she moved Francis to the bed and had her lie down.

/warning! Poorly written sex scene ahead! don't like don't read: Skip!/

Francis' P.o.v.

I was still wearing my button shirt and underwear trying to keep my head straight but Cleo made it hard. She was very amorous, and she started kissing me leaving my mind blank. Her lips were so soft on my own. I haven't kissed anyone in a long time, I felt rusty.

Her hands started groping my covered breasts. "What lovely breasts you have, modest yet ample, I bet you enjoy touching them," Cleo said making me blush. 'I know my body is lovely but I never allow strangers to get this far without a date so why?' Cleo continued her journey while kissing me and as she got lower. I forgot that Rocky was there till I caught a glimpse of him staring. 'Oh, Mon Dieu! what am I doing I don't want him to see...' my thoughts were interrupted as Cleo started to touch my...

"~Ahh, ~ no I... Not in front of..." I tried to tell her but I was overwhelmed by the pleasure.

"Relax and let me take care of everything," she said in a silky voice.

Rocky's Pov

I didn't know what to do, as soon as Cleo started touching Franky my mind was at a standstill. 'Do I stop her? Do I leave them be? Is Franky okay with being touched by a stranger?' All these thoughts were rushing through my head and I was sitting there naked while my friend made out with a girl I was with a minute ago.

I feel like I should look away, after all, Franky didn't like it when I saw her in a robe. But how can I when she's right in front of me getting felt up by a naked woman? I was about to say something when Franky started to moan.

"No... Please... I can't, ahhh~" Franky tried to explain but couldn't get the words out. Then from the corner of my eye. Cleo was looking at me. "Don't think I forgot you, we were just getting started," I had no idea what she meant until she reached out to me and gestured for me to stand up.

No pov

Rocky stood behind Cleo, with her rump high in the air. "Come and get it, baby. Show us what you got!" panicked Rocky gripped her hips and started pounding away.

"~That's it. Keep going~" Cleo moaned as she placed her mouth on Francis' womanhood. After a while of exploring Cleo sensed Francis reaching her limit and brought her tail to replace her fingers.

Francis whined at the loss till she felt something else in her. "What are you?" but Cleo kissed her lips and said, "The benefits of a long tail, ahh~" she moaned as Rocky's rhythm started to get more frantic.

Francis was about to protest but as Cleo's tail started moving inside all she could let out was a moan.

~Oh god!~ She's rubbing my clit while her tail is moving inside me. And Rocky is pounding her from behind! Thought the redhead. "I'm going to ~Ahhh!~" she raved as she was greeted by a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time. Rocky had also reached his peak and fell atop of Cleo who remained on top of Francis. The threesome was panting from their rut but one of them wasn't done yet, Cleo started to rub Francis' sensitive clit. "Attendez s'il vous plaît," She protested, trying to figure out the exotic woman's intentions, "What do you want?"

"I think it's obvious isn't it," Cleo said as she made the blue-furred girl moan. "It's your turn," she removed her tail, Francis sighed in relief thinking she was done.

However, she shot up when she saw Rocky rubbing up against her. "No! Please we can't!" She pleaded softly looking up and seeing Rocky hovered above her trying to stay still for her sake. "You're my friend," she pleaded. Rocky was conflicted but complied as much as he admired her he would hate to embarrass her more. Francis was relieved at his answer.

But someone had other plans. Behind Rocky with her breasts pushed on his back, Cleo starts moving his hips. "~Ah~ wait What are you doing?" Francis asked the mischievous exotic feline behind Rocky.

"I swear, It's not me," Rocky says in his defense, and peeks behind him, "You," he says to Cleo.

"Sorry, I tire of people who aren't honest with themselves," she said as she grabbed his shaft and started to rub the tip against Francis' sensitive clit making the couple let out a moan.

"What are you talking about?" (Gasp) "I don't have time..." (Moan) "We can't..."

"Why don't you feel for yourself, before you dismiss," Cleo takes her hand to replace hers, "Feel how eager your poor friend is?" She ordered.

Francis was conflicted, part of her wanted to remove her hand but she couldn't, "It's hard, is Rocky aroused by me? or by Cleo?" She started to explore more and got lost in her amazement. Which makes it difficult for Rocky to restrain himself. "Her hands are so soft," He thought. But as their eyes met she flinched away. "I'm sorry I..." he leaned down and kissed her quickly. "It's alright you don't have to do anything," he assured.

"But what if I want to?" She thought out loud embarrassed, true she had a crush on Rocky since they were young but that was a schoolgirl crush, and now...

Francis brought him close to her placing him between her legs like the night before. "Rocky, I don't know what's going on, my body feels hot and I'm scared," She confessed, "I don't want to lose you, but I also want you..." he interrupted her with a kiss that she reciprocated. It started slow, then she opened his mouth and slipped her tongue inside. Moaning the frenching pair were soon exploring their bodies.

Rocky enjoyed the sounds he got out of her. Working her like his violin as he unbuttons her shirt with one hand. "You're beautiful," he said as he grasped a breast in his hand and kissed the nipple. "Ahh~ easy, they're sensitive~" She bit her lower lip trying to quiet her moans. He replied and started to gently tweak and lick her buds. As he stole another kiss, his hands reached down but were stopped by a blue hand covering herself.

"Francis, I want to make you feel good," he said. "I know but not here," she said covering her pussy with her hand, "I'm not ready for that," she explained. "Tell me how far I can go?" he said.

Francis looked away and with a determined look, she rolled themselves, leaving her on top of Rocky. Kissing him aggressively and moving her hips against his. As they parted, Francis moved lower and started licking his cock, "Franky you don't have to..."  she interrupted him. "I need to," (lick) "It needs to be lubricated," she brought him inside her mouth. "I'll take care of it," he couldn't argue with her. Those green eyes made him lose all reason.

After a few minutes, she stopped. "That's good," She started to rub herself against him. Focused on the event at hand Francis started bringing herself closer to his pulsating shaft. She guided the tip to press against her second hole, and after much gentle probing, she got it in.

"I can't believe I'm doing this with Rocky," she thought as she brought herself further down his shaft. "Ahh!~" she cried out. "It's been so long..."

"My such a bold move," said Cleo, commenting on the display. "Does it hurt?"

A concerned Rocky asked, "Franny are you-" he was cut off as she grabbed his cheeks and kissed him. When their tongues danced they flipped over so now he was on top.

After a while they parted for air, "You can move your hips," Francis breathed out still adjusting to the feeling.

"Are you sure?" He asked, she moved her hips to encourage him, "Oui, you may start," she declared, Rocky slowly moved against her for a while and then he gained a steady pace.

At which point Francis' pleasure was increasing, "Ah, Ahh~ Faster,~" she ordered as Rocky ground his hips against her. When he brought her legs to his shoulders and started to grant her wish. "Is this good my lady?" he asked while panting.

"~Yes~Ahh!~ More~" After a few minutes the lovers had reached an exceptional connection and kissed. Unaware that their third party was gone.

For the remainder of their love session, Francis was on her hands and knees as Rocky was thrusting behind her. "Ahh... Rocky I'm going to..." he grabbed her hand. "Me too love... together," he moaned as they were moving against each other to reach their climax. And as soon as it came the two tired cats shared one last kiss, a gentle one but still passionate.

~end~

Morning

After a dreamless night, Francis wakes up in bed to the familiar tune of Frère Jacques. She rolls over to get a look at the source.

Sitting up in bed, a blanket covering his lower half is a bare-chested Rocky playing his violin. He smiles at the blue cat as he finishes the song. "Good morning."

"Bonjour." she said still sleepy, "Is this how you plan to wake me up from now on?"

"When I'm the one who wakes up first, yes." The brown tabby sets his violin aside.

Francis crawls over to Rocky, the blanket falling from her nude body. She presses up against the brown tabby's back and slowly trails her fingers down the front of his torso. "Then I intend to wake you with the smell of pancakes."

The combination of physical sensations and the promise of pancakes makes Rocky moan with pleasure. "You are the light of my life." He twists around to kiss Francis.

The pair lie back down.

Rocky buries his face in Francis' neck. "Last night was amazing."

The blue cat smiles as she strokes the back of the brown tabby's head. "It was. I am still surprised it took all this for us to have our first time."

"Well we did have a bit of a push," Rocky said. "Still when I saw her again I wasn't expecting things to turn out like this."

"What do you mean?" Before Rocky could answer the alarm clock rang cutting the morning after in half. "Oh no! I'm late!" Francis exclaimed as she rushed out of bed, "Mama is going to kill me if I'm not down there soon to open up," she started getting dressed.

"I thought your family closed the restaurant till the case was solved?"

"After it was confirmed that the murders had taken place somewhere else we were allowed to resume business hours." She explained to him, "Though given all that's happened the feds will want to keep a close eye on us in case."

Rocky gives her a hug from behind, as she laces her shoes on the bed. "So does this mean you'll be performing tonight?" he asked.

"Maybe but I need to talk to my mother first and after the night we had there is a lot to talk about," she said as he put his head on her shoulder.

"So how are you going to explain that you and I-"

Agasht Francis playfully hits his stomach with the back of her paw, "Rocky! I meant about the case."

"Oh right but since we're on the subject what should we tell her?" he asked sincerely. 

"That can wait till I get back Romeo. Right now I need someone to wait here in case Bluebeard stops by with news about Solitaire and the case any chance you'll?" 

"Well since my plans to spend the day in bed with a beautiful woman had been derailed... I guess I can mask my disappointment by playing detective with a lonely old man," he dramatically said, earning a blank look from the redhead. "Too much?"

Francis rolled her eyes, "Save the dramatics for the stage alright, and don't forget to mention to Blue about Cleo I think she might have a part in the case." Before Rocky could respond the French girl kissed him leaving the hyper Tabby breathless as she went out the door. "à plus tard."

"Bye," Rocky sighed as Francis left his sights to go to work. He plummeted back into the mattress and swooned. "If music is the food of love, play on! give me excess of it, that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken and so die," he said in his normal eccentric fashion as he began playing his violin to the tune in his heart.

Chapter Text

In the late afternoon, Freckle and Bluebeard jumped onto the bathroom window of Francis's building, finding Rocky half-dressed with his clothes hung above the empty tub. A strong stench came from him, and it wasn't because of a skunk. Freckle scrunched his nose in disgust. Bluebeard chuckled, wrinkling his nose, "Whew! What an oder! Smells like you got a little action!"

Rocky slowly turned around with a toothbrush in his mouth. He stretched his arms and sighed, "I guess so. I hope you know who she is detective, because Francis thinks she can help solve the case."

"Francis thinks she can what? The case?" Bluebeard blinked in surprise. "Solve it? Are you kidding me? Judging by the way you stink Casanova, it's not the case you've been investigating this morning." He jumped into the bathroom, followed by Freckle.

"I have to agree with Bluebeard, Rocky." Freckle smiled, sitting on the edge of the tub. "I highly doubt that the mystery was the first thing on your mind when you had your little..." he looks up to see some women's pantyhose. "Date."

Rocky turned off the sink and yawned widely. "Holy cow," He muttered before saying, "Yeah, you're right. I was distracted but if you had met this girl you would be singing a different tune. Francis will back me up on it. Speaking of which did you stop by to check on her Frecks?"

"I came to check on both of you but by the way you're smiling you had all the comfort you needed last night while poor Franny was probably suffering alone having nightmares about what we saw!" The orange cat exclaimed furiously as he grabbed his cousin by the front of his shirt. "Have you no sense of tact man!"

"Easy there tough guy," Bluebeard pulled Freckle away from Rocky, trying to calm the agitated teen down. "Judging by the way Francis sent us up to talk to him I doubt she had any problem with him," he paused for a moment. "Now that I think about she had the same odor as your cousin over there."

Freckle stopped struggling in the old Dick's grip as he turned to Rocky with wide eyes.

"Care to comment?"

"Well for starters Francis and I both found comfort in the arms of a mysterious feline which involved some intimacy of a romantic nature." Bluebeard had a shit-eating grin while sweet Freckle's jaw dropped. "So, in conclusion, we both got distracted but that's the past. Francis wants us to get back to the case! Starting by telling you about Miss Cleo."

Freckle rubbed his head, "Rocky why would Francis want you to tell us about some floozy?"

"Because this was the second time she came to me," Rocky replied.

"When?" The old man asked sternly.

"Last night before I went to Francis' house," Rocky replied. "She warned us to stop finding the murderer before something happened. Claiming that she wished to ensure no more innocent lives were taken... or not so innocent, as she called them. She also says she isn't the murderer and that her name is Cleo. Oh! and that her perfume is called 'Instinct'!" the tabby noted. 

"What did she look like?" Freckle asked. "She had Sandy fur and blazing yellow eyes and her eyelashes were so exotic."

Bluebeard shook his head, muttering about weird cats. "Bluebeard do you know this woman?" Freckle asked, curious about the old man's comment.

"I don't know her, but I know the breed, though the name is a mystery of itself. They've popped up in the last several years. But I doubt they're foreigners because the immigration folks are surprised at their presence."

"Because they came out of nowhere?" Rocky concluded.

"That, and because they're not like you and I." Bluebeard continued, stretching and walking out into the sun. He and Freckle approached a large box with books, he explained, "They're wild, boys. I might hiss and spit at thugs like Kong, but these new faces take it to another level. I've heard about them attacking criminals that have been around for a long time and not a single one has ever lost a fight. Not to mention they're weird-lookin'."

"Strange you'd think we would have heard about them before huh Frecks?" Rocky said to his cousin.

"They usually tend to hang around successful speakeasies and pimps usually end up missing if they try to enroll one of them."

Freckle flinched at what Bluebeard said revealing that he knew about them. Rocky continued talking, "Well I don't know about Freckle but Zib has probably encountered one when-"

"Rocky for god's sake please hush!" The orange cat implored the tan tabby before turning to the old dick. "How long have you known?"

"Since I saw you with the Pepper girl. Her old man was an informant of mine on a case, so I make sure to keep tabs on his daughter and give him peace of mind," he explained, seeing the nervous look on the boy, "Now don't get your whiskers in a knot kid I'm not going to turn you over to the fuzz and have them raid the place."

"You're not?" Freckle whispered.

"Nope. As far as I'm concerned when Atlas passed, any heat on his involve meant with bootlegging diverted over to his buddy Asa Sweet," Announced Bluebeard, "The only headache is finding a way to pin it on him. Plus you boys seem decent enough if you managed to have two smart fillies hanging around you."

"Well, Freckle is still timid around Miss Pepper despite having kissed her before. Fran and I-"

"Rocky! I think we should focus more on the case that Francis sent us up to discuss though I wish she was here right now."

"Me too," Bluebeard added.

"Aw, I'm touched," Francis' voice intruded, the trio turned and saw her in her waitress uniform, smiling at them while sitting on the bed. "Though I thought one of you would at least try to focus on the case," she directed to Bluebeard. "and not our autobiographies."

"What can I say I love a good love story?" Bluebeard remarked.

Francis rolled her eyes, "First thing first: Did you talk to Joker yet?"

"No but he's probably at home, rehearsing for his next Bible class," Bluebeard said. 

"So we should head over to the church," Rocky said holding up his keys.

"Joker doesn't live at the church anymore after his last check-up he moved in with his kids," Bluebeard noted.

"Where would they live then?"

"A couple of blocks from here. His kid runs a shop that sells china, porcelain, and hand-blown glassware."

"Why do you need to speak with Joker?" Freckle asked handing Rocky his hat.

"Remember what Jesaja told us," Francis said. "Joker is deep, and I mean very deep in this. But the main question is whether we can pin it on him or not."

"Not to mention Joker had a connection to both Solitere and Felicity," Rocky pointed out. "Even if it turns out he isn't the murderer I bet my hat that he'll lead us to him."

"Well, first I want to talk to Pascal again, Freckle since you're here maybe you can accompany Bluebeard when he gets Joker," Francis asked her friend.

"Sure Francis but what about your shift?" The McMurry boy asked.

"I won't be needed until tonight so we have plenty of time to compare notes with Pascal and interrogate Joker," Francis said confidently but was wivered by the quiet looks the boys gave her. "What?"

"Francis, are you sure you want to continue this case? After all Bluebeard and the cops can handle the rest with Pascal," Rocky suggested in a serious tone.

"Like I told ma mère, I'm in too deep, and before I forget a mysterious feline with a unique scent visited us last night. She was of a breed none of us had ever seen before," she listed.

"Ah, I know that kind," Bluebeard said. "Rocky told us he had met her the previous night to give him a warning to back off."

"Solitare gave the police artist the same description of the tom she was seeing," Freckle added as he showed the group the drawing. "He looked quite wild and unfamiliar in terms of breeding."

"Exactly like Miss Cleo expected her features were more feminine," Rocky noted. "But this guy pretty easy on the eyes to."

"Are there others like them?" Francis asked.

"You bet your ass there are," Bluebeard nodded, looking out onto the windowsill. "They're all over the place lately. But, like I told the boys earlier, the old cats are as confused about their origins as the rest of us are."

"What do you mean?" Francis cocked her head.

"They're not exactly new to the country," Freckle explained, joining the one-eyed Manx. "Bluebeard said some have been documented to be born here but they're not quite like us: they're more wilder."

"Wild? Like Tarzan?" Francis asked.

"Sort of, although instead of hunting for food, they mostly get in fights with other cats and it's not pretty," Bluebeard nodded.

"You mean the loser is..."

"Messed up badly but the real interesting fact is that a female of them had managed to force a pimp into early retirement after he tried to recruit her."

"Let me guess he had to get stitches." he nodded, confirming her assumption.

Rocky: "Looks like Felicity's previous theory may have some truth to it huh?"

"What do you mean Rocky?" Freckle asked his cousin.

"Before she you know... Miss Felicity said that the sounds of the killings sounded like sex that went too far. So, if these wild ladies didn't like the regular males' advances then!" He made a slicing sound across his neck. "or things got so good they clawed their partners by accident?"

"I think refusing their advances is more probable but if you're right then it's not one murderer we'd have to search for." 

"But when I smelled the corpses I only caught a whiff of one male and female in heat," Francis argued. 

"Well, maybe the jealous Tom over-masked the victim's scent with his musk?" Bluebeard suggested.

"I doubt it since you managed to determine ours and Cleo's odors," she argued.

"Well yeah but... hmm. You may have a point. Regardless it would be wise not to rule out any possible motives. So I suggest we wait till after we bring Joker in before diving any deeper alright?" The old member of the group asked.

Francis, Rocky, and Freckle nodded as they all split up. 

As Francis and Rocky left the house, it began to snow. Francis glanced up, twitching her nose as a snowflake landed on her nose. I hope it doesn't snow too much. I don't care too much for the cold.

At the staircase of Pascal's house, Francis glanced at Rocky and said, "Err, Rocky? Perhaps you should come with me. We'll be inside where it's warmer."

Rocky shivered slightly, "Yeah looks like I picked a bad time to dress casually."

Nodding, Francis and Rocky made their way inside Pascal's home. They found Pascal sitting in a velvet chair.

"Francis and Rocky. Welcome." He nodded. "I heard about poor Solitaire. Such a shame she, and her young, had to go."

Francis' ears tilted, remembering the horrific scene. "We came here to talk with you about the murders, Pascal," Francis said, sitting on a short bookshelf. "We've gathered quite a few clues in the past days."

"Start from the beginning."

"Well, Rocky and I found a film in the basement of my house. It was of a laboratory, manned by these weird-looking scientists."

"At first, we thought it was a horrific Sci-fi picture," Rocky added. "Because the cats in it had no clothes and were walking on all fours like animals! And the aliens were huge!" exclaimed Rocky. "Except the horror scenes in it made Nosferatu and Hyde look like an hour-long amusement ride!"

Francis cleared her throat, "Anyway the laboratory, was manned by a scientist, Preterius. He was the worst, he experimented horribly on several cats, eventually coming across Claudandus, who survived a healing solution Preterius invented. But he continued to experiment on Claudandus and used him to breed new test subjects. I think he eventually perished from all the torture, and the other cats escaped the aliens somehow."

"An interesting story but what does it have to do with the case?"

"Pascal I know it sounds ludicrous but it was in my building, where not only did the church of Claudandus first congregate but was also a laboratory many years ago." Francis pointed out. "Also the film we found wasn't black and white it was color and it played on some advanced piece of machinery almost as advanced as your computer."

"Hmm, interesting what else did you find?"

"After that, we found Solitaire, and a fragile old cat named Jasaja, who claimed to be the Guardian of the Dead in a deep cavern, filled with cat bodies. He said he was born in a 'suffering dreamland,' which was probably the alien laboratory." 

"Father Joker of the Claudandus Sect took him down into the catacombs and was the first to tell him about Claudandus. When the murders started, Jesaja was instructed by, what he thinks is the voice of Claudandus, to take the dead down into the catacombs but I think it's the murderer using him to hide the bodies."

Pascal sighed and smiled, "Congratulations, my dear. I've lived in this neighborhood for years, yet I haven't recorded a fraction of the information you and your friend have found out in the short time you were here. My compliments."

"Well, not all. Today, I- we met... a lovely lady." Francis narrowed her eyes and listened to what Rocky had to say. "Oh."

"We had never come across a cat like her. She had sandy fur, blazing yellow eyes, and seemed more wild than anyone I have ever met." Rocky explained, "And I worked in a circus."

"Bluebeard had told us that there have been reports of her breed getting into fights that ended in the loser getting stitches. I was brought back to my earlier statement about the killer wanting to wipe out the completion but instead, I think the person is trying to cover up for these wild cats' outbursts the reason why is still a work in progress," Francis stated.

"I can find out." Rocky said making Pascal and Francis look at him, "I met her before we found the tape she warned me about getting involved or someone else would be hurt. I would have mentioned it earlier but we were getting chased by nutjobs," Pascal narrowed his eyes, and then Francis looked at Pascal.

"Have you made a list of the people who suddenly disappeared without reason?" Francis asked.

"Certainly," Pascal nodded, as he pulled up the list onto the screen.

"Let's check the list, and see who and how many disappeared and when. However, I do wonder why the murderers suddenly began leaving victims outside, rather than having Jesaja take them down into hiding."

"An excellent observation, Francis." Pascal agreed, standing and stretching. As he stood up from the chair, he continued, "Perhaps the murderer is beginning to make mistakes in his work."

"I can't imagine that such a smart individual would make mistakes."

"Maybe he's getting too old," Rocky guessed. "I know that if I was as old as this cult and couldn't drive I would either leave the body or have someone else get rid of it."

"An excellent guess mister Rickaby." Pascal said, "Though perhaps he's trying to send a message?"

"That's what I was thinking."

"Good," Pascal nodded. "But what sort of message is he trying to send? And to whom?"

"I can't say to whom, but I think he just wants attention to himself and his work—"

"But unfortunately, the average intelligence of everyone else in this neighborhood is too low to get the message."

Francis scowled at Pascal. Is he saying everyone except himself is dumb? Because some people are still intelligent.

"Well, then, what about a particular man or woman? Maybe he wants to catch their eye for one reason or another."

"Very good. Because for the first time, you're thinking of this as a mission. Don't you understand?" Pascal asked, sitting back in his chair. "He wants his motives to be known. He's as complicated as a puzzle- no, the killer is the puzzle. And he wants someone... to solve it."

Humming in thought, Rocky glanced at Francis with a knowing eye. Nodding, he said, "Joker. He must be our key suspect."

"And Freckle and Bluebeard are speaking with him as we speak."

"Perhaps." Pascal agreed. "Let's say he witnessed the drama and carnage in this Preterius' laboratory and saw his chance to create a martyr religion around Claudandus's suffering."

"Sure," Francis nodded. "I forgot to mention, but a friend met a peculiar man today. He wasn't quite like other cats. And Bluebeard mentioned he and the cops ran into a female, like her, a couple of times in the past day."

"Results of Preterius's genetic engineering?"

"Why not?" Francis shrugged.

"I'm not so sure. I'm afraid you're forgetting evolution, and the idea that a new breed could show up on its own over time."

"You mean natural selection?" Francis asked. "So, our new friends, and others like them, are the products of natural selection? I admit, that does sound more logical."

"Indeed." Pascal agreed. "You are quite an intelligent creature, my dear."

"Well, I couldn't have done it without Bluebeard and my friends. Despite Rocky's flare, he's proven to be an enormous help to the case," Francis smiled, patting his paw with her own.

Rocky glanced away, smiling humbly. "It is said the eccentric ones are the most clever," Pascal said wisely. "And I believe you, my boy, are one of them."

"You clowns m-mind if we b-butt in?" Ivy and Freckle stepped into the room, shivering and covered in snow.

As the couple shook themselves off, Francis asked, "Ivy? What are you doing here?"

"I went to check on you but ran into Freckle and the old man. Once they told me you were okay, I decided to go with them to find Joker," she replied as Francis gave her and Freckle some blankets to warm up. "Bluebeard told her no but she wouldn't listen," Freckle added.

"Where's Joker?" Rocky asked his cousin. 

"He's gone. V-v-vamoosed," Freckle replied trying to defrost by the fireplace.

"You mean he's disappeared?" Francis blinked in surprise.

Ivy sat close to Freckle and began wiping the melted snow off of his fur. "Th-that's what I said, lass." He nodded, still shivering.

"Perhaps you'd like a snack before you continue?" Pascal suggested, causing Francis to raise her eyebrow in confusion at him. "My caretaker, Zeibold, has some hot tea and fresh shepherd's pie in the kitchen."

Ivy's eyes lit up. "I love fresh pie!"

"Get to the point!" Francis snapped.

Shaking his head, Freckle explained, "We looked around the house Joker lives in. It's a nightmare! But we looked from bottom to top, with no sign of him anywhere."

Rocky and Francis exchanged surprised glances. "That must mean Joker's been murdered—"

"Or," Pascal suddenly interrupted. "He's vanished. He must have known you were closing in on him."

"I'm sorry, but I disagree. It couldn't be that simple—"

"Hold on, hold on," Pascal held up a paw. "First thing tomorrow, we'll check the list, and see how many possible survivors of the Preterius laboratory there are and confirm if what you saw was indeed related to the Sect's past."

"Better watch your tail a bit more carefully, Roark," Freckle remarked as the four cats left Pascal's house. "And you too, Francis."

"Otherwise?" She asked.

"You'll get hurt, plain and simple," Ivy said.

"What do you mean by that?" Rocky asked.

"Ain't it obvious? With you makin' like Sherlock Holmes, the killer's bound to be pissed that you're figuring out his schemes. He might try to do something about you." 

"Come on cousin my being in danger is nothing new," Rocky retorted. "Given our nightly runs with Marigold."

"Rocky after what we have seen this bloke makes the Savoy's and Heller look like saints," Freckle noted.

Ivy nodded in agreement. "He's right. You know too much. Just like…"

"Felicity did." Francis finished for her, making Ivy look down.

"And Pascal," Rocky added. "He knows more than you or me."

"Well, I don't think you'll have to worry about that old rascal," Freckle said. "If what you've uncovered is true, then only the sexually active ones are being taken out. And Mr. Pascal has been living like a monk since he got the news..." He sighed with a surprisingly somber expression.

"Why is that?" Francis asked.

"He's got stomach cancer. It just got around the neighborhood recently. The doctor has given him at least six months to live," He turned and left Francis sitting in the snow, deep in her thoughts.

Ivy bounded after Freckle, scoffing, "Why is it when someone is sick, they are always given six months to live?"

"Heck if I know. I ain't a doctor."

"But either way… I feel sorry for Pascal. He seems like such a kind man. He even gave the cafe a donation." Ivy sighed.

"Well, now we know why he was so content to give away half his cellar," Rocky said.

"A real health-related cliché: the nice ones get sick and die; the bastards live long, healthy lives."

"I guess you're gonna be around longer." Ivy chuckled.

"I gue—hey!"

The feline laughed, running away when Freckle swiped snow in her direction. "Stop it! I don't have layers! I'll freeze!" She paused to kick snow at the McMurry boy before taking off.

Rocky chuckled before he looked back and saw Francis heading the other way.

Francis Pov

While the others walked ahead of me I began to head the other direction to the club, "Hey, Francis!" I see Rocky rushing towards me, "Where are you going?"

"Work, I already told you I had a show tonight," I replied. "But you heard what Freckle said it's too dangerous to be by yourself." I just continued walking until he moved in front of me, "Why don't you let me drive you to work then?"

"What about Ivy and Freckle?"

"They came by bus, they'll be fine, you know how 'feisty' Freckle gets."

I nodded, took Rocky up on his offer, and followed him to his car, the entire time we walked there was a silent tension in the air.

"So, uh? How did you sleep?" he asked trying to fill the silence.

"I think we both know how I slept last night," I replied coyly.

"Yeah of course! I simply wanted to make sure since you were having nightmares the last few nights," he said nervously which is rare for him. "Oh, well now that you mentioned it I had a peaceful night," I told him.

"Oh really?" he said with a sly smirk. 

I rolled my eyes and saw a poster with the words 'Curfew!' "Rocky look at this," I told him. "What is it?" 

"According to this, the police have advised all citizens to be indoors by 10:30 p.m." Oh great!

"What does that mean?"

"It means a reduction in patrons for both our jobs," I told him but then something else on the wall caught my eye. "um Rocky? please tell me that is not your face I see on the wall."

"Oh yeah, it is! But for what?" I facepalmed before I read the poster, "Let's see, "Wanted for police questioning, suspected of crimes: Reckless driving, Destruction of property, and indecent exposure?" I turned to ROcky confused.

"Wow if that's all it takes to get on a wanted poster. I wonder what I'd get if they knew my other-" 

"Shh!" I hushed him, as I covered his mouth. "Rocky we need to get to my place and quick!" I told him and tore his picture off the wall as we made it to his car. 

"Give me the keys," I asked him.

"What? But it's my car." He argued while I grabbed his keys.

"Rocky you're on the police radar," I informed him while starting the car. "You need to stay hidden until we can talk to Bluebeard to get this sorted out and warn Calvin and Ivy in case they're being hunted too."

"Wanted Poster?!" Calvin (Freckle) exclaimed on the phone shocked by what Francis told him. "This can't be happening."

Francis: "Calvin it's not for anything serious but I wouldn't do anything until we get Bluebeard to shed some light on this predicament." 

Mitzi May motions for Freckle to hand over the phone, "Hello dear this is the Boys boss. Now I want to know that this makes Rocky a liability to our establishment and I'm not too fond of the idea of a cop getting involved."

"I figured Madam May but I already have a plan for Rocky and Bluebeard is a Private Detective and he is allied with Ivy's father so he won't squeal."

"So I heard but what makes you so sure you can keep a spitfire like Rocky under wraps? The boy is not exactly known for his discretion," Mitzi asked.

Francis: "Well, then he'll have to settle for being someone else. I got to go Bye." 

"What does that..." Looks at the phone. "She hung up."

"Miss May, what are we going to do about Rocky?" Ivy asked.

"Freckle how much do you trust this Frankie girl?" 

"More than Rocky on our runs to be honest," He replied, "But this may be out of her ability the police have been around her club since the bodies appeared."

"Figures we finally get some business booming and now we got to worry about one of our singing like a bird," Miss May sighed. "Bad enough that this butcher has everyone heading home early but we may go to jail." 

"Lucky for you I don't have cuffs for everyone."

Mitzi: "Who are you and how did you get in here?"

"Bluebeard? What are you doing here?" Ivy asked.

"I came to warn you about the poster but from what I overheard Green Eyes, beat me to it."

"Uh? Bluebeard this is..."

"Mitzi May, a pleasure to meet Atlas' widow. I can see why any man would lie down his life for you."

"Thank you but my question hasn't been answered."

"Relax I came in with the crowd besides I have more pressing matters to attend to than a secret clubhouse." 

"Bluebeard why is my cousin on a poster?"

"It's complicated but nothing serious I'll tell you kids once Rocky and Franny get here."

Freckle: "Uh, there might be a bit of a problem."

"Why?"

Ivy: "Francis is at work and Rocky is with her right now."

Bluebeard groaned and rubbed his head, "I'm getting too old for this."

Chapter Text

After making the call to the Lackadaisy gang Francis and Rocky made their way to the business area of the building. 

Rocky had just entered.

The residential area of the cabaret was not that big; however, it was well-decorated and looked cozy.

He looked at the wall full of newspaper headlines with Francis' picture on it. He was stuck looking at the same photo that he had in his tree house, the one of her first debut as a singer where she had her hair down and the same angel wings, it was his favorite photo.

“Oh, I'm sorry! Don't think of me as self-centered! My mother likes to cut out any newspaper articles where I appear or the restaurant, she says that they brighten her day to see them,” Francis said while pulling Rocky's sleeve, “Come, follow me.”

"How sweet, must be nice to have someone to praise your achievements in that way," the boy thought with an aura of sadness.

Francis secretly took him to her dressing room, making sure no one saw them.

"Come, let's take off those wet clothes," Francis said, trying to take off his coat. "Hey now Miss Browne, I thought you had a show to do?" he asked coyly. "Haha," she said dryly, she took his coat and hat. "Look, there is a dressing room over there with a blanket, you can undress yourself while I find you clothes in your size, although it will be somewhat difficult.”

Rocky went to a large white screen where his head stuck out, he removed and hung his wet clothes on the divider before grabbing a towel to dry off his fur.

“You're lucky Rocky! One of the musicians who quit left his suit in the dressing room, and he was about your build. Here," Francis exclaimed, leaving his clothes on the screen and turning around so as not to see him.

Rocky took it and started trying it on. It was fairly wide white pants, black shoes, with a white shirt, a greenish-blue vest, and a turquoise silk scarf. The vest was a little tight on his chest, but other than that, the outfit fit him miraculously perfectly.

He came out somewhat shyly from the screen to show the young woman how he looked.

“Oh! How elegant mon ami,” said the smiling girl, “I found this jacket that came with the pants, but I see that I will have to make some adjustments for your arms. I need you to put it on while I do some repairs, you can sit in front of my dresser in the meantime.”

Rocky, still somewhat shy, sat on the small bench and looked at himself in the mirror. Even though he preferred his usual suit, these clothes didn't look half bad on him. True he knew he would be able to wear this given his livelihood, but at least he felt much more civilized than in that dirty, torn coat he wore when he first met Miss Mitzi and Atlas.

He looked curiously at Francis' things, perfumes, and makeup. ‘Is this where she sat every night before performing?’ He felt excited.

"Go ahead, you can look but don't break anything," she said with a patient smile as she sat next to him with a needle and a spool of thread.

He took the perfume from her, looked at the bottle carefully, and looked at the pink liquid inside, “What flowers would it smell like? Will you like sweet or citrus aromas? Maybe next time I can give her flowers with a scent similar to his perfume," he thought with a smile.

He was dying to smell the contents.

“Do you want to smell?" he nodded, "I don't if you remember this perfume, but you can smell the essence inside by squeezing this little pad,” Francis taught him while she put a little perfume in the air so Rocky could smell the aroma.

"Roses, the next time I can give her flowers they will be roses," The boy thought, delighting in the sweet aroma.

"I see you like it," Francis smiled.

"Yeah, and It's fun to spray!" Rocky sprayed the perfume a couple of times into the air, he wanted to memorize that fragrance well, but apparently, it was too much for his nostrils. He sneezed about three times in a row, making Francis laugh a few times.

"Okay, I think that's enough for today," the feline said, laughing as she took the bottle from him.

Rocky looked out of the corner of his eye as she laughed, he smiled when he heard such a nice sound. He loved it.

Suddenly Francis felt watched, she looked at Rocky making him nervous.

The gray cat, trying to pretend that he wasn't looking at her like a psychopath, quickly looked away.

She continued sewing the sleeve of the jacket with a calm smile. “Mmm-hmm. Ah. hmm. Wait. wait. There.”

He tried not to seem strange, but he couldn't stop looking at her even out of the corner of his eye, this whole situation still seemed unreal to him. Never in his life would he have imagined that he could sit next to Francis in a domestic setting and make her laugh. It all seemed like a strange and beautiful dream, which Aunt Nina would normally wake him up.

"Be patient, I’m nearly done," Francis told him, cutting the thread from the seam of his jacket. “Wait here.” She got up from the seat next to him and went to look for something to hide the face of her friend.

“All right. Let's see... this...” she muttered behind the rumrunner's back.

Rocky took a comb and looked at it carefully, it looked like an antique. He ran one of his fingers over the teeth of the object, making it rattle. And he noticed that each one had a different note as if it were a small guitar.

"Oh, this could work!" Francis said as he approached him with some wigs in her hands.

Rocky didn't pay much attention to her as he was having fun playing with the comb and creating melodies.

"Or not. No," she said after trying on a blonde wig with two braids. "I don't think so."

She took it off and put a black wig on her with two spiked strands sticking out like ears.

"What about this one?" the young woman asked, taking the boy out of his peculiar entertainment.

He didn't want to seem rude by expressing his displeasure, so he smiled like a madman, "It's alive!" 

“Hmm. Too eccentric,” Francis responded, taking it off.

He continued to play with the comb to try not to get nervous every time she brushed against his large back while she placed things on his head. “I know!” She suddenly put a big white hat on him that looked perfect with his outfit.

"Don't move, don't move. Almost done. There you go..." the redhead murmured while she placed a white mask over his face. "Sharp!" It turned out amazing!

Rocky looked in the mirror with a big smile. "Not bad."

"Your hands, Rocky," Francis said, pointing to hands that were playing with her comb.

The young man obeyed, put down the comb, and showed her his hands. The girl put white gloves over his hands.

“Perfect! The police will never recognize you now," Francis exclaimed, proud of her costume. "Now if you'll excuse me... it's my turn."

While the somewhat tired girl stretched her back while she went to the large screen, Rocky, who was still playing with the comb, began to feel a tingling sensation on his right arm.

He rolled up the sleeve of his jacket to see what was happening and suddenly the pointed hairs on his thin arms sticking out. Scaring the poor boy by giving him a big start. He backed away from the dresser, losing his balance, colliding with a wall, and falling onto the couch. Throwing a guitar that was hanging on the wall on top of him.

“Are you okay?” Francis asked, peeking through the room divider.

"Yeah." Rocky sat on the long couch and took the guitar in his hands, which next to him looked more like the ukulele he used to have. He touched its surface, turned it over to gently touch its strings, and began to randomly pluck some of them. Everything was so familiar to him.

"That's a guitar, it's very hard to play," said Francis, completely coming out of the screen already dressed in her typical white dress with wings.

Suddenly, someone knocked on her door.

“Shhh,” she silenced Rocky who was playing with the guitar.

"It's me, love!" Cathy Browne exclaimed on the other side of the door.

Francis sighed in relief, going to open the door.

She opened the door with a forced smile, revealing only her face.

“The show is about to start, sweetheart. But we have a little setback at the entrance," her mom said, worried about her.

"It won't take me long," she replied, then closing the door.

“Whatever you do, don’t make a sound okay? I'll be right back,” Francis said to Rocky.

He smiled a little sadly in response, she left the dressing room, leaving him alone. Looking at the guitar in his hands. 'I wonder if I can 

“Good evening, Miss Francis,” A couple who were leaving the cabaret said goodbye politely.

“Good evening,” Francis said goodbye as she headed to the entrance of the cabaret.

"Well well twinkle twinkle little cat how I wonder where you were at," Bluebeard greeted.

"What are you three doing here?" I asked.

"Francis we came to make sure you two were alright," Ivy replied.

"And to bring Rocky back," Freckle added.

"Okay, but we need to be quick I have a show soon, and oh no." At the other entrance, we see the Marigold gang. 

"Oh no!" Ivy said.

Francis called to one of the waiters, "Albert."

"Yes?"

"Take Detective Bluebeard and his associates to the private balcony alright? And tell my mother." 

"Yes, Miss Browne. Follow me, gentlemen and ladies." He said as Francis silently told the others to go. 

Francis pulled a female waiter aside and told them to sit those three somewhere they couldn't see Ivy and Freckle. They nodded and left. 

One less problem. Francis thought, heading to her dressing room again.

As she approached the dressing room she heard the guitar sounds coming from her dressing room and Cathy Browne's screams inside, she watched from afar and the door was open.

“Rocky!” Francis exclaimed, entering the place furiously. She remained paralyzed when she saw Rocky sitting with the guitar in his hands in front of her mom Cathy applauding him with praise, “What are you?...”

“Honey! He is brilliant!" Her mom exclaimed fascinated.

“I can explain!” The auburn-haired girl exclaimed, scared.

“Genius needs no explanation, my dear. I have never been so moved! Where did you find him, love?”

“He... was passing through,” She answered nervously.

“He is a perfect fit for your sweet voice. I'll go inform the rest of the musicians," said Cathy, heading to the dressing room door, while Francis looked furiously at Rocky for disobeying her. "Oh, how joyful...!"

“There's no need! I don't think...!” Francis interrupted, blocking her mom's way.

“Oh, history will be made tonight! I can feel it!" Cathy exclaimed, making her way through the arm of her daughter.

"What part of “Don’t make a sound,” did you not understand?" She addressed the violinist-turned-guitarist as soon as her mom had left.

It was the first time that Rocky saw Francis angry in a while, in a certain way her look of fury scared him. So, he just smiled nervously playing a note on the guitar.

Bluebear, Ivy, and Freckle were at the table when they saw Pascal seated down. "Hello, children."

"Pascal? What are you doing here?" Ivy asks as she, Calvin, and Bluebeard sit down.

"I came to warn Francis about the poster but something tells me she already knows."

"Yeah, and Rocky is lurking around here. Let's hope he can stay hidden long enough for us to leave undetected." Pascal gave them the hush signal as the hostess entered. "Well, this is a nice surprise."

"Evening Miss Cathy" Ivy and Freckle replied. "Evening loves nice to see you two and with Dective Bluebeard of all people. Calvin, have you gone back to trying to become a cop?"

"Uh, not exactly."

"These two are helping me keep this old fart safe. Pascal has been helping us keep data on the investigation."

"That's good and I hope you are enjoying the evening, Mr. Pascal," Cathy said, serving the old cat some wine.

“It's always a pleasant evening at your establishment Madame! And as always, I leave my compliments to your daughter,” Pascal said calling one of his maids to bring back a bouquet of red roses, “And of course a small present for the hostess of this beautiful place.”

Another servant arrived, placing a fur coat on Miss Cathy, taking her by surprise. “Oh, Mr. Pascal! You're too generous!” The robust lady exclaimed, laughing. "I couldn't possibly."

"Keep it. Nobody I know wants it, so it's yours to do with as you please besides it's been awfully cold."

"Thank you." she turns to the others. "You two better behave yourself just because my mother doesn't speak to yours doesn't mean they don't have ears."

Francis watched everything behind the stage curtain, sighing with annoyance.

"The Marigold gangs' visits are becoming more frequent, and people come less and less," she said to herself.

She suddenly felt someone standing behind her. “Rocky!” She exclaimed furiously as she turned around to see him, “Get out of here!”

No matter how much Francis tried to move him off the stage it was useless, she was too weak to move such a tall creature. Furthermore, for Rocky, this was the great opportunity of his life. And if Miss Catherine didn't recognize him in this costume, maybe the audience wouldn't notice either.

“Come on! Move!" Francis begged as she tried to move him.

“With you the incomparable... Francis!” Cathy presented from outside to the few patrons who were there.

The curtain opened and the spotlight revealed Francis trying to push the motionless Rocky.

They were both paralyzed. Everything fell silent, drawing the attention of Ivy and Freckle in the audience. 'Oh no!'

Francis laughed nervously and tried to act normal.

“Good evening! Welcome to the Rare Bird! It's nice to see you here tonight! We... are delighted to introduce a great new talent... the master of the guitar directly from...! somewhere... the supreme virtuoso: Monsieur Francoeur!” The girl in white presented the young tom.

The somewhat confused audience applauded the new member of the venue.

"Go on, sit with the band," Francis whispered, pointing to the box on the side of the stage with some musicians in white. "You'll be fine."

Rocky nodded and headed to the place.

He was so nervous, that when trying to pass he crashed his guitar into the frame of the door that gave access to the box. He noticed that his instrument was too wide to pass from the front, so he tried to enter from the side. He scraped the guitar strings against the frame producing a horrible screeching noise that bothered everyone.

He finally sat down with the band and waited for Francis’ signal to perform. Honestly, though, he was so excited to show off his talent, that he started playing the song before everyone else. Luckily for him and everyone, he had absolute pitch, and all he had to do was read the scores a little before going on stage to prove it.

Francis looked in admiration at his guitar skills, looked at the audience who seemed enchanted by his melody, and began to sing.

She's resplendent, so confident
La Seine, la Seine, la Seine  

I realize, I'm hypnotized
La Seine, La Seine, La Seine”

Rocky seemed hypnotized by Francis' movements on stage while he played, she was just as the newspapers described her. An angel.

He was so enamored that, out of simple inertia, he began to accompany her little by little with the choir, sharing her glances.

I hear the moon, singing a tune
La Seine, la Seine, la Seine

Is she divine, Is it the wine?
La Seine, la Seine, la Seine”

Rocky's voice became more noticeable as his excitement grew as he sang with her.

I don't know, don't know, so don't ask me why

That's how we are, La Seine and I

Je ne sais, ne sais, ne sais pas pourquoi  

That’s how we are, La Seine et moi"

Francis also noticed his voice standing out in the box, turned during her dance, and motioned to the boy between her movements to join her on stage. And of course, Francoeur was not going to reject this invitation. The young singer jumped down from the box to the stage, and stood next to her with the guitar, moving to the rhythm of the music, and dancing with Francis whatever his heart dictated.

I feel alive when I'm beside
La S ei ne, La S ei ne, La S ei ne  

From this angle like an angel
La Seine, La Seine, La Seine!

I don't know, don't know, so don't ask me why
That's how we are, La Seine and I

I don't know, don't know, so don't ask me why
That's how we are, La Seine and I "

Francis and Rocky sang, danced, and jumped in sync, he couldn't know how, but somehow they both knew perfectly how to follow each other's steps. Rocky had never been happier in his life, it was just the two of them on stage, enjoying the music, imagining that that stage was a bridge over the Seine under the moon and stars. With no one else in town but the two of them there.

Upon the bridge

My heart does beat

Between the waves  

We will be saved  

The air we breathe  

Can you believe?  

Learn to forgive upon the bridge!"

They weren't dancing, they were flying. The comfort and lightness between them was such that neither of them felt like they were acting, they were having fun. Not only was Rocky enjoying it, for Francis singing has always been her passion, but since things at the venue became difficult, she had stopped enjoying music and dancing a while ago, as it had only become a job. And for the first time in a long time, she was having fun.

On s'aime comme ça, la Seine et moi

That’s how we are, the Seine and I

On s'aime comme ça, la Seine et moi

That’s how we are, the Seine and I"

They had finished the song, and only the last chords remained, and they would make the most of them. Dancing simultaneously.

Their chemistry on stage was strong, drawing everyone's delighted gazes. And in turn, Mordicai Heller's curiosity.

They finished dancing and bowed goodbye. They both returned to their reality and noticed that the handful of people on stage had gone crazy with their performance. Praise, applause, whistles, and flowers that had been decorations on the tables flew towards them. Maybe there weren't that many people that night, but the enthusiasm that heated the place had not been seen in years. And that moved Francis.

They both held hands and walked backward, letting the curtain fall completely, hiding them in the shadows again.

Rocky was still ecstatic about the success they had and the great time they had together, it had him smiling from ear to ear. Without realizing that he was still holding her hand.

"You were astounding!" Francis exclaimed to her partner. "I didn't know you were such a good singer, or... or a guitarist."

"When I was traveling I began to fiddle with other string instruments. Heck, I sometimes played my violin like a ukulele."  

"Well, it paid off. You were amazing out there! oh Please tell me you will join us.”

"Of course!" Rocky smiled at her, nodding his head. And as soon as he noticed that his hand was still linked to hers, he quickly pulled away.

“Magnificent! Success like this has to be celebrated!" Nicodeme Savoy said, entering with the bouquet of roses and his sister brought them a bottle of champagne and two glasses. “As always, mon cher, you were resplendent! None of the works of art in the Louvre could compare to the beauty you exuded tonight!”

“Um... thank you... Madam and Messueir Savoy,” Francis said, quite uncomfortable with the male twin kissing her hand for a long time, withdrawing it because, to a certain point, she began to feel disgusted.

“And you skinny boy! Quite sensational."

"I must say, my dear... you had never told us about this great talent that you and your mom had in store," Serefine said, pulling her tightly from her shoulder to her side while she watched Rocky intrigued.

The boy saw the Savoy's disrespectful action towards Francis, causing him quite a bit of displeasure.

The Female Savoy gestured for Mordecai to serve them, Francis, and Rocky a drink, which none of them except the twins themselves took.

“This is Rocky err... Bernard, he was passing through, and... he was at the auditions,” She said separating herself from the commissioner and approaching Rocky again.

“Where did you say he came from again, my dear?” The black cat was getting dangerously close to the singer who was already beginning to feel quite afraid of being discovered.

“F-from... from the south! Yes, from the south of France...” Francis laughed nervously as she stood between Heller and the poor Rickaby.

“I understand...” Mordecai walked away, still intrigued by the mysterious masked man “Well, my dear Francis, we must leave, it was lovely to see you today, but I must get up early tomorrow to attend to important matters with Sweet's at the office. By the way, I hope you consider his offer.”

“W-what... offer?”

“The one about you coming to sing at the charity event! You know, for the victims affected by the curfew and the monster.”

“A-ah right! charity, of course, Madame Savoy. I'll have to ask my mother.”

“Excellent! We'll see each other in front of the town hall then, I hope to see you and your... friend perform,” Nicodeme said, watching Rocky with intrigue, again kissing Francis's hand for more than the time that could be considered comfortable.

Heller removed the full glasses from each one, and a waiter gave the enormous bouquet to Francis before the Marigold gang left the place.

Who do you think you are to drool on my hand like that?! "That... those... charlatans!" Francis exclaimed, throwing Pascal's bouquet away as she entered her dressing room with Rocky behind her, who was quite scared of her anger. Despite her angelic face, her temper was somewhat frightening.

“She took me by the waist without any of my consent! And 'Francis please this matter of thinking is not suitable for a young lady' Well Mommy this matter has affected us now so what choice do we have but to think about it! As if ignoring will make it disappear. Please!" The furious girl exclaimed as she entered the screen to change her clothes.

Rocky had sat on the couch, somewhat intimidated by the girl. He turned around to see her while she was talking, but when he saw the clothes she left behind the screen as a sign that she was changing, he felt a great heat rise to his cheeks and turned around. Turning his face to avoid looking in that direction. The mere idea of imagining her undressing made him uneasy, and those thoughts were not appropriate for the gentleman he tried to be with others. Especially with Francis throwing a fit.

"I'm sorry if I'm complaining too much Rocky, maybe I'm being too demanding," said the girl in a nightgown and a lavender wool shawl over her, her hair was loosely combed in a rather loose braid over her right shoulder. "It's just that... my mother has been asking me to give dating a chance so that I won’t continue to overwork myself from working in this place, she says that I could use some more friends my age that aren't you know... but... I don't think that's in the cards for me."

Rocky saw poor Francis, sitting next to him with her legs bent on the sofa, resting her face on her arms that were resting on her knees. Without the glamorous makeup that he always saw on stage when he had the chance to see her when he wasn't on a beer run. Without her tight lace and silk dresses, and her loose hair spread everywhere.

He no longer saw the Francis who shined on stage, he saw only a tired girl, with a good heart, who did her best to maintain her home by doing what she loved. And that made him admire her even more than he did before. "I guess you'll have to settle for our rag tag crew." she laughed. 

“But you know? Not everything was so bad... today I met you, and I had fun like I haven't in a long time,” she said looking at Rocky, resting her head on her knees with a sincere smile “Thank you.”

That thank you along with that sweet and tired smile made him feel nervous, his stomach began to fill with tender butterflies while he and he watched her.

"You shouldn't be the one who should be grateful, I am," Rocky said to her. He suddenly brought up the flowers that Francis had thrown in a corner to her face. "Oh, Rocky... aren't these the flowers from Marigold?"

"They are the flowers you threw away but they aren’t from Marigold," Rocky replied as Francis took the bouquet.

"Oh, then Who?"

"That would be me, my dear," Pascal said standing in the doorway.

"Pascal!" Rocky and Francis exclaimed, happy to see the old cat. "What are you doing here?"

"He came to check on you two. Same as us." Bluebeard said as He freckle, Ivy and Pascal entered the dressing room.

Rocky: "Hey, you guys came to see us perform."

"No, we came to make sure you didn't get yourself killed. You made a huge risk with Marigold being her Roark." Freckle whispered in a stern tone.

"I didn't know they were here until they came to congratulate us."

"What?!"

"Relax, I was in disguise, I doubt they recognize me," Rocky said. 

Francis: "That's because they know the police are patrons here and if they try anything then the heat will be on them and the Marigold room."

Bluebeard: "But why would they come back now after the last time when I found a corpse? This is the second time they showed."

Rocky: "Well they asked Francis if we could perform at a charity that Sweets is holding?"

Freckle: "You are not going."

Rocky: "Well duh but Francis is..."

Bluebeard: "Also not going because she is connected with you and your cousin."

"I would agree but given the circumstances, I may not have a choice."

Pascal: "She has a point besides if a police officer is with them I'm sure they will be fine if the event is done during the day because I doubt Sweets would be foolish enough to throw a benefit close to curfew."

Ivy: "Well worry about that later right now we need to talk about the poster."

Rocky: "Oh yeah Bluebeard why was my face plastered like that?"

"The cops had more questions for you and tried to contact you but your aunt said you didn't live with her and she didn't have the number to your current residence." Bluebeard explained, "When they tried to locate you they found that you had been involved in several acts of destruction."

"Oh grand," Freckle said dryly.

"Lucky for you I told them I knew where to find you and if you come willingly you just need to pay a fine."

"How much a fine?"

Bluebeard whispered the amount in the gray tom's ear, "That's more than what I make in a month, and that if we have a good one!"

"Oh great don't know how I'm going to explain this to me ma," Freckle sighed.

"I have a solution," Francis offered, heading to her dresser to brush her hair, "We need a busboy cause the last one quit and a violinist to fill in one show night."

Bluebeard: "I don't know if you noticed but your boyfriend needs to pay the fine by this week."

"I'll pay for the fine and he can work it off," Francis replied. "Sounds good to me," Rocky said.

Ivy: "What will your mother and granny say about this?"

Francis: "We'll my mother pretty much hired Rocky to be in the band but as for my granny she may have objections." 

Bluebeard: "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth kid. Rocky since I have you here mind answering those questions the cops had for you?"

Rocky nodded and answered all the questions while Bluebeard recorded.

Later it was late and everyone had left for home.  Francis and. Rocky retired to the room they had been sharing the last few nights.

Francis took out some blankets that she brought from her house.

Rocky, who was left with only his pants and shirt on, lay down on the sofa, as Francis fixed the bed up. 

"Are you done?"

"See for yourself," she told him, Rocky went to the bed and laid down. "Ah."

"Are you comfortable?" she asked kindly.

Rocky nodded, tucked in as if he were a child.

“Well, good night Rocky. It was an honor to have worked with you today.” Suddenly someone knocked on her door.

"Honey, everyone has already left the premises! I'm going to sleep in the guest room, my back is killing me! Come say goodnight as soon as you've changed!” Said her mom Cathy through the other side of the door.

“Of course, Mommy!” She replied, “See you tomorrow, Rocky.” Francis said goodbye, leaving the room.

There was so much to process, he had never had such an exciting day. And even when he thought everything was over for him, she came to save him again.

Before he only fell in love with what she showed on stage, her charm, her elegance, her talent. But now, he had known a part of her that he had never seen, he knew her character, her simplicity, even with her problems. Everything about Francis suddenly became something new, he was no longer attracted to the vague illusion of a star that she showed on stage, he saw a human being as complex and tired as him, and he loved that too.

He wanted to learn more from her. And if he was lucky, it seemed, if one day he became a human again perhaps his feelings could be reciprocated.

Promising himself that he would do everything possible to protect his identity to stay by her side a little longer until he no longer needed to hide or repay his debt, and if possible, keep that beautiful smile that had enchanted him so much on her face.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Francis was walking around the neighborhood, watching for the killer. She was especially cautious because of the comment Bluebeard made the previous night. Now that she knew the killer had no qualms with killing any gender or age of the cat, everyone, including herself, had to stay on their toes.

As she trotted along the sidewalk, she heard rustling in the grass. Freezing, she sniffed at the air. The scent was a cat and was very vaguely familiar. Scowling, she slowly walked down the sidewalk, listening carefully. The rustling seemed to be following her.

Whipping around quickly, Francis leaped into the bushes, tackling another person. After they tumbled away a foot or two and landed where she was pinning him down, she realized it was a sandy-colored cat like the one she had met before.

"So, you found me," He said. "Of course, you probably heard me behind you."

Francis scowled down at him. "Who the hell are you?!"

"Ah, so you do speak. Let me up, and I will tell you."

Francis tentatively backed off of the cat, still glaring at him. "Now then, my name is Chrochoch."

"And what exactly are you, Chrochoch?"

"A new breed of feline… yet old. Old and new."

"What on earth does that mean?"

"You're a smart female, Francis. You figure it out on your own."

"How do you know who I am?"

"That, I cannot tell you."

"Are you here to try and discourage me and my friends from finding the murderer? Because we are nearly there."

"I suppose you are still insistent on finding the murderer. I applaud you and your friends for your perseverance and determination. You and your friends are quite intelligent."

"I've heard that before." She scoffed. "And don't try to butter me up with flattery. You and your lot have been obscure enough that I suspected one you of—"

"Being the murderer? I'm afraid you have the wrong cat, my dear." Chrochoch smiled. "Of course, with your intelligence, you shouldn't have trouble finding the actual murderer."

"I can't solve the mystery on my own. Bluebeard is the one who is closer to finding the murderer anyway with his police connections. Especially with the few clues your friend left mine."

"My frien—oh! Nhozemphtekh, you mean?"

"… I don't know. She didn't tell Rocky her real name."

"She mentioned meeting him in your building along with you."

"Bluebeard also told me about your kind," Francis curled her lip. "Particularly that you are wilder than us and with the rowdy company i keep that’s saying something.”

"Is that bad?" Chrochoch raised an eyebrow.

"Only the fact that I fear you, or your mastermind, may try and choke us domestic cats out of the neighborhood, if not out of existence entirely."

"You don't trust me?" Chrochoch purred, beginning to circle Francis.

"Not in the slightest." She sniffed. "I wouldn't trust you, or any of your shady pals if you were the last cats on earth. Thank heavens you aren't."

"You don't even find me a bit… attractive?"

"There's a slight appeal to your appearance, I'll give you that. But being that I and my household aren't the most glorious cats, I've learned to look past appearances, and look more into a person's personality."

"Your loud friend and his cousin certainly have… interesting personalities."

"They may not be the most subtle or mature, but their hearts are in the right place," Francis turned away, flicking up her tail. "If you'll excuse me, I must return to my walk."

"…Good luck, Francis."

That evening, Pascal and Francis gathered almost every cat in the neighborhood at the latter's building for a meeting. On the second floor where Francis and Rocky first encounter Joker who is still missing, so he didn't show.

Pascal and Francis sat on the electricity-creating machine, which had been turned off, while Bluebeard, Rocky, Calvin, and Ivy sat on the box nearby.

"My friends," Pascal said to the huge crowd. "We are grateful that so many of you were able to attend this meeting."

"You better have a good reason for this, gramps!" Kong snapped from the back of the room. "Otherwise, someone's going to pay dearly for making me miss my favorite show!"

Several cats, including the Hermans, laughed. Francis hissed loudly, making everyone freeze. "Kong, you pea-brained, idiotic rhinoceros!" Francis scowled. "Don't you care that we're trying to find the one who hurt Solitaire?! Who you say you 'loved'?"

Ouch. That's quite a burn.

Shaking with anger, Kong growled, "I'll catch the bastard sooner or later anyway!"

"You won't catch anyone!" Francis countered. "Do you think he'll someday find you and beg for your forgiveness?"

"I was just joking," Kong mumbled.

"I don't care. What I do care about is that the killer doesn't have the same sense of humor as you or I."

"Francis is right this is no laughing matter. This madman has already proven to have no regard for women and children how long before he targets more?!" Calvin announced making the cats think seriously as they brought their children in a protective embrace.

Pascal took over, "Francis and I looked over the data, and have discovered something: The murderer hasn't claimed seven lives… but rather four hundred and fifty!"

Everyone in the room gasped in horror. Even Rocky, who hadn't been around when they made the discovery, shuddered. 'Four hundred and fifty dead?! No wonder Jesaja's home is decorated with bones and corpses!'

"These murders—these murders!" Pascal shouted briefly, silencing the crowd. "They are more than likely connected to the ghastly secrets of the criminal Preterius's laboratory long ago. Horrible experiments were conducted on many of you, though you may not remember it."

Looking around, Ivy noticed a lot of the chattering cats had some sort of disfigurements or scars. Looking to her left, she noticed Bluebeard examining his mangled paw with a thoughtful expression. She patted his right paw with her left paw, smiling sympathetically.

"Quiet!" Kong yelled, silencing the crowd. "Haven't any of you wondered why a lot of us crawl or hobble around the neighborhood like wrecks?! So, be quiet, and let him continue! Perhaps he can present us with the murderer."

"No, I'm afraid I haven't drawn that conclusion yet," Francis shook her head. "But I may be able to reveal some truth." She glanced among the crowd, continuing, "I know a great many of you, fellow brothers and sisters, pay homage to the late Claudandus, who suffered the worst torment in Prof. Preterius's labo—"

"He didn't die." A small voice said.

Everyone in the crowd turned to a small, light-gray female cat with pretty light-green eyes. "And why do you think that?" Francis asked.

"Great-grandfather told me so," The young cat said.

"And who is your great-grandfather?"

"Father Joker." She answered.

Francis's ears perked up curiously. Rocky, Freckle, and Ivy glanced at Bluebeard in surprise, who shrugged. "Tell us more, please," Francis said.

"He told me that Claudandus escaped and challenged the monster to a fight, and won," The small cat continued. "By killing him."

After a brief pause, Francis said, "My friends, the only one who could tell us what Claudandus looked and could lead us to him, is Joker. But Joker is dead—"

"Gone!" Pascal interrupted with a surprisingly harsh expression. He turned to the confused crowd and continued, "If you ask me, Joker has assumed the prophet's identity. Claudandus is dead. No one could have survived such torture, I assure you. But Joker lives and has run. Thanks to sister Francis, his sinister plans have been foiled!"

Rocky scowled at Pascal. Not because he gave sole credit to Francis; he no longer cared about that. It was because he had been so quick to blame Joker for the deaths that it made him suspicious. Especially with the story the young cat had told them. If he knew anything about children, they believed anything their family told them. 'After all, why would Joker lie to his great-granddaughter? Unless what he told her was the truth. In that case, we need to find Joker and get this mess straightened out.;

Shaking her head, Francis leaped off of the generator and left the room, followed by Bluebeard, Freckle, Ivy, and Rocky. "Bluebeard," She whispered as the other cats passed them by. "I want to go to Joker's house. I know you three already searched it, but I feel Joker couldn't truly have left. Something happened to him."

Sighing bitterly, Bluebeard agreed, "All right, I'll take you there later."

"I already told you two I searched his place, top to bottom," He later said when he, Francis, and the Lackadaisy trio arrived at Joker's house.

"Exactly!" Francis said. "You were looking in his place and looking up. You couldn't see the top of the shelves."

"Too lazy to climb, Bluebeard?" Rocky chuckled.

He rolled his eyes with a grunt, leading them to the doorway he had used to enter the house before but now it was boarded and nailed shut.

Pawing at the boards, Bluebeard asked, "What now?"

“Looks like someone doesn’t want anyone to come inside,” Rocky said. “Hey, Frecks any chance you and Miss Pepper brought the tools.”

“Does it ever occur to you that a cop is standing right in front of us?!” Freckle asked his cousin. “So, no?” Rocky said, Freckle and Ivy facepalmed.

“You’re lucky you’re cute Rocky,” Francis sighed.

Looking around, Bluebeard spotted a tall tree, with strong branches near the roof of the house. "Well, I guess we'll have to do this the hard way." he sighed, approaching the tree.

"Shall I climb instead?" Francis asked. "I think without my shoes, I'm a bit lighter in weight. Besides, I've climbed trees numerous times in my life."

“It’s true the first time we met she was up a tree.”

"If you'd like." Bluebeard shrugged.

"Just don't fall," Ivy said.

"I'll try not to." she smiled. Taking a deep breath, she began climbing up the tree, digging her long claws into the bark. She gasped when her paw slipped.

Down below, Rocky and Bluebeard gasped as well. The Manx groaned worriedly while the gray tabby watched the blue cat closely, ready to pounce and cushion her fall in case she slipped and fell.

She soon made it to the thickest branch that also led to the roof of the house. She hugged the branch and inched along it like a caterpillar. Unfortunately, the snow made it slippery, and she screamed as she slipped off, barely managing to grab the branch with her claws.

"Franc!" Bluebeard exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

Rocky held a paw in front of him and yelled, "Are you all right?"

"Piece of cake!" She scoffed, climbing back onto the branch. "I'm all right!" Under her breath, she mumbled worriedly, "Oh, I'm gonna die." As soon as she was sure she was secure, she glanced at the ground, gulping nervously when she saw how small Bluebeard and Rocky were on the ground.

Taking a deep breath, she ran along the branch and leaped onto the roof, sighing heavily with relief when she sank into the cold snow. She found a window that looked inside, covered with frost. Wiping it away with her paw, she peered inside, finding a room full of china and statues of cats. Among them on the top shelf, curled up, was Joker. From what she could tell, his throat had been slit, and his blood coated his chest and arms, and dripped on the shelves and pottery around him.

"Well?!" Ivy called from down below. "What do you see?"

Francis turned around and poked her head out from above the roof to see Rocky and Bluebeard. "I was right. Joker was murdered. But this one was different: he allowed it."

"You mean he was executed?" Bluebeard asked.

"But why would Joker have allowed himself to be killed?" Freckle wondered out loud, climbing back onto the branch. "What secret did he have to keep and take to the grave?"

"Claudandus!" Francis exclaimed. "His great-granddaughter was right: Claudandus is still alive!"

"How're you gonna get back down, Toots?" Bluebeard asked Francis, who was against the trunk of the tree by now.

Thinking briefly, she smiled, "Easy. Easy-peasy." She sunk her claws into the bark of the trunk and began slowly climbing backward and down the tree. About halfway down, however, her feet, which had merely been braced against the tree, slipped. With a scream, she fell down and into the snow.

Rocky and Freckle ran to her. "Are you okay?" Freckle asked.

Francis poked her head up and shook the snow off. "Like I said, easy-peasy."

"Yeah, 'easy-peasy.'" Ivy scoffed. "Ya almost gave me a heart attack!"

"I didn't mean to slip several times," Francis shivered as a breeze blew by as she stood back up.

"Let's go back to the house and regroup," Rocky suggested as he gave Francis his coat. "We could get warmed up, food, and try to think."

"You had me at 'food,' Smartass," Bluebeard remarked, following Francis away from the house.

"Surprise, surprise." Ivy shook her head with a smile, following the males closely.

Chapter Text

Rocky's pov

After discovering Joker's body, I was too tired to continue and the five of us dragged our cold pelts back to Francis's house. Bluebeard collapsed onto a soft cushion and fell asleep almost at once. For once, I envied him right at that moment.

I settled down on the couch and to my surprise, Francis settled down next to me, our pelts brushing up against each other. I stared at her as she washed her front paws for a moment, then I laid my head down and closed my eyes. The darkness of sleep overcame me, and I slipped off into a dream.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a place, nowhere that could be identified—only a void of clouds and mist. The shadowed mist would also come by, giving the place a deep feeling. This was different from my other dreams. It was calmer, yet it still had that need of great importance.

"Ah, Roarke…" A gentle voice spoke out and a shape appeared through the mist. Then two sparkling objects appeared and turned out to be eyes. At first, they appeared to be the yellow eyes from all my dreams, but when the figure drew closer, I found they were kinder and belonged to a cat.

The cat had long perfect white fur that hurt to look at directly, like the sun. His eyes were glowing jewels, and his was larger than mine and looked more powerful, yet he seemed to be filled with kindness and nothing else. I recognized him, even if this was a dream, and he was just my imagination, he was Frith. The cat from the story I had learned long ago.

"You're the cat who died to save everything." I said and he nodded and said "Yes, I am. And I am so much more than that now. I am the message from everything to you."

"What?" I asked curious and then he gave me a sorrow-filled look and then spoke.

"This world is Corrupted, Roarke. Life is full of Hate, Loss, Misery, Agony, Sorrow, Mistrust, Lies, Evil, Stupidity, Greed, Envy, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Wrath, Pride, Darkness, Death, Torment, Poison, Venom, Disasters, Illness, and Backstabbing. All imperfections of life… And yet, in the hearts of Felidae everywhere… we always seem to find some light to guide our way… just like you can…"

His words seemed to say exactly what they meant. I gave him a nod and said "I know… but how can I? I may be next on the killer's list! Or Francis! They already took so many lives!"

"Because you must put the puzzle together. The killer is the puzzle and he wants you to solve it." Frith said and then I titled my head and said "How? Each day it seems everything becomes more complicated!"

"Complicated because you're overlooking it." Frith said and then added, "Think back to what you know about it all, where it started and where it might have ended." It became quiet and then Frith leaned forward and whispered "Learn from Mankind's mistakes, follow the plan of Claudandus, and choose what is best for us, the Felidae..."

I looked at him and then he turned and started to walk off, fading into the mist. As he started to disappear he called back to me and said "And be careful Rocky! Or the world shall cry for you as well…"

All at once I opened my eyes and I was back in Francis's house. Beside me Francis slept away, Bluebeard doing the same. Freckle and Ivy are on the couch across doing the same. I lifted my head and thought back to the dream.

"Learn from mankind's mistakes; follow the plan of Claudandus…" I repeated to myself. 'Plan of Claudandus…'

Francis started to stir awake, "Rocky what is it?" she asked with a yawn.

"You know how you've been having dreams since the case started?" she nodded, "Well, I had a dream of my own."

She perked up, "What did it tell you?" she asked.

I explained my dream the best way I could but quoted the words that stuck out the most "...The world is corrupted, and the killer is the puzzle and to follow the plan of Claudandus whatever that is."

Francis got her thinking face on, "Rocky, what was it that Cleo said the times you met?"

"That he didn't want you getting too close, they were going back and he didn't want to change the course of her breed which was old and new."

"That's what Chroc said as well. Of course! That was it!"

She leaped from the couch and headed for a bookcase in the living room. "Our dreams had all been clues. The first was about Claudandus. How he was tested on, and put in cages. And those sad eyes I saw in the beginning belonged to him. The second nightmare, those were the new-old Felidae, the ones like Chrochoch and Cleo." she whispered to me.

I looked up and saw a section of encyclopedias. Taking a daring leap, she snagged her paw on one book and it came crashing down. The noise startled Bluebeard and he woke up looking around.

I looked at him and said "Go back to sleep, I accidentally knocked this book down. Trying to check out a theory…" I said with a smile. He didn't think much of it, closed his eyes, and laid his head back down. Once we were sure he had fallen asleep again, Francis pushed open the cover and flipped through the pages. The same couldn't be said for Freckle and Ivy.

"What are you two up to?" asked Ivy.

"We may have cracked the case?" I said.

"Really? I thought that with Joker dead, we were at square one," said Freckle

Francis brought out two books and opened one about Ancient Egyptians. "No, it's just more complicated like hieroglyphics." 

As we gathered around Francis my eyes caught a familiar shape, "Francis look isn't that?"

"Yes, it is," she clarified as she opened the encyclopedia. 

Ivy and Freckle were confused but looked at the picture, "I feel like I've seen this cat before." said Ivy.

"That's because you have," I said. Francis spoke up, "Here, under G listed genetics. Discovered by G.J. Mendel using Pea Plants. Like in my second dream where they grew all over the bookcases. We were being bred back into our past."

"Were being what?"

"The cats murdered did not possess the qualities the killer needed to continue this breeding program. He had disposed of them so they wouldn't ruin the whole thing."

"And asking them not to do that was out of the question?"

"No Freckle it was a last resort. Felicity said that the killer spoke to them with urgency and I think we all know what it was about."

"He gave them a chance to leave with their lives but they didn't listen," concluded Ivy. "All because they found them too hard to pass up."

"So, Jesaja was tricked into helping cover up the murders. Felicity, Solitare, and all the others were sacrifices to his crazy plan to revert us to cavemen?" Freckle guessed.

"Not cavemen, this." I pointed to the picture of Cleo's breed. "Proud, dangerous Felidae, a breed that even the local pickpocket wouldn't steal from for a million bucks."

"One that could stand up to monsters and take them down, take over the earth, and rule the planet, back to the dawn of time when our species came," Francis said with a far-off look in her eyes.

"Why? Why is this all happening?" asked Freckle.

"Revenge; it was the plan of an insane, vengeful madman! That is the dream of Claudandus." I said understanding what Firth was telling me. "To get back at those like the scientist who tortured him in that lab, not letting anything get in his way."

"Too bad for him he let us get too close," said Francis.

"What do you mean Francis? Sure we have a motive, and we all know that Claudandus is alive but we don't know where he is?" asked Ivy.

Francis went back to the table and looked at the picture of Mendel. "Sadly Ivy I have a feeling we do know. After all who else has a picture of Mendel on his wall?" 

My eyes widened, as everything started to come together, the words the information, the lists, "...Pascal."

Chapter Text

After we gathered the clues we decided to wake Bluebeard up. "Bluebeard wake up!" said Freckle.

"What now?"

"We know who Claudandus is?" Ivy said.

"Who?"

"Fresh liver doesn't ring any bells?" Rocky asked slyly.

Bluebeard eyes widened, "…Oh my god! How could we have been so blind?! He was right in front of us, the whole time!" he went to dial the phone.

"Freckle, Ivy you go warn Miss May about the wine. Who knows what he put in them." said Rocky.

"Come on, guys!" Francis exclaimed, running out of the room. "We have no time to lose!"

Bluebeard slammed the phone, "Goddammit! How could he have fooled us?!" 

"He fooled us all, Bluebeard." Francis sighed. "But he won't anymore."

The cats soon arrived at their destination. The house was dark and quiet, and a car could be heard driving away. "Okay, you go in through here," Francis said to Bluebeard, nodding at the cat door. "And I'll go straight into the study via the window." 

"Who should I go with?" Rocky asked.

"You go on ahead, kid," Bluebeard said. "I'll be fine on my own."

"Okay but be careful."

"Same to you two." He nodded, slipping into the door.

Gulping nervously, I trotted after Francis, and they both crawled up a tree next to the house. 'This is it. We're going into the house of the murderer. What will we find? What evidence could his computer hold?... What if we're wrong, and he becomes another victim? What if we don't make it out alive?

They finally found the windows leading to the study. Francis pushed one of them open and crawled in. Rocky came in too, and pushed the window shut. "So, he won't escape," he explained.

"Hmm. Good thinking." She nodded, booting up the computer. She found a file marked "FELIDAE." "This must be it." She tried to enter it, but a screen asking for a password popped up. Grumbling under her breath, she typed in "Felidae," but the password was denied.

As she tried another word, Her ears perked up at a yell. "Bluebeard!" She exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

"Shhh!" Rocky exclaimed, the fur on his back standing on end. "Someone might hear you!"

"But—"

"He'll be fine!" He snapped, "You focus on getting this thing open."

"It needs a password," she sighed returning to the screen, "The password would have to be unforgettable, a daily reminder of why he does what he does." 

"Did you try Preterius?" he asked.

Francis typed it in and the file opened with a "ding," and files of dozens of cats appeared.

"Rocky, you're a genius!" Francis smiled.

"It was nothing." he shook his head. "Just a simple guess."

Francis glanced over the files, reading out loud, "Number 278. Pascha. June 18th, 1926. 12:30 AM. Four attempts to mate with Tragiyahn. Four attempts to dissuade him were in vain.'"

Rocky's ears perked up at some familiar names. "Number 447. Felicity. November 29th, 1927. 5:45 AM. She knew too much, and had to go.' 'Number 448. Solitaire. November 30th, 1927. 2:50 AM. I discovered she was pregnant with Khromolhkhan's kits. She was of an undesired breed, and her young would have polluted the pedigree of Felidae.' 'Number 449. Joker. December 1st, 1927. 12:00 PM. My successor is getting nearer to solving the murders...'"

"…You were right, Franky," Rocky sighed. "The killer had to ensure that the selected females were bred with the right males to continue the Felidae breed; if any outsiders attempted… they had to be exterminated."

"Felicity was an exception though. She knew too much." Francis added. "But what about Joker? And what does he mean, 'success—'"

"Have you solved the puzzle now?" A voice asked.

Rocky and Francis turned and saw a familiar Brown Havana poke his head out from around the corner: Pascal…or so he said he was.

"We have indeed, Claudandus," Francis sneered. "But I'm afraid we still have a few holes to fill in. Perhaps you would like to help us out?"

"What did you do to Bluebeard?"

Pascal chuckled and said "I always thought Francour would be the one to get it first. But, then again, I knew you were smarter, you knew more. Ever since the word Felidae escaped your breath."

Francis stared at him, "You knew my father?"

"Don't listen to him Franky he's just trying to buy himself some time."

Pascal sighed and continued. "I'll tell you a story about men." Pascal started, his eyes slowly narrowing, and his voice took a dark tone to it. "A true story about men and animals." He added walking closer.

"Yes, I'm Claudandus." He said and nodded. He then continued by saying, "You're right, I was in the laboratory. I did survive Preterius' unspeakable tortures. And when he snapped, I spoke to him."

"And?"

"You see my dear Rocky, Pretarious was not supposed to understand me for I was a mere animal before he took me in."

"What?!" Francis yelled in shock.

"Fascinating isn't it? He let me out of my cage. Without hesitating I buried my fangs in his throat." He growled, clawing up the floor to make his point.

"Then later Ziebold took me in along with the other survivors. Through him, I started learning Mendel's theory of genetics. It occurred to me that I could turn the cycle of history back to an earlier time of glory for our kind. Ziebold knew we could not go back to normal housecats in his world but we could thrive in this one. Sadly it was not as advanced as our old one so we used what we knew to help us catch up and improve it. We used your old home to help the sick and give solace to the social misfits of this world but soon we began to see that the evil that plagued our old world plagued this one as well. So, we set out to correct it once and for all. We started with a single pair. But soon the program broadened beyond our control. Any bumps we faced were handled discreetly with no bloodshed. The females involved knew how to only get pregnant by the males on the list. As for the males well it was a matter of terminating the unwanted pregnancies before the not chosen ladies realized they were pregnant. A monstrous act on our parts but one we could bear until..."

"You all began killing."

"We only killed those who deserved to suffer at the hands of Feliade for they reminded us of how Peterius tortured us but got away from it. They took pleasure in others' pain and held no remorse. Most of the killings were the Feliades defending themselves at least that was how it began." he looked down. "Sadly over time, my fellow elders died and their brilliant minds deteriorated. Only a few remembered or believed that the lab had existed. My only ally left was Joker. He continued to spread the word that a new age was dawning while I handled the scientific aspects of the project myself." He came even closer, and I placed my paw on the mouse.

"I was forced to kill more, I had no choice. To preserve the racial purity that the new Felidae required." He paused to take a deep breath and sighed. His voice became quieter before he said, "I don't have long. And that was why I lured you here Francis. So, you could become my successor; the leader of the wonderful and mighty Felidae!"

Rocky growled, "And Joker? Why did you go and kill him?"

"He would have told you everything." He said softly and then added "So, there was no choice. And he agreed."

Just like Felicity. He knew too much…and that was his sin.

"And my father?" Francis asked.

"He was a result of my program, despite his dark palette he was the closest of his generation to resemble Felidae in appearance: He was proud, strong, clever, and destined to continue my teachings. But as you can guess that all changed but not all was hopeless for I discovered that he passed on something special to you. A gene that would advance our cause faster because no matter how unlike Feliade you are outside, inside the wild instincts are strong. We changed tactics to see if anyone else had the gene and it proved fruitful. His death saddened me but when I saw you my hope revived."

"Now we know it all. But I wish I didn't." Francis sighed, turning back to the computer. "It's all horrid."

Rocky nodded in agreement. 'All this massacre and killing…to only recreate an old breed? But…wasn't it Preterius's intention to create a "super race" for his experiments? Heh, how ironic. The tortured became the torturer for almost the same reason. It almost sounds like it came from a horror novel.'

"Oh dear, Francis…" Claudandus shook his head. "You live your ordinary little day, and at night you fall into your carefree, ordinary little sleep, full of peaceful, stupid dreams. And I…I brought you nightmares…or perhaps not?" he said smugly. "The world is a hell! And the culmination of all of the ugliness in the world is man!" He gave off a small chuckle. "And you know what, my friends? We're now no different from them."

As he spoke, Francis had clicked a few keys and moved the mouse, highlighting everything to do with the Felidae project, and hovered the mouse over the "delete" icon.

"You're no different!" Rocky yelled back at him. "You think like him, you act like him. So, tell me Claudandus, what is the role of other animals in your world?"

"None at all." Claudandus answered without a beat "They're stupid, and victims of their fate." He said softly as he came closer, now just a few feet away from the desk. "Just like your late employer Atlus May." Rocky's fur bristled up.

"But what about good men?!" Francis yelled the loudest she had ever since first laying eyes on Solitaire's mutilated body. "There are good men out there, Pascal or Claudandus or Felidae or whoever the hell you want to be called—"

"NO! No! There are no good men!" Claudandus yelled, spitting in his rage "They're all bad! They're all the same! Animals are good creatures. Humans are evil animals…" He huffed, taking in breaths to calm himself. "And in this world cats are the humans so we must go back to our roots."

Francis shook her head, "I can barely begin to imagine it. Your former tormentor wanted to create a super race of felines… and you followed in his tracks, despite having hatred for the man. You learned nothing. I may not have come from your world, but I can't agree that all humans are evil."

"Especially when one gave you a new life to be happy only to waste it on revenge."

"Like how you waste yours on maintaining a failure speakeasy.  

Rocky and Francis glared at him.

"We'll fight you in any way we can!" Francis snarled. "With all our strength! I'll tell the world who you are! And we'll start by deleting your program and list of victims!" She sneered, pressing the "delete" icon.

"You can't begin to imagine how deeply I regret this Francis." He said with little regret but they did not turn to face him.

Soon, the entire program was erased forever. With a loud, angry screech, Claudandus attacked with surprising strength and speed, despite his old age and feeble state. Rocky was knocked to the ground, and Francis ducked away.

The computer was knocked to the ground and exploded, causing the curtains to catch fire.

Not noticing, Francis and Rocky glared and growled at Claudandus, hissing and arching their backs. He hissed back and attacked Rocky. They became a scrambling mess of tabby Brown and brown. Claws scratched, teeth bit, and hisses, growls, and yowls sounded, overlapping one another. Rocky scratched down across his left eye, causing him to yowl and freeze momentarily. They both jumped to the ground and began fighting again.

Behind them, the fire grew larger, beginning to engulf the entire room. Claudandus kicked Rocky, who was bleeding from a deep gash in his left ear, hard into the wall, stunning him. He turned to Francis she hissed and arched her back but he jumped onto her.

Though caught by surprise, she fought back with equal vigor. She had longer claws and sharp reflexes, sending blows towards his ears and eyes. however, Claudandus managed to pin her down with size. "And to think I considered allowing your friend into the program as well. Tsk, tsk. Such a sad thought." He pressed one paw down on her chest and grasped her throat in the claws of his other paw. She could feel blood begin to drip down her neck. She scratched and kicked against him, but he didn't move. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rocky slowly get up, shaking his head wearily.

This is it, I'm going to die. But at least that horrid program was deleted… and Claudandus will be gone soon, whether by Rocky's hand or not…

Suddenly, a familiar screech pierced the air, and a large mass tackled Claudandus, knocking the surprised cat off of Sophia.

Once Claudandus was off, Francs rolled onto her front, coughing. When the older, evil cat was pushed off, his claws tugged at her throat, scratching the bare skin underneath and causing more blood to leak out. She looked up to see her savior, and her eyes widened at the sight.

Claudandus stood his ground, hissing at the cat that stood in front of her. Despite the bleeding gashes in his reddish-brown fur, he was recognizable. "Bluebeard!" She gasped. "You're all right!"

Before Claudandus could attack again, Rocky leaped on him, and the fight began. They forgot about Francis and Bluebeard.

He turned around, revealing more scratches on his face. "You all right, Green eyes?" He asked, approaching her.

"We were right, Bluebeard," Francis whispered, still feeling the sticky, warm blood on her throat. "Pascal is Claudandus. He caused this whole mess.

Bluebeard crouched by her and held a hanky to her neck. "He ain't gonna last long, toots."

Looking behind him Francis saw Claudandus standing panting tiredly looming over Rocky. 

Seeing Francis looking at him, and Bluebeard's back turned, Claudandus snarled, baring his teeth. "Bluebeard! Behind you!"

The Manx spun around and stood over the girl, arching his back and hissing. Claudandus threw Rocky at the Manx causing him to fumble down. Before the detective could get up, Clandus leaped for them, arms and claws stretched out. 

Suddenly, Francis leaped over the two toms from behind and sliced through Claudandus's chest and belly, reopening the large scar he got from being vivisected. He fell to the ground, his organs falling out and his ribcage exposed. Bluebeard shook the blood off of himself, blinking in thanks at Francis.

"The horror…" Claudandus gasped from where he lay. "So much pain… darkness… Francis. You look at me… and all you see is evil. But I too… was once… good…" His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and with a pained sigh, he laid still.

Francis stared at him, both happy that he was gone, but sad and sympathetic because even he knew he was evil, but that he wasn't born evil; it was everything that had been done to him that made him crazy and angry. May God have a shred of mercy on your soul, Claudandus…Pascal…our former friend.

Flaming debris began falling, causing the still-roaring fire to grow. "We better get outta here, or we're toast," Bluebeard said.

"Rocky? Is he okay?"

Bluebeard checked his pulse, "He's breathing, but not for long." He and Francis nudged Rocky to his feet, and they all began to descend the stairs into the living room. The fire had begun to spread down there as well; it wouldn't be long before the entire house was up in smoke.

Francis collapsed, exhausted from her injuries. The worst was the four gashes in her throat, which were only beginning to slow down in bleeding. "Come on, Francis!" Bluebeard urged.

"I can't…too…weak."

Bluebeard grabbed her by the scruff and tossed her onto his back. Her legs dangled over his sides and on either side of his head. "Lead the way, Smartass." He nodded, beginning to cough from the smoke.

Both cats staggered out of the house and into the snow. The once-white powder became stained with red as the cats trudged through it, eventually collapsing out of exhaustion, pain, and smoke inhalation.

"ROCKY! FRANCIS!" cried two familiar voices. 

Freckle went to Rocky and Ivy checked on Francis. "It was him wasn't it?" 

"He lost his innocence… Ivy… Freckle," Francis gasped as she and her friends began to fall unconscious. "As man has lost his…"

Behind them, the house that once was home to one of the biggest murderer became completely engulfed in the flames and slowly burned to the ground, taking its secrets and murderous inhabitant with it.

When Rocky became conscious, he was in a white bed in a place that smelled of chemicals, like Francis's apartment, and his left ear had been bandaged. There was a small tube in his arm and a small blanket over his body.

"Bluebeard? Francis?" He called out.

Next to him, he heard familiar grumbles. "Bluebeard? Is that you over there?"

"Who else? Can't believe those lousy firemen—"

"Saved your lives?" Freckle finished dryly. "If they hadn't come around and found you, ye wouldn't have made it. You were all losing blood. Not to mention it was cold and snowy."

Bluebeard scoffed. "Where's Francis?"

"She..."

Then, a man wearing a white coat came pushing a bed into the room. On that bed was Francis unconscious and with a tube in her arm as well, leading to a clear plastic bag. Her throat and abdomen were bandaged.

The man placed her right next to Rocky, Ivy came in and helped the man set her up before he left.

Bluebeard sighed, "Well, it looks like we'll be here for a while."

"Um, about that..." Freckle pointed over, and there across from them was the Marigold gang worse for wear.

"What the hell?"

"They got nosy and did some investigating on Pascal before us turns out he had a few traps in place for them," explained Ivy. "They were in his cellar bleeding to death."

"That was where Pascal had locked me in after he jumped me." said Bluebeard, "If these two worrywarts hadn't come by I would have never gotten to you two in time."

After a few days at the hospital, Francis' family brought all of them home to their house. 

Francs shot out and darted out of the wheelchair. After Cathy left the room, Rocky and Bluebeard stepped out of theirs. "Are you all right, Francis?" The orange male asked.

"…I don't like being kept in one place for long." She said. Her voice was a bit scratchier than before, either from not speaking for a few days or because of the now-scarred wound on her throat.

"You won't have to go through that again, Francis," Ivy said, standing by the chair she was on.

Rocky had three scars next to his left ear on his head. Bluebeard had a few scars on his face and three long scars on his left leg.

Francis herself had two scars on her right side, and four small ones on her throat from where Claudandus had grabbed her. "…I can hardly believe it's over." She muttered, sitting down.

"Neither can I." Rocky agreed, sighing. "I can't believe that it was Pascal all along."

"No one else is going to either," Bluebeard added. "The Marigold gang's testimony stated that he kidnapped them and kept them in his basement any other evidence was burned in the fire."

"What will we tell everyone in the community when they find out 'Pascal' is dead?"

"They all know he had stomach cancer," Francis pointed out. "So they'll just think he expired early. And the fire could have been accidental for all they know. As for the murders, I think it would be best that while they know it wasn't Joker, they shouldn't know it was 'Pascal,' since as Bluebeard said, no one will believe us. They should know that Joker was innocent and Clasudandus was the mastermind all along."

"But they'll ask if he's dead," Freckle said.

"…We'll just let them decide his fate."

All five of the cats sat in silence, mulling over the past events. "…Pascal said some of our elders were experimented on," Bluebeard said. "And he also did some experimenting, right?"

Francis turned to him. "What do you remember?"

"I just remember having terrible pain in my eye, and on my paw." He said, lifting his left hand. "Pascal and his staff did everything to heal me and they help but I never really gave it any thought as to why I'm like this… but I guess I know why."

"And Felicity must have been in that lab as well," Rocky added. "She said she remembered men standing over her, and a bright light shined into her eyes."

Rocky sighed heavily. "So many victims of Preterius… so many opportunities to have been as corrupted as Claudandus… I'm just glad it's all over."

"And that we're alive… despite being a bit scraped up." Francis chuckled.

Laughing as well, Rocky nodded. "It sure has been a fun ride," Bluebeard remarked.

"I'm glad I decided to stay here."

"What do you mean?" Ivy asked.

"I usually don't stay as long as I do in separate towns," Francis explained. "But I'm glad I decided to stay, despite the grisly events. I'm also glad because I've never had closer friends than you two." She kissed Ivy, Freckle, and Bluebeard's cheek. Then nuzzled Rocky's face, smiling wider when he nuzzled back.

"So now what do we do?"

Rocky began to play his violin reminding me of a song my father sang to me. Though my throat was sore I couldn't help but sing along to it.

See my face, wet with tears
Running down my cheeks
Washing over my fears
Like rain upon the streets

Claudandus was dead, mankind is safe. Although the memory of Claudandus would not be forgotten, the Sect still believed in his divine tale and would continue to for generations to come. The New-Olds were now no longer a part of any program and were free to mate as they wish, just as the other brothers and Sisters of the district. And the deaths of those who died for the unholy cause would not be forgotten. Sascha, Deep Purple, Felicity, Tom and Francour. They would all be remembered for a long time.

Everyone in the sect moved to one location and would no longer use my building. Kong and Solitaire helped with Joker's duties along with his great-granddaughter.

I'm a monster but,
My heart is passionate and profound
I will sing like April showers
Singing 'til my final hour

Francis moved out of her family's house and into the building with Rocky. Once they get the boxes in they share a kiss.

But up here, everything's clear
I'm looking at Paris
I know eventually
You will find the meaning of
This thing that they call love

Things at Marigold and Lackadaisy went back to normal but they didn't outright hunt each other down. However, that doesn't mean things won't stay peaceful for long. 

So the end of this poem,
If it really has a moral
This boogeyman wants you to know
That love is in the soul" Francis finished the song but was not in her living room. She was dressed on a stage with a disguised Rocky in front of a crowd cheering at the performance.

"Thank you. This song was special to me because my father would sing it whenever I was sad. I hope his music helps give comfort to those who have lost someone these past months. Which is why we thank you for coming to support our cause." 

Ivy and Freckle collected donations from the crowd to help the families of the victims. As Agnes brown and Cathy get seats with Nina McMurry the real show starts.

"Now this next song was from a friend of a friend. But he was an idol to me and he knew how important being a cat was."

Everyone snaps their hands.

Everybody wants to be a cat
Because a cat's the only cat
Who knows where it's at
Rocky: Tell me!
Everybody's pickin' up on that feline beat
'Cause everything else is obsolete

A square with a horn
Makes you wish you weren't born
Every time he plays

But, with a square in the act
You can set music back To the caveman days
Cha cha ba dum bo day

I've heard some corny birds
Who tried to sing

Still a cat's the only cat
Who knows how to swing

Betty: Who wants to dig a long-haired gig
Or stuff like that When everybody wants to be a cat? Meow!

Everybody wants to be a cat
Because a cat's the only cat
Who knows where it's at

While playing jazz you always have
A welcome mat
'Cos everybody digs a swinging cat

A square with a horn
Makes you wish you weren't born
Every time he plays
Rocky and Betty: With a square in the act
You can set this music back
To the caveman days

Francis, Betty, and Rocky:
Yes, everybody wants to be a cat
Because a cat's the only cat
Who knows where it's at

While playin' jazz
You always has a welcome mat
'Cause everybody digs a swinging cat

Rocky: Beware of the square, when he offers to share, his milk to sip. 

If he hasn’t been tracked I suggest you provide your own cat nip!

Everybody wants to be a cat

(Betty Cat on the track) -Oooh-

-Everybody wants to be a cat-

-Everybody wants to be a cat-

-Everybody-

Everybody wants to be a cat

Francis plays a harp changing the mood.

If you want to turn me on
Play your horn, don't spare the tone
And blow a little soul into the tune~

Rocky: "Let's take it to another key

Betty: Modulate, and wait for me
I'll take a few ad-libs and pretty soon...

Rocky: The other cats will all commence
Congregatin' on the fence

Francis: Underneath the alley's only light, Where every note is out of sight...

Drum and piano change tempo.

Everyone: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Francis: Hallelujah!
Betty & crew: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Betty: I'm telling you!
Everyone: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Rocky: Yeah!
 Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Betty: Mmmm!

Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Betty: Hallelujah!
Everyone: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat...!