Static Reflections: Book 1 of The M... - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

"Ghost?" the female sheep asked, looking between Nick and Richard.
"Yes. You see, the PI you hired before, Dr. Morton, has contacted us on the matter after his investigations," Richard nodded.
"Then why didn't he come back and do the job himself?" she asked, curling her finger in her virgin white wool.
"Because that's our job," the raccoon told her. "And we're here to do it."
"Let me see some badges, then."
Nick spoke up, then. "Badges? Come on. Don't you want to get rid of this ghost?"
"So . . . you don't have badges?"
The hyena tugged at the orange sherbert-colored band on his arm. "We don't use badges." He tried to recall the revelation protocol. "We promise we won't do anything to harm you. Can we please come in so we can explain?"
Richard watched the hyena talk, somewhat shocked that he had taken over the conversation. He would try and make it easier for Nick, but the yellow-tied animal was taking care of it.
The sheep sighed and nodded. "Very well. I can always call the police if you cause trouble." She waved for them to come inside, and they followed, entering the tiny home. They strolled into a living room where the TV had constantly been flipping through moving images, uncaring if anyone was watching or not. The couch was a light coffee color with a cozy vermillion blanket folded over the back of it. The dark chocolate coffee table held a miniature white pot with a fake plant poking out of the false soil. A single black bookshelf sat to the left of the TV. The female sheep set herself down on the couch as Richard and Nick stood in front of her. "So, who are you?"
"My name's Nick," said the hyena, putting a hand on his chest. "And this is my partner Richard like we've explained before."
"My name is Veronica Wirey," the female animal commented. "I wasn't asking your names. I'm asking what company you work for."
The questioned hyena glanced at Richard and saw a slight nod. "We work for the Mortal Guard. An organization which protects animals like you from creatures like them, the supernatural."
Veronica just looked at them both. "Well, if it'll stop the crying I hear at night . . . I might as well take the shot. But any funny business and you're out. I already called a PI once."
Nick nodded. "Don't worry. You see this yellow tie? It means this is my first real mission. I want to help you."
Richard looked at him. "You didn't have to tell her that."
"I'm just trying to make her understand that we won't do anything but try and figure this out," Nick shrugged. "Mind if we take a look around?"
Veronica was still looking at his yellow tie when she said, "Okay."
"Come on, Richard," the hyena said as they began skulking around the animal's small abode, searching for any type of sign that something paranormal was afoot. Down cramped hallways with hanging picture frames and a blinking light, into the kitchen and dining room which only had a big enough table for two, past the bathroom, which had a rather dirty mirror, to a closed door at the end of a corridor.
Richard called back. "Mind if we check in here?"
Veronica appeared behind the corner. "Quiet, you two!" she whispered intensely. "My husband's in there. He's been very sick lately, so he's resting."
Nick put his hand on the knob. "I'd still like to peek in there if that's alright."
Veronica bit her lip for a moment. "Don't make a sound. You're lucky the door's hinges were just oiled a few days ago."
"Speaking of, how long has your husband been sick, Mrs. Wirey?" Richard interrogated, pulling out a notepad Nick didn't even know he had.
"That was a few days ago, too," she said, leaning against the walls and crossing her arms. "The squeaking was bothering my husband so much I had to call my brother and get him to oil it." She stepped closer to the well-dressed duo, looking at her feet. "I don't know how much he's actually sick because the day before he told me he wasn't feeling well, he was feeling down because . . . ." She rubbed her elbow anxiously. "I'm not ready to talk about it with you."
"That's alright. We have time." Richard gave her a kind smile.
Nick, who had been listening to the conversation, slowly turned the knob and pushed in the door slowly, first spotting a lump on the bed where a sheep was sleeping. The room seemed relatively normal with the mattress, nightstand, dresser, closet door, and wall decorations. But one, in particular, stood out to Nick. "Nice mask."
"Oh, that? We've had it forever!" Veronica explained.
The hyena stepped back, shutting the door softly. "Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary there, or here for that matter. And there's no basement, so-- Speaking of, my friend Boris lives in a mansion, and he literally has a basement. Was that, like, custom made, or? Who has a basement in Austin?"
"Nicholas," Richard blinked. "Focus."
"Right, right," the hyena nodded. "Well, there doesn't seem to be anything supernatural that we can tell, but this was just a surface-level test."
Veronica led them back into the living room, where she stood behind the couch, resting her hand on the back of it. "I didn't think you'd find anything during the day."
"Right," Richard agreed, writing some things down. "Nick, I think we should return come nightfall."
The hyena looked around. "Okay, yep. Sounds good to me."
Veronica shepherded them to the door and opened it. "Wait." The two stood still as she ran to the kitchen. The sound of muttering and drawers opening and slamming shut were heard from that side of the house. There was a ripping of some paper, and a second later, she returned and handed it to the raccoon. "This is my number. I'll call you if anything happens."
"Thank you, Mrs. Wirey," Richard grinned again.
"'Course . . . See you tonight?" She seemed hopeful.
"Yeah, we'll be back," Nick responded, exiting out the door and walking down to the pavement below.
Richard waved and then followed, joining him. "Well done, Nicholas."
The hyena beamed. "Hell yeah! It just kind of hit me, you know! I remembered my courses and just did what felt natural. And we played off each other well."
"I suppose it's a type of synergy," Richard chuckled. "There are already reservations at a nearby Elliot Hotel for the both of us. We should go and get settled while we wait for nightfall."
Nick raised a brow. "Like we're gonna get a nap?"
"We can't currently do anything, and it's best to be well-rested for the investigation tonight."
Nick couldn't help but feel the same. "I'm right behind you."
Walking into the Elliot Hotel, the two noticed a medium-sized lobby with wooden floors and a waiting area with a weird striped couch that Nick swore he'd seen in a commercial. They walked up to the counter, where a female panther was on the phone.
"I'm telling you, Dick, I've seen it before," Nick chided. "What's that commercial? What the heck was it? Come on, come on, Nick."
Richard just watched the woman on the phone. "I never really watched television, Nicholas."
"Well, we might be able to in the room," his partner hoped.
"Maybe . . ."
The panther hung up the phone and then gave them a genuine smile. "Heya. Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes, we do," the older raccoon stated. "Do you have anything for Seife . . . ?"
The woman typed on her computer for a moment. "No, nothing . . . any other names?"
"Maybe under Flynn?"
Click, click, click. "Nicholas?"
"Yeah, that's me," the hyena said, raising his clawed hand.
The panther got up and disappeared for only a few seconds before coming back and handing them a white card. "Enjoy your stay. Lost cards don't have a fee, but that's not an invitation!" she laughed. "Anyway, the elevator is straight ahead, floor three."
"Thank you," said Richard.
"My pleasure."
"Thanks," Nick added as he caught up with his partner. "So her husband was, like, sick, huh? But from what? Why didn't she wanna tell us?"
"I'm unsure, but it will come up in time," Richard told him, pressing the button on the elevator, which lit up in response to his touch.
"We have to make sure she isn't going to tell anyone," Nick continued. "I totally forgot at the end . . . ."
"You're doing fine, so far. The mission hasn't even really gotten going yet, so don't worry the fur on your head." There was a loud ding and the elevator doors slowly opened. The two mounted the contraption, and it was Nick's turn to press the button that would take the machine to their destination.
"You don't think she'll tell anyone, though?" Nick asked as the low hum beneath their boots told them the elevator was moving.
"She seems like an animal who knows that people wouldn't believe her if she did. Though if she believes in ghosts . . . I really am unsure."
"Well, this will all be figured out. Hopefully, tonight we'll hear that crying. Can't lie, I'm a little creeped out by the possibility."
"As long as it's a simple spirit, I don't think it will be much of a problem," said Richard. The chamber stopped, and the doors parted, letting the two get off and walk just a little down the dimly lit corridor to the first door on the left. Richard took the white key card and slotted it into the lock perched right above the door handle. With a simple click and turn of the handle, the door was open.
Richard entered, and Nick followed, stopping when they got to the larger open space of the central part of the room. "Don't worry, I won't hog the blankets," Nick announced as they gazed upon a single large bed with creme-colored sheets and a shiny white comforter. The walls were an eggnog color, and there was one large picture of a colorful flower field under blue skies. White curtains cascaded over the window looking out over the city, and just below the sill was a large adjustable air conditioner. In front of the bed was a small entertainment center with a medium-sized television on top of it. The remote was to the side of that on top of a channel guide.
Richard slipped his shoes and jacket off. "I'm going to use the bathroom."
"Okay," Nick said, taking off his boots and jacket as well, which he dropped on the floor. Pulling back one of the curtains and looking outside, he could see that downtown Austin was as bustling as ever. All the animals seemed so tiny down there, and he wondered how many of them were Doubles or how many of them had experienced the supernatural and had their memories changed. It could indeed be anyone.
He let go of the curtain and walked around to the side of the bed closest to the door to the room, getting onto it and laying back against the average pillow.
Richard returned a minute later, seeing the hyena on the bed and the empty spot next to him. As long as I play it safe and we keep our distance, it will be fine. It's Nicholas, after all. He went around to his side and got in, taking out his Guard phone and the piece of paper with Mrs. Wirey's number on it, beginning to put in the information.
Nick looked over. "Wait, how's that gonna work? We're in the MR."
"The phones are designed to be able to work in Prostasia and the Mortal Realm," Richard explained. "But the MR side won't work in Prostasia, which is why we have to stay here while on the mission."
"Ohhh, right, right, right," Nick nodded, turning on his side. "At least we have somewhere comfy to be while we wait."
Done with putting the information in, Richard faced him, observing all the features of his face. His green eyes, dark muzzle, few cheek spots, and round ears. A very kind and gentle look.
"What?" Nick was looking back at Richard, doing the same thing. Those triangle ears, the whiskers, the way his nose stuck out a bit, the always tired-looking eyes. Of course, the silence grew strange, and he broke through it.
"Nothing. I suppose I'm just thinking."
"About?"
"Nothing."
"Well, I'm not thinking about nothing," the hyena sighed. "I have something to ask you."
"Yes?" Richard adjusted his head on the uncomfortable pillow.
Nick turned, looking at the ceiling. "When we met, I told you I wanted you to be your trainee because I knew it would benefit both of us."
"Right."
"Now, our time is coming to an end, and you say you wanna return to the shadows, but you can't."
"Why not?" Richard asked, concerned.
"I meant I don't want you to." Nick felt his face grow a bit hotter. "I still need help, and . . . and you still need help so . . . we can keep helping each other. It's not over yet."
Richard felt his cheeks blush. "Nick . . ."
"Please, be my partner, Rich," the hyena begged, turning his head back and giving him sorrowful eyes. "I know you don't want to be on the front lines, but I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."
Richard's whole body got warmer. "Where is this coming from?"
"It's coming from the fact that I think about us separating at the end of this and throwing away all of the progress we've made. You used to not smile around me, and now you do it more often!"
As if on cue, Richard smiled a bit. "You make it difficult to keep a frown."
Nick nodded. "Just . . . give me a chance. Consider it until the end of this case, please. I don't want to lose contact with you in the ocean of other members. And, I don't want you to just forget about me. We're friends, remember?"
Richard exhaled deeply. "Of course, Nicholas. I will think about it. Let's survive this mission first, alright?"
The hyena, satisfied that he said his piece, turned around with his back facing the raccoon. He pulled the thick blanket over himself. "Yeah, okay. I'm gonna get some rest before tonight. You sleep well, okay?"
Richard hoped that was possible, given their current situation and how his mind was buzzing like a thousand tiny bees. Only, would they pollinate or sting him?