Of Tomkats in Fedoras and She-Kats in the Spotlight, Part 1

Mysteries and Murders

<RJAway> We need something.... like a mystery...
<MaxSK> Ditto....
<MaxSK> Ooooo... a mystery....
<MaxSK> ((::decides to start "something"... produces a flaming limbo bar:: LIMBO!!!))
<Sagey> ((LOL!))
<Sagey> Hrm....if we were to be taken back into the 1920's....
<RJAway> I have NO idea...
<MaxSK> ::snickers, hadda vision of Max inna trenchcoat and fedora carrying on a monologue with himself::
<Sagey> ::snickers:: <Max> They call me...Slick...Mute. T. Slick....I'm a private eye...

::start RP::
<MaxSK> ::meets Nina when she's singing inna night club:: Hey, Sweetheart...
<MaxSK> ::inner monologue:: <And, there she was... The most beautiful dame I'd ever seen...>
<NinaSK> ::is off work:: Well, hello, handsome...
<MaxSK> Can I... buy ya' a drink, Gorgeous?
<MaxSK> <An angel...quite literally...>
<MaxSK> <I mean... Those wings... Ya' don' find many she-kats like that...>
<NinaSK> Why not? ::sits beside him::
<MaxSK> ::motions for the bartender::
<RJ> ::is the bartender and doesn't notice as he's swamped by admiring females::
<MaxSK> Ahem!
<MaxSK> <Clearly, the guy was otherwise detained....>
<NinaSK> So do you come here often? ::watches him, her sparkling red dress enhancing her beauty::
<NinaSK> ((<Mun> ::aside with a mic:: RJ!!))
<RJAway> Ladies ladies! My!
<MaxSK> Not really... Fate must have drawn me here tonight... ::classic full of himself bit::
<RJAway> ::Is getting carried away, LITERALLY...::
<Ladies> ::squeal and carry::
<RJAway> Girls! I've got a JOB to do!
<RJAway> ::Manx tones.:: Haaaaaaalp!!!
<RJAway> ::Mutters under his breath...:: 3 times in a week... oy...
<MaxSK> ::to Nina:: Excuse me, Sweetheart. The man seems to need assistance... ::jumps into the fray::
<NinaSK> Really...::tosses a strand to strawberry blonde hair coquetishly over her shoulder::
<MaxSK> ::standing on the bar:: May I have your attention! We're proud to announce that... (insert 20's bigtime male star) is now appearing in our parking lot!
<RJAway> ::Squirming... and trying to get loose, and naturally, his tux is getting ripped a bit... looks like a modern Chippendales model...::
<Ladies> ::drop RJ and dash squealing that way::
<RJAway> ::Gets dropped on his can as the girls squeal OUTTA there...::
<Ladies> ::KNOW they can come back and catch RJ any time!::
<MaxSK> ::jumps down to help RJ up::
<MaxSK> ::pauses to wink at Nina:: Be right with ya'....
<NinaSK> ::smiles::
<RJAway> ::Gets helped up, shakes head a little dizzily..::
<MaxSK> You okay, bud?
<MaxSK> ::dusts him off, nearly causes RJ to lose his poor, tattered pants:: Oops...
<RJAway> Yeah... just a little rattled from the meat lovers... ::Notes he's now shirtless, save for a bowtie...:: Erm...
<RJAway> ::Holds 'em up, tightens his belt a little.::
<MaxSK> ::looks:: Could be a new sort of fashion statement.. And now... if you'll excuse me... ::vaults over the bar, trenchcoat flying, to land by Nina::
<NinaSK> ::claps:: Impressive...
<RJAway> Heh...
<MaxSK> ::tips his hat up:: Thanks... ::resumes his stool:: Now, where were we?
<NinaSK> You were about to buy me a drink...
<MaxSK> Ah yes... ::to RJ:: My good half-naked bartender...
<RJAway> ::Grabs a bottle of... ginger ale, and looks like he's about ta bash ya with it, has this BIG, WIDE, fake-no-offense grin on...:: YES? What can I GET you SIR? ::Through his teeth...::
<MaxSK> You ought have some yourself first... ::unphased::
<NinaSK> ::looks at bartender with the "and your problem is?" look::
<NinaSK> ::prepares to move away in case there's a fight::
<RJAway> ::Smiles, pours them twoshots on the house, and slides them down...::
<MaxSK> Thanks. ::smiles, hands Nina her's::
<NinaSK> Thank you....::takes hers::
<RJAway> ::mutters under his breath...:: Half naked bartender my furry butt... ::Walking away... and his legs show pretty good through the back of those pants... whoo some nice leg muscles...::
<MaxSK> I'm thinking I should come here more often... It's a fascinating place...
<MaxSK> ::rarely notices *men's* legs... is likely more interested in Nina's::
<NinaSK> Except for the occassional gun fights, this place issa great hangout ::crosses her legs:: So what brings you her?e
<MaxSK> A case, Sweetheart... Trying ta' find out who killed my old man...
<MaxSK> ((::wassa first thing that popped in her head::))
<NinaSK> I'm sorry to hear that. Any leads so far?
<MaxSK> Lookin' fer a mob boss who calls himself "Dark Kat"... Hear he's big...
<MaxSK> ((<Max> And, fat... They have a song about him - "Deep and Wide"...))
<NinaSK> ((ROFL!!!!!!!!))
<RJAway> ((::Dies.:: OHHH man that was a fat-- er, phat joke...))
<MaxSK> ((Seek and I invented it fer Seeker to use! ::beams:: Mom thought we were nuts singing the song and giggling at the dinner table...))
<NinaSK> ((ROFL!!!))
<RJAway> ((::Dies.::))
<NinaSK> ::takes a sip of her drink:: Dark Kat....hrm...he's big, all right...quite literally...
<MaxSK> So I hear... Also hear he was up ta' somethin' big... My old man was on his trail and got too close...
<NinaSK> ::stares out:: Wouldn't know anything about it...
<MaxSK> <Hrm... The dame knew something....>
<NinaSK> ::casually takes another sip of her drink::
<MaxSK> <Not only that she was a looker too.... I could stare at those le... ::mental pause:: But, I won't because my omniscient mother would hear it...>
<NinaSK> ((::DIES!!!::))
<MaxSK> ::continues calmly:: So, I'd think... Well, it's been great... But, I'd best head out...
<NinaSK> Well, Mr...I don't believe I got yer name...
<MaxSK> ::stands:: Max Furlong... and you?
<NinaSK> Nina O'Klaw...::remains seated and extends a hand:: It was nice meeting you, Max Furlong. And thank you for the drink.
<MaxSK> ::takes her hand and kisses it:: You're most welcome.
<NinaSK> ::smiles, the radient light showing off her peachish-beige complexion::
<NinaSK> ((And why the mun got so novelistic (sp?) all of a sudden, she wouldn't know...^-^;;))
<MaxSK> ::grins his T-Bone-ish grin:: I'll see ya' 'round Sweetheart... <Count on it, Doll....>
<MaxSK> ((Why not? We're doing classic parody here!))
<NinaSK> ::smiles:: I'm sure you will....::mysteriously::
<NinaSK> ((Oh, yeah!))
<NinaSK> ((::snickers, imagines Max and Nina in that final scene from "Casablanca"::))
<NinaSK> ((::when the plane is about to take off::))
<MaxSK> ((:::returns to die!::))
<RJAway> ((<Plane> ::starts to take off, then splutters apart, barfs up engine fluids...:: <Director> CUT!))
<NinaSK> ((ROFL!!))
<MaxSK> ((<Max> I didn't touch it!))
<MaxSK> I hope so... ::heads out the door::
<NinaSK> ::watches him go, then resumes sipping her drink calmly::
<MaxSK> ::ambles down the sidewalk lost in thought:: <The dame knows something... I will be back to that joint... No doubt about it...>
<Dark Kat> ::enters:: Ah... Nina... You're here late this evening?
<NinaSK> ::fur stands on end, but she shows no face of being frightened:: It was a late shift...
<Dark Kat> Ahhh... ::stalks over::
<NinaSK> ::leans against the bar::
<Dark Kat> Nervous? ::pause, quietly:: That pest Feral wasn't here, was he?
<NinaSK> No, not this time he wasn't...::isn't about to spill the beans on Max:::
<Dark Kat> ::relaxes, doesn't know of any other enemies:: Good. He's the only thorn left in my side... ::chuckles:: Unless his darling niece who fancies herself a cop means to take me in. ::laughs loudly::
<NinaSK> ::chuckles along with him:: If you say so, Dark Kat...
<Dark Kat> It is too charming... the way she tails him... ::snickers:: ::sobers abruptly:: At any rate... I have... "matters" to attend to....
<NinaSK> You do that, Dark Kat...::tail twitches back and forth::
<Dark Kat> I will... And, you remember your job.... ::warningly::
<MaxSK> ((What that is I don' know... Look pretty? Seduce enemies so he c'n ice 'em w/ their guard down? Uh-nuh-nuh....))
<NinaSK> ::nodsnods:: I will..
<NinaSK> ((um....whatever works, I guess...::shrugs::))
<Dark Kat> Good... ::leaves, smiling to himself::
<MaxSK> ((Uh... Didn't mean anything beyond eye-batting with "seduce" up there... Bad me.. Make it sound bad...))
<RJAway> ((BAD Max! Bad! Go sit in your corner!))
<MaxSK> ((::sniffles and slinks to the corner::))
<MaxSK> ::finds his way back to his place and shuffles up the stairs::
<NinaSK> ::watches him leave, then sets her drink down, making her way to the dressing room to change::
<Shadowy Figure> ::appears in Nina's dressing room - when she's reasonably clothed:: So, whose side are you on?
<NinaSK> ::turns abruptly:: Huh?!
<Shadowy> You heard the question....
<NinaSK> ::narrows her eyes:: Who are you? ::reaches into her dressing table::
<Shadowy> That's my business... ::steps into the light a bit... just enough that his orangish fur can be seen::
<Shadowy> And, did you want this? ::holds up her gun, dangling from one claw:
<NinaSK> ::gasps, no wonder she couldn't find it:: ::narrows her eyes again:: I'll ask again..who are you?
<Shadowy> The partner of a dead cop.... Who wants your boss behind bars...
<Shadowy> ::idly removes all the gun's bullets and pockets them::
<NinaSK> Well you've come to the wrong person...I don't know anything.
<Shadowy> As if you weren't just talking to Dark Kat....
<NinaSK> ::growls:: Look...whatever I tell ya is gonna get ya killed...if they haven't found out yer in here...
<Shadowy> They won't... "They" *will* however be waking up in some pain as they made me punch them quite hard...
<NinaSK> ::sighs and sits::
<NinaSK> I'm not used to giving out information...
<Shadowy> Well, I'm not the cops if that sets your mind at ease... Feral canned me two weeks after my partner died...
<NinaSK> ::arched brow:: So yer a....vigilante...so to speak...
<Shadowy> ::grinning:: You might say that... It doesn't pay, but I have people to go to....
<NinaSK> Granted...::pauses:: Look...I can't talk.....not here at least...
<Shadowy> Reasonable... Meet me Friday night... at MegaKat Towers... We can talk there... Place's been deserted for over a year...
<NinaSK> You got it....at what time?
<Shadowy> ::lays her gun, now empty, lightly on the nearest table::
<Shadowy> Eleven, right after your shift.
<NinaSK> I'll be there.
<Shadowy> ::grins:: Good... ::vanishes::
<Shadowy> ::in all truth, leapt out the window, landing lightly on his feet and jogging down an alleyway::
<Shadowy> ::some time later, scampers up a fire escape and lets himself in an apartment window::
<NinaSK> ::blinks, tells herself to stop shaking, and sighs loudly::
<NinaSK> ::gets up, grabs her purse after putting on her coat, and leaves the joint::
<MaxSK> ::is back at his apartment/office enjoying another sleepless night::
<MaxSK> <I'd probably said too much... The dame was gorgeous and I lost it... Dad'd be rollin' over in his grave... Sorta like me in the bed... Or was that just cuz I hadn't washed the sheets since....? Since a long time...>
<Shadowy> ::calls softly into the darkened room:: Hello?
<Callie> ::steps up behind Shadowy Figure and smacks him one:: How dare you?!
<Shadowy> Ow! Callie! Lay off! It's me!
<Shadowy> ::rubs his head and looks around for her::
<Callie> ::is in the shadows, hiding::
<Shadowy> Callie? ::quietly:: It's Jake. For Pete's sake, cut on a light!
<Callie> ::gasps, then backs off:: Jake....I'm sorry..
<Callie> ::furious anew:: You coulda just knocked, you know!!
<Jake> There isn't a knocker on the fire escape... And, I was trying NOT to cause a disturbance...
<Callie> ::turns on a light, heavy object in hand::
<Jake> ::looks, blinks against the light::
<CallieSK> ::walks out into the light, heavy object in hand:: Well, when you're living in paranoia for the longest time, it tends to happen.
<JakeSK> Sorry... ::eyes narrow:: And, *I'm* not letting them get near you....
<CallieSK> ::sits on the couch:: Jake, I'm sorry....
<JakeSK> It's okay... ::refrains from mentioning his or Max's activities, though he knows perfectly well what Max is up to::
<JakeSK> Are you doing okay?
<CallieSK> ::trembles:: Feral's asked if everything's all right...although I don't think I should tell him what's been happening...
<JakeSK> ((::dies as guys outside start going "Waaaasaaaap!!!"::))
<CallieSK> ((ROFL!!!!!!!!!!))
<JakeSK> ::shakes his head:: Tell him enough to keep him out of this... <And, I'll get your son out...>
<CallieSK> ::sighs:: I'll try...but he keeps insisting that I need protection...::pause:: He's even offered to have a bodygaurd stand on my watch...
<JakeSK> ::quietly:: It couldn't hurt... Dark Kat knows you do more than secretary work for Manx....
<CallieSK> ::looks down at the floor:: Why let him have a kat risk his back for mine? ::is going into her "I'm concerned" mode::
<JakeSK> ::forcing her chin up so she has to look in his eyes:: Cuz you have two children who still need their mother... <And, because I swore to Chance I wouldn't let anything happen to you...>
<CallieSK> ::lets a tear stream down her cheek:: I know Max and Carrie need me...::another tear falls:: But...I need Chance too...::whispers;:
<JakeSK> ::looks at her seriously:: Callie... I got talked into this scheme because I thought it would help you... ::takes a deep breath:: Help you have closure... ::exhales:: We didn't find the body...
<CallieSK> I know you're trying to help, Jake. :is now crying without halt:: It's been so difficult lately...not only for me, but for Max and Carrie as well...::sighs heavily:: Max...hasn't been home as much....
<JakeSK> He's just... finding his own way to cope... <And, I thought my vigilante kick was odd.. Max's is odder...>
<JakeSK> ::adds:: Besides... He's old enough to take care of himself now... <I hope> ::assuming Max is over twenty or so here::
<CallieSK> ::brushes away her tears:: I...just hope he's okay....
<JakeSK> ::smiles:: I'll check in on him over at his place before I head for bed, okay?
<CallieSK> ::smiles weakly:: Thanks Jake...I...don't know what we'd do without you...
<JakeSK> ::grins:: Get scared in the dead of the night less often.
<CallieSK> ::chuckles between sniffles: Yeah, yeah...::hugs him::
<JakeSK> ::hugs her back:: Hang in there...
<CallieSK> I'm getting there.
<JakeSK> ::smiles:: I'll see my way back out the window....
<CallieSK> ::pulls away gently: Okay....and...I'm sorry about the attack...
<JakeSK> S'okay.. Everyone wants to kill me these days...
<CallieSK> ::laughs a tad this time:: Wonder what you ever did to them...
<JakeSK> Climbed in their windows... People hate that, you know.
<CallieSK> You know that too well...::smirks::
<JakeSK> ::grins and gets up to clamber out the window::
<CallieSK> Jake...just be careful...::has a hand on his shoulder::
<JakeSK> ::pauses:: I will. ::grins, drops downward::
<CallieSK> ::watches him leave, her emerald green eyes sparkling once more with tears:: <Chance...he said that the last time...>