The City of Change: Chapter 16.

Chapter 16. "Grim tale of grey"


               11.18 am, Monday, May 31, 2022

               August Fares watched himself in the bathroom mirror of the police station where he worked. He closed the left eye and then, opened it slowly and then again, and again. He grabbed a phone and took couple pictures of himself while glancing all around. He browsed through them with satisfaction. It looked perfectly normal. It simply… didn’t send any signal, as an IT guy would say. August chuckled nervously. Why was he so stressed now, when they had been on a date on Saturday and it had gone so well? Fares took a deep breath and left the bathroom. He walked among the boxes until he found one that belonged to Judy and Nick. August knocked on it, announcing himself and greeted them with a bit nervous wave of paw and a cheerful smile he gave Judy.

               “Good morning!” He greeted her.

               “Good morning!” Judy grinned.

               “Hey, August,” Nick sent him a polite smile before resuming his work.

               “I’ve got two tickets for the cinema on Wednesday evening. What would you say, Judy?” He offered. The way she lightened up even more was truly a balm to his heart.

               “Sure thing! What’s the title?”

               “Oh, it’s a surprise,” August tried to smile mysteriously.

               “Surprise? Awful movie, wouldn’t recommend,” Nick muttered from his desk half-jokingly and Judy threw a pencil at him. “But whatever, your choice,” he shrugged.

               “Dumb fox,” she muttered.

               “Carrots, would you be so kind to pick up some files from the Dungeon?” The fox pleased, changing a subject.

               “Sure!” She jumped off her chair and turned back to August. “So, Wednesday. What time exactly?”

               “I’ll pick you up at seven?” He suggested.

               “Perfect,” she smiled cheerfully and slipped out of the box just by him. “Sorry, gotta go!” Judy ran left hurrying to the archives. August followed her with sight, running along the corridor, passing by other mammals nimbly, when he realized that Nick Wilde was watching him carefully. A smile had vanished from his face.

               “You’re a liar,” the fox accused him suddenly.

               “E… excuse me?” August eyed him carefully.

               “You lied to her and knowing Judy, I know that she asked you about it more than once,” Nick clarified, leaving him just as confused as he had been before.

               “About what?”

               “About how you wouldn’t notice it, if Judy were to toss something at you right now. Certainly not with a corner of your left eye,” the fox explained and August felt creeps across his spine. How did that fox figure it out so quickly? When he performed that test at bathroom? But he got all the answers right! He couldn’t be bluffing, could be?

               “I’ve got to go,” August excused himself, quite embarrassed. For a second, he could swear the fox was smiling, but then, he had already lost him from his sight, heading back to the Rabbit Hole.  He was confused. What did Wilde plan with that knowledge? Was he going to tell Judy? No, if he wanted to scrutinize him in Judy’s eyes, he’d tell her immediately. Then what game was he playing? An idea to tell Judy truth crossed his mind, but he rejected it immediately. Not now. In time, when… when truth won’t hurt her. But if that fox tells her first… August stopped suddenly, tempted to just turn around and make him promise to keep the secret, but by the time he’d get there, Judy would probably be back too. The fox was watching him carefully, that he knew for sure. He came back to the Rabbit Hole and sat by his desk. He had some analyses for Andersen and he got down to them immediately. As much as he’d love to, he really didn’t have time to daydream about Judy or worry about her ever watchful partner.

               Lost in his work, August lost the track of time. The next thing outside his computer that really brought his attention was Isabelle Alvarez coming to the TO office. He watched her quite surprised, especially now that he had heard that she wouldn’t be back until next week. The bandage covering her left shoulder could be seen from under her uniform, but what really worried him was her black eye. From the gossips he heard, it wasn’t anyhow justified. Alvarez passed by him paying him but a glance and went straight to Kaylee. August pretended to work, but watched them with corner of right eye, probably like rest of the room, which suddenly went suspiciously silent.

               “Hi,” Isabelle greeted the rabbit, as she stood by her desk. Were she not herself, she’d probably be blushing embarrassed, given their past. Kaylee eyed the wolf carefully and smiled politely.

               “Good afternoon. Do you need anything?” The bunny crossed her arms.

               “I wanted to apologize for trying to step in between you and your husband,” explained Alvarez.

               “Genuinely or because Max asked you to do so?” Kaylee doubted.

               “Genuinely. I thought things through, acknowledged my mistake,” Isabelle assured firmly. Reynolds was watching her in silence for a while and then, she smiled.

               “Apology accepted. It’s good to see you back, by the way. Max said you wouldn’t be back until next week,” the bunny changed the subjects. Isabelle cheered up as she let out the pent up tension.

               “Oh, I’m quite alright already and boredom was killing me anyway,” explained Isabelle. “I’ll be going. Prosecutor Moore wanted to see us,”  she excused herself.

               “I’m not keeping you. Good luck,” Kaylee smiled politely. Alvarez nodded and headed back to the exit. She stopped by August who was staring at her and looked down at him.

               “You want to say something, just say it,” she snarled.

               “What happened to your eye?” He asked, only afterwards realizing how rude it sounded.

               “We split up with Jason,” she explained casually and then, chuckled. “What? Time for another lecture of yours?”

               “He hit you?” August asked, indignant.

               “There goes another lecture,” Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Listen, darling, I don’t give a rat’s ass about your disappointment in me, your disapproval of my actions or your denial to how world works. You don’t know me. Stop judging me, OK?”

               “I’m not judging you. I’m just don’t like that he hit you,” August argued. Alvarez watched him carefully, confused, and then she laughed. She patted him on the shoulder, most amused.

               “Oh, you should have seen what I’ve done to him!” She chuckled and turned around. “It’s cute, really. Excuse me, are all rabbits this naïve when they come here?” She wondered loudly.

               “I think Kaylee was an exception to the rule, actually,” someone told her and the wolf laughed even louder.

               “I can imagine,” Alvarez shook her head, patted August on shoulder patronizingly and went her own way. As she was heading for the exit, she was still giggling, much to August’s annoyance. The rabbit huffed and was about to get back to work, when he realized that Kaylee was standing by his desk.

               “A lunch break?” She proposed and only then did he realize that it was almost an hour after noon.

               “Sure,” he nodded. He grabbed his lunch and went along with Kaylee to the canteen. It was rather crowded and they intended to grab some empty table, when Wolford called them. He was sitting by a couple of his friends and rabbits took last two seats. They started munching sandwiches and Wolford patted August on the back strongly.

               “There’s my buddy! August helped us a lot finding our murderer,” Jason grinned to him and the rabbit noticed that he had his right paw bandaged and a short line of stitches above his left eyebrow.

               “Yeah, I’m… glad I could help,” August smiled awkwardly, a bit uncomfortable with how he was suddenly in the spotlight. He’d really preferred to remain unnoticed and to his relief, wolf changed the subject.

               “So, anyways, she then grabbed that knife…” Wolford paused, seeing rabbits’ confused faces. “Oh, you have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”

               “Jason broke up with Isabelle,” Andersen clarified with a smirk.

               “In some crazy way,” someone added.

               “Oh, she’s crazy herself,” Wolford muttered and patted August on his back. “A piece of friendly advice; never date a crazy. You’re gonna have some good time, then some bad time, then maybe some good time… and then some very, very bad time.”

               “Uh huh,” August muttered hesitantly. He eyed Kaylee, who seemed rather annoyed with the entire situation. He understood why as Wolford started his story with how he took Isabelle out on Saturday evening. He briefed them in quickly, but not sparing any of the spicier details and suddenly, August started feeling very uncomfortable. He wasn’t supposed to hear this stuff. None of them were, actually. Wolford got to the part with the knife and it was hardly the end; neither Wolford or Alvarez’s marks had been explained yet.

               “And then, she dropped that freaking knife and started crying,” Wolford laughed. “I stood there with not a bloody clue what to do and, seeing that she was only going lower and lower, I crouched by her and let her tell me the sobby story of her life. Guys, I don’t even know where to start. Would you believe that in high school, she was…”

               “OK, that’s it. I’ve lost my appetite,” August he ostentatiously dropped his sandwich back in his lunch bag. Wolford watched him confused, as the rabbit was jumping off his chair.

               “Hey, what’s wrong?” The wolf asked, confused.

               “You shouldn’t be telling us the things she told you back then,” he pointed out indignantly.

               “Hey, she’s crazy. It’s just a friendly warning…”

               “No, it’s not, you asshole,” snapped Kaylee suddenly. Wolford completely didn’t know what to say to that. Everyone knew Kaylee Reynolds adored gossips, after all.

               “You’re not with him on this, are you? You hate her too!” Jason protested.

               “It’s not about whether I hate her or not! It’s about you being a dickhead, washing your dirty laundry in front of everyone like you had with Spice!” Kaylee yelled at him angrily. She looked down at her sandwich and muttered something under her breath, putting it back in a back. “Yup, I lost my appetite too. Come on, August,” she joined the rabbit and they left the canteen in silence.

               “Thanks,” August managed to say.

               “He had it coming after all that drama with Spice. His chattering annoyed her so much that she tried to take his parents’ house, you know. Don’t let him tell you any different,” Kaylee warned him. “And besides, you started it the thing,” she pointed out with a smirk.

               “I kind of did? I mean… it’s irritating,” Fares tried to explain himself.

               “I know,” she nodded. “By the way, you have a way of making enemies! Even better than Alvarez! It hasn’t been even a week and she’s already allergic to your stares…”

               “I didn’t do anything…”

               “…Now you called Wolford names…” continued Kaylee.

               “Technically, you did…” August tried to protest.

               “And Nick’s watching you carefully since day one,” she finished.

               “Is he? I mean, does he hate me?” Fares asked, confused.

               “He’s wary of you for sure. You’re hitting on Judy. Quite successfully, to that,” Kaylee said as if she was stating the obvious and it did not relieve August anyhow.

               “Should I worry?”

               “You’re a TO. People come to you for help, not the other way around, so… not really, for now? Unless you keep the pace, that is,” Kaylee joked, but he had a feeling it was only half-truth.

               “And about Nick?” August asked. She hesitated and then, shrugged. Until that day, August Fares had not even realized that a single shrug could be so disturbing.

               1.58 pm, Monday, May 31, 2022

               James Greymane weighted the wallet in his jacket’s pocket, noticing with satisfaction how unusually heavy it was. His brand new wallet, it was worth mentioning, as the previous one couldn’t even contain the amount of banknotes he was holding at the moment. How much did he have, six thousands? Seven? He’d lost his count and it was just a single weekend of them getting started with laundering money. Diane was truly a genius, he had to give it to her. James parked his car just by his house and checking time with satisfaction; he still had plenty of time before his shift at the store. He walked last couple hundred feet to his flat when he realized that some goon was waiting by the entrance to his block of flats. Wolf’s paw wondered to the wallet in inner pocket of his jacket and he wanted to turn in an alley, when someone put a paw at his arm. He eyed a tiger grinning cockily.

               “The Lady is waiting for you, boy,” the tiger told him and at this same moment, a limo stopped by them. “And you’d hate to keep her waiting.”

               “I…” James hesitated. If he slipped away now, ran in the alley and tried to lose them on the slippery, icy roads of Tundratown, he could do it. But they’d track him down in couple days anyways. And tiger’s taser at belt wasn’t leaving plenty of options either. “Sure,” he agreed, walking to the limo. The tiger opened the door for him and wolf seated himself at one of very comfortable seats, while tiger took the other. The doors locked automatically and they headed for Happytown. James sighed deeply. So that’s how it was going to end. He was going to stand before Duchess. How she had learnt of his involvement in trying to kill O’Dyna, he had not known. He was quite sure he had left no traces and none of his friends would ever betray him. Was it Miss Reynolds, selling him out in some sort of scheme? Was she sacrificing her pawn for some sort of greater good? He did not really know. All that he did know was that Duchess was going to force the confession out of him and then, have him dead or incarcerated. James trembled, but not with fear; it was anger. He was so close! Everything was going so smoothly! For once in his life, he had a set course and was going to do it all on his own! And now, they were taking it away from him, right when…

               “We’re here,” the tiger announced and James realized that indeed, they were standing before Duchess’s original club; The Diamond.

               “Huh,” he stared at the neon, feeling hot under the collar.

               “Leave that jacket here, it’s pretty hot outside,” advised the tiger and smirked, seeing wolf’s confused face. “Don’t you worry, you’ll have it back on your way back,” he promised confusing wolf even more, but Greymane left the jacket in limo. A jacket with wallet full of cash, he realized only after he had closed limo’s car behind himself, only to realize that it probably wasn’t changing anything. The tiger guided him inside the club. There, before meeting the Duchess, he was searched thoroughly and a young wolf instructed him to speak tersely, be polite and do not stare at what had remained of her left eye. He climbed then climbed the stairs that led to her balcony with view on all of the Diamond. She was sitting on her couch, writing something quickly on her laptop, when she saw her guest. The Duchess finished what she was doing, put the computer aside and seated herself comfortably. James stood couple feet in front of her, while her eye continued to pierce into his soul.

               “James Greymane. It has been years,” she said and chuckled, seeing his confusion. “Did you think I don’t remember? We’ve met before.”

               “Have we?” James stared at her arrogantly and then, reminded himself whom he was facing. “I’m sorry, I just…” He looked away awkwardly.

               “It’s alright,” she disregarded it. “I didn’t call you all the way here just for sake of reminiscence.”  “Then what for?” He asked with impertinence of a man about to be hanged, but again she chose to ignore it. James was understanding less and less of the situation

               “A job offer,” she said. Greymane stared at her, most confused.

               “E… excuse me?” He stuttered, trying to figure out how she was trying to outsmart him now.

               “A friend of mine in Tundratown is looking for someone cunning and clever. Someone that can think quick and adapt to the situation. And I heard that you do meet the requirements,” Duchess explained, while James was still looking out for the hook. “I know you seek conflict with law no more. It’s fully legal,” she added, seeing his hesitance. And then, it dawned on him; there was no hook. Duchess was offering him a job. A well-paid job, satisfying job like she had to plenty of mammals before him. Still, it arose even more questions.

               “I don’t understand. Why me? I’m not your friend or anything. You have no obligations of any sort toward me,” he pointed out. “And besides…”

               “You have no sympathy for me either, probably because you subconsciously blame me for your brother’s death. I know,” Duchess nodded. She perfectly understood his confusion, which only fueled his frustration, as he was losing control of situation.

               “So, why?”

               “Because very often, a new friend is worth more than money and time one invests in him. And besides…” Duchess smiled enigmatically. “I don’t like having enemies that I have not earned.”

               “Huh,” James said only, even more confused. He hesitated. Duchess’s offer could solve plenty of his troubles. Financial ones, for sure. He wouldn’t even need to bring his plan to the end… He’d have to abandon it? After all the steps they’ve made? Those couple thousands he earned just today? Their perspectives for so much more? James felt a sting of conscience. For once, he was going to do something on his own. He meant not to beg for any money from Duchess or Reynolds like Diane had suggested… Of course.

               “Diane,” snarled James angrily. “It was her idea, wasn’t it?” He demanded to know. Duchess seemed to remain unoffended, although very disappointed with his sudden change.

               “Never did she ask me about it personally. She worries about you much, though and gossips reached me. I thought I’d help my fiancé’s friend and thus, you,” explained Duchess, but James only snarled angrily.

               “Of course. Dumb girl, just chattering…”

               “She’s worried sick about you,” Lady Tompkins interrupted him so firmly that even James had enough reason to shut up. “She knows that you’re a decent, if very confused, mammal.”

               “I don’t need help,” James shook his head. “Not yours, not hers, not anyone’s,” he stared her straight in the eye arrogantly, but she just shook her head pitifully, as if he was just a pup throwing a tantrum. It was driving him crazy. “Do you hear me?! I’ll handle myself on my own! I’ll get rich, I’ll take Ryan from orphanage and leave with him far away not to have to ever watch your sorry face!” He yelled at Duchess. He was half expecting to get her angry at him, but she only kept looking down at him pitifully. And truly, did her pity hurt more than her contempt.

               “So be it. Handle things on your own, James. Just remember; this offer of mine is a swim or sink. I won’t be repeating myself.”

               “I said I don’t need it,” James snarled and turned around angrily, about to walk away.

               “Of course. You’ll arrange your own downfall,” Duchess said sarcastically. “You don’t have to worry about Ryan, at least. I’ve heard he’s getting adopted,” she mentioned and the wolf stopped mid-step.

               “What?! By whom?!” He snarled.

               “If rumors do not deceive me, I believe the lucky couple are Max and Kaylee Reynolds. Two most decent Reynolds Zootopia’s ever had, if you asked me,” Duchess clarified with a smirk. James’s mind raced like crazy. Reynolds. These same Reynolds that left him on the ice. Cops to that, and involved in death of his brother. Why would they want Ryan? Why would Ryan even agree? He knew James was going to take him any moment now, he didn’t need anyone else. And certainly not Reynolds.

               “I have to go,” he muttered, flabbergasted.

               “You’ve already outstayed my welcome indeed,” Duchess stated so coldly that it made James shiver. Another enemy that he had made, he realized resentfully. First Reynolds, now her… He didn’t need her or anyone else. He had his plan and he was going to stick to it. James rushed downstairs. He got his phone back and went outside, where the limo already waited. It took him back to Tundratown. When he returned hom, James made a call. Someone had plenty of explaining to do.

               “Hi, James. How are you?” Diane asked cheerfully.

               “What did you tell Duchess?” He snarled at her. For a moment, there was only silence.

               “Duchess? Nothing, really. I talked about you with Will couple times. You know, I’m worried that you’re going to do something stupid again,” she explained, concerned. “Why?”

               “Nothing, never mind,” he sighed with relief. He obviously wasn’t going to tell Diane about the job offer he had received. She’d skin him if she knew that she rejected it. “I need Reynolds’ address.”

               “It’s 1456 Flurry Street. A huge mansion, you can’t really miss it. I thought you were done with her?” Diane worried.

               “Not hers. Max and Kaylee Reynolds. The cops,” he clarified.

               “Um… I could check? What do you need them for?” Diane asked, troubled.

               “They’re going to adopt Ryan,” he explained and for a moment, he heard no reply. “Hello?”

               “That’s… good?” Diane guessed and he snarled. Of course, she wouldn’t understand.

               “No, it’s not! I’m going to take him! Why is anyone doing it now?!” He complained.

               “No, listen, it’s actually good news,” Diane disagreed and continued before James would manage to interrupt her. “Max and Kaylee Reynolds are some really decent guys from what I know. They really could provide Ryan a decent house.”

               “Diane you don’t…”

               “Don’t compare them to Miss Reynolds,” she advised. “I understand that you’re frustrated, but they might be just what Ryan needs. Just what you need, actually.”

               “What are you talking about?” He snapped.

               “You’re Ryan’s godfather and that kid adores you. Nothing will really change between you and him when he gets adopted. I mean, not too much. You can still visit him as often as you like! But he’ll live in a normal house, not that sorry orphanage,” Diane pointed out.

               “Everything I’ve done so far, I’ve done for him…”

               “And he’ll appreciate it. There’s no need to push at an open door,” Diane argued. “Things are turning better than we’d anticipate. If they’re going right, maybe you can just let them be?” She suggested shyly. He knew what she meant; drop whatever he was doing right now. But he couldn’t. He had made his choice already. Ryuk and Miles were counting on him, too.

               “Just give me their address,” he demanded. Diane sighed with disappointment.

               “Don’t do anything rash. I’ll find the address and send it over when I’m back,” she assured.

               “Thanks, until then,” he hung up not waiting for a reply. Wolf dropped his phone on the couch and sighed deeply. It was just another complication. Just another complication. Nothing he couldn’t really deal with. He reached for the wallet in his jacket and browsed through its content. Things were going quite alright. What was he supposed to worry about?

               And then, he heard knocking on the door. James watched it, rather confused; he hadn’t been expecting anyone, really. He walked over to the door and opened it to see two police officers; a rabbit and a fox. His heart skipped a beat. What could they want?

               “My name’s Detective Hopps and this is Detective Wilde. Mind if we come in?” She asked.

               “N… No. Please, please come in,” the wolf turned around and guided them inside. He had left wallet in his jacket and there was nothing in house that could indicate his connection with the ATM or gas explosion, so he was cool. Still, the very fact that they did come there disturbed him greatly. What could they want from him?

               “There you go,” he offered them seats in his room. “How can I help, officers?” He asked politely, realizing how tired he sounded. Whole that issue with Duchess worn him out completely.

               “We just have couple questions. Do you know Leonard Miles?” Wondered Detective Hopps politely, with a nice, encouraging smile.

               “Miles? Um, doesn’t ring any bells, sorry,” he shrugged off, but then, saw the detectives eyeing one another and understood his mistake immediately.

               “Really?” The bunny asked. The fox continued only to stare at him.

               “Umm… I think he has that car repair shop in Savannah Central?” He guessed. He could tell them what they already knew, after all.

               “Indeed. Have you ever been to there?” Detective Hopps wondered and he hesitated.

               “Not that I recall,”  he shrugged, as if he really wanted to help, but simply couldn’t.

               “How do you know him, then?” She asked curiously. She certainly was too nice for a police officer. Not intimidating one bit.

               “Oh, I think we met accidentally at some bar couple months ago?” James made up a story hurriedly. “We downed couple beers together, discussed life and everything. Cool guy, not very talkative.”

               “Do you remember bar’s name?” She asked curiously.

               “Um… I don’t think it had a name? I certainly missed the signboard. It was in Rainforest District,” he said.

               “Funny thing, isn’t it? That a guy from Tundratown and a guy form Savannah Central first meet at a bar in Rainforest District?” She pointed out.

               “Oh, our girlfriends stood both us up. That’s how we… got to drink our sorrows away together,” James explained. Hopps nodded with understanding, apparently buying another one of his lies.

               “Your girlfriend? What was her name?” The bunny changed the subject.

               “Lisa Thompson. A cheetah. Rather tall, a bit younger than me,” James lied confidently and she nodded. And then, the fox sighed impatiently.

               “Judy…”

               “I know, I know. But he’s such a smooth liar,” the bunny excused herself with a giggle.

               “Smooth? You call that smooth?” Wilde chuckled and she shrugged, turning back to James.

               “For the record, Mr. Greymane, we’re well aware that so far, you haven’t answered truthfully to a single question of ours,” Judy turned to him, clearly enjoying his confusion. “So, let’s start over, shall we?”

               “Or what? Will you imprison me?” He joked, but Detective Hopps’s polite smile assured him that it was indeed what they were going to do. “Under what charges? I’ve told you nothing!”

               “Quite oppositely, Mr. Greymane. You told us plenty of lies involving our suspect.”

               “It’s called obstruction of justice, Mr. Greymane,” added Detective Wilde. “Providing fake alibi, giving false details on suspects and so on. People go to jail for that. According to files, you know what I’m talking about,” Wilde reminded him subtly, really grinding James’ gears. Oh, he had some nerve.

               “But we could start yet again, couldn’t we? Truthfully, this time,” Detective Hopps suggested politely.

               “I…”

               “When did you meet Leonard Miles?” She asked, before he got to finish. He eyed Detective Hopps. That rabbit really was pissing him off. If not for that fox, he’d kick that small fluff out of his house. Hell, he probably could even handle that red moron…

               “Mr. Greymane?” Detective Wilde hurried him.

               “Um… couple months ago,” James assured and Detective Judy Hopps sighed with disappointment.

               “Nick?” She pleased. The fox reached for some paper he was holding in his back pocket. He opened it and handed to the wolf.

               “This, Mr. Greymane, is a CV you sent over to Leonard Miles’ back in 2012. A very solid CV, for a young car mechanic, I must admit. According to the documents in Miles’ archives, he didn’t hire you due to lack of vacant positions, but recommended you to another mechanic in Tundratown,” Detective Wilde explained.

               “Which means, you’ve met him at least ten years ago. Correct?” Detective Hopps concluded and he nodded reluctantly.

               “Why to ask me things you already know?” He asked instead.

               “To verify your credibility,” enlightened him the bunny. “Now, do tell us about your friendship with Leonard Miles.”

               “Friendship,” snorted James. “We’re not really friends, you know,” he protested, but saw both officers’ skeptical sights. “I mean, we’re drinking buddies, but I don’t see him too often.”

               “How often?” Detective Hopps insisted.

               “Um… Couple times a year? Different places, too. Miles likes to discover new spots around the town,” James explained genuinely. Diane gave him once this advice; give as much truth as you can, as long as they’re not incriminating.

               “And do you visit him at work?” Detective Wilde decided to join the discussion. Greymane eyed him carefully, but fox remained an enigma to him. He also felt like an opened book to Wilde, as much as he hated to admit it.

               “Couple times. It’s not a crime, is it?” He smirked to the fox.

               “We’ll get to that,” the fox assured. “The last time you visited Leonard Miles?”

               “Not this year, I’m certain,” the wolf stated and saw both officers sighing and eyeing one another.

               “Are you absolutely certain? Or should we refresh your memories?” The bunny asked with disappointment.

               “Excuse me?”

               “Miles’ workshop’s CCTV caught you visiting him about two weeks ago. We could also provide witnesses, if you really need this, Mr. Greymane,” Wilde explained.

               “Oh, that!” James laughed awkwardly. Neither of cops bought it for sure. “I forgot. I went to Miles to ask him about this little issue with my car. I couldn’t handle it myself and you know, car repair shops are real rip offs in general,” he explained himself awkwardly.

               “What was the issue?”

               “I didn’t know how to exchange a lamp in my car without removing the engine,” explained James confidently. “Little devil, that car,” he muttered.

               “So… you went to Miles’ car repair shop, explained your problem and, instead of showing it on a car, he invited you straight to the office and explained it to you there?” Detective Wilde wondered. James hesitated, clueless how they figured he went straight to the office. Of course, witnesses and CCTV.

               “I came inside and Miles invited me to his office. I explained the issue there and he said, it was very simple. He shown me some video on ZooTube, actually,” James explained with a nervous chuckle.

               “Do you remember what else you were discussing?” Asked the rabbit officer.

               “Usual stuff. Nothing that really stuck in my mind,” shrugged helplessly James.

               “Has Miles ever discussed his financial problems?” The fox wondered.

               “He mentioned he lost some trial and had to pay up plenty of money, but he claimed he had things under control. He mentioned it was a good year too,” James assured and realized he had overdone it; this year was terrible for Miles and police probably knew it too.

               “At your not so frequent meetings, Miles surely has mentioned his hobby, hasn’t he?”

               “It’s hard to get Miles to talk about himself. Even when I do, he only complains about his wife,” James explained. Wilde and Hopps dwelled on the subject a little more and tried to learn more of cars Miles was fixing on his own, but the wolf claimed to know nothing and they couldn’t prove him otherwise. The questioning lasted some time more and James was well aware that they were suspecting him, but remained quite sure that they couldn’t pinpoint anything to him just yet. With that knowledge, he soon finished the conversation in excellent mood. A few minutes after detectives left, his pone rang; it was Diane.

               “Hey, what do you have?”          

               “Reynolds’ address; Trip Street 12. A nice neighborhood they chose,” Diane told him.

               “Ha! You’re the best!”

               “There’s one thing more, though. Can we meet up tomorrow at your place? You me and Ryuk,” Diane insisted, troubled.

               “What is it?” James asked.

               “Ryuk’s wanted, as of recently. Attempted rape and murder. Of a police officer investigating the explosion, to that. Isabelle Alvarez. Her uncle and cousins worked for Thunders and old Reynolds,” she explained. James stood completely silent for quite a moment, trying to comprehend it.

               “Are you sure?”

               “Yagami no-Ryuk, a hyena. That’s all police has, since his DNA is not in any database,” Diane clarified. “We need to talk with him.”

               “I’ll arrange it. Take care, Diane.”

               “Love you,” she assured and hung up. James sighed deeply and dropped his phone on his bed. What a day.