Kade Chapter 4
#4 of Kade (Rewrite)
I'm not sure what I'm doing writing this but whatever. I could be doing worse.
Kade--Chapter 4
"So, what exactly am I in for at this place?" Kade asked as he and Tyler turned down a corner towards a part of the city that Kade had never really been to before. He'd probably passed through on occasion, but now, looking around, he found himself curious to where Tyler was taking him.
"Just a bar," Tyler answered calmly as he pulled into a parking lot. "Gotta get out here."
"Where's the bar?"
"Follow," Tyler answered with a smile. Tyler got out and walked with a new kind of pep to his step that Kade had never seen before. He turned one corner, then another, then a third and walked down an alley to a door at the other side. Above the door was a simple neon sign that read "GREG'S KENNEL". A number of other patrons were walking by the bouncer, flashing IDs rapidly to be allowed entry.
"Hey, Ty," the bouncer greeted as they approached. He grinned deviously. "Been a while. Here to find a new 'friend'?"
"Not exactly," Tyler answered. "Oh, by the way, I finally got that new bike."
"Sweet, that was a nice ride," the bouncer remarked. He looked over at Kade and a knowing smirk spread across his face.. "He's an even nicer ride. Is he yours?"
"Just a work partner," Tyler replied with a chuckle. He indicated Kade, who looked as uncomfortable as he felt. "Kade, this is a good friend of mine, Ryan. Ryan, this is Lieutenant Kade Creed."
"Lieutenant?" Ryan echoed. "Thought you joined the Peacekeepers, not the army."
"The Peacekeepers have ranks too," Kade said in a deadpanned way. "Ty, we going in or not? I could use some liquor."
"Oh, yeah," Tyler said. "Give me a call a bit later. We'll catch up."
"In what way?" Ryan asked with a wink.
Tyler rolled his eyes and walked in. "We'll see."
Once inside, Kade surveyed the environment with a scowl. The bar was dimly lit, reeked of liquor and tobacco, and the stage was currently unoccupied. And there were no females. Kade looked around as carefully as he could to be sure. Sure, some of the patrons were feminine with soft features, but they were most certainly male. And there were several waiters walking between those tables too; not a one of them had shorts that reached their knees and their clothes were so tight they looked nearly painted on.
"Come on, let's get you a drink," Tyler offered.
"Ty, hold on a minute," Kade snarled, pulling him off to the side. "Tyler, what the fuck kinda bar did you bring me too?"
"What do you mean?"
"Where are the females? Is this a gay bar?" Kade hissed.
"Not strictly, but it is typical to find gay guys here. Is that a problem?"
"I have a girlfriend! I'm not gay!"
"I didn't say you were," Tyler said defensively. "Sorry, but you don't gotta be gay to get a drink. I just wanted a drinking partner. Like I said, my friend owns the place and I figured you and I could hang out a bit."
"Why couldn't we go to a normal bar?"
Tyler's eyes narrowed. "First, there's nothing abnormal about being gay. Second, you didn't have to come out tonight. If you want, I'll take you home and come back by myself."
Kade took a deep breath. He peered around the room and took a deep breath. "You're paying for the first round."
"Sure, no problem, but you're gonna have to lighten up," Tyler said. "I mean, you're really wound up about being here."
"Most straight people would be."
Tyler led him over to the bar and sat down beside him. He let out a small whistle and the bartender, a muscular lion turned and smiled. Kade looked him over; the lion was dressed in a tank and bicycle shorts and smiled with a devious glint in those eyes.
"Hey, been a while, Tyler," the lion greeted in a sultry tone. "How you been? Haven't seen you since you went to the academy."
"I haven't been able to get away from it," Tyler replied. "Kade, this is my friend, Greggy Lorenzo."
"'Greggy'?"
"Greggy, Gregory, Greg," the lion said with a shrug. "Pick one, Spots."
"Don't call me 'Spots', cat," Kade huffed.
"Okay, Spotty," Greg scoffed. He chuckled and turned to Tyler. "He's cute and all but he seems like a bit of downer. Think a drink'll loosen him up?"
"Probably. Get him something so dark you couldn't get a radio signal through it," Tyler said, "and I'll take something a bit lighter: a mojito with honey instead of syrup."
"Coming right up, hon."
"So, what's the stage for?" Kade asked, though he was pretty sure he knew the answer.
"Various things," Greg answered as he mixed the drinks. "From time to time, we have some live music. Sometimes it's even poetry. And sometimes we'll have some... dancers." He slid a glass of dark liquid over.
"Strippers, you mean?" Kade asked, downing his whiskey. Greg refilled the glass.
"Yep," Greg answered. "Why, you looking to step on stage?"
"He could but he's too straight for that," Tyler remarked.
"Aw, he's straight?" Greg said in mock sadness. "Well, maybe he'd still like to make a few bucks. He doesn't have to have sex, just look sexy. He's a Peacekeeper, right? I'm sure my customers would love to see a Peacekeeper stripping on stage."
"Not likely, Greggy," Tyler said with a laugh.
"How many bucks we talking?" Kade asked sarcastically as Greg slid a dark whiskey in front of him. Greg cocked his head in intrigue. "Sarcasm, Greg. I'm a Peacekeeper, not a stripper."
"Well, I guess--"
Loud, thumping music began suddenly and their attention drifted towards the stage. A crowd had gathered around the stage as the curtains pulled open, revealing a strong-looking black panther who sauntered to the front, dressed in military attire. Cheers and whooping started almost immediately and Kade rolled his eyes, hurriedly downing his drink before holding it out.
"Another, please."
"Just a moment, Spotty," Greg said, watching the stage. "That's Alistair, that guy's a regular here. That panther's one of the sexiest guys I've ever seen, but you're a close second."
"Oh, really?" Kade mused, glancing over as Greg took his empty cup to refill. "He doesn't look so good. I've seen better."
"Oh, I've seen better too, but he's definitely in the top five," Greg remarked. "Unless you'd like to prove me wrong?"
Kade rolled his eyes. "Not interested in stripping. I'm a Peacekeeper."
"For someone not interested, you haven't stopped watching him," Greg noted, sliding the refilled glass in front of Kade.
"What?"
"And I wonder... Is your tail wagging?"
Kade shook his head, though he rapidly turned around to face Greg. "Hate to burst your bubble, Greg, but I'm not interested in another guys. I'm straighter than an arrow."
"And here you are in a gay bar."
"I'm perfectly secure in my sexuality," Kade grumbled, taking another swig. He paused for a moment and lowered his glass. The crowd had let out a mighty cheer and Kade glanced over. The panther had stripped off his pants and was now in a pair of low-rise black briefs and dancing quite seductively.
"Enjoying the show?" Tyler asked teasingly, his paw on Kade's shoulder.
"He's a... decent dancer," Kade said, finishing off his third glass of whiskey. "Yo, Greg, I'm still sober."
"I think you've had enough for the time being," Tyler said, snatching the glass. He handed it to Greg who took it with a slight scowl. "Greggy, can we get a minute? Just a little time to chat?"
"Sure," Greg remarked in intrigue. But he moved to the other end of the bar, where another bartender already was and joined in their conversation.
"I didn't invite you out here just to get you drunk," Tyler explained. "I actually wanted to talk to you."
"About what?" Kade snapped irritably.
"About you," Tyler said. "And why you're a Peacekeeper. You baffle me. I don't get why someone as short-tempered and as rebellious as you would even want to be a Peacekeeper."
"Really? You drag me to a bar just to ask that?" Kade huffed.
"I figured you'd be more willing to talk with liquor in your system."
"Pay for another round and I'll answer all your questions."
"...Fine."
Kade leaned back on his stool. "Why am I a Peacekeeper? That's a bizarre question. Does anyone need a reason to choose a career?"
"Typically, people choose careers that they want," Tyler said. "I wanted to be a Peacekeeper. What about you?"
Kade shrugged. "I don't know. Noticed the Academy was accepting applicants. Figured the money would be good."
"Is that all?" Tyler questioned. "Is there anything else?"
"Not really," Kade grumbled halfheartedly. "Nothing you'd really understand anyway."
"Try me," Tyler urged. "How can I know if you don't tell me?"
"Well," Kade began, "do you remember the picture of Zachariah Eldridge in my apartment? That's why. I owed him."
"What'd he do for you?" Tyler mused.
"He saved my life," Kade answered with a grin. "Turned me from a street thief to a semi-productive member of society. I was about seventeen. Was about to rob some guy and I didn't know he had a weapon until he shot me in the face. It was Zachariah that responded to the call. Caught the guy. Even visited me in the hospital and made me an offer I would've been dumb as hell to refuse." Kade chortled. "Remember when you asked me what happened to my eye? That's what. I was young and dumb. And barely living. If not for Zachariah, I would've probably died in that alley."
"Did he give you a prosthetic?" Tyler questioned in amazement.
"He paid the bill up front," Kade confessed, "and we worked out an arrangement. In exchange for what he did for me, I'd give up being a criminal. He got me into the Academy. Helped me out when I needed it. And I took care of him when he needed me. I promised him I'd do my best to stay on the straightest path I could... And even now, I won't quit. I owe him that much."
"Wow," Tyler mused. "Just... wow... I honestly didn't expect that."
"Yeah, well, you should be expecting to pay for the best beer that Greggy has in this joint," Kade said with a smirk.
"Right, right, next round's on me," Tyler said with a smile.
A remarkable stroke of luck, that's what Kade called it, when he got the message on Tuesday that somebody had come to claim the body. He and Tyler had entered HQ to be greeted by the receptionist and a brief order to report to Interrogation Room Two.
"Interrogation?" Tyler mused as they walked. "That's a bit harsh for someone's who's claimed the body."
"No, it's not. It's just a precaution," Kade answered, turning a corner. "If they're who they say they are, then that's all the more reason to interrogate them." He came to a stop; they'd arrived. He turned to Tyler. "I want you to play the good cop."
"Good cop? Are we seriously doing this routine?" Tyler huffed in exasperation.
"Sometimes it works. Otherwise, we'll have to resort to more drastic measures," Kade answered. "Who knows? The killer might've even come to us. Let's see if we can slip him up."
"You look like you're about to enjoy this."
"Oh, I will. Thoroughly," Kade assured him. He opened the door.
The square room was lit with a single light in the middle of the ceiling. A steel table with two chairs (one of which was occupied by a young, male tiger) and a box of tissues was directly beneath that light. The tiger looked up as Kade seated himself, setting the file in front of him.
"Good morning," Kade greeted in a monotone.
"Hi," the tiger answered curtly.
"I'm Lieutenant Creed," Kade said simply, "and this is my partner, Officer Mooney." Tyler gave a small wave which the tiger didn't acknowledge. "We understand you've come to claim the body of our victim."
"Yeah, I'd like to have a funeral and burial for her."
"You'll be free to do so but we'd like to ask you a few questions first," Kade said. "What'd you say your name was?"
"Eric Stone," the tiger said in exasperation.
"Eric Stone... Tell me, Mr. Stone, what your relation is to the deceased."
"She's my sister," Eric explained. "She was staying with me while her divorce got finalized." Then, with anger filling his voice, he added, "Have you investigated her ex-husband? Maybe he's the one that--"
"We'll get to him," Kade said dismissively. "Before you leave, we'll take his name and contact information. We'll investigate him as well. And we'll also need a DNA sample of yours to compare to the deceased, just to verify that you two really are family. Right now, let's focus on simple facts. How'd you find out that your sister--What was her name?"
"Jessica Stone!" Eric said angrily.
"She didn't change her name after she was married?"
"Her ex's last name is Gordan, G-O-R-D-A-N," Eric huffed.
Kade took a note. "How'd you find out your sister was murdered? Are you sure that it is your sister?"
"Yes! I even filed a missing person report! She's the only one I can think of with those kinds of prosthetics," Eric snapped.
"Her prosthetics were removed," Kade noted. He flitted through the case's file and reread fact he'd already read once before. Yes, their victim's prosthetics had been crudely taken. "So how would you know what kind of prosthetics they were? What kind did your sister have?"
"She had a false eye and left paw," Eric raged. "I can even tell you the make and model since you're such shitty police."
"I'd advise you to control your temper, Mr. Stone," Kade warned monotonously, comparing what was said to the file. The victim's missing prosthetics matched the tiger's description. "I promise you'll be able to give your sister a proper burial after we compare your DNA to hers. If there's a family link, we'll gladly give you the body. First, I need to ask you these questions. It's standard procedure."
Eric took a deep, calming breath.
"Where were you when the murder occured?"
Eric hesitated. "You're not suspecting me of killing my sister, are you?"
"I am."
"How dare--?!"
"Because sororicide isn't unheard of," Kade remarked. "And she was staying with you. You had plenty of opportunity and maybe even a motive. Perhaps a brother-sister spat that got too heated. Either way, you're just as much a suspect as anyone else who's known her. Most murders are committed by people known to the victim."
"I didn't kill her!"
"Then prove it," Kade challenged.
"You can't prove I did and I know I'm innocent until I'm proven guilty! And I know I have the right to remain silent!" Eric crossed his arms, a scowl pulling at his features that tugged on Kade's patience.
"If you refuse to provide me with a credible alibi, I have the authority to detain you until you do. Or you can confess to the crime and save us time," Kade said simply, irritation coloring his voice. Eric looked indignant. "And pouting isn't helping anyone."
"Kade," Tyler interjected, scowling, "that's enough. He's just lost his sister. Be nicer about it!" Kade leaned back in his seat and Tyler stepped forward. "Mr. Stone, this kind of interview is common procedure. If you can give us a solid alibi, your name will be cleared and you'll be free to leave."
Eric snorted indignantly. "I was at work! I was working a double that night. I can even give you the factory's address, my boss's info, all of that! It'll show I was at work. Hell, you can even take the security camera footage!"
"We'll have to get that information from you as well," Kade said. He looked up at Tyler. "And remind me to get hold of that camera footage." Tyler nodded and Kade turned back to Eric. "Do you know of anyone, besides her ex-husband, who might've had a grudge or motive?"
"No one I can think of."
"Did she have any odd acquaintances? Somebody who made you uneasy?"
"Not really."
"Did she have any odd habits? Was she a partier? Did she go out often or stay home?"
"She liked her privacy and quiet," Eric said sadly. He looked down. "Truthfully, she hated going to bars and stuff. Avoided it like the plague. She liked to stay home and read or write." He looked off wistfully. "She was working on a novel, you know."
"Mr. Stone, please focus. Anything you can think of to help us will be appreciated," Tyler said.
"I'm sorry, but I can't think of anything," Eric confessed. "If I do think of something, I'll tell you, but I don't even know what she was up to before she died." He sighed heavily. "You'll find the criminal, right?"
"We will," Tyler said encouragingly. "We just need some time and leads."
"I'm sorry I can't help out more," Eric said, sniffling. A tear escaped his eye and he hurriedly wiped it away. Tyler pushed the box of tissues closer, but Eric made no move to take one. "Listen, if I can give you anything else, I will, but I just don't know anything."
"I see," Kade answered. "Thank you for your time."
"Am I free to leave?" Eric asked nervously.
Tyler looked down at Kade who nodded. "Yes, you are. I'll escort you."
Kade listened to the door close behind Tyler and Eric and thought carefully. Certainly, if Eric's alibi checked out, there was nothing left to glean from the young tiger. This case is giving me a migraine, he thought miserably. I miss being a meter maid.
Kade wasn't sure how long he'd sat in the interrogation room when Tyler returned, looking saddened.
"So, what do we do now?" Tyler wondered.
"Play it cool and continue our investigation," Kade answered. "This case is still open. First, let's corroborate Mr. Stone's alibi with his employer. If his alibi's fake, we'll need to get a warrant for his arrest."
"And if it's not?"
"... I don't know," Kade confessed. "For a murder to occur with the murderer leaving no clue is simply remarkable. And I fear we may need him to strike again to find him."
"I thought we were supposed to prevent murder, not encourage it," Tyler said savagely.
Kade glared up at him, eyes narrowed. "You think I want another killing on our patch? Fuck no! But what the hell do we have to go on? He killed a female--so have many other murders. She was a tigress--so what?! We have nothing to work with but a name! And we only just got that!" He sighed. "Our best leads right now are her brother and her ex-husband. You got the ex-husband's name?"
Tyler nodded. "Nelson Gordan."
"Good. We either need to bring him in or go see him," Kade explained. He stood and stretched. "Let's get to work."