Introductions

Luckily, he had chosen his hiding place well. He quickly found most of the animals on the missing list, more than enough to get a warrant going. With his job done, he stood up and began to sneak away. He was eager to get out of this place. The stench of farm animals was beginning to make him almost drowsy.

LINE BREAK

“Alright, now that that’s done, what’s next on the docket?” Ronnie offered with a smile.

Despite his outward positivity, internally, he was starting to feel a growing sense of irritation. He knew this was going to take a while, but at this point, he might as well give up on the plan and become a deputy for real.

April, unaware of his true feelings, smiled back. “Thanks a ton! You’ve been a really big help. Now, this next one is going to be a bit… odd.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Our mayor, Vivian, she’s, well, I can’t go out and call her a crook since we don’t have any evidence. Let’s just say she has a hand in all kinds of business around here.”

“Ah, say no more. I understand,” he replied. “Do you want me to find some dirt on her or something?”

April vigorously shook her head. “Definitely not. Vivian’s smart. She wouldn’t be where she is if she weren’t. Sending you out alone would be signing your **** certificate. I just need you to deliver some paperwork to her.”

“That’s all?”

“We figured you’d have the displeasure of meeting her eventually. Might as well get it over with with something simple, you know. Just go in, deliver the paperwork, and get out.”

“You make it sound like it’ll be dangerous.”

“Because it could. Don’t do or say anything that could make her angry. Vivian herself isn’t much of a threat, but she’s powerful in other ways.”

Ronnie gulped. “Alright, will do. What do I have to deliver?”

April sighed as she reached into a drawer from the desk and retrieved a thick envelope, and held it out to him. “These are updates from some of our investigations. Vivian has us keep her updated on any major cases.”

“Is it normal for mayors to ask for stuff like this?” he asked as he took the envelope.

“No, but she signs out paychecks and pays for this office. And remember what I said. Be careful.”

LINE BREAK

Vivian’s office looked like it wouldn’t be out of place in a palace. Large, expensive paintings practically covered every inch of the walls. Even one of those looked like it cost enough to buy a house with some change left over. Orante, golden sconces held oil lamps. A large crystal chandelier hung overhead. The woman herself sat behind a large desk.

When his eyes settled on the woman herself, only one word came to mind. Elegance. Her gunmetal grey fur put velvet to shame. A lighter shade touched the area around her plush lips. Her long black hair flowed to her waist. One ruby red eye looked at him intently, contrasted by her lilac eye shadow. Her other eye was covered with her swooping bangs. Her tail swished behind her, almost like a snake. And then there was her body. She was slim, but her chest pushed her revealing green blouse to its limits. The buttons on the garment must have been the strongest in the West to keep her weighty breast covered. Her short skirt was just as strained as her blouse. Her hips looked like they could swallow his head with room to spare. She looked back in her seat, looking him over as if she were a lioness, and he was her prey.

“Ah, you’re the new hire. I was hoping to meet you in person.”

“Hello, Vivian,” Ronnie said with a tip of his hat. April’s warning was still fresh on his mind. One wrong word could end it all. “I’m here to deliver some paperwork, as requested.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Just that?”

“Yes? Why else would I come here?”

The cat sighed. “I’d thought you’d have more tact than this. There’s not a lot that happens in this town that escapes my notice.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’m not a gullible fool like our dear sheriff. I heard about a raccoon matching your description that recently got on the wrong side of the law in a nearby city. And you just appear out of nowhere, and join the sheriff’s department, the only person to even try in years. I don’t know about you, but something isn’t adding up. All it would take is a small chat with my sheriff, and she’ll be more than happy to investigate further. I may not like the woman at all, but she’s half decent at her job. More than enough to find out the truth.”

Ronnie felt a shiver run up his spine, but he **** a calm expression on his face. “Suppose you’re right. What do you want?”

Vivian settled back in her chair. “That’s what I like to hear. The most important rule in this town is that the mayor keeps tabs on any business here, and I expect my share. Do I make myself clear?”

“You offer this deal to everyone?”

“Everyone in this town works for me in one way or another. In fact, allow me to introduce you to one of my associates.”

Vivian snapped her fingers, and Ronnie felt something pressed against his back. He leaned forward and spun around to identify his attacker.

He froze.

The woman before him was the biggest kangaroo he’d ever seen. It wasn’t particularly hot inside the room, but her beige fur was already slightly soaked in sweat, like it was her default state. It was her large, round gut that had grazed his back. He could feel some of the warm sweat that had stuck to him after their brief contact. The top of her head nearly scraped against the ceiling. One of her mighty stompers was almost big enough to cover his body from head to toe. Thighs thicker than his body led to a mountainous ass so big that one cheek would be more than enough to squash him flat. He wasn’t sure if it was a pale brown thong or a pair of hellishly stretched shorts that was attempting to cover some of her decency. Either way, their efforts were in vain. Her shirt, if you could call it that at this point, was stretched so much it looked more like a bra, and a particularly small one at that, just about managing to contain her pumpkin sized breasts. Her vest, surprisingly, fit well enough along with the wide-brimmed hat sitting on her head. Her orange yellow hair was done in a braid, but not a very neat one. Tufts of her hair poked out from under her hat. Her short club like tail swished from left to right as he glared at him feindishly with her watery blue eyes. He already didn’t like the way she was looking at him, but her eyes made his knees weak. They held a powerfully sadistic gleam. And she was standing between him and the exit, thick enough to make squeezing past her a pipe dream.

“This the runt Texas managed to dredge up? I’ve seen booze with more kick than him. Hell, I’d bet he’d even go down easier than booze.”

Ronnie took a step back. He wanted to say something, but his mind was drawing blanks.

“Allow me to introduce you to a distant associate of mine. Usually, she’s not very fond of working together, but she made an exception just for you. You see, she has a soft spot for law men and women, especially if they’re affiliated with Texas.”

“The pussy cat is right. I usually don’t give a damn about her business, but when I heard Texas managed to con someone else to work with her, well, I just had to meet you, especially when Viv said I could do whatever I wanted to you.”

Vivian coughed. “Only if he turns down my offer. I suggest you consider my deal. Normally, I wouldn’t go through the trouble of convincing Roxxie, but your employment with Texas offers a unique opportunity. Quite frankly, you’re the only one stupid enough to join the sheriff’s department, but smart enough to know all it takes to get ahead is a compromise or two. Now do us both a favor and let’s do business together.”

Roxxie leaned down until her nose almost bumped against his. Her eyes seemed to dance with glee. “Or you could do me a favor and turn her down. Then the real fun can start, for me that is.”

Ronnie frowned. He’d never encountered someone like Vivian before, but this wasn’t his first time being extorted. He prided himself on being a free agent, and bending the knee to anyone, even someone like her or Roxxie, felt like a blow to his pride as a thief.

He could always refuse. What was the worst that could happen? Texas and April knew he was coming. Surely Vivian wasn’t powerful enough to try anything with the sheriff’s department ready to jump into action.