Underdogs The First Stories - By Geonn Cannon Page 0,28

my own business?"

"I think it's adorable you think you're in charge."

Ari faked a laugh. "See you soon."

"Yeah, okay." She hung up and took off her pajamas, turning on the shower and hoping the hot water had recovered since Natalie left.

#

Ari spent the time between the call and Dale's arrival gathering visual aids. She bought newspapers with the relevant stories, and went to the internet caf茅 at the end of the block to print out the ones she was missing. When she was done, she saw Dale's car parked in front of the office and walked back with the items in hand. The door was unlocked and standing open when she arrived. Dale was at her desk, dressed in a sleeveless pale purple top and drawstring pants. She glanced up from her computer when Ari shut the door.

Dale made a show of looking at the clock. "About time you showed up. I've been waiting here for hours."

"I'll do better next time, boss."

"See that you do. And you have a key, by the way."

Ari frowned. "No, I don't."

"If you don't, it's because you lost it. But I gave you one when we had the locks changed. I watched you put it on your keychain." She closed her laptop and stood up, gesturing to the inner office. "You said something about a case?"

"Yeah. Have a seat and let me spell it out for you." Dale sat on the couch while Ari brought her desk chair closer to the small coffee table. She had already refolded the papers to the pertinent sections. "Five robberies at jewelry and electronic stores, the latest one last night. In every instance, the security cameras and alarms were disabled before the robbery took place. The footage they have before the feeds died is confusing to the regular authorities. But to us..."

Dale had picked up one of the newspapers and was reading. "Dogs. There were stray dogs running around before the feed went out."

Ari nodded. "But the power was cut with such precision, the cops don't believe the dogs could have possibly been trained to do it."

"But we know better."

"Yep. Bryn and I saw them last night."

Dale raised an eyebrow. "They got away?"

"Bryn wanted to let them get away. She thinks they're just part of a bigger organization, and she wants them all. We had to let them go for the greater good." She shrugged. "That was her idea, anyway. Her other idea is letting someone get into the group to get as much information before she brings in the troops."

"Someone, huh?" Dale picked up one of the printouts to read about the first robbery. "That someone happen to be a canidae she's sleeping with?"

"More like one that she used to sleep with," Ari muttered.

Dale's expression softened. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."

Ari shrugged. "We're just waiting for the ref to invoke the mercy rule. It's fine. We were never really that serious anyway. This case is kind of like a break-up gift. She gave it to me so she wouldn't feel guilty, I'm going to solve it so I don't feel guilty. Clean break-up."

"Sounds like a good plan. So where do we get started?"

Ari pointed at the map she'd printed out. "These are the locations of the robberies. They all seem to be situated south of downtown. There are a couple of canidae-friendly bars around that area. I'll check them out and see what I can find. I may have to break out some of my seedier outfits so I'll fit in with the criminal element I'm looking for."

Dale looked her over. "What's wrong with what you have on?"

"You're a laugh riot. I'll take care of that tonight. For now, I'll see if the cops will give me any information they didn't put in the papers. Maybe somebody saw something they weren't comfortable putting in an official report."

"Like a dog standing on its hind legs to steal plasma TVs?"

"Something like that. Do you need to leave early for Natalie?"

Dale hesitated. "Well--"

"I'll take that as a yes. Just let me know when you have to go."

"Thanks, Ari."

Ari gathered the newspapers and printouts. "Hey, at least one of us should be getting lucky. I like Natalie. She seems good for you."

Dale grinned. "Yeah. We're having a good time. If you need me for anything, let me know."

Ari saluted and moved her chair back behind her desk while Dale went back into the main office.

#

Ari let Dale go home to Natalie at five, while she went home to change clothes before she started