Underdogs The First Stories - By Geonn Cannon Page 0,30

only when it reached the curve of her chest.

"I think you're new here."

"I like to broaden my horizons every now and then."

Rebecca nodded. "Is that why you hang out with cats in empty fields?"

Ari's smile faded and she tried to cover her surprise. "I guess you were the one on point, keeping an eye out?"

"Yeah. Recognize my coat?" She ran her fingers through her blonde hair.

"How'd you recognize me?"

"Your smell, babe. I smelled you out there, but you obviously weren't interested in stopping us. So what were you doing out in that field with a pussy?"

Ari arched an eyebrow. "You know how hard it is for a dog like me to be seen with a cat? I had to go somewhere we wouldn't be seen."

"Was she worth it?"

Ari grinned. "Oh, yeah."

Rebecca laughed and took a swig of her beer.

"If I'm a cop, you just implicated yourself in a robbery."

"Am I gonna have to check you for a wire?"

Ari whistled. "God, I hope so."

"If you were a cop, you wouldn't have just sat there last night. Besides, you're much too relaxed for a cop." Rebecca turned to face her, leaving one elbow on the bar and lacing her fingers together. "So you stumble across us last night and turn up at my bar the next day. Something tells me you want in."

"Money is money." Ari shrugged. "You guys seem to have your shit together. I read the paper today and the cops are completely stumped. If you ever need an extra set of paws, I could always use the cash."

Rebecca shrugged and looked toward the jukebox. The song had ended, and there was a drawn-out silence before the next song began.

"So do I have to beg?" Ari said. "I could really use some extra money."

"Who can't, these days?" Rebecca picked up her bottle and slid off the stool. "Come back in a couple of days. I'll talk to the others and see what they have to say. But you're really hot. That's a bonus. So I'll see you Thursday. And leave the pussy at home. Just us dogs down here, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," Ari said.

Rebecca walked away, moving her hips in a manner that suggested she knew Ari was watching. Ari appreciated the show, holding her bottle against her bottom lip and waiting until Rebecca was out of sight before she took a drink. She turned back to the bar and smiled. The bartender glanced over and gestured at her bottle. Ari nodded and finished off the beer she had before he brought her a replacement.

She deserved a drink; step one of her job was already done. Now all she had to do was pass the hazing and she'd be in like Flynn. All her jobs should be so easy. She spotted a cigarette machine in the corridor leading to the bathrooms and made her way over. She bought a pack and carried it outside, passing the Hulk at the door and climbing the stairs to the sunshine. She didn't smoke, but it was a reasonable enough excuse to get out of the bar long enough to make a phone call.

Ari leaned against the wall outside of the bouncer's earshot and dialed Dale's number. It rang four times, and Ari winced harder with each buzz. Finally, there was a click that she thought would be the call switching over to voicemail.

"Why, Ari. I should have known that an early day was too good to be true."

"Be honest. How poorly timed is this call?"

Dale sighed. "Well, Natalie hasn't even arrived yet, so it's kind of a grey area. What do you need?"

"Things are moving faster than I thought. I need to follow someone, but she's a canidae. She caught my scent from across a parking lot last night, and today she recognized it in a bar full of others like us. So I think she would pick up on it if I tried to follow her myself. I just need to know where she's going and if she meets up with anyone." Dale didn't answer right away. "I know where I can find her, so it's not crucial that it happen tonight. If you need to say no--"

"No, it's fine. I'll call Natalie and cancel."

"I'm sorry, Dale. I really am."

Dale chuckled. "I know, Ari. That's why I'm doing it. You didn't make it an order, and you feel bad about making me do it. That might be screwed-up logic, but it tipped things in your favor. Just don't play that card too often."

"I'll