The Commission

[JellyMuffins]

Jay sits on the floor of his apartment, pieces of both his Colt .45’s arranged neatly on the floor in front of him. He hated using guns, but that wasn’t to say he wasn’t good at it; in his line of work one had to be handy with a firearm – or people who were, would take you down. He deplored the use of violence, but he also saw the necessity of owning a weapon in a mob-controlled city. Thus he sat, cleaning the barrels of the two handguns and thinking about his latest case.

It was progressing well; his priority had become to arrest an underboss of the Lombardi family, a guy known for getting his hands dirty. He had himself an connection, though unwilling, who reported directly to that underboss.
He had hit some snags along the way though, most important of which was that he believed his fellow agent, Callum Denton, was being paid off by one (or possibly several) of the families. At that moment, he had no idea how to approach that particular problem.

He reassembled the guns in front of him with well-practised motions, storing one in his apartment and holstering the other as he sets out for his office at the local precinct. He needed to wait a little longer and look for signs that Kistrev had spilled the beans; if he did – Jay had every intention of calling the immigration department on him. If not though, Jay wanted to meet with him again, to see what he knew about Gambino. On his walk down to the precinct he tries to come up with a solution to the Denton problem; he couldn't investigate him formally, that would bring up too many questions... "I just have to wait for him to slip up" the rabbit mutters to himself, frustrated at the small roadblock.

[KittKat chunky~]

"you okay Kistrev?"
One of the Romano officers Kistrev knew was looking carefully at him...
"you really don' look too good there mate.... evr'thin okay?"

Kistrev looked blankly up from the large hose coupling he was attaching up to the oil tanker, really he should be jubious, he was working with the tanker crew... that meant a pay rise.... as soon as the hose was securely attached, all the locking pins secure he looked up at the officer again...

"m' fine,  just tired sir... ya know how it is..."

The officer nodded watching Kistrev pull the second heavy hose over the pier and lock it into place with the oil feed..

"well.... you try n' get some sleep there mate...."

[Armalite_]

Friday, July 10, 1946  9:11am

It all made sense, bright as day once all the facts were explained to Spike. Callum planted the bomb at the piers shortly after meeting Krisrev in an attempt to kill Spike's informant but also pin the whole act on the Lombardi crime family, a good reason to start a war with the Romano's as Al Marino could watch his work being done for him. Paul and Frankie watched contently as they looked at Spike wondering what the next step was. "We can't trust the rat." Spike said. "Paul, I want you to take him on a fishing trip with Frank here. Make sure Agent Denton doesn't come back." Paul and Frank looked at eachother and then back at Spike. "You don't want to talk to him or nothing?" Frankie asked, a bit surprised. "I can't speak to someone once I'm overwhelmed with betrayal, Frank." Spike said, holding in his anger. "Take the boat...and bring back a winner." Spike said before turning away and walking back to his car.

[JellyMuffins]

Sunday, July 12, 1946  3:05pm

"Anyone? Has anyone seen Agent Denton around here?" Jay calls around the bustling precinct. Callum had been missing since Saturday morning and hadn't left a clue where he had gone. He suspected it was mob activity, possibly a rival family trying to knock out the Lombardi's FBI support... Jay closes the door to his office, trying to block out the soise from outside, "But how would they have known? Even I only had circumstantial evidence that he was working for the Lombardi's..." Denton had been gone more than a day, which for law enforcment officers in this city, meant he was as good as dead. "Is it possible that Gambino was behind this, that doesn't seem likely unless... Callum was playing more than one team, which is entirely possible..." Jay ponders over this for a long time before making his decision.

--A little later--

He finds Vincent Foster, a ferret and a small-time Moretti package boy - known to do work for people outside of the Moretti family for the right price, "Vinny, I need you to take this note to someone for me." Jay hands the ferret the envelope, "I need you to get this to a dock worker by the name Kistrev, you got that? Your payment's inside." he turns to walk away, pausing to call over his shoulder, "and Vinny, noone hears about this, you got me?" Vinny nodded, scurrying away - he wouldn't tell, he didn't need his bosses to know he was doing outside work.

[KittKat chunky~]

Sunday, July 12, 1946  5:10pm


Kistrev wrenched down on the large release valve, rust fell off from it like small orange snowflakes.... with a grunt of effort the valve turned and the sound of oil flowing through the pipelines gurgling its way to the containment tanker filled Kistrev's ears... After checking there where no leaks he sat down leaning against the tanker, the dull thud of metal as he leaned back was morouse and echoing...

"hey... you'r name Kistrev? yeah, right... ah gotta lett'r fer ya... don ask who, just take it.... my name? you dont need'a know my name..."

A ferret had turned the corner of the tanker and headed straight for him, handing an envolope simply addressed as Kistrev, he didnt bother asking, he was tired and didnt care who it was from.... the ferret started back off the piers into a tall sided alleyway...

Looking at what had been inside it read simply:

Meet tomorrow at the cafe on forty-first street 10:00am, call in sick to get out of work. You know who this is...


Kitt shoved the letter deep into his jacket... great...

[JellyMuffins]

Monday, July 13, 1946  9:42pm

The rabbit grabs the day's newspaper from a street vendor and heads off to Forty-First Street, no doubt in his mind that Kistrev would come alone. Despite that, his paw runs over the contours of the handgun in his holster beneath his coat, one could never be too careful. Jay takes his usual seat at a booth in the bustling coffee shop, about to open his paper when a thought strikes him; he pats down all of his pockets without success, chuckling softly, he murmured to himself, "Great, I forgot my badge again..."

He opens the paper, glad to note the lull in mob activity recently - the families must be covering themselves after the hit on the Romano don's son. Then his thoughts dwell on his fellow agent, he still hadn't shown up and Jay couldn't help feel a little glad about that. He had had enough evidence that Callum had been paid off by at least one of the mob families and that was enough for Jay, he hated the German shepherd's disregard for his national duty as a federal agent. Reading through the obituaries the rabbit couldn't help but wonder when they would declare Denton officially dead. Knowing the bureau, possibly never. He glanced occasionally over the top of the paper, watching for a certain feline to answer his invitation.

[Armalite_]

Saturday, July 11, 1946  1:05pm (back in time)

"Spike's not joing us this time boys?" Callum asked, stepping on the fishing boat. Paul was at the wheel getting the boat started while Frankie loaded on the crates of supplies. "Nah, you know how he is with the business." Frankie finally replied as he donned his fishing hat. "Said he was sorry he couldn't make it." He added.

The boat pulled off from the dock, black smoke puttering from the engine as Paul carefully steered the vessel. Callum watched as the city slowly disappeared on the horizon as Frankie sat behind him, one of the only cat's Spike knew (besides Krisrev) not afraid of the water. Finally they were surrouned by the calming waves. Paul shut off the boat and turned to face the other two. Callum was already baiting his line while Paul nodded to Frankie. Frankie picked up the pipe and swung it against the side of Callum's head, his body crashing to the floor.

Callum woke up an hour later finding that he was tied to the end of the anchor. He looked up at Frankie and Paul. There was a silence before Callum spoke. "Guys...It's not me." Paul looked at Frankie. "What do you think, Frank." Paul asked. Frank crossed his arms. "I say it's a load of crap."

[KittKat chunky~]

Monday, July 13, 1946  10:00pm

Kistrev slinked down the alleyway, turning out onto Forty-First street he walked quickly and in the shadows... Getting to the cafe he looked around, catching the eye of a rabbit looking over at him from his newspaper... that was him.. walking over he sat down staring at the other...

"no, a ti čo kceš? vieš že ešte musim byt v'prace? ... or maybe that was too slovakian for you? i suppose there IS a reason for you calling me out of work"

[Armalite_]

Monday, July 13, 1946  9:59pm

Spike sat at his usual table in the small coffee shop, reading the paper and politely chewing on his late night snack, a lot on his mind from his informant in the bureau. His hat reasted on the end of the table nearest the isle that the cute waitress ran up and down, hurrying to fill empty cups with black coffee. She stopped next to Spike and asked. "Refill, Sir?" Spike looked up into her eyes from his paper and smiled before he answered. "Yes please." As soon as the waitress finsihed filling the cup she smiled and walked away after Spike politely thanked her, a familiar face caught his attention, walking into the cafe. "Krisrev? What the-?" He sat still and quickly lifted the newspaper in front of his face as to stay hidden from Krisrev's sudden and unwanted attention. He took his eyes off the print to see where the cat was headed. What business did he have so far from the docks? He sat quietly, his paper in front of his face, sipping on his coffee, waiting to find out what he was doing here.

[JellyMuffins]

Jay smiles a greeting to Kistrev, "There is, but for now you just have to try the apple pie here, best in the city." He turned to the waitress with a charming smile, and ordered two slices of pie. When Jay turned back to Kistrev, he spotted a very familiar fox going to hide behind a newspaper. With a just-barely suppressed grin, the rabbit addressed Kistrev, "Tell me Kistrev," he let the question hang in air for a moment, "do you like baseball?" He tried not to giggle, intentionally asking his question so that the fox at the other booth could hear.

[KittKat chunky~]

Kistrev watched the waitress walk off to get the order and turned to jay. "Baseball? whatsthat gotta do wiv enythin?" He looked him in the eye, his tail flicked back and forth, pushing his flatcap back out of his eyes... "cant say i like it ta' much... neva really played it...." why did you bring me here... i dont feel safe off the docks.....

[JellyMuffins]

Jay recieves his plate happily, nudging the other slice towards Kistrev, "Too bad, baseball is the American passtime, after all" He remained friendly, maintaining smalltalk with the confused feline. He couldn't discuss anything of a serious nature with Kistrev's impromtu boss sitting in just the other booth. He smiles, as if he and Kistrev were old friends, "Whaddya think? Best apple pie in the city, right?" He started to scribble out a note to Kistrev when he was sure the occupant of the other booth wasn't looking, just in case they were watched for the rest of the meeting.

[KittKat chunky~]

kitt ate a mouthfull, carefully watching the other. "mmhm, s'great.... but then again" He stopped for another mouthfull. "There aint many cafe's round the docks..." Swallowing he ate another mouthfull, watching the other quickly write out a note..... "And ive never been able to have much in the way of passtimes, shame really... i eat, i sleep, i work... tha's what you people... i mean we people do in America right?"

[JellyMuffins]

Jay shrugs, "Yeh, we do; but you gotta have a little time for a little something else, be it a passtime or a hobby, anything to escape the daily grind." He looked a little disappointed at the feline across from him, "You can't tell me those three little actions sum up your existence here, there's gotta be something else - a girl maybe? I don't know, maybe people just don't have time for romance these days." He paused, taking another neat piece of pie, chewing happily. He pockets the note for now, he didn't have long before the meeting became suspicious and he was hoping the fox would leave before then.

[KittKat chunky~]

Kitt finished the last forkfull of pie before looking up into Jay's eyes....
"for me... me... there is nothing, no one... it can drive a guy crazy i tell ya... i wanna stay in a home, off the streets... i gotta.. ya.... ugh..."
Kitt stopped and started, looking sadly at the rabbit
"well, actually i lie there... there is the one thing... running, ya know? like go run for a few hours, get away from everything... wel ya, thats the only thing i can do... i run, i run... from everything, everyone..."
He sighed... thinking back to when he ran along the dockside, sea fog across the water, silent.. the thudding of his heart in his ears... the constant rythm of his paws hitting concrete... nothing compared to when he had been in slovakia.. but it was the one thing he could do to escape... He looked up at the other across the table and hastily wiped away a tear...