A Cheery Household Herd

We all sat down for some of their special blend of citrus coffee as I listened to what Aunt Orange had to say regarding the recent rumors about mobster activity in Manehattan.

“So yeah, long story short, I’ve heard from Mista Portobello’s wife that the Diavolo Family is back to their old ways of sellin’ illegal substances like drugs. And theys apparently got some new lady doin’ they dirty work and usin’ a tailor business down on 3rd Street as a cover for what they really doin’.”

“Sounds pretty…messy,” Cheerilee spoke up after a moment and looked at Pale, “What do you think we should do about this, hun?”

“There is no ‘we’,” Pale replied with his hooves folded, “If this is true, then this is the last major crime family in Manehattan and I’m gonna snuff ‘em out myself.”

“Here’s the thing, brudda--it’s plausible that Suri Polomare’s workin’ for ‘em. She just ain’t got no clue what they doin’.”

Pale sighed and shook his head. “They likely took advantage of her passion for clothes just to get another money mule into their doors. Sick freaks. I’m gonna go see what I can find,” he got up from the table, and started to walk off, much to the dismay of Cheerilee.

“Uch--Pale--! You can’t do that alone-!” she shouted while frantically flailing her hoof in the air, but the stallion had already rounded the corner to leave the building.

But Uncle Orange spoke his mind to ease her pain, “Let him go. That husband of yours is more than capable of dealing with some lowlife thugs.”

Cheerilee rolled her eyes and looked at Babs with a pleading expression. “Would you mind, please sweetie?”

“Yeah yeah I’ll watch over him,” Babs answered and got up from the table, “Just calm ya teats, Teach. Go check out the Square Garden in the meantime, eh?”

“...That place does sound pretty nice…” she muttered as she looked out of the window that overlooked the Madison Mare Garden--a mares-only locale that contained various spas and other amenities. “Alright. I’ll trust my hubby and go relax for a bit. So long as you watch over him, Babs.”

“He’s my brotha. I’mma always have his back.” Babs affirmed as she walked out of the room, much to the delight of her aunt and uncle.

Uncle Orange would comment first, “Just like the kings of old…your husband is going to do just fine, Mrs. Cheerilee.”

“Thank you, Mr. Orange,” Cheerilee replied with a smile as she thought about the Garden for a moment. “I might be able to find something nice there for him when he gets back…”

With Pale…

It didn’t take me long to find this tailor shop. It was a small one on a corner that specialized in clothes made exclusively for stallions. A very rare type of store given the aforementioned imbalance of the sexes. A nice cover for whatever operation they had planned. If Suri Polomare was here, then I’d be remiss--I really thought she’d find a new calling in life that would keep her out of trouble, but this time, she’d be caught on the puppet strings of someone else…if the rumors were true, that is.

Pale continued down the street until he came up to the shop that rested on the corner street. Above the double doors was a simple black, rectangular sign that read, ‘Alfredo’s Suits & Ties’.

“Hm…a pretty average-looking place from the outside,” Pale thought to himself, “Let’s head on in.”

He pulled one of the doors open and was greeted with the hefty scent of clothing starch as he saw rows upon rows of suits made for bulky stallion bodies on clothing racks all around him. The sleek, brown hardwood floors smoothly clacked under his hooves with each step he took which were accented by the calming, dull-green paint on the walls.

And just ahead of him, at the front desk, the mare taking calls and managing ponies’ information was none other than…

“Mm-hmm. I got it, mmkay--you have a nice day too, baby.”

Suri Polomare. She had just finished taking a call and behind her was another row of suits that were clad in plastic wrapping--indicating that this business also did dry cleaning as well.

“Welcome to ‘Fredo’s,” Suri called out, then blinked upon seeing who had come to visit, “What can I--wait. Pale? How are ya, sweetie?”

Pale continued looking around the lobby of the store until he approached the front desk where Suri was located. “...Hey, Suri. I see that you’ve found yourself a new job, huh? I hope it’s been going well for ya.”

“Oh it…it totally has!” she answered hesitantly, “I’ve been stuck in this position for the last few months, but I’m still working my way up so I can become a manager. I’ve always loved working in the textile industry, so I figured this would be good for me, mmkay?”

With her hesitation noted in the back of his mind, Pale approached this as carefully as possible. “...Are you sure? Working in a tailor shop seems nice and all, but are you certain your employers are the type of ponies you want to be working for?”

Suri’s eyes darted upwards and to the left before focusing on Pale once more. “Uh…whaddya mean? Ms. Diavolo’s just fine to work for. She pays well and gives me ample time off too.”

The classic sign of falsehood didn’t slip past Pale, however he didn’t want to blow a case open right away without enough evidence to back it up.

“I see,” he replied, “Is there any chance that I could speak with her?”

“N-no!” Suri gasped, then exhaled, “...no. It’s likely that she’s very busy right now.”

“...Okay then,” Pale replied as he turned around to get ready to leave, but was stopped dead in his tracks by a white pegasus mare who came down the nearby staircase wearing a gilded necklace. She had red eyes and a cutie mark that depicted a needle and thread.

“Ah--Pale-a Vestige!” the mare approach him and mashed his cheeks together in her hooves, “You’re-a quite the celebrity around here! I’m-a humbled to have you here in my humble abode. What-a can I do for you? You may call me Miss Dia.”

“Bleegh!” His speech was garbled for a moment when she grabbed the sides of his face, and he had to pry himself off of her. “Nothing in particular, thank you. I was just here on some business but I’ve pretty much found what I was looking for. Please carry on with your day,” and with that, he turned to leave and started to trot out of the store.

“Oh well-a, have a nice-a day!” Ms. Dia waved as he left, waiting for Pale to disappear from sight completely, then turned to Suri with a cold expression on her face. “Did you say anything to him?”

“N-no! I swear!” Suri pleaded with a nervous expression as she grit her teeth. “I’d never tell him anything, ‘kay! I don’t even know him.”

The pegasus mare stared at Suri for a moment, and narrowed her eyes. “Come to my office. Now.”

Meanwhile, outside…

Babs was walking down the street, and had just watched Pale leave the tailor shop from a block away. “Hm….”