Too Fluffy For You?

The car grumbled and rattled as Jane turned the key and started the engine. I looked on unhappily as the vehicle thumped unnaturally beneath my hooves. The thick smell of gasoline drifted through the stuffy air of the tight car, and after a few more rumbles the motor started up properly. I had given up on convincing Cho to drive, because really there was no point in arguing about it, I wasn’t a child and I didn’t need to beg or plead.

“We should head to the crime scene.” I started. “Cho, call Van Pelt and make sure everything is going well there. Tell her we’re about 10 minutes away and should be there soon.” I turned to Jane. “Jane, don’t screw up.”

The car ride seemed endless, and the back of the car wasn’t comfortable in the slightest. But that wasn’t what worried me the most. Jane was being quiet, too quiet.

“So, what do you think about Laura?” I asked, my voice cracking slightly.

“I need more information before I can be sure of anything.” He said casually.

“So in other words you won’t tell me?”

“Not unless you try to fly,” I could see a small devilish smile crawling up his lip, but just huffed in annoyance.

“Not happening.”

I hopped out of the car with ease and took in my surroundings. We were just outside Jessie Landor’s house, but it wasn’t a house. I looked up in astonishment. I knew that Jessie was rich because of the records, but the sight that was before me was beyond what I had imagined.

The mansion was at least 9 stories, and each curve was lined in gold and silver. As my gaze drifted across the structure I noticed balconies and small ornaments that dazzled in the sunlight. Freshly trimmed grass surrounded the structure and spread out for miles.

“Van Pelt’s waiting inside.” Cho said plainly as he walked past me. I nodded and followed, hoping that if I carried myself with confidence no one would notice that I was a pegasus with a perfectly curled mane style.

As he pushed the door open, I was greeted to luxury. Shelves of trophies and small sculptures lined the smooth walls, and the glass tiled floor was sleek and freshly washed. But that wasn’t all. In the middle of the opening room, Grace was waiting with Rigsby. That was when I noticed the blood and reminded myself that this was a crime scene.

I was about to head over to her when she looked in my direction and quickly ran to me. But she had something in her hand, a police badge? It dangled as she rushed over to me and before I could do anything she slung it around my neck.

“Now people will know you’re with us.” She smiled awkwardly. Rigsby walked over as well and before I knew it he was strapping something around my stomach. I tried to twist to see it but it was out of my sight no matter how hard I tried to find it.

“Rigsby what is it!?” I yowled unpleasantly.

“It has a gun to make you look more intimidating, not loaded of course.”” He answered with a small bout of laughter.

I growled a bit before stomping past them and towards Jessie’s body. It was indeed gruesome. She had a silver knife stabbed in her throat. The worst thing was that it didn’t bother me. I just looked over the body and tried to sort out what had happened, other than the obvious of course.

Jane walked over as I finished and instantly looked ill, but he gathered himself quickly. I watched with interest, as well as some fear, and he bent down and sniffed Jessie’s corpse.

“She was wearing perfume, I would think it’s expensive too.” He concluded.

“That’s very helpful Jane . . .” I replied in annoyance.

“It looked like she was pretty clean.” Grace said from behind me. “She doesn’t show any signs of struggle, no bruises or unnecessary harms.”

“Which means the killer was clever and fast.” I thought aloud, the thoughts came rolling and as I sorted through names in my head I tried to grasp which one belonged to the murderer.

“That’s not true actually.” Jane said, breaking my chain of names.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it could have been someone unexpected.” He countered smartly.

“You have a point.” I admitted. “But you don’t have any evidence. Laura told us about a man named Richard Luis. I say we go there and see what he knows. Apparently Laura owes him money, that could have caused a problem.”

As Jane got to his feet, I gave my wings a few experimental flaps. They didn’t bug me as much as they used to, but they were still massively uncomfortable and inconvenient.

“Do you have the address Cho?” I asked tiredly. He gave me a nod and I gestured to the door. “Then let’s get going. Jane, please act like a responsible adult and don’t do anything that might invigorate him unless it’s completely necessary.”

I heard him say, “No promises.” but didn’t bother to even look at him. I was too busy mulling over the latest discoveries. Jessie hadn’t been harmed at all, there were no traces of struggles. That meant that it had to be fast, or that it was expertly planned out. Another thing was that she owed money to a man named Richard Luis, but why? It looked like she had plenty, none of this was adding up.

“You okay boss?” Van Pelt asked as she walked up to me. I simply smiled back at her and waited for her to open the trunk so I could hop in, but my back legs fell behind and I fumbled around briefly half out of the car. Rapidly I flailed my wings until I was able to pull myself into the trunk, the extra weight of the badge on my neck and belted gun was throwing me off more than usual.

I waited impatiently as Grace slammed the trunk shut and hopped in to the car with Jane, Rigsby, and Cho. Luckily, she was driving instead. And she was a skilled driver, I knew that. I still remembered when when she flung a vehicle around corners and through grass chasing a motorcycle. She had been brilliant and smart, I had to admit that I couldn’t have done what she had that day.

As we pulled into the parking lot, I heard a voice.

“Go away! Get out! Go away! Get out!”

Jane and Grace were laughing at a joke Jane had told, and Cho was reading a novel, like always. I heard the yelling again, it was rough and deep. Straining my ears, I tried to see if I could tell which direction it came from. “Everyone quiet!” I whispered loudly as the car stopped. “Do you hear that?”

“Get out! Go away!”

No one reacted, no one even moved to see where the threats were coming form. That’s when Rigsby spoke.

“Boss, that’s a dog barking.” There was a tone of worry in his voice, like he thought I was crazy. Jane was looking at me too, and Grace, and Cho. They were all looking at me. Heaviness made my heart slouch and I turned away from them with a snort of defiance.

“Let’s go!” I hissed, venom searing every word.

Everyone looked shocked, but no one dared to disobey. Obediently they hopped out of the car and I waited impatiently as Jane opened the trunk. I was glad he was the one opening it, because if it was anyone else I probably would have smacked them in the stomach before exiting.

The house looked welcoming, fenced with trees and flower beds that were in full bloom. I could still hear the dog, but I didn’t bother with it anymore, everyone already thought I was loosing it, better to not push it.

Cho knocked on the door, the sound was hollow and loud compared to the silence coming from inside. I didn’t think anyone was home until I caught the faintest shuffling from inside, the others heard it too.

“I think he’s going through the back.” I whispered confidently. “Cho, Jane, you two stay here, Grace, see if you can find a side door, I’ll go to the back and make sure he doesn’t get out there.”

Instinctively my team went into position and I started to make my way around back. The wood of the house seemed to be an older material. There were signs of rot on the edges and the smell of mold drifted from inside. The house wasn’t as welcoming as it seemed.

When I got to the backyard a loud rattling filled my ears and I whipped around to see the door swing open. The man looked shocked, but I guess he noticed my gun and badge. Instantly he leapt at me and I barely was able to get out of the way before he landed right on top of me.

“Lisbon of the CBI! Don’t move!” I ordered loudly.

As the man got back to his feet I noticed the gun in his hand and backed away a couple of steps. He didn’t look happy to see me, and I wasn’t happy to see his gun. I hadn’t realized how defenseless I was, or how defenseless I looked.

I swore in my head and as I was distracted he charged and grabbed me, locking his arms around my neck and holding the gun against my head. The cold medal rim was icy against my pounding temple and I was limp in his arms. Shock and dread flooded through me as I tried to figure out what had happened, but the death against my head kept my thoughts disoriented.

My team rushed around the corner, I guess they heard the ruckus. Jane and I locked wide eyes, and the man holding me tightened his grip and pushed the gun deeper into my skin.

“Drop your weapons and don’t move, otherwise this one here dies.”