Collieville, it's not the worst place to live - in fact for a pup like me it might be pretty good. The booze ain't so bad, and when I light a cigar no one complains - not even other pups. The one thing this town has always had though is crime, and there ain't no shortage of it.
I took a deep breath welcoming the deep blue moonlight through the department window, and sipped on some nice hot coffee, black and flavorless just how I like it.
"So Ravenwoof, what's your first name again? Can't seem to remember."
"That's because I never told you piglet."
"I'm a CAT for the last time! Not a piglet!"
"Ah, piglet. He's my new partner in crime. Chief always said the night shift drives you crazy, and a partner can help you keep your mind straight. The thing chief doesn't know is that I lost my mind a long time ago."
"STOP MONOLOGING AS IF I'M NOT HERE!"
I took another sip of coffee.
"AND WILL YOU STOP DRINKING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE POT."
I looked down at piglet, and then the pot of coffee in my paws.
"WE HAVE MUGS FOR A REASON DOG!"
I took a deep breath reminiscing of better years, and recalling back to a time when things were much more simple.
"The mugs don't fit my paws. If I were to try drinking out of one of those things the janitor will be upset with me again."
"WHAT ABOUT ME?"
I couldn't help but chuckle. My last partner didn't have anywhere near this much spunk, but I guess it's a good thing this kid is the way he is, might help him last longer in a fight. Feeling a tad bit sympathetic I extended my claws offering the kid some coffee.
"Here. You've earned it."
The kid scowled at me.
"You realize, I'm the one that made that pot right?" He said.
He took the jug, and stared deeply into the pot before finally gulping the rest down.
"Say piglet, I hate to keep callin' you that I know it's not the most respectful thing. What's your name?"
The kid seemed to coy up a little bit. He brought his paws to his face, and blinked slowly at me before looking away.
"M-My name is Fluffles... Detective Fluffles.
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"I'm not calling you that."
"HEY, SHUT UP I DIDN'T GET TO CHOOSE MY NAME."
"........."
"AND BESIDES YOU STILL HAVEN'T TOLD ME YOURS!"
"Relax princess. Let's not get too personal. You can keep callin' me Ravenwoof. Detective Ravenwoof.
"Well detective Ravenwoof. What ever happened to your last partner?"
"It's a long story kid, and it's not one you should be hearing your first week on the job."
"Look, I may be young but I'm not stupid. I know what kinda city this is okay? I know what I signed up for when I took this job."
'That's what my last partner said.'
"And besides, you're one of the best right? Thanks to you the Racoon Wolf Rangler is behind bars, and you also put away the Rat Attack King. You're in The Lupus Institutes Top 20 Detectives in Animalsia! I-I really hope I can be like you one day... just without the weird habits, and monologues."
"Monologues are part of the job kid. No good detective doesn't have em."
"But besides all that." Fluffles continued. "How do you solve your cases? I've gone over some of the files. Is it all luck?"
Ravenwoof turned his head back toward the window, and stared deeply at the moon. He was thinking about last night.
'I was sleeping good too.'
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As Ravenwoof went to sleep the previous night he quickly awoke to find himself seeing things through another's eyes. This wasn't the first time it'd happened, but this time something was off.
Whoever it was they were in a hurry, speeding through dark streets, and leaping over rooftops until finally they stopped in a cold dark alley way.
"No where left to run fox." A loud and carnivorous voice echoed off the walls, and pierced the fox's ears.
"D-D-Detective? S-Stop y-you'll get-"
"In trouble?"
The large creature began to corner the fox slowly edging in its direction taking its time to let the fear set in.
"The law doesn't apply to me remember? I'm in the Top 20."
"B-But why? I-I thought we had a deal. I-I thought you'd protect me-"
"You thought wrong. And now I get to cross Winnie the fox off my list."
The fox turned around, and tried to scamper up the cold metallic building. But it was no use, the creature had grabbed Winnie by his throat. Slowly, the life began to drain from Winnie's body. He fought, and scratched but his foxy frame just couldn't match up to the wolf in front of him.
"Unfortunately for you there won't be a body to bury."
The last thing Winnie saw was the inside of the wolf's mouth, and stomach as it chomped down on his neck tearing him apart.
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Ravenwoof was lost in thought back at HQ.
"Another time, and I would've mistaken that wolf for me Fluffles."
"Sir with all due respect what are you talking about? Do you need more coffee? Because I can get you more coffee. In fact I'll buy you your own pot because something tells me you don't wash this thing before you put it back. I bet the entire office has had their share of wolf germs. Blagh!"
'And the murderer is also a detective, and in the top 20. But I couldn't make out who exactly it was. This won't be easy.' Ravenwoof thought.
"Hey Flufflepig."
"Huh?" The cat said turning around. He was getting another pot of coffee going.
"Did you go over that case file yet? About the murder last night?"
"Well hold on sir, that file was just eye witness testimony stating they saw someone get ganged up in a corner, and then they disappeared. Hardly sounds like a murder to me."
"Don't believe everything you read flufflepuff." Ravenwoof said putting on his jacket. "Come on, let's go have a conversation with this eyewitness you mentioned."
"Wait! I saw you come in. You didn't even read the case file."
Ravenwoof smirked.
"Why would I read that when we already have all the cards in our paws?"