Talking Mud Puddles- Totally Normal
Inside, the space was light and airy, but cool despite the humid air outside.
A young acolyte hurried forward, greeting them effusively and thanking them for their prompt interest in solving this crime.
He explained how they’d discovered the break-in, an alarm set off by the intruder, but the security cameras had not captured any images.
They’d gone fuzzy at the exact time of the theft.
Yeah, between the brimstone and the camera blitz, it’s almost certainly another demon.
But I don’t think this one has the same intentions as Lunarooski, Malachi thought to their group, barely resisting the urge to stick out his tongue at the detective who was still eyeing him warily.
Need to get into the storage room to confirm, see if there are any other clues.
Chuck quickly nudged Kassidy aside and moved to the storage room, motioning for Jaxon to follow as she lightly outlined her process for having Malachi search. Training dialogue that was intended to disguise the intensity of Malachi and Luna’s methodical review of the room.
“Interesting,” Kassidy interjected, “and how do you teach them to be so thorough and independent? I noticed you didn’t give any command, yet he seemed to know exactly what you expected and so did she.”
Knowing Chuck wasn’t a great liar, Malachi was about to feed her a plausible excuse when Jaxon surprisingly came to the rescue.
“Non-verbal cues,” he explained in a confident tone.
“Malachi is highly sensitive to hand signals, pressure on his sides, things like that. Plus, didn’t you say Malachi has done several of these searches?
” His eyebrows arched in inquiry. At Roundtree’s meek nod, he continued, “Then I imagine Malachi is already aware of what’s expected.
And Luna has been training side by side with him so she’s following his lead.
I wasn’t aware you were so interested in K-9 work, Kass.
Did you want to be a K-9 officer at some point?
” He skillfully turned the man away, so the demons could carry on their inspection.
I’ll be exceptionally damned, Malachi sent. That douchebag is actually coming in handy!
You know, he’s a lot smarter and nicer than you give him credit for, Luna replied haughtily. Maybe you could, I dunno, give him a chance?
Malachi paused with one paw in the air, about to raise on his hind legs to check a higher shelf.
With agonizing slowness, his head turned to her as if on a rusty crank.
He imagined you could hear the bones creak in the silence of the moment and resolved to add that sound effect to his repertoire.
Give him a chance? Lunado, he’s still alive.
I sing karaoke with him. I set you up to be his partner for Asmodeus’ sake.
At what point do you feel I haven’t ‘given him a chance’?
Plopping heavily on her haunches, Luna dropped her muzzle low and whimpered. I’m sorry, I didn’t think about it like that. He knows what we are and you don’t torment him. Much, anyway.
It’s fine. You apologize too much for a demon. Guess that’s your angel side, but if you’re embracing your darker nature, quit saying sorry all the time.
You’re right, I’m sor— She swallowed heavily at the low mental growl from him. I mean, what are you finding?
Demon, he replied, nodding briefly. Definitely a demon, but no one I know. Do you recognize the scent?
Umm, not really, but there’s something vaguely familiar. Like, an undertone of something I’ve smelled, but not someone I was well acquainted with. If that makes sense.
It does, and I agree… we need Flick; I want to know if these are the same demons he was spying on.
He sighed. I guess Officer Flynn Slater needs to make another appearance.
Closing his eyes, he muttered the summoning phrase for his cousin and hoped they could sneak Flick in under the watchful eye of the already suspicious detective.
After sending Jaxon and Luna outside to explain the plan to Flick, Malachi sat at Chuck’s feet and glared menacingly at the detective.
Kennedy Squarebush is getting entirely too nosy for his own good.
Let me bite him. Or piss on him. It’s fine.
Dog’s gotta do what a dog’s gotta do! He huffed out a laugh at Chuck’s weary sigh.
“So, Kassidy,” she started, emphasizing the detective’s real name for Malachi’s benefit. Which he felt was strictly unnecessary considering he knew the dipshit’s name. “Jaxon mentioned you were interested in K-9s? Is that something you’ve always wanted to do? Or a more recent development?”
He’s gonna say recent. I bet you a twenty-four-ounce ribeye he says recently.
“It’s a recent interest,” Roundtree mumbled with a shrug.
Told you! Steak dinner on you! Gah… you’re choking me; relax the grip on the vest there, sore loser.
Chuck did let go of the back of his vest, releasing where it was digging into his neck, but her fingers moved warningly up to his head, her fingers circling around one of his ears.
Malachi swallowed heavily and gave her puppy eyes. I’ll be nice. Please don’t pinch my ear. They’re really tender in this form!
As her fingers inched back from his head to rest on his neck, they both watched the detective’s eyes follow the motions.
“It’s just… you’re really in tune with him, and I haven’t seen that kind of connection with our other K-9 teams. I’ve heard a lot about you two, and I’m fascinated with how you work.” Kassidy shrugged and flashed a sheepish grin, trying to feign nonchalance.
“Excellent training is key,” Flick called from outside the door, his voice strained and thready.
Malachi’s eyes widened as he belatedly remembered Flick couldn’t come inside.
The proximity he had was already causing him tremendous discomfort.
His mouth was set in a deep grimace, and his brow was covered with sweat.
We need to go out to him; hurry before he explodes! He whimpered for good measure.
“Oh, excuse me, Kass. I think Malachi needs to go potty,” Chuck chirped brightly, her grin so saccharine it gave Malachi a toothache.
You better hope I don’t piss on his tires, he grumped. And for the official record, you’re a terrible liar.
“I don’t disagree,” she replied under her breath as she ushered him outside with the others.
Louder, she greeted Flick as the officer who had brought Luna to them.
“Nice to see you again, Officer Slater.” Her teeth were clenched in what should have been a smile but was more of a threat. “Here to check on Luna’s progress?”
Flick, who had backed up several feet to clear the consecration line, nodded with alacrity.
His relief at being off the sacred ground was so great, he let her hostility slide and shot her a grateful smile for coming out to him.
“Yes, I figured I’d check in to see how she’s doing.
Inquire if you needed anything before I leave town.
” He rocked back and forth on his heels a few times, hands in his pockets, while his eyes darted about nervously.
Relenting, Chuck’s smile became much friendlier as she tilted her head and studied him.
“So… how’s she doing? Need anything?” Flick offered lamely.
Jaxon rolled his eyes and clapped Flick on the shoulder, much harder than was necessary. The gesture caused the demon to stumble forward, closer to the building, which in turn made him recoil in disgust.
Malachi snickered to himself. He figured Jaxon still hadn’t forgiven Flick for his part in nearly starting a bloodbath at the bar. Play nice, girls! You’re both pretty!
Chuck snorted in laughter and covered her mouth as if coughing while shaking her head.
What? Malachi demanded. You say that to Nickeroon and me all the time!
Don’t you own that phrase, you know? Anyway, be right back; I have to go ‘potty’ like a good boy now since little Miss Can’t Lie for Shit told Triangleflower that I needed to do that.
Don’t do anything stupid until I get back.
I want to watch. Lunula, make him hump a tree; I need a reward for not biting his stupid ass.
As he trotted away, he heard Jaxon quietly forbidding Luna to do any such thing, but Malachi saw the wicked gleam in her eyes. He snorted to himself as Kassidy’s eyes glazed over briefly. The man turned to Flick with an appreciative smile and greeted him warmly.
Hurrying behind a tree, Malachi made a show of lifting his leg, sighing at the indignity of it all.
Not needing to actually pee, he hummed to himself, trying to calculate how much time would be realistic.
Once he finally decided it had been long enough, he shook out his coat and turned toward the group.
Just as he lifted his paw to return to them, he caught the smell of brimstone.
It was faint, but fresh. Almost as if someone was trying to cloak themself but wasn’t that good at it.
He inched back in the other direction and tilted his head until he zeroed in on the scent.
Creeping forward now, he cloaked himself in shadow and silence, hoping he could sneak up on the other party.
Slowly, he slunk under a bush and stilled the leaves so the rustle wouldn’t announce his presence.
His ears perked forward as he heard a low rasping voice, whispering.
Peering through the branches, Malachi found the demon, crouched over a small mud puddle, speaking quietly to the bubbles popping up.
“Yes, I know it’s him. How many other demons are topside, working with angels, hiding in a dog body, and are followed by Pestilence?” the demon growled, frustration and sarcasm heavy in his tone.
Malachi couldn’t hear the other demon’s response, but the muddy pit boiled aggressively and hissed in reply.
The stench of rotten egg and roadkill wafted his way, conveying the other party was less than enthusiastic about the demon’s snarky retort.
Personally, Malachi felt the statement was accurate if it was about him, but that didn’t seem to matter for the demon on the receiving end of the scolding.
His suspicion was confirmed when the voice spoke again.
“I know I was rude. I just don’t like the smell up here.
And they’re working with other demons and that angel that does the liaison shit for the other side as we wanted.
The one we were looking for, Nick. He’s not here with them, but they may know something about our plan.
What do you want me to do?” The demon scratched absently at his nose and glared at the mud pit, sticking a middle finger up in salute.
The puddle popped angrily, spattering mud on the demon crouched before it.
He jerked back in fear and surprise, sputtering an insincere apology.
“Of course, right away!” As soon as the muddy pit closed once more, the demon rose and kicked at the ground, stomping like an angry child.
Spitting and cursing, he didn’t hear Malachi back away and signal the others.
Lunamoth, circle around the south side of the building as quick as you can. I’m on the northwest corner. The demon we want is here. Jaxon, go with her. Chuck to me, quietly. We’ll get him when Lunadoo and Jaxon flush him this way. Keep Butch Kassidy out of this.
He crouched, waiting for the others to get in position after Luna conveyed they understood. Sensing her before he heard her, he relaxed slightly as Chuck crept up behind him. Get your gun out just in case. You get to be the hero this time, he sent her.
“How very thoughtful of you,” she whispered back with a grin.
Haven’t ruled out biting you.
“Then you’d be suspended and wouldn’t get to chase bad guys.”
I didn’t say it would be in dog form. Be ready; Lunatic is in position. Here they come. Threaten him, cuff him, but don’t actually shoot him. We need him alive for questioning. Wait, where’s Detective Dipshit? Is he humping a tree? Did Lunarcake distract him?
“Actually, Jaxon asked Flick to distract him, so he doesn’t know about this.”
Gross, why does Jaxxy have to be like that? He’s almost earning… barf… respect from me. Eww. Shoot me. I can’t believe I admitted it. Ugh. He scrubbed his muzzle across the grass, trying to rub the disgusting taste of those words from his mouth.
Frantic barking sounded from across the lawn as Luna cornered the demon and Jaxon shouted for him to surrender.
As expected, the demon screeched in indignation and ran.
Straight into Chuck and Malachi. She greeted the demon with a cheeky grin, and the barrel of her gun pointed right between his eyes as she flicked off the safety.
Surprise fucker! Did you miss me in Hell?
You were right, by the way. We did know you were here and heard your cute conversation with the mud puddle.
Way to piss off your commander. Feel free to tell us who’s behind this before she shoots you.
Otherwise, your ass is going to jail, and I highly recommend you don’t drop the soap!
Growling, eyes flashing with Hellfire, the demon took a step back and spun but came up short when Jaxon and Luna closed in on him. Jaxon’s weapon was firmly trained on the creature, right between his glowing eyes.
“Try me, fucking Hellspawn,” Jaxon snapped.
Oh shit, that was kinda hot! Malachi sent to Chuck. I might be getting a crush on him after all.