Chapter 5
Suspects All Around:

The otter seemed altogether shocked and frightened. His eyes stared wide at the two sleuths who stared at him in astonishment, but not in surprise. The surly beast looked from the gun to the body in horror. His small furry paws tensed on the gun tightly. He began to shake his head quickly. “I-I-I didn’t do this. Seriously! Come on! You gotta believe me guys! I really didn’t do it!” he began to stammer. Swifteye scowled and muttered a “ptfu!” Robrile was in a petrified stance staring at the child. “How could you, mate? I young un even.” the raccoon said shaking his head. The otter continued to shake his head. “Look, I know it looks like it, but, I really dint’ do it! You gotta believe me!” the otter almost spoke himself to tears. The only thing Swifteye could conclude is that he was a very stupid murderer. Still as he spoke now he didn’t try to escape. But Swifteye took no chances. The fox unlatched his set of handcuffs from his belt. The moon glistened off of it’s clean and shiny metal. It cast a light upon the otter. His eyes went wider once he saw them. “No, no, no! Don’t do that! I really didn’t kill em’! If we get him to the hospital he still might be alright!” the otter screamed. He backed away hastily, still attempting no full fledged escape. “Fine, if you didn’t kill him, who did?” Swifteye asked putting the cuffs down. The otter did not loosen up. “I-I don’t know, I can’t explain it-” Swifteye cut him off with a sigh and spoke; “Your coming with us.” while advancing with the handcuffs. He shoved them onto the otter and shut them with a loud click. The entire time the otter just stared at the pavement in disbelief. “Drop the gun, mate.” said Robrile. Only a few seconds later the gun clambered to the floor. Robrile stood up from examining the body of Kimsi to collect the gun. The otter watched as the raccoon picked it up into his paws. “Let’s get him to the station, Rob.” said Swifteye. “I have a hard time believing a criminal like you could have killed all these animals.” Swifteye said with disgust. The otter whimpered desperately. “I didn’t! Let me at leese’ try ta explain.” he said. Swifteye ignored him and shifted the squirming body of the suspect to his other side. He strode over to the body to have a look. Throwing the otter to one side, Swifteye bent low down to the ground. The mouse was on his back, eyes open, back untouched and the blood soiling his front. Swifteye frowned and murmured under his breath. Just then, Robrile grunted. “Humph.” he said loudly. Swifteye looked up at him. His partner was staring at the gun intently. “What?” asked Swifteye. Robrile shook his head and put the gun away. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Let’s get to the station then aye, mate?” he said. Swifteye shrugged and nodded. He lifted the otter up and stood. “Let’s go.” he said. But just a few moments after that he stopped. “Wait.” he said. “One of us has to stay here with the body. Maybe get a few more clues.” Robrile hesitated for a moment. A bit later he sighed and sat on the pavement to wait for Swifteye’s return. “Good coon. I’ll be back shortly.” said Swifteye, and he strode of silently to the police station carrying a crying otter. Robrile sat silently in the night. A cool evening breeze swept over him. Directly above his head the moon shone brightly. The butcher shop to his right, the road to his left, the remaining stops of Swifteye’s exit right behind him and the body of Kimsi to his front. He was always stuck with the eerie and/or boring jobs. One day he told himself that he would put an end to that. But for now, he was too tired. For one he was glad he did not have to dive into the murky river water. In his eyes the case was of any other. Suspects, witnesses, a theory and several crime scenes. For some reason, Swifteye didn’t seem to think it was. Sure there were a little more murders than usual, but that wasn’t so much different. Deep in Robrile’s mind, he still believed that the terrier terrorist still had a part in this. However, Robrile didn’t have the detective mind of Swifteye The Sleuth. Robrile shivered gently. It was a cold night. He reached for his notebook from his coat pocket. But soon he realized that he didn’t have the coat on. So instead he decided to look for clues. The raccoon spun around to look at Kimsi. There were many obvious observations. Robrile noted each one. Kimsi had apparently fallen for ward from his attack, as he was on his front. He was shot in his stomach most likely. The mouse had been taken by surprise, for his eyes remained open. A dreadful thought cam e over Robrile. His mother most likely knew not of her son’s death. Then another thought came over Robrile. Why was the mouse out so late anyway? There were many unanswered questions. He hoped Kimsi’s mother did not come looking for him that night. Robrile sighed in sorrow for Kimsi and his mother. It would be difficult for her. Robrile held his breath and turned the body over. He only got a short glimpse for a reason that will be explained momentarily. But when he set eyes upon Kimsi’s chest and stomach, the mouse was unharmed. Blood covered him but there was no wound. Suddenly, a deafening gunshot was heard. Robrile felt a jolt of pain in his arm. Within moments, the raccoon fell over onto the pavement, either dead or unconcious. For now, neither will be decided. It took no hesitation for Swifteye to take off with the otter dangling at his side once the gunshot was heard. He had expected something like this to happen. Right when he left Robrile he knew it. But there was no way of stopping it. He could only hope he made it on time. The otter on the other paw, was in a joyful mood. He figured it would help him prove his innocence. Perhaps it could show that he wasn’t the killer. Or not the only one at very least. The buildings towered over Swifteye as he charged down the streets. Smells of gun smoke and meat were well present. With each step Swifteye seeme d to gain speed. Speeding faster and faster toward Robrile. The wind was blowing feircly against his chest making it more difficult. It didn’t even seemed to have started up until he began running. The weather never had been on Swifteye’s side. Finally, Swifteye dug his claws into the road to stop. However, the otter kept going at a fast pace. They spun several times until the otter lost his grip on Swifteye and travelled several feet in the air until landing in a heap of trash that seemed to have barely missed making it into the cans beside it. Swifteye took no notice. He scampered to his paws and shook himself. His head flew back and forth anxiously looking for Robrile. But to his horror neither him or Kimsi’s body was in sight. The pool of blood remained unharmed, and oddly, it looked as if it had never been touched at all. The butcher shop creaked loudly in the wind. It’s sign banged continueously against the buildings bricks. Swifteye had not made false navigation. There were only two options. Robrile took Kimsi and ran away, or another beast took them both away. Swifteye liked to think it was the first rather than the latter. He stared down at the road where he had told Robrile to wait. One black and grey hair was resting peacefully on the bricks. Swifteye ducked down to pick it up. It was Robrile’s, no doubt. If examined close enough, it may tell him where Robrile had gone to. This was advanced detectivtry known by little. Only Swifteye the Sleuth was said to be able to tell such great detail from such a small item. His red claw extended to grasp the hair. Just then, a wind blew and the hair sailed off into the night. It flew in a spiral down the street. The buildings provided cover for every turn it took. Swifteye grunted grimly staring down the road. There was a moment’s silence. Then the otter lifted himself from the garbage. “Told you I didn’t do it.” he said peeling a banana peel off his shoulder. “Shut up.” Swifteye ordered. The otter shook out his coat and chuckled. “Look if you do want to admit you misjudged a suspect I understand that. We can’t win em’ all now can we?” he said. Swifteye growled and turned away to begin walking. The otter jogged to catch up. “Where you goin’ now?” he asked. Swifteye spat to his side. “I’m going to report this to the station. I’d be grateful if you kept quiet along the way.” “Who says I’m goin?” You are going. Don’t try anything foolish.” Swifteye said strictly. The otter growled and looked off the side at the towering shops and markets. They walked through the dark city for a short bit of time. The wind whistled past there ears gently showing no sign of speed or strength as before. Owls hooted constantly across the sky. Birds and bats flew over head moving in all directions. A stream of water flowed down just beside Swifteye’s foot paw from the most recent rain that was last night. It wasn’t every day that Swifteye left such a thing behind (the pool of blood). But if he didn’t report this soon, they may never see Robrile again. This continued Swifteye in his jog or slow run to the station. The otter and he remained undisturbed until a shop keeper from a nearby market burst from the buildings doors. He was a short dumpy mole who always seemed to be in a bad mood. However tonight, he seemed panicky. He was in his pajamas and sweating nervously. “Swifteye! Thank the heavens you’re here!”he cried running out into the street. Swifteye sighed and stopped. If he was lucky he may find some information. But this fox was not in the mood. “Yes, Mr. Diggar?” he asked. The mole stopped before Swifteye and caught his breath. After too much time he began to speak in an out-of-breath voice. “Swifteye-huh...thank-hah goodness! I was up counting my money in the-huh...gimme a sec....huh...huh...Okay. I was counting my money in the store when I heard a gunshot. I immediately ran outside to see who it was and ward them away from our city!” said Mr. Diggar. He was exaggerating as usual. “I grabbed my family branding iron and ran outside to defend myself. When I arrived, there was nothing in sight but a pool of blood!” Swifteye nodded gently. “Yes. I am investigating it right now.” he said and started to turn away. The mole’s eyes widened and he grabbed Swifteye’s arm. His grasp was very tight and almost painful. “No! Wait!” “What!?” “Um....shouldn’t you be investigating it over there. Where it happened?” Mr. Diggar asked. Swifteye frowned staring at Mr. Diggar’s pointing finger. Swifteye looked into the moles eyes with a smile. “It didn’t happen over there. It happened over there.” said Swifteye pointing in the correct direction. Mr. Diggar glanced at his hand and changed it’s position. “Yes, well. That’s where I meant.” he said chuckling grimly. Swifteye stared at him. This animal was in a very strange mood. Could it be from fright? Swifteye asked himself. After a pause he began to turn back. “I already have.” he said. But immediately Mr. Diggar grabbed him again. “Wait!” “What!?!?” “Uh......Can, could I come with you?” he asked. “It’s a bit frightening out here.”Swifteye sighed and shook off Mr. Diggar’s hand. He shook his large furry head with frustration. “No!” and with that he started to turn away for hopefully the final time. But unfortunately it was not the final time. Mr. Diggar took a strong dive for Swifteye once again. This time he nearly knocked the fox down. “Look, I just want Robrile to be okay!” he said. Swifteye’s brain clicked. The fox threw his hand out at lighting speed. He grabbed Mr. Diggar’s wrists. “Aha! How did you know Robrile was shot? You said no one was there! You are coming with me my greedy friend.” said Swifteye. He rumaged through his pockets and retrieved his last pair of handcuffs. He locked them on to the mole’s wrist without haste. Mr. Diggar was in shock. Never in his life had he been arrested. He was always so perfect to himself. Always the better of the rest. Always the rich mole who owned the greatest shop in Camdom. And now. How could this happen? And arrested by the only beast who he thought actually put up with him. “But.” he stammered. Swifteye silenced him. Mr. Diggar’s head sunk low in retreat. “Rob, where ever you are, we got another suspect.” Swifteye said quietly to himself. It was just then he realized that in all this time Mr. Diggar was talking, the otter had escaped and ran off. His handcuffs lied unlocked on the road. They looked as if they had been beaten several times with a blunt object. Swifteye cursed loudly. “Blast you Diggar! Now the otter’s gotten away!” he blamed it on the mole. He shook him wildly while the fat beast was flown around helplessly. “Try to keep up with me!” Swifteye ordered as he took off to find his first suspect. This time, Swifteye kept a tight grasp on Mr. Diggar. He didn’t want that to happen again. The two staggered around the streets back and forth. Down one road and up another. Right past the bank and around the coach rental building. With every step Swifteye wasted time. Finally as he came to a stop to rest, he realized that both Robrile and the otter were lost beyond discovery. Or until morning at least. Swifteye sat down on the curb and rested his head in his paws. A whistled sigh squeaked form his nostrils. His mind was not working clearly at all. He suspected that he was just tired. Sleep would do him good. But he couldn’t just let the murder run free for an entire night while Swifteye slumbered. It was a tough decision. Mr. Diggar sat down beside Swifteye rubbing his soar paws. They had been scraped several times by both Swifteye’s claws and the solid metal of the cuffs. It was then that he said the first nice thing he’d ever said to anyone which surprised Swifteye. “Don’t worry, Swift. We’ll find them.” Swifteye frowned at the mole. Although the words seemed quite meaningful, Swifteye could still find no way to trust the greedy mole he had just arrested. But nevertheless, Swifteye nodded his thanks. They sat for a bit longer on the curb. The air turned colder and the moon reappeared from behind clouds. It cast a bright shadow upon the two. Swifteye thought and thought until he could think no more. Eventually he decided to recheck the spot by the butcher’s shop. Now it came back to him how ignorant it was to leave the blood there in the open. Just as they were about to stand again, Swifteye heard a noise. His ears twitched listening intently. Mr. Diggar opened his mouth to speak but Swifteye silenced him. He stood motionless trying to determine what it was. It was footsteps, nearing. He straightened his collar and spun around. He was just in time to see a short, white ferret trodding down the sidewalk. A large hat covered her face. She had large brown boots on her small feet. And the icebreaker was, Kimsi’s battered jacket, hanging over her shoulder’s for warmth. Swifteye spotted the jacket immediately. He lifted Mr. Diggar under the arm and took off in a semicircle around the ferret. He skidded out into the street then charged forward once again to ambush the uncanny third suspect in one day. He was merely feet away and still unnoticed. Gaining speed, Swifteye held out his arms. “Ack!” cried out Mr. Diggar as he fell from Swifteye’s arms. Swifteye clenched his fist from his foolishness. It was the giveaway. The mysterious ferret spun around to stare at Swifteye. They glared eye to eye for quite some time. The mole attempted to squirm to his feet without using his bound hands. Neither took notice of him. After half a minute. A wicked smile broke onto the ferrets face. “Swifteye the Sleuth. I should have known. Your always in these parts aren’t you? Still chasing criminals I suppose? I know you don’t remember me, but I remember you greatly. It is good to see you again.” she said with a smirk. Swifteye had no idea who she was or what she was talking about. “Where did you get that coat? I shall have you put under custody for that.”he said exercising his fingers in case he needed them. “Oh, this old thing? Things are easy to take once the owner’s rubbed out. Isn’t that obvious Swift?”

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