\n Wolfie Steel: Private Eye

\n Written by Wolfie Steel

\n Part 2.

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\n I park my truck outside the newspaper office and head inside. Sitting behind a desk is a very bored looking Dalmatian, as I make my way towards the desk the Dalmatian looks up to me and instantly his ears stand up on end as he realises who is stood before him.

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\n "Oh my god, Wolfie Steel in the fur, well this is a surprise, we rarely see you outside of the Doberman estate except when you are in convoy with Senior Doberman, so I'm guessing that this visit must be of some major importance"

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\n I let out a chuckle as I begin to make my reply.

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\n "Well my friend, I'm here on business, I would like to place an ad in the paper to advertise my new Private Investigators business"

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\n I hand over a piece of paper with a rough draft of what I want the ad to say, the Dalmatian takes it from my paw and looks at it thoughtfully before replying.

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\n "So, you're going to be a private dick? Usually we see at least three of these a week, they end up being nothing more than a one minute wonder, however, I believe yours will be different, you see there are not many people out there that haven't heard the name of Wolfie Steel, and they will all know that it is a name that they can trust, so it will be my pleasure to place the ad for you, on the house"

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\n I start to protest about my ad being put in the paper for free but I'm cut off by the Dalmatian's boss, a tall and strapping Stallion.

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\n "My name is Brandon Fisk, I own, run and edit this newspaper, now with your links to Senior Doberman, who let's face it is not someone that gets turned away from the velvet rope at Movie Premiers, I think the least we can do is to run a half page ad for your new venture, hell who knows, maybe you can do some investigator work for us from time to time"

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\n I let out a slight sigh as I realise that this is one battle that I'm not going to win. I gently shake the Horses hoofed hand and then the paw of the Dalmatian and then head out of the office and back towards my truck. As my right foot paw hits the pavement, I'm approached by two suited figures, a golden furred Lion and a black furred Wolf. The Wolf speaks first.

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\n "Are you Private Investigator Wolfie Steel?"

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\n Instantly my defences activate, I secretly ball my right hand paw up into a fist, ready to knock seven bells out of at least one of the guys. Unfortunately the Wolf sees my arm tense up.

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\n "Whoa Mr Steel, we're not here to cause you trouble, in fact it was Senior Doberman who told us where we could find you"

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\n I slowly begin to relax my fist, but I don't let it go completely, next the Lion speaks.

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\n "We work for Alpine Electronics and we have come to offer you your first case"

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\n My ears perk up and I now completely relax my fist as I make my reply.

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\n "Ok gentlemen, you have gained my interest, I'm sorry for putting up my defences, but I'm sure that you both understand what it is like when two strange guys approach a Private Eye in the street, now why don't we head to the café across the street so that we can talk in relative privacy"

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\n Both the Lion and the Wolf gently nod their heads and follow me across to the café, once inside I order three cold drinks and we head towards an empty table towards the back. Once sat at the table with our drinks, the Wolf begins to outline the case.

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\n "Ok, first things first, my name is Daniel Taylor, and my colleagues name is Spencer Trainer, as I said we work for Alpine Electronics as security officers, twenty five years ago, a female Wolf by the name of Kara La Tain began working for the company, she worked in the research and development labs, at around the same time Alpine Electronics were heavily into the development of a small but oh so powerful micro chip"

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\n The Wolf takes a sip from his drink as the Lion takes up the story.

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\n "This micro chip was to be used for military purposes and would have given the military power that purchased it the edge over the biggest and best that any military had to offer. Of course, the chip never went into production as the prototype was stolen in a sophisticated break-in, this is where our female Wolf comes in, at the same time as the break-in, Kara did a disappearing act, now it doesn't take Einstein to put the pieces together and come up with the fact that Kara was the one who stole the chip"

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\n The Lion now hands the rest of the story over to Daniel.

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\n "Though the burglary was sophisticated, she was now stuck with a prototype micro chip which she had to offload and quick, the thing is though, we kept our eyes open both on the open market and indeed the black market, and we saw the chip constantly being put up for sale, but then vanishing again as the price was obviously too high. Then suddenly, twenty one years ago her selling activity stopped and we have seen nor heard anything from her since, that is where you come in Mr. Steel, Alpine Electronics would like to find the prototype micro chip and or Ms. Tain, as they fear that if the chip, which is still very advanced by today's standards, finds its way into the wrong hands or indeed paws, it could very well lead to the start of World War III"

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\n I mull over everything the Lion and Wolf have just told me, sure if I succeed in finding either the thief or the micro chip it will mean that Wolfie Steel Private Investigator will be firmly put on the map. I also know that it will mean quite a large payoff for me, but on the flip side of that is the knowledge that with the thief not being heard from in twenty one years, she is either dead or very good at staying hidden, either way it will mean a lot of hard work.

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\n The need to get my Private Eye business up and running wins out though so I decide to take the case, the Lion hands me an envelope which holds details of Tain's last known whereabouts, a photograph and details of any acquaintances that she might know, the Wolf finishes his drink and then hands me a business card.

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\n "Mr. Steel, if you find anything out, you can contact us on this number anytime night or day, finding the micro chip is of utmost importance, finding Ms. Tain will be a bonus"

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\n With that the two furs head out of the café and instantly vanish into the crowds. I finish my drink and then head back out towards my truck, now armed with my first ever case, determined to do whatever it takes to complete it.

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\n I arrive home and quickly head inside and towards my computer, first I need to try and find out if there is any further information about Ms. Kara La Tain. I log into a programme that hopefully will allow me to find out where Ms. Tain is, it takes me half an hour when suddenly I hit pay dirt, well pay dirt of sorts, the only reference to the name Kara La Tain is from a record which I found from the department of births, deaths and marriages, apparently Ms. Tain died twenty one years ago to the day of cancer.

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\n I look up the file and find out where she is buried, sure I know that finding out where she is buried won't help me find the missing micro chip, but at least I can tell Alpine Electronics that I have found the thief, all be it that she is now worm fodder.  I leave my computer and collect my digital camera, and then I head out to my truck to make the journey to the cemetery where she is buried.

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\n After a ten minute drive I arrive at the cemetery and I begin my search of the grave headstones. I stumble on my first piece of luck after a five minute walk, I see a young male Wolf kneeling by the side of a grave, out of respect I slowly and softly approach the grave, I get to a point where I can clearly read the name on the headstone, Kara La Tain.

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\n The young Wolf looks away from the headstone and directly at me, he then speaks in soft and hushed tones.

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\n "From the amount of interest that you are paying to my mother's grave stone I would say that you are somebody that has been hired to find her?"

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\n The young Wolf stands and slowly walks closer to me and continues.

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\n "My name is Trip La Tain; I see that you carry a holstered gun so that leads me to believe that you belong to a law enforcement agency of some kind?"

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\n This kid is as sharp as a tack and knowing that his mother was a sophisticated thief I'm willing to bet that the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. I offer the young Wolf my paw to introduce myself.

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\n "My name is Wolfie Steel, I'm a Private Investigator and I've been hired by Alpine Electronics to find both your mother and a micro chip that she stole"

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\n The young pup nods gently, it seems that he has been expecting this day to arrive for quite some time.

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\n "I know where the micro chip is and I'm willing to tell you where it is in return for a favour"

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\n I let out a slight chuckle as I realise that I could be being scammed by the pup, but my curiosity gets the better of me as usual.

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\n "Ok Mr. La Tain, what would that favour be?"

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\n Trip puts his paws into his pockets then pulls the lining out showing that they are empty.

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\n "Mr. Steel, I'm a twenty one year old Wolf who has no job, no money and no prospects, sure I could become a thief, god knows that I have the skills as you can see"

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\n The Wolf holds up my wrist watch, damn this kid is good, I didn't feel a thing when he removed it, the Wolf hands me back my watch and then continues.

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\n "I don't want the life of a thief, always looking over my shoulder in fear that someone has seen me and is after me, always having to cover my tracks and always afraid that I haven't covered them well enough. I want to go legit, so to my favour, will you take me onto your payroll and give me the opportunity to clear my family name"

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\n I won't deny that the thought of having an assistant is appealing, but can I trust him? I guess there is only one way to find out.

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\n "Ok Mr. La Tain, I will take you under my paw and give you a job, but I warn you now, cross me up just once and it will be the last time that you do it, do I make myself clear?"

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\n A smile breaks out across the young Wolf's muzzle and his tail begins to wag gently.

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\n "I promise you Mr. Steel, I won't let you down. Now for my part of the bargain, the location of the micro chip, if we head back to your truck I will show you the way"

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\n Again I'm still unsure of the kid, he could still be trying to deceive me, but if I don't start to trust him, then I will never know if he is telling the truth about the micro chip, so I'm going to have to use a huge leap of faith.

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\n I lead the young Wolf back to my truck and open the passenger side door for him, he climbs in and buckles up while I get into the driver's side and buckle up too, I then fire up the motor and wait for Trip to give me the directions.

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\n "I have no doubt that during your initial investigation you came across my home address, and that is where we will find the chip"

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\n I put my truck in gear and we make the fifteen minute journey to the boys home address, we pull up outside the house and exit the truck, as we head towards the front door Trip turns to me and lets out a slight giggle.

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\n "I warn ya Mr. Steel, I'm not much of a housekeeper, but I can lay my paw on the chip easily enough so you won't need a tetanus shot"

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\n We enter the house and I am mildly surprised, sure it is a little messy, but nothing as bad as what I was expecting. Trip walks over to the fire place and takes a small wooden box from the mantle, he brings the box back to me and then opens it, and there in front of my eyes is the object that will bring in a truck load of cash which will give my private eye business the boost it needs.

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\n Trip gently closes the box and hands it to me; he then lets out a resigned sigh.

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\n "Well Mr. Steel, you have the micro chip so you no longer need me; I guess this is where we part company?"

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\n I gently place my free paw on the young Wolf's shoulder and make my reply.

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\n "As I see it Mr. Tain, you and I both took a great leap of faith, in my case, you could have been leading me into a trap, and as you have just said, in your case I could have taken the chip and left you to your own devices, but we are both about to be proven wrong, me because I have the chip and there was no trickery apart from when you took my watch, as for you, well you have been proven wrong because I never go back on my word, I promised you a job and that is a promise that I intend to keep"

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\n The Wolf's ears perk up as I finish and his tail goes into wagging overdrive as I continue with my reply.

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\n "Now, first things first, we will get this chip back to its rightful owners and get paid, and then you have a choice to make, you can either keep your home or you can sell it and stay with me on the Doberman Estate"

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\n I look into the Wolf's eyes and I see them gleam, and I realise that it is probably the first time that they have gleamed like that in a long time.

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\n I would like to thank Trip Legacy for helping me to come up with this chapter, also for agreeing to appear as Trip La Tain. This chapter is much better in my mind than the one that I was planning...Well done Trip, I owe ya one hun!