FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Ikita!"

It wasn't even lunchtime yet when that pompous lion couldn't help but yell my name from across the agency. I put my stack of files on the table and ran to his desk, dodging with a nimble paw the annual tidy-up, not without flicking a few papers with my bulky tail.

"What is it, boss?" I said, as the office door swung open.

"I can't find Mayor Gontran's file."

I could see Leo, his mane dishevelled from a sleepless night, undoubtedly not doing much, turning the room upside down with a highly agitated attitude, which was not his habit.

"Which one?" I asked warily. "There's always at least one case a week that concerns him."

"The fake jewellery case," he replied without bothering looking at me.

"The investigation requested by his second or fourth wife?"

"The second one." He sighed, pausing in exasperation before bending down to resume his search within a file drawer.

I didn't understand his urgency. This file was just as insignificant as all the others from City Hall and the Mayor's overly large family. Even the Grey Rabbit Syndicate had fewer members than his close circle. We had a box full of these cases, which were destroyed every year with the paper shredder.

I closed the door, looking like a good trainee going out of my way for my famous boss, but I decided to just ignore him and go back to the heavy burden of sorting and tidying up all this crap.

After a few hours of struggling to clear up this mess, the chief went out to join Rudolf, his devoted assistant, in an "investigation" as useless as the latter. I took a moment to relax in his chair by the window overlooking the Scavenger Quarter. With any luck, I would see a pack of hyenas fighting each other over a packet of rotten breaded chicken. It was always something fascinating and relaxing.

No sooner had I stretched out my tail and paws than the office bell jarred the little hearing I had left after Leo abused my sensitive ears the whole morning. Grumbling a little, I readjusted my shirt and dragged my claws to the entrance door. I opened it.

"Hello?" said the guest hesitantly.

A young cheetah about my age was standing before me. His golden hair fell elegantly over his forehead, partially covering his gorgeous jade eyes. His rebellious red and black outfit and shoulder bag with course handouts sticking out of it left few doubts about his student activity. I was intrigued by his aura to the point of being subjugated.

"Y-yes, come in," I finally replied.

The young man moved gracefully and approached the desk I presented to him.

"Are you Mr. Leo Pawreen?" he asked innocently.

"No, Leo is in the middle of an investigation," I replied, not really believing it myself. "I am his... assistant, Miyori Ikita."

"I didn't know he had one," he breathed wearily, "but I guess you'll probably do fine."

"What can Leo Investigation do for you? Sir?" I asked, gesturing for him to sit down.

"Tobias Farrock."

He made himself comfortable and crossed his legs, restless and impatient. I could tell he was an athlete by the powerful muscles in his bare legs. I noticed he was holding nervously a paper in his right hand, its compulsive crumpling of which showed its importance.

"I'm listening," I said in a soft voice.

"My best friend is missing. He hasn't been to campus for several days and last night I found his place open and upside down." I could feel the concern and dismay in his voice; it was obvious they were more than friends. "I think someone kidnapped him."

"Did he have any particular enemies or problems?"

"No, not that I know of," he replied nervously.

"My snout tells me this paper is significant," I pointed it at him with a claw.

Hesitantly, he opened his paw and held up a blank sheet of paper barely larger than a post-it note. I took it to examine it. It was extremely simple and showed no writing. Only a drawing appeared on a worn background, which I recognised without huge difficulty: a stylized black boar's head facing in profile with an eye patch.

"Your friend has pissed off the wrong people, it seems," I remarked, losing my professional restraint.

"I suspect he's running around in some pretty shady circles. University is expensive, and he used to complain about not having enough money until he bought a luxury phone a few weeks ago and paid for rounds every Saturday."

"The One-Eyed Hogs are high-quality lackeys; only the upper-class VIPs hire them."

I thought for a moment, stroking my whiskers. There were only a few groups that could afford to hire a gang of henchmen. I didn't know what his friend was doing, but he obviously dealt with the wrong partner. Leo would never take the case; it was too dangerous for his business.

"Will you investigate?" he asked me in a pleading voice.

I understood Leo at these moments, when a beautiful and classy lady was using her charms to make him give in. This cheetah was rather attractive, and his distress was perceptible. I could not accept that his file would join the pile of the mayor's, a totem of sloth and corruption. I thought about the shooting star the day before and how Leo would refuse to act if I sent him this client.

"All right," I sighed, "we'll take this case."

Farrock's face lit up as I asked him for more details. Leo would be furious if he found out, especially when he would know that I was planning to give him a discount.

This was finally my chance, and I was determined to make that pretentious dickhead chew his mane.