Melody jumped as a firm grip took hold of her shoulders, dragging her from the room. She didn’t fight it, not that she could. Her mind clouded by want and the horror of it, both sides waging war inside her, fighting for dominance. She barely registered being sat on a pile of clothes, or the sound of a door locking, the screams and shouting just beyond the door.

“Mel? Mel?” Melody slowly lifted her head to her saviour. Grey hovered over her with a gentle reassuring smile. She let out a sob, wiping away her tears. “Oh come on miss Mel don’t-” Grey stopped abruptly, his smile dropping as he saw the red rings in her clouded eyes. He’d seen it before, oh so long ago; all those nights spent staring at the mirror… He never thought he’d see it again. Sprinting to the desk and pulling open a draw he fished out a small food container.

Rushing back over to Melody he swiftly popped the lid and handed her a piece.

She took it hesitantly.

“It’s just jerky. Eat it. trust me, it’ll do you good. Stop the cravings.” He reassured her.

She chewed on it half-heartedly as the commotion outside ramped up.

Several loud bangs rang through the tiny room. Grey hesitantly made his way to the door, pulling up the blind to reveal a burly, angry looking police officer.

“Police, open up,” the officer demanded “we got a few questions.”

“I’m sorry sir, I can’t do that. The young Miss has been through allot. she needs a minuet.”

“I don’t care what she needs boy. Now, do as you’re told.”

“No sir.” And with that, Grey closed the blind, turning back to a distraught Melody. He took the few short strides to where she sat, sliding down the wall to sit beside her, and pulling her into a comforting side hug. She leaned her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her arm lightly.

She couldn’t leave the room, not yet, not until those red circles dimmed away. 

He wouldn’t lose one of his girls. Not again.

*

Paws burst into the Lunair lounge, tearing through the police tape and straight into the backstage area, much to the chagrin of several rookies. Not that he noticed, there was only one thing on his mind, one thought he couldn’t push away, one that threatened to have him curl up in despair.

Paws ran into the crime scene, skidding to a halt.

Relief washed over him in waves as he stared down at the body. Leaning against a nearby wall he let out a sigh of relief, dragging a paw down his face, he fought to regain his composure.

He had been so sure, so sure this had been it, his ultimate failure; that he’d run in here to find Melody bloody and mangled, beyond saving, dead.  

A fellow detective, a fully-grown black-eyed child (as the humans liked to call them), decked out in a grey suit, fedora and trench coat, sauntered over, taking the spot next to Paws; his right foot braced against the wall, head tilted down lighting a cigarette; his brown barbels moving with a mind if their own. Black, void like eyes, studied Paws as he took a long drag; the bright blue smoke dancing round him while he spoke.

“Relieved?” he chuckled, taking in Paws haggard appearance.

Paws nodded and took an offered cigarette. “I really thought this was it, Max.”

“Not your songbird, Scaggs.”

“Hey, you two should know better than to light up in a crime scene.” The Forensic pathologist shouted aggravatedly, waving one of his instruments at them both.

“What, you gunna tell us this weren’t a mob hit? Or you just gonna brush it under the rug, like you’re paid to do?” Max questioned cynically. It was no secret most of the legal system was in the mob’s pocket, whether out of fear or greed. It was making getting any justice in this city difficult, and it was beginning to grind him.

“Watch it. You could get killed talking like that.”

“Yea? Good fucking luck. So, what’s it gunna be?”

“It wasn’t a hit. I doubt this girl was worth enough to justify one. Besides, if it were, they’d have just dumped her in the river and been done with it.”

Max’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, a disbelieving look crossing his face. “Well, fuck me, we actually got a job to do.” He exclaimed, an out of place sound of joy in his tone, as he gestured for his furry colleague to follow.

They wandered further down the hall, stopping outside a navy blue door; the blind on the window was closed, Paws could hear reassurances being whispered on the other side.

“Any witnesses?” Paws asked, finishing his cigarette and stomping it out, his boots squeaking against the freshly polished floorboards.

“No” Max replied, his expression turning into a grimace. I’d say she’s been in there a while, overnight at least. The death in the air was heavy, makes my barbels curl.”

“I will never understand why you took detective over pathologist.”

Max shrugged. “Eh, I like puzzles better.”

“So, what have we got?”

“Well, from what I could see, we got a girl that looks like she was pinched to death. No stab or bullet wounds far as I could tell, no blood either. Maybe she was moved but, we gotta wait for the report; weird as hell though. Oh, and we got your songbird.” He gestured to the door in front of them. “Body fell on her, gave her a fright. She’s been holed up in there with the stagehand since. Refuses to see anyone.”

Paws eyes widened. He shoved Max half-heartedly. His friend chuckled, stumbling back a few paces.

“Hell Max, why didn’t you lead with that?”

Max spun on his heel, sauntering down the hall with a wave. “Have fun” he joked as he went.

Paws shook his head as he watched his friend go. No matter how hard he tried, he would never understand that man.

Returning his attention to the door Paws pounded on it urgently, the force threatening to shake the glass out of it’s frame.

“Detective Paws McScaggs. Open up” he practically roared, urgency heavy in his tone. Silence fell on the other side of the door but nothing more.

Paws sighed deeply. She was on the other side, holed up with a man Paws didn’t know he could trust to keep her secret. At least she hadn’t taken a bite out of the body, that would have been bad, but she would still be having cravings and would act on them soon if something wasn’t done. The last thing they needed was another dead body on their hands, one that would come with allot of questions.   

“Dove?” he continued in a much softer tone. “Please open the door. I know your terrified and hurting, but I can’t help you if you don’t let me in.”

Shuffling sounded from the other side, followed by a faint click of the lock. The door opened a fraction allowing him to slip through. He paid no mind to the sound of it locking once more as he knelt before a disturbed Melody.

He checked over his poor dove, taking in everything. She was clearly shaken but uninjured. Her body shook, tears running down her cheeks from her bright blue eyes. The red rings around her iris’s already fading.

Grey came up beside him, handing Melody another piece of jerky from the nearby container.

Paws eyed him and the food suspiciously.

So, the boy could be trusted. But where did he get the contraband, and why? The kid wasn’t one of Paws buyers, he kept track of them, he would have known, and the kid didn’t look like he’d need it.

Paws shook his head pushing the questions aside for another time, his attention returning to his dove as the rings in her eyes completely faded.

Paws brushed away the strands of hair clinging to her face as she met his gaze, his hand returning to gently caress her cheek. “There you are dove. Had me worried for a second.”

She gave him a sad smirk, leaning her face into his soft paw. “Poor Evelyn.” She sobbed.

“Oh dove” Paws gathered Melody in his arms pulling her into his lap and a warm hug. “Was she a friend of yours?”

Melody nodded, her hair brushing against his chin rested on her head. “We started working here together. Bad luck just seemed to follow her lately. First she lost her mom, then her home, she stayed with me and my sister for a while, she could barely afford to eat.”

Paws moved to stare down at her in confusion. “But you work here. I thought a place like this would pay well.”

“No. The boss pays us next to nothing, but we’re stuck here. there isn’t much honest work for a woman, especially now with the city the way it is. If we don’t just shut our mouths and accept it we’re out on the street. Most of the girls here, they moonlight at the whore houses when they can to make ends meet.”

“Did your friend do that?”

“Yea. Her and Sadie had a good thing going. Got a couple of high paying clients as far as I could tell.”

“Did you ever…” Paws hated to ask, he knew the answer would probably infuriate him, but he had to know.

“I did, sell myself on occasion. Before, to make rent, then after the fire, to pay someone off to keep quiet about Liza living in a human only district.” Paws grit his teeth as she continued. To force someone to do that just to keep their family together disgusted him. “The boss, he runs most of the girls through rooms in the back. Takes a huge cut after, leaving them with barely anything to show for it; but when you need the money… Sadie and Evelyn didn’t work through there though. They worked downtown. Saidie’s boyfriend works in one of the brothels there.”

“Could I talk to this Sadie?”

Melody shook her head. “She was found dead in her apartment a few weeks back. Evelyn was really shaken up about it.”

Paws sighed heavily turning to Grey who had been sat at the desk, patiently waiting for Melody to finish. “Did you know about all this?”

“I work in the back too. Keeps a roof over my head.”

Paws nodded in understanding. He’d never judge someone for turning to the profession; allot of good people did, his mother included. It was dangerous and often degrading work, but when needs must.    

“Is that all of it?” Paws asked, looking between the two. Melody and Grey nodded.

“Not much else to add sir. ‘cept, most of their clients also frequented the lounge. Saw the girls leaving with a few, more than once.” Grey noted, a sad look in his eye.  

“Do you think you could describe them?”

“Sorry, I don’t do well with faces. I got this thing” Grey gestured vaguely to his head. “Only really recognise voices, unless I’ve known them for a while, or they’ve done something to cement them in my mind, I can’t.”

“Don’t worry about it, kid. There any shanghai tunnels running through here?”

Grey pointed to a small cabinet in the corner of the room. “Trap doors under there. Haven’t been down in a while though, don’t know how stable it is.”

Paws dragged the furniture aside and lifted the hatch to inspect. The ladder looked sturdy enough, he’d just have to take a detour if the path got blocked.

“Right. Dove, I want you to stay here. I gotta go check out the crime scene. I’ll be back ok?”

Melody shook her head. “I can’t. The boss’ already mad at me for missing days, I have to get out on stage, or I’ll be fired for sure.”

“Dove-”

“No. I have to. I’ll be ok. I just need to avoid the crime scene and sing a few songs, probably talk to the don, and then I’ll be right back.”

Paws stared at her in disapproval, but he knew nothing he’d say would change her mind; she was stubborn like that.

“Fine. But straight back after.” He demanded, slipping back out the door and marching back to the crime scene.