Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 18:58:16 -0700 To: fkfic-l@lists.psu.edu, nnpack@onelist.com From: CjSachiko Subject: Cat-Case (01/01) Cc: fkarchiver@fkfanfic.com Disclaimers: The characters belong to TPTB (Sony/TriStar et al). No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is being made from this. Permission to archive granted only to www.fkfanfic.com and my own fanfic basket (link indicated below). All others, please ask permission first. All mistakes are my own. As always, any and all feedback is appreciated. This is the result of KnightOwl popping in irc last night and telling the N&NNuts an anecdote about her cat. ./~waves to the N&NNuts :+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+ Cat-Case by Cj [CjSachiko@earthlink.net] http://members.tripod.com/~EngrCj (c) September 1999 :+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+ ***At the Morgue*** "Hi Grace, is Nat here?" Detective Nick Knight greeted her pleasantly as he looked around for any sign of Natalie. "Nick, I'm sorry. Nat just called in sick. She wasn't feeling too well." "Oh. Okay. Thanks!" He waved as he left. Nick hoped it wasn't anything too serious. ***At Natalie's Apartment Complex*** Nick noticed that Natalie's car was not parked its usual spot. In fact, it wasn't anywhere to be seen. That worried him. He knocked on her door. There was no answer. Using the key she'd given him, he let himself into the apartment. The first thing he noticed was how stuffy the apartment was. The second thing he noticed was the note on her telephone. He read it and dialed the number she'd left for him. "Hi, can you relay me to Natalie Lambert's room?" "Sure can." The nurse responded. The phone rang twice before it was picked it up. "Nat?" "Hi Nick." Her voice cracked. "What's wrong?" "I just have a bad case of the stomach flu. I was extremely lucky that my manager was around and she drove me to the hospital." "Is there anything I can do?" "No." "Look, I can . . ." "Really, I'll be fine. I just need some rest." "Are you sure?" She sighed, knowing he wouldn't give up unless she let him see her. "I could use a few things from home." "Tell me." She listed a few items, but the most important one she left for last. " . . . don't forget," she knew he could be forgetful sometimes, so she repeated the list three times. "Your pink terry cloth robe. I know, I know." He hung up the phone. What did she think he was, dense? He packed the things she requested, laying the pink terry cloth robe on top of the other items in the suitcase. The phone rang and he turned around to answer it while trying to close the suitcase. "Nick, you packed it right?" "Yes Nat." He'd almost slipped and said, "Yes Mommy." He replaced the handset on the cradle. There was something eerie about the apartment as he left, but didn't think anything of it. He tossed the suitcase into the trunk of the Caddy and drove off to the hospital. ***At the Hospital*** It was still too early and close to sunrise. But he managed to whammy the nurses into letting him in before visiting hours. "Feeling better?" She didn't look as bad as she'd sounded on the phone earlier. Nat nodded. "You have everything, right?" Nick sincerely hoped so. His questioned his memory skills on occasion, but thought his flashbacks were a good indication that his memories were intact. "How's Sidney doing without his mommy?" "Sidney? Actually, I thought you'd left him with a neighbor. I didn't see him." He thought it'd been oddly quiet. "Nick! You didn't let him out by accident, did you?" "Honestly, Nat. I didn't see him." He hoped he sounded sincere. A muffled sound came from the suitcase as he tilted it. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what, Nat?" He played dumb, inwardly wincing at his stupidity. "Open the suitcase." "Nat, I don't think you should get worked up. You're still sick." He shifted the suitcase out of her reach. "Nicholas B. Knight. You'd better open that suitcase now!" He unlatched the suitcase and Sidney came streaking out, yowling at Nick in protest. "Oh, my poor baby!" Natalie tried to sooth Sidney, whose fur was frazzled from being in the suitcase for too long. "Nick, you have five seconds to leave . . ." She put Sidney down on the floor, removing the blanket that covered her. "But the sun's almost up . . ." "Five . . .Four . . . Three . . ." Whoosh. "It's okay Sid, he's gone." [End "Cat-Case" (01/01)] [CjSachiko@earthlink.net] -Cj *N&NP*N&NNut*ClosetCousin*Keeper of the Haunted Melodies*DSS-Novice Naivete* *CjSachiko@earthlink.net*Clan Toreador*http://members.tripod.com/~EngrCj* "I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them." --Isaac Asimov