A Fraudulent Death, Draft 02, CH 20 (Patreon)

`Trembor paused a few steps into the gym, taking in the sounds, scents, and sights. Sweat and exhaustion, bodies hitting the mats; grunts of effort. They brought a comfort to him the other gym hadn’t. He nodded to a couple as they left, and he checked the clipboard by the door for Marlot’s name. Somehow he wasn’t here yet, so Trembor added his name to one of the available rings.

“Well,” a deep voice said, “I didn’t think I’d see you again. You here to teach that wolf of yours a lesson for dropping you as a training partner?” The badger held a stack of folded towels in his arms.

“Good to see you again, Grebor,” Trembor answered, nodding a greeting, happy the badger was far enough he couldn’t smell him among the rest of the scents. “We’ve resolved our problems. No lessons needed.” He chuckled. “Other than reminding him I’m the better fighter.” He indicated the locker room. “I’m going to change. Don’t let any of them steal my wolf.”

The badger snorted. “Like Marlot would let himself get stolen.” He headed to the counter where he placed the towel for anyone who needed them to use.

Trembor’s humor left him as he entered the room. This was likely his last time here. He hadn’t thought of it, but this would be him saying goodbye to another place. To another group of people; although this one wasn’t particularly close to him. A solid sparring session would be a good way to accomplish that.

He dropped his pack in an empty locker and undressed, pausing as he grabbed his underwear, sensing eyes on him.

“Don’t stop,” Marlot said, “that’s the best part of this place.”

With a roll of the eyes, Trembor pushed them down. “Happy?”

The contented sigh was all the answer he needed. He looked over his shoulder and the sight of the black wolf made him forget everything else.

Someone gagged. “If you two start making out,” a female said, “I’m going to be sick.”

Trembor shook himself, ears burning. How long had he stood there, staring at his wolf? Better yet, how long had he been doing that in the fur with his body reacting to Marlot’s presence, and what could she see?

“You’d find someone,” Marlot told the jaguar, “if you didn’t always beat the crap out of them in the ring.”

She rolled her eyes. Her locker was opposite Trembor’s so his ass was all she could see. “Oh, I hate you so much right now, Marlot.” She grabbed her pack and Marlot had to step out of the way before she shouldered him aside when a grin.

The wolf opened the locker next to Trembor and looked him up and down. “You know, I am all for sparing with you in your current attire, but we might want to find a more…” he grinned. “Intimate venue.”

“As in your bedroom?” Trembor replied with a smirk.

“I think there’s a sex club a few blocks over.” Marlot took his pad and searched. “Yeah, three blocks, and looked at that.” He showed Trembor the screen. “It’s called Intimate. Just what we need.” The image was that of a tiger and gazelle in an embrace. Neither wearing anything and with only each other to keep the picture from triggering the censors.

“But would they let us spar?” Trembor asked, putting on his fighting shorts.

Marlot shrugged as he put the pad away. “What’s sex but a form of fighting?” he asked as he took off his jacket.

“I don’t know, you never exactly fight back when I pin you to the mattress.” Whatever else Trembor might have said vanished as the wolf took off his shirt, and he admired the black fur, the muscles underneath. He wanted to run his hands through it again. Bury his muzzle in and smell the sweat. Hear the wolf moan.

Marlot chuckled.

“What?”

The wolf was now down to his underwear. “I’m thinking I need to get dressed and drag you to my place so I can pin you down and have you helpless for a very long time.” His eyes were on the lion’s crotch. Even covered up, it wasn’t hiding how he felt.

The image of Trembor tied to Marlot’s bed with the wolf pleasuring him for the rest of his life was certainly an appealing idea. And it was followed with a thought. What if he convinced Marlot to pay his tax? What if he died in that way and Marlot kept him to himself, with no one ever knowing—

The wolf cursed. “I’m sorry, damn it. That wasn’t funny, was it? Was it something he—” Marlot snapped his muzzle shut.

Trembor laughed. “It’s alright, that isn’t where my mind went.” He was happy for the unintended levity. His thoughts had been turning dark.

“I keep second-guessing myself,” Marlot said in annoyance.

Trembor squeezed his arm. “It’s good you’re paying attention, but don’t overthink it. I know you were being playful.” He grinned. “Trust me, I know.”

Marlot stopped himself from saying something, let out a breath. “You smell worried.”

Trembor fought the physical reaction, but he couldn’t keep his scent from changing. He forced a smile. “You really need to stop telling us what you smell, not everyone appreciates being told how we feel.”

Marlot’s ears folded back. “Sorry,” he whispered, looking into his locker, and Trembor swore mentally.

“It’s okay. It’s just court stuff.”

Marlot nodded. “Any idea when it’s going to finally be done with?” He took off his underwear and Trembor admired him for the few seconds it took the wolf to cover himself with shorts.

“Now you’re the one who smells worried,” Trembor said while considering ripping the shorts off and finding a secluded place for them to engage in the kind of sparring that would have Grebor kick them out.

“Just finances,” Marlot answered, “if you can’t come back to work soon, I’m going to have to make changes. Move to a smaller office or let Hela’han go, maybe both.”

“Can Jesdan support her if that happens?” Trembor asked, any thought of sex fleeing. Another consequence of his decision he hadn’t considered.

“I don’t know,” Marlot said with a sigh.

“You don’t know?” Trembor asked in disbelief.

Marlot chuckled. “A certain lion kept telling me not to pry into their lives.”

“And you listened to him? Since when do you listen to that lion?” Trembor asked with a chuckle.

Marlot’s smile faltered and Trembor cursed himself for saying that, even in jest. Marlot was working hard to impro—the smile was back.

“Since he’s way smarter than I am.”

Trembor smiled. “Talk to her about it. She’s an adult too.” He took the hand and feet protectors out of his pack. “She probably knows what’s going on, but you still have to let her know you are thinking about how this is going to affect her. As for the office, just downgrade.”

Marlot stared at him, eyes wide and ears up.

“Marl,” Trembor said, controlling his tone. “It’s a lot easier, in the long run, to get a larger office again once this is over, than it is for you to ruin yourself trying to keep this one. Even if everything goes my way, the case will take weeks to be resolved.”

“But there are so many memories there.”

Trembor pulled the wolf into his arms. “The memories aren’t there, they’re in you. And you’ll make more of them no matter where you end up.” Without me, popped in his head and he felt Marlot sniff, but the wolf didn’t ask anything. “How about we go spar before Grebor assigns the ring to someone else?”

He put the protectors on, and Marlot finished getting ready, then they headed for their ring. “How is the investigation in that body going?” Trembor asked to ensure the discussion stayed away from him.

Marlot didn’t reply immediately, stretching on the other side of the ring, and Trembor watched the fur move as he did his own.

When the wolf pounced, Trembor barely reacted in time. Catching his arm and redirecting him into the ropes, then stepping away. Marlot returned, slammed into the back of his knees, and sent both of them to the mat.

“Stalled,” the wolf said, rolling away.

“How?” Trembor replied, getting to his feet and raising his arms, watching his wolf for cues as to his next attack.

“I told you Mixcoat’s tax was paid years ago, right?” Marlot moved to mirror Trembor, then bobbed left and right to mask his intentions. “I found the male who paid it, but he doesn’t remember the wolf or the incident itself.”

Marlot came in low, but his eyes aimed higher; so Trembor began a spin kick. When Marlot propelled himself up, the leg smashed into his shoulder, sending him down. Trembor prepared himself to slam his foot on the wolf but had to jump away as Marlot attempted to scissor his leg out from under him.

“It’s been years, so that makes sense,” Trembor said, landing and readying himself. “What do you know about the current death?”

“Broken neck.” Marlot was on his feet. “No indications he fought back. I looked into the time frame after the first death, and I can’t find any activities I can use to show he was still alive. I have one confirmed sighing, but no ID activity linked to it, so that’s out. A few people sort of remember him at the stores around where I got the confirmation, so I’m thinking he’s local to that area. There are a few housing buildings, and three where they aren’t what I’d call security conscious.”

When Marlot didn’t initiate a repost, Trembor attacked with a series of kick. “Sounds like you’re going to have to walk around and scent the air.”

Marlot dodged, his speed giving him the advantage. “I was hoping you’d do that for me.”

“What?” Trembor couldn’t have heard him correctly. The foot caught him in the side. Marlot didn’t have his strength, but it was enough to unbalance him, and Trembor caught himself in the ropes.

“You’re better at dealing with people than I am.” Marlot stepped back instead of pressing his advantage.

“You know I can’t,” Trembor stated. “My license’s been suspended.”

“Come on,” Marlot replied, a slight exasperation in his tone, “who’s going to know?”

“Marl,” Trembor warned.

“Trem,” his wolf replied in the same tone, before rushing him.

This time, Trembor expected him. He stepped aside, arm catching the wolf’s chest and arresting his momentum. A leg behind Marlot, some pressure, and the wolf was on his back and Trembor crouched on his chest.

“It’s just you walking around, talking to people.” Marlot tried to wriggle out from under him and Trembor let more of his weight down. “It’ll give you something other than this case to think about.” He gave up and stilled.

“And if someone asks me why I’m going around asking questions?”

Marlot shrugged. “Just tell them you’re helping out a friend. That’s not a lie.” He smiled. “Tell them you’re doing it for you, mate.” The expression was so full of hope Trembor almost said yes.

“My lawyer needs me to be available.” He stood and offered his hand. “It’s not just me sitting at home. There are going to be meetings, making sure everyone has the same true version of the story we’re going with.” Trembor had difficulty believing he was repeating Barany’s words. And by his expression, so did Marlot, as he took the hand and Trembor pulled him to his feet. “My lawyer demonstrated how truth isn’t the absolute thing I want it to be.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“No.” He sighed. “But it’s how things are, and he’s the one in charge of how things are going to go. So I have work to do for the case.” And he had more to do in working out ways to ensure those criminals didn’t go after his family after he was gone. They already had Bo. Trembor wouldn’t let them get anyone else.

“But all that is stressing you, Trem. I’m not trying and I can smell it on you.” Marlot rubbed his face. “Look, I’m not saying to ignore the trial, but you can’t stop living because of it. It might take longer than I’d like, but it’s going to pass, no matter how all-encompassing it seems right now. You are going to get your license once this is all over.”

Trembor moved to the opposite side of the ring. He needed the distance to regain control of his emotions. He loved Marlot for believing that, but he was also angry at how stubborn he was, how everyone around him was. “Marl, if the prosecutor catches even the hint of a scent about me doing something I shouldn’t, she’d going to blow it out of proportion. If It’s for you, she’s going to drag you into this, probably try to ruin your life.”

Marlot grinned. “I’d love to see her try. I hear lawyers are particularly tasty.”

“You can’t afford her,” Trembor replied in exasperation. He knew Marlot was trying to help, but he should prepare for the future, his future; one without Trembor in it. “I’m sorry, but I’m not risking doing something that could get you involved in this. Talk to one of the other RIs, get one of your more socially inclined friends to help you.”

The wolf snorted. “You realize my one socially inclined friend, other than you, is Bahamel. Us tech-heads aren’t known for our large social circles. And none of the RIs want to talk with me after they were told I was getting part of the payments for the bodies in their territory because of Nikal.”

“Alright, the RIs aren’t an option. There’s the enforcers, you don’t boss them around the way others do. They have techs, they have officers. If you ask, I’m sure they’ll be willing to help you. Maybe one of them can look into locating that ID, maybe with it you can figure out something.”

The wolf shook his head. “It’s too old. Because everything was in order, the ID, with everything related to it, was destroyed to make space.”

Trembor nodded. That made sense. “Then maybe they can see if there are others out there walking around after their tax was paid.”

Marlot stared at him, then roll his eyes. “Come on, Trem. What are the odds someone else slipped through the system’s claws?”

“I don’t know. But neither do you.” Trembor stepped to Marlot, calmer now that the conversation was entirely on his wolf. He took him by the shoulders. “Marl, you need to remember that you aren’t in Low Valley. Here the system is in place to help you, not to cage you. I might not be there to help you right now, but you don’t have to do any of this alone.”

Marlot nodded slowly, if not as confidently as Trembor would like.

“Are you going to be okay?” he asked the wolf. When Marlot nodded again, Trembor grinned, let go of him, and slammed his elbow into the wolf’s chest.

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