Bad News Comes In Threes

    So I just got handed a note to go see the dean right after my last class and now I'm worried. Of course this is my last class and thus once dismissed I slowly make my way over to the dean's office. Once there I knock on the door frame of his open door and he waves me in.

    "You wanted to see me Dean Jackal?" I ask as I sit across the desk from him. Now the dean was an elderly anthro chocolate lab but even in his advanced age he still scared me like most bigger men do.

    "Mister Makers I sadly have to inform you that your scholarship wasn't approved and you have by the end of the week to bring your bill current or I will have to ask you to leave campus until you can." replied the dean which made my heart sink. That scholarship was the only way I could afford to come here. What will I tell the girls? How will I tell the girls? Should I bother telling them?

    "I'll see what I can do sir." I sigh as I stand up to leave wondering if this day could get an worse.

    "Hay Damien!" called Mya as she and Mia started my way.

    "Hi Mya. Hi Mia." I sadly replied as I quietly walked towards the dorm.

    "Hay what's bothering you buddy?" asked Mya catching up to me and placing an arm around me.

    "Oh it's nothing." I sigh trying to pull free with no success before adding, "Really it's nothing."

    "You don't get pulled to the dean's office for nothing trust me. We've been there many times but never for nothing." replied Mia as she rushed to my other side.

    "Please girls I'm fine. I just want to get to my room and study for the test I have coming up." I half argued half whined which is right when Jill approached them with her paws on her hips.

    "Girls Damien needs his space too and if he wants to be alone let him. He'll tell us when he's ready." rebuked Jill and the two let me free to stand on my own.

    "Thanks Jill." I reply with a smile. Other then Ruby I'll miss Jill the most. Well actually I think I'll miss them all equally.

    "Anytime. Oh and before I forget these were left for you with dorm security." replied Jill as she handed me a vase of twelve black roses. "So I think you have yourself a special admire."

    "Yah someone from the goth club." teased Mia and her and Mya started laughing until they caught the glare Jill gave them.

    As for me I wasn't paying them much attention as I looked at the flowers not really my thing, but minus them being black the were pretty and they smelt good to. Just then I spotted the card and upon reading them I froze letting the vase and flowers slide out of my grip right to the ground where the vase shattered splashing all of our feet. The roses bounced a few times before landing scattered among our feet as well and the girls looked and me very worried.

    Just then Ruby was starting our way and when she saw me freeze and drop the vase she broke out into a mad sprint and upon reaching us she knelt down in the glass infested water looking for the card knowing I had to have read something that scared me. Just then she too froze and a shiver went through her body before she looked Jill straight in the eyes and asked, "Who delivered these flowers?"

    All that was written on the card was five words but these five words carried so much more impact. What where those five words? I'm Coming For You Boy! Only one person would send such a message and with black roses these flowers only had one reason and one reason only.

    "I don't know I was in class the other dorm security girl received them." replied Jill worried for she'd never seen Ruby like this.

    "Jill, take them back to the dorm now and lock down campus." replied Ruby as she pulled out her phone and took some pictures before sending them in a text message to someone.

    "Ruby you're scaring me. What's going on?" asked Jill who usually doesn't scare easy, but was evidently afraid.

    "Later Jill for now get Damien safely to the room wait no. There is no telling if it's still safe. Radio in a lock down and stay here." ordered Ruby as she stood up and made a phone call.

    "Did you get the picture sir?" asked Ruby over the phone why we waited in fear. "Send a unit or two to help secure campus while I get her to safety. Should I bring her to the lab?"

    "Okay sir." replied Ruby a bit puzzled, "Are you sure sir? Wouldn't that be a violation of policy."

    "I understand sir her safety is my top priority." replied Ruby with a nod before hanging up.

    "So?" asked Jill who was the only one of us brave enough to respond.

    "Lt. Squirrel is sending two units to help campus security check and secure the campus and make sure it remains safe over the next few days. As for us girls we'll be staying at a safe house. He couldn't give me the location but will take us there himself." explained Ruby, "And before any of you complain he insists that we all stay together because the target might try to use you to get to Damien."

    "Why would someone be after Damien in the first place?" asked Mya.

    "Other then to fuck his cute ass." replied Mia trying to lighten the mood some and it helped but it seems like I had to confess to them but before I could say a thing we heard sirens and Ruby stuck her paw against my mouth.

    "You can tell them when you tell him." replied Ruby.

    "Wait I don't want to talk to him again." I replied know she meant Lt. Squirrel.

    "Damien I was on my way to tell you. The DNA test I did when you visited the lab came back as a partial match to an open case and Lt. Squirrel wanted to meet with you about what you may know I tried to convince him you didn't know anything but I think he also wanted to see Dani again. I think he has a crush on you." explained Ruby.

    "I'm sorry." I sigh it's all I could get out. I was sorry to drag them all into this. I was sorry to make her crush fall in love with a fake version of myself. I was better off alone.

    "There's nothing to be sorry about Dani." came a calm yet authoritative voice behind us and as we turned we saw Lt. Squirrel in police uniform and standing next to him was a hare in his detective uniform.

    "Sir?" replied Ruby confused on how fast he'd gotten here.

    "No time let's just get the five of you to safety. Dani, Ruby you're with me. Jill, Mya and Mia go with detective O'Hare. He has the location of the safe house and will meet us there." explained Marcus and his voice just sang to me.

    We all then split and headed for two separate unmarked police cars. Once there me and Ruby got in the back seat while Lt. Squirrel got int he driver's seat and the moment the doors shut he took off. Looking out the window I saw the other do likewise but in the opposite direction.

    "Ruby did you take any DNA samples from the scene?" asked Lt. Squirrel as he drove not even looking back at us.

    "No sir I didn't think about it I figured I'd still be on the scene to help process it. I'm sorry." replied Ruby looking out the window.

    "Forget formalities it's Marcus or Red, now as for the crime scene I called in a favor from a friend in the state police. They're sending in their best anthro CSI team to process and report to me. The others have been informed to stay in their dorms and follow all lockdown protocol." explained Marcus as he started to leave the city and took a short dirt track up to a small cabin.

    From the other direction came the other unmarked car which held the others Marcus and the hare got out and talked before the hare entered the cabin and checked it out before returning. Marcus handed him something before signaling for all of us to come in.

    "Okay girls as odd as this will sound you will be staying here with me and Detective O'Hare. You should find everything you may need but if you can think of something let us know the detective will be making one trip back into town tomorrow. Other then that all phones are to be shut off and handed in." explained Marcus as he opened the door and held it for us and for a moment I could've swore he had a paw on his gun.

    Once inside we all look around in wonder. This place was amazing. It needed some fixing up here and there but for the most part it was amazing. In one corner was some tools and it looked like the remnants of construction. Does that mean someone else my come here. Two strong cops was more then I can really handle right now. I was so caught up in how wonderful it looked here that I almost missed Ruby and Marcus' conversation.

    "Sir I'm surprised the department has the budget for this or was this another favor from the state police?" asked Ruby looking around.

    "No, it's my place." replied Marcus with a nod towards the detective who quickly double checked all of the doors before slipping out to park the cars in the garage.

    "This is yours?" exclaimed Ruby excited that she was in her crushes house. It almost made her forget about why they were there.

    "Yes." replied Marcus before turning to address all of us. "Mia, you and Mya will share the guest room on the left while Jill and Dani will share the one on the right. As for Ruby and Detective O'Hare they get the living room. While I get the master bedroom."

    "Hay why do they get someone they can mate with but I don't?" whined Jill with her paws on her hips.

    "One if Mya and Mia think of mating on that bed they'll pay to replace the bedding. As for the detective and Ruby they are siblings and I don't think they will be tempted to mate with each other but I may be wrong." explained Marcus.

    "And why am me and my sister on the couch and floor while you get the master bed room to yourself?" asked the detective.

    "Because my house my rules." argued Marcus before turning to the kitchen and started to pull out a pot and pan before grabbing some things from the cupboards and the fridge. I could tell he was frustrated so I slowly approach him.

    "Lt. Squirrel I hear you wanted to talk with me." I nervously ask I didn't want to talk about it let alone with him but I might as well get this over with because well I've already gotten bad news about college and now my father has found me what worse really could happen.

    "Well the roses and card have answered all the questions I had or at least most of them." confessed Marcus with a short smile as he started to open a package of what looked like meat, but could it be? He's a squirrel why would he have meat? "Also just call me Marcus if that will help you feel more comfortable."

    "Okay Lt. I mean Marcus." I reply as I couldn't help but smile. Then after watching him cook the meat like product I asked, "Could I ask what you're making?"

    "Oh its a recipe my adopted mom taught me." replied Marcus as he started breaking up the ground meat into small bits. Almost as if to reading my mind he smiled and added, "Yes my birth parents didn't want me. To them I was a freak but that's what happens when you're the only anthro in a town of all humans. But enough about me. Tell me Dani more about you?"

"I'd rather not." I confess looking at all he had going on before asking, "Can I help you with dinner or is this a one person job."

"Well I can use a paw if you wish to lend one but it's going to be awkward if we don't talk about something." Marcus replies with a smile and a slight twinkle in his eye. For some reason I felt safe with him. Scarred but still safe. I know it doesn't make sense but neither does a squirrel that eats meat.

"You could always talk about me! I wouldn't  be bothered one bit." called Ruby from the kitchen doorway.

This now made both me and Marcus laugh for some odd reason and then the three of us just smiled. I helped mix some of the other ingredients in the pot while Ruby slipped in to cut up the block of cheese that was there while Marcus continued to cook and season the ground meat. When we'd finished mixing it all together we had some kind of stew which Ruby rolled her nose up at when he added the meat. It was odd seeing as technically only me and Mya were meat eaters.