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Underbox: Twenty-Three
© 2021 by Walter Reimer
Thumbnail art by
capt_hairball
“Bauer here . . . wait, what?” The slight edge in the rabbit doe’s voice made Hamo’s ears perk. “Yes, I’ll tell him.” She moved the phone away from her mouth and told Hauss, “Richard, we’re being hacked.”
The schnauzer head whipped around. “What?”
“Whatever you’ve caught, it’s followed the trace back to us,” Bauer said, “and it’s trying to get through the department’s firewalls.” She put the phone to her ear again. “It’s already through two layers.”
“How many do we have?” Joachim asked.
Hauss glowered at the screens in front of him. “Six.” He moved the trace to the screen at the upper center and his fingers danced across the keyboard. “Hilda, let them know I’m trying to help.”
“They say they see you.”
“Can’t he use a cyberway for this?” Hamo asked.
“No,” Bauer replied, shaking her head. “If this hacker’s using a cyberway’s physical response functions to kill, the last thing we want – “ She waved her free paw, her ear to the phone. “Richard!”
“I see it,” the schnauzer growled. “Whoever this is, he’s making us look like idiots.” His fingers moved faster over the keyboard before freezing. “Shit, he’s in.”
“They say they’ve got all the data files backed up,” Bauer said reassuringly.
“Huh.”
“What?” Hamo asked.
Hauss’ ears dipped. “He’s not going after the data. He’s searching records. What’s our suspect’s name again?”
“Saled-Diaz, Manuel,” Joachim replied.
“He’s rummaging through our arrest rec – he’s found Saled-Diaz. Running his inmate records, medical screening, arrest report – now what the fuck,” and Hauss brought the lower left screen to the center. “He’s cross-referencing the arrest report with the department’s personnel – Detectives, he’s reading your files.”
Joachim immediately pulled out his phone. When Hamo glanced at him the boar muttered, “Gotta tell the bank to freeze my account.”
“Great idea,” and the cross-fox got their own phone out. After a few moments, a disgusted grimace crossed the transgender vulpine’s face. “Holding.” They saw Bauer’s face and asked, “What’s he doing now?”
“Not sure. We know he’s looked at your file . . . what?” The rabbit doe frowned. “Richard, he’s going after the court database now.”
“Working on a block,” Hauss said through gritted teeth. “A few more minutes . . . “
“He’s in it now . . . it’s funny; he hasn’t damaged any files . . .” She stopped and looked at Hamo. “He’s looking at your wife’s personnel file.”
A cold, hard knot tied itself in Hamo’s guts and their hackles pushed against their clothes from the inside. “What’s he looking for?” they asked softly.
“Not sure.”
“Dammit.” Hamo swiftly disconnected from the bank and dialed Karin’s phone. “Come on . . come on – Karin?!”
“Oh, good morning, love!” the red fox said cheerfully. “Just doing some court filings – “
“Are you wearing your jackglove?” Hauss and Bauer both perked their ears, and Joachim’s lips drew back from his teeth.
“Well, yes – “
“Take it off.”
“Off? Wh – “
“DON’T QUESTION ME!” Hamo shouted. “TAKE IT OFF, NOW!”
“Okay, oka – there, it’s off,” Karin said, sounding shaken. Hamo had never shouted at her before, and the cross-fox knew that there would be a reckoning. “Phew.”
“What?” Hamo asked.
“Just feeling a little dizzy.”
“Oh God . . . Is Margot there?”
“No, she’s at school.”
“Are you sitting down? What are you feeling?”
“Dizzy . . . heart’s beating really fast . . . “
Hamo was already out of the IT Crimes office and running down the hallway. “Stay in your seat, try to stay calm. I’m calling Medical Services.”
“What? Why?”
“I’ll explain when I get there. Stay with me, love,” and they switched channels and dialed the department’s dispatcher. “Yeah, this is Detective Suleymanoglu,” and they gave the person at the other end their ID number. “Medical emergency, my home,” and they gave their address.
“Got it,” came the crisp reply. “They’re on the way. Are you there?”
“No, I’m enroute. If they get here first, here’s the doorcode.” They could always change it later. “Please hurry.” They switched back over to their home number. “Karin? Karin?”
“I’m here, love.” Her voice sounded shaky, breathless.
Hamo shouldered their way through one door, barely breaking stride. “I have medical heading to you, and I’m headed home right now.”
“What . . . happened?”
“I’ll tell you face to face, honeyfur. Just relax.” The cross-fox paused at the transit point, surprised to find a small police-only car waiting. Joachim had obviously called ahead, and they made a mental note to thank the boar later.
The car made good time getting to the section of Neu Berlin that Suleymanoglu lived in, and they dashed down the corridor toward their apartment only to stop at the doorway. Hamo’s paw shook as they punched the doorcode and they pushed the door open. “K-Karin?”
The place was quiet, and the cross-fox eased inside, relaxing when they saw impressions of wheel tracks on the carpet and a small scattering of opened sterile packets by Karin’s desk. Their phone beeped, and they found a text that read at hospital love you.
Hamo found themselves crying.
After a few moments and the extended use of a pawkerchief, Hamo cleaned up and threw out the trash that was littering the floor, changed the doorcode and left for the hospital. While headed for the transit point, their phone rang. “Suleymanoglu.”
“Joachim, Hamo. Is she okay?” The boar sounded concerned.
“She’s been taken to the hospital. She just texted me, so she’ll be all right.”
“That’s a relief.”
“How’s Patricia? If this fuck went after me, he might try for you next.”
“I called her already. She’s fine; doesn’t use the glove at work. Where are you?”
“I was at home. Heading for the hospital now. I’m sure Eisler will understand.”
“I’ll go tell him. IT says they have the police system locked down while they figure out how our boy did this.”
“Good. Last thing we need is to have someone looking over our shoulders. Did I hear that they’d tracked him before things went to shit?”
“Yeah. They said something about him being in America.”
“Figures,” Hamo said.
By the time the train had let them off at the hospital, the transgender vulpine had calmed down somewhat, or at least calm enough to sit through the seemingly interminable process of the bank securing the account that Hamo shared with Karin. Surprisingly, there’d been no attempt to penetrate the bank’s security, but the representative that Hamo spoke with assured them that they’d be vigilant.
The cross-fox shoved past the doors and stood in the reception area of the Emergency Department, ears swiveling as they oriented themselves. “May I help you?” an orderly at the desk asked.
Hamo quickly explained what was going on, without having to flash their credentials, and the weasel nodded, glancing at his computer. “She was just brought in, sir. Please have a seat, and as soon as she’s settled in, we’ll call you.”
That brought out the badge and ID. “Police business,” Hamo growled.
That caused the orderly to make a phone call. “You can go right back,” he said, hitting the control that made the door swing open. “Bed Three.”
“Thank you,” Hamo remembered to say as they headed inside.
The red fox vixen was lying in the bed, covered by a blanket with an IV line snaking out from under the blanket to a clear plastic pouch. A battery of monitors were beeping while tracing glowing lines on a screen, and there were two small nasal tubes in Karin’s nostrils, feeding her oxygen. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be asleep.
She wasn’t. Her eyes opened as soon as she caught Hamo’s scent and she said, “Hello.”
Hamo smiled in relief and took her free paw. “How do you feel?”
“Not bad. The medical technicians said that my heart had an irregular rhythm.” She frowned. “You shouted at me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Her paw freed itself from their grip and grabbed Hamo’s left ear. “Not half as sorry as you’re going to be, when I get out of here,” the vixen said. Her smile undermined the force of her threat.
Hamo smiled. “I’ll take whatever punishment you want, love.” They gently plucked Karin’s paw from their ear and kissed her palm before pressing it against the side of their face. “I’m just glad you’re all right,” and their voice broke as relieved tears dampened the fur under their eyes.
<NEXT>
<PREVIOUS>
<FIRST<
© 2021 by Walter Reimer
Thumbnail art by
capt_hairball“Bauer here . . . wait, what?” The slight edge in the rabbit doe’s voice made Hamo’s ears perk. “Yes, I’ll tell him.” She moved the phone away from her mouth and told Hauss, “Richard, we’re being hacked.”
The schnauzer head whipped around. “What?”
“Whatever you’ve caught, it’s followed the trace back to us,” Bauer said, “and it’s trying to get through the department’s firewalls.” She put the phone to her ear again. “It’s already through two layers.”
“How many do we have?” Joachim asked.
Hauss glowered at the screens in front of him. “Six.” He moved the trace to the screen at the upper center and his fingers danced across the keyboard. “Hilda, let them know I’m trying to help.”
“They say they see you.”
“Can’t he use a cyberway for this?” Hamo asked.
“No,” Bauer replied, shaking her head. “If this hacker’s using a cyberway’s physical response functions to kill, the last thing we want – “ She waved her free paw, her ear to the phone. “Richard!”
“I see it,” the schnauzer growled. “Whoever this is, he’s making us look like idiots.” His fingers moved faster over the keyboard before freezing. “Shit, he’s in.”
“They say they’ve got all the data files backed up,” Bauer said reassuringly.
“Huh.”
“What?” Hamo asked.
Hauss’ ears dipped. “He’s not going after the data. He’s searching records. What’s our suspect’s name again?”
“Saled-Diaz, Manuel,” Joachim replied.
“He’s rummaging through our arrest rec – he’s found Saled-Diaz. Running his inmate records, medical screening, arrest report – now what the fuck,” and Hauss brought the lower left screen to the center. “He’s cross-referencing the arrest report with the department’s personnel – Detectives, he’s reading your files.”
Joachim immediately pulled out his phone. When Hamo glanced at him the boar muttered, “Gotta tell the bank to freeze my account.”
“Great idea,” and the cross-fox got their own phone out. After a few moments, a disgusted grimace crossed the transgender vulpine’s face. “Holding.” They saw Bauer’s face and asked, “What’s he doing now?”
“Not sure. We know he’s looked at your file . . . what?” The rabbit doe frowned. “Richard, he’s going after the court database now.”
“Working on a block,” Hauss said through gritted teeth. “A few more minutes . . . “
“He’s in it now . . . it’s funny; he hasn’t damaged any files . . .” She stopped and looked at Hamo. “He’s looking at your wife’s personnel file.”
A cold, hard knot tied itself in Hamo’s guts and their hackles pushed against their clothes from the inside. “What’s he looking for?” they asked softly.
“Not sure.”
“Dammit.” Hamo swiftly disconnected from the bank and dialed Karin’s phone. “Come on . . come on – Karin?!”
“Oh, good morning, love!” the red fox said cheerfully. “Just doing some court filings – “
“Are you wearing your jackglove?” Hauss and Bauer both perked their ears, and Joachim’s lips drew back from his teeth.
“Well, yes – “
“Take it off.”
“Off? Wh – “
“DON’T QUESTION ME!” Hamo shouted. “TAKE IT OFF, NOW!”
“Okay, oka – there, it’s off,” Karin said, sounding shaken. Hamo had never shouted at her before, and the cross-fox knew that there would be a reckoning. “Phew.”
“What?” Hamo asked.
“Just feeling a little dizzy.”
“Oh God . . . Is Margot there?”
“No, she’s at school.”
“Are you sitting down? What are you feeling?”
“Dizzy . . . heart’s beating really fast . . . “
Hamo was already out of the IT Crimes office and running down the hallway. “Stay in your seat, try to stay calm. I’m calling Medical Services.”
“What? Why?”
“I’ll explain when I get there. Stay with me, love,” and they switched channels and dialed the department’s dispatcher. “Yeah, this is Detective Suleymanoglu,” and they gave the person at the other end their ID number. “Medical emergency, my home,” and they gave their address.
“Got it,” came the crisp reply. “They’re on the way. Are you there?”
“No, I’m enroute. If they get here first, here’s the doorcode.” They could always change it later. “Please hurry.” They switched back over to their home number. “Karin? Karin?”
“I’m here, love.” Her voice sounded shaky, breathless.
Hamo shouldered their way through one door, barely breaking stride. “I have medical heading to you, and I’m headed home right now.”
“What . . . happened?”
“I’ll tell you face to face, honeyfur. Just relax.” The cross-fox paused at the transit point, surprised to find a small police-only car waiting. Joachim had obviously called ahead, and they made a mental note to thank the boar later.
The car made good time getting to the section of Neu Berlin that Suleymanoglu lived in, and they dashed down the corridor toward their apartment only to stop at the doorway. Hamo’s paw shook as they punched the doorcode and they pushed the door open. “K-Karin?”
The place was quiet, and the cross-fox eased inside, relaxing when they saw impressions of wheel tracks on the carpet and a small scattering of opened sterile packets by Karin’s desk. Their phone beeped, and they found a text that read at hospital love you.
Hamo found themselves crying.
After a few moments and the extended use of a pawkerchief, Hamo cleaned up and threw out the trash that was littering the floor, changed the doorcode and left for the hospital. While headed for the transit point, their phone rang. “Suleymanoglu.”
“Joachim, Hamo. Is she okay?” The boar sounded concerned.
“She’s been taken to the hospital. She just texted me, so she’ll be all right.”
“That’s a relief.”
“How’s Patricia? If this fuck went after me, he might try for you next.”
“I called her already. She’s fine; doesn’t use the glove at work. Where are you?”
“I was at home. Heading for the hospital now. I’m sure Eisler will understand.”
“I’ll go tell him. IT says they have the police system locked down while they figure out how our boy did this.”
“Good. Last thing we need is to have someone looking over our shoulders. Did I hear that they’d tracked him before things went to shit?”
“Yeah. They said something about him being in America.”
“Figures,” Hamo said.
By the time the train had let them off at the hospital, the transgender vulpine had calmed down somewhat, or at least calm enough to sit through the seemingly interminable process of the bank securing the account that Hamo shared with Karin. Surprisingly, there’d been no attempt to penetrate the bank’s security, but the representative that Hamo spoke with assured them that they’d be vigilant.
The cross-fox shoved past the doors and stood in the reception area of the Emergency Department, ears swiveling as they oriented themselves. “May I help you?” an orderly at the desk asked.
Hamo quickly explained what was going on, without having to flash their credentials, and the weasel nodded, glancing at his computer. “She was just brought in, sir. Please have a seat, and as soon as she’s settled in, we’ll call you.”
That brought out the badge and ID. “Police business,” Hamo growled.
That caused the orderly to make a phone call. “You can go right back,” he said, hitting the control that made the door swing open. “Bed Three.”
“Thank you,” Hamo remembered to say as they headed inside.
The red fox vixen was lying in the bed, covered by a blanket with an IV line snaking out from under the blanket to a clear plastic pouch. A battery of monitors were beeping while tracing glowing lines on a screen, and there were two small nasal tubes in Karin’s nostrils, feeding her oxygen. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be asleep.
She wasn’t. Her eyes opened as soon as she caught Hamo’s scent and she said, “Hello.”
Hamo smiled in relief and took her free paw. “How do you feel?”
“Not bad. The medical technicians said that my heart had an irregular rhythm.” She frowned. “You shouted at me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Her paw freed itself from their grip and grabbed Hamo’s left ear. “Not half as sorry as you’re going to be, when I get out of here,” the vixen said. Her smile undermined the force of her threat.
Hamo smiled. “I’ll take whatever punishment you want, love.” They gently plucked Karin’s paw from their ear and kissed her palm before pressing it against the side of their face. “I’m just glad you’re all right,” and their voice broke as relieved tears dampened the fur under their eyes.
<NEXT>
<PREVIOUS>
<FIRST<
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Fox (Other)
Size 85 x 120px
File Size 55.2 kB
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