$DETCAT
Detective Cat: a grey tabby in a black fedora and a turned-up trench coat, eyeing something off to the side

Private eye. Public grudge.

Detective Cat

Drinks alone. Works alone. Has never once trusted a pigeon.

No pigeons◆No questions◆Cash or tuna◆Open till the bottle's empty◆Raining again◆No pigeons◆No questions◆Cash or tuna◆Open till the bottle's empty◆Raining again◆
Detective Cat on a river embankment at night, a full moon over the bridge and the old town
Night shift · the river

It was raining. It always is.

Eight million stories in this city. Most of them have a pigeon in them. He's read them all, and not one pigeon came out innocent.

Detective Cat at a bar counter with a glass of whiskey, a pigeon watching him from the rainy window sillWitness: uncooperative
Corner table · 2 a.m.

Office hours

He takes cases at the corner table, under the one lamp that works. The pigeon on the sill has been watching for three nights. So has he.

Back office · same night

The evidence

Forty-one photographs. Too much red string. One conclusion, reached before the first photo was pinned: it was the pigeon. It's always the pigeon.

Detective Cat with a magnifying glass in front of a cork board of pigeon photos tied with red stringSuspects: all of them

Who he is

Occupation
Private eye
Office hours
After dark
Fee
Tuna, upfront
Drink
Whatever's left
Partner
Doesn't have one
Nemesis
Every pigeon

Licensed, allegedly

A paw holding up a worn leather badge wallet that says DETECTIVE
Detective · licensedNo. 0009

He shows it to everyone. Nobody has ever asked to see it.

The case that never closes

The detective

Sees everything. Remembers half. Forgives nothing.

The pigeon

Sees nothing. Remembers nothing. Is somehow always there.

Case open◆Bottle empty◆Pigeon at large◆Trust no one◆Case open◆Bottle empty◆Pigeon at large◆Trust no one◆Case open◆Bottle empty◆Pigeon at large◆Trust no one◆Case open◆Bottle empty◆Pigeon at large◆Trust no one◆

The pigeons know. He knows they know.

Detective Cat, collar up