Title: On Dief's Account

Lys

Sunshine sparkled off the windshield as Ray parked his car and climbed out. Removing his sunglasses with a swift movement of his hand, he swung the car door shut and leaned back and let his back muscles relax and stretch as he moved away from his car. With a quick grin of admiration towards his car he bounced up the curb step and made his way to the Canadian Consulate's door.

Before his knuckles had a chance to hit the lovely old wooden door's patina, Constable Turnbull opened the door and grinned at Ray. "Welcome to Canada, Detective Vecchio. What business do you have in Canada today?"

"No business. Just want to see Fraser."

"Ah, a pleasure trip as it were."

"Is he in Turnbull?"

"Yes, he is in. However, perhaps this is not the best of times to be visiting Canada."

"Work load reaching the clouds Turnbull?"

"No, not exactly. You see it's the end of the month and the end of the quarter. Constable Fraser is very busy right now."

"The Inspector got him busy huh?"

"No sir, I don't think you understand." Turnbull pulled the door open to let the Detective enter Canada.

"I'll just go see how busy he is, thanks Turnbull."

Ray grinned at the good Constable and marched off down the hall to Constable Fraser's office. He stopped at the door, tilted his head and listened for a moment.

"Are you sure?" The comment was followed by a human sigh.

"Errffff"

"You can't change your mind you know."

"Ewrrr"

"The advantages of your choice seem to be somewhat limited. Are you sure you don't want to follow my advice?"

"Wooof...wooof" and the sounds of toenails sliding on the floor accompanied another series of woofs.

"Well, you do remember that last time you were incorrect."

Silence followed the Constable's remark.

Ray pushed the door open and flashed his friend a grin. "You talking to the wolf again?"

Constable Fraser turned his head and then with a quick turn of his head indicated the stance his wolf, Diefenbaker had taken when the door opened.

Dief opened his substantial mouth and let his tongue hang out in plain sight. He stood up and bounced on the floor and then sat quite firmly next to Fraser and put a paw on his leg.

"Well, if that's your last word." Constable Fraser hit a key on the keyboard of his computer and the screen did a quick 'refresh' mode. "If you're wrong, I won't say I told you so."

The wolf tilted his head back and let all of his teeth show and then trotted off to lie in the corner of the room.

Ray walked up to the computer console and turned his eyes downward to the screen.

"Dabbling in the stock market Fraser."

"No, Ray. I don't 'dabble' as you put it."

"But that's a brokerage screen you're looking at Fraser."

"Well, yes, it is. But that's not my broker. I use quite another firm. That's Diefenbaker's firm."

Ray fell back laughing and grinned over at the wolf. "So, who does better, you or Dief?"

"Well, actually."

"Dief does better. Doesn't he?"

"The fact of the matter is that..."

"Yea, Dief does better."

"Ray, just because I haven't finished my sentence, does not mean Dief does better than I at finance."

"Yep, the wolf is pretty smart. What's his stock in, donuts?"

Constable Fraser turned beet red and dropped his head. His shoulders drooped and he was the abject picture of defeat.

"Yes, he trades in baked goods. But I have warned him that those kinds of stocks are not his best choice."

"Face it Fraser. The wolf knows his donuts."

"Well, there is that." Fraser's head tilted up as his computer beeped at him.

Ray leaned over and grinned. "Looks to me like Dief's stock is up again."

Fraser clicked and the computer screen went blank. "He won't be so smart when he sees his portfolio this month." Fraser grabbed his hat and stood up to accompany Ray out the door of his office. "He took a loss in his dog biscuit stock."

Constable Fraser walked confidently out of his office and leaned back into his doorway when he realized that Ray wasn't following him.

Ray was leaning over Dief and petting his thick wolf's coat. "Good for you Dief. Outsmarted him again."

Benton Fraser of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police sighed, turned around and almost yelled over his shoulder. "Coming Ray."

"He just can't stand losing." Ray grinned and beckoned the wolf to follow him. "Come on, I'm buying."

End