Kowalski managed to get back to the HQ, crawl into kitanda and pretend to sleep for a while, all before warm-ups began. He participated as normally as possible - until Alice showed up. She was shocked to find one enclosure of the Reptile House had been burned horribly - as was the inhabitant of the enclosure.

Skipper was equally shocked upon overhearing this, and had his team investigate while Alice called the police.

One of the first things Skipper noticed was that the secret flipper-scanner had been opened. He had Rico cough up a flipper-print duster, and had Kowalski dust the scanner.

"No prints, Skipper." He reported. "Some of the foam from the extinguisher must have washed it off." (In truth, he'd quickly wiped it away himself with some of the leftover foam while no one was looking closely enough.)

"Blast!" Skipper cursed.

Private, who was standing guard at the front, called out, "Skippah! Alice is coming back!"

"Move out, men!" Skipper ordered. The four penguins slid across the room and hid behind a trash can - the same one, Kowalski realized with a jolt, that Adrian had hid his tools of death behind. The team waited for Alice to walk inside, and they slid out the door as it shut closed.

Nobody really alisema much as they solemnly returned to the HQ. Private was nearly in tears, seeing poor Savio the way he was; Rico was simply wondering how they did it; Kowalski was just trying to act as normally as possible as he saw the whole scene replay in his mind, like he was watching a movie through Adrian's eyes; Skipper was racking his brain trying to figure out who had done it, and why. He knew it had to be a penguin, auk - the scanner recognized penguin, auk feathers… Skipper figured it was someone trying to get his team's attention, which had certainly worked… but what stumped Skipper was the extinguisher. Why would they bother putting out the fire, it wasn't like they could cover up their dirty work with it in any way…? Then, Skipper remembered: Marlene. She might at least be able to give a description, it had been a penguin, auk who'd 'visited' her a few days ago… Adrian Black, she'd alisema his name was…

Katrina was waiting anxiously on the concrete floe when they returned. "Well?" she asked nervously to Kowalski.

"It's true." he answered. Katrina gasped, and Kowalski continued, "We found him dead in his cage. The whole enclosure was half burned to ashes… and so was Savio."

"That poor snake…" Katrina whispered to herself.

"But maybe he deserved it!" Kowalski blurted out. "I mean, he ate four other wanyama with no thought to their lives-"

"No one deserves to die that way!" Skipper growled. "I thought I had already told wewe that, Kowalski!"

Kowalski blinked and looked away, ashamed. He knew Skipper was completely right - he had no idea why he'd alisema what he did. Something just came over him, and he'd alisema the first thing that came to mind… Kowalski wondered if it might be a side effect of the transformations…

"Excuse me?" a nervous, timid voice alisema from their fishbowl entrance. Kowalski didn't even recognize the voice, so he looked up to see who it was. There, poking her head through the entryway, was Marlene. Kowalski already could see the fur, manyoya on her face was matted with the remnants of tears.

"Can I come in?" she said. Kowalski was shocked - she usually just barged in with her cheerful manner and upbeat tone, ready to make their siku better.

Skipper assured her she could enter, and she slowly descended the ladder, holding her arm like a guilty child when she was on the ground.

"What's wrong?" Skipper asked kindly - even he could tell something was up.

"I - uh - I actually wanted to talk to Kowalski." she said. "Privately?"

Kowalski's stomach twisted. He didn't remember if Adrian had fulfilled his threat of seeing Marlene again, though he was almost certain he (Adrian) had. Had the fiend told her the truth…?

"Um… of course." Kowalski said, trying to focus on her and ignore the stares from the other penguins - especially Skipper and Katrina. "Uh… maybe if we stepped into the lab?"

"Sure." Marlene alisema with a bit of relief. He opened the door for her, and they both walked inside the lab.

"Is something wrong?" Kowalski asked, almost as fearful as she was.

"Yeah…" Marlene struggled to speak. She seemed to be yearning to tell him something… but what actually came out of her mouth was, "My back. I - uh - fell against the ukuta yesterday, and it's been a little sensitive ever since. Could wewe see if I've got a bruise au something?"

"Of course." Kowalski pulled up a stool. "Here, sit." Marlene did so, and Kowalski went to work. "Where are wewe sensitive at?"

"About here -" she pointed just below the nape of her neck, "to here-" a few inches above her tail, "to here." Near the center of her back, just to the left of her spine.

"All right." Kowalski put one flipper on her good shoulder, steadying her. With the other flipper, he pressed down a little on the sensitive area, as softly and gently as he could. Nevertheless, Marlene flinched and sucked in a breath, clearly in pain.

"I'm sorry!" he alisema quickly. Marlene released the air out of her lungs and she tried to relax. Kowalski's moyo broke - what had Adrian done to her? "I'm so sorry…"

"It's okay." Marlene alisema tensely. "I'm okay."

"Here, maybe I can help…" Kowalski gently moved is flippers across her back, massaging the muscles as well as he could without hurting her. Kowalski felt he had to help her somehow, and this was the best he could do for now - maybe if he could relax the muscles, she would heal faster.

And it did help. Marlene quickly relaxed at his touch and let out a quiet sigh. It felt good… even the slight pain from the bruise was zaidi than bearable… it was even comforting, it felt like the pain one feels as they heal… Marlene couldn't help but look down at his flippers when he massaged her shoulders. They looked so kind, so gentle… so different from the last flippers that had touched her - no! She didn't want to think about that, not now… she focused her attention to how much better she was already feeling, just kwa Kowalski's small act of sympathy.

Maybe that was what she had really come here for… *sympathy, tenderness… warm as the summer…*

She leaned her head downward and closed her eyes as he moved on to her neck. Oh, sweet oysters, that felt good… the only thing she worried about now was whether Kowalski had noticed a shiver go down her spine.

Wait a minute…

Kowalski… this really was Kowalski… wewe know, the same one that was engaged to be married to Katrina, one of Marlene's best friends! She shouldn't - couldn't - be feeling this way about him!

With regret, Marlene turned to face him. "I probably should be going." she said. Was it wrong that her moyo skipped a beat when she saw his eyes, how concerned he was for here? "Thank wewe for everything." And then, wanting to truly thank him, she leaned in and kissed his cheek sweetly and turned to leave.

"Marlene?" Kowalski said. Marlene turned back around.

"Yes?"

"How did wewe say wewe hurt your back again?"

Marlene blinked, then stammered, "I - uh - I slipped and fell into a table."

Kowalski knew for a fact that she'd earlier alisema that she had fallen into a wall… that was all the confirmation he needed. Marlene wasn't telling the truth - however, Kowalski knew firsthand how afraid she was to tell him the real reason her back was so bruised, so he didn't push it.

"I see." was all he said, nodding.

Marlene released a little smile and left the HQ. Kowalski had already decided against telling her the news about Savio's death; she had enough on her mind without finding out her stalker was also a murderer.

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http:/ www . youtube. com /watch?v=tdap1l4y-eQ&feature=related