Toronto: Replacement

Leon woke up with 19 missed calls and 50 messages once he opened his phone.

It really was a good thing that he kept it turned off last nigh. Other wise, he and Little John would not have the great sleep they had last night.

He scrolled through the messages. He only payed attention to two of them.

[ANSWER NOW, YOU DUMB FUCKING SON OF AN OGRE AND A GORRILLA WITH THE BRAIN OF A CHICKEN! HEATH'S AWAKE!]

[Leon. He's not pressing charges against you, I managed to convince him. Get your ass here, you owe him an apology.]

He grumbled. He does feel guilty, so he will obviously go to apologize.

"Your first day in Anti-Wolfe duty is here, Little John." He told the puppy by his side sleeping cozily under the duvets. "You up for it?"

The dog just licked his lips, probably dreaming of food.

He typed a reply. Just a simple, douche-y:

[I'll be there to apologize. I'll also pay his bills.]

He saw Wolfe take a while to type a response. He saw the three dots appear many times.

Eventually, what he got was also a simple, douche-y.

[Ok. Be in the hospital quick, everyone else is also here to visit Heath.]

By everyone, he must mean the crew. Leon wondered if the injury he caused was enough to ruin their show.

Great. It was not the Fairytale Tableau Killer that ruined the show, it was him.

He got changed, scolding himself in the mirror. "You really fucked up this time, Leon Mo."

Speaking of the mastermind of these tableaus....

He still haven't told Wolfe about what he saw last night with Cherith.

He was so caught up with the idea of Wolfe cheating that he forgot about the actual cheater in the room.

If she was the mastermind.....

She had the resources. Her men.

The problem was motive. Why would she mess with Wolfe Fang?

He picked up his things and his new dog. To be perfectly honest, he doesn't feel ready to talk to Wolfe yet.

But he did make a promise to be his detective and bodyguard.

Unlike him, he keeps his promises pretty well.

Once he reached the hospital room where Heath was, the person who opened the door for him was no other than Wolfe.

"Leon, there you--- Why the hell do you have that thing!?" He almost shrieked when he saw the fierce Little John in his arm.

"Peace offering. You did say you like huskies." His eyes gestured to everyone else in the room. "Right?"

Now he won't be able to move a meter closer from Leon.

"I..... I see. Thanks..... " He gulped nervously, then gained his composure.

He sassed him. "But I'd rather hear you say sorry than have a dog do it for you."

Serafina hold in her laughter. "Ohhh, sick burn."

The director was also regarding Leon with a bit of anger. "Are you sure you do not want to press charges to Mr. Mo, Heath?"

"Yeah.... It's all been a misunderstanding. He's head over heels for Wolfe. I can understand." Heath said, his nose bandaged along with his whole back and his foot.

Leon felt even more guilty. He was a very kind man, to forgive him so easily like this.

It was too bad that he got involved in Leon's bullshit. He must have also considered about Leon's job in the police force, and did not want to endanger that.

"I'm really sorry about what happened, Mr. Aguer." Leon said. "I wasn't thinking straight. Let me pay for all the damages and your bills. You can also fine me more for affecting your job."

"And maybe help us find a good replacement." The director said. "Mr. Mo, because of you 'not thinking straight', we now lose our original Detective Holzfaller."

"Maybe we can find someone from Westside cast." Taji offered. "Or other off-Broadway casts."

Cherith was nowhere to be seen. Leon narrowed his eyes at this.

"If any of them can get out of their own busy productions and fly all the way to Buenos Aires with us tomorrow, sure." The director frowned. "Chances are slim."

"Not to mention they had to practice their chemistry with Wolfe. It's really important. Just getting a random stranger might bring in a disaster to the show than having no show at all."

Everyone went quiet, thinking of a solution to this problem.

Then.....

"Mr. Choi, I have an idea who could be a replacement."

Wolfe grinned. "I know it might come as a surprise, but hear me out."

Leon did not like where this was going.

He excused himself. "Well, if I'm no longer needed, my puppy and I will be outside---"

"Leon Mo is actually a very good singer and actor." Wolfe grabbed his shoulder, but took his hand back when the dog growled at him.

Director Choi raised an eyebrow. "Your boyfriend? But I thought he was a policeman."

"Interpol agent, actually." Leon corrected.

"Same difference, Mr. Mo. Do you have any theater experience?"

Everyone's eyes were now on him, looking expectantly if what Wolfe said was true.

"Er, no." Leon admitted. "I mean, I can sing. And yeah, I've memorized the script of all of Wolfe's plays by heart, but still---"

"He's perfect for the role, Mr. Choi." Wolfe smiled charmingly. "An actual detective playing a detective role? It will give another layer to the character, plus....."

"I have really great chemistry with him."

Leon smiled fakely. "Yeah... Hold on one sec, everybody."

He pulled Wolfe with him outside the room, as the whole crew mumbled and discussed this suggestion of having a non-actor play a major role just cause their lead said so.

"What was that?" Leon growled at him. "Wolfe Fang, this isn't the right time and place to play games with me---"

"I'm not playing games. I really think you would fit, you heard them. Finding a replacement as quickly as possible would be difficult."

He adjusted his sunglasses. It slipped off a bit, and Leon thought he had seen his eyes red and sore.

Like he had been crying all night.

"This is all your fault, right? Your mess. I'm giving you a chance to clean this mess."

Leon could not believe him. "I was planning to just pay tons of money, not be a theater actor!"

Wolfe then leaned in to whisper to him, but Leon held up the dog protectively like a gun.

"Don't get any closer. I know you'll get me to follow your whims with that seductive whisper again." Leon furrowed his brows.

"Arf! Arf!" The puppy also glared at him, acting protective over his master.

Wolfe gritted his teeth, and just said in a hushed tone:

"This is also a chance to observe the crew better, Leon. I saw your message, you said Taji was no longer the primary suspect. Was it Cherith?"

"How did you know?" Leon lowered the puppy down.

"She suddenly disappeared last night, and even now. I saw you looking for someone in the room, then narrowing your eyes when they're not thhere. So I put two and two together."

Leon nodded. He set down Little John for now, and went close to whisper to him what he saw last night.

He also showed the picture. Wolfe frowned.

"Cherith hitted on me once. Even when she and Taji were already together." Wolfe said. "That could be her motive."

Leon scoffed. "A psycho for love, huh? Going all this way just for one guy's rejection....."

"Look who's talking." Wolfe grinned.

Leon went quiet.

"I'm not like her. I don't give a damn about you, Wolfe Fang." Leon took Little john in his arms again. "But I do care about innocent civilians. So you win for now."

Wolfe's eyes brightened. "You mean---"

"I'll be your co-star's replacement."