Author Notes:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Luckyduck29 and LuvvyDuck (Mouselady) for taking the time from their incredibly busy schedules to proofread this story. Guys, you are so totally awesome, and I can't thank ya enough!!! hugs

Also, I would like to personally thank all of my reviewers who gave really wonderful reviews on me first story!!! Wow! You guys are so awesome! Thank YOU!! The Ducky really appreciates them!!!

Now, as ya all know, that LordNegaduck does not own the rights to Darkwing Duck, Launchpad, J. Gander Hooter, Grizzlikoff, or any other recognizable character or figure from the Darkwing Duck series. They are owned and copyrighted by Disney.

Chapter 2 : Disappearing Diamonds

As the pilot and the caped crime fighter got into the Thunderquack, Launchpad could see that his boss was lost in thought.

"What ya thinking about, DW?"

"Oh, I don't know, LP. I just hope Gosalyn for once listens to me and doesn't go over to that girl's house."

"Why? The Quackenbridges seem like nice people to me. David is married and just had a baby. Lisa seems nice, too, and she does have a lot in common with Gosalyn," Launchpad said as he closed the glass canopy of the purple duck-billed aircraft.

"Yes, Launchpad, his wife SEEMS to be very nice, but doesn't it bother you that she's half the age of her husband! He's like…" Darkwing looked skyward and continued, "our age, I believe! I think he's around 37 or 38 years old and his wife looks like she just turned 18 yesterday."

"Actually," Launchpad corrected, "she's 26."

"Oh, yeah? And HOW DO YOU KNOW?" Darkwing inquired with an aggravated look.

"Because Gosalyn told me last week she helped celebrate her 26th birthday. Gee, DW, no reason to get excited," Launchpad said as he finally got the Thunderquack airborne over the beautiful clear waters of the Audubon Bay.

"I'm sorry, LP. But she's still half his age, and I simply don't like the situation. I just don't trust that David is all."

As the airplane was flying towards its destination, the pilot asked, "Was David married before? Lisa is Gosalyn's age, isn't she?"

Darkwing looked down at the water lapping against the shore bed and said, "Yes, I believe he was either married or just had a girlfriend. He must have! I will definitely have to do some more checking on his background," the concerned father and hero said as he slammed his fist into the palm of his other feathered hand.

"Well, so far, DW, I don't see a problem here. I mean, there's no crime in having a child from a previous failed relationship. Gosalyn is right, you're making too much of this." Launchpad stated as SHUSH headquarters came into view.

"I know, LP, but call it a gut feeling I have. There is just something about him that doesn't sit well with me."

When the Thunderquack reached its destination, the pilot expertly landed the plane in the parking lot. Being it was Sunday, Launchpad had no problem with landing the plane, since there were hardly any cars in the parking lot. Although SHUSH did have an area kept clear at all times for Launchpad to land for whenever the agency required Darkwing to assist them, Launchpad usually sideswiped a few vehicles with the wing of the aircraft that parked too close to the makeshift runway.

Darkwing cracked a smile, winked at Launchpad and said, "Well at least today you didn't leave your mark on a shiny black BMW, like you did last week. Boy, was that agent steamed at you for scratching his ride!"

Launchpad chuckled and said, "Hey, it's not my fault they park too close to where I crash!"

He then shut down the powerful jet engines and opened the glass canopy. Darkwing then looked to Launchpad and sighed.

"I guess I will have to worry about the Quackenbridges later. Right NOW, J. Gander needs me!"

"OK, DW. I'll be right here reading The Saint Canardian to see how many crimes were committed last night."

"Hey, hey, hey! Last night, I made lots of arrests and don't forget I single-handedly put the breaks on those burglarizing Beagle Boys for trying to relieve the Bank of Saint Canard of their ATM!" Darkwing rubbed his feathered palms and said, "I just love it when I catch criminals red handed!"

"That ya did, DW. But according to this article, that was just a diversion to detain you for the big robbery that occurred at Scrooge McDuck's House of Gold jewelry store." Launchpad said as he read the article of how the criminal masterminds got one over on the pretentious crime fighter.

In defense, Darkwing yelled, "Well, how was I supposed to know that those beagle bandits had such a large family? Oh, sure! I guess they didn't mention how heroically I stopped those two from making off with the ATM in tow. Launchpad, I don't know how you can read that rag, any way. It's filled with nothing but bad news."

"Aw, DW, it's not a rag; it's just filled with everything that goes on in Saint Canard every day. I mean, where else can ya get headlines like 'Drug Dealing Granny Gets 20 years,' 'Cop Bopped in Head with Beer Can,' or when the psychiatric hospital burned, only The Saint Canardian would have the guts to put 'Roasted Nuts' as headlines. I have to read this newspaper every day for the crime, to see what's going on in the city, DW."

"Yeah, right, LP!" Darkwing chuckled, "You read that newspaper for the Page 6 girls!"

Launchpad just looked at Darkwing and chuckled, "You know me too well, DW!"

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The confident hero left his sidekick with his newspaper and he remembered that he couldn't make his usual grand theatrical entrances in the SHUSH building because of the fire alarms. Oh, well, even though it went against his principles, he had to be like everybody else and go through security at the main entrance.

After the guard checked the caped mallard's SHUSH identification, he walked down the highly polished white-marble floor in the corridor and knocked on the door that said "Director J. Gander Hooter" that was painted in black with gold outlined letters on the frosted century-old glass.

After he heard the buzz from the door lock, he proceeded to go into J. Gander's outer office and immediately had to face J. Gander's ever-pleasant secretary who was sitting behind her desk, typing
away on her black keyboard. Any one whoever wanted to see the director, had to first go through his charming secretary.

The small office was painted with the usual institution off-white walls, white ceiling tiles, and the standard government issued grey wall to wall carpeting. The furniture was no exception; it too, looked cheap, but served a purpose as agents, police officers, criminals, and even the occasional hero, had to sit in that waiting room until J. Gander was ready to see them. Against the walls were cheap grey upholstered chairs with metal frames and in the center of the room was a coffee table with a glass top. Unlike a dentist's or doctor's office, this waiting room had no interesting magazines to read.

The mallard sighed and said, "I'm here to see J. Gander."

She huffed and finally looked up at the waiting and impatient hero and inquired, "Do you have an appointment?"

Darkwing looked at this middle aged heavy set duck with blond hair and blue eyes in a blue suit and said, "I DON'T need an appointment!! I am…"

"Yeah, yeah, Darkworm Duck! Yeah, yeah, I know! Weren't you just released from prison?" She asked sarcastically as she eyed him through her drug-store half-glasses that were resting on her short orange beak.

Darkwing embarrassedly looked away and adjusted his grey fedora, then looked at her directly in the eyes, saying with controlled anger, "That's DARKWING DUCK, and that jail thingie last month was a simple misunderstanding, and THAT'S all; nothing more!"

Waving her hand like she was shooing away flies, the brown feathered duck dismissed what the crime fighter had told her and said, "Yeah, whatever! At least you didn't set off the smoke alarms this time with that silly green smoke of yours." The mallard was pushing down on both sides of his fedora in a near fit of rage when she added, "Oh, at least Gizmoduck was there to save your tail feathers and straighten everything out with the police. Ah, yes, now I remember!"

"Well, it wasn't my fault my evil demented, diabolical double was robbing banks with my costume on, NOW WAS IT??????" Darkwing said defending his honor while making tight fists with his white feathered hands.

The secretary responded with some laughter and sarcasm, "Oh, that was Negaduck committing all those crimes! That was so cute of him." She looked up at the ceiling in a dreamy state and continued, "That Negaduck certainly knows how to get around, doesn't he?" She then focused on Darkwing and reprimanded, "That will teach ya to leave your costume just lying around anywhere, now won't it!!"

The hero looked at her with pure anger and hatred in his blue eyes, and as he was ready to respond, J. Gander buzzed her on the office intercom.

"Joan, is that Darkwing Duck I hear making all that racket out there."

"Why, yes, it is, sir. Do you want me to send him in?" The secretary responded while holding down a button on her telephone.

"Yes, Joan. Please, send in Darkwing Duck."

"Right away, sir!" She then looked at the angry crime fighter and said, "You may go in now, Dipworm."

"That's Darkwing!! Darkwing!! Darkwing!!!" The mallard said with much sarcasm as he opened the oak door into the Director's office.

"Ah, I see you finally made it, Darkwing, ol' boy!" said the happy director.

"Yes, J. Gander, if only I could get past your secretary just once without all the commentary." The mallard said as he addressed the Director.

J. Gander responded, "Joan, yes, well, she is a great worker, and she can be quite amusing at times."

Darkwing rolled his eyes and said, "Yeah, right. A real barrel of laughs."

"She does get along with Grizzlikoff really well, and she does know how to tell some funny jokes."

"No surprise there; they seem to be two of a kind," the hero said sarcastically, "and I don't doubt she tells good jokes. I seem to be the butt of all of them! But I'm sure you interrupted my Sunday breakfast with something more to discuss then your comedian coworker."

J. Gander went behind his oaken desk to have a seat on the black leather swivel chair and rested his arms across the top of the cluttered desk.

"I am sorry I had to interrupt your day off, Darkwing, but we have a most urgent matter that requires your brand of expertise."

The excited mallard rubbed his white feathered hands together and asked, "What is it this time, J Gander? Well, whatever it is, there is nothing that Darkwing Duck can't handle!"

J. Gander said, "Yes, Darkwing. I'm quite sure you're capable of doing most anything we throw at you, but this case has us quite baffled."

"Yep, yep, yep!! That's why you called Darkwing Duck!" The purple masked mallard said as he put his thumbs in the lapels of his double breasted jacket and puffed his chest out with pride. "I guess your by-the-book brain, Grizzlikoff, couldn't figure out yet another case."

The director stood up and countered, "Now, now, Darkwing. Grizzlikoff has quite a heavy load of cases to solve, and usually completes them within a reasonable period. But this particular case is beyond our resources."

J. Gander walked over to a standard office four drawer metal filing cabinet and opened the top drawer. The mallard observed how the director reached up and into the drawer without actually seeing which file he was grabbing. Finally, he guessed he felt the file folder he wanted because he eventually had a brown file folder in his grasp.

As the director slowly walked back to his desk, Darkwing observed that his mentor was quite sleep deprived, for when he took off his bifocals and cleaned them with a Kleenex tissue that he always kept handy on his desk, he saw that his eyes were droopy and that he had large bags under them.

"My keen instincts tell me that you really have been burning the midnight oil on this case, J. Gander. You really should have called me a lot sooner." Darkwing said with a mixture of concern and excitement.

After the wise old bird was satisfied that his glasses were finally clean, he held them up to the light to make sure, and placed them back on his beak. He then handed the waiting mallard the file folder.

"Darkwing, I can see that you are most anxious to start working on this file, so I spent most of the night gathering the information my agents have collected to date. There has been a lot of man power already put into this, so we are hoping that with your knowledge, you can shed some much needed light on the subject."

J. Gander expected that Darkwing was going to gloat and he was correct. He observed that all too familiar smile come across his beak and he held the ends of his cape, stretching it, making a dramatic pose.

"J. Gander, you could have saved yourself and SHUSH a tremendous amount of time and effort if you called me earlier, ya know. You should know better than to depend on Grizzlikoff and his team of anal- retentive agents, who…" Darkwing then put his hand on his chest "…are unable to think outside the box like me. They are much too predictable and the villains know their every move."

The hero then turned his head to the left and held his hand almost at chest level, making an open fist and looking at his white feathered fingers as if he was checking his finger nails. The wise bird noticed Darkwing's look and had to set the cocky crime fighter straight.

"I beg to differ, Darkwing. Our agents are very highly trained and they must follow SHUSH procedure to the letter of the law whenever they investigate and bring a suspect to justice. Otherwise, there is a good possibility that a high priced attorney will be able to spring a criminal out of doing any serious time in the penitentiary on a simple technicality. We simply must observe the constitution, and need I remind you, Darkwing that everyone is innocent until proven guilty beyond any reasonable doubt."

The director looked up and expected Darkwing's usual reaction of rolling his blue eyes and looking up, counting the number of square ceiling tiles above him.

"Darkwing, if our agents fail to obtain a warrant to search a premises, any evidence collected at the scene would be worthless. It would only make a great souvenir or paper weight, I'm quite sure, but the worst part would be that months of investigation, leg work, man power, and SHUSH resources would all be for nothing."

The Director gave Darkwing a stern look as a father would when he reprimands his son for doing something wrong.

"Now you can stand there and count how many ceiling tiles there are in this room, but I don't need to remind you how you bungled the investigation with Ammonia Pine when Grizzlikoff assigned you and your assistant to keep a simple watch in that diaper truck."

Darkwing Duck looked over to his mentor, started to sweat and placed his index finger at the tip of his beak.

Seeing that he finally got the purple-caped mallard's attention, he took off his glasses and started to clean them as the hero said in his defense, "But J. Gander, there was no time to follow SHUSH procedure, because I knew that you had been kidnapped by the Mrs. Hyde of cleaning women and that your life could be in danger, so…"

J. Gander then continued for him, "So you thought that you would just immediately spring into action and save me all by yourself, taking full credit for your heroic deeds." The wise old bird returned his drug-store glasses to his tired feathered face, and was happy to see by the hero's face that his ego had been fully deflated and continued, "Now, Darkwing, I know you were concerned with my well being, but you wanted to do it alone and read about yourself in that next day's Saint Canardian headlines. But you must realize, Darkwing, that by your actions and by not following SHUSH procedure, you might have not only cost me my life, but the very lives of you and your assistant."

Darkwing quickly changed the subject and inquired, "So, what's this new mission you're sending me out on, on such a beautiful Sunday afternoon?"

The director replied, "Darkwing, there have been massive robberies all across Saint Canard from jewelry stores, banks, convenience stores, appliance stores to schools and government buildings. And I am ashamed to say that even our own SHUSH building has not been immune."

Darkwing was very intrigued by the wide-spread crime wave that had hit Saint Canard and he instinctively put his closed feathered fist under his beak.

"So, J. Gander, have the stores and other buildings been forcibly broken into? I mean, how did the perps gain entry and does it appear to be the same perpetrator committing all the crimes, or is there some copy cat criminal who wants to get in on the action?"

J. Gander sighed and said, "That's just it, Darkwing; there were no visible signs of any forced entry into any of the buildings. My agents scoured and went over every scene of the crime with a fine-toothed comb. My agents are very thorough when collecting forensic evidence. We have reason to believe, Darkwing, that the crimes could only be committed by someone who is very intelligent, has a high knowledge of electronics, and has access to some high-priced computer equipment."

Darkwing shook his head and inquired, "what do you mean, J. Gander? What would access to computer equipment have to do with anything?"

The mallard put his white feathered hands behind his back, but under his cape.

"Hmm, computer equipment, eh? Ha ha! I know!! Security Alarm! The person must have access to the security codes to all the buildings to gain access and to silence any alarms, then they go on a shopping spree RIGHT UNDER the noses of the Saint Canard Police!"

"No, Darkwing. We thoroughly explored that possibility. Only the governmental buildings can be accessed by a key card or pad. The rest of the buildings, you still would need a good old fashioned key to gain access."

The hero then tapped his beak, analyzing the situation.

"They must have gotten in somehow! Through the roof, perhaps? Did your agents think to check the skylights?"

"Yes, Darkwing." Hooter was getting annoyed with the hero's chastising his procedure. "The buildings that had skylights or air conditioning vents that led to the roof tops were thoroughly checked for fingerprints and any sign of someone trying to break in. The only fingerprints that were left on the duct work where that of the repairmen who perform regular maintenance on the cooling system."

J. Gander anticipated Darkwing's next question.

"And no, Darkwing, not all the buildings have air conditioning units on the roof, and no common air conditioning and heating companies were used in all the crime scenes. But all the crime scenes do have one thing in common though. They all have burglar alarms and security cameras monitored by Twin Beaks Monitoring and Security Company, who has an impeccable record for providing security for the government and private businesses alike."

Darkwing rubbed his feathered palms together.

"Hmmm, now at least we have a common thread to work with; now I will have to check the backgrounds on all the employees, and …"

J. Gander suddenly cut the hero off before he got too ahead of himself.

"Darkwing, if you actually read the information contained in that dossier I just handed you, you will see that all the employee backgrounds have been all ready accomplished by my staff. Rest assured that Twin Beaks does a thorough criminal background check on all their employees before and during their employment with the company. If one employee gets as much as a speeding ticket while they are working for Twin Beaks, the company bosses will know about it."

Darkwing looked at J. Gander and asked, "Ok, looks like your men did all the leg work for me, so where do you want me to start?"

J. Gander answered, "well, Darkwing, I do believe it's best that you do another stakeout at a jewelry store located in Saint Canard's Diamond Street Jewelry District. There are five jewelry stores that have not yet been hit, and use the services of the Twin Beak Monitoring and Security Company. Twin Beaks and SHUSH alike want to find out who the perpetrator is and bring him or her to justice as soon as possible. You and your assistant will stay inside the store after hours and if a robbery takes place, you will be there to find out how they are gaining access to the store and how the items are transported out, then immediately report back here with a complete report"

A thought suddenly came to Darkwing like a lightning bolt.

"J. Gander, I was thinking that if all these places have security cameras filming each respective scene, wouldn't the cameras show who the perp is, how they gained entry, and how they're getting away with the contents of the store?"

"Yes, Darkwing. We have been over and over those surveillance tapes and all they show is footage of the buildings before and after the crime took place. It's like the merchandise just magically disappeared. That's where we come up with the conclusion that the perpetrator must have access to some pretty fancy computer equipment that actually can momentarily stop the cameras."

Darkwing gave J. Gander a salute and inquired, "So, J. Gander, exactly what is the address of this store? You know, absolutely NOTHING can past these Eagle eyes!!! For I am the DUKE of DETECTION!!" Darkwing said while putting his free hand across his chest."

"Yes, yes, Darkwing, I know. Now remember you are the actual eyes and ears of this potential crime scene; and please, no matter what happens, please give me a full report. The address of the store is located in the file."

"Will DO, J. Gander!! You can always count on Darkwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing Duck!!!" The hero said as he walked out of the Director's office and into the parking lot to brief Launchpad.

When Darkwing reached the parking lot, he found Launchpad doing exactly what he thought he would be doing as he waited for him to return, sleeping in the pilot's seat with the Saint Canardian newspaper over his face.

"LAUNCHPAD!" Darkwing screamed to wake him up, and when he got the intended and expected reaction from his sidekick, he said, "I'm glad to see that you're well rested because we are now on a mission! I have been assigned to do an all night stake out at a jewelry store on Diamond Street."

Darkwing opened the file folder and glanced at his assignment and noted the address and the name of the store and continued, "It seems that a calculating crafty computer criminal is going all around Saint Canard, relieving proprietors of the contents of their stores!"

Launchpad was rubbing his eyes and stretching his long arms as he was listening to their latest assignment.

"Ok, DW. Diamond Street it is. So they're stealing everything in stores all across Saint Canard?"

The pilot closed the canopy and prepared for takeoff.

"Gee, that explains why the Quack and Pack was half empty last week. I went in there to pick up a few items for my midnight snacks, and they were literally cleaned out. Do you think Ammonia Pine is behind all this, DW?"

The mallard chuckled as he fastened his safety belt.

"No, I don't believe it's Ammonia Pine unless she's working with a very clever and conniving expert on computers and cameras. It's possible that she's doing the leg work, but one thing is for sure, Launchpad; she is definitely NOT working alone and Darkwing Duck will get to the bottom of this. And I believe the only culprit of relieving the Quack and Pack of their culinary delights is you! I mean, who spends $150 each week on snacks? You came home with four bags of chocolate chip cookies, ginger snaps, potato chips, pretzels, honey glazed salted peanuts… I mean, where do you put it all?"

"You're right, DW. When I go to the Quack and Pack, I'm like a kid in a candy shop."

"You have the mind of one, too!"

"Hey, DW!" Launchpad exclaimed.

"Sorry, Launchpad. Now just land the plane in the Saint Canard Municipal parking lot closest to Diamond Street. From there we have to go to…" Darkwing re-opened the brown folder, "…508 Diamond Street, to Happy Harry's House of Diamonds."

"Righto, DW!" Launchpad answered his boss.

Once the powerful duck-billed airplane landed in one of the empty, wide-open, municipal parking lots, Darkwing and Launchpad headed for the target store, which was only a short block away.

"But, DW, how does SHUSH know the thieves are gonna strike here next?" Launchpad inquired.

"Well, Launchpad, I'm quite sure the geniuses at SHUSH have it all figured out through their so-called deductive reasoning and experience."

Darkwing put his hand to his chest.

"Of course, no one could match my deductive reasoning, or all the experiences I have lived through, but hey, at least all the leg work was done for us by the Grizzlikoff Goon Squad."

"Oh, I get it. This is the only store left in town that hasn't been robbed yet."

"Well, yes, Launchpad. I guess that's one way of putting it." Darkwing chuckled.

When the heroes arrived to a location on Diamond Street that was situated directly across the street from Happy Harry's, Darkwing observed a brown feathered duck who appeared to have a few white and yellow feathers intermixed with the brown ones and was dressed in a grey sweatshirt. He was continually going in the store empty handed and coming out with the familiar yellow plastic grocery store bags from the Quack 'N Pack.

The purple caped mallard rubbed his feathered palms together and said to his sidekick, "Hey, LP! My keen instincts tell me that this guy is making some illegal withdrawals from Happy Harry's!"

Darkwing reached into the pocket inside his cape and retrieved his binoculars.

"So, that's how they're pilfering the merchandise and making a clean get away. HA!! It's as plain as the beak on my face!!! I'm willing to bet that this sticky fingered security guard works for the Twin Beaks Security Company and is probably manipulating the controls on the cameras so they won't record his little shopping spree."

Darkwing held the binoculars with the purple visors to his face and observed up close that the "guard" was indeed going in and carrying out plastic bags filled with something. He also observed that the "guard" kept checking his watch, as if he was waiting for someone.

"But, DW, why isn't that guard dressed in his uniform, and why would he steal jewelry now, when he's got all night to do it? You know, under the cover of darkness." Launchpad asked of his boss.

"Launchpad, Launchpad, Launchpad! That guard isn't wearing his uniform because he is probably off duty on Sundays and why not go on a shopping spree while it is still daylight, and don't forget this area is heavily patrolled by the Saint Canard Police when night falls. So this provides these calculating crooks an opportune time to commit their heinous crime. Think about it; just after closing time, there is hardly anyone around anymore on Diamond Street and the Saint Canard Police haven't yet started to patrol! It's a window of opportunity!"

"Yeah, but, DW, you said stores like the Quack 'N Pack have also been robbed. How do we know this security guard even works at the Quack 'N Pack, and that store is always open twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. How would he manipulate those security cameras without someone like an employee or customer catching him?"

"Why, collusion, of course, Launchpad! Don't you get it! He and the employees of the other locations are all in on this mass conspiracy! Well, I say it's about time this duck puts the brakes on their burglarized bags of booty! FOR THEY HAVE NOT YET MET THE WRATH OF DARKWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING DUCK!!" Darkwing said as he retrieved his gas gun and fired a smoke bomb towards the offending operator of crime.

When the brown duck came out of the building with another bag, he was forced to stop due to all the blue smoke, and then he heard a voice booming from somewhere in front of him, saying, "I am the Terror That
Flaps In The Night! I am the legislator that doubles your property taxes! I am Darkwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing Duck!!! Now surrender or prepare to suck gas!" The hero said as he pointed the gas gun directly in the face of his opponent.

"B-b-b-but you don't understand. I am the manager of this establishment, and these are bags of groceries that I purchased while I went to lunch. I was storing the groceries in the office refrigerator until it was time to go home, see?" The surprised duck said while handing Darkwing the yellow plastic bag.

Darkwing put down his gas gun, accepted the bag and opened it to reveal 2 rolls of paper towels and 4 rolls of toilet paper.

"I suppose you can produce the receipt from the Quack 'N Pack that says you paid for all these groceries."

The brown feathered duck went through the packages and was finally able to get the receipt on the bottom of the bag stuffed in the trunk of his blue late model sedan.

"Ah, here ya go, Mr. Darkwing. Where were you? Your boss, J. Gander, said you would have been here about 2 hours ago, and I waited and waited. Finally, I changed out of my suit and tie and just decided to go home."

"Oh, I see," Darkwing said as he motioned for Launchpad to come across the street. When he arrived, he introduced Launchpad to the manager and said, "I'm sorry; I didn't get your name."

The brown duck reached into his shirt pocket and produced an identification card issued by Happy Harry's. It was a standard yellow wallet sized card with "Happy Harry's House of Diamonds" printed above the duck's photograph, as well as his name, which read "Martin Merganser, Director of Sales and Procurement."

Darkwing took a close look at the identification card and compared it to the duck standing before him, and when he was satisfied that this was indeed Martin Merganser, he gave it back.

Martin said, "So, J. Gander assured me that you will personally see to it that nothing will get taken tonight. There are a lot of precious stones and metal locked up in that vault, and it would be very easy for someone to sell them on the street, since the stones and metal have not yet been manufactured into jewelry."

The hero said, while pointing a finger in the air, "Have no fear, my good citizen! Nothing will get by these eyes! No criminal can slither his way past me! For I am Darkwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing Duck, the Terror That Flaps!!" Darkwing then looked at the brown duck in his eyes and asked, "Shall we go in? I want to learn and familiarize myself with every last square inch of this place."

"No problem! Follow me."

Darkwing Duck and Launchpad both followed Martin Merganser into the red-brick building. Immediately to the left were glass enclosed display cases and on the wall were more display cases. All were empty with the exception of the burgundy colored velvet liners on the backs, sides, and bottoms of the cases. Darkwing looked around the room and noticed the multiple security cameras positioned strategically on each display case, the front door, the cash register, and he had to laugh when he saw a camera above the doors to the rest rooms.

He inquired, "Are there cameras that show the customers entering and exiting the premises from outside the building?"

"Yes, Mr. Darkwing. We have security cameras in the back parking lot, as well as a hidden camera located on the front porch ceiling."

Darkwing went outside and looked up to see that there was a camera in the wooden ceiling of the front porch that just covered part of the sidewalk. He observed that the camera could be pointed in any direction by remote control to give a bird's eye view of the sidewalk on both sides, the back of the camera, and the front.

"Who operates and watches the monitors of these cameras?" Darkwing inquired.

"Well, during business hours," Martin said while nervously scratching the back of his neck, "We have regular personnel whose job it is to watch the monitors to keep the building and its inventory safe. And if they happen to catch an emergency situation taking place, they are instructed to notify the Saint Canard Police, immediately."

"Who does the monitoring at night?"

"Well, our security company, Twin Beaks, does that from a remote location. Mr. Darkwing, if there aren't any further questions, please excuse me. I told my wife that I would be home by 5:00 and now it appears to be around 6:00. The vault will remain open for your inspection; just remember, if ya go inside don't close the vault door. It's a timed lock, and once the lock is engaged, it will remain locked until the next morning. There is a Hamburger Hippo just down the street if you are hungry; if ya want, I can pick ya up a few burgers."

"Yes, that will be fine, and you probably will have to get four more for my sidekick here. He has quite the appetite!"

"Did someone mention Hamburger Hippo? Oh, can ya get me six hamburgers, and some fries? Here's some money." Launchpad said as he dug into his pocket to give Martin some money to reimburse him for the food bill.

"No, that's all right, sir. Just you two being here is payment enough. Now, I can go to sleep at night knowing that someone competent is looking out for our inventory. I'll be right back." Martin said while looking at Darkwing.

"Put all your fears aside! For nothing will get by this Duck!!"

Martin nodded and said, "I hope not. The entire inventory of precious metals and stones are in that vault, not to mention everyone's livelihood who works here."

"Don't you have insurance to cover thefts?" Launchpad asked.

"At the moment, no; because with all the unsolved robberies in town, our insurance company cancelled our policy just because the store is located in Saint Canard," Martin said with much worry on his face. "That's why Happy Harry's consented to do this sting with SHUSH. It's really a last resort. I really hope you can catch these criminals tonight. Then we can all sleep easier."

"Pffft! You have nothing to worry about. Nothing gets by this Duck! For I am Darkwiiiiiiiiing Duck! I am the spider that captures all slippery serpents within my web of justice! No nefarious criminal stands a chance against Darkwing Duck!" The hero said while Martin rolled his eyes and said, "I'll be right back with your food."

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As the sun was going down on another peaceful Sunday, our heroes were busily eating the burgers and fries that were delivered by Martin. When Darkwing was finished eating his meal, he told Launchpad, "Now we wait for those devious diamond demanding derelicts to show up."

"But how does SHUSH know they're actually gonna rob Happy Harry's tonight." Launchpad asked while polishing off his sixth hamburger and wiping his beak with a napkin.

Darkwing laughed and said, "SHUSH has it all figured out. And if they're wrong, there will be egg on Grizzlikoff's face, and not mine!"

Suddenly Darkwing felt his cell phone start to vibrate in the pocket of his purple cape.

"Oh, this is probably Gosalyn checking in."

After opening the phone to answer the call, Darkwing said, "Hello…Oh, hi, J. Gander; what can I do ya for?...What? I can't hear you too well…you keep drifting in and out." The hero said as he was getting frustrated with all the static in his ear.

"You probably can't talk in here, DW because the walls are too thick and made of solid concrete. Take it outside and maybe you'll get better reception."

"Wait, J. Gander. I'll take this outside, then I can hear ya better."

Once Darkwing's webbed feet crossed the threshold of the building, the reception came in loud and clear.

"Now, that's better…WHAT!!"

Launchpad instinctively came running out to see why Darkwing was getting so upset.

"She WAS ARRESTED??? FOR WHAT!!! J. Gander, you have to send someone hear right away to relieve me and Launchpad! I have to get to the Saint Canard Police Station! OK, how long will it take for them to get here?"

Launchpad observed that Darkwing appeared to be in a complete state of shock. He was just staring at the wall with his hand still on the cell phone, but his hand had dropped to his side.

"DW, what is it? What's wrong?" When he didn't get any response, he got in front of the masked mallard and asked, "DW, Darkwing? What's wrong? Tell me."

It wasn't until Launchpad got directly in front of the mallard, grabbed his arms, and shook him that he got a response.

"J. Gander said that Gosalyn has just been arrested."

"Come on, DW. Arrested? Arrested for what?" Launchpad asked.

"Murder." Darkwing said in a quiet voice as he shook his head.

"Murder; that's impossible, DW. There must be some mistake. She was home…" Launchpad said trying to comfort his boss.

Then, as they both stood staring at the building before them, a bright, blinding light suddenly shown through the windows from the inside.

"Did ya see that, DW?"

"Yes, Launchpad!! I guess we better check it out." Darkwing said in a monotone, depressed voice.

When the two crime fighters entered the building, everything in the vault was gone. There was no money, nor were there any precious stones or metal; just a blank, desolate room where bags of money from the daily receipts once were piled against the walls and where precious stones, silver and gold bars, and manufactured jewelry once were stacked on the vault's gray metal shelving that lined the walls.

Darkwing and Launchpad were amazed and stared at each other.

"How could this have happened? How could all that money and all those jewels just disappear into thin air like that?"

Then Darkwing felt a strange presence from behind him and quickly turned around to see a very angry Agent Grizzlikoff staring at his back.

"Darkving, so I zee that I came just in time, before you got avay." The gray-suited Russian-accented bear said to the hero as he was reaching behind his back and walking towards them.

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A/N: Phew! Sounds like Gosalyn got in a wee bit of trouble there, as if Darkwing all ready didn't have his hands full!! And isn't like Grizz to show up at the most inopportune time, just as all the jewels have disappeared! I hope ya enjoyed this first chapter, and please review. Don't worry Negaduck fans, there will be plenty of him in later chapters!!!

In keeping with Disney tradition of naming characters after ducks or having duck or other waterfowl in the name, the word merganser for my character Martin, is a type of duck that is more commonly found on the west coast of the United States and also Europe and Asia. Males and females are easily distinguished, since the male has a dark green head, while the female is a reddish brown. They mostly eat fish, mussels, shrimp, and aquatic insects. Unlike other ducks which pretty much have curved bills, like Darkwing Duck, mergansers have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip and strip their prey.

Also a note about The Saint Canardian, I adapted the name for Saint Canard's daily newspaper from the newspaper The Ducky can not live a day without reading. I live and work in Trenton, New Jersey and our daily newspaper is The Trentonian, and they have screaming headlines that Lauchpad was reciting to Darkwing. I will say that those headlines were real and were not made up by this author. They were the actual headlines that appeared on The Trentonian. And the "Page 6 Girls" that Darkwing was referring to is the daily girl that is featured on The Trentonian's Page 6 and she is clad in a bathing suit. Gotta love The Trentonian!