Chapter II
As noon rolled around, with only ten minutes before the alleged bomb was scheduled to blow, Nick and Judy found themselves parked in a trash-ladened alley in perfect view of the trash bin across the street with the money inside. While Judy was watching the streets intently, through a pair of binoculars and the window of their police jeep rolled down, waiting for the perp to arrive, Nick was kicked back in the passenger seat, humming quietly, and munching on the blueberries Judy's parents had sent them. Judy gave grumble of frustration. "Honestly, Nick." She glared at him, lowering her binoculars. "Would it kill you to pay attention?"
"Hmm. Now that's funny." Said Nick. "Because I remember the last time you told me to pay attention, I got my face slammed down by a polar bear."
"That's because then you wouldn't stop staring at her." Judy pointed out. "That's enough to make anyone want to slam your face in."
"It's a good theory." Said Nick,throwing several berries into his mouth at once. "I think she just couldn't handle my rugged good looks." Judy rolled her eyes before returning her attention to the trash bin. "Right." She said quietly. "That's what it was. If that's the case then- Wait." A hooded figure was walking towards the trash bin. "I think that's our guy." Now Nick was staring out of Judy's window intently. Hands in pockets, the suspect was looking in every direction, while continuing in the direction where the money was kept. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's nail him." Nick made to exit the car, but Judy had grabbed hold of his arm. "Not yet." She said "We can't blow out cover yet. We have to make sure this the guy we're waiting for." Nick gave a snort of laughter. "Need to make sure- Look, Carrots. This is the only shifty low-life for miles. Trust me. It's him"
"I can't make out his species." Said Judy. "I see his tail, might be a wolf." Nick took the binoculars from Judy so he could have a better look. "Nah. He's too short. Might be a squirrel."
"That is NOT a squirrel." Said Judy. "He's taller than I am."
"Please. Everyone's taller than you."
The suspect made it to the trash bin, made one final glance around him before opening it, and reaching inside. "That's our queue!" Nick tossed the binoculars aside before jumping out of the jeep. On the other side, Judy was doing the same thing.
The two quickly crossed the street in pursuit of the suspect, now walking away with a bulging bag in his arms. "ZPD!" Judy shouted. "DROP THE BAG AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD!" The suspect froze for a moment, then whipped around to face the officers. Next thing Judy knew, she found a knife whizzing through the air, right towards her head. "Holy- watch it!" Nick jumped sideways, knocking Judy to the ground, allowing the knife to fly by. "Thanks." Said Judy, getting to her feet. "He's getting away." The suspect had already ran halfway down the block. "Relax. I got'm." Nick scrambled to his feet and proceeded to run after the perp. "Officer Hopps to dispatch." Judy spoke through her radio. "Suspect sighted on 8th and Sahara square, South of the park! Officer Wilde is in pursuit!"
Nick was running as fast as he could after the suspect, but he had gotten a good head start on him, and was already almost out of view. "Whoo!" Nick panted, slowing down. "I knew I should have taken Judy up on her offer to go running with her. There were several cars driving in the streets around him, all of course moving at a considerable pace. Seeing a mountain goat approaching, riding atop a brand new 2017 black and silver bandit, Nick jumped in front of it, flashing his badge at the goat. "ZPD! I just need to borrow this!" He said shoving the goat off the motorcycle and climbing on himself. "Yo! Dude!" The goat protested. "That's my ride!" Nick revved the engine, causing it to bellow deeply and deafeningly. "Thanks! I'll bring it back!" He shouted. The tires shrieked as Nick took off after the suspect, now looming ever closer. "Now this is more like it!" Said Nick approvingly. Weaving left and right through the stream of on going traffic in front of him, Nick was now almost neck-and-neck with the suspect. Seeing Nick approaching, the suspect suddenly change direction, now heading down an alley. Nick leaned sideways, turning the motorcycle in the same direction. Unfortunately, this involved going against the flow of traffic. Horns blaring, tires screeching, cars swerving. "Hey! I'm DRIVING HERE!" Nick shouted up at a giraffe, who was giving him an unseemly rude hand gesture.
Approaching the alley, Nick noticed that the suspect was now nowhere in sight. He kicked off the motorcycle, still puttering, and tossed it aside with a crash. "Great!" He hissed. "That's just great! How am I going to explain to Fluff that I let him get away?!" He continued to walk down the alley, surveying around him. Nick heard a shout from behind and ducked just in time to avoid the lead pipe the suspect, unknown to Nick had been lurking in the shadows behind him, had swung directly at his head. Nick rolled into a somersault, and turned around to face the suspect. "You wanna fight, do you?" He asked. Alrighty then." He pulled a baton off the belt strapped to his waist and swung it down. With a loud snap, the baton extended, making it the same length as the pipe. "Let's dance!" The suspect shrugged, and tossed the pipe aside with a clang before reaching both hands in his jacket pockets, and pulled out two butterfly knives. With some fancy twirling, he opened both knives and assumed a fighting position. "Oh snap." Said Nick. The suspect lunged, jabbing with his knife. Nick dodged. The suspect swung, he dodged again before swinging his baton. The suspect used his arm to block it and swung again. Nick ducked low, and used his baton to sweep the suspect's feet, who lost balance and fell to the ground. "Alright, slick." Said Nick, standing over the suspect. "You're under a-" The fall had caused the suspect's hood to slide down, revealing a vixen. She had golden brown fur, three gold hoops in her right ear lobe. A long puff of fur, like bangs obscured one of her icy blue eyes that were glaring disdainfully at the officer staring disbelieving at her. He had seen this girl before, though it had been many years. "Bianca?" He addressed her. Bianca gave a loud grunt as she propelled herself off the ground, kicking Nick away from her with both feet. Nick actually hit the wall behind him before dropping to the ground. Bianca scrambled to her feet, grabbed the bag of money she had dropped, and made to run back down the alley. "Bianca, wait!" Nick got back to his feet and ran after her. He grabbed her arm to keep her from escaping. "Let go!" Bianca attempted to wrench her arm away, but Nick's grip was too strong. "Just hold on a sec." Said Nick. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Bianca said stubbornly. "Cut the crap, Bianca! You're in big trouble here!" Bianca gave a harsh laugh, successfully pulling her arm away. "And since when do YOU care, Nick?" She sneered at Nick's badge and uniform. "Look at you. I never pegged you as the law-abiding type."
"We're not talking about me, we're talking about you! Who is it that you're working for?"
"Wouldn't YOU like to know." Said Bianca. "But I will say this." She brandished a finger at Nick. "You keep out of our way, Nick Wilde! Or you WILL get hurt!" Shoving Nick aside, Bianca proceeded out of the alley and vanished from sight.
