Chapter 8

Sunlight shown through the open blinds. They had yet again fallen asleep on the couch watching TV. Nick had been out almost instantly. The stressful week combined with a trip to the farm and exhausted what little energy he had. It had been a while since Judy could just lay on his chest and listen to him breath. Judy has had the later patrol shift for the past couple of weeks. She had taken it to try to preoccupy herself while Nick had late nights at the shop. This meant that she could sit and watch Nick sleep as the sun rose in piece. He was supposed to be to work at 8, but why would a guy stealing millions of dollars in cars care if an employee was a little late. Nick didn't even stir until 9:30. Waking rubbing his eyes. Yawning a large yawn his noise crinkling the way that it does "What time is it?"

"Close to 9:30?" Judy responded not lifting her head from his chest. Nick went into panic mod she had only really seen him in panic once before when if found out the car they had broken into was Mr. Biggs.

"I have to get to work right now." He was trying to jump to his feet, but Judy held him lightly down.

"Calm down" she giggled "I called Ross told him you would be late."

Nick froze looking at her. "You did what?!" Ross had known he had a girl, but he didn't want there to be any connection between Ross and her. Although Ross treated him fairly and he hasn't had any problems but he didn't think Ross would take well to him dating one of the most famous cops in the city or to him being a cop himself for that matter. Nick was about to have a panic attack laying on the couch trying to catch his breath.

"Calm down it's not like I said this is officer Judy Hopps, Officer Nicholas Wilde's girlfriend he is going to be late today due to important cop stuff."

"Well what did you say?"

"Just that this is Nick's girlfriend and he is going to be late today."

"What did he say?"

"He laughed and then said alright."

Nick relaxed some leaning back into the couch. "Ya have got to be more careful Carrots, this guy is not someone to mess with."

"I know, I did a background check on him when you first started there." She said shrugging she was again laying on his chest.

He looked at her a little perplexed. "Do you think I would let my favorite fox in the whole world go play with dangerous criminals before checking up on his little playmates?" She said it in a cutesy voice mocking the one Nick often did to her.

Nick smirked giving her side a tickle making her jump and squeal. "Anything I should be worried about?"

"Not really. Ross is pretty clean, a couple one nighters for street racing, a couple for fighting nothing all that violent, but other than that I couldn't find anything. Kinda odd considering his reputation" He laid back thinking. Ross had seemed pretty serious with his threat, but maybe he was just sizing Nick up. Either way he wanted to stay on Ross's good side until this was over. Nick got up and got ready eating a quick breakfast before giving Judy a tender kiss and whispering "I love you stay safe out there Carrots."

She blushed returning his statement with another kiss and whispered back "Love you too."

Nick pulled up to the shop to see Ross out front talking to a Zebra. That zebra looked familiar. Nick couldn't place the face. He had seen him somewhere.

"Hey Nick, this is Tony." As soon as he heard the name it came back. Tony ran the coffee shop that he and Judy had went to a lot of mornings before work. Tony was usually doing things I the back but he had served them a couple times. Nick put his head down and hands in his pockets trying to b line it to the shop. "Hey man where ya headed, parties out here."

"Was late probably should catch up." He walked past the two praying tony didn't recognize him. He made it to his work station. He could here Ross and Tony still laughing and talking out front. The coffee shop must be one of the businesses that Ross uses to launder money. The shop was in a prime location near the station downtown. Tony was also good with his customers remembering names, faces and asking how family members were. Nick had hoped he had walked fasten enough and being in his street clothes that Tony wouldn't recognize him. He could hear the conversation had grown fainter. Nick tried to be as quiet as humanly possibly straining to hear but he could only catch sounds threw the building. He heard a car door slam and a car engine start and then grow fainter before silence. Nick continued to work with his head down, he never saw the 15/16ths end wrench Ross was holding.

Nick woke up to excruciating pain in the back of his head he could feel fresh blood on his neck and back. It was dark he was sitting up on what felt like the office couch. Both is feet and paws were tied with duct tape.

"I knew I trusted you too quickly." Came Ross's voice from the dark "I should have waited to find a partner."

Nick having trouble focusing he was in a lot of pain and he was light headed. He tried to say something but only inaudible sounds came out. "Shame, your pretty good with a wrench I could have used you, made you rich. People who cross me are never heard from again."

"Ross" Nick choked straining to make the words make sense "don't make it murder, I can get you a deal."

"I don't want a deal. The last cop offered me one too." The words cut through the night. Nick couldn't think how to respond so he remained silent fighting to stay conscious.

"Bogo wasn't my only cop friend, I had a buddy from some small town, I can't remember where. He got wind of what I was doing and came to talk to me, try to get me to take a deal." He paused "I didn't get involved in this because the buyer liked me, I got involved because I get rid of anyone that will blow my cover, friend or not." The words chilled Nick to his bone. He had been fighting consciousness for a few minutes now and was starting to lose the fight. "Remember what I said I take care of those that take care of me. If my friends ever found out what I was doing I would let them run, but not you. Nope cops have loud mouths, we are going to have to pay your little bunny friend a visit too." Ross laughed a sickening laugh as Nick began to pass back out. "Remember Fox I don't get caught." Everything went black.

Nick woke again. He was in what appeared to be the trunk of Ross's car he could hear exhaust and road noise. She was still tied up and in tremendous amounts of pain. Nick felt a buzz against his leg. His personal phone was still in his pants pocket. Ross had taken his work phone from off the tool box and hadn't t thought to checked for another. Nick almost cried with relief. He was able to clumsily pull out of his pocket. Ross had tied his wrists but his hands were somewhat free and he could fumble with the phone enough to unlock it and hit call MyGirl. The phone rang and rang. "PLEASE PICK UP" Nick cried through blood and tears. Having been lying face down in the trunk blood had run down into his mouth and nose. Finally a tired and faint voice answered the phone.

"Oh Carrots, thank goodness. My cover is blown I am in the trunk of Ross's car. I am badly injured and bleeding. Ross is headed your way." Nick tried to make the words flow but it wasn't easy. Judy was sobbing almost immediately "Ok keep your phone on. I will call for back up and if he tries to run we will trace your phone."

"Carrots" Nick needed to get these last three words out, in case it was his last chance. He couldn't imagine never being able to say them again his heart ached and he used every bit of strength he had to push air though his throat trying to from the words. "I love …" Nick trailed off again passing into blackness.