It is hard to react accordingly to an onslaught of new experiences. Gerard got too caught up trying to figure out what was happening that by the time he could react he was already thrown into a van, tied and gagged with a few bruises to his sternum. They tried to put a hood on him, but his horns make it into a cumbersome procedure so they blindfolded him instead. His assailants were large enough to subdue him, and what details he was able to discern was that they had no problem wearing ski mask fitted to them. Gerard was a tough kid growing up in the bad parts of of town, and he knew his ticket got punched. Even though he's well aware that he can count his final hours at this point, he still had to cry for help even though all you'd hear from him are muffled screams. The assailants preferred a silent car ride however, and with a swift blow to the head Gerard was out cold.
When he came to, it was in a small room, chained to a chair, his hands cuffed. There was no mystery as to what caused this. Gerard knew what he did, and someone told on him. What he is facing now are simply the repercussions of trying to stop a bad thing from happening. It was with irony that Gerard understood that a lot of bad things were about to happen to him. And he was terrified.
Hours passed with no answer to what consequences awaited Gerard. Time enough passed that one of his assailants, which he identified to be a polar bear, came and gave him food. After the tray was removed, Gerard, stood there waiting, with no idea of how much time has passed he began to lose his nerves. He called out, apologizing for what he did and pleading for an end to the waiting. No response was given to him. Gerard soon settled for sleep afterward.
When he woke he still had no semblance of how much time has passed. He did receive a second meal after some more waiting. Gerard concluded that it must have been a day at the least for a second meal to be offered to him. He wasn't quite done with his meal when the door opened and the polar bear took his tray from him. He then labored to clean every scrap off the table before leaving, with the door open. Gerard felt the cool air pass through the bristles of his fur, and for the first time since being imprisoned here he received a semblance of time through the night sky on a window opposite of him. A warehouse most likely, the temperature alone gave it away as Savannah Central. The ocean smell meant he was in the waterfront. He knows the area, his new job was suppose to be somewhere not too far from here, and if set free, Gerard, would certainly be able to find his way back. The idea that an option such as freedom was viable gave, Gerard, a hopeless sense of what were to happen next as he begun to hear the clopping noise of hooves on the concrete floor.
The noise was deliberate and slow, walking in a steady pace that made Gerard's nerves tremble. He then saw the shadow being provided by the fluorescent lights on the ceiling, and he began to recognize the figure as a deer. His mind flashed with memories of that deer that Ned would speak to, and sure enough that was who came through the door accompanied by the polar bear who fed him.
The polar bear closed the door and stood by it while the deer sat down, setting aside his tool bag to the side of his chair. He then began to remove his gloves and hat in such a way that made Gerard's stomach cringe, if this deer was going to kill him he wanted to be spared of the theatrics. It was then that he realized that if was going to die it would have happened already. No doubt the deer wanted to speak with him, he must have been busy handling other affairs for it to take this long, but he is finally here.
"Do you know who I am Gerard?"
"You were the deer who would speak to Ned."
"Was. Unfortunately over time, Ned, began to grow a conscious. It is only understandable. I will be the first to admit that despite how well we were paying him, it is still easy to see that what we were doing wasn't the most moral of things one should be doing. So Ned made a friend who had the very unique job of pursuing people like me and my associates. We can't allow people like Ned or his special friend to get in the way of our business. So when his friend began to show his curiosity in our activities I came in and took care of him, as well as Ned. That is what I do, Gerard. I take care of people."
Gerard knew this was coming to him the moment that van pulled up alongside him. He played a part and he is going to get crucified for it. The time spent here waiting has purged him all of his fears. No sense in giving this deer the satisfaction of a skittish moose, "So you're going to take care of me?"
"Yes. I like to use the words 'take care' because it is a very general term. It doesn't mean I am going to kill you, Gerard. But I will not lie. Today may most certainly end that way."
The deer reaches for the bag of tools and sets them on the table. One by one he reveals what is inside the bag, the first item being a hammer, "We are going to play a game, Gerard. Its called questions and answers." Pliers are laid out on the table, "Its a simple game really. I am going to ask you a question and you are going to give me an answer." A bag of nails are set alongside the hammer, "If you don't tell me anything. I am going to hurt you." A vise grip is added, "If I think you're lying. I am going to hurt you." A screwdriver joins the assortment, "If I think you're not telling me everything I need to know. I am going to hurt you." A chisel now joins the hammer, "If I feel like it. I am going to hurt you." Finally the tool bag goes away, "Do I make myself clear?"
Gerard stares down at the assortment of tools. Who are these cops to him anyway? He stuck his neck out and this is what he gets? A face to face with a sociopathic deer. He should've kept his mouth shut, but instead he decided he wanted to do something good. The answer comes easy, "There's no need for any of this. I'll tell you everything you need to know."
The deer's face lights up, "Great! I love it when people are compliant. I was not looking forward to cleaning the blood off of my hide. It gets really messy. Trust me, this isn't my first rodeo. And I get very obsessive about that kind of stuff." He slides all the tools off of the table letting them land on his tool bag, "So. Lets start with the two officers. The bunny and the fox. We know who the bunny is, but what about the fox?"
"His name was Nick."
"Is there anything else?"
"He offered me his number and told me to call him if I need anything."
"Before that though. What did you tell him?"
"About Ned, you, that package he would deliver, and that it needs to be refrigerated."
A few seconds of silence made the deer raise his eyebrows alongside a question, "Is that it?"
"I didn't say much. I thought others may be listening."
"You were right." The deer leans in, "I need you to do something for me. Gerard."
The only way Gerard is going to get out of this is by playing ball. He has no loyalty to the cops so it is an easy thing to do, "Okay. Just tell me what I need to do."
The deer shows him a piece of paper from inside his coat pocket and lets him read it, "I want you to call Nick and tell him this."
Tuck nods at the polar bear, he gives Gerard his own phone as well as the card that Nick gave him. Gerard reads the paper one more time and dials. After a few rings someone answers the phone.
Nick speaking.
"Nick. This is Gerard. I was able to get a hold of one of those packages Ned was moving. Lets meet up tonight. I want to get rid of this thing as fast as possible."