Chapter Twenty-one:
Hidden Talent…
For the first time since it had started, the Carrot Days Talent competition wasn't one sided. Thanks to Nick's quick thinking, each participant had a fair shot at winning the grand prize. Out of twenty-four contestants, Jacob Moriarty's daughter came in ninth while Luke had come in second to a last minute entry. But the biggest shocker came when fellow ZPD Officers McHorn and Delgato had shown up and arrested Moriarty and his wife on murder for hire charges after the show.
"You know there is going to be a ton of paper work waiting for us when we get back, right Carrots?" Nick asked as he watched his fellow officers leave with the Moriarty's.
"Delgato said he would handle the arresting officer aspect," Judy said leaning against him, "All we have to do is fill out a witness statement. But I think we have a bigger problem." The two looked over to see Grace sitting in one of the chairs alone. "I think we better tell her what's going on," she said looking at her mate.
"I got her," he said before walking over. He sat down next to the young kit and asked, "Are you ok?"
She slowly shook her head before asking, "Did he kill my mom?"
"He's the one that put a hit out on you and your mom," he said looking at her, "That one responsible jump off a building before he could be taken into custody."
"Why did he kill her?" she asked as tears filled her eyes.
He let out a low sigh before saying, "Supposedly, he found the legendary treasure of Maid Marion and Robin Hood. Afraid that any of their descendants would try and calm the treasure, he offered half of it to anyone that took them out first. Unfortunately, you and your mom were their last living descendants."
"And now it's just me," she said looking at the floor.
"No," he said lifting her onto his lap and holding her close, "It's you, me, and Carrots; because you are as much our family as we are yours."
"Thanks dad," she said smiling a little.
"You're welcome, Grace," he said returning the smile, "Now, outside of the obvious answer, how come no one told me you could sing?"
She looked at him and quietly said, "Because only my mom knew. Are you mad?"
"Only with myself for not asking sooner," he replied gently patting her head, "You sang beautifully."
"Thanks," she said blushing slightly.
"You're welcome, but what are you going to do with a chest that can't be opened?" he asked.
"Maybe one of Judy's brothers can help me open it," she replied smiling.
The fox gave her a puzzled look before saying, "Unless you know how to pick a lock, I don't see how you're going to too. There's no key, remember?"
"Do you know anyone that knows how to pick a lock?" she asked as Luke walked over and sat next to them.
"Good luck finding the keyhole to do that," the young bunny said with a sigh, "Let alone moving that thing. Feels like it weighs a ton from whatever is inside it."
"Maybe we should've asked McHorn to move it for us before he left," Nick said.
"Nah, it's just like moving that portable freezer," Luke said before turning his attention to his niece, "You, on the other hand, have a beautiful singing voice. I don't think there was a dry eye in the place."
"Thanks Luke," she said blushing again.
"Seriously, I looked at the audience while you were singing and I think you had that big ZPD rhino in tears," he said pulling his phone out and showing her a picture, "See?"
"Ok, Judy and I are going to need a copy of that photo," Nick said before he heard someone behind him clear their throat.
"What photo, Nick?" Judy asked from behind them.
"Luke took a picture of McHorn while I was singing and it looks like he was crying," Grace said looking at her. Judy looked at the pic and started to snicker before placing a hand over her mouth.
"As I said, we're going to need a copy of that pic," Nick said with a slight chuckle, "Now any ideas on how to get Grace's prize home?"
"We might be able to get it in the bed of the pickup, depending on what is in there," Luke said before putting his phone away, "The rest can easily ride in the car with her."
"What all did she win?" Judy asked looking at her brother.
"Besides the chest, she won a trophy and a two hundred dollar cash prize," he said with a sigh.
"You can have the money," Grace said looking at him, "I don't need it."
Luke looked at her a little surprised and said, "Uh, t-thank you."
"You're welcome, Luke," she said smiling.
"Anyway, I think we better see about getting that chest moved before the school presentation," Judy said sitting next to her mate.
"I'll go round up some help," her younger brother said before getting up and leaving.
She waited until he had left the building before looking at Grace and said, "Sweet cheese and crackers, Grace, I didn't know you could sing like that. That was beautiful."
"Thanks mom," Grace said before sudden placing her paws over her mouth in shock.
"Before you freak out completely; I want you to know that I'm not going to stop, or make you call me that," Judy said taking the young kits paws in hers, "The only thing I ask is that you call me what you want to call me."
"Are you sure?" Grace asked as her ears lowered.
"Grace, I know I'll never be able to replace your mother," Judy said smiling gently, "But that doesn't mean I don't love you like you were my own. And I hope that maybe someday you think of me like a second mother."
"But I already think of you as my bunny mommy," Grace said before giving Judy a hug. The bunny sat there for a second before slowly returning the hug.
"Oh you bunnies, so emotional," Nick said smiling.
"Shut it, Slick," Judy said playfully swatting his arm. Grace leaned back after a few seconds and looked at him asking, "But I'm not a bunny, am I?"
"You're part bunny and part fox," he said looking at her, "You're the best of both, which makes you a box."
"Really, Nick? A box is the best you can come up with?" Judy asked dryly.
"It was either that or a funny," he said looking at his mate, "And it doesn't feel right to call her that; a boy maybe, but not a girl."
"He does have a point, mom," Grace said with a slight shrug.
"And none of the other word pairings sound right," he said.
"How about you just call her a WildeHopps for now and figure it out later?" someone asked from behind them. The three turned to find a large number of Judy's brothers moving benches out of the way while one of them slowly backed the truck into the barn.
"Ok, time to move," Nick said before standing up with both Grace and Judy in his arms. He walked over to the side and sat back down on a bench to watch his in-laws work. Once the truck had backed up to the edge of the stage, and an additional five minutes of how to load the chest into the bed, most of the bunnies pushed from the prize onto the waiting vehicle. Everyone couldn't help but cringe as the weight of the chest caused the bed of the truck to sag.
"Hopefully the suspension will hold till we can get it home," Luke said walking up to his sister.
"If not, I know a guy that will fix it for you. No charge," Nick said looking at his brother in-law.
"If you mean Finnick, he may charge food or beer," Judy stated.
"Finnick owes your mom at least four hundred because of his language," he said looking at her, "He'll do the repairs for free in order to erase that debt."
"I know someone that could do it for free," Grace said smiling slightly, "He used to do work on mom's car, I think he wouldn't mind working on the truck."
"Let's see how the suspension is after we get that home before we make any calls," Judy said.
"You're going to want to call them now," Nick said picking up a pebble. Before any other question could be asked, he tossed the small rock at the chest. It bounced off the lid before they heard something snap and the back of the chest slammed into the ground.
"Dad is so going to kill us," Luke said quietly.
"No. Just me," Grace whispered looking at the ground.
"Dad is not going to kill anyone," Judy said giving the young kit a hug, "He's been thinking about getting a new truck for the farm anyway."
"And now he has too," Nick said pulling out his phone, "And I know exactly who to see about a truck."
Judy quickly took his phone before he could hit the dial button saying, "Oh no. You are not calling anyone until you tell me who you're calling."
"Remember the car theft ring we broke up last year that involved that car lot?" he said looking at her, "The one with the lemur owner that said if we ever wanted a car he would give us a great deal. I was calling to see if he meant it."
"If he did, then I know the exact truck to get dad," she said handing the phone back.