"Wilde, you can't be serious."

"Dead serious, Chief. I have an address and a time limit. I'm going."

"It's a trap, Wilde. Don't do this a second time."

"Bogo, I was beaten to hide them giving this to me. There's something more here. Give me a shot." Nick was finding it hard to argue with the Chief; his body was aching, and he was starting to doubt himself.

"Wilde, Hopps called and found out about the death notices. Don't make me have to explain this to her."

"Chief, it'll be fine. I survived, right? So it's a good chance I'll make it through that, too."

"Listen to the Chief," Fangmeyer warned. "You look like you need a hospital."

Nick waved his paw at the wolf. "Look, I get what you're worried about. But this is a shot for information we need. Just give me the benefit of the doubt."

"I gave you one piece of advice before you left. What was it?"

Nick scrambled his mind. He was having issues thinking straight after all the hits he'd taken. "Bodybag, right? Avoid it?"

"Exactly. Don't make me regret this."

The phone clicked. Nick tossed it back to Fangmeyer and turned to Graze. "Head towards the Rainforest District, oh driver."

Graze groaned. "You can't be serious. One, it's the Shipping lanes. The northern Rainforest District has some dangerous shipping locations."

Husk piped up from the back, "You have no idea."

Graze pointed to him. "Second, look at you! We need to head to a hospital, and fast. I bet you're bleeding internally after that. We should be reporting this."

Nick shook his head. "There's a time limit. There's no time for a hospital. Besides, no pain no gain." He grinned at the buck next to him.

Fangmeyer moaned in the back. "Damnit, Wilde. Why does this always happen around you? Why can't you just have a quiet work life like the rest of us?"

"Too boring, Fangmeyer. I'd fall asleep more than I do now."

Graze pushed a hoof into his face before tapping on the GPS. "What do you think is about to happen? The same as before? Or worse?"

Nick shrugged. "It'll be whatever it'll be." Somehow he wasn't bothered. He'd been beaten severely, but they'd avoiding maiming him or breaking bones. With them being Mr. Fresh's crew, that wasn't luck.

"We were told to prevent you from coming back in pieces," the boar said. "I don't want to face your girlfriend if we can't do that."

Nick waved his paw. "We're not like that. Don't get back on that subject."

Fangmeyer stared at Nick, so he stared back. This was something he had to do. Fangmeyer sighed. "Wilde, I'm not looking for a hard time. I'm trying to look out for you. We all are."

"I know." Nick faced back towards the road. "But right now I have to get down and dirty. That's where Clefts is, and that's how we'll find them."

Nick felt his phone buzz as they neared the location. He pulled it out to see what it was.

{Fuzzball isn't happy with you. Calm her down or I'll be burying another partner.}

Nick gulped. For Talens to get involved like this, he knew Judy had to be mad. That meant she not only knew about the death threats, but likely the additional warning he'd just received. He nodded to Graze. "Time to pull over."

Graze nodded. "We need to double check your wire, make sure it's still working."

A few awkward minutes later, Nick was back in the vehicle. "Hey Fangmeyer, how's your wire?"

The wolf raised his paw, holding it. "Removed it after we left there. Itched like crazy. Besides, I took my turn."

Husk immediately balked. "Hey, Fresh was your crime lord. Don't pawn this off."

Graze shook his head. "I'm still the one driving. Count me out."

Nick put his paw in his head before looking at them. After another conversation about who had to do what and a strap on period, Husk glared at the wolf angrily. He'd gotten the short stick.

"Sucks to be you, Husk," Graze chuckled.

"Laugh it up, buckie boy. You're next." Graze got quiet. Nick fought the urge to laugh. A few minutes later found the group outside of a large warehouse on some docks. Despite the Canal District having the most water, the Rainforest District still came in second. They pulled up to the warehouse, noticing two polar bears standing outside the entrance. One motioned for the car to enter.

"Wilde, this seems like a trap." Nick nodded.

"No other option right now. Husk, inform the Chief of our arrival."

"He can hear us anyway with the wires," came the grumbled reply. The boar was still angry.

"Say it for a timestamp, Husk. If nothing else. We have an hour before help arrives if things go south, so start the timer." The Precinct 2 officer sighed and spoke into his wire for verification.

All four got out of the car. One of them was standing there with his paws out. "Leave your weapons in the vehicle."

"The hell I will, buddy," came Fangmeyer's voice. "I saw what happened to Wilde back there, you think I'll go in unarmed?"

"You don't have a death warrant. His going in armed guarantees it. It's a message from Fresh."

Nick turned around and tossed his tranquilizer gun in the car. The others looked shocked as he nodded. "Right now, it's on his terms. I need information. So do it."

Graze and Husk angrily removed their weapons. Fangmeyer didn't budge. "Not happening, Wilde."

Nick turned to the white mammal in a suit. "He'll guard the vehicle. That'll let him keep his weapon, and lower the amount you have to watch inside. Work for you and your boss?"

The polar bear nodded and turned to lead them towards a side room. Nick turned to Fangmeyer. "Don't pull that weapon unless you have to. These guys don't care about life risks; I'm sure that the one by the door has an illegal firearm."

The wolf turned to eye him. "Why don't we take him, then?"

"The easiest move is often a stupid one. Don't sacrifice a queen for a pawn."

Fangmeyer nodded. He'd played Nick a few times in the hospital; Nick hadn't realized how good the one-legged animal was at chess until then. He led the other two into the room on the side.

"Mr. Fresh will be with you shortly. Sit down." The polar bear pointed at a couch. Nick sat, motioning for the other two to do so. They then waited in silence for Fresh to arrive. Nick could feel his heartbeat starting to occur faster and faster. He was scared of what would come next.

He didn't expect the Ladoga seal to kiss his cheek and give him a hug. "Red, long time," came the thick Russian accent.

Nick stifled a bark. He wasn't expecting this at all. In fact, it was the last thing he was expecting. "You too, Mr. Fresh. I saw that Mosely and Black are out."

Mr. Fresh nodded. His crisp tie and vest looked immaculate against his rough skin. "They served their time well." He turned to look at Graze and Husk. "Changed professions again, I see."

"What's going on here?" Husk asked. His voice was deep and distrusting. "One minute your people are beating Wilde here to death, the next you welcome him like a son."

"He violated the warning. He could not return to Canal District without retribution." The seal moved away and sat on a large chair. The polar bear from before stood behind him to the right, with a mid-sized but scarred timber wolf to his left.

"But it's fine for him to be here? You have a death threat out on him!" Graze was bent over. Despite being a buck, he was poised for attacking. His horns were lowered in case he needed to use them.

"Red, why haven't you told them about our little 'fiasco'? They might put it together."

Nick looked on in awe. "I haven't put it together myself, Mr. Fresh."

The seal waved his flipper. "Sit. All of you." Nick listened immediately; he knew what it meant to disregard this mammal's orders. The other two took a moment.

"For you two to understand, I'll explain our history. Red here was cleaner for me. Worked his way up from small time to big time. Did excellent work. But then he made mistake- forgot to check the scene. Didn't realize dead enemy had friends.

"Red was jumped. Forced to act quickly. In the end, Red had two bodies to clean. Hence why I call him Red." His thick Russian accent was making the story intriguing and deep, even to Nick. "Still, made mistake. Left signs behind.

"He came back. I didn't think he could do it, but he proved me wrong. He was…darker than usual. Reeked of enemies. His eyes… they were different. Dangerous. Bothered.

"Enemies came. Someone had to take blame. I needed mammals on the inside. I asked Black, Mosely to take the fall. They served me well. I let Nick go; he wasn't the same. He did me a service; I was trying to decide how to get mammals in. He gave me perfect opportunity. I put out threat to serve as warning for others, but as long as he stays out of Canal District, I have no fight with Red."

Graze and Husk didn't buy it. Nick himself was trying to understand it. His screw-ups had cost those two 9 years of their lives. There was no way this was as Fresh told it in his broken English. It couldn't be.

"So I… I actually helped you?"

"Yes, Red. You did big favor for me. As thanks, I help you now. Why do you seek me?" His flippers touched in front of him. Nick felt shocked, but he knew he could play this advantage before it went away.

"You're aware of the attacks on the ZPD."

"Obviously, Red. I keep up with any relevant news. I'm big business seal, you know. Must keep up with such affairs." He gave Nick a curious look.

"It was orchestrated by Clefts. An up-and-comer who's looking into organized crime in some way."

The seal stared at him. "Don't get involved, Red. Not good thing to do."

Husk spoke up. "Why not?"

The seal turned his eyes on the boar. "Clefts been around for years. Small time, never got big. Recently moved up. Gained something. Not sure what, but it can't be good."

Nick decided to play one his cards. "They seem to have technology allowed remote control of vehicles."

The seal laughed. "That is stuff of legends. Useful, yes. But hasn't been developed. I'd have it if it did."

Graze looked uneasy. "Why else would they attack the ZPD?"

The seal waved his flipper at the three. "I believe animals were inside bombs, yes? Removed traces. I believe you had one in custody, yes?"

Graze nodded. "Had one, but they tied up that loose-end."

"Point taken. If you want to get big, must toss some to sharks. When one fails you, remove him. Replace him. Don't look back. This is how the underground works."

Husk shook his large head. "But why attack all three if only one got caught?"

The flipper pointed at Nick. "Red, what did I teach you years ago?"

"If my face got out, or my identity, to disappear. Lose my identity and hide. Just knowing my identity signed my death warrant." Nick said it as if he'd been told that yesterday. It'd always stuck with him as a con; it's why he'd never let himself get arrested, and why he'd never thrown others to the police.

"You knew their names. You were searching. You killed them." The seal leaned back in his chair. "That's why. Three names, three main locations. Make a point, cut loose ends. Clean option for Clefts."

"You seem to know a lot about them," Graze accused. "Why won't you tell us anything else?"

"I know about my potential allies. More so about my enemies. I'm not sure which side they are yet." He nodded to them. "I know which you are. I can handle you as enemies. Clefts seems more suited to being an… unsavory enemy."

Nick could tell what was going on. "Husk, Graze, go back to the car."

"Wilde, what the hell are you thinking?" Graze was looking at him wide eyed. Husk wasn't happy about it either.

"Just go. I'll explain in a minute." Neither of them moved. "Trust me, alright? I haven't led you into a trap yet, and I'm not dead here. Just go."

The left the room. Husk looked back, worried about the situation. Nick waited until they were gone and shut the door, turning back to the mobster. He unbuttoned his shirt and pulled out the box on the wire, turning it off.

"Glad to see you remembered, Red."

"You can only say so much on tape, Mr. Fresh. You drilled that into my head." He sat back down. "I have two questions and I'll leave you alone. Is that fair?"

The seal nodded. "After how well the situation ended, I owe you much more."

Nick ignored that comment. A mobster in debt to him could be useful at some point, but right now he needed information. "I think you're wrong about the technology. I have evidence suggesting it exists. But if it's not the technology, what could be the best stepping stone to get them to step up out of the shadows?"

Mr. Fresh looked at Nick. "Tell me, Red. If I wanted to get away with murder, how would I?"

"Leave no trace. Hack the comms to get information in advance. Have an alibi."

"And which of those, Red, is the easiest to do?"

Nick thought about it. "An alibi. It can be bought for the right price. Cameras can be edited."

The seal shook his head. "That requires time and effort. Which could be easiest to do with one little thing?"

Nick rubbed his head. "I don't know. My head is still foggy from the beating your goons gave me."

Fresh laughed at him. "You used to take much more, Red. Believe me, they wanted to kill you. Makarov the most. But if I knew one detail, pushed on one little fact, what happens?"

Nick's eyes widened. "You can blackmail anyone into anything."

"Exactly. Clefts likely has a pig or two under their control." With that revelation, the seal leaned back in his chair.

Nick quickly processed the idea. It made sense. It'd be easier to control a cop than someone in one of the families. If they had eyes on the inside, they could be a step ahead of everything and thus know how to avoid every trap of the case. It was a solid plan if they could get the right officer.

"How did I miss that?" he asked himself out loud. A snicker brought his attention back to the seal.

"It feels like old times, Red. I teach you something you miss, you feel stupid. It's nostalgic."

Nick laughed. "Yeah, it kind of is, Mr. Fresh. But something else has been bothering me since I got here." He locked eyes with his former employer. "Why did you let me go after the Reese job?"

The seal waved his flipper, and his two bodyguards disappeared behind him. "You were unstable. Changed. Having to kill another isn't easy. You did it, but… you weren't the same. But what was worse- I could see it. The enjoyment. You liked the thrill, but hated that too. That confliction made you useless to me." Nick found the Russian mobster to be aware of more than he'd thought he was.

"Well… I guess I ought to thank you. Had you not, I may still be working for you instead of the ZPD."

Mr. Fresh laughed at that. "Quite an interesting choice, Red. Never thought you'd be one."

Nick shrugged. "Something came up."

"A small rabbit, no?"

Nick just smiled. Of course Mr. Fresh knew about that. "You always were fast on collecting information. Faster than any of the others."

Mr. Fresh nodded his head. "As one of the few who's worked for every family, I'll take that as compliment from you."

Nick stood up. "If I need more information, may I ask more of you?"

The seal nodded. "You've done me a great service, Red. Just call that number. Don't return to the mansion; I can't protect you."

Nick bowed to Olivius Fresh. "As always, a pleasure."

"You too, Red. One piece of advice- watch out for that rabbit."

Nick smiled. "I'll do my best." He left the room and walked to the car. The other officers were all watching him with suspicious eyes. He walked right up to all of them and licked his lips.

"We need to go back to Precinct 1 and talk to Bogo. We have a new lead."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: It's officially 2:46 AM, and I'm done editing this. I'm exhausted, but you're welcome.

I thought this was a nice twist for the original plotline. The negative past actually had something positive in it (Depending on viewpoint). I think we're moving along quite nicely.

Sorry that the chapter was shorter; if you look at the Split-chapters, they're usually shorter than the rest. Just part of splitting it up. Shorter makes it easier to keep everything balanced.

Hope you enjoyed meeting Mr. Fresh and some of his gang! If you can imagine Mr. Fresh and his thick Russian accent, I think you'll find that the grammar is less "incorrect" and more "intriguing." The broken English mixed with his speech makes for a great visual. Look out for the next chapter; the diverging lines will reconnect. Look forward to it!