The entire run home had become a blur for Billy as he sprinted from the entrance of Toonstone to the town center where his small home was located. The normally cool and calm chimp was flustered beyond belief. Anxieties about his daughter's imminent demise were the only thoughts that could fill his head. That Glad Hander from so long ago, had they returned? After all, it was quite uncommon for cogs to actually kill Toons. Usually they would deplete a Toon's laff and send them packing, but not him... Now he had his precious daughter at home alone with a Glad Hander. While he didn't want to believe that Glen was capable of harming anybody, especially Muffin, he couldn't rule out the possibility. After all, Fluffy and her team had caused quite the havoc in Sellbot HQ, destroying hundreds of cogs and potentially causing that cog from the thing they seeked out most; A promotion. What if Glen had some kind of program installed in him that was set to be activated, or in some way was unaware of the potential danger that he could instill? Could it be a coincidence that a Glad Hander invasion had struck for the first time in Toonstone history, followed by a cog saving his daughter and coming into his home? The sheriff wasn't sure, but he couldn't take any chances. Not after what he had witnessed. Billy wouldn't be the reason his daughter's life would end, and it certainly wasn't ending any time soon. Turning a corner, he could see the front of his house. As the Summer evening began to fade to twilight, he strained his eyes in a vein attempt to get a better view inside of the house. When he was unable to see either of the other residents, his panic level began to heighten. As he ran, a familiar gray rabbit began to walk over to him. "Hey Billy. Ashley really wanted to say thank you-" Completely ignoring the other Toon as he quickly approached his one story estate. Climbing up the outside steps, he gulped as he barreled through the front door, nearly tumbling over as his momentum carried him forward.
"Dad? Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Muffin leapt up from her spot on the couch where her and Glen had been sitting and playing video games. Jogging over, she patted her wheezing father on the back and bent over to look into his eyes. "You look like you just ran a marathon. Here, let me get you some water." Sprinting into the kitchen, Muffin began to fill a cup with water. As she turned towards the living room, her eyes were glued to the orange monkey who walked in front of Glen and stared at him, unflinching in his conflict.
"Muffin. Muffin. Muffin, are you okay? Did anybody try and hurt you? Did anybody funny come by?" Billy managed to speak between deep breaths, still trying to recuperate from his long run. The second time in two weeks he had been in such a situation, and one he certainly hoped to never have to deal with again. "Any strange Toons... or cogs maybe?" He left his eyes fixated on the confused Glad Hander.
Unable to move, Glen moved his over to look at Muffin who was just as confused as him. "Dad, what is going on? It has just been us here all day. We haven't seen anybody else or heard from anybody else until you got home! We've just been playing video games all day!" The blue cat was beginning to feel panic setting in. Was somebody coming to hurt them? Was Glen going to be okay?
Shaking himself, Billy took several deep breaths, calming himself down. Maybe he was overreacting. How could someone not in his situation with how everything had unfolded though? "I'm sorry you two. It has just been a very bad day." Grabbing the glass of water from Muffin, the orange simian glugged down the refreshing liquid and let his mind clear. "Do you know Rubber Duck? He's the owner of the General Store?"
"Yeah, Mr. Duck! He's always really nice. He used to let me have free candy all the time!" Muffin's enthusiasm quickly drooped realizing something had likely happened if he was bring brought up. "Oh my, is he okay? I hope he wasn't hurt!"
"Yes, I hope that he is okay. Does this have anything to do with your previous concerns, Mr. Billy?" Glen rubbed his arm anxiously, hoping not to offend or frustrate the already discouraged Toon.
Grabbing a wooden chair from in the kitchen, he motioned for Muffin to take a seat on the couch. Dragging his seat out in front of the pair, he lowered his head and spoke in a solemn tone. "I received a call this afternoon from Rook and Mr. Duck. Mr. Duck's son, Geoduck had gone missing last night in Donald's Dreamland."
Standing up, Muffin clenched her fists enlivened by her father's words. "We have to go help find him dad! Is that why you were so worried? Do you think somebody kidnapped him? We can get the town together and we can send a search party, and..."
"No, Muffin. No, there will be no need... Geoduck was found this afternoon. He... He was found dead." The image of the young duck, lying face forward in the blood-stained stones of Toontown would be one that had forever burned into his mind. Billy had dealt with many crimes, and had come across dead Toons, but never a child. It was something he had hoped to avoid in his career. Toons rarely died at a young age from natural causes, and due to the low rates of violent crime, most Toons lived to be quite old; Usually well over one-hundred years old. The fact that he had know Geoduck and his father quite well had stung even more. "While nobody was able to witness the crime, there was a report that a Glad Hander was seen fleeing nearby in the playground around the estimated time of death..."
"But cogs are instructed to never go into playgrounds." Glen stated adamantly, confused at why one would have entered somewhere that was forbidden to cogs. "Plus, killing Toons is strictly against the rules of engagement that cogs are caught. Who would do such a thing?"
Standing up, the blue cat stood in front of Glen and crossed her arms. "Dad, did you think that Glen was somehow involved? That's completely ridiculous. Not only can he not walk, but he has been here with us all week!" Sitting back down, she reached over and grabbed Glen's hand, gently caressing his fingers with her thumb. "Dad, you know Glen wouldn't do anything to anybody."
Nodding, Billy grimaced through a pained half-smile. "You're right sweetheart. I know Glen wouldn't do anything, especially not to you. I guess this whole week has just overloaded me. After all, I can't imagine the pain of losing somebody's only child. Mr. Duck must be in quite a situation right now. When I heard Glad Hander, it just reminded me of your mother... That cog. Plus the invasion this week when you were attacked? Muffin, I don't know what would happen if I lost you." Scooching over, he wrapped the blue cat in his arms and stroked her fur. "I'm just glad you're okay sweetheart. I'm just glad you're okay."
"Of course I'm okay, dad. Those cogs the other day just caught me off guard. Besides, I don't think anybody is going to come by here. Everybody knows that you're the sheriff. You'd tear anyone in half. Plus I have Glen here with me now!" Patting the Glad Hander's leg, she smiled. "I'm as safe as I'll ever be." Stomach full of butterflies, Muffin rubbed her father's back. "I'm really sorry to hear about Geoduck, dad. Poor Mr. Duck. Didn't he lose his wife last year, too? Just an awful situation."
"I'm sorry to interrupt you two." Glen spoke up, in a frustrated tone that neither Toon had ever heard from the generally quiet and happy-go-lucky cog. "You mentioned a Glad Hander. There's only one of them I can think of that would dare to do something such as entering a playground, or even committing murder." Glen closed his eyes and in the blackness of his mind popped up the fiercest, and cruelest cog that he had ever encountered. One who had verbally, and sometimes physically berated and assaulted his own subordinates. One who had openly bragged about crimes he had committed in meetings according to other cogs he had overheard speaking. One who was so emboldened by his power that he would do anything to keep it. "Gary. Do you know if it was Gary?"
Billy rubbed the back of his head, trying to pinpoint a name to the face. "I'm really sorry. I don't know if I know any other cog by name. I do remember the Glad Hander who... The one who was responsible for Muffin's mother's death. I will never forget him as long as I live. I would recognize him immediately. I've never seen another cog who had scars. Well, I think they were scars? Well he had a lot of whatever they were. He was pure evil. While I don't know if I'd ever say there was such a thing as a "good" cog before I met you, Glen. Certainly none compared to him. That was many years ago though. I don't know, it seems unlikely."
Muffin stood up and placed her hand on her hips. "Hmm. I think Glen was telling me earlier how his supervisor instructed for the invasion. Plus you have said cogs have never attempted an invasion here. I mean, I don't want to assume but it seems like it would take somebody really full of themselves. I think it might be the same cog, dad. Maybe we can call the Toontown Rangers and let them know? They might be able to do something."
"I don't think so, sweetie. The Rangers were hunting him down for a long time, but were never able to get to him. It is a lot harder finding a specific cog than it is a Toon. Not very many defining characteristics that set them apart. For all we know he was destroyed a long time ago, or could have been destroyed recently. Who knows. Anyways, I think it will be best if we just try and put this all behind us." Clapping his hands, Billy rubbed his stomach and grinned. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Is anybody up for dinner? I can order pizza. Er, Glen... You can eat pizza right?"
"Hmm. I've never tried eating Toon food. I do have the oil that Muffin bought me though!" Glen lit up with an optimism that melted his girlfriend's heart. How quickly he could change from the frustration to a good mood was just what they needed.
"Hold on. Before we get into that, I still had a question about that doctor for Glen? Were you able to get in touch with them?" Muffin tilted her head and looked impatiently at the chimp who reached into his pocket and rustled around.
Eventually finding the sticky note, Billy winked. "You think your old dad would forget about that?" Pausing, he pursed his lips. "Okay, well I did but I had a good reason. I will call her right away and see if I can get something scheduled as soon as possible. I can't guarantee anything, and I was told she is still quite inexperienced. So, keep your hopes down for now. I don't want to end up disappointing anybody. Now, who is hungry?"
Rook finally returned to the saloon, nearly seven hours after he had left on his search for the missing Geoduck. Dejectedly, the white horse trudged inside, closing the doors behind him. The stallion had stayed with his friend for several hours, consoling him through the process of identifying and reporting his son's death, and setting up transportation back to Toonstone, as well as the funeral arrangements. Rook had gone through a similar process with his older brother, and knew the importance of having somebody in their corner in times of tragedy. The longer the day went on, the more thoughts crossed his mind regarding his hatred for cogs. Many times he had remembered what Billy had told him, about the cog that was being harbored in his house. After the events of today, how could he justify that? Sitting down, he grabbed a glass from around the bar and poured himself a drink. "Those damn cogs. Is there not a line they won't cross? Going after innocent children now?" His eyes filled with blood-rage as the image of Geoduck lying on the ground was burned into his brain. "They will pay. No more Mr. Nice Guy, Rook. Here comes Sharp-Shooter Rook, scourge of cogs everywhere!" In one swift drink, the horse downed the entire beverage and lightly tapped his holster to ensure both of his squirt guns were filled to maximum capacity. "No cogs in my town. Not if I can help it." Standing up, the steed charged out of the bar, leaving it unoccupied as he went to seek justice.
Billy stood up as he looked out the window and saw the pizza-delivery Toon approaching. Quickly skipping in front of the TV to avoid disrupting the gaming going on, he called to the pair on the couch. "Looks like dinner is here guys. Hope you're hungry!" Walking over to the door, he pulled it open in time to see not just the delivery Toon, but also Rook who was going full speed down the dusty street towards his house. Both Toons approached the door at nearly the same time, conflicting the orange monkey.
"Good evening sir. Here is your pizza. That will be twenty-five jellybeans please." The teenage bear held out the pizza, waiting impatiently as Billy focused his attention on his friend.
"Rook, what are you doing here? Are you alright? Your eyes are blood-red. have you been drinking?" Concerned, the orange monkey reached and grabbed his friend's shoulder.
Pushing his friend's arm away, Rook narrowed his eyes. "I'm not doing too well, Billy. A cog just killed my friend's son and nobody looks to be doing a damn thing about it. Well, I'm here to do something! Get out of the way! Cogs don't belong in this town. I'm going to make things right!"
The delivery Toon rolled his eyes and sighed. "That will be twenty-five jellybeans, please."
"What are you talking about, Rook? I told you, Glen is a good cog. He's done nothing wrong. We don't persecute in my town unless somebody has done something wrong. Toon OR cog. I know that you're hurting - trust me I am too! But that is no reason to barge over here in the name of some vigilante justice. Listen, we can talk about things tomorrow. I'm trying to have dinner with my daughter."
"Oh, that's easy for you to say. You still have a child you can eat with. What about poor Rubber? You think he'll ever have a chance to eat with his son again? You're a good Toon, Billy. But you're making a huge mistake here. I can't sit by and let a cog infiltrate this town. Things have been real bad lately and I don't think it is a coincidence! Now, if you don't get out of the way, I will make you get out of the way and I don't want to do that!" Tearing up with anger, the white horse could feel his inflated heart rate beating his chest. He needed an outlet for his anger, and Glen was going to be the perfect target. "Just, get out of the way. I promise it will be quick!"
Standing his ground, as painful as it was, Billy blocked the door off from the much larger horse. "No, Rook. I can't let you do that. First and foremost I am the sheriff. I am the law enforcement here. Glen will be on his way soon enough. We're having someone come in to fix him up and then he will be gone. Taking out your anger on him isn't going to solve any issues. It's not going to bring back Geoduck, just like it wont bring back Fluffy. We can't let our emotions control us. You're my best friend, so I am asking you to please, please, just let this go."
Stomping his feet, Rook scowled and started stepping back. "Billy, you're making a huge mistake. I'm not going to let this go. You better believe that I am going to get the town involved. I can't let this go. You're acting like a traitor!" Spitting on the monkey's deck, he squinted and growled. "Never thought it would end up like this. That cog better watch his back because this isn't the last he's heard of me." Turning and storming off, Rook soon disappeared into the blinding light from the setting sun.
"That will be twenty-five jellybeans, please." The delivery Toon had stood there, unaffected by the conversation, still holding out the container full of food.
"Goodness, here take the damn jellybeans!" Reaching into his pocket, Billy slammed down a large pile of jellybeans well exceeding the required amount. Grabbing the pizza he stepped inside and slammed the door close and walked inside, ignoring the gazes from the pair who had also watched the entire scene unfold. "Dinner is here." Tossing the pizza on the table, Billy walked out of the room, down the hallway and out of view.
Glen grabbed Muffin's hand, afraid to speak. The blue cat gazed into his eyes and bit her lip. Neither able to speak, both very aware of the potential consequences that may be oncoming. While neither had done anything to spark the outrage being directed at the Glad Hander, they knew that they would bear the brunt of it anyways. "Muffin. I'm very sorry. Should I go apologize to him? This is all my fault."
"No, Glen. Please don't apologize. You've done nothing wrong. We're going to get through this and you're staying here. I think everybody is just a little heated right now. Hopefully by tomorrow everything will have calmed down." Stomach gurgling, Muffin stood up and into the kitchen. "Well, not eating isn't going to help anyone. I'm going to bring dad a plate and check on him. I'll be right back, okay?"
"Okay, Muffin." The Glad Hander released his grip on the feline and clenched his own hands together. Staring out the window, all the cog could think of was the danger that was looming. Was the horse just releasing his anger, or was there an actual threat? One thing he knew was that he wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight.