Author's Note: Since I usually write this before I go to bed and I got stuck with an early shift at my job, I had to take a brief break. I hope that the way I ended the last chapter kept things interesting. Also, since I've now seen more than one Vietnam movie and I've got a pretty good idea of how the story's gonna go, I may start the prequel soon. Until then, enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Six: Bad Blood

Savannah Central

Kshhhhhh!

"Something's wrong with the signal," said Skye, noticing that the car's radio was no longer functioning.

"What did you do to it you broad," asked Nick accusatively.

"Nothing," replied Skye nervously.

"Hahahahahaha!"

A sinister laugh came on over the radio, sending shivers down both cop's spines. For Nick, it was uncomfortably familiar. He remembered the trial of his father's killers from when he was a kit. He knew that laugh could only come from one mammal, David Grassman.

"Congratulations," said David, "You've been hacked. I've been looking forward to seeing daddy's boy all grown up, just hoping that the apple didn't fall too far from the tree," David continued, "and I lucked out. Hah!"

"Listen you son of a bitch," said Nick angrily, "I don't know how the fuck you found me, but I'm gonna find you and make sure that you get what's coming to you this time, so help me God!"

"I took a few computer classes in the lockup," said David, "which I then used to hack the ZPD database just so I could get a good look at you before Joker and I cause some mayhem. Then I took over your radio frequency, easy stuff."
"David Grassman," said Skye as she took the mouthpiece, "I don't know what makes you think you can pull this off, but…"
"But what," interrupted David, "But I won't get away with this? That justice will prevail? That I can't do this forever?" he said condescendingly, "None of you blue bastards have any hope of taking me alive. I'm gonna go out with the biggest fucking bang that this city will ever see and take as many mammals down with me. Not that a pretty little thing like you should take such a risk. Wait till you see Judy after I get to her."

"You motherfucker," screamed Nick.

"Thanks for the suggestion," replied David, "I love pissing you off. By the way," he continued, "your father cried like a little bitch as he bled out."

"If you dare hurt my mother," barked Nick, "I will blow you straight to Hell myself!"

"Not if you get there first with your daddy," teased David, "Hah, sometimes I just crack myself up. Speaking of jokes," he continued, "I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine."

"Buenos Dias Bitch," said another voice, this one sounding even more unhinged, "you remember me?"
"I didn't miss you either, Joker," replied Nick.

"That's too bad," said Joker, "because I did. But enough about being alone with my thoughts and raping other prisoners for two decades, I'd very much like to catch up."

"You want to catch a bullet," asked Nick.

"Oh you're just killing me right now," laughed Joker, "How 'bout tonight at the Ice Box? I've got plenty of other friends there too."

"Sure I would," replied Nick sarcastically.

"We're not doing this are we," asked Skye nervously.

"Hell no," replied Nick.

"Hell yes," said Joker, "Dave wants you busy. We're your number one priority. And bring your lady friend too. She looks good on you."

"I hate him already," commented Skye.

"Oh spicy too," said Joker, "I'm giving the phone back to Dave. Toodles!"

"Ten O'Clock," demanded David, "or one of the adults in your childhood can join your father. Bring the hottie."

After David hung up, there was a brief awkward silence before Nick decided to break it up. "Well I guess the psychos had one legitimate point."

"What's that," asked Skye.

"You are quite the looker," replied Nick.

ZPD Precinct One

"What," asked Hopps concernedly.

"That's right mom," said Nick, "he hacked us. The crazy S.O.B. did it. He also threatened you and joked about killing dad."

"I figured he'd come after me," said Hopps, "killing my husband and me putting him away for it left a bad taste in that kid's mouth. He might also go after Danny or Benji," she continued, "they also played a role in his incarceration."

"He made another threat like that," replied Nick, "but not if I bring Skye to meet him and Joker at the Ice Cube."

"So that's my before picture," said Lieutenant Clawhouser as he showed Skye some photos from his weight loss days.

"Are you holding food in all of these pictures," asked Skye, "sir?"

"Most," he replied, "but eventually, I started having health issues. I decided that dying of heart disease before I turned forty and being called 'fat fuck' by literally everyone wasn't worth a jelly donut."

"Lieutenant Clawhouser," asked Skye, "can I ask you about a personal matter?"

"So I think she's hot," said Nick, "she's got a nice slender body and deep blue eyes which got me hard the first time we met!"

"Didn't you once tell me that a high wind gets you hard these days," asked Hopps.

"Yeah," said Skye to Clawhouser, "but he's also a total jerk! I don't date guys that treat me like garbage on day one. Besides, it's not appropriate for partners to be romantically involved."

"Exceptions can be made," said Clawhouser, "you could ask Judy about that. We were all hoping that she and Nick would get together, so imagine the look on my face the day she showed up smelling like him."

"Except…"

"This is not like it was thirty years ago," said Nick, "Sure she's a nice girl but…"

"I can't do this," said Skye, "I'm not letting that piece of work scent mark me! I deserve a better guy than that animal."

"And I'm sure you'll figure it out," said Clawhouser, "but if you two at least try to pretend to get along, you might pull it off by accident. Besides, when Judy and the original Nick first met, they hated each other's guts, but you wouldn't know it based on her speech at the funeral."

Well, she thought, unlike most guys back in high school, he's clearly not trying to compete with me. Probably because he's already there, but still. Heh, he's probably having a conversation like this with his mommy.

Wham!

"I'll see you later mom," said Nick as he walked out of Chief Hopps's office.

"Just don't mess this up," said Hopps, "at least, not maliciously. I'll be understanding."

"Okay Skye," said Nick, "we're doing this. I need to meet these bastards even if they're not good on their threats."

"I'm not pretending to be your girlfriend or anything," said Skye.

"Can we not," asked Nick, "I just had a very long and very frustrating conversation with my mother about this crap! I am not in the mood... Right now."

"Can you at least tell me about this Ice Cube place," asked Skye.

"Oh, a classy lady like you would love it," said Nick, "a nice, conservative joint frequented by good, upstanding citizens in Tundra Town."