By the next morning, Rahzar and Tokka had left a calling card for the Turtles. Shredder had let them loose on one of the city's streets. They'd had a ball! They'd knocked down traffic lights and lampposts and they'd crushed cars.
April interviewed Police Chief Sterns. As usual, he didn't have much information to give. He didn't seem very interested in getting any, either.
"...and, as always, our official report will be released after a thorough investigation," he told the camera. "Thank you, Miss O'Neil."
"More as it develops," April said. The camera clicked off.
April tossed her microphone to one of her assistants and followed the chief.
"I wonder if I might ask you a few more questions - off the record?"
He tried to ignore her and walk away. She persisted.
"Were there any large tooth and claw marks found here today?"
Chief Sterns stopped and turned. "How did you know?" Then he realized he'd said something he hadn't meant to say. "Uh, I mean that I don't know what you're talking about."
"Chief, I have reason to believe that this damage was caused by two, uh, really big animals."
"Oh? And what type of animals might these be, Miss O'Neil?" he asked suspiciously.
"Well, I can't say, exactly." April was uncomfortable. It seemed as if the chief were interviewing her, and she didn't want to tell him anything.
"I see," he said. "Then what leads you to believe they did this?"
"Well, I can't say that, either."
"Hmmm. Was there anything else you'd like 'not' to tell me, Miss O'Neil?"
Before April could give him another nonanswer, he turned and left her. April shook her head. These creatures weren't a problem the police could solve anyway. It was going to take special talent - and a lot of it, too!
April needed to talk to the Turtles. She hurried to finish the work so she could return to the studio. But when she opened the back door to the equipment van, she found more than equipment there. A black-gloved hand grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth. Someone dragged her into an alley.
Then somebody in a black ninja dogi and mask spoke.
"Hello, April," he said.
She knew the voice. It was Freddy, her assistant!
"Our master has a message for your 'friends'," Freddy said. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear.
She heard every word.