SURPRISE! Bonus chapter in response for more of this story. Hope you'll like it.

I arrived in the kitchen the morning after Christmas, seeing Dale looking at the

newspaper.

"Uhh... Why are you looking at the classifieds, Dale?" I asked.

"Oh, you know," said Dale. "I figured we'd find ways to pay our bills while we're not

doing a TV or movie deal right now. Owning cars cost money."

I chuckled and took away the paper from Dale. "Don't worry, buddy. Let me worry about

our insurance. HEY!"

I noticed that the coffee pot was empty. I turned to Dale, shocked.

"Dale, did you drink ALL the coffee?"

"Did you want some?" asked Dale, guilty.

"Not the point! That coffee had LOTS of caffeine! You could get sick!"

Dale lowered his head in shame and confessed. "Alright, I'll admit it. I went on a coffee

binge because I'm scared."

"Huh?"

"I'm scared of doing a real-life crime investigation outside our show," said Dale. "We only

did things like this on 'Rescue Rangers'. This is real, Chip. Are we prepared for this?"

"Oh, Dale, you should've told me how you felt about that. In all honesty, I'm scared, too."

I hugged Dale.

"Come on," I said. "As long as we stay together, we've got this."

"Okay."

"Now, come on," I said. "Let's get ready to go."

I grabbed my coat and Indiana Jones hat and met Dale at the car.

"I'll drive," I said, holding the keys. "You relax. After that coffee binge, you should-"

"I know," chuckled Dale. "Don't get detailed."

RRRRRR! Tick! Tick!

"No!" we shouted.

"Don't die on us," said Dale.

"Not today!" I added.

The car died out!

"Ugh!" groaned Dale. "Now what?"

"Optimism, Dale," I said. "Remember what I said about optimism."

Dale took a deep breath. "You're right. We can get through this."

"Hey, boys! Need a ride?" a familiar girl's voice asked.

It was Gadget Henchwrench and my girlfriend, Clarice, riding on a mobile vehicle

invented by Gadget.

"Gadget! Clarice! How long have you been standing there?" asked Dale.

"Long enough to see your car breakdown," said Clarice.

"Come on," said Gadget. "We'll get you where you need to go."

"Where you headin', big boys?" asked Clarice.

"L.A. Police Station," I said as we hopped on. "Believe it or not, they need our help with a bootlegging

case."

Gadget and Clarice gasped. "You know about the Bootleggers?"

"Not really," I said. "But we're unleashing our inner Rescue Rangers to find out."

"I think we should help," said Gadget.

"Are you sure?" asked Dale. "We don't want you ladies getting hurt."

"You worry about you and Chip, and we'll worry about us," said Clarice.

I then gave Clarice a kiss.

"Missed me, honey?" I asked.

"I have," said Clarice. "Sorry I couldn't make it last night. I had a gig at the Ink & Paint

Music Hall."

"The same Ink & Paint Club they shot the scene in Roger Rabbit way back when?" asked

Dale.

"It evolved into a landmark theater because of that movie," said Clarice. "I did a duet

with Jessica Rabbit."

"LUCKY!" the three of us said in unison.

We eventually arrived at the police station. Right away, when we entered, they knew who

we were and they escorted us into the main office. Wow. If Dale left the show or something,

it would've been different.

"Tell us about these Bootleggers," said Dale to one of the officers.

"They're these guys who wildly change famous cartoon characters in a bad way," said

a cop. "Trust me, it's not a pretty picture."

"No kidding!" said a little voice.

Then we turned to see three familiar cats. It's the kittens from Aristocats: Marie,

Toulouse and Berlioz.

"Oh, hey!" I greeted. "Were you three bootlegged?"

"We, including our mama, Duchess, and Thomas O'Malley, were almost Bootlegged," said Marie.

"But I rescued them," said a Scottish voice.

"I know that voice," I said with a smile.

"Scrooge McDuck at yer service, laddies! Surprised?"

"Very!" I said.

"I was the one who rescued a few of the victims being Bootlegged. But alas, I've failed

to rescue Robin Hood and Darkwing Duck."

"What happened? Where are they?" asked Dale.

"It's a long story..."

"Joke's on you," I said, getting comfy. "We have nothing else to do today. Give us everything,

Uncle Scrooge."

"What manners," said Scrooge, smiling, then clearing his throat. "It all began last Friday..."