Short one but just a glimpse before the big day. Part of the delay is because I was planning the future chapters out and writing them down.


Thursday,

It was the day before the hearings, and the volunteers felt excited yet nervous. They were going to act as lawyers for the first time. Even on the train, the respective teams kept to themselves, focusing on last-minute preparations.


Judy, Jack, and Giovanni sat in the assigned room, ready to begin their tasks.

"Tomorrow is the big day," Judy said. "How do you feel?"

Giovanni smiled. "I won't lie. I am nervous. This is literally a case of `so close yet so far.'" The gopher closed his eyes. "But I know better."

"We've done just about everything we could," Jack said. "Collected evidence, verified your parole packet, sent the material to the parole board before leaving yesterday, and practiced our presentation throughout the week. Do you know if Judy and I missed anything?"

The gopher shook his head. "Nothing comes to mind. Unless you want to run through one more practice?" He then smiled and winked. "Or you can humor an old mammal's tale?"

Judy giggled. "Normally, we decline because of time. But in this case, maybe it can help calm us down. The last thing we need is to go before the panel as a nervous wreck."

"Up to you. What do you think?"

The rabbits took a moment to consider. One more practice wouldn't hurt their chances. But they also didn't want to overwork themselves. Still, what harm could come from granting an old mammal's wish?

"How about this?" Judy proposed. "We'll do one more mock hearing, and depending on how much time is left, Jack and I will indulge in your stories. After all, the volunteers leave at the same time for safety reasons."

A smile grew on the inmate's face. "You just filled this old gopher's heart with joy."

Settling on the arrangement, Judy and Jack brought out the documents and set the table for a mock hearing once again.

The rabbits recorded the practice and compared the recordings. First, they cut down the time for the second run compared to the first. Giovannis' response was also more articulate and concise to the questions. Lastly, the final practice also confirmed which roles Judy and Jack would take during the parole hearing.

"I think that settles it," Jack said.

"Regardless of what happens," Giovanni said. "You two have done a wonderful job helping me."

Judy smiled at the compliment. "Thank you, Giovanni." The rabbit took a moment to check the time on her phone. "Look at that. We have a few hours left."

Jack and Giovanni smiled, having picked up the tone in her voice.

"You're right," The buck said. "We could let Mr. Alces know, but then we would be bored while waiting in the lobby until everyone else finishes."

"Hmm. Since you have time left, I could spare you a story. While I could let you ask what you want to hear, how about I tell you the one that has kept me going in my time here?"

Judy nodded. "Jack and I would love that."

Giovanni smiled and took their cue. "It was the day before I was to begin my sentence. I thank the heavens that the judge decided to grant me the chance to get my affairs in order. That night, as I was enjoying my favorite meal at my diner, this lovely gopher happened to be my waitress." He broke from his expression to give a knowing look to Judy and Jack. "Call it a cliche, but in that moment, I felt there was something special when I first heard her voice."

The rabbits said nothing, only smiling and nodding.

"After I finished my meal, she returned to the table with dessert, despite myself having never ordered it. She said it was one the house. Naturally, I asked what made me so interesting to her, and she pointed at my eyes." Giovanni chuckled. "We sat in the booth and talked for what seemed like hours. I was fortunate to have caught the time and noticed I needed to leave. I also knew that she hoped there could be more between us."

The gopher closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his demeanor becoming sullen. "But I had to break the news. She deserved it. I was expecting her to be horrified, leave me, and make me pay for the dessert. It felt that way when she was silent." His spirits started to rise as he reminisced about the upcoming memory. "But then to my shock, she grasped my paws and asked how long until my release. I mentioned the possibility of good behavior, and that's when she made me promise that I be on my best behavior. For her." He smiled and let out a sigh. "That was fourteen years ago. I never told her about parole because I didn't want to disappoint her if I got denied. If I have to stay here a few more years, then it's worth it for her. The first thing I'm going to do is visit that same diner to celebrate with that meal and hopefully see her again."

Judy had to resist letting out an 'Aw', but her drooping ears did the job for her. "I think she would be proud of who you are today."

Giovanni nodded in agreement. "I believe she will."

"I can understand why you chose to change," Jack added. "You finally found something to fill that void you were trying to fill with the robberies."

Giovanni chuckled. "How I wish that happened sooner. I could have saved myself all these years. But that's in the past. I'm focused on the present and taking it one step at a time."

"That's the spirit, Giovanni!" Judy exclaimed.

While she and Jack were curious to know the name of the female gopher, they chose to leave that private matter alone. Giovanni could see them respecting his affairs and felt grateful. There would be time later if the board grants the gopher parole.


Nick and Skye sat in the room, waiting for the prison to bring Randall in. The vixen had calmed down since the revelations from yesterday, but her emotions remained high.

Nick kept reminding her to keep her composure. "I'll ask you one more time. Are you sure you can do this?"

Skye kept her eyes on the door, and her tail flitted rapidly. "Again Nick, I'm better now. In fact, imagining myself tearing that badger a new one is helping."

"I can tell by your occasional deep breaths and tail wagging."

While she didn't stop exhaling, the vixen became conscious of her tail's movements. "I'm just glad Mr. Humphrey kept the matter private. If what he said about Mr. Alces is true…" Her ears and the rest of her demeanor deflated. "I don't want to imagine it."

He agreed with that sentiment.

The foxes heard the door opening and saw a lion bringing in Randall. No one said anything while the large feline sat the badger down and took his leave. The silence continued to occupy the room.

Randall had a confident look on his face, in contrast to the serious ones from the foxes. Seeing their expressions, the badger knew that his letter had gotten into the right paws. Not wanting to drag the tension any further, he opened his mouth and raised his shackled arms.

"I know what you're thinking, and I can understand the trouble it might have caused."

Skye raised an eyebrow. "Might?"

The badger lowered his arms slightly. "Alright, did. However, I needed to do that."

The vixen had to keep from baring her teeth. "Needed to? Have you completely lost your mind?! You tell us that you studied law in the prison library for four years, and you thought smuggling a letter about your treatment was a good idea?! Do you realize that Nick and I could have been kicked off your case?! You would be out of luck! And if you thought about suing the prison for denying your constitutional rights, you need to burn those legal books!"

"You made a fool of us, Badgerson," Nick used the inmate's surname to show they were currently not on good terms. He decided to be the more composed individual. "You abused a one hundred percent commitment that we made without regard to what we're trying to do here." The volume in his voice increased with each word. "We want to help you, but we need to do it within the system!"

"Listen to me!" The badger cried. "If you just let me explain!" The foxes' anger never wavered, but their silence gave Randall the opportunity. "Yes, I did put that letter in Skye's briefcase when we celebrated Sanchez's cooperation. I had a friend on the outside follow you. He tried to get it out when on the train and failed. He was lucky to have gotten it when you got back to campus because I gave orders to get that letter out by any means necessary." He took a deep breath. "If even he had to sneak into your room."

Skye nearly jumped out of her seat. "Excuse me?!"

"You both would have said no if I had asked you to! Now I have to work this way! I have to smuggle things out every chance I get!"

Nick put up his paw. "Humor us for a moment. How do you contact your friend on the outside?"

"Another prisoner who phones a mammal he can trust who then phones my friend. I told them the information about you two."

Nick tilted his head. "And what exactly was this supposed to accomplish?"

"Mammals have to know how the prison system treats its inmates. I can't get it out to the press because it will be obvious that I smuggled it, and everyone loses. No, I need lawyers to witness the mistreatment and then take the initiative to make the change. That's why I had the letter delivered to your professor."

The tod threw his arms in the air. "And you expected the professor to go along with it?"

The badger grunted. "I expected him to hold up the attorney-client confidentiality."

Nick crossed his arms. "Randall, do we have to remind you that your mistreatment is beyond the scope of the disciplinary hearing? The board only cares about the facts, and your desire for change is not a fact related to the hearing. You should consider yourself lucky that it didn't escalate further. We may be law students, but your lack of trust in us is alarming. Just because you studied the law, that doesn't mean you can practice it. You're not even a law student!"

"Alright! Alright! I just wanted to make our case more concrete!" The badger knew this was also the time to address the other elephant in the room. "For the record, did you read the letter?"

His answer drew only glares from the foxes.

"I take it as a no then." He raised his paws in surrender. "Okay. From now on, I promise to leave the decision-making to you." He rested them on the table. "So, what's on the agenda for today? Tomorrow is the hearing, and we need to be certain to get enough practice in and check that we didn't miss anything vital."

Having calmed down but still upset, Skye pulled up her briefcase. "We can start by having you practice your statement." She pulled out their copy and showed it to Badgerson. "Nick and I made revisions so you will sound more articulate when reading it before the board."


That evening, the study group barely spent time together to eat, refreshed on their studies, and wished the rabbit and foxes good luck on their respective hearings. While Judy and Jack felt confident with their work, Nick and Skye were trying to salvage from their client's meddling.

It was 9 PM, and Judy had finished laying out her clothes when someone knocked on her door.

"Coming!" She opened to find Nick standing outside. "Nick!"

"Just stopping by to wish you good luck tomorrow."

Judy clasped her paws together. "Oh thank you! Jack and Skye did the same earlier."

The fox motioned his head sideways. "Yeah, I saw Jack passing by and wished him luck also. About to head over to Skye's room."

"Alright then," Judy brought a paw forward. "Good luck."

Nick shook her paw and started walking back to his room as Judy closed the door. As the fox turned towards the hallway to his room, a voice called his name from behind.

"Señor Wilde."

Nick turned around and saw a coyote approaching him. He was initially confused at how a random mammal would know his name until it came to him that there were only two coyotes as of recent who knew his name. And one of them was in prison.

"Roland Sanchez?"

He offered up a paw which Nick obliged. "Si, I apologize for coming to you in this manner, but it's important." The coyote motioned between the both of them. "What I'm about to tell is like client and attorney."

"Confidentiality." That much Nick knew, especially with how anxious the older brother was. "If you're willing to come and find me, it must be." He pointed with his thumb in the direction of his room. "Let's talk in my place. Better privacy."

Roland nodded and followed Nick to his room. The fox let the coyote inside and locked the door behind them.

"Alright, what is it?"

Roland fiddled with his fingers momentarily before answering. "My brother Leonard. He's scared. To talk."

Once again, Nick became confused. "He didn't sound scared when we talked earlier." But then a terrifying thought came to him. "Is the prison trying to intimidate him?"

The coyote shook his head. "Not of the prison." He took another deep breath, trying not to let the anxiety overcome him. The coyote bit his lip for a moment before he couldn't take it anymore. "Of Badgerson! It was Badgerson who knifed my brother!"

It was as if the case didn't have any more curveballs to throw at Nick and Skye. "What?! Why?!"

"I don't know! My brother and I were talking when all of a sudden-"

Nick quickly put his paws up. "Hold on, Roland. Before I let you explain any further, my partner needs to know about this. She's working on the case with me also."

Roland seemed initially reluctant to tell anyone else of his brother's confession since he rather not involve anyone else. But if Mr. Wilde was working on a team, it was only fair. "Okay."

Happy for his cooperation, the two walked to Skye's room, where Nick knocked on her door. "Skye, are you in there, and are you decent?"

There was a moment of silence before a "Just a minute!" came through the door. Nick and Roland didn't have to wait much longer when Skye, in her nightgown, unlocked the door and the vixen saw Nick's visitor, who looked familiar.

"Sanchez?"

Roland offered a paw. "His brother. Roland Sanchez. I speak small Anglo, so your friend doesn't have to translate."

Skye accepted his paw and shook it. "Hello. What are you doing here?" She then gasped, and her expression became horrified. "Did something happen to your brother!"

The coyote shook his head and waved his paws. "No! No! My brother hasn't been hurt! I told your friend already, and he insists I tell you also since you two are working together on who stabbed my brother."

A wave of relief fell over the vixen, and she let out a huge sigh. "That's good. Come on in!"

Skye opened the door, and Nick and Roland stepped inside. The vixen then closed the door and locked it out of precaution. "Okay, now I assume this does have something to do with your brother. Otherwise, you would not have made the trip."

Roland nodded. "Yes. My brother…he tells me that it was Badgerson who knifed him."

"What?!"

The older brother nodded. "I know. I couldn't believe it myself. But when he and I were talking, it was as if he was hiding something." He began pacing around. "I respected his decision, but fate had decided someone had to know the truth. I knew better than to ask him for more information, and that is why I came to you." He stopped pacing and looked at the foxes with a pleading face. "Maybe you two can find out."

Nick approached Roland and placed a comforting paw on his shoulder. "We'll get to the bottom of this. That's a promise."

While Roland was still reluctant, his brother's trust in the foxes assured him that Nick and Skye knew what they were doing. "Okay, thank you." He looked to Skye. "Both of you."

"Is there anything else you want to tell us?"

Roland shook his head. "No, that is all. I must go now. Take care."

The coyote quietly took his leave, and the foxes were left wondering about the bombshell.

Skye let out a sigh and sat on her bed. "Now what? Even if Roland's words are true, we can't bring Leonard into the hearing with his statement compromised, and we can't be impartial either! We can't even withdraw because the hearing is tomorrow." The vixen laid down and put a pillow over her head. "ARGH! What are we going to do?! There's no way out!"

Nick stood and watched at the hopelessness of the situation. He started thinking back to what his dad would do when he found himself in similar situations. Suddenly, his demeanor changed as an idea came to mind. The more he dwelled on it, the more he saw the potential. But implementing it would depend on Skye agreeing to it. Nick quietly sat next to her on the bed. "Not exactly."

Hearing those words caused Skye to remove the pillow from her face. "What do you mean?" She could see the smirk on his face, which encouraged and worried her.

"I'll tell you what you need to do, but you have to trust me on this one. Let's just say that Badgerson is about to learn why foxes earned their reputation of being cunning."

The vixen remained skeptical of her friend's plan, but knowing he had experience working with his dad, maybe Nick did have a solution that could nail Badgerson without leaving room for a lawsuit from the mammal.

Skye sat up and faced Nick. "Okay, humor me."