Serendipity's Shadow

Rated T

Chapter 38

The new day started, and a new tension had formed. Nick had been on the phone up through the night into the early hours of the morning. While Tia told Judy every trick, she has ever seen Quick Shot pull on his unsuspecting prey. Judy, while listening to Tia, was packing a fake bag. It was meant to be a decoy so Ermine's men would believe Judy left Nick's safety nest. AKA the hotel they were holding up in that was previously Judy's makeshift hospital.

"You need to be cautious, Judy."

"I know."

"At any moment Quick Shot's crew could get you before you reach the rendezvous point."

"I know"

"If that happens, Mr. Shadow-"

"You can call him Nick…" Judy interjected making Tia stare at her blankly for a second.

"Mr. Shadow said he plans to have a couple of his men stationed at every block on the path to the rendezvous point."

"I know."

"So, no matter what. Don't panic, Judy."

"I won't."

Judy calmly stated still fake packing a few real clothing items. Judy tried to ignore the irony of the situation where the protected was acting as the protector.

"…You could get killed, Judy. How-how are you so calm?"

For the first time since Tia's 'lessons,' Judy paused in her packing. When she turned to face the ferret, Tia went wide-eyed at Judy's calm smile.

"Because I'm a police officer."

That was all Judy had to say on the matter before turning back to her small bag of poorly folded clothes. And it was at this point that Nick walked into the room.

"Everything is set up…you sure you're up for this, Carrots?"

"If it means getting Ermine in jail for the remainder of his sad, pathetic, sadistic, murderous life…then yes, yes I am."

"I wanted to call a cab for you, but-"

"But if you did then it wouldn't work on the whole 'I'm Not Working With The Shadow Anymore' Plan."

"Exactly." Nick laughed.

Even though Judy was putting on a brave outward appearance, Nick knew the truth. He knew Judy was brave but could easily see, in how agitated her ears were to the slightest sounds, Judy was nervous. And he couldn't blame her. In this case, her career, ZPD's reputation, all of it will be shaken to the core if they manage to pull this off efficiently and effectively.

"You'll be fine." Nick placed a reassuring grip on Judy's shoulder.

Judy paused in her folding to take a calming breath.

"I know. But I'm not worried about just myself anymore, Nick."

Instinctively, Judy placed her hands upon her stomach in a protective manner. Nick took this as her thinking of all the lives that could be affected if they failed.

"We'll succeed. I'll make sure of it."

A silence passed between the two before Judy politely shrugged off Nick's grip. She returned to the folding doing her best to ignore the proximity between Nick and her.

"Judy?"

"Hmm?"

"You'd tell me something if it was important enough…right?"

Nick had to ask. He had that familiar feeling again. It was similar to the feeling when his little sister started learning how to lie. And the small smile Judy gave Nick only made his heart sink more.

"Of course. But there is nothing to tell." Judy ignored the pang in her heart as she finally finished her folding.

"…Right."

Nick had to leave the room. If he had stayed, he would have begged, pleaded, yelled…anything to get Judy to reveal what secret lay behind her sweet smile.

Once Judy had finished packing, she found some vinegar that would irritate her eyes enough to look like she finished crying. Then splashed her face with cold water to really sell the look. Nick couldn't see her off, both to sell the story and it is how he imagined she looked when he betrayed her trust. Even Tia couldn't follow her out. Judy was officially on her own as soon as the elevator doors closed behind her.

"This will work…right?" Tia asked nobody in particular.

"It will. I have faith it will." Nick answered before pulling out his phone to make more calls. "It's go time."

Judy tried to appear sad, depraved, heartbroken even. But trying to keep her ears in a permanent state of droopy is tiring. She released a silent prayer when the trolley rolled up in front of the ZPD headquarters.

Walking in Judy ignored the glances of her fellow officers and headed straight for Clawhauser.

"Judy?!"

"Tell Bogo I need to see him. Now." Judy prayed the look in her eye told Clawhauser she wasn't in the mood to talk.

Clawhauser didn't waste a second to page Chief Bogo.

"Clawhauser?"

"I have Officer Hopps here needing to speak with you urgently."

"Hopps? Send her up now."

Chief Bogo sounded confused as he made the command. Judy felt bad for keeping her boss in the dark. But steeled herself remembering it was essential to the plan.

Judy knocked on Chief Bogo's door continuing to ignore the questioning stares of her peers. As much as she hated it Judy was used to these looks.

"Hopps?" Bogo answered the door looking at Judy with a worried frown.

"Can we talk?"

Chief Bogo remained silent as he side-stepped to let Judy pass. Not wasting a second Judy stepped in taking one last glance at her surroundings. Taking a mental note of whose eyes were continuing to linger on her and Chief Bogo.

Only when the door closed did Judy drop the façade.

"Judy?" Chief Bogo was once again surprised and confused by the rabbit.

"Sorry Chief Bogo. This is our last resort to finally blowing this case wide open."

Judy headed to Chief Bogo's desk and began to rummage around.

"Judy!" Bogo stomped over to his officer. "What are you doing?"

"This." Judy answered as she grabbed his desk plaque. "Tia you clever ferret."

Most name plaques in the world are hollow inside. And if you're smart and quick enough it makes a great hiding spot.

"What is going on-" Bogo trailed off as he watched Judy tear off the bottom of the plaque when a flash drive fell onto the desk. "What is that?"

"The evidence Tia promised. And the perfect lure for our trap."