The automatic doors parted to admit Nick. Almost immediately a curt assistant manager appeared, taking him to a small office, where a loaf of sliced bread and a pack of biscuits sat on a table, both of them with ripped open wrappers and small chunks missing. Nick examined them, noting specks of blood, tested them for scents, then a brow rose.
"You have a mouse. How long for?"
"Four days, now."
"Mind if I sniff around?"
"No. Please get rid of them."
Nick headed to the bread aisle, quickly located the brand he wanted, and set his nose to work. The sheer density of scents made it difficult, but he managed to trace that of the mouse, aided by further, scattered specks of blood. It led to the clothing section, and racks of underwear, some of which lay bundled, and seemingly forgotten for some while, at the back. As he leaned in, something small, brown and naked bolted.
He thought a moment, then activated his radio. "Wilde to base. Thief found, but I'll need help to deal with them, specifically Hopps."
"You'll have to wait, Nick," Clawhauser's voice responded. "It's taking a while to pin down Gabriel. He's there, but they can't find him."
Nick frowned. "Not the first time he's gone to ground, but they'll root him out. Tell Hopps, and let me know when she's free, Benj."
"I will. By the way, Nick, did you take Slapston's gun from evidence?"
The frown deepened. "No. It wasn't signed out?"
"No. Just vanished. If you see, hear or think of anything, tell me."
"Will do." Nick turned off the radio, a trickle of cold running down his spine. He shook it off, and set to tracing the mouse again. Every time he got close, they took off, and he was led around the store, past many bemused customers, for close to fifteen minutes.
"Nick?" Clawhauser's voice crackled.
"Here."
"Gabriel's escaped. Took off in the clinic van shortly after I spoke with Judy. She thinks...she thinks he overheard and is coming for you."
Nick's ears perked at the sound of an engine. "When was this?"
"Ten minutes ago, meaning he could reach you any moment."
Nick, fur prickling, stared out of the entrance doors at the van bearing down on them. "Or he could be here right now."