WingedKatt here. For my non-American readers: Juvie stands for Juvenile Hall where delinquent teens are sent instead of jail.
Nick stood on the packed train, feeling like a sardine. He and Judy had come to a mutual decision that neither wanted to take her specist brother to the house, even if it was to shove the truck keys in his face and kick him off the property the moment they arrived. So he was headed back on the train to retrieve the truck. This particular train only had a few stops as it thundered through the districts, making the trip back to the house much quicker than driving.
Pulling out his phone, he dialed Finn's number and waited for the familiar gruff voice to answer.
"What do you want now, Nick? And if you're needing me to pick something up at the house, you're too late. I'm nearly to Central already."
Nick's ears perked up. "So you did get your van put back together. That's great!"
Finn sighed. "What do you need, Red?" Nick always had this certain cadence to his voice whenever he needed a favor, something Finnick had picked up on over a decade ago.
Nick chuckled at Finnick's sigh of resignation. "You said you're nearly to Central. Are you in a hurry to get anywhere specific?"
"Just spit it out, Nick."
"Okay, okay. So, Judy's specist brother and his friend showed up at the train station instead of her sisters. Since neither of us want them anywhere near the house, I'm heading back on the train to pick up her family's truck. Her brother's intention in coming here was to drag Judy back home to Bunnyburrow, so I was wondering if you could hang around there just in case he starts something."
"You want me to spy on bunny cop?" Finnick asked dubiously.
"No! Of course not. Just hang out there. You don't even have to be close enough to see her, just keep your ears open for any disturbance that Thing 1 might start with Fluff."
"Thing 1?"
"Ya, that's what I'm calling her jerk of a brother. Since he obviously bullied his sisters into staying behind, I decided to have some fun with him." With a chuckle at the memory, Nick continued, "I went on about him and his friend being ugly does who flunked the Cute Bunny Contest but would win first place at the Ugly Bug Ball. Judy thought it was funny, too. And when Henry questioned my nicknames for Judy, I told them since Unsightly and Homely didn't really apply anymore, that I'd have to settle with calling them Thing 1 and Thing 2."
Finnick started laughing at the images Nick's words portrayed. With as long as he'd known Nick, he could picture exactly how his friend had played the specist jerk. He was laughing so hard, he had to pull over onto the side of the road until he got his laughter under control. "You really called them Unsightly and Homely?"
"Well, no. I told them those were the first nicknames that popped into my head when they got off the train. Since they were bucks and not does, the names no longer applied and I had to settle with Thing 1 and Thing 2."
"And Cottontail is fine if you were to basically call her sisters ugly?"
Nick frowned. "She knew I was just messing with her brother and his friend. And besides, it's not like I'd call an actual female ugly or any of its synonyms. That'd be too cruel."
Finnick nodded at the phone and wiped a laughter tear from the corner of his eye. "Ya, I guess you're right." With one last chuckle, Finn then asked, "So, where is Cottontail?"
"I left her at one of the tables outside that little Greek café, Mediterranean Cuisine. It's the one with the best seafood burritos in Zootopia."
"Right, right. I got it."
"So, you'll hang out there for a while?" With a sly grin, Nick added, "Say yes, and I'll pick you up a blackberry cobbler." He knew that Finnick would never be able to pass up a blackberry cobbler (his all-time favorite dessert), especially since Nick couldn't remember the last time he'd seen the small todd eat one.
Finn's ear twitched. It had been a long time since he'd last eaten a blackberry cobbler, not since he and Nick had last traveled to Rándýrabær and spent the holidays with Vivian and Anya. And that was almost two years ago! Vivian made some of the best cobbler he'd ever eaten, but since he couldn't have hers right now, he'd have to settle with the next best thing. "From Bella Noche?" Bella Noche was a 3-star Spanish/Italian restaurant that required money or connections to get in, money and connections they had back when Nick was still working for Big. Finnick hadn't tasted their to-die-for, succulent blackberry cobbler in over five years. His mouth began watering just from the memory. Licking his chops in an effort to keep his drool in his mouth, he waited for Nick's reply.
Nick didn't immediately answer as Bella Noche wasn't what he had in mind—the place cost a fortune to get in, and that wasn't counting the price of the food. But there was a mammal working there that owed him a couple of favors. And this was for Judy. And he did owe Finnick a mountain of favors already. "Okay, Big Guy, I'll get you a blackberry cobbler from Bella Noche."
A wide grin spread across Finnick's face as he licked his chops again. "I want a full cobbler and I want it piping hot when I get it."
Nick's ears flicked back and he said, "For being a fennec fox you sure like to make big demands."
"What did you say, Red?" Finn growled out.
"Nothing. Nothing," Nick smirked while waving his paw in the air. "Just making a simple observation."
"Simple observation, my foot," Finnick grumble under his breath. Speaking louder, he said, "Look, Loverboy, do you want me to keep an ear on your girlfriend or not?"
Nick's ears perked up and he hastily said, "Absolutely." Taking a deep breath, he added, "Fine, I'll make sure it's the whole cobbler. Happy now?"
The grin that stretched across Finn's small muzzle revealed all of his sharp, pointed teeth. "I will be once I stuff myself with that blackberry cobbler."
Nick could only shake his head. "So, you'll do it?"
"Nick, for a whole cobbler from Bella Noche, I'd sell my own brother."
Nick raised an eyebrow. "Finn, you haven't seen either of your brothers since you were nine."
"Exactly! Why else would I want to sell either of them?" With a scowl at the memory, Finn grumbled, "Taking our sister and running off to who knows where and leaving me and mom to face Dad's drunken rages alone . . . they deserve to be sold."
Nick's ears flattened against his head as Finn's early childhood was a sore spot for the small fennec, as he'd never forgiven his siblings for running off and leaving him and their mother to their father's emotional and physical abuse. According to Finnick his dad hadn't always been abusive. Up until he was about 4, his dad was the best, but then he'd been framed and jailed on embezzlement charges, and when he was released 4 years later, he was never the same.
Trying to change the subject, Nick said, "Okay, going back to Judy—we're good. . . right?"
"Yeah, we're good. I need to check the mail, anyways."
With a grin, Nick said, "I'll see you when I get back, then."
"Ya, whatever, Red. Ciao." As the call ended, Finnick stared at his phone for several moments, then shook his head. "Lovesick sap," he muttered, then licked his chops again while thinking of the cobbler. He would have helped Nick out regardless of getting paid or not, but since Nick was being so generous—Finnick grinned wider. A whole Bella Noche cobbler! He thought the only way to taste one again was in his dreams—literally (when he'd been frequenting the establishment with Nick, he had actually dreamed of their divine blackberry cobbler numerous times). With a chuckle, he shifted his van into drive and waited for a break in traffic before melding back into the flow of vehicles heading towards Central.
As Nick hung up with Finn, he pulled up his contacts and scrolled down until he found the right name with the picture of a tawny lion with a thick, well-groomed mane next to it, then punched the call button.
It rang several times before a tired voice answered, "Yello."
"Why, hello, Alex, how are you this fine day?"
There was a long pause, then, "Wilde? Nick Wilde? Is that you?"
"The one and only. Hey, are you working today?"
"No, not today. It's my day off and I'm trying to catch up on my sleep. I won't go back to work till Saturday." Nick frowned, but before he could speak, Alex ran his black claws through his mane at the back of his neck and asked groggily, "Why are you calling?"
He hadn't heard from Nick in years, but there was no mistaking his voice. He met the slick todd after he started working at the Bella Noche to pay for college. While serving as Nick's waiter on one of the few nights the todd had come in with his little fennec friend, Alex had overheard them talking about a court case the red todd had just won.
At the time he'd simply found it interesting as he'd never heard of a fox lawyer before, but it wasn't even a month later that his younger brother was accused of shoplifting—a crime he knew his cheerful, ever-helpful little brother (still a teen at the time) was innocent of. Neither he nor his parents had any extra money to pay for a lawyer, but after talking to Nick, he was able to work out a deal. He would owe Nick two favors if the slick todd could prove his brother's innocence.
"I need to call in a favor," Nick said as the train sped through downtown, with the many different shaped skyscrapers towering overhead and blocking the bright blue sky, but unable to prevent the hot, summer sunlight from glinting off the many glass windows covering the massive buildings.
Alex froze. Having someone call in favors was always stressful as you never knew what would be required—there were horror stories of some mammals expecting you to pay an arm and a leg when it came to returning favors. "A Favor?"
"Nothing big. I just need a blackberry cobbler from Bella Noche's."
Alex scoffed. "Nothing big!? You know how expensive those are?"
Nick grinned. "Of course, I do. But a friend of mine is doing me a great service and that's the payment he asked for. Can you get me one or not?"
Alex grumbled several moments, then replied, "Yeah, I can get it for you. What size piece did you want?"
"Not a piece—I want the whole cobbler. And I want it wolf-sized."
"Are you out of your mind!" Alex's bright blue eyes were wide open by now and sleep had completely fled from him.
"Hmm, maybe, but that's beside the point." Leaning sideways slightly as the train thundered around a corner, Nick continued, "Look, if you do this for me, I'll call us even. One favor for the blackberry cobbler, and one favor to make it wolf-sized. Do we have a deal?"
Rolling over in his bed, Alex tossed his blankets off and sat up. Getting the cobbler wasn't impossible, but it wouldn't be easy either. He would need to do some serious tail-kissing to get it, but if it cleared his debt with Nick, the tail-kissing for a few weeks would be well worth it. "Okay, we have deal. But like I said, I won't return to work till Saturday, so call back Saturday morning and remind me."
"I'll do that. Thanks, Alex, this means a lot to me."
"Yeah, Nick, just remember we're even now."
Nick grinned. "I won't forget. Take care and say high to your parents and brother for me."
"I will. Bye." As Alex hung up, he stared at the phone for a minute. It had been so long since the court case that he'd thought Nick had forgotten all about the favors, but if he could pay off his debt with just an expensive cobbler, he felt he got the better end of the deal that kept his brother out of Juvie and with a clean slate. With a wide yawn, and showing off his razor-sharp fangs, Alex snapped his muzzle shut and fell back on the bed and as he thought of the best way to get Nick the huge cobbler he wanted.
Having gotten off the phone with Alex, Nick sent a quick text to Finnick telling him the cobbler would be ready on Saturday, then turned his attention back to his hot girlfriend waiting for him back at the Savanah Central Station. With a wide, happy grin, he slipped his earbuds in and opened one of his music apps, then hit In My Eyes by The Afters. As the words began to play that described Judy to a 'T', he proceeded to create a play list of all his songs that reminded him of his enthusiastic, adorable girlfriend.
…...
Up in the heart of Tundratown, a giant polar bear carried his tiny charge carefully up the stairs from the large multi-car garage where their limo had been parked and into the grand mansion of his boss. After walking down several long, twisting corridors, he finally entered the large family room where Silvano Big waited eagerly to greet his daughter.
After Raymond carefully set Fru-Fru on the large table where the tiny shrews had their padded chairs, couches, and tables set up, Silvano slipped off his chair and walked over to his daughter with open arms. "Welcome home, my daughter. How was your outing with Judy?"
"Well, Judy was in a wheelchair, but she's doing fine. She seemed really happy, but . . . I'm worried about her, Daddy."
"Oh?" the old shrew asked while carefully hugging his very pregnant daughter. "In what way?"
"Well," Fru-Fru started, "it's about Nicky."
"Nicky?" Silvano questioned with a raise of his bushy eyebrow as he stepped back to look at her.
"Yes. It's just . . ." Fru-Fru paused as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say. "You don't think Nicky is trying to . . . to con Judy, do you?"
Both of Mr. Big's bushy eyebrows raised at his daughter's unsettling question. Although Nicky was a master con-artist, Silvano didn't see any deceit in his actions towards Judy when they came to him for help two days ago. And if what Judy told Fru-Fru yesterday afternoon was true, then Nicky had risked his life to stay with her and keep her alive. Knowing the red vulpine for as long as he did, Silvano couldn't see Nicky risky his life for the rabbit if it was just a con. Nicky highly valued his life, so he never conned anyone if it put his life at risk.
As he helped his daughter sit in her favorite chair and put her feet up, he asked, "What makes you ask, baby?"
"Well, it's just some of the things Judy claimed Nick was doing. Not that his actions are ones I can see him conning Judy with, but they're just so out of character for him, that I really can't understand why else he'd be doing them."
"And what is Nicky doing that has you so confused?" Watching his daughter, Silvano gave a soft chuckle at her cute, yet confused, expression as he returned to his own padded chair.
"Well, for starters, Judy said Nick pulled her into bed with him this morning when she went to wake him up. They both fell back asleep and were nearly late for their meeting today." Fru-Fru shook her head, her hair bobbing side-to-side. "You know he hates people touching him or invading his space. And I always got the impression that Tundratown would thaw before he took a female to his bed. Well, you remember when Crystal crawled into his bed while he was in town and left her scent all over his sheets. He didn't just change the sheets, Daddy—he burned them—and then he still refused to sleep in his bed for over a week. He even changed the locks on his bedroom door."
Silvano chuckled at the memory, although at the time, there was nothing funny about the situation. What Fru-Fru forgot to mention was that Nicholas hadn't slept in his bed because he'd disappeared for over a week. He'd turned his phone off and refused contact with anyone. It had nearly ruined several operations he had planned as they were time-sensitive and Nicky barely returned in time to scope them out. That was the final straw and Fru-Fru confronted them on their sexual harassment of the red todd. When that merely aggravated the problem, he had stepped in and ordered them to leave and never come back—or face being iced. They left, but it wasn't even a year later that he had to send Nicky packing, too.
It still hurt the old shrew that the red todd he'd trusted so much had disrespected him in such a way. He still couldn't understand why Nicky would sell him such a rug—especially one for Grandmamma. He knew the slick todd was having problems dealing with Honey's failing health, but that still didn't give him cause or reason for getting him such an unsavory rug.
At her father's silent musings, Fru-Fru continued her confusing tale, saying, "Going back to Nicky and Judy, Daddy. You remember how everyone was betting on Nicky's first kiss. Even the polar bears were in on the bet to see which vixen would finally snag it."
"Yes, I remember it, baby. It caused quite the uproar when I terminated Nicky's employment before anyone could cash in on it."
"Right!" Fru-Fru exclaimed, her voice several octaves higher. "You couldn't pay Nicky enough to kiss someone! But Judy said she stole Nicky's first kiss and then he gladly gave her his second. She even admitted to them passionately kissing."
Silvano's eyebrows rose again in surprise, but then he chuckled. "So, Nicky has finally found someone he wants to make a permanent fixture in his life."
Fru-Fru tilted her head in question. "What do you mean, Daddy?"
"I once asked Nicky why he rejected such enticing distractions. Although I respected his decision to abstain and felt it showed a strong sense of character, I was curious why he didn't accept the simple pleasures and comforts that could be found in another's arms."
"And what did he say?" Fru-Fru asked, her full attention now on her father.
Silvano chuckled again as he remembered the red todd's response. "Nicky told me that the vixens only wanted a temporary fling, which wasn't worth his time. He was irritated with the whole situation and told me that when he finally took a female to his bed, that I could be sure it was going to be a permanent arrangement."
Fru-Fru's jaw dropped. "That's what Judy said today! She said that Nicky wouldn't waste his time on them because he was waiting for someone special to commit 100 percent to. That with him, it was all or nothing: no mistakes and no do-overs."
Mr. Big chuckled softly again. "And there is your answer, my child. Nicky has protected his heart for a very long time, too afraid of being hurt to thoughtlessly give it away. But now, it appears, he's finally found someone to entrust it to."
Fru-Fru gave him an unconvinced look and said, "Are you sure, Daddy? Nicky always acted so indifferent when it came to physical or romantic relationships."
With a soft, knowing grin, Mr. Big replied, "Yes, baby, I'm sure. Nicky may have worn a mask of indifference, but that was to protect himself from the hateful words and actions of others." Rubbing his chin, Silvano continued, "I always got the impression that Nicky felt far more than he let on, and the way you describe his dealings with Judy reaffirms that."
"Well, Daddy, I hope you're right—for her sake."
…...
After dropping off his tiny charge, Raymond made his way down to the lounge much quicker than his trip to his boss's living room. Stepping through the door, he looked around the spacious room filled with a cacophony of sound. The lounge was where he and his fellow bears, and a few others that worked for Silvano on a permanent basis, gathered after hours to cut back and let loose. There were several pool tables, a bar in the back, several large flat screen tv's, a few card tables, several large couches for lounging on, and even an ice cream and smoothie dispenser, along with a large popcorn machine for those watching movies.
As one of the medium-sized bears walked over to one of the large couches and plopped down to watch the show, Raymond spied the one he was searching for. He was one of the smaller polar bears in the room with 3 faint, nearly invisible, scars across the bridge of his nose and vibrant, storm-grey eyes. He was also one the most outgoing, light-hearted polar bears Raymond had ever met with very little ever getting him down.
Moving towards the large pool table where his query stood waiting with a cue stick in his paws, Raymond pulled out his wallet and opened it up. Stepping up to the table, he pulled out three 100-dollar bills and put his wallet back in his pocket. "Here, Markus," he said while pushing the money towards the smaller polar bear playing pool, "you won bet." His voice was flat and emotionless as he hated losing the bet most of them had long forgotten about.
Markus was caught off guard and grabbed the money more from reflex, than realizing what it was. He'd been watching his opponent hit a green marble-swirled 6 ball and hadn't seen Raymond arrive. Looking at the three bills in his paw, Markus looked back up and raised an eyebrow as curiosity danced within his storm-grey eyes. "Good to know, but which bet are we talking about?"
"You bet Nick would never let a girl kiss him he didn't care about. You say he never care for lying, thieving vixens, but would have his heart stolen by female of other species. You won bet. He not only fell for another species, but for prey. Bunny cop stole his first kiss and he's since given her many more."
Silence spread out from Raymond's pronouncement until not a sound was heard above a hockey game playing on one of the large screen tv's. Markus's grey eyes grew big as saucers as did many of the other bears using the room for recreation.
Markus was speechless at the time, so his opponent, a much larger polar bear by the name of Ivan, asked the question on everyone's mind. "When you say Nick—you don't mean Nick Wilde do you?" At Raymond's nod, Ivan's dark-brown eyes widened, and he dropped his cue stick, which hit the pool table with a soft thunk before rolling off the edge and clattering to the stone-tiled floor.
"Is that what Nick told you?" Kevin pressed from where he stood next to the popcorn machine. Having never liked the red todd Big had taken such an interest in, Kevin was sure Nick had lied about the whole thing. Which was a shame, as Kevin had heard good things about John Wilde from Mr. Big. But his son, Nicky, was too smug, too slick, and too sly for the polar bear's liking. And that smart mouth of his was enough to drive anyone to violence in order to shut him up, for he always knew just what to say to get under your skin.
But the worst part was knowing he couldn't do anything to the irritating todd for Big found his skills indispensable to his operations and treated him like his own son—which was another thorn in Kevin's thick hide. Big saw the polar bears serving him as his family, his sons and daughters, and then in walks this little upstart of a fox that wormed his way into their boss's heart and stole much of his praise and attention. And how did the thieving fox repay Big's kindness and generosity? With a hated skunk-butt rug. It was unforgivable and had Kevin caught Nicky that first year after escaping Big's mansion, he would have beaten the disrespectful, irritatingly-smug todd to a bloody pulp.
Raymond shook his head at Kevin's question. "Mistress Fru-Fru had lunch with Judy Hopps today. She admit that she stole Nick's first kiss. Claimed he was an excellent kisser and that he not hold back passionate kisses from her." Still looking at Kevin, Raymond folded his massive arms across his chest and raised his chin slightly, then added, "Nick pull bunny into bed with him this morning and they sleep together for an hour."
"Impossible!" Kevin yelled as his fist shot out to the side and smashed through the thin glass box of the popcorn machine, which sent the puffy white popcorn flying in all directions, along with the shards of glass.
Everyone froze at Kevin's outburst and the sound of glass breaking, then remained frozen while they watched the white puff balls fly out to cover the bar and floor of the lounge surrounding the now tangled mess of the once proud popcorn machine. Seeing as Kevin was unharmed (his thick fur protected his fist and fingers from the thin glass with only a few minor cuts across his knuckles that were little more than papercuts), they then ignored the mess for later as they had more pressing matters to discuss—such as Nick Wilde's sudden interest in kissing and snuggling with a rabbit. Did they just enter the twilight zone?
"Yeah," Ivan added, "He hates anyone even sitting on his bed. There's no way he'd want a bunny in it."
Raymond shook his head, stating, "He want Judy in it. She say that he not indifferent to her. That he takes mask off when they alone."
This flabbergasted the group of bears listening as Nick never took his mask off, though he would partially drop it if he was in company he felt comfortable with and somewhat trusted. But as the idea began to set in, a slow, excited smile spread across Markus's face, and he suddenly slammed his fist on the edge of the pool table, causing it to rattle and the balls to shift. "Ha! I was right! You all laughed at me for suggesting Nick would fall for an inter-species relationship, but who's laughing now! Huh?" He hit the pool table again, then opened his paw and curled his fingers repeatedly in a give-me motion. "Come on, pay up. You all lost the bet. It's my win."
Kevin crossed his arms and stared at the wall. "That bet took place over 5 years ago. It's no longer valid." He wasn't the only one who had no wish to pay after losing such a bet. There was shifting of feet as several bears looked away from Markus and pretended they hadn't heard him. Two of them even shifted backwards on their feet as they tried to discreetly make their way towards the exit.
Markus's smile dropped at seeing this response, but it was Raymond who spoke. "No time limit set on bet. It valid till Nick's first kiss was stolen or we find him dead." After a moment's thought, Raymond muttered, "I prefer dead, but his kiss was stolen first." With a shrug, he looked back at Kevin. "So pay up."
Raymond and his older brother, Koslov, were the most senior bears of the group, having come over from Russia with Silvano and his fiancé, Francesca. So, whatever he and Koslov said was taken as law. No one ignored them when they gave an order.
Markus's smile returned. He always liked the slick, red todd, and didn't believe Nick had intentionally sold Mr. Big that skunk butt rug (a sentiment very few shared). It was just so out of character for the red vulpine that Markus refused to accept it. He'd wanted to ask his friend about it back when it had happened, but Nick was very slippery and knew how to vanish. So if he didn't want to be found (which he didn't), then you didn't find him . . . Unless you were an energetic bunny who aspired to be a cop, he thought with a happy smirk.
Still, Markus had a hard time imagining Nick getting twitter-pated over a rabbit (when he'd placed his bet, he assumed Nick would fall for another predator). Prey, and especially rabbits, were some of the worst at stereotyping and abusing foxes, so for a bunny to steal his heart, it told Markus just how much faith and trust Judy had shown him—and the polar bear couldn't be happier. Nick deserved someone who could see the real todd he kept hidden from the world.
As large wads of cash continued to be shoved in his paws, Markus couldn't keep the stupidly happy grin off his face. He rarely won any bets, so this was a special occasion, making him feel like Christmas came early this year. The first chance he got, he was going to take his old friend out on the town and share the wealth with him. This was something to celebrate (his winning the bet and Nick finally finding a girl worthy of him).
…...
Bogo hurried from the diner and was hard pressed not to run across the street to the courthouse. Judge Princeton was in no less of a hurry. They had all been caught up in the judge's telling of Nick's courtroom exploits that they'd lost all track of time. Not until Daphyd received a call informing him he had court in five minutes and where the blazes was he? Bransen was the only one able to leisurely stroll back to Precinct 1.
Bogo climbed behind the wheel of his cruiser and cursed while thinking of the meeting he was now running late for. He was sorely tempted to flip the lights and siren on but figured that might induce a panic when he stopped in front of city hall. The savage attacks were still fresh in everyone's mind, not to mention the loss of another mayor.
Sitting at a red light, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, then twisted his hooves around the wheel, all the while grinding his teeth in impatience. The light seemed to be taking forever, but when it finally changed, he wasn't able to get through it before the light turned red again, with still two cars in front of him. Glaring death at the insufferable light, his phone rang shrilly. Grabbing it, he just barely stopped himself from yelling "What!" into the phone. Realizing the incoming call came from the mayor's office, Bogo took a deep breath and hit accept. Putting the phone to his ear, he said in a much milder tone, "Hello?"
He listened, then replied, "I know I'm late for the meeting. I'm stuck in traffic." He paused, then answered, "I know city hall is only a few blocks away from Precinct One. But I'm still stuck in traffic." Pause. "Yes, I will be there just as quickly as I can. Thank you." He terminated the call and glared at the phone (he hated talking to the intern-mayor's uptight secretary), then jerked as the car behind him repeatedly honked its horn. Glancing up, he saw the light was green and quickly pushed his hoof down on the gas pedal and nearly peeled out.
The only silver lining to the whole irritating mess was that he wouldn't need to schedule a meeting to discuss Wilde's application and request for immunity. He would bring it up today after the council finished discussing the idea of bringing in the feds. And with what Judge Princeton had told him about the smug todd, he had much more ammunition to level at them in favor of pardoning the red vulpine and ensuring his spot on the force. With this tiny ray of sunshine, Bogo pulled into the underground parking garage and killed the engine. After quickly opening the lockbox, he then pulled out the evidence and carefully placed them in his two large utility belt pouches before hurrying inside.
WingedKatt again. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the glimpses it showed into the life of some of the characters who have been, or are, a large part of Nick's life. Next chapter we'll get to see how Judy keeps her specist brother in line before Finnick and Judy have an interesting conversation. So look forward to learning more about Nick and Finnick's younger days.
Chapter 38: Saint, will post on Saturday. If you have any thoughts or questions, let me know. Have a great week.
PS: Thanks to BearlyThereUpstairs for proofing this chapter. I've added over a page worth of details thanks to his suggestions. :)
