Chapter 2.

Bartholomew Cortez.

A couple days later…

Liam Fontana. The Sergeant of the Los Angeles Police Department's 32nd District Intelligence Unit. Sitting in his office, he had been reading through a folder that was given to him by the higher ups from the LA P.D's Internal Affairs Department, or IAD as he called them. His newest boss, a LA P.D Superintendent named Kodi Fraser had practically been told by her bosses at IAD to hand the case off to the 32nd District Intelligence Unit. Considering that just last year, they had stopped a major notorious toon killing operation from getting their way. Fontana immediately smirked as he remembered three certain puppy looking toon kids who had helped him and his Unit take down the toon killing operation. He remembered that the LA P.D's former Chief of Police, Jared Monahan had been the ringleader behind the whole entire crime ring that was trying to kill toon stars left and right. But now, Monahan was history, and not to mention that he was dead, hence the reason why he was history. Fontana read through the file one more time. The white-ish gray haired man then typed in the name given in the file onto his desktop. Suddenly, through the web browser he used, a list of searches popped up on the screen. He clicked on the first link, and immediately, he was on a website that belonged to a seemingly genuine film maker. Then he saw the face of this film maker on the screen, then Fontana looked down at the photo of the same person. Suddenly, Fontana narrowed his eyes. The picture of the person on the screen was ironically, the same one in the file. This supposedly legit film maker—Bartholomew Cortez. Suddenly, a brown haired man entered Fontana's office, and gave him a piece of paper.

"This just came in from Major Crimes," he told his boss.

Fontana looked down at the paper that was given to him, then he looked up at the younger man who walked into his office.

"Alright, you, Detective Washington and MC did a great job, Detective Chase."

Fontana then motioned for Chase to look at the photos on his desktop and in the file. The Detective immediately stared at both photos.

"Tell me, is that the same person on the screen?" Fontana asked Chase.

Chase looked at both photos again, then he looked at his boss.

"Bartholomew Cortez, yeah that's him alright. Why, suspect or victim?"

Fontana flinched. "Victim. Someone's been sabotaging things in a film he's currently making. People have been getting hurt, or worse, they're seemingly getting themselves killed by 'accident.' "

Chase immediately placed a hand to his chin.

"I think I might remember Cortez. He's one of the guys who told us about Monahan last year, if I stand corrected?"

Fontana immediately opened up another file and showed Chase a photo of three young puppy looking kids. The one in the middle wore a cyan blue turtleneck and a red colored baseball cap, backwards. Chase immediately smirked.

"Ah yes, the Warners," Chase said.

Fontana's face then grew serious. "Well, Cortez's wanting them to be the lead stars of this film he's currently making."

Chase's face grew from the smile he had to genuine shock.

"With everything that you just told me that is going on? One of those kids are gonna get hurt or killed. Are you kidding me?"

Fontana only shook his head. "He's already contacted us; he thinks that they might be able to help expose the saboteur before it's too late."

Chase immediately nodded his head in agreement with his boss. "Well, that makes sense."

Suddenly, a blond haired woman walked in to the office, and with an African American man right behind her. These two were none other than Detective Skyler Washington, and Officer Zach Layton. Immediately, Washington gave Fontana another file.

"Sorry for interrupting you and Dolan's conversation, but that just came in from Forensics."

Fontana immediately opened up the file, and the first thing he saw was a photo of young red colored bird looking toon. Dead.

"Sheesh, please save me some grace. How the frick did this happen?" Fontana asked.

Washington locked eyes with her boss.

"Happened at the film sight that Cortez's at. He's here in Burbank. Not sure what he wants, but I think it's something to do with—"

Fontana interrupted her. "The Warners. Yes I know. He wants to have them be the main three lead stars."

Layton cleared his throat. "And that's not it Sarge; earlier this morning, someone reported to Patrol that they saw a toon's kidnapping take place from the safety of her house. The kidnapper didn't notice her seeing what went down."

Fontana took a deep breath. "Reese told me that earlier. She told me that the toon that was kidnapped was possibly Buster Bunny."

"Ah crud. Not another major toon hating crime ring?" Layton asked, annoyance in his voice.

"Seems like the saboteur just might unfortunately run one." Fontana said.

Chase raised his hand. "Wait. How did this guy contact you Sarge?"

Fontana only shook his head. "He, actually, never contacted me. He reached me through an old friend of ours. You remember Jasper Kell. He and Rachel used to be one of us."

Layton nodded his head. "Last I heard, they're both private investigators now."

Fontana nodded his head. "Yes, them, and IAD are the reason why we were handed this case. Cortez and Jasper are practically friends. They go way back to when Kell was in college to become an animator."

Washington immediately raised a hand. "How?"

Fontana clicked his tongue and smirked. "Cortez was Kell's teacher."

Suddenly, a gray haired woman dressed in a police uniform walked into the office. The woman was none other than Lori Reese, the Sergeant of Patrol for the 32nd District Bureau of Patrol.

"Hey Liam, you all got Jasper and Rachel waiting downstairs. Do you want me to bring them up or not?"

Fontana only nodded his head in approval. Immediately, Reese went back downstairs. A moment later, she returned with a brown haired man with a beard going on, and a brunette haired woman. The Intelligence officers knew immediately who these two were. They had been a part of the Intelligence Unit back in the day, but now, they were private investigators. These two were none other than Jasper and Rachel Kell. Immediately, all of them hugged the couple. However, their reunion was short lived as Chase reminded them of the case they were given. Soon enough, Jasper told everyone the whole story of what was currently going on, and soon enough, the Unit gathered up the information that the Kells had given them. Layton immediately cleared his throat.

"And how are your two kids?"

Rachel smiled. "They're both timeless. Fay just got into eighth grade. Grace is doing a lot better than before Jasper and I took her in."

Chase suddenly smirked. "And is she liking the Warners?"

Jasper chuckled. "Oh boy. She thinks they're hilarious, especially with their zaniness."

Fontana, Chase, Washington, and Layton smiled. They all knew Grace's story. Her family had been killed in a vehicle collision, and that the small African American girl had been the only survivor of the accident. And after Jasper and Rachel had took her in, Fay was super excited to have another sibling. Even to the point of where he, alongside Yakko, Wakko, and Dot all begged Jasper and Rachel to officially adopt her. And ever since then, that is what had happened. And now, Washington gave Rachel a warm smile.

"Be sure to let her and Dot know that I've got great plans for them this weekend."

Jasper and Rachel both smiled.

"Will do." Rachel replied.

Jasper suddenly whipped around.

"We're still going to that football game with Fay, Yakko and Wakko this Sunday, right?" He asked Layton and Chase.

The African American cop suddenly chuckled. "You bet."

Later on…

Wakko laid down on his bed. Being in his room, the kid had decided to go into his room and just lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He smiled as he remembered how he, and his siblings had met Fay, Jasper's nephew. Only now, Fay was no longer Jasper's nephew, but his son. Fay had lost his biological parents in a house fire that then triggered a few events to unfold. Of which included Wakko almost dying. He had been shot one night at a convenience store by a mysterious toon hater. Later on though, he eventually recovered, and the rest was pretty much history.

Then came Grace. She, just like Fay, had lost her family too. Her parents, and much older siblings had been killed in a car accident, and the little girl had been the only survivor. Wakko remembered when both Jasper and Rachel had took her in. He remembered how Fay had reacted to her when she came back with Jasper and Rachel. The boy had been told by his parents that Grace had lost her family, and immediately, Fay had lost it and went sympathetic on her. The first week of Jasper and Rachel becoming Grace's foster parents, Fay had grew close to the girl like an older brother would. Eventually, Grace ended up going with a relative of hers. Fay, plus all three Warners cried when they saw her leave for what seemed to be the very last time. But little by little did they know that Grace would return to them. Rachel had gotten a call from the California State Department of Family and Social Services, saying that Grace's aunt was placing her back into the system. It wasn't that Grace's aunt didn't love her seven year old niece—she did—but she had told them that she wanted what was best for Grace. The Kells eventually ended up taking Grace back in. But not without a surprise for Jasper. Jasper had been at the office of he and Rachel's private investigation business the day Rachel had gotten the call. So when he came home that night, he stepped into the house and saw that Yakko, Wakko, Dot, and his son were all sitting in the living room. Jasper asked what had happened, and immediately, Rachel had came into the room with little Grace. Jasper had the best shock of his life when he saw that Grace had came back. Rachel had told him why she was back living with them again. And right there, right then, that night, Jasper immediately implied that they adopt her. And as if now, several months later, she was officially a Kell.

Wakko immediately teared up and smiled as he remembered the day Grace had finally been adopted by the Kells. The last bit of papers were finalized at the courthouse by Jasper, Rachel, and the local judge. Everyone who was a part of the family attended the adopting of Grace. Heck, even the undercover cops from the 32nd District Intelligence Unit had attended it. When she was finally adopted, Jasper and Rachel made it clear that Zach Layton would be the one to take care of her and Fay if anything were to happen to them. Afterwards, they—plus the Warners—all went out to celebrate the finalization of Grace being adopted by Jasper and Rachel. Currently, Grace couldn't be any happier than to be Fay's younger sister, and Jasper and Rachel's youngest child. Also, Grace's aunt—who, practically lived right in Burbank—was accepted by the Kells. Every other weekend, they would go and visit her. And as a result, both Rachel and Grace's aunt—whose name was Kylie— grew close to each other, they were practically sisters to each other now. Kylie had also accepted the Warners as family also.

Suddenly, Wakko was drawn out of his going down memory lane as he heard someone knocking on the door to his room. He immediately sat up and answered. Soon enough, the door opened and the person who walked in was none other than Yakko. Immediately, Wakko's face lit up at the sight of his brother.

"What's up big bro?" Wakko asked, his British Scouser accent clearly heard.

Yakko only smirked. "Uhhhh… nothing really… except for the fact that Rachel's here."

Immediately, a door could be heard opening up and being slammed shut. And in the next moment, a little black and pink blur was seen practically running into Wakko's room and sitting right next to him. That person was none other than Dot.

"Did you say that she's here?" She asked excitedly.

Yakko suddenly smiled, snickering as he did so. "Well, yes I did."

Dot immediately cooed. "Oohh, are the kids with her?"

The Warner boys shrugged their shoulders.

"Don't know." Wakko said.

After a minute, the three of them left Wakko's room and headed for the door. Once they were outside on the balcony of the water tower, they immediately to a woman who had brunette colored hair that was up in a ponytail. And because of the cooler months, she had a black colored jacket on. As soon as they saw her get back into her vehicle, Yakko smirked as he thought of a scheme. He told his siblings about it, and both Wakko and Dot nodded their heads excitedly, all smiles.

Rachel Kell had been sitting in her Cadillac Escalade when she first pulled up to the WB studio lot. And her son, Fay, was sitting up front next to her, in the passenger seat. The reason why he was with his mother rather than in school today was because he had gotten into trouble with both his teacher, and the school principal. Fay had never really got into trouble with his teacher and principal. But he was. A couple of older boys had been picking on a younger kid. And Fay just happened to see them doing so. He had immediately went over to see what was going on, and realized that he had come across the bullies who had always been picking on the younger kid, whose name was Cedric. Fay knew that Cedric was a little autistic, and so, he had walloped the other two mean boys good. Then it happened, Fay had been caught by his teacher, hitting one of the bullies in the face. And so, Fay had been immediately sent to the principal's office. When the principal saw that the "troublemaker" was Fay, he immediately had the young boy sit in his office until Rachel came and picked him up, but not before being told by the principal that Fay was immediately suspended for a week. As soon as they left the school property, Rachel was more than disgusted—not at Fay—but at the fact that the school wouldn't do anything about Cedric at all. She also had a talk with Fay about what he had done at school earlier today. Fay immediately felt guilty and apologized. Rachel then noticed her son's state, and she immediately comforted him.

Currently, she found herself soothing Fay, who was crying. He wasn't crying about what he did, but rather, what his younger friend had went through. Rachel immediately felt a twinge of sympathy for her son.

Rachel immediately took a deep breath.

"Hey, sweetie? I just wanted to let you know that whatever you did earlier didn't make me mad. But should you have done that? No, but part of me is glad you stood up for Cedric. There are going to be people out there who will pick on those who the world would name social 'outcasts'. But you just can't do what you did earlier today, alright?"

Fay wiped a few tears from his face. "Got it. Won't let it happen again ma'am."

Rachel immediately smiled and started caressing Fay's face. "I love you tough guy."

Fay immediately smiled. "Aww, mom."

Suddenly, what looked like three little colored rubber balls hit the top of Rachel's Escalade, making her yelp suddenly. Fay, on the other hand, immediately laughed. Soon enough, the three "rubber balls" unwound themselves and revealed themselves to be none other than the Warners. Rachel immediately grinned nervously as she tried to compell herself from laughing out loud alongside her son. Rachel then rolled the window to the driver's door down, and soon enough, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot all peaked their heads in and smiled. Rachel then pinched the bridge of her nose and smiled.

"Ah you little dorks, get in hear before I report you in to Norita." Rachel joked.

"No! Not her! Not her!" Both Wakko and Dot yelped playfully in unison.

Yakko only smirked.

"What's the matter sibs?" He joked as they got into Rachel's Escalade.

After a minute, Rachel immediately drove off towards the private investigation office. Once they got there, the Warners were in complete shock as they got out of the car. Rachel, soon, led the way into the building. The first thing they saw was two desks sitting right next to each other. And there was a little waiting area for the cilents to sit at. Then, there were two offices that were in a hallway. Dot about took off towards Rachel's office, but Yakko held her back. They had been here before. When Jasper and Rachel left the Los Angeles Police Department, they had gotten their detective's exams and both had successfully passed, hence the reason why they were now private investigators. Wakko immediately took a seat in the waiting area. Yakko immediately joined him and picked out a magazine. Soon enough, the oldest Warner was intrigued by what was in the magazine. Wakko, on the other hand, just sat there, his head on the chair. Just as the Warners were getting used to relaxing in the office, Jasper could be heard walking out of his office and sure enough, he was standing in the waiting area, where he found the Warners just being themselves.

"So, what's up kiddos?" Jasper asked.

Yakko was suddenly averted from his magazine. "Uh… doing great."

Jasper only nodded his head and rubbed his beard. "Well, good."

Wakko was immediately pulled from whatever he was doing and looked at him.

"Why'd you say that?"

Jasper snickered. "Listen here Pipsqueak. You all are about to meet someone I used to work with."

Wakko immediately smirked when Jasper called him "Pipsqueak."

Jasper had nicknames for the Warners; Yakko's was Yakkinator. Dot's nickname was ironically, Dottie. But as for Wakko, as it was, his was Pipsqueak. Dot had allowed only a certain few people call her Dottie, and one of them happened to be Jasper. The others being, of course; her brothers, Rachel, Fay, and Grace.

Just as Jasper was about to speak again, Wakko spoke.

"Jasper?"

The man looked at him. "What?"

Wakko immediately smirked. "Prank!"

Immediately, Wakko sprayed Jasper in the face with a water bottle that the middle sibling had pulled out of his hammerspace. Immediately, Jasper only smirked.

"Hate to burst you all's bubbles here, but when we see my friend, you all can't do anything like this to him, okay?"

All three of them nodded their heads in agreement. Suddenly, Dot asked him a question…

"Nothing like that?"

Jasper gave her a raised eyebrow. "Listen here Dottie, nothing that involves you guys going zany on him."

Yakko smirked nervously. "So, why not?"

Jasper chuckled. "Yakkinator, you're full of surprises. This friend of mine was my toon animation teacher back when I was in college. That's why."

Dot suddenly laughed. "Oohh, is he another Mel Gibson?"

What the heck! Where did that come from?

Jasper about burst out laughing. "Oh heavens no!"

Wakko smirked. "Or what about Don Knotts? Is he a contemporary Don Knotts?"

This time, all three of them; Jasper, Rachel, and Fay had to cover their mouths in an attempt not to chuckle and laugh out loud.

"Geez! Wakko, no!" Fay chuckled.

Yakko suddenly smiled. "Okay sibs, that's enough now. Let's go meet this guy."

After a minute or so, everyone soon went over to Jasper's office. As soon as they walked in, the Warners saw that Detective Chase was present, so was Detective Washington. But there was an older looking man sitting in a chair. This man looked like a Hispanic, with the way his hair was curled up. But the strangest thing was that the man had a salt and pepper colored beard. Then, seated in another seat, was another man. He had brown colored hair, and he was wearing a blue colored plad shirt. Yakko immediately took notice that the man in plad was an undercover cop.

Wakko, on the other hand, immediately leapt into a chair and clenched both hands to the armrests.

"Ahh! Clown!"

Jasper's eyes immediately widened.

Suddenly, the man in plad smirked. "Oh heavens no. I'm no clown bud. Even though that was actually my dream job. I'm a detective with the LA P.D."

Wakko immediately swiped all remaining sweat from his forehead. "Sorry. Every time I see someone in plad, my mind always thinks that they're a clown."

Chase raised a hand. "Sorry kids, but I believe you all haven't met our newest member of the Intelligence Unit yet?"

Yakko, Wakko, and Dot only shook their heads.

Chase then smirked.

"Warners, meet Detective Ren Chaney; Chaney, meet the Warners."

Soon enough, all three Warners introduced themselves to Chaney, and he did the same thing.

Yakko then looked at the other man. "Then you must be Bartholomew Cortez?"

The first man immediately looked at Jasper.

"So I see that you told these kids 'bout me already?"

Jasper smiled. "I did Bart."

The Hispanic looking man—now known as Bartholomew Cortez—smiled.

"Well, nice to meet you all."

After everyone introduced each other again, then Chase and Washington told them what had been happening with the setting of Cortez's filming…

That someone had been sabotaging the stunt equipment.

That several good unknown, less known actors were getting hurt, or worse.

That a young toon star had been murdered.

That another toon star had been kidnapped, supposedly by the saboteur.

And that Cortez had gotten permission from Norita to have the Warners in the film.

Yakko suddenly smiled. "Oohh! This is gonna be great! Us! Being in a film, directed by a very good friend of Jasper's! Sibs! This is the best day of our lives!"

Cortez and Jasper shared glances.

"The reason why you're in the film is not to be famous, but to help Bart possibly expose the saboteur." Jasper reminded them.

Wakko and Dot immediately paid attention to Jasper afterwards. And sure enough, Washington took two files and placed them out on Jasper's office desk. Then Chase opened each file. And to the Warners' surprise, they saw two small photos. On one, there was one of a man with long, black colored hair. And he also had a mustache going on. And then, in the other photo, there was a man who looked almost bald. The only thing he had that was close to having hair was on his face. Yakko then read the name of the one.

"Ummm, Peter Tosh."

Wakko read the name of the other one who was almost bald.

"Jerald Rodney."

Chase eyed both Yakko and Wakko. "They're our two suspects. We believe that one of them is our saboteur."

Dot immediately looked at the picture of Rodney.

"Dang, he looks just stunning."

Yakko suddenly placed a fist to his mouth. "Oh! Please, no more sister sibling!"

Wakko then looked back at the picture of Tosh. "And he looks like a clown!"

Jasper immediately took a step back. "Whoa! Wakko! Dot! That's enough!"

Rachel, at that point, had Fay leave the room.

Washington immediately chuckled. "I thought they were funny."

Jasper eyed her and raised a brow. "Really?"

Chaney soon stopped the commotion and got everyone back on focus. And soon enough, Cortez gave the Warners three badges that allowed them in to the site of Cortez's filming.

"I'm expecting you three there first thing tomorrow afternoon." He told them.

Yakko, Wakko, and Dot all smiles as they, and everyone else left Jasper's office. They knew that they were going to be in a film, not to be famous or anything, but to blend in with the reat of the cast. And possibly help Cortez expose the saboteur. They had one heck of a day tomorrow afternoon.

And Yakko, Wakko, and Dot all knew it…

Okay! Really interesting real quick, eh? I bet you all are wondering what's going to happen, are you? As more of Here and Now comes out, you'll know. Until then, God bless.

JalcoFox.

Here's one thing. If my OCs had actors, this is who I would want them to be portrayed by…

Jasper Kell—Patrick John Flueger.

Rachel Kell—Marina Squerciati.

Liam Fontana—Jason Beghe.

Dolan Chase—Jesse Lee Soffer.

Skyler Washington—Tracy Spiridakos.

Zach Layton—LaRoyce Hawkins.

Ren Chaney—Jon Beavers.

Kari Lopez—Lissteh Chavez.

Bartholomew Cortez—Ricardo Chavira.