Sorry for taking longer than normal but I couldn't focus on this as much as I wanted to.
Surprise?
Idris couldn't believe his fortune (or misfortune).
The upper echelons of law enforcement has known that Nathan, Walter, and Frank had been in the shadier side of things. They never found out what exactly but being around those three himself, he just knew that something wasn't right with them. They even made him uneasy, and Frank especially was something else entirely.
He had never told anyone else and only to those in higher positions than he even dared to. More than once had IA found officers in the pockets of the mammals in question but once again they did not have any evidence. Needless to say that nothing was done other than those Officers finding themselves transferred to a dead end position and where they were under watch twenty four seven, never to have privacy again (not that they were privy to that tidbit) if they weren't outright charged and arrested.
Hopps' has just started something comparable to the Nighthowler event. While it wasn't as disturbing, it was no less significant. The estimated number of victims who had been affected by the billionaires was staggering, but nothing confirmed. If things works out for them, then maybe they can get the drop on them.
And maybe with the help of the Bureau, this can be over soon.
...
"What do you mean refuse?" Judy crosses her arms, staring Nick down as if he said something that was akin to a random mammal calling her cute.
"What will you do if I refuse to come in for questioning?"
"You're going to help them by not saying anything?" She couldn't believe him. After all they've been through, she'd of thought that he was more willing to help others. Kind of a big deal when he's looking at becoming an Officer himself, who's supposed to help everyone.
"I am not helping them! I'm making sure that I stay alive and in one piece."
"But you will always live in fear, wondering if today is the day that you or someone who is close to you are no longer safe." Did he think that he'd never be in danger? That all he'll do is write tickets and sit in the cruiser or behind a desk all day (never mind that's exactly what happens most days)?
"And what do you think will happen if I testify against them? Do you think that they'll go belly up?"
"If only it were that easy. But anything worthwhile never is." Judy places her paws on Nick's arms She decided to pull out the big guns, dropping her ears behind her, she looks at him with sad eyes, a small frown, and quivering nose "Could you still refuse knowing that it means that they'll continue to do what they did to you, to others?"
Nick tries to be an unwavering brick wall, but that's useless in the face of Judy's pleading eyes "You never take no for an answer, do you?"
"Have you ever told me no and got away with it?" Her sad expression changes one eighty into one is triumph and just a touch of smug.
He felt the corners of his lip try to lift up but the weight of the situation keeps them down. He felt tired and drained, this conversation must have aged him to at least his forties. All he wanted to do was sleep and never wake up but nnooo, Judy just had to poke her adorable nose in places it should never be.
It didn't take much for Judy to get him to change his mind, but that last thing thing she said made him consider something else that they didn't consider. Wether or not he cooperated with her investigation, she will continue and she won't know what to expect. These aren't the thugs that she was trained to deal with, and they will be experienced and packing something more dangerous than the tranq and pepper spray that she's issued.
"If I help you, there are some things that I want you to do." Being prepared is the first step to success. Wether it's gathering intel for dangerous mammals for other equally dangerous mammals or participating in a TUSK raid. Being prepared is the difference between walking away fine or ending up in a ditch.
"Just because it's your Mating season, doesn't mean that you can-"
"It's nothing like that, it's just that there are some things that you are not prepared for and if you insist on doing this, you must do these things if you want my help."
"..." Judy's rapid foot thumps relay just how annoyed she is "What is it?"
"You need to carry a gun."
"I already have a tranq."
"I mean a firearm."
She frowned "The ZPD only issues out firearms to TUSK."
"However... Being an Officer such as yourself means that you are allowed to acquire a personal firearm without needing to get a permit or go through the waiting period. And if I'm not mistaken the ZPD allows its officers to use fursonal gear."
"Only with permission of the Chief."
"And once he sees the severity of the situation, I'm sure he won't have a problem with it. Anyways there's a couple of things that I'll teach you that might come in handy later on such as lock picking, how to get out of cuffs and binds, and how to stalk."
"There's no way I'm going to carry or even own a firearm. And why do I need to learn that stuff? Other than how to stalk, I don't see how that'll benefit me. And why do you know how to get out of cuffs?"
"I know it because I needed it, that's all you're getting out of me. Knowing that stuff is not useful to a regular beat cop, but the way that these mammals roll demands that you learn this stuff if you want to live."
"Why?"
"They like to take mammals in alive."
"And do what with them?"
"They take what makes your species pride themselves on, so it depends. If you are a Rhino, Elephant, or some other mammals with tusks/horns then they'll take that. Foxes, Lemurs, Beavers, etc. get their tails removed. Teeth for Bears and Hyenas. Or in your case, Bunnies, lose their ears. They've even skinned mammals when they're in particularly bad mood."
"If you knew all of that, then why haven't you come forward with that information?"
"I don't have proof. I was told by some mammals who worked for Mr. Big, so keep in mind that some of it may be exaggerated."
"I thought about asking him if he knew anything about them, but I haven't decided if I'm going to or not."
"Don't."
"Why not? You just said that's where you got that information from."
"You may be little Judy's Godmother, but nothing Big does is for free. If you ask for his help, then sometime later he will ask for something in return. Do Not Trust Him, he is a mob boss for a reason."
Judy was about to object, but thought better of it. Nick knew Big longer and the fact that Big was going to kill the both of them didn't help.
She sighed and resigned herself to Nick's demands "Okay, but I will not budge on the firearm issue."
"Just call it a gun."
By now Nick has also resigned himself to his own fate. So naturally the first thing he did was to lay back against the couch.
"...That's it? What you went through was traumatizing, and not to complain but I thought that you would've put up more of a struggle."
"Don't tempt me, if I still had half a mind I would." He pulled his prescription out and shook it.
Judy frowned and slugged his arm "Don't say that, you make it seem like you won't recover."
"First of all: Ow." Rubbing his arm, he continued "And second: The Vets pretty much told us so."
"So what? Couldn't you have just a little bit of hope?"
He waved her off "You have enough for both of us so I think we'll be fine."
"So you would say that you are a cyNick?"
"You know it."
*knock* *knock* *knock*
Two pairs of ears swivel toward the door.
Nick stood up to get the door but he paused. His eyes sharpened to slits and his nose flared. The scent was of someone that he won't forget anytime soon. He didn't bother looking through the peep hole and opened the door.
...
Frank gazed at the bodies on the floor.
He liked Petey more than most, but not enough to let him live after the blunder than he allowed to take place. The Fox was tied and hanging in the air, so how could he get away? And to be able to kill on the way out?
"Foxes..." That species seems to have a special talent of getting underneath his hide. His tail flicked in agitation. No matter, he won't live long anyway. Not without medical attention, and then moment he gets to a hospital he'll know.
At least the phone gave him all he needed. After he had gotten the phone back from his techs he was able browse it's contents at his leisure.
...
Nick looked at the visitor with disdain.
"What do you want?"
Judy tried to look on from behind, but was unable to see who was at the door.
"I need your help." The voice was softer than one would think for someone of his size
"You're not getting it." Nick closed the door in his muzzle.
"Who was that?"
"No one important." *knock* *knock* *knock* "Ignore it." The knocking didn't stop.
Nick was fine with the sound being a background noise, he even left to shower. Judy had also been fine for awhile but the sound was starting to grate on her nerves, and her large ears didn't exactly help.
She opened the door with an obviously strained smile "Hi, I'm sure whatever you have to say is important but we would appreciate it if you would stop.. knocking.."
On the other side of the door is someone she never met in mammal, but was familiar with him by the picture in his warrant. The Opossum in front of her was just a tad bit taller than her (minus the ears), but was much more robust than the both her and Nick.
The visitor is Kylie Wolodarsky.
When Nick gets out of the shower, he sees Kylie in his living room, sitting down in the floor with his paws cuffed behind his back. Judy was talking to someone in the phone as she kept an eye on him.
"Why is he here?"
Her eyes flick to him just for a moment before snapping back to the marsupial "Hold on Ben." She covers the phone's microphone "He has a warrant for his arrest. What's that?... oh I'm just talking to Nick... Ben says 'Hi'... Nick says 'Hey'." He actually didn't "Ok, I'll see you later." She hung up the phone.
"So... I didn't actually get to say hi."
"Usually that's the first thing you're supposed to say with you see someone." Nick's ears flittered in annoyance.
"I know, but this is important, it couldn't wait!"
"Whatever you're selling, I'm not buying."
"It's about Kris!"
Judy's ears perked "What about him?"
"He's hurt. Bad."
"Where is he?"
A look of uncertainty crossed his muzzle, but eventually his worry won out over his distrust of the cop.
"He's at the old safe house. The others are trying their best to help but we don't have anyone who knows more than first aid."
Nick scowled. He knew of only one of the safe houses, but he also knew that they had many more. The only reason to return to that one was because they didn't want him to find out about the other ones.
Judy however, focused on a different part of what Kylie said "Others?"
End Notes
So I wasn't doing nothing this entire time. I have about 2,700 words for ch. 2 of "Commitment" but idk how long it'll take to hit that 8k mark.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter
