Shards and Fury sat by the fire asleep when the door burst open. Fury screeched and fell back on his chair while Shards held a flick knife out.
"I'm a member," said Alex looked at Shards. "Put the thing away."
"Don't you know better than to frighten an old man?" said Fury angrily.
"Live with it," said Alex. "Noah's alive."
"What?!" snapped Shards. "To think I paid good money for such a plan?"
"What?" said Alex looking confused.
"Butt out, kid. It's between your master and me."
"It's fine, Shards, my dear," said Fury. "He's been doing some work."
Shards sat down frowning.
"He was asleep with some fat fox. Skips was there too watching them from the window, but he seemed sympathetic. We're in danger yet again. Robbing Dalmatians, robbing dumb bunnies, we foxes can't catch a break."
"Skips has gone wrong," said Fury. "If he continues we must lock him up until he is back to normal. Until then, Alex, you are to replace him."
Skips barged in, panting.
"Back so soon, Skipper? My faithful dog in a bunny body? My loyal artful dodger?"
"Noah's alive," said Skips. "I was only doing my work."
"And trying stop me telling your saviour?" said Alex.
"You're a telltale," said Skips. "Ever since we got him framed for the purse, I viewed things differently. We're eleven, while he's five. Too young for jail. And if he was to end up back here, he would be out of hear, because I AM THE SKIPPER!"
Fury grabbed Skips and held a steak knife to his neck.
"You were only a bunny when your parents moved into the next world and I intend to enforce that you keep your gratitude towards me."
He sat up and took Skips upstairs, knife still to his neck. He opened the attic door and threw him in.
"Try anything clever and your ears will be kettle gloves but if you do anything to help the fox, your neck will be cut open and we'll be having rabbit for Christmas dinner."
He slammed the door and locked it.
Skips threw his hat off and chucked it out of the window into a passing garbage truck.
Fury walked back downstairs and saw four wallets.
"Hope they'll do," said Alex.
"Very much," said Fury proudly. "Good boy, Alex. Good boy. Now leave me and Mr. Shards, private matters."
Alex left obediently.
"We must have that tiger and leopard steal him from Bunny Burrows," said Shards desperately.
"No," said Fury. "This time you and I shall do it. It will be to risky to use the same people a second time, my dear."
Though he looked uncomfortable Shards said "Okay. I will buy some tranquillisers. If I'm caught, forget the reward."
"No one fails in Fury's gang, my dear. Besides, the letter is safe behind the wall. Where is it going?"