As the squad car sped off towards Humboldt Street Maggie Drake's mind was spinning about that little house fly. The last thing she had expected to see that day was a little blue bug holding a large piece of paper and placing it on the chief's desk. What was even more amazing is that the piece of paper had indicated where the robber's hideout was located.
"I guess ANY animal really can be trained." She thought to herself. "Though who on earth would keep a fly as a pet?"
What Maggie didn't realize was that the fly, was no ordinary housefly. He was a member of an interesting group of small animals that worked tirelessly to keep the city crime free. This group, known as the Rescue Rangers, were comprised of 2 chipmunks (Dale the red nosed fun lover and his best friend Chip the fedora wearing leader) 2 mice, (a blonde, sweet inventor named Gadget Hackwrench and a portly Australian world traveler named Monterey Jack), and of course the little fly (Zipper, who was also Monterey's best friend before even joining the Rangers). No case was too big or too small, no evil doer they couldn't defeat whether human or animal for the Rescue Rangers. In fact, many of the cases the Chief, Kirby and Muldoon were met with, the Rangers were already busy trying to solve.
Maggie was undoubtedly in for a surprise.
At the Robbers Whereabouts
"Man, what a haul!"
"We sure got that bank good."
"We could have done better."
"Aw come on Jimmy, the cops were coming, what do ya expect!"
The robber named Jimmy turned with an angry snarl on his face.
"I expected more cash, that's what Fred!"
He slammed his fist on the table angrily, causing the stacks of cash to fall to the floor.
"The cops are getting too close." Jimmy said. "We could have gotten more if someone hadn't tripped the alarm. I still don't get that, we had those tellers nowhere near them!"
The third robber, named Lonnie, laughed.
"You believing in ghosts now Jimmy, never took ya for the superstitious type!"
The next thing Lonnie knew he was on his back, his left eye turning black and blue where Jimmy had punched him.
"You think you got a smart mouth huh Lon?" Jimmy spat holding him by the shirt collar. "Maybe I should just leave you here in the city and let them cops find you?"
Lonnie fearful of another punch said nothing. He was already a wanted man for other thefts so fleeing the city without the help of Jimmy and Fred would be difficult to do.
"So where are we going to anyway Jimmy?" Fred asked. "Like ya said, the cops are getting close."
Jimmy released Lonnie and walked back over to the table in the dark kitchen.
"Dunno yet, but definitely gotta be out of the state." He said. "Out of the country even and soon…As in tonight."
"But the truck's a wreck!" Lonnie yelled nursing his hurting eye. "How we supposed to get outta here?"
Jimmy once again snarled.
"What do you think genius?" He said. "We'll just hijack another truck! Now quit yer whining and start packing the stuff…its time bid farewell to the Big Apple."
"That's what you think." Chip said. The Rescue Rangers had been tucked away in a corner of the hideout overhearing everything the robbers had to say. They knew they would have to act fast. The group huddled together and formulated a plan while waiting for Zipper to come back and confirm the cops were on their way.
Zipper was feet away from the hideout and already could hear the sirens blaring. He found the hideout and his friends waiting for them.
"Zipper me lad!" Monty said as Zipper flew onto his shoulder. He was panting, completely worn out from his long flight.
"They coming Zip?" Dale asked.
Zipper nodded.
"Alright!" Chip said determinedly. "Let's get to it!"
The plan was simple enough. Gadget would aim her plunger gun at the large lightbulb hanging in the kitchen. Because the robbers wanted to be inconspicuous they hideout was completely boarded up, windows included. That would throw them into pitch black darkness and the robbers into chaos. The Rangers in turn would emerge from their hiding place (using special flashlights that Gadget rigged up) and trip them up, and tie them down as fast as they could. By then the cops should arrive and arrest them.
Seemed simple enough, yes?
"Okay Gadget, go for it!" Chip yelled.
Gadget nodded, aimed the plunger gun and up it fired to the light bulb, hitting and smashing it into shards. Immediately the room plunged into darkness sending the robbers into a tizzy. Just as the Rangers were about to make their move, sirens were heard.
"Holy…it's the cops!?" Jimmy yelled. "How did they find us? Quick gather what you can and scram out the back way!"
Lonnie and Fred did as was told, petrified they would be arrested. Jimmy meanwhile started breaking down the back door. Meanwhile the Rangers scurried about as best they could to trip them up, but ended up nearly getting stepped on in the process. However, Monterey was able to pin Lonnie down and tie up his ankles.
"No one big or small can outrun Monterey Jack!" The large mouse said. Then off he went to assist his friends.
Meanwhile outside more patrol cars were arriving at the scene. Kirby, Muldoon, Maggie and Socrates prepared to make their move.
"THIS IS THE NYPD!" A voice boomed on a blow horn. "WE HAVE A WARRANT TO SEARCH YOUR PLACE! COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP OR WE WILL RELEASE THE K9!"
Maggie held Socrates lead tightly while the German Shepherd barked and pulled, ready for action.
Back inside Chip and Dale were trying to stop Jimmy from breaking down the backdoor while Gadget, Monty and Zipper were chasing down Fred through the darkness.
"I REPEAT THIS IS THE NYPD, COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP OR WE WILL RELEASE THE DOG!"
The tension was thick. Jimmy nervously clawed his way through the opening, wood flying everywhere. Just then Fred tripped over Lonnie and Monty and Gadget were able to tie him down. They raced over to where Chip and Dale were trying to subdue Jimmy. Finally, the chipmunks sought drastic action and began gnawing at his leg trying to get him to stop. Jimmy didn't care, just wanted to get out of there with the loot as fast as he could. Sunlight was beginning to peek through the openings and Jimmy could smell freedom. Through the light that now poured into the room he saw his comrades tied up on the floor with their mouths taped shut.
"What the…" He said. Just then he heard the sound of the front door being hit and realized the cops were trying to break it down. Just then he felt something furry on his arm and noticed a chipmunk in a Hawaiian print shirt trying to force the crowbar from his hands.
"Why you little rat!" With a growl he sent Dale flying through the air. Once he landed he slid onto the shards of broken glass from the light bulb. There he lay motionless.
"DALE!?" Chip screamed and ran over to his friend with his friends at his heels. Just then the front door burst open just as Jimmy pried the backdoor free and raced out of it. Kirby then appeared.
"SUSPECT LEAVING OUT THE BACKWAY, MAGGIE SEND THE DOG!"
"GO SOCRATES, FIND HIM!" Maggie yelled as she released the lead and the dog ran quickly inside the house. After a quick sniff of the perpetrators on the floor, Socrates raced out the back way, quickly catching Jimmy's sent. Maggie raced after him. A few yards from the house Maggie saw Socrates chasing after the robber who was quickly losing speed as he held the large bag over his shoulder. Just as Socrates was able to grab him by the arm and tried to knock him down, Maggie quickly caught up and grabbed the robber and within seconds had him cuffed on the ground while Socrates barked and ran around them.
"Good boy!" Maggie said happily to her panting dog. There would definitely be an extra special treat for him when they got to the squad car.
"PERP IS DOWN!" Maggie yelled to her fellow officers. She then reached down to the bag and looked inside. Inside were wads and wads of cash. With a smile she lifted the robber up on his feet.
"You have the right to remain silent." Maggie said reading the officer his Miranda Rights as she walked him back inside the house. On the floor she saw Lonnie and Fred being lifted up and walked out of the house by Kirby and Muldoon. Meanwhile more officers were finding stolen cash everywhere.
"What didn't want your buddies with you on your failed escape plan?" Maggie said. Just then something brown had caught her eye and she looked over to what she saw was a small lump in a corner. Handing Jimmy over to another officer she walked over to investigate with Socrates right behind her.
"What's this?" She wondered as she leaned down. Carefully lifting up the tiny blanket that covered it, she gasped. It was a little chipmunk, in a t-shirt, shaking and whimpering. (Dale regained consciousness, but had been unable unable to move because of the pain he was in, so the Rangers tried to drag him away from the scene and covered him up while they hid not too far away.)
"Oh my gosh!" Maggie said. Socrates tried to sniff it, but Maggie stopped him.
"Back Socrates." She said to him. The dog did as was told as Maggie snapped on some rubber gloves.
"You poor thing, how did you get in here?" Maggie asked as she touched him gently. Tiny spots of blood stained the gloves and she saw shards of glass sticking out of his fur.
The chipmunk squeaked and tried to scurry away from her, but the pain was too much and he fell back down.
"It's okay little guy." She said. "It's okay; I'm not going to hurt you. Can I just check you out really quick?"
The chipmunk looked up at her, obviously frightened, but didn't move.
Biting her lip, Maggie, examined him gently and saw that the shards weren't too deeply embedded in his fur, but he wasn't going to make it if she just left him there. There was only one thing to do.
"You're coming with me." Maggie said as she gently lifted him into her arms. Grabbing a handkerchief from her pocket she wrapped him up gently. Holding him carefully and warmly in her arms Maggie walked out of the house.
"Come on Socrates." She told the dog as they went outside to meet with the chief, who had just arrived, and the rest of the squad.
It didn't occur to Maggie that there were others, no taller than her shoe, following right behind her.