[AN

Hey guys! New chapter is there!

I apologized for missing last week's post, but it's been hell at work recently, I have been working extra time every day, which left me with little time to write. But after a week-end with friends and a very unwinding metal concert (for the curious: Infected Rain, Lacuna Coil and Eluveitie the same evening!), I am back to business!

And it's finally time to meet Mr Big.

Spoiler: revelations coming ^^

Enjoy!

AN]

The ride to Tundra-Town was silent and peaceful. Most mammals were busy reading the morning newspaper, listening to music on their z-pads or simply trying desperately to stay awake. The slight snoring sound from the rear of the car was proof enough that at least one individual had failed. The sun was still low on the horizon, and Nick had troubled keeping his eyes open. Three years as a cop had greatly improved his ability to get up early, slowly pushing his nocturnal instincts back. Of course, the main reason for this change of life used to be Judy. The little ball of energy just couldn't sleep for more than seven hours in a row, even on her days off.

Both of them had regularly crashed at their friend's apartment those past years, and each time she had literally dragged the fox out of bed to make sure they could start the day before eleven. Since she was gone, he had much more trouble finding sleep, and week after week his old habits had returned, though more sleep hours didn't always mean being fresh in the morning.

This was especially true after one of his nightmares, as was the case today. The case had not helped, as his brain had decided night was the perfect time to process everything he had learnt on Irina and the investigation, and review time and time again the course of action set up by Wolfard and he.

Interrogating Big had been the first item, as the victim was an acquaintance of him. Nick had immediately and a bit too eagerly volunteered, earning some suspicious looks from some of his colleagues. Sly as he was though, his mask had fallen in place within a second, and he had simply found the right argument to put an end to their questioning: after his little "we're in this together" speech, he just couldn't let the others take the hardest duties and sit in a chair all day, rummaging through archives to see if they could find any recent cases that might explain why Big's associate had been targeted.

"I have a reputation to keep", he had added with a slightly embarrassed grin, like he had trapped himself. The lie had slipped from his mouth with such ease that all officers had just roared with laughter. He had called Big while waking home the previous day, but had politely declined the offer to be picked-up by one of his limos, claiming it wouldn't be good for neither of us if they were caught. Both had then agreed it would also be best for Nick not to wear his uniform, and for Big to stay home and avoid unwanted attention.

So there he was now, waiting for the train to reach Tundra-Town station, an anonymous mammal in a heavy black winter-coat lost in the middle of other anonymous mammals dressed to face the cold just as much as he was. When the mechanical voice finally announced the arrival, he slowly stood up with a bunch of bears and wildebeests, and exited the car without bringing any attention. The fifteen-minute walk that followed managed to wake him completely, the cold air playing, much to his displeasure, at finding every little spot of fur that his clothes didn't fully covered and trying to make it freeze.

On arriving at the house's gates, a large polar bear simply nodded to him and with a tilt of his head, authorized him to enter. Once finally inside, he was thoroughly checked, which made him frown. Two bears flanking him and a third one conducting the search, this was highly uncommon, especially for him. He knew Mr. Big would always be cautious, and the recent events were just another reason to be, but it's been a long time since he had forgiven Nick and welcomed him in his home without feeling the need to verify he was no threat. This loss of trust, as Nick felt it, was a clear sign on the shrew's mood, and it only darkened his own.

This was going to be a very long day.

.

"I'm sorry Nicky, but I had to. You can understand that, don't you?" Big's voice was calm, but it was just a facade. As soon as Nick had entered the living room, his fur had stood on edge and his ears had raised high. Tension filled the air, as many bears were busy arguing and shouting on their phones, turning the once peaceful room into organized chaos. The shrew himself was as usual sitting in his minuscule chair, with another of his bear enforcers waiting behind, arms crossed on his chest, listening to everything said around. His eyes were cold with fury when they settled on the fox, which only added to his unease.

"I do, sir." That wasn't a lie actually. Nick knew Raymond had been working for Big for years and was of his most trusted advisors and handmammal. Not only was he now gone, but the message behind the act could clearly been interpreted as a direct threat to him and his family. Whoever had done it was not afraid of retaliation from the shrew, and was thus either really powerful themselves, or completely stupid. Unfortunately, the cop knew all too well which option was more likely to be revealed true in the near future.

"Sir, I know that you are busy…" His voice trailed as he eyed all the bears in the room one by one. "But as I'm sure you've guessed, this is no courtesy call." Big simply nodded, before snapping his fingers. Like one, all the exited the room, except for the bodyguard behind him.

"Of course Nicky. But I will handle it myself." His icy tone left no place to protest. This had been a personal attack, and Big was ready for vendetta. Still, Nick was a cop now, and knew he had no choice but to at least try.

"Sir, you know I can't let you." The shrew frowned and his paws turned to tiny fists as the anger brewing inside finally reached the surface.

"I'm pretty sure I misheard, Nicky. Would you mind repeating that sentence for me?" There was no threat behind the words, not yet at least. Big wasn't stupid. He knew pretty well that Nick was doing his job, and as soon as he had received the call he had known the fox had taken the case at heart. His visit here, without backup, without uniform and without gear, was proof enough of his respect for him. But he was just used to have all his orders obeyed without a word, and the defiance of the cop couldn't be ignored.

"Sir, you know I have no choice but to say this." Nick paused, waiting for a reaction of his interlocutor, but got nothing, so he resumed his futile but compulsory speech. "We at the ZPD can't let ordinary citizens make justice for themselves. I've been a cop for a while now, and I just won't stand it, even for you sir." Big snorted, but couldn't prevent a smile from forming on the side of his mouth.

"Cut the bull, Nicky. I know you're following your orders." He then jumped out of his chair and made his way to the edge of the desk, pointing a small finger at the giant fox in front of him. "But listen to me well, Nicky. Don't try and get in my way. I may like and respect you, have forgiven you for your past mistake, and appreciate you for not going after me after getting your badge, but this won't mean anything if you try to stop me. My family has been attacked, and I will find the mammal behind all this. He will pay, Nicky. Vengeance is best served frozen."

On that last sentence, his eyes briefly lowered to the hidden trap under the carpet, before he turned his back and walked back to his chair. Nick gulped. The size difference should weigh in his favor, but something cold and dangerous had always been emanating from this little shrew, inspiring fear and respect at equal measure. This morning, this feeling tended towards murderous, something primal in him shouting to stay back from the deadly creature standing in front of him.

When Big settled in eyes on Nick again, even the enormous bear behind appeared frail and innocent. It took all his inner strength to regain his composure and talk again.

"Sir, we can work together on this one."

.

Big raised his brows questioningly, the idea of working with the ZPD clearly not what he had intended nor expected.

"Sir, I want to bring Raymond's murderer to justice as much as you do, though our sense of justice might differ slightly." A snort was all he got for an answer, so he pressed on. "I won't ask for your bears to investigate with us, like I won't call for the ZPD to come question you, both options would be unproductive at best. But if you and I were to share the data we will collect one way or another in the days to come, then whoever did this won't stand a chance. And once we have identified him, first-come-first-served I guess."

Nick's ears flattened on his skull at this last statement, the idea of letting a criminal in another one's paws not really to his liking. He was putting his head on the line with such an offer, but he knew he had to go to such lengths if the crime-lord was to take him seriously.

"Hmm." Big was scratching his chin, his hardened look never leaving the todd, eyeing him from head to toe, judging his words carefully. With a sigh, he gave his answer.

"I don't know Nicky. I know I can trust you not to cross me a second time, but I can't see what's in it for you. You've got some rather good cops in your precinct, I believe you could handle this case without me. Plus, you're offering me the culprit's head, which goes against everything you stand for. Why is that?" The fox held the shrew's harsh glare for a few seconds, before sighing.

"I'm not doing it for you, nor for me, sir. I'm doing this for Fru-Fru". Big jumped out of his chair, his eyes opening wide. The bear behind straightened a bit, his paw slowly reaching for something hidden under his coat.

"What the hell, Nicky? Do you dare mock me in my own house in times like this?" The mob boss's outburst sent a shiver down Nick's spine. Nick raised his paw in front of him in a defensive manner, while taking a few steps back just to be sure.

"Sir, please, listen to me." Big's teeth were gritting, but he nodded nonetheless, giving the cop his only chance at explaining himself.

"Sir, your daughter still mourns Judy, you know it, right?" Another nod. "What will happen if the ZPD was to fall on you and your enforcers impeding on an investigation?" Big froze, the point finally sinking in his mind.

"Sir, what would happen to Fru-Fru if you were to be arrested?" This last argument scored. Big's anger subsided and was replaced by what could be considered for genuine fear for a second, before his taciturn mood took hold again.

"I don't fear the ZPD, Nicky. You can't do nothing against me."

"For now, we can't, you're right sir. But stumbling on your crew would change that, and you know it. This would grant us any warrant we'd request to search your house, limo business and everything else, with all consequences." Big was pacing on the desk now, his little fists clenched.

"Sir, this is no threat, I assure you. I've kept my word for three years and I don't intend to renege on it now, but you must understand I will be powerless should it happen. Your daughter has been through enough recently, she doesn't need another blow. I'm giving you a way to keep updated on the ZPD's whereabouts to avoid it. All I'm asking in return is your help to do my job, nothing more."

Fifteen minutes. It had been fifteen minutes since Nick had stopped his little speech, and he was still waiting, his interlocutor's silence driving him madder with each passing second. Resisting the urge to scream and demand an answer was taking all his strength, but he knew better than to push his luck. All he could do was wait and shut up, fidgeting with his paws behind his back.

All this time, Big had been walking the length of the desk, mumbling, waving his paws in the air as if arguing with some invisible force only he could see. He was trembling, mostly from anger, but Nick felt there was more to it. His words had hit a nerve. Family had and would always come first to the crime-lord. Threatening his daughter was a dangerous game, but he knew he would need to keep the shrew under surveillance or the whole case could spiral out of control. A collaboration was the only viable option, no matter how precarious. So he waited, and waited. Time seemed to move much more slowly now than it did earlier.

Until finally, Mr Big deigned make up his mind.

"All right Nicky, you may be right." The shrew was angry, and he pointed a paw towards the fox. "You will tell me everything the ZPD has planned and, if I like what I hear, I will cooperate. Now spit it out." Nick sighed of relief, though the boss' help wasn't acquired yet, and revealed all he had learnt on Irina from the previous case. He also promised to make copies of the different photos and reports, without giving any delay on such a hazardous task. He then explained the course of action that had been set up the previous day.

"We have sent help request to several private investigators in all the twelve districts, as well as a few informants from all around. I will also personally see if some old … contacts … are willing to help on this one." He had hesitated on the term. It had been a long time since he had to rely on his ex-colleagues, all con-mammals evidently, knowing well how he would be received after joining the blues. He just hoped that, like was the case with Big, the fact he hadn't bothered them even once would be enough to convince them they were safe to help him.

"We also intend to visit old hideouts that were believed to be used by Irina long ago, trying to see if someone had been there recently. Then, we will have to interrogate the vic-" A harsh glare from the crime-lord stopped him as efficiently as a shot from a dart gun. "… Raymond's relatives. Sorry, just a habit." Big snorted.

"I already talked to his wife, she doesn't know anything." His tone was venomous, and Nick understood it was not the ZPD's intention of questioning Raymond's wife that bothered him. It was that she had nothing for them, nothing for him, to work with. No suspect behavior, no change of mood, no new faces in the streets close to their house.

The murder had taken everybody by surprise, obviously to sow anger, doubt and fear in their hearts, and it was working perfectly. Stopping Big's retaliation would be like stopping an avalanche: futile at least, suicidal most certainly. But that would require room for vengeance at first, and right now they had absolutely nothing. Nick gulped, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by the shrew, earning him another snort.

"Go on, Nicky. Just ask and be done with this farce." Nick hesitated a few more seconds, choosing his words carefully.

"How about you sir? Can you think of any recent … activities… that would have … triggered … such response?"

"No."

Nick froze. The answer was not unexpected, but the lie behind it was. He was an expert at reading mammals, and the mob boss was hiding something, he was sure.

"Sir, I thought we had an agreement."

.

He tried to stay professional, but a hint of disappointment was still audible in his voice.

"Are you calling me a liar, Nicky?" the shrew narrowed his eyes on the fox, who, for the first time, felt more anger than fear and hold the gaze.

"With all respect, I do sir. I heard it in your voice. You know you can't fool me sir, I know when mammals lie to me. That was my main asset when working for you, and with my cop training I'm even better than I used to be." The two mammals stared at each other for quite some time, before Big finally flinched.

"Nothing important Nicky. Rumors and fairy tales, nothing more." He turned his back and walked to his chair, sinking into it with a small thump. Seeing Nick staring at him, he sighed.

"You won't let it go, will you?" The fox shook his head. With another sigh, the shrew decided to fulfil his part of the deal. He at least owed it to Nick.

"Fine, fine." His eyes lost their focus as memories from an old and forgotten past were brought back. After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat.

"There have been suspect activities in Sahara Square and the Rainforest district the past year. A bit more drugs on the streets than usual, car thefts, a few armed robberies, which are as rare as the weapons themselves in this city, and stuff like that. Nothing that would catch the police's attention, but in my world these are signs. Signs that someone somewhere is trying to build something." Seeing Nick raise his eyebrows, he sighed yet another time.

"I told you Nicky, I don't have much."

"You talked about rumors and fairy tales, but all this seems pretty real to me." Nick didn't have to say more to make his point.

"The underworld population is scared Nicky. I don't like it. So I tried to discover who that mammal could be, and sent my men several times and called in favors from locals. That's when the rumors started." He paused again, eyeing Nick from head to toe.

"I laughed at first, threatened to ice some mammals, made a notorious dealer disappear for a few days, and before you say anything, yes he is still alive and yes I have freed him since. But no matter my efforts, only one name keeps being murmured. One name I thought I would never hear again. Red."

Nick chuckled. "Sorry sir, but seriously? Red? What is it, some fan of bad thrillers? How can someone who dare challenge a crime-lord come up with such a lousy nickname?"

"How old were you when I took you in, Nicky?" The question took him by surprise, his eyes wide with shock. He needed a few seconds to finally make his brain work again.

"Eleven, sir. Why?" Mr Big didn't answer at first, still staring at the fox in front of him.

"Hmmmmmmmmm." Nick's fur was standing on edge. There was something odd with Big's behavior and lack of accurate answer, and anything able to disturb a mob boss was to be feared. Finally, the shrew decided it was time to break the silence.

"A few years before I welcomed you, I had a rival. A powerful one. Another crime-lord with an empire as developed as mine now is. This adversary was the toughest I ever faced, a master trickster and a ruthless mammal when necessary. We battled for dominion over the city for years before I managed to learn he had a family. I pushed my luck and sent an enforcer to ring at their door, pretending he was at the wrong address and walk away like nothing had happened.

This did the trick though. Red started panicking and made several mistakes in his haste. I gathered enough evidence and anonymously sent them to the ZPD. They stormed his lair the following night. Red escaped, but most of his lieutenants ended in jail. It didn't take long before his whole cartel crumbled without his iron hand to guide them. Whatever was left, like the limo business, became mine."

Nick was now sweating. His brain had decided to put two and two together without his approval, and he didn't like it. A rival with a family? Take him in later? And the color red? Dread was clutching at his heart. Mr Big saw all that, and turned his head, something close to shame on his face.

"A few years later, my men bring you to me and you reminded me of him. Physically first, but after your first successful jobs, I saw more in you, the same wit, the same spirit, the same smugness. Fru-Fru was a bit younger than you, and something in me screamed, fearing that you would grow bitter and more dangerous than a simple hustler, urging me to kill you before you became a threat to my family. But you were young and innocent, how could I lower myself to such lengths? So I took you in for good, hoping I could keep you under my wing and make sure you would never become like him." He then turned his head and locked gaze with Nick.

"I'm sorry Nicky, but I fear your father might be back."