The Colors of Payment

"Get your news here! Fennec Fox goes free!" A weasel barked on the street corner just outside of Savanna station. Jack curiously approached him. The nocturnal mammals of Savanna District were just starting to become quite noisy. Streets were filling up with many species of night-walkers as the diurnal mammals turned in for the night.

"Sir," the weasel waved at Jack and offered a copy of the newspaper. "The latest reports say that a fennec fox named Finnick made a suspicious deal with known arms pushers and walked free!" Jack gave the weasel a friendly nod and paid for the paper. On the cover was a short fennec fox shown walking out of the courtroom. Two officers; a bear and a lion were caught in the photo with confused expressions on their faces. The headline read, "What The Fox?"

Jack thanked the weasel and walked with the paper in paws. He had only heard in passing the details of the case when it started just over a month ago. This was the first time Jack took a moment to focus on the verdict. His ears twitched, and he wrinkled his nose when he learned that Finnick owned a fabric shop in Savanna that sold various materials in the raw. His concentration was broken when he clumsily bumped into a gawky tall female deer.

"Ah!" She turned startled.

"Sorry, excuse me." White spots sparsely decorated her creamy brown fur. She wore thick black rimmed glasses and had a small peculiar fox tail piercing dangling from her ear.

"Oh! Hi!" She waved at Jack, who winced from her loud voice. He lowered his arms while clutching the paper with trembling paws, still holding it open to the page. "Getting lost in a good news story?" she giggled.

"Yes?" Jack raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.

"You look so familiar. I can't help but ask, are you that popular M.I.C official, Mr. Savage?" She stared with her mouth agape. Her teeth looked too large for her mouth. "I'm such a nerd for politics!" Jack nodded and softly sighed, "Yes, you caught me. But I'm not a politician. I just deal with them all the time."

"Oh my goodness! You are tall for a bunny." She folded her hands in her lap excitedly. Jack squirmed as she stared at him, looking up and down, admiring his outfit.

"I'm actually a hare." He restlessly tapped the floor with his left foot. She eyed the paper in his paws and said,

"It's too bad the shop closed." Jack blinked and asked, "It closed?" He concealed his disappointment with the news. But it was beginning to sound to Jack like this deer could be informative.

"Yes. Not forever though. It's only for a few days. Did you need something from there? I love going there. Great stock if you're into parties. Your sharp suit says you are!" Jack cleared his throat, "Thank you, Ms..."

"Oh, I'm Amanda," she waved bashfully. "Anyway, if you really want something maybe you can try contacting one of Finnick's friends? I know someone you could talk to about Finnick like, right now!" Jack smiled. What luck! He tucked the newspaper under his left arm and said, "Alright. If you lead me to someone useful, I'll treat you to something nice. How about it?" The deer cheered saying,

"That would be lovely!" Jack nodded like a gentlebuck and pointed past them with his right paw turned upward.

"Lead the way, Amanda." Jack walked off balance with hurried steps as he was tugged along by Amanda. She eagerly led him down a busy street in South Savanna.

"Yes, he hasn't closed his stall yet." The deer turned to jack and pointed to a large mobile food truck.

"Amanda!" Nick greeted her with a smile.

"Nick, sweety! This handsome hare needs some help with something. Maybe you two could get to know each other? I'd stay, but I really need to head home and take care of my baby bro! See ya, honey." She waved goodbye to Nick and Jack then turned to walk away.

"Oh, wait." Jack stopped her. He reached into his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. "For your troubles." Amanda stared wide-eyed,

"Wow, thank you, darling!" She hugged him, to his displeasure, then pocketed the monetary gift and walked away humming to herself. Jack chuckled and shook his head.

"Quite the cheery character isn't she?" Nick said.

"Oh. Yes, she is."

"So, stripes, what can I do for you? And how about some food before I close up?" Nick smiled wearily. Jack raised a brow and tilted his head slightly to one side,

"Stripes? Cute." He rolled his eyes. "Do you happen to know where I could find Finnick? The one that owns Finnick's Fabrics?" Jack reached into his pocket once more. Nick suddenly stood still. His shoulders hunched up.

"A female bunny cop, of all things, came here yesterday asking about a fennec fox. And like I told her, I don't know anything about what happened to him."

"I just need a favor. And I'm willing to pay." Nick leaned forward in his truck. His curiosity appearing to swell.

"Go on..."

"I wanted to make a private request. Off the books. I am only looking for certain materials for some special clothing. I need rubber and latex. Can you pass this message along?" Nick looked at Jack suspiciously,

"Who is asking? The last people Finnick dealt with led to him being cuffed and tossed into a courtroom." Jack furrowed his brows and stared hard at Nick,

"You can call me a powerful friend or just an eccentric customer. Regardless, I'm not dirty. But this needs to be private." In an extra effort to disarm Nick's suspicions, he said, "I'm just really shy and uncomfortable about my interest in theatrical performance. I'm a performer and don't want to be seen carrying my costumes around. And I don't want the public knowing my secret interests," he winked at the fox. Jack pulled three one-hundred dollar bills from his pocket. Money that he planned to donate at the Sahara Sand Hall. He slipped the bills onto Nick's counter. "Please?"

Nick looked at the money hungrily. He quickly stuffed it into his pockets and said,

"Well, off the books is what I do. I'll call Finnick tomorrow morning. See me when I open up at one in the afternoon. Tomorrow. Your secret is safe with me."

"Good boy." Jack nodded and calmly began walking away.

"You know, I'm only doing this for the money," said Nick.

"It makes no difference to me so long as we work something out."

"See you."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Nick. Thank you. Just keep your word."

"I always do." Jack's cell phone vibrated violently in his pocket. Selene was sending him an emergency text:

"Jack! Judge Hilo was just attacked and he lost his home in a fire!"