Chapter 60: VIP
As the lift started down, both Nick and Judy knew there was no turning back. Now they had to show as much skill as possible to get undetected to where the phone would be and there would be an opportunity to call the police. The unfamiliarity of this floor was something that was a little beyond them, but they believed they would be able to find the communication device quickly. If they were caught here, they would most likely no longer be able to make it back to the surface... Or at least in one piece. Therefore, they both stood on opposite walls of the lift so that they could immediately overpower anyone who entered the lift. If anyone tried to enter the lift they would have the chance to immediately incapacitate them and gain the advantage of a gun, here everyone had a gun but them. Although Nick was reluctant to use violence against the foxes he was aware that this unique situation left no doubt that it had to be done if necessary.
"It's OK Judy, not many people have been here, so we have to reckon that there could be an enemy around every corner. Our objective is simple - we need to find any phone to contact the outside world. They will certainly be able to locate us by IP, so all that matters is to send a signal. The phone will most likely be in the office where the main boss of this gang sits. From what I hear he sits on this floor all the time, so we have to be careful," Nick communicated. Judy understood, she communicated this with a short: "I get it", they had one clear objective, but all the time she was wondering - where are these kidnappers? After all, they had to be here somewhere, and she hadn't seen a single one anywhere!
Soon the lift came to a stop. For both of them, their hearts were beating faster, as if they were running or after some kind of sprint, meanwhile they stood in the lift waiting for its doors to open. They didn't know what they would see behind the door, they hoped that no one would be there, if someone saw them right away it would be hard for their special mission to succeed. They prepared themselves for potential protection and finally, the doors opened.
They were greatly surprised when they saw a white corridor in front of them, the walls covered with foil and the blocks of lime behind them made them feel as if they were in a completely different place! The white, cold light was hitting their eyes, but at the same time it made it possible to see anything here. This level made it clear that they were definitely underground. There was a distinct smell of soil. The cold lamps were the only sources of light on this level, it was noticeable. In the empty corridor were some palletised cylinders strewn about, from a distance they looked like gas cylinders, and on the floor itself were visible in large numbers the marks of sharp claws, most likely the worst ones had been led here judging by the fact that the marks some had perforated the floor! No matter what must have been going on here, the claw marks caused Judy and Nick to feel stress again and to return to their fighting positions. Fortunately there was no one in the corridor, the corridor was glowing empty, apparently there was no one in this sector, or so it seemed to them at least.
"We can probably move on" Communicated the fox quietly. The doe nodded with a movement of her head, both of them took a step forward, rubbing along the inner wall as they slowly walked towards a bend in the corridor that appeared to be something like the end of it. As they approached the bend, Nick leaned out from behind the wall and noticed a large brown door. There was light escaping from underneath them, someone was in there and having a good time because there was audible laughter.
"There's a door, and someone must be in there," Nick communicated. But it didn't end there. There was also a door next to them, but it was iron and opened with a card, and there was a card reader next to it. This door looked more intriguing, it looked like something guarding something urgent, it was so tightly built up that there was no way to see what was hiding behind it. Besides, there was some sort of logo on them, it wasn't a familiar logo to either doe anji to Nick.
"Let's try and get into the first ones and see what's going on in there," suggested Judy.
"In fact, why not. Maybe we can get a card for the latter ones there" concluded Nick. They both moved towards the door trying to be as quiet as possible. The advantage of the hard floor they were walking on was that it made no noise. They were virtually inaudible.
When they reached the door, Nick gently pushed it open. This gave him the cue to open them gently, just enough for them to enter the room.
When they stepped inside they were surprised by what they saw, in the middle of the room, what drew their most attention , was a ring! The ring was enclosed in a large cage and in front of it was a couch with some guests on it, who were watching the fight that was currently taking place. In front of the ring, Nick managed to spot two bodyguards who were also watching a fight between foxes, most probably also already treated, because they were growling at each other and making very uncoordinated attacks. Also, next to the couch was a bar with drinks for the thirsty, which surprised Nick and Judy, those floors looked really scary, as if it was an abandoned hospital, the one they were currently on looked like some kind of lobby or something! This floor rarely visited by ordinary foxes seemed to be the floor for VIPs who are important here and play a serious role in this venture.
The two of them hid behind packs of cardboard boxes that were in the corner of the room, the audience was so curious about the fight that they didn't even pay attention to the sound of the door closing!
In the arena, surrounded by a cage, there were two foxes who, without any conscience whatsoever, were fighting each other and the guests, seated on a sofa to their delight, were watching the skirmish. In their hands were drinks and on the table in front of them, which Nick also managed to spot a packet of cigars and fresh fruit. It looked like they were really vips, which slowly let both officers know who these guests were.
"You know what, it's definitely better than some boxing, it's a real spectacle. Bloody, action-packed," said one spectator from the couch.
"Exactly right, overall I'm having a great time here! It's just a shame that the rest of the miscreants have escaped from their cells and for the time being we have to be hidden here" replied another spectator disappointedly.
"Rest assured, the ZPD police without Judy and Nick won't even manage to grasp that we're not being kidnapped. Speaking of which. Why don't one of you go upstairs and see what's going on up there? Those twits up there don't seem to have a clue what they're doing," said the third fox.
"Those are the ones who are supposedly kidnapped!" Said Judy in a whisper to Nick. They were both shocked by this. They both knew it wasn't kidnappings and they were safe, but they didn't expect to be watching captive foxes fighting!
"Unthinkable..." Nick sighed. He had lost a bit of faith in his species seeing this sight. Usually foxes defended their own and not humiliated. It was a horrible and embarrassing sight for him, but at the same time it made him realise that there are good foxes in the world as well as bad ones.
Moments later, one of the guards was approaching the door to leave the room to check what was happening on the other floors. As he approached the door, Nick noticed a gold card on his belt, which most likely opened a second, side door. The guard opened the door and left the room. Saying nothing to the doe Nick stepped out from behind the cardboard box and walked towards the door. Judy embarrassed did the same as he did, Nick opened the door slowly and walked out with the doe.
When they emerged from the room behind the doe, the doe who had come out before them was gone - he was most likely close to the lift. They quickened their step still trying to be as quiet as possible, when they came out of the corner they saw him - with his rifle down he was marching towards the lift. He walked slowly, very slowly. Had it not been for the fact that he was whistling quite loudly he would have heard Judy and Nick's footsteps, but by his own sounds they remained unheard. When Nick was behind him the fox turned, but before he could do anything Nick hit him in the face with his fist, causing him to hit the wall and fall to the floor unconscious. What Nick did shocked Nick himself, he had never hit a fox before! The unconscious fox paralysed a shocked Nick for a few moments, but after a while he gained consciousness.
"Ugh...sorry," Nick said quietly. He crouched down beside him and put his hand to his neck - his pulse was palpable so nothing more serious had happened to him. Judy took the card and Nick took the rifle - just in case something went wrong. They walked back to the iron door, which was waiting to be opened. Judy put the card to the reader - this was the card. Once the card was accepted, the door opened and another corridor was revealed in front of them, but even whiter and narrower, and at the end of it was another door, on it was the same logo that was on the previous door. The door behind them closed. In theory, they were the only ones with access, so this was an opportunity perhaps to wrap things up. So much time and stress, perhaps this is the room where the main boss who manages all this is located. The case had been going on for so long, so much had happened in that time and maybe this is the moment when it will all end! Neither of them, neither Judy nor Nick, expected that this could be how their case would end, but would it? Nick had his rifle at the ready at all times , Judy walked ahead so that she could open the door with a card if necessary. The fox's right hand was shaking a tad as he held the rather heavy machine gun, a full magazine of ammunition made the weapon weigh a little, but also the stress factor made the fox unable to hold the weapon evenly. Judy saw this but was too stressed herself to be able to say anything about it. As they approached the door they were both surprised when the door opened of its own accord in front of them and they saw the study in front of them, behind which sat the fox with his back turned to them.