3. Setting the Trap

== Judy ==

From where I was standing, I could distinguish little details of the two mammals other than that they were both male and about my own height. Our plan relied on catching them red-pawed. If we didn't, then we wouldn't have enough evidence to lock them away. The victims that had reported the nifty frauds hadn't been able to provide us with descriptions good enough to build a case, and even if they had, then it would be tricky to get a conviction. Summarizing, we had to seize them in the act. Yet the problem that this approach brought along, was that we had to wait for them to make a move. And sticking around led to suspicion Nick had said. With every passing minute, the chance of getting identified as being more than mere bystanders grew larger, but neither me nor Nick was willing to feign leaving with the risk of losing them if we'd return a while later.

Nick nudged me. I glimpsed at him as he turned to face the opposite direction of me.

"I'm going over." He whispered.

"What? No. You can't." I hushed, pretending to wipe my nose.

"Trust me, I know just the type of fool they're looking for. You wait over there, by that fruit cart. I'll get them pull their trick on me."

My gut told me to stop him, though my head knew I couldn't. It was hard enough to talk him out of anything on a regular day, let alone that arguing out here would tear our cover to shreds. As he circled to enter Sahara Square's busy market from another direction, I went over to where he had asked me to be. Once there, I learned how excellent the position was Nick had chosen for me. I was well hidden among the customers, even capable of pretending to be one, and I could keep an eye on the deceptive duo further by the alley. That fox was a real strategist. In the blink of an eye he had selected this spot as a perfect vantage point. He managed to impress me over and over with that sly mind of his. The only downside was that he knew I admired his cunning. Hopefully I could impress him as well every now and then. I certainly did my best to do so, like this morning at the shooting range. I remembered his open jaw all too well.

I shook my head. I couldn't afford drifting away in my fantasies, I had to stay tuned. I tried to find Nick. It was nigh impossible, yet with much effort I caught snippets of him as he prowled to the other end of the plaza. This too was excellent thinking of him. Coming from the side would be far less intimidating than heading towards them in a straight line. It did require patience and a cool head though. Probably the reason why Nick was so much better at it than me.

During his maneuver, I took the opportunity to take in more details of the criminals. The more time I spend watching them, the more features I managed to record. From their body language, I could derive that one of them was bossing the other. The response he got to that, was a hostile one, indicating they likely weren't good friends. This we could use to our advantage once we got them in custody. Sorry, if we got them in custody. Chief Bogo, as well as nearly every other cop whom I had worked with, had warned me not to jump the gun too much. They were right for saying it, I did it more than often. Unfortunately, it kind of went by itself.

I also started making notes in my head of their clothing. The both wore an ecru hoody, with a camo pattern of brown and black and shabby, blue jeans. The only difference was the combination the spots and stripes on their torso. It was hardly notable to the untrained eye, although police training had taught me to pay attention to such small details as they could turn out to be vital.

Suddenly one of them looked straight at me. I reacted by digging my eyes into the pineapples before me. My heart throbbed in my throat. I had looked away too fast, I knew I had. My cover was blown; they'd surely suspect something now. There was no alternative besides having scared them off. Nick had warned me not to stare at them for too long. Instinctively I maintained the pretense of being a customer, merely because I hoped to fix my mistake this way. By the least, it lured in the owner of the stand, an old camel with a straw hat and a richly stained apron, who was eager to sell me the food at a 'fair' price. My own expertise told me however, that he was asking way too much for the quality he offered. As I let my pupils roll over the various grapes, I fought the urge to glance at my true goal. I gritted my teeth. I wanted to know so badly.

"I'm sorry, do you happen to have dry-roasted dates as well?"

"I'm not sure, I'll have a look."

As he left, I found the timing right for a quick peek. I heaved a sigh of profound relief when I discovered that they hadn't even moved by a single step. In fact, they had focused all their attention on someone, far right from me. It was Nick. It was funny to witness him play an overpaid simpleton, nearly waving around his wallet with a sign rob me. It was a clear charade to me, yet that was because I knew that it wasn't real. I could understand how those who didn't could fall for it. In my opinion, he was laying it on too thick, but perhaps that was what made it credible. If it was sufficient for the hustlers to mark him as their next prey. So far, that seemed to be the case. Now all I had to do, was wait for Nick to give me the cue.

== Nick ==

With all my experience in framing people, I knew precisely which were the best and easiest animals to pick on. Gullible, ignorant tourists with wallets full of cash to buy souvenirs at market stands like these here at Sahara Square. They were to us what honey was to a bear. Irresistible. Having seen so many of them in my churlish years, I had learnt the traits they all had in common. A slow and lanky walk, a bump in your pocket caused by all your petty cash, and, top of the list, the expression of sheer amazement aroused by everything that was new. Knowing this, I played my role without difficulties and I detected that my former brothers in crime had already taken an interest in me.

'That's right. Come and get me.' I thought proudly.

The idea of dupable newcomers, automatically sent my mind back a few months ago. The moment I had pulled my last trick in my fraudulent career of successful hustling. A naïve rabbit, whom I had victimized without a moment's thought, only to find out that in the end I would be the one who had been the real casualty of that encounter. I might have won that first battle, but since I was now a cop and her best friend, it dawned on me that I had lost the war. Metaphorically speaking of course, I considered my relationship with Judy far from a loss. Joining the police and becoming her partner had been the greatest thing that had ever befallen me. I had so many friends now, true friends, the kind which I had never had. My days as a shifty fox were behind me for good. Never would this canine be caught framing another animal. Well, except for today perhaps.

"A good day, sir." A voice spoke behind me.

Enough stirring up old memories. It was ShowTime.

"Oh hello." I said happily, taking off my sunglasses.

The animal that addressed me was about two third of my height, a ferret I believed. He had a slender face, dark green eyes centered within it and a hoodie that covered his ears and neck. The pattern on his chest drew my attention immediately, its taint dazzling me. I had to blink a few times to get my orientation in order, most likely the reason it was chosen. Such tricks made it harder to remember a face as the unsuspecting target would only recollect the coloration that had struck out to him. I guessed soon he would relieve me of my wallet, after which his companion would show up in the same clothes. He would then get caught instead, claiming not to have stolen a thing and not having the stolen item would support that innocence.

"You're not from around here, is that true?" He continued.

"Hey yea! How did you know?" I kept dissembling blissful ignorance.

He gave me a smile. 'A true Judas' I thought agitated, not breaking character. We couldn't bring them in, unless we got them during their theft. I trusted Judy was in position as I had asked of her, I had no chance to check that now. Not that she had ever let me down.

"Just a guess. Would you like me to show you some of the monuments here at Sahara Square?"

"Sure, that'd be great!"

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