American Cheese

A fan fiction by LM Simpson

Disclaimer: I don't own Wallace and Gromit. 'Nuff said.

LM Simpson's tidbits (A/N): Here's the second-to-last chapter of this story! (Sorry it took so long, by the way!)

Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven: After Him!

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The police sirens rang as they came closer the car containing Nellie and her kidnapper.

The policeman accompanying Wallace and Gromit picked up a walkie talkie and communicated with the other squad members. "We have a suspected kidnapper, white male, driving a blue 1987 Ford Crown Victoria with a Wisconsin license plate, number 379028. That's white male, blue 87 Crown Victoria with Wisconsin license plate number 379028, over."

"Oh, thank you again sir, for letting us drive with you!" Wallace said in the seat next to him; Gromit was in the back.

"No problem," the officer said. "It's the least I can do letting the host of my favorite show ride with me!"

Wallace smiled meekly. Suddenly, he jumped out of his seat as far as he could with a seat belt around him and pointed. "Officer! I see the car! And it reminds me of someone I know's car…"

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Garret Bancroft had gotten himself in quite a pickle. As he was attempting to keep his eyes on the road, not only was he trying to take off a ski mask, but he was also trying to keep a yelling, fighting woman from knocking him out.

"Get- me- out- of- here!" Nellie yelled, kicking him. "What do you want with me?"

Bancroft finally managed to get the ski mask off and threw it into the backseat. "How am I supposed to know? I didn't even want to get you in the first place! I wanted that stupid mouthless dog, Vomit, or whatever's his stupid name…"

Nellie was speechless. Her mouth dropped, and then she grimaced at him. "How can you confuse me for a dog? I may not be the prettiest woman, but that doesn't mean—"

"Hey! You didn't squeal for help when I took you and Gromit's a little smaller than you—"

"Hey! I'm five foot three! That's not that short!"

"Okay, okay, it's not, but…" He sighed. Everything was quiet in the car as the police cars came closer.

"What are you going to do to me?" Nellie asked. "What are you going to do to me?"

Bancroft was silent as his foot pushed harder on the gas pedal. You'll find out soon enough…

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The police and news groups stood outside the old, abandoned warehouse. A searchlight from a helicopter was being shown above the building in hopes of seeing the shadowy figures of the kidnapper and his victim inside.

A female reporter quickly adjusted her microphone, and said before the camera: "We are live in downtown Milwaukee where an abduction plot is currently being tackled by the local police. The victim has been identified as twenty-eight-year-old Nellie Jackson, a friend of Wallace Park, the human host of the PBS show 'The Cheesy Adventures of Wallace and Gromit.'"

She turned to a police officer. "Sir, is Mister Park here for comments?"

"Why, yes, he's uh… Hey, Parker! Have any idea where Wallace Park is?"

A bald, middle-aged officer looked at him with a confused look. "Wallace Park?"

"Yeah."

"What about him?"

"He has connections with the woman that was kidnapped. Has a dog without a mouth with him… He followed us here in a squad car."

He yelled it so loudly that except for the roar of the helicopter blades, everyone became quiet and looked around. No man with a mouthless dog…

One of the officers bellowed: "Quick! You, you, and you! Oh, and you too, buddy! Start looking for Wallace Park! He was around when the crime was committed! We need him for interrogation!"

As the search party he called to duty looked for the duo, the officer thought, Where the heck are those two?

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"Okay, Gromit, lad, steady, steady…"

Gromit put on a helmet and braced for the worst as Wallace ran across the corridor and towards the locked door. The attempt was in vain; the two crashed into the door with a loud thud.

"Ow, me poor nose…" Wallace said, rubbing it. "I hope it's not broken…"

He looked up at the door. "I wonder what we can do to open it…"

Gromit thought the same thing. Suddenly, he had an idea and made a snapping sound with his paw.

"Oh, what to do, what to do… Um, Gromit, what are you doing?"

The canine had pulled out his master's wallet. He rummaged through it until he took out the credit card Bancroft had given them a while back.

"Gromit, lad, this isn't the time to think of shopping!"

Gromit pointed at the door. His left front paw was then used as a model of the door, and he pretended to swipe the card against its side to open it.

Now Wallace understood. "Oh…"

He took the card, held the doorknob, and concentrated on trying to unlock the door. One attempt quickly turned to three. It was on that third one that he heard a click and opened it.

"Oh! Cracking job, Gromit!" Wallace said as both entered another hall, this one containing several offices.

After each door was opened, Wallace and Gromit searched for any sign of Nellie or her kidnapper. Wallace would even call out her name, hoping to hear her say something, much to Gromit's disapproval.

It was not long before they came to the last room, located on the right side. They did their procedure until they heard a sound. It sounded… human…

Gromit found Nellie bound and gagged under an office desk.

"Nellie!" Wallace yelled. "Who did this to you?"

He could not hear her response. "What was that? I didn't quite get that…"

Gromit pointed at the handkerchief covering her mouth.

"What? Oh! Sorry about that…"

He was just about to untie the handkerchief when he felt something hit the back of his head, and the world around him went black.

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Wallace woke up tied up and gagged, crammed under the desk. Nellie was next to him; Gromit was nowhere to be seen.

He saw Nellie rubbing her head against her chest to try to get the handkerchief off. After what seemed to be forever, the cloth was freed, and Nellie took a deep breath of relief. As she tried to scoot out from under the desk, Wallace attempted to loosen his handkerchief from around his neck until he was free.

"Are you okay?" Nellie asked. "You got a nasty hit on your head!"

"It's, um, a bit sore, but I'm fine otherwise. You?"

"The same… Say, do you think you can come over and help untie me?"

"Why of course! Just hold on a second, Nellie!"

Wallace scooted towards her and tried to free her with both hands bound. He spent some time doing so until her hands were free. Nellie untied her feet and then rescued Wallace from his restraints.

"Oh, thank you very much, Nellie!" he said in relief. Now, let's go rescue Gromit!"

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"Geez! This better be worth it…" Bancroft breathed under his breath.

Avoiding police searchlights and any signs of police, he walked in the darkness holding Gromit. The dog sure was heavy and trying to get out of his grip, but he had gotten too far to give up now. All he had to do now was keep evading the officers by hiding behind crates and the dark until he could escape the warehouse and—

"FREEZE!"

Oh crud, it's the fuzz!

"That's the man that kidnapped me!" he heard a familiar voice say.

"And he's got Gromit!" yet another added.

Was that Park? Uh-oh…

He made a run for it, forgetting about the heavy and fighting dog. However, he was soon caught by Wallace and two policemen. Bancroft tried to fight back, but he was handcuffed, informed of his charges and rights, and sent away to the station.

"Oh, Gromit!" Wallace said as Nellie and he hugged him. "I'm so glad you're okay…"

"Park!" an offiicer yelled. "You're wanted outside!"

"Oh, dear…" he replied. "Am I being arrested as well?"

The officer laughed. "Of course not! You're wanted by the news people! Oh, and bring the dog and girl too; all of you guys are gonna do some interviews…"

End of Chapter Eleven

A/N: Coming up on this wonderful July 7, 2007: the last chapter of American Cheese!

Keep reading!

Bye, y'all!

LM Simpson