Disclaimer: All of the original characters from Disney's cartoons belong to the Disney Corporation and are being used to tell my plots without their permission. I am making NO money from this hobby at all and just want to tell these adventures since Disney doesn't use them anymore.

Because this story deals with graphic and dark plot elements (sexual and other abuse of minors)I recommended that readers skip the first chapter to avoid what will most likely be the most disturbing chapter and read this synopsis: In the first chapter, Honker and his brother are abused by their Uncle Franklin Muddlefoot while Herb and Binkie are out celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.

The Mallard household is in Duckburg visiting Scrooge McDuck and Honker escapes to Darkwing tower to try and contact Darkwing to come and save Tank and himself but succumbs to his injuries and shock before he can get to a phone. Also Grimm's vision from Commitment Commencement is revealed and the fox-like spirit that showed such curiosity about the duckling goes to help him.

---

Flintheart Glomgold was in a foul mood. He stared unseeingly out the window of his suite. Turning to pace towards the bar set in the alcove beside the desk, the mallard style duck in his expensive green and yellow patterned tartan scarf, kilt and vest carefully set his glass of twenty year old scotch on the desk and replaced his tam-O'-shanter cap on his head at the same precise angle he usually wore. To come out on top in this situation he needed to think not react.

Just about the only thing that wasn't irritating just now were his accommodations. Lady Velvet's establishment was as posh as any five star resort and far more private and secure than any of the establishments that catered to celebrities and the like. It was also situated in St. Canard which made it convenient as far as accessing many of his contacts in the less respectable arenas he dealt in. Not wanting to risk exposing himself to scrutiny from the media or leaving clues for law enforcement meant that he was defiantly going to have to consider letting that slimy little photographer THINK he had the upper hand.

Flintheart didn't want to jeopardize his standing here at the Velvet Rope by damaging anything though. Smashing the glass would relieve some of his frustration temporarily, but it was an indulgence of temper that he knew wouldn't be useful just now. Strangling his temper he turned away from the wet bar and settled at the desk and began reviewing the digital files that his agent had smuggled to him earlier in the day.

His expression held a note of satisfaction as he saw the distinctive logo of McDuck Enterprises on a series of crates being passed through an inspection station without any problems. Those should be the newest shipment he had arranged to intercept…but his eyes narrowed as he recognized that troublesome MUDDLEFOOT skulking around one of the holds of the ship being loaded.

Flintheart's pharmaceutical company was being investigated by the U.S.C.S. and the D.E.A. and his contacts had confirmed that it was entirely possible that that WORM Frank Muddlefoot's threats were an additional complication that he'd have to take very seriously. It was a complication he was going to have to deal with personally in order to minimize the chances that some busybody minion of the law would pick up on something incriminating.

Part of a security report from the Cape Suzette end had confirmed that the customs inspector he had bribed hadn't been in contact with the supply crew for the last two weeks. Carefully he erased the keyboard cache and set the disk scrambler to eradicate the evidence of this video. He was going to have to have this hard drive completely wiped and replaced but that was a necessary expense.

Flintheart snorted, low level lackeys like that greedy fool of an inspector were easy enough to replace but if that MUDDLEFOOT thought he could get away with extortion and THREATENING Flintheart Glomgold he was very much mistaken. His eyes hardened and the contempt and fury on his face faded to a cold calculating hunger as he thought on his options.

Flintheart Glomgold didn't become one of the most successful business-duck's in the world by letting small time operators push him around. A sly calculating smile flitted across his beak as a plan came to mind. If he played his cards right, this might even be a golden opportunity to bring his arch rival Scrooge McDuck down a few notches.

It was too much to hope that Scrooge would be held legally accountable for the tampered with shipments. The scandal should keep that soft headed weakling busy and distracted though. Even if Scrooge avoided criminal charges he would be so busy trying to repair his reputation it would give Flintheart Investments an edge over McDuck Enterprises for at least the next few weeks and that counted for SOMETHING….

Putting aside his feelings, Flintheart placed a call to his law firm to arrange a personal meeting. Then he called for a limo to take him to his auxiliary offices on the tenth floor of Canard Tower. When the building had been renovated about two years ago the first ten floors had been zoned for businesses and offices while the top twenty floors had been turned into luxury apartments that had been sold to finance the renovations and repairs and Flintheart had seized the opportunity to establish a legitimate branch of his investment firm here. Not only was it profitable, but it gave him excellent cover and a legitimate reason to be in the area that had come in very handy even before this whole investigation mess.

He ignored the familiar twinge of irritation he felt at the thought of the apartments. Someone had beaten him to the penthouse of the tower and by the time he had decided to look into other options, it would have been beneath him to purchase any of the apartments on the lower floors. That was why he was glad to maintain his membership here at the Velvet Rope.

Flintheart settled himself comfortably in the limo and mused almost contentedly, this arrangement was far more discrete and comfortable than maintaining a private residence in St. Canard anyway. With all the damages and rebuilding always going on it was a wonder St. Canard tower was still standing. Whoever had dared to out bid Flintheart Glomgold was welcome to that penthouse, sooner or later he'd find out who it was and cripple them financially…hopefully right before some nut job criminal type exploded the tower again. Flintheart grinned nastily at that thought and turned his attention to the mundane and entirely legal financial report his accountant had sent him to initial.

The driver of the limousine hid a flinch and darkened the glass partition that separated him from his passenger. The expression on that old duck's bill was enough to send shivers up his spine, and he couldn't appear unprofessional. The contract Lady Velvet had with their transportation service was their bread and butter and a complaint from one of her VIP's would cost him his job.

---

Scrooge sighed to himself as he waited for Duckworth to finish setting up the coffee tray. The video conference with Shere Kahn had been disturbing…. His mind flashed back and the fierce visage of the powerful tiger loomed in front of his eyes again; it had been yesterday morning….

Scrooge had marched into his office in the money bin and seated himself at his desk after leaving his guests in Duckworth's capable care. Making sure everything was 'just so' before switching on the live feed for the video conference he settled his nerves and waited patiently.

A few seconds passed and the familiar logo of McDuck Enterprises was replaced by his counterpart for Shere Kahn Industries, Shere Kahn himself. The powerfully built tiger was a predator in every sense. His powerful physique and expensive suit stood out even among other felines but it was the ruthless hunger for power that made the tiger so deadly and McDuck recognized that.

Shere Kahn was silent for a second or two before his eyes narrowed slightly and the whisper of a growl flavored his smooth, cultured tones, "Mr. McDuck…how good of you to meet with me."

Scrooge's eyes narrowed in response as he recognized the vial the tiger was absently rolling between his fingers. It was tiny, more like a medicine container than packaging, but if the contents of that vial was what he suspected, medicinal uses were far down the list of the things it was used for IF there was anything truly beneficial to it at all.

Steeling himself and glaring into the screen Scrooge answered, "Goodness has nothing to do with this Kahn. I'm a square dealer. Always have been and always will be. Someone's using my good name to smuggle those vials past customs."

Shere Kahn wasted no more time in meaningless pleasantries instead he allowed himself a slight nod of acknowledgement and said, "Indeed…."

Kahn carefully observed the Avian and nodded, his instincts still said Scrooge wasn't the one to blame for this insult. He was going to have to go to Jasmine tonight. Her instincts were even better than his and she had promised to look in her sacred pool to see if anything showed up. He forcibly turned his attention away from thoughts of his affianced and back to the matter at hand.

Coming to the point of this call Shere Kahn said. "We have always had a profitable relationship Scrooge. And I am well aware how unlikely it is that this is happening with your consent. HOWEVER, I refuse to allow this insult to MY reputation to go unchallenged."

Dropping the vial distastefully into a plastic bag Kahn continued almost reluctantly, "you were correct in your speculation about the customs office and that part of the problem is being dealt with…. However, if you can't come up with something a bit more…concrete in your defense than your past reputation. Then I'm afraid I'll have to raise the charges to ship your goods considerably."

Scrooge stiffened in outrage and objected, "That's ridiculous! Raising fees on just my companies shipments will…"

The tiger continued without pausing in spite of Scrooge's reaction, "I can't absorb the expenses inherent in having to re-inspect and repackage everything from McDuck Enterprises indefinitely Scrooge."

Scrooge stopped short as he really LISTENED to the tiger and heard the fury in his voice. Kahn finished abruptly, "We have been mutually good for each other for years and I can give you until September before I have to take action. After all, whoever is using your shipments to smuggle these is using me too and that is an unforgivable insult I won't tolerate."

Nodding Scrooge had offered, "I'll put more private investigators on it from my end, those things are being taken SOMEWHERE once they leave Asia. And who knows, maybe the federal authorities will actually earn the taxes I pay and discover the true culprit before this goes public."

At this Kahn's eyes narrowed again in distaste but he refrained from commenting other than another "Indeed".

Kahn was almost the equivalent of an autonomous ruler within his sphere and didn't put up with bureaucracy much. He found it useful to take care of the mundane details like utilities, security for the general population and healthcare, things like that…but within his chosen territory, Kahn was the real power and authority and no one who lived there forgot that. Not if they wanted to prosper….

Scrooge had signed off and reflected gratefully, that at least Shere Kahn seemed content to keep the territory he now had and he also preferred to stay under the radar which meant he wasn't exactly a threat to the rest of the world. Not directly, but Scrooge also knew that whoever had decided to irritate Kahn had bitten off far more than they were going to find comfortable to swallow. Having a tiger by the tail was only survivable until the tiger forced you to let go….

Duckworth finished his duties and left closing the door behind him and the soft, almost silent click of the door latching shut caused Drake to turn away from the window and shut his phone before looking expectantly at the billionaire. Scrooge felt unexpectedly comforted as he saw the intense, focused intelligence in Drake's eyes.

Usually Drake made every effort to hide his brilliance and competence and Scrooge still wasn't sure why. Evidently though, Director Hooter was correct as usual and Drake trusted Scrooge, or felt he owed Scrooge enough to show his true colors. Scrooge was mindful that he was going to have to avoid any references to Drake's other resources and persona unless Drake brought it up; he braced himself and started in.

Scrooge said with a calmness he didn't feel. "Well Lad, I won't deny that having you and Launchpad and the little Lassie here is a pleasure for me as much as it is for the ducklings, but I'm afraid I asked you hear for more than just the chance to make Webbigail happy."

Taking a vial identical to the one Kahn had had in the video conference out of his desk Scrooge passed it carefully in it's plastic evidence bag to Drake who came over and took it cautiously. Drake's eyes narrowed a bit and he looked sharply at the wealthy duck, not sure what was happening or what Scrooge wanted.

Scrooge continued before Drake could interrupt, " Don't open the vial unless you are using biohazard protocols. If it's like the other's it's some sort of rare toxin, it causes paralysis, strokes, heart attacks all sorts of nerve and blood problems. S.H.U.S.H. can't get directly involved in this. Director Hooter had this analyzed for me, but he says this is more a matter for the F.B.I. and the D.E.A. than for his agency. But I can't wait for them to figure out who's using my good name and reputation to smuggle these into the western hemisphere. I have to stop this before September or it will go public since I will have to restructure all of my shipping and manufacturing schedules to cover the added expenses of re-inspecting and repacking everything until the criminal behind this is stopped."

Startled Drake attempted to say something but Scrooge continued, "Hear me out Laddie…. Now I have me own suspicions but without proof there's not much I ken do. So far at least, whoever is smuggling these has covered their tracks thoroughly…too thoroughly if ye ask me."

Scrooge admitted, "I asked Director Hooter for help and he said his hands are tied, but what I really needed was an independent investigator. One who is experienced in this sort of clandestine operation with the resources to draw on to follow up on these foul things. He also gave me this to give to the person he thought was most suitable for an investigation of this sort once he had me show up at the fundraiser last week."

Scrooge handed the duck in front of his desk a sealed envelope and then sat back. He had made his plea, now it was up to Drake. Drake noticed that Scrooge's hands shook a little and he HAD caught the strengthening of his accent as Scrooge's stress increased, but if he hadn't been paying such close attention he would have missed the distinct worry in Scrooge's eyes as he took the envelope from the other mallard.

Drake read the note inside and didn't comment for a moment, instead he went to the fireplace and quietly used the matches there to burn the envelope and the papers inside it before Darkwing Duck turned to look at Scrooge McDuck with a grim smile and said quietly. "Keeping poisons like this out of circulation is a good idea even if this kind of investigating isn't the sort of thing I usually do. But a hero fights crime and injustice wherever it is and I am used to working around the restrictions that the more ordinary sorts of law enforcement officers have to observe. I can't promise anything yet, and you will have to keep in mind that I DON'T answer to you. But I'll do my best to find where these vials are going and who is profiting from them and let S.H.U.S.H. know. They can point the F.B.I. in the right direction as a courtesy to another branch of the government and all the evidence I collect will be turned over to them as quickly as I can manage it."

Darkwing's expression turned wry as he admitted, "I'll even try and keep this all under my cape. But I'll have to let Launchpad know some of the details and maybe one or two others. Leave it to me Mr. Scrooge. If anyone can crack this case in a month it's me."

A hint of his sense of humor returned to Scrooge's face as he realized that not all of Darkwing's reputation as an egotist was exaggerated. "Even if ye DO say so yourself, huh Lad?" Scrooge asked gently.

Drake Mallard looked innocently at his host and stated, "It's not bragging when it's true Mr. Scrooge. I'll have to wait until after dinner tonight to go back to St. Canard. But I'll start reading the background on the manufacture of these vials now, if you don't mind my using one of your computers. The manufacturers seal is one of your medical supply companies and no one should notice anything if one of your machine's looks up something you own. But if you'd rather I can…."

Startled at this observation since Scrooge hadn't realized that he interrupted uncomfortably, "No Lad I need your help and it's grateful I am for it. And regardless of how long it takes, I want this trade stopped. You can be sure I won't forget this Dark…Drake."

A slight blush came over Scrooge at his near slip but Drake ignored it as Scrooge finished, "I know your usual operating expenses are something a bit out of my sphere of influence but giving you carte blanche over my information and records is the least I ken do. You'll have the same access Fenton does and if you need anything else, just ask anytime."

In spite of himself, Drake blinked in surprise at this before catching himself and nodding. "I'll get right on it then. I'll need to make sure of my facts before Gosalyn get's back from the park. She'll want to tell me all about her afternoon."

Scrooge smiled himself as he saw the openly affectionate expression on Drake's face. Genially Scrooge agreed, "It's best the Lass doesn't suspect anything. She and the duckling's get on quite well and it does the boys good to have some new competition in their games. It cuts down on me having to referee at any rate." Almost hesitantly Scrooge offered, "She's welcome to stay here if…."

At this Drake shook off his musings and smiled at Scrooge before saying, "Thanks for the offer but she'll be a lot less trouble and a lot less suspicious if she comes home with us as planned. I'll take you up on that offer if she gets too restless and I need her safe while LP and I look into this."

---

Frank Muddlefoot cursed to himself as he continued his hurried search of his brother's neighbor's house. So far he'd trashed the living room, the den, the downstairs bathroom and bedroom with no sign of that disobedient brat!

Now he was tearing through what looked like a child's bedroom. Ripping one of the dark purple sports jerseys he'd found in his frustration he dropped it among the heap of bedding and collapsed frame from the bed and rushed for the next bedroom. He'd disabled the siren but the silent backup alarm was sure to bring the police and he'd only have time to have a cursory search of the other bedroom before he'd HAVE to get Francis and disappear.

As he hurriedly left the remains of the house he debated setting it on fire, but that was just too risky. He'd have to make sure his brother's house was trashed too. That was something he'd been itching to do anyway and with the proper motivation his older nephew would be sufficiently cowed.

Francis' cooperation would be essential to back up the story of a gang of thieves who had trashed the empty house next door and then come to the Muddlefoot's to look for more loot. He could use the threat of having caught Honker and threatening to harm him to compel the older boy to cooperate. But WHERE WAS HONKER? The younger duckling had seemed completely broken but obviously that had been a ruse. When he got a hold of Honker, nephew or not, he was going to pay for this. The important thing now was to ensure that he found the boy first.

Tucking a watch he had found in the downstairs bedroom and some money he had taken from the child's smashed piggy bank in the upstairs bedroom into a pocket of his jacket to make it look as though someone had robbed the house. Frank went to finish with Francis. He'd have to hurry to hide his props and make sure none of the bruises showed on Francis if anyone came to investigate after he finished trashing the dump.

Thinking rapidly, he decided instead to inflict a few more bruises while he made sure Francis would tell just the right tale. He'd have to fake a few injuries himself and pretend to have been tied up… yes that would do it. The police would think the robbers beat Francis and tied him up as well as the only adult it was perfect. He could even use that as an excuse to explain Honker's running away.

Sooner or later the duckling would turn up and knowing that his brother, mother and father would pay if he told had kept Honker silent before now. It wasn't likely that that had changed no matter where he'd hidden himself he'd come back sooner or later and if he didn't…. Well unfortunate things happened to runaways all the time, it was just a matter of finding him before anyone else did.

---

Drake stared wearily at the computer screen and moved trying to find a more comfortable spot to shift his tail to on the cushion. To his surprise, he nearly knocked over a very large covered bowl sitting beside him on a wheeled serving cart. Realizing that he'd gotten caught up in his reading and hadn't seen Duckworth come in did nothing positive for his state of mind. The sight, and smells; that hit him when he lifted the tray cover certainly lifted his mental state from slightly frustrated and tired to hungry and eager though.

There was a bowl of rich lamb broth and several chunks of oatmeal bread as well as butter and hot coffee. Delighted at this snack Drake dug in. As he was pouring a second cup of coffee and dunking the last piece of buttered bread into the broth to sop up the last few drops he thought he heard the sounds of active excited children. Carefully he turned off the computer he had been using all afternoon and went to the door of the library.

Scrooge had offered to let him use any computer on the Estate but since this was all public records and simple cross-referencing of shipments of empty plastic vials Drake had elected to use this one. Since Honker was at home Gosalyn wasn't likely to go anywhere near any sort of library unless she had to.

This being the case, Drake had figured on having a few extra minutes to hide his research until Gos looked for him here and as it turned out he was right. Just as he opened the door to the small library on the second floor, Gosalyn charged down the hall followed at a distance by Launchpad and the other ducklings. Even Gene and Bubba were there but Drake didn't have time to wonder about what was going on, he was too busy being hugged to notice anything else.

Gasping dramatically he wheezed, "Hi Gos…have a good afternoon?"

Gosalyn laughed as she let go of her Dad's waist and looked up at him with a big grin. "We had a blast Dad. You should have been there. It's really great to have enough people to play 4 on 4 flag football."

Drake interrupted in a confused voice, "Wait Gos, how did you play …"

Just then the baby triceratops Tootsie charged up the staircase awkwardly accompanied by Mrs. Beakley's cries of dismay. Bracing himself, Launchpad attempted to get the dinosaur's attention but she dragged him along down the hall until Bubba shouted "Tootsie NO!" and leaped onto her behind the frill of her armored plate that protected her neck. Gosalyn giggled and admitted that Bubba and Tootsie had been on the team with her and Webbigail while Gene, Huey, Dewy and Louie and been the opposing team.

Scrooge and Duckworth came to see what the commotion was about and soon the baby dinosaur was back in her snug enclosure beside Bubba's simulated cave while Duckworth and a contrite Launchpad tried to figure out if the painting that had fallen needed to be sent to the St. Canard Museum of Art and History for repairs to it's frame.

It was almost dusk and time for a late dinner by the time everything had been straightened out. Drake carefully hid his surge of guilty happiness that Bubba and Tootsie had been responsible for the mishap to one of Scrooge's paintings not Gosalyn and went in to dinner. Scrooge had insisted that his guests all stay for dinner since it was at least a two to three hour drive back to St. Canard. Just as everyone was just settling around the huge table Drake felt his watch give a distinctive buzz. Immediately he muttered an excuse and went to another room to signal the flashquack to come find him.

After going outside, he waited and in less than two minutes the mini messenger that looked like the unique plane Launchpad had built for him zoomed in out of the dusk. Flipping open the top he realized that this was the emergency beacon from the house! Someone had broken in and from the looks of the police report that was printing off the tiny printer; the Muddlefoot's were victims of this crime wave too. Immediately deciding to keep Gosalyn and Launchpad here until he found out what exactly had happened he went inside and told Launchpad that he needed to leave right away and that he wanted LP to stay here to keep an eye on Gosalyn.

Naturally Launchpad objected to being left behind until Gosalyn rushed in from the dinning room and demanded, "NO WAY JOSE! I'm not getting left behind."

"What's going on Dad?" She demanded in a slightly quieter voice as both adult ducks shushed her and Drake hid the flashquack behind his back.

The commotion was drawing a crowd so Drake thought fast and said, "Mr. McDuck, I hate to impose, but could Gosalyn stay here while Launchpad flies us back to St. Canard?"

Scrooge looked a little surprised until Drake handed Gosalyn what looked like a large toy plane and addressed his daughter, "Now Gosalyn, I need you to be good and stay here tonight. Launchpad and I need to get home right away. An emergency has come up and we are going to have to rent a plane from the airstrip. I was going to give you this later as a surprise, but I decided to give you this programmable toy plane as an early reward for doing what I ask and obeying Duckworth, Mrs. Beakley and Mr. McDuck. We'll call you in the morning and either Launchpad or I will come get you tomorrow."

She looked as though she wanted to protest but tightening her grip on the plane she agreed reluctantly as the ducklings looked on in confused silence. "Okay Dad…."

Dropping the plane she hugged him tightly and demanded, "Be careful okay?"

Launchpad picked up the flashquack and handed it back to her with as he received his own hug. "He, heh Don't worry kiddo, I'll watch out for your Dad and we'll be back before you know it."

Scrooge was nothing if not quick on the uptake and he swiftly agreed, "You and the Lassie are always welcome Drake besides a little thing like her eats a lot less than Launchpad. I'll have Duckworth make you up a packet of food to take with you."

Mrs. Beakley ushered all of the duckling's back to their seats and served Gosalyn some beef ribs and mashed potatoes. Seeing how tightly the child was holding her new plane, Mrs. Beakley correctly deduced that Gosalyn was feeing uncomfortable about being left here without Launchpad or her father.

Comfortingly she said, "Don't you worry Gosalyn dear. I'm sure everything will work out fine and we'll take good care of you until your father comes back."

Duckworth managed to put together a substantial dinner to go and hustled it to Launchpad as he and Drake were getting into the station wagon. Drake had gone back inside to hug Gosalyn and thank Mr. McDuck before promising again to call as soon as he had anything concrete to say.

While Drake was starting the engine Launchpad commented, "Thanks for the snacks Duckworth, I'll be sure DW eats some while I fly us back to St. Canard."

Duckworth chuckled as the pair drove off. Launchpad hadn't changed a bit.

---

Herb Muddlefoot gazed lovingly at his beautiful wife and smiled at her. This little mini vacation was just what his Binkums needed. A chance to get Binkie away and pamper herself had been a great idea. Herb frowned slightly at the memory of how insistent Frank had been that they accept this hotel stay but then their dinner arrived and he put the all thoughts of his brother out of his mind.

This whole stay had been lavish and over the top with in room flowers, chocolates and champagne as well as the lunch and dinner reservations. Binkie had been quite overwhelmed at Franklin's generosity and had decided to wear the dress Herb had gotten her to dinner instead of the designer dress Franklin had bought.

Smiling at her Herb, Binkie shook off her feelings of unease and took up her water glass to take a sip before asking worriedly, "Herb dear, shouldn't we call the boys? After all, Franklin isn't really used to handling children…."

Herb answered, "Why sure Binkums if you want we'll call them right after dinner."

But after dinner they went dancing and didn't get back to the hotel room until after eleven and by then they agreed that it was too late to call especially since they would be checking out in the morning.

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Please be patient and keep in mind that I LOVE the Muddlefoot's (except for Frank of course) and I promise to update as speedily as I can. I was going to make this a little longer but I figure shorter faster updates are the way to go with this fic. U.S.C.S. stands for United States Customs Service and D.E.A. is the abbreviation for Drug Enforcement Agency. Just in case anyone want's to know please read and review and no flames thank you Irual