Chapter 4

"Your parents were agents like me," Bogo began. He let Judy and Nick pick out the bar, and they picked their favorite, which happened to be where Gideon and his gang were earlier. They were the only customers there.

"They were killed by the most wanted, elusive criminal mastermind." He shoved a picture under their noses. "But all we could get after years of investigations is her cat."

Judy stared at Bogo in disbelief as Nick whistled at the picture. In the picture, a handsome, muscular Bengal tiger was smiling predatorily, showing off his shiny, golden teeth.

"That's all you've gotten?"

"Nice teeth." Nick handed Bogo the photo back.

Bogo shrugged at Judy's question. "The criminal is untouchable. He had been elusive for about twenty years. We have no idea what he looks like or what he plans to do exactly. All we know is that he's crazy rich, and his pet tiger had killed many, including your parents." Judy and Nick glanced at each other sadly. "Any more questions?"

Judy leaned forward, while Nick smirked at her amusedly. He knew when his wife was hooked on something.

"So you have no idea what their agenda is? Are you even close?"

"We've made progress, yes." Bogo sipped his drink. "But we're still unsure. That's where you and the five other potential recruits for your parents' jobs come in. Two agents will help us stop him the minute he is uncovered." He stared at his drink rather tiredly, swiveling it. "I'm certain we're close, so very close to identifying the bastard."

"You must know something," Judy asserted, unconvinced.

Nick nodded. "And, forgive me for being blunt, but what's the annual payment for each of us if we get these jobs?"

Bogo rolled his eyes and laid down his drink. "We'll disclose the details of the case once you agree to it," he answered. "It's secret information. And, it's ninety-thousand a year, no vacations included, and you have to do some work on the side. Cashier work."

"Sounds okay," Judy murmured, smiling a little. "And vacations? Please. With all due respect, sir, we're used to that as parents."

Bogo quirked an eyebrow. "I take it you're in then?" Judy stared questionably at Nick and took his paw, and they grinned ear to ear at one another. They really needed the money, and they were in decent shape. They would be completing their parents' dreams, hopefully make them proud. It almost seemed too good to be true...

Nick opened his mouth to answer Bogo, but Duke, Gideon, Travis, and the rest of the gang suddenly sauntered into the bar. "Hey, Wilde's!" Duke shouted bitterly. The troop made a beeline for their table. "Get out of my territory before I kick your asses!"

"Now, now, Duke." Gideon leaned down to smirk evilly at Judy, whose face was scrunched up in disgust. "I take the cutesy rabbit, you kick the ass of that fox."

Judy glared ardently at Gideon. "Drop dead, Gideon! You don't scare me!"

Gideon snarled and unleashed his claws. "Not scared, huh? Well I'm about to make yeh scared!" He raised his paw to strike her. But before he could, Nick swiftly grabbed his arm and slammed it on the bar, scaring the pig bartender nearby. Bogo, calmly sipping his drink, raised a hoof. Everyone else stared at him incredulously.

"Who's this?" Gideon slapped Nick's paw away. "Get out of here, horns! A brawl's about to start!"

"That's right, old timer." Travis sneered. "You better get out of here. We don't wanna hurt you."

"He's right, Chief." Nick eyed Bogo pleadingly. "Please go. You'll get hurt."

Bogo shook his head and looked at Gideon's group with boredom. "I'm sorry. I don't believe I will. I need to finish my drink. Can you kindly wait for a minute, gentlemen? Please?"

"No!" Gideon snapped childishly, getting in Bogo's face. "You better scram, old bull!"

Travis meekly tapped his shoulder. "Uh, Gideon? I'm pretty sure he's a buffalo."

"Don't tell me what I already know, Travis!"

"Please, Chief." Judy gently grabbed Bogo's hoof and squeezed it. "Please. Just go. We'll be fine." Bogo sighed and stood up, abandoning his drink and heading for the door.

SLAP! Judy gasped and lunged for Gideon, who had just slapped Nick, but Duke held her back.

"Nick!" Nick weakly got up and glared at the other fox, holding his reddening cheek.

Gideon just grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "That's what you get for sucking face with a rabbit, freak!" His friends snickered and nudged each other.

Bogo turned back around, staring at Gideon sternly. "I believe you forgot something, sir."

Gideon rolled his eyes and whipped his head at Bogo. "Oh yeah, old timer? What's that?"

Bogo walked up to Gideon until his shadow covered his form. Then, he leaned forward and whispered, "You didn't hold your tongue. Here, allow me..." Gideon was about to insult him, but Bogo impressively grabbed Gideon's tongue, twisted it deftly, then threw him across the bar. He hit a table, and the impact instantly knocked him out.

Travis and the others gawked stupidly at the placid buffalo as he locked the door of the bar. Judy pulled Nick back to his seat, and the couple watched Bogo's every move.

"Mind your manners, gentlemen." Bogo suavely walked back to the group. Travis began to snap out of his trance. "Do you know what that means?"

Travis growled and glanced at his best friend, who was now sprawled out on the floor. "Why you!" Travis's fist was inches away from Bogo. Then, the cape buffalo grabbed it, twisted his arm, eliciting a whimper from the ferret, and made him collide with Duke. Both fell to the floor.

The other members pounced at Bogo, but Bogo was prepared and fought them skillfully. Meanwhile, with dropped jaws and widening eyes, Nick and Judy watched the fighting like a movie. Nick even sipped his drink a little.

"Carrots?"

"Mm?" Judy did not move a muscle, barely breathed.

"Are you seeing this?"

"Mm-hm."

"Wow..." Bogo began to beat two members with his cane. "Hey! Let's take a sip of our drinks every time he kicks an ass."

"Nick!" Judy rubbed her forehead. Her husband could be so unbelievable sometimes.

"What?" Nick glanced at her innocently. "Try it. Go on."

"No."

"You know you want to."

"Oh cheese and crackers!"

The fighting ensued for a few more minutes until Bogo knocked one last fox to the floor. The bartender was about to call the police, but Bogo spotted him and aimed at the pig's neck with his watch. The watch contained thousands of darts, including those that caused amnesia. An amnesia dart pricked the pig's neck, and he passed out. He would not remember any of the fighting when he woke up.

Bogo stretched and slowly dragged himself back to their table. He finished his drink. Judy and Nick were still gaping at him. "Sorry you two had to see that." He sounded like he had just swatted a fly. "Are you two hungry?" Both quickly shook their heads. "Good." He aimed his watch at them.

Judy gasped. "Whoa! Wait!"

Nick raised his paws in the air. "We won't tell anyone!" Judy nodded briskly.

"We promise, Chief! We swear on our lives!" Bogo stared at them intensely. Seconds felt like hours. Then, he lowered his watch, and the couple visibly relaxed.

"Alright then. Have a good evening." Stepping over broken bottles and twirling his cane, Bogo exited the bar. Judy and Nick were still gaping after he had left.