All the adults were standing in front of the town hall. Judy, Nick, Mr and Mrs Hopps, Amber and Garth, Uncle Terry and his wife Daisy, and Beatrice Lorena Wilde.
"Well, shall we?" said Stu and they walked up the front steps towards he building.
Judy and Nick lagged behind a little.
"I'll let you make the introductions, Carrots," whispered Nick. "You know your townsfolk better than I do."
"Everyone, this is Nick Wilde, high in nine essential nutrients. Because apparently snark is a nutrient now," chuckled Judy as she and Nick walked arm-in-arm up the steps.
"Be serious," whispered Nick.
"And for only twelve payments of nineteen ninety-nine, you can take home your very own Nick Wilde," whispered Judy mischievously. "He cooks, he cleans, he entertains...and who know what other talents he might be hidin' behind that beguiling smile."
She gave him a hearty wink.
"Accessories sold separately, batteries not included."
"Don't make me kiss you in front of everyone," said Nick through his teeth, his eyes narrowed.
"Are you threatening me, Mr Wilde?" asked Judy with a saucy grin.
"No, I'm tempting you," answered Nick with equal cheek.
As they walked into the meeting hall, they saw that it was packed. Most of Bunny Burrow was there. They were sitting on wooden chairs, all facing a stage which was empty except for a podium and four chairs.
The Hoppses and their guests took their seats near the door. Several residents looked at Nick and Bea with suspicion, whispering behind their paws. Garth didn't cause too much of a fuss. Amber was far too beautiful for anyone to take notice that she was a coyote, second only to foxes on the scale of mistrust.
One of the oldest neighbours, Old Cletus Hareington, was talking loudly as he sat. His wife and his eldest sons looked somewhat abashed, but they nodded in agreement.
He caught sight of the Hoppses and his ears perked up.
"Stuart Hopps!" he said.
"Good mornin', Cletus," said Stu.
"It's a mornin', but it certainly ain't a good one!" barked Cletus. "All our carrots plumb dead! Our pumpkins fat one day and deflated like balloons the next! This is worse than the black rot o' '67."
"I beg to differ, Mr Hareington," said a young adult rabbit to his far left, one of the older McCottons. "Back then the town was far more alone. Now we have the means to ask the neighbouring towns for help…"
"Help? Bah!" yelled Cletus. "Ain't nobody gonna give us no help! We don't need outsiders stickin' their paws in our 'ffairs! At times like this, like calls to like, blood sticks to blood."
"Mr Hareington," said a sheep to his far right. "In times of hardship and need, we must let go of our pride…"
"Hardship! Cotton rot! You fire eatin' young bucks don't know a thing about the hard times! Why, back in 1955 when the frost lasted into June, we had to live off our school books for a week before the first wild shoots pushed up from the ground!"
Cletus stood on his chair, waving his cane around.
"What's gonna happen when everyone gets hungry and push comes to shove and the meat-eaters of yore come huffin' and puffin' on our doors, kindly tell me?"
"Now, Cletus, you're talkin' nonsense!" said his wife. "You hush up now, that was uncalled for!"
"Ain't no bunny been born yet that'll make me hush up!" snapped Cletus. "What'll you do, Abner, when the Grays come knocking on your door, fixin' for some lamb chops?"
"Cletus! Enough! You're just spoutin' nonsense to get people argufying!"
"Whatcha gonna do, Abner?" said Cletus, looking at an elderly sheep across the room. "When Mama Gray comes knockin' on your door with a stew pot in her claws."
"Cletus! Watch your words! The Grays are standing right over there," said Stu, standing up.
Gideon Gray and his folks were standing near the corner, looking very uncomfortable. Judy and Nick looked at them and saw them huddling together, as if for protection.
"Hah! All the better! Tell me, son, how many bruises on my grandchildren were put there by you?" he looked directly at Gideon.
"Mr Hareington, I am very sorry for my past behaviour," said Gideon, looking at the floor. "I have done my best to make amends ever since I took over the family business."
"Cotton rot! You Grays were always big fat bullies! Your old man was a bully, and his old man was a bully too, let me tell you! Like father like son!"
"Now, Cletus! This time you've gone too far!" said Stu, walking a few paces towards his neighbour with Bonnie beside him, ready to support her husband. "Leave Gideon alone!"
"Ha! Says the one whose daughter traipses about with a fox!"
Judy's ears perked up. She immediately stood up and held Nick's arm defensively, as if showing the whole town that she didn't care what they thought.
"It's bad enough with the Grays havin' to breathe the same air as us! But shifty city slickers comin' into our town…"
"Not one word about Officer Nicholas Wilde, Cletus!" said Stu, clenching his fist.
"I'll speak all the words that nobody else will!" shouted Cletus.
"Don't you dare!" warned Stu.
"I'll lay it out for you and everyone else! This town's going plumb to hell!"
"Watch your mouth, Cletus!" yelled Uncle Terry, walking up beside Stu with his fists clenched. "There are ladies present!"
"Then let 'em hear! This town is going plumb to hell! And your daughter, Stu Hopps, is the seed of it all!"
Judy felt a rush of anger creeping up her body.
"You take that back!" shouted Stu.
"Puttin' liberal city ideas in all our youngsters' heads!" continued Cletus. "Becomin' a cop, madness enough! But inter-matin' with a fox! That's the last straw! Free love, that's what they call it today! Pair up with anyone, it don't matter what kind! It's madness, deviancy..!"
"Not one more word, Cletus!" roared Uncle Terry as he and Stu walked slowly towards him, their fists tight as stone.
"Or you'll what? You gonna make me hush up?! No bunny yet born has made me hush up!"
"Then I'll be the first!" growled Stu. "You don't insult my family and walk away with all your teeth! Nicholas Wilde is an officer and a gentlefox! He saved our family farm and my youngest daughter's life! Anyone who offends him offends my family!"
"You've got a skewed idea of family, Stu Hopps, lettin' riff-raff intermix with your flesh and blood!"
"You wanna take this outside!?" bellowed Uncle Terry.
"Anytime, buster! Put 'em up!"
The shouting match was interrupted by the door bursting open and a rush of cold air blowing into the room. Sheriff Donovan Shepard and his deputies, Old Ben and Barkins, walked into the room. Holding Sheriff Shepard's arm was Nana Bernardine. Everyone went quiet.
"Apologies for our tardiness," said Donovan Shepard.
He walked into the room and immediately noticed Nick.
"Officer Wilde," said the Sheriff, tipping his hat and shaking Nick's paw. "A pleasure to have you with us this morning."
The whole room was silent as they watched Shepard and Nick shake paws. This gesture changed the atmosphere completely. Then Nana Bernardine gave Nick a hug. The silence was absolute.
Cletus, frowning, spoke up.
"I wouldn't have expected it from you, Shep."
"I am well aware, Cletus," said Sheriff Shepard, turning to him, "of your thoughts concerning certain folks in this community. What you do and say on your farm and in your home is your business. But when you're in town, were I am in charge, you will keep a civil tongue in your head, and you will refrain from hurling unwarranted insults at your neighbours. Otherwise, I will be forced to make use of the authority vested in me as sheriff of this county and lock you up for a night."
"Now see here, Shep," said Cletus, no longer shouting. "Your pa was a good sheriff, and so was his pa. I have mad respect for the Shepard family."
"And I appreciate it, don't think I don't. And to that I add the following: I would place my paws in the fire for Officer Nicholas Wilde," said Shepard. "He is an example of integrity, valour and honesty, everything a police officer must be."
"And I would jump into a lake in mid-January for Officer Wilde," said old Nana Bernardine. "If it hadn't been for his invaluable help in solving the case of the carnival hypnotist, which you are all here no doubt aware of, I would have been wrongfully imprisoned along with several other innocent folk, some of which are here present this morning."
She looked affectionately at Amber, whom she recognised from the papers.
"Officer Wilde is the most deserving of our trust in the whole wide world, and I want it understood in no uncertain terms that I would entrust my life into his paws."
Everyone was quiet as a tomb. They all respected and loved Nana Bernardine. She was the oldest member of the community and her opinion was treated with deference. Judy hugged Nick's arm tight as she felt everyone's eyes on her and Nick.
"Go ahead," she thought to herself, looking at Cletus. "Say something, you old windbag."
But he didn't. Not for a long while. Then finally…
"Alright," said Cletus. "I know when I'm beat. Out of respect to my oldest childhood friend, dear Nana Bernardine, I'll concede. I'll hold my tongue and let you whippersnappers do what you have to do."
"Much obliged," said Shepard.
The people waited in silence as Sheriff Shepard helped Nana Bernardine up onto the stage and pulled up a chair for her. Then Old Ben and Barkins sat at either side of Nana Bernardine, and Shepard took his place at the podium, and the meeting began.
Preston Keyes was lazing off on his sofa, looking out the window of his penthouse. He casually turned the pages of a magazine, looking at the pictures but not reading the actual articles. His phone rang suddenly, and he picked up.
"Are the arrangements done?" asked Preston.
"Yes, sir," said the voice of George Jenkins. "I've arranged everything. The mayor himself will be receiving you at his residence."
"Good," said Preston. "Have Jacques bring the car around. And prepare my luggage. We're leaving in an hour."
"An hour…sir?"
"That is correct," said Preston and hung up, reclining comfortably on his sofa and leaving his underlings to sort out the details.
"…which is why I implore all of you, my dear fellow townspeople, to put aside any petty prejudices and stand together in the face of this crisis," said Judy on the podium, giving a speech for her townspeople. "We were all affected, and it's time to stand together, like our foremothers and forefathers and several of the senior citizens here present did in 1967. My father told all of us how the town stood together during the black rot crisis of '67 and everyone helped each other. It was a historical milestone and showed that it doesn't matter who you are, what matters is what you do for those around you, for those who need you."
She finished. Everyone was silent as they listened to the words of Officer Judy Hopps, the star of the county, as Old Ben would put it.
Then, Nana Bernardine began clapping her paws, and immediately the whole room followed suit.
"Thank you, Officer Hopps," said Donovan Shepard and saluted her with reverence. Judy saluted him back, with a tiny tear of emotion in her eye.
As Judy walked off the stage and back to her seat, her neighbours congratulated her silently as she walked by.
"All of the here present will surely agree that the younger generations are our future," said Sheriff Shepard, once again taking the microphone. "We must set an example for them every day. And it pleases me to say that Officer Hopps and her family, one of the oldest and most upstanding families of Bunny Burrow, serve as a living example of her noble words."
Everyone looked at the Hoppses and their guests: bunnies, foxes, coyote and opossum, all together and united like a solid chain in the face of this crisis. It made everyone reflect upon the words that Judy had spoken earlier.
"I am proposing a committee," said Shepard. "An emergency committee which shall be formed by citizens of this town. Anyone who wishes to become a member shall step forward and present themselves, and the town shall vote. Among the responsibilities of this committee, the primary one shall be raising funds to help those most affected by the crisis, which shall be deposited in a bank account designated for that purpose and the number of which shall be of public knowledge. All essential resources to survive the winter shall be purchased with those funds. Any person who wishes to donate may do so to that account, and the breakdown of all expenses shall be published in the Bunny Burrow Journal at the end of every week."
Several nods of approval and some applause.
"Excuse me, Sheriff," said a lovely, feminine voice in the back.
Everyone looked around and saw the dazzling figure of Amber, standing in the aisle with her paw raised.
"May I please be granted permission to speak to the town?" asked Amber politely.
Shepard had to shake himself a little to snap out of the trance of seeing such a beautiful figure.
"Of course, dear lady," said Shepard. "By all means."
Amber moved gracefully along the aisle, with everyone looking at her as she walked. She walked up the steps of the stage and Shepard offered his paw and helped her onto the podium.
"Honoured citizens of this lovely town of Bunny Burrow," said Amber in a voice so enthralling that it made the whole room fall silent. So silent that they could hear the October wind swaying the branches of trees outside. "My name is Amber Beverly Latrans, and I work as a Forensic Specialist at the Zootopia Police Department, and I am proud and honoured to be the colleague of the distinguished Officers Judy Hopps and Nicholas Wilde."
Several people looked at Judy and Nick.
"Not very long ago," continued Amber. "I was wrongfully accused of a crime, in the exact same circumstances that our dear Nana Bernardine was," she looked affectionately at the old Nana, who smiled back, delighted by the sight of such a young and beautiful lassie, "and would have been sitting in a prison cell, were it not for the brave and cunning efforts of Officers Hopps and Wilde. That event was a life-changer for me, and I decided to become a police forensics specialist inspired by their courageous example. And now, I wish to pay my debt to them in some way, shape or form, by helping you kind townsfolk in this time of great crisis."
She paused, allowing the people to reflect on her words.
"Bunny Burrow is a wonderful community, and since my arrival here, I have been treated like a sister, daughter and friend," said Amber, looking lovingly at the Hoppses. "If a city girl and an outsider like me can feel welcome in the bosom of your lovely town, then surely you who have lived here all your lives can come together and help each other in this time of great need. We are all facing this crisis together. There is no us and them. It's just we, and we must stand united and leave behind the mistakes of our ancestors, complementing each other, being all members of the same RPG party and working together to defeat the evil and overcome the hardships ahead of us."
The townsfolk were touched by her words. Even Cletus was silent and brooding, listening without twitching a muscle.
"I have isolated the cause of your problems. For very important reasons, I cannot disclose the full details at this moment, but you have my word of honour that you shall all learn the whole story when the time is right. For now, what you must know is that your lands have been impoverished and devoid of essential nutrients for your crops to grow. Nitrogen, so important to the development of plants, has been almost completely depleted from your lands."
There were some murmurs, heads huddled together, but everyone went silent as Amber began to speak again.
"The solution to this crisis is a simple one, but it shall require all of your help. My assistant and I have successfully discovered how to stop any further damage to your soil," said Amber, and the Hoppses all smiled, knowing that she meant Penny. "We shall need to ask each and every one of you to help. In order to stop any further damage, salt water shall be required, and your irrigation systems. We must irrigate all your fields with a solution of salt in a specific concentration. I can personally oversee this operation if you will allow me to help each farm that has been affected. Together, we can cure your lands and make them fertile once more."
Silence, and sudden applause. Everyone was enthralled and immediately convinced. Amber smiled, realising that she was quite the orator.
The meeting went on for a while, more proposals were made, and in the end everyone seemed to agree on the most important items.
At the end of the meeting, everyone walked out of the town hall and went back to their respective homes. Gideon Gray said hello to the Hopps family and was about to return to his bakery, when a warm paw held his arm back.
"Mr Gray," said the charming voice of Beatrice Lorena Wilde. "I'd like to take you up on that coffee and pie, if you don't have any inconvenient."
Gideon turned to meet the green eyes of Bea and his tongue seemed to get stuck in his throat.
"Um…uh…sure," said Gideon. "A little earlier…than expected…"
"All the better!" said Bea, hugging his arm and leading him briskly towards his bakery. "More time to chat and enjoy the day, I say!"
As Bea and Gideon walked away towards the bakery, Judy watched them as she held Nick's arm, standing in front of the town hall.
"Sly fox," she said to him.
Nick gave her a warm smile and they walked down the sidewalk to join the rest of the family.
Amber and Penny were at the McCotton farm. The McCottons were helping them with the irrigation machine. As Penny and Amber adjusted the machine to spray their solution of sodium chloride over the fields, a young buck came walking to the side of the machine, removing his hat. He was creamy-brown and his eyes were dark-grey.
"Miss Penelope Hopps," he said shyly.
Penny turned around and immediately her cheeks flushed.
"Charles McCotton," she said.
Amber looked at them both and instantly understood what was happening. She smiled delightedly.
Charlie McCotton turned to her.
"Miss Latrans," he said. "I would like to thank you and Penny…er…Penelope, on behalf of my family, for your help. We were all very moved by your words, and we just want you to know that anything that you may require, you have only to ask."
He sounded like he had rehearsed the lines ten times before speaking them to the ladies. Amber took his paw, and Penny took the other.
"We're all one big family," said Amber in her charming voice. "And family shares love, and we help each other in times of need."
Then she took Penny's paw and placed it in Charlie's paw, and held them there purposefully. Both bunnies blushed like mad.
"Penny, dear, why don't you help Charlie install the dosifier and show him how the regulators should be placed?" she said. "I'll take care of the pressure controls and let you know when everything is ready."
"Sure, Auntie Amber," said Penny.
The two females looked at each other and shared a wink of complicity. Penny was overjoyed to have a friend who understood and encouraged her.
"C'mon, Charlie," said Penny, tugging her sweetheart's paw. "Let's get your fields back to tip-top shape."
Amber watched happily as the two bunnies walked together to the other side of the machine, then continued to adjust the instruments inside the cabin.
Garth and Kevin were done installing the cameras. They were camouflaged in tree branches with a direct line of sight to the hole in the ground, which they had covered once again with a carpet of fake ground.
"Okie-dokie," said Garth as he and Kevin returned to the loft of the barn to activate the surveillance system. "Let's get the system online."
Garth typed in commands and paused. Then he turned to Kevin.
"Kev, would you do the honours?" said Garth.
"Sure thing, Uncle Garth," said Kevin, and he pressed the ENTER key with his little paw.
A progress bar flashed for a few seconds, and…
"Success!" said Garth as he saw the images of the clearing in live feed.
He turned to Kevin and they high-fived!
"Kevin Levin Little Colt! Faster than a lightning bolt!" chanted Garth and Kevin beamed. "Well done, partner!"
"Thanks, Uncle Garth!"
They could see the whole clearing and could zoom in on the spot where the hole was to see clearly if anyone approached it.
"Now what do we do, Uncle Garth?"
"Now we wait," said Garth, "and see if we catch us a bad guy in our trap."
Judy stood at the mouth of the hole in the clearing beside Garth and Amber. She had installed a makeshift well-head above the pit and a pulley with rope to help them descend. Nick was making sure the rope was secure. Garth and Amber were behind Judy, waiting for them to finish their preparations.
"All set," said Judy, putting a headlamp on her head.
"Great. Everyone ready?" asked Nick.
Amber and Garth looked at each other.
"Well, I've got my Gyro Gearloose Patented Portable Chem Kit," said Amber.
"And I've my Gadget Hackwrench Essential Compact Tool Kit," said Garth.
"Let's do it to it!" they said in unison, making a complicated paw sign and ending in a fist-bump.
Judy giggled and Nick chuckled.
"Like two peas in a pod," said Judy.
"Ain't life grand?" said Nick.
Garth was the first to descend along the rope. Amber, Nick and Judy slowly lowered him down until they felt him touch the bottom.
Amber descended next, and finally Judy. Nick remained on the surface to keep watch.
Judy switched her headlamp on and walked in front, illuminating the path for the others. She led them to where she and Nick had found the burrowing machine. It was still there.
"Okay," said Judy. "This is it."
"Great," said Amber. "Leave the rest to us."
They took out their tools and started working.
"Let's just unplug this tube for a spell…" murmured Garth as he worked.
"…and mix these two beauties," murmured Amber as she worked with her portable chemical kit.
Judy made sure they got plenty of light as they worked. Garth dismantled a section of the machine's engine and Amber poured in an oily red chemical that she had made by combining some other chemicals in her kit. Garth then sealed the engine up as it had been and they gathered their things.
"All set?" asked Judy.
"Yup," said Garth.
"When whoever he is switches on that machine, he'll have a nasty surprise," said Amber.
Up on the surface, Nick saw two familiar figures approaching. Bonnie Hopps and his cousin Bea were walking towards him. Nick smiled as they came to his side and greeted him.
"So, how was coffee at Gideon's?" asked Nick.
"Oh, just wonderful," said Bea. "Such a gentlefox, that Gideon."
"Glad to hear," said Nick. "I bet he'll whip up a killer wedding cake."
"Oh, you rascal!" said Bea, slapping him playfully on the arm.
Nick just gave her his teasing smile.
"So, are you still fixing on taking the evening train?"
"Yup," said Bea. "Garth gave me all the files and video evidence you've collected. There is definitely enough to begin an investigation. I'll take this to the head of my department and we'll look into it."
"I'm sure you'll earn yourself a nice promotion in the process," said Nick.
"I'm keeping my fingers crossed," said Bea.
Suddenly, Nick felt a tug on the rope he was holding in his right paw. He pulled it up slowly and up came Judy. Nick helped her onto solid ground, and then they helped up Amber, and finally Garth. Once everyone was above ground, Judy removed the makeshift well-head and they carried the parts back to the house. Garth made sure the hole was convincingly camouflaged and they left the clearing.
"Now for the fun part," said Garth. "Watching the unsuspecting culprit spring the trap."
They went back to the house and got cleaned up. Bonnie went to the kitchen to get supper going. Bea offered to help her and they both got busy, chattering happily.
Everyone settled in the living room to wait for supper. Penny and Amber sat on the sofa, reading a science magazine that Amber had brought with her. Stu and Nick sat down at the game table, playing cribbage. Judy was helping Maggie with her math homework. And sitting close to the fireplace, Garth was reading a book with Bianca.
"So you see," said Garth. "The Lilliputian emperor commanded all Lilliputians to break their cooked eggs on the small end first. But the people of Blefuscu accused them of breaking an ancient sacred law in doing this. And so that was the beginning of a long war between the two nations."
"I think that's silly, Uncle Garth," said Bianca.
"You think so?"
"Yes," said Bianca. "Why fight over something so silly? Why don't they just talk about it and agree to make a deal, instead of fighting?"
"Ahh, Bianca, you are very young but very wise," said Garth. "That is indeed the best way to solve problems. Sitting down together and talking. Ah, if only more people thought like you."
And then, in one of those still silences, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," said Stu, getting up from his game of cribbage with Nick and walking to the front door.
It was Uncle Terry.
"Stu," said Terry. "The mayor has called for a meeting tonight, at eight o'clock."
"Another meeting?" asked Stu.
"This one's different. It's more…official, or something," said Uncle Terry. "From what I understood, some business tycoon from the city is coming into town and he's having a conference at the city hall."
Judy's ears perked up. So did Nick's.
"On a Sunday evening?" asked Stu, puzzled.
"I'm just passing on the news," said Uncle Terry. "I reckon we ought to go and see what it's all about."
"Alright," said Stu. "I'll let everyone know. Thanks."
"See you at eight, Stu."
Judy turned around and looked at Nick from across the room, and they immediately read each other's minds. He was stepping his game up, this Preston Keyes. This would be a perfect opportunity to study the enemy.
The train arrived on time. It was 7 o'clock when Bea stood with her valise on the platform. Stu, Bonnie, Judy and Nick all stood there to see her off.
"Thank you for your help, dear," said Bonnie.
"I hope to help a lot more once I get home," said Bea, patting her breast-pocket. They knew what she meant: she was carrying copies of all the evidence in her portable flash drive.
"We hope you'll come visit us again soon," said Stu.
"Most definitely, Mr Hopps," said Bea. "You've all given me plenty of reasons to come and visit Bunny Burrow as often as I can."
"I can think of one big fat reason," said Nick, giving her a teasing wink. Everyone chuckled, knowing what he meant.
"Oh, Nick," said Bea, rolling her eyes. "There's a difference between fat and big-boned."
"Yup," said Nick. "One's the truth, the other's an excuse."
"You are impossible," said Bea, hugging her cousin. "I'll keep in touch."
"Have a safe trip, Bea!" said Judy.
"Will do!" said Bea, waving as she got onto the train. "See you all again soon!"
The train left. The Hoppses and Nick went back to the house to get ready for the 8 'clock meeting at the town hall.
"I wonder what he's playing at," said Judy as she and Nick waited for Bonnie and Stu in the living room, sitting close together on the sofa.
"Public relations stunt," said Nick. "I'm sure his speech will be just dripping with honey and he'll try and convince your townsfolk that he's a benefactor and wants only the best for the world."
"We'd better keep our eyes peeled and our ears open," said Judy.
"And our wits sharp," said Nick. "Whatever stunt he's trying to pull, we have to make sure the town doesn't buy it. Otherwise, he'll end up buying the town."
"Yeah," said Judy, shuddering at the prospect of her hometown being taken over by a ruthless capitalist.
Kevin Hopps was sitting in the loft, reading a comic book that Garth had lent him. He was keeping watch in case the cameras that he had helped his Uncle Garth install caught anybody walking towards the hole in the clearing.
Suddenly, a beep-beeping sound came from Garth's computer. It was the signal. Kevin looked at the screen and saw someone moving towards the hole.
"Uncle Garth!" yelled Kevin, walking to the edge of the loft and waving at the opossum, who was down on the ground talking with Auntie Amber and Penny. "We got something!"
"Comin' up!" said Garth as he gracefully climbed up the ladder to the loft.
Amber and Penny followed, climbing up the ladder and getting up to the loft just as Garth sat on his computer chair and clicked the RECORD button on his camera software.
"Well, hellooow Mister Mole," said Garth as the four of them watched the screen. "I doubt very much you're spring-cleaning your hole."
They watched as George Jenkins, the mole, looked around to make sure he was alone, and uncovered the hole. He climbed down using his claws, sinking them into the side of the hole and descending with ease.
Down in the tunnel, George Jenkins removed his spectacles and walked straight to the digging machine. He was completely at home underground, being a mole. He got to the machine and sat in the driver's seat, turning the key and switching on the levers. Then he reached for a gas mask which was stashed beneath the seat and wore it, breathing in deeply as he activated the digging mechanism.
"One more town," said Jenkins as he put the machine in motion. "Just one more, and then we'll all move far away, to St Canard or somewhere he'll never find us."
Jenkins suddenly felt a rumbling beneath his seat.
"Huh?"
And suddenly, white smoke started pouring out of the engine.
"No!" said Jenkins. "No, no, no, not now!"
Loud popping noises followed, and the engine stopped. Then it caught fire.
The smoke was starting to fill the tunnel. Jenkins ran for it, abandoning his task and heading back towards the exit of the hole.
He climbed up out of the hole and onto the surface once more, taking off his gas mask and breathing in the cold, clean night air.
"Oh no!" he said to himself after he had taken a few deep breaths. "What am I gonna do now? What am I gonna tell him?"
He paced around in a circle in the moonlit clearing, talking to himself.
"Mr Keyes, the machine had a little problem…no, no, no….Um…Mr President, sir, we may have a slight delay…no, no, he can't stand delays," wailed Jenkins as he rehearsed what he would say to his boss. "Mr President, sir, we might have to consider rescheduling certain goals…no! He'll kill us!"
Jenkins started trembling. His paws went to his face, and a look of grief replaced his fearful expression.
"I…can't…I won't!" said Jenkins after a while. "Yes, that's it! I won't tell him. He's not going to come down here and check for himself. He'll never know. I'll just say…mission accomplished. And that's it. And everything will be okay."
Jenkins made up his mind and walked away from the clearing, disappearing in the woods beyond, completely unaware that in the loft of a barn not far away, Garth had recorded him, including every single word of his conversation with himself.
There were fewer people at the 8 o'clock meeting than there had been that morning. Judy and Nick walked behind Mr and Mrs Hopps as they entered the building and found a seat near the middle. Several people who had been at the meeting that morning were present. Cletus Hareington glanced at them and nodded, not smiling, and giving Nick a clear look of disapproval. They said nothing, just nodded in acknowledgement.
Sheriff Shepard was near the stage, standing beside his deputies Old Ben and Barkins. Nana Bernardine was sitting in the front row with Mama McCotton and her older daughters.
As everyone found a seat and settled down, two rabbits walked onto the stage from the backroom. They were the Mayor of Bunny Burrow and his assistant. The Mayor stood on the podium. Everyone went quiet and looked at the stage, waiting for what was coming.
Mayor Honeysuckle, a greying brown rabbit with a waistcoat and a golden pocket watch, welcomed everyone to the meeting. Then after a few words, he introduced the guest of the evening: President Preston Keyes of Terra Firma Incorporated.
Everyone watched as a white rabbit with an impeccable business suit and a self-confident expression walked onto the stage. They could see that he was a rabbit who was accustomed to giving orders and having his way. Several low murmurs were heard.
"A very good evening to you, my fellow bunnies and respected folks of this lovely town," said Preston Keyes with a voice dripping with syrup.
Judy saw with satisfaction that many of her townsfolk didn't look convinced. City rabbits always caused a certain amount of suspicion among country rabbits. They believed that rabbits raised in the city were spoiled and conceited and lacked the values that good folk from the countryside learned from hard work and toil in the fields and being raised by a numerous and tradition-keeping family. City rabbits were soft-pawed and soft-witted, the older rabbits said.
"It is with great pleasure that I stand here tonight," said President Keyes. "My firm started as a single room in a dingy corner of an office building, just me and my partner working long hours into the night, striving to make a better tomorrow…"
Nobody looked convinced. One look at his clothes and demeanour made the good people of Bunny Burrow doubt very much he had ever known the first thing about hardship.
"I have heard of your troubles," went on President Keyes, "and was moved by your plight. Tonight, I am here to propose a solution to all your hardships. One that will help move Bunny Burrow into the future, and make you become the new model for an exemplary farming community."
Several of the older bunnies murmured in disapproval. They already considered themselves an exemplary farming town. Who did this two-bit city slicker think he was insinuating the contrary?
"I know the prospect of progress and advancement is daunting, but as my firm has proven time and time again, our new model has revolutionised agriculture and made life easier for both farmers and consumers alike."
Two city hall employees brought in a white screen and a BunnQ projector, and shortly an image of the 'model farms' that Keyes was talking about appeared on the screen via the projector.
"Twenty-one farms have already implemented the revolutionary new method, and the results have been staggering," said President Keyes as he showed them a complicated graph chart that meant little to nothing to the humble folks of Bunny Burrow. "Better crops, more abundant, less strain on the soil, and with far less work and effort than the traditional method. It's a win-win scenario for all."
"It's a win-win for you, buster!" came a loud voice from the audience.
Everyone turned and saw Cletus Hareington standing on his chair.
"But where's the catch, kindly tell us all!" said Cletus.
"My dear sir," said President Keyes smoothly. "I understand your concern and reticence, it is natural to feel apprehensive before a new and innovative prospect such as that which my firm is proposing."
"Don't you spew fancy words and try to muddle everybody up, mister!" yelled Cletus. "When something's too good to be true, it's 'cause it ain't true!"
Several people murmured in approval. Judy looked at Nick, reading his mind.
"Wise words there," whispered Nick.
"Totally," said Judy, remembering that Nick had said the same not long ago.
"I understand your position, dear sir," said President Keyes. "I assure you, I have only your best interest in my heart when I say that this project shall benefit both parts mutually."
Bonnie Hopps had an idea. She quietly moved away from her seat and hid behind a large old ram, then spoke loudly in a slurred voice.
"I heard you done bought up all them farms and kicked out the owners! Is that true?"
Judy and Nick noticed a twitch in Preston Keyes's face. He was caught.
"Um…dear lady…" said President Keyes, looking in a general direction, as he had not seen who had spoken. "The lands were indeed purchased by our firm…but the residents were not evicted, that is a false rumour raised by our competitors. I assure you everybody shall be free to live on their land for as long as they like and work in association with our firm…"
"Well, ain't that just dandy!" shouted Cletus loudly, playing to the crowd. "He's giving us permission to live on our land! Ain't that just the nicest thing in the world?!"
Several voices, now encouraged, spoke up. Judy noticed that Sheriff Shepard and his deputies did not make any move to stop Cletus or the neighbours from speaking. For once, they were in full agreement with Cletus and did not like the sound of this city rabbit's plan at all.
"Well, I'll hear no more of this tommyrot!" said Cletus. "I say you take your fancy clothes and words and all your tomfoolery with you, Mister Fancy-Pants, and go on back to your big ol' fancy rich city-slicker condo or penthouse or whatever and leave this town to its owners who know a darn thing or twenty 'bout putting seeds in the ground and makin' good crops! Go on! Git!"
The crowd was getting riled up. Several people booed and told President Keyes to get lost. President Keyes took his phone out and spoke to someone. Immediately, the door to the hall opened and three enormous grizzly bears walked down the aisle and to the stage, escorting President Keyes to the door. Several people followed, booing and telling him to leave. Cletus was at the front of the crowd.
As they got outside, a large black car stopped in front of the city hall.
"And don't you ever come back, you side-winding swindler!" shouted Cletus. "You want our land?! Here, this is all you'll get!"
He bent down and took a pawful of damp dirt. Then, with all his might, he flung it at President Keyes, getting the dirt all over his pristine suit and face.
One of the grizzly bears advanced upon Cletus. The old rabbit stood there, with his fists up.
"You want a piece o' me, you overgrown hearthrug?! Come an' get some!"
But before the bear could do anything else, Preston Keyes spoke.
"Jacques, enough."
The bear stopped. President Keyes looked at Cletus and…smiled. He bowed.
"My sincere apologies, good sir," said President Keyes. "I shall take my leave at once."
He climbed into the car, followed by his bodyguards, and they drove away.
"Way to go, Mr Hareington," said Nick. "You sure showed that old windbag."
Cletus turned to Nick. He said nothing, just gave the fox a dirty look. Then he turned on his heel and walked away.
"We cling to our roots," said Sheriff Shepard as he walked up beside Nick, watching Cletus leave. "For better and for worse, I'm afraid."
As the townsfolk returned to their homes, the black car drove back to the Mayor's home, where President Keyes was staying. Inside the car, President Keyes turned his head to look at the mole sitting next to him.
"Is it done?" he asked.
"M-Mission accomplished, sir," said George Jenkins nervously.
"Good," said President Keyes. He made no further questions.
Jenkins sighed mentally with relief. Then suddenly…
"I have one more mission for you, Jenkins," said President Keyes.
"Y-Yes, sir?"
"I do not appreciate rabble rousers getting in the way of my business," said President Keyes. "That uppity old rabbit. You saw him."
"Yes, s-sir, I witnessed the unfortunate event," said Jenkins.
"Good. Then you know what to do," said President Keyes. "Jacques?"
Jacques the bodyguard nodded and took a briefcase from under his seat, giving it to Jenkins. Jenkins opened it.
Inside was a dart gun. And three darts, filled with white liquid.
"Morris shall stay behind with the other car, just to make sure," said President Keyes. "Quick and clean. Call me when it's done."
"Y-Yes, sir," said Jenkins nervously as he closed the briefcase once more.
"Good," said Keyes with a nasty look on his face. "I shall tell Mrs Jenkins you will be a little late for your reunion. But you'll make it in the end."
"Y-Yes," said Jenkins, shaking a bit. "Thank you, s-sir…"
Garth was showing everyone the recording of George Jenkins he had captured while everyone was at the meeting. Judy and Nick watched and listened triumphantly as Jenkins incriminated not only himself, but President Preston Keyes as well.
"This is it!" said Judy. "Our golden ticket!"
"I'm sending this to Bea as we speak in an encrypted file," said Garth. "Along with the passkey to open it. If she shows this to the folks over there at the EPC, we've won half the battle!"
"Well done, Garth!" said Nick.
"Couldn't have done it without my partner!" said Garth, putting his paw on little Kevin's shoulder.
"Aww, it was nothin', Uncle Garth," said Kevin.
Amber kneeled down and kissed Kevin's cheek, hugging him snugly while Garth and the rest chanted: "Kevin Levin Little Colt! Faster than a lightning bolt!"
"Aww, shucks…." said Kevin, blushing pink.
"So what do we do now?" asked Bonnie.
"We wait for Bea to give us news," said Judy. "It's in her paws now."
Everyone nodded.
It had been a long day, filled with excitement. Everyone was happy to turn in early. Amber happily helped Bonnie and Judy to tuck the girls in and she read them a story before they drifted off to dreamland.
Bonnie and Stu said good night and retired. Judy and Nick hugged warmly and said goodnight, their hearts filled with hope that they'd soon bring the wicked to justice. Garth retired to his hammock up in the loft and was soon fast asleep.
The Hopps household slept peacefully that night. For the first time since this crisis had started, they all felt serene and confident that everything would turn out a-okay.
Monday morning was chilly but sunny. Nick watched the movement around the town square as he and Judy walked along the sidewalk beside Stu and Bonnie.
Amber and Garth were close behind, looking at the monuments in front of the city hall and taking in the lovely atmosphere of a small town in late October. Many folks were already carving their pumpkins with spooky faces, getting ready for the holiday.
"I could definitely get used to this," said Nick as he took a deep breath and watched the townsfolk going about their various concerns.
Cletus Hareington walked up the steps of the general store with a list in his paws. Everyone waited at the corner for Garth and Amber to catch up.
And it was then that Judy saw it. Parked halfway down the block, shining in the early morning light, was a black car. It was pristine, and its license plate was polished and spotless.
Like a carpet of fire in her mind, Judy remembered! She shook Nick's arm and pointed at the license plate.
"Nick! Look!"
He did, and it took him a few seconds to realise.
"43KFQ75," read Nick. "Wait a minute! That's…that's…"
"Yes!" said Judy.
They exchanged looks. That was the license plate of the car Judy had chased last Wednesday night, the night of the explosion that almost killed James Otterton.
"Is everything alright?" asked Bonnie, approaching them.
And right then, the car started to move. It drove slowly towards the general store, just as Cletus Hareington walked out with bags of supplies.
"C'mon, Carrots!" said Nick and they raced after the car. They ran past Amber and Garth, who saw them and immediately knew something was wrong. The opossum and coyote ran after their friends.
The car sped up and finally came to a stop in front of the store. The door opened and a mole stepped out, wearing a long coat. He walked towards Cletus, who was busy double-checking his list.
And then, Nick heard it. An intake of air, and a lock…the sound of a dart gun being loaded.
With a burst of speed, he ran towards Cletus, feeling the world go into slow motion. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the mole raise his paw and whip out a dart gun from beneath his coat.
"CLETUS!" yelled Nick as he pushed the rabbit out of harm's way.
And then he felt it. A sharp sting on his left paw, right beneath his thumb.
"ARG!" Nick fell to the ground and quickly pulled a small dart out of his paw, throwing it a few feet away.
George Jenkins was paralysed, but only for a second. He quickly realised his mistake and turned around to run towards the car. But a flash of grey and purple tackled him to the ground. Judy jumped onto the mole and pinned him down, making him drop his dart gun.
The driver inside the car saw the scene and hit the gas, swerving away down the street at top speed, abandoning Jenkins and heading for the town exit.
Bonnie and Stu, Amber and Garth caught up with Judy and Nick just as Nick got up and helped Cletus to his feet.
"What in tarnation was that all about, you loony-heads!" bellowed Cletus.
"If I were you, I'd be saying 'Thank you, Officer Wilde', Cletus," said Stu. "That mole was gonna shoot you, and Nick pushed you out of harm's way."
Cletus went silent. He looked wide-eyed and stunned, not knowing what to say.
"P-Please," said Jenkins, still pinned under Judy's paw. "I assure you…it was not my idea…there is a perfectly good explanation for this…"
"There'd better be, Mister," said Garth.
Judy turned her head to Nick.
"Are you alright, Nick?" asked Judy.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said. "It'll take more than a lousy tranquiliser dart…to…put…me dooonwnn…"
Suddenly, the world went blurry to his eyes. Everyone watched aghast as Nick fell to the ground and started shaking.
"NICK!" shrieked Judy.
Amber quickly kneeled over him, and then reached for the dart, smelling the tip. Her face went pale!
"This isn't tranquiliser!" said Amber. "This is poison!"
Those words made Judy's blood turn to ice. The world stopped for her all of a sudden, and a deep and terrible rage suddenly took over her. She turned to George Jenkins, still on the ground, cowering.
Judy was not a hitter. She had never been one for fisticuffs. But in the seething anger that consumed her, she felt her paw close into a rock-hard fist and she swung it with all the might in her body, striking the mole squarely on the left cheek. A cracking sound, his glasses shattered into bits, the mole's head hit the hard pavement…and he passed out.
The doors to the doctor's office burst open! Doctor Briar and his nurse, both rabbits, were sitting at their desks. They jumped up in surprise as they saw a group of people rushing in!
Garth and Amber were carrying Nick, followed closely by Judy, Stu and Bonnie, Cletus and Gideon Gray, who had seen the commotion from the window of his bakery and had rushed out to help.
"Quick, doc! Get off your butt!" yelled Amber. "I have to stabilise him! He's been poisoned!"
The doctor and the nurse looked shocked.
"Nurse, get me salt water and lots of cotton, disinfectant and bandages! Doc, syringe and test tubes. Garth come with me, I'll need your blood."
It was amazing how Amber, a slender and seemingly frail young lady, galvanised everyone into immediate action with her words.
They carried Nick to the back room. Amber had tied her scarf around his wrist tightly to prevent the poison from spreading. Everybody knew they were racing against time.
"Okay, scalpel and tub," said Amber as they placed Nick on the cot. "Folks, I got this. Please wait outside in the waiting room. Garth, you stay. Doc, nurse, get a move on!"
Gideon, Cletus, Bonnie, Stu and Judy walked out of the room. The doctor walked in with all the necessary equipment and closed the door.
"I'll…go get the kids," said Bonnie. "From school…they have to be here…"
She ran briskly out of the waiting room towards the exit.
Cletus, Gideon, Stu and Judy sat down on the chairs in the waiting room. They were stunned. They could not believe what had just happened.
It had all been so fast. Nick had fallen, Judy had knocked Jenkins unconscious, they carried Nick to the doctor's office while Sheriff Shepard rushed to the scene to take Jenkins away to the police station. Gideon had come running across the square to help, they burst into the doctor's office…and here they were.
The big question was…what happened next?
Judy was in shock. She barely blinked. This felt so unreal. It was like a horrible nightmare. A horrible, terrible nightmare, the worst she could ever imagine…but it was really happening to her.
Her partner…her friend….her beloved Nick…her first friend from outside her hometown…the first friend she had made in Zootopia...
"No," she whispered. "No, this isn't happening..."
When she had been looked down upon by everyone…when she had been abandoned by everyone, almost renouncing to her dream…he had stood up for her before her chief…back-talked him…the only one who had ever been able to make her chief stand quiet, unable to retort…he had been her friend…her accomplice…her partner…her companion…
Nick was the first person outside of her family that she had loved. A pure, deep, ever-lasting love, capable of anything and everything.
She could not lose him. She simply could not lose him.
The minutes seemed like hours. Stu looked out the window and saw Bonnie rushing across the square with the children. They all looked scared and desperate.
Then suddenly, the door burst open and Amber stood in the doorway. Her glasses were slightly askew, her eyes were on fire and she looked fierce.
"You, baker boy!" said Amber. "Get in here!"
Stu, Cletus and Judy looked at Gideon, who stood up immediately, not knowing what to expect. He walked into the room, wondering what was going on.
Amber closed the door again and walked back to Nick's side. It was a terrible sight to behold. He was terribly pale and was trembling. His eyes were closed. There was a small metal tub full of blood on a sink not far away and Garth was sitting on a chair beside Nick, shirtless and looking very concerned. The doctor and nurse stood to one side.
"He's stable, but he's lost blood like crazy," said Amber to Gideon. "You look like you have more than enough for a skinny chap like him. Get on that cot over there and pull up your sleeve; we're going to need a transfusion."
Gideon looked a bit queasy when he heard the word 'transfusion', but he steeled himself and did what Amber told him to.
"I'm ready," said Gideon as he sat on the cot and rolled up his sleeve.
"Okay," said Amber, rubbing disinfectant on his arm and preparing the transfusion equipment. "Here we go."
The clock ticked loudly in the silent waiting room. Everybody was sitting down, speechless. It was almost like a gathering of ghosts.
The children were all there. Their eyes were full of tears. They hugged the grown-ups, unable to believe what was happening.
Isabelle sniffled as she sat in her mother's lap. She looked up at Bonnie with big, damp eyes.
"Is he gonna be alright, mommy?" asked Isabelle through her tears. "Is Uncle Nick gonna be alright?"
"Don't worry, angel," said Bonnie, hugging her tight. "Your Auntie Amber will make him okay again. He's going to be just fine."
More sniffles were heard. Maggie hugged her sister Penny's arm tightly.
"Please…save him…Auntie Amber," said Maggie in a low voice. Penny hugged her sister close. Her eyes streamed with tears. She tried to be strong, like her dear Auntie Amber, but she could not hold her tears back.
Bianca burst into sobs on Judy's lap. Judy held her tight, kissing her little sister's head and holding her close.
"He's going to be alright, Bianca," said Judy. "Uncle Nick is going to be alright…"
"Please…don't…die…Uncle Nick," sobbed Bianca. "Please…don't let him…die…"
"He's not going to die, sweetheart," said Judy through her own sobs.
"Please…I…don't want…you to…die…Uncle Nick…I love…you…please…don't die…"
"He's not going to die," sobbed Judy, hugging her sister tight. "He's not going to die…he's not going to die…"
Cletus was blubbering like a baby in the corner. Stu did his best to comfort him, but he was disconsolate.
"I…misjudged him…"
"It's alright, Cletus," said Stu, his eyes just as teary as the rest. "It's going to be alright."
"I…it's my fault…he's…dear me, why did I…have to say…"
"Don't, Cletus," said Stu. "It wasn't your fault, none of this…"
The clock ticked. The minutes snailed by. The uncertainty was eating at their souls. They knew he could be lying there lifeless. But they didn't want to believe it. He couldn't be dead. His jolly laugh, his smiling face, his playful antics…all of it flashed before their eyes. It was too painful to think that he could no longer exist. That Nicholas Wilde…was gone.
They didn't want to believe it.
But it could be true.
Finally, the door opened. Amber walked out, with an exhausted but triumphant look.
"You can come in and see him now," she said. "But just for a while. Don't crowd him, he's still weak. Kids first, and Judy. Come on, kids."
The smaller Hopps children walked into the room slowly, holding paws. Judy walked in with Bianca in her arms.
And there he was.
"Uncle Nick!" cried the little bunnies and rushed to his side.
Nick smiled weakly.
"Hey kids," he said. "Mighty Fox is here."
The kids climbed onto the bed and hugged their Uncle Nick, sobbing into his blanket. Judy carried Bianca to Nick's side and set her down beside him. Bianca hugged Nick's face and cried loudly. Nick reached with his paw and hugged her, stroking her head reassuringly.
"Don't worry, little ace," said Nick. "They fixed me up just fine, and I'll fly again in no time."
Judy stood beside Nick's bed, her lip trembling and her paws shaking. Nick looked up at her.
"Hey Carrots," he said, doing his best to give her his trademark smirk. "Did I miss my soap opera?"
"Oh, Nick!" Judy cried out, bursting into tears as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. "If I'd lost…you…I don't know…what…"
She couldn't talk anymore. All she could do was cry and hug him tight.
"Hehe, it'll take more than that to snuff this fox," said Nick as he stroked her softly on the head and the back of her ears, knowing how she loved the soothing feeling of his warm paws on her.
"Oh, Nick...my sweet...sweet...wonderful Nick," cried Judy with a voice trembling from raw emotion.
She held his cheeks and showered his face with kisses.
"I love you…I love you so much…" she whispered as she kissed him over and over.
"Awww, I know you do, baby carrot cakes," said Nick, putting his arm around her and hugging her close. "And you know I do. And you know that you do. And you know that I know that you know that you do."
Judy couldn't help giggling weakly at his playful words. He was indeed okay, back to his whimsical wisecracking self again.
After a long embrace, Judy and the Hopps children stepped away from Nick's bed. Judy turned to Amber and Garth, and Gideon, who was sitting on a cot behind them, a bit drowsy from the blood transfusion.
"I can't…even begin…to tell you…how grateful we are," Judy stammered.
Amber answered by hugging her tight, then all the kids. Garth did the same.
The children left, and in walked Penny, Bonnie, Stu, Cletus and Sheriff Shepard, who had just arrived after making sure Jenkins was locked up and guarded by his deputies.
Penny, Stu and Bonnie all hugged Nick with tears streaming down their cheeks, all grateful to have him back and safe.
Then came Cletus.
"Officer Wilde…I wanna sincerely…deeply…apologise…for all the things I said," said Cletus shakily. "You saved my life…and I can't never…repay you for…being such a fine…gentlefox and officer…"
He couldn't talk anymore. He just hugged Nick tight and let the floodgates of his eyes run free.
"That dart…was meant for me," said Cletus, blubbering like a child. "If you hadn't pushed me outta the way…and taken it for me…."
"Now don't get all lacrimose on me, Cletus," said Nick. "I'm a cop, it's what we do."
Cletus continued to blubber. Nick gave up and patted his back gently.
"Ahh, you bunnies…so emotional."
Donovan Shepard stood beside Nick's bed and removed his hat. He saluted Nick with reverence, a single tear dripping from his eye.
"Officer Wilde," said Shepard. "On behalf of the entire town, I would like to thank you deeply for your brave act of self-sacrifice. You were willing to lay down your life to protect a citizen of our town, and such valour can never be rewarded enough. You are a true hero, Officer Nicholas Wilde."
Nick saluted back, smiling warmly.
"Serve and protect," said Nick. "That's what I live for, that's what I'll die for."
As Penny, Shepard and Cletus exited the room, relieved to see that Nick was safe, Judy remained, standing next to Nick's bed and holding his paw in both of hers. Stu and Bonnie stood at the foot of Nick's bed, holding paws, happy to see that their daughter's sweetheart was going to live to be his playful, mischievous self once again.
Nick turned to his two city friends, Garth and Amber. They were standing on the other side of the bed, looking tired but happy.
"Amber, Garth, you saved me," said Nick. "I can't thank you two enough. With your brains put together, no force on Earth will ever come close to matching your sheer awesomeness."
Garth beamed and Amber blushed.
"Aww, shucks," they said in unison, then laughed together.
"I'd gladly march into the battlefield of death a thousand times for you, old pal," said Garth.
"That's what friends are for, Nick, to help in every way," said Amber.
"So, no more 'Officer Wilde', Amber?" asked Nick teasingly. "You finally got around to calling me 'Nick'?"
"Well," said Amber. "There are certain things people do not come back from without becoming close friends. And I think this is one of them, Nick."
They all chuckled as Amber hugged him warmly.
"And you there, Gideon," said Nick. "Don't be bashful, I know you spilt blood for me, quite literally."
Gideon, still sitting on the cot behind Garth and Amber, just chuckled shyly.
"Shucks, you'd have done the same for me, Officer Wilde."
"Humble to the last, Mr Gray," said Nick, and everyone chuckled.
Bonnie had one burning question, and now that things had calmed down, she asked.
"How were you able to save him, Amber, dear?"
Amber reached for a plastic hermetic bag on the medicine counter behind her and showed them the dart that Nick had been shot with.
"Nick was shot with a dart containing Crotalus cerastes venom, more commonly known as rattlesnake poison," said Amber.
Everyone shuddered when they heard those two last words.
"The smell gave it away," said Amber. "We are trained in forensics school to recognise the scents of different poisons, and I must admit being a coyote gives me quite a bit of a natural advantage in that area," she added, tapping her cute little nose with her finger and giggling musically. "Nick needed anti-venom and quick. Fortunately, we have our living source of antidote right here…"
She placed her paws on Garth's shoulders and kissed the top of his head.
"My chubby-wubby future hubby," said Amber lovingly.
"Awww, shucks," Garth beamed and looked very pleased.
"Opossums' bodies produce peptides that neutralise rattlesnake venom," said Amber. "I isolated them and used them to neutralise the poison that had gone into Nick's bloodstream. Most of it I was able to drain out, fortunately, before it reached the rest of his body. But he bled a lot and needed a transfusion immediately. And that's where Gideon Gray came in, donating a generous amount of blood to save Nick. And all is well that ends well," she finished, adjusting her spectacles happily.
"Somehow, I feel closer to you already," said Nick. "I got Garth's anti-venom peptides and Gideon's blood from the transfusion. I guess we're really cousins now, eh, Gid?"
"Oh, Officer Wilde," said Gideon bashfully.
"Now you're gonna start calling me 'cuz', and as soon as you marry Bea, it'll be official."
Even though he had donated a large amount of blood, Gideon still managed to blush shyly.
"Now, I have even more good news for everyone," said Amber, holding up the bag with the deadly dart. "Terror Firma Incorporated has a lot of explaining to do. Possessing rattlesnake venom without authorisation is very, very, veeeeery illegal. And not to mention using it! This stuff is strictly controlled and you need a laundry list of permits and authorisations to obtain just an ounce of it. And these clowns not only possessed it, they used it for criminal purposes, along with the pan-dimonium acetate, which they synthesised in an illegal clandestine laboratory. So I think we can safely say that we've got everything we need to bring these evil scoundrels in and have them face justice!"
"That we do," said Nick. "And the final piece of the puzzle is George Jenkins."
"Who is sitting in a cell at the police station," said Judy, gently letting go of Nick's paw and walking to the door. "And with whom I am about to have a long conversation."
Deputy Barkins brought George Jenkins into the interrogation room. He made him sit on a chair on which he had piled several books. Jenkins sat on a dictionary as Barkins cuffed him securely to the table, making sure he could not escape.
As Barkins walked out of the room, Donovan Shepard and Judy walked in, closing the door behind them.
"How is he?" asked Jenkins, looking genuinely concerned.
"He's fine…no thanks to you," spat Judy hatefully.
"I…I'm glad to hear that," muttered Jenkins.
Sheriff Shepard pulled a chair, also piled with books, for Judy and she jumped up onto it, sitting down on a cookbook. Shepard sat on the chair next to her, and they both looked across the table at the mole.
"Let's get to the point, Mr Jenkins," said Shepard. "We know what you did. All of it. The burrowing machine, the pan-dimaniaan acey…er, the orange chemical that killed the crops, and now the dart gun filled with rattlesnake venom. I don't need to tell you that your crimes are severe and enough to land you in prison for the rest of your natural life."
Jenkins said nothing.
"We also know that you are not working alone," said Shepard. "Your boss, Preston Keyes, the president of your company, is also involved. So what we need right now is for you to take a deep breath and tell us, from the beginning, everything that we need to know. Do not leave anything out, take your time, and just tell us everything."
Jenkins was silent. Then he started shaking.
"Start talking!" snapped Judy. "You ruined our crops, endangered my hometown, and you almost killed my partner!"
Jenkins closed his eyes.
"This ends here and now," said Judy, standing up with her paws on the table. "Talk! Start talking, or heavens help me, I swear I'm going to break that dictionary on your sorry little…"
She stopped midsentence, though, when Jenkins burst into tears. He stared sobbing loudly like someone who had just lost his mind.
Judy flinched. She hadn't meant to make him cry. Just shake him up a little…
"Um, Mr Jenkins…" started Judy.
But she didn't say anything else. Jenkins started saying something shakily, trying to get his words around his sobs.
"He's gonna kill them...he's gonna...kill them..."
"Who?" asked Shepard gently. "Who's gonna kill who, Mr Jenkins?"
"Keyes...is gonna kill...President Keyes is gonna kill..."
Judy and Shepard waited, and the next words Jenkins spoke made it all clear to them.
"...my family."