If Amber Beverly Latrans ever opened a hot chocolate shop, she'd make a fortune in no time.
George Jenkins took deep breaths as he sipped the warm, creamy drink from a small mug. Amber, after leaving strict instructions to the doctor and nurse and making sure Nick was well looked after, crossed the town square and headed to the police station with Garth. Judy had asked them to be present in the interrogation room. She was quiet and brooding as she waited for Jenkins to finish his hot chocolate.
Sheriff Donovan Shepard stood patiently against the wall, waiting. Amber sat beside Judy, across the table from the mole. Garth stood beside Shepard, watching the scene and waiting along with everyone else.
Finally, Jenkins spoke.
"I met President Keyes eight months ago, when my family and I moved to Zootopia," said Jenkins. "I applied for a job at the Terra Firma Incorporated Auditing Department. I was immediately hired and life seemed to be going forward for us. My family and I lived in a company-paid home, my salary was generous, and in three months I was promoted to Head of the department."
He paused, taking a deep breath, then continued.
"Then, I started noticing little things. Numbers that didn't add up. Properties that appeared out of nowhere. Strange purchases of things that seemed to be of no use to us. I went to the President one afternoon and told him there was something strange going on. Perhaps someone within the company was diverting funds or using company assets for something dodgy. And that was the day President Keyes turned me into his personal assistant."
Jenkins shuddered.
"He abducted my family. He told me that they were safe, in one of his homes, and that they would remain safe as long as I did exactly what I was told to do without question," said Jenkins. "He was obsessed with becoming the most powerful and influential rabbit in history. He said he'd show the world what he was made of, even if it meant crushing every one of his competitors under his foot. I had to do what he told me or he'd have my family killed, with me there to witness it."
Judy shuddered. She could not begin to imagine the horrors that this poor mole had had to endure in silence.
"My wife and my two daughters are being held in one of his three properties," said Jenkins. "I've only seen them twice since that dreadful day, and always under the stern eyes of his bodyguards. He promised me he'd let us go after Terra Firma bought up all the farms in Bunny Burrow and he completed his plan."
"He's not going to let you go," said Judy quietly. "You know too much."
"Yes," said Jenkins. "I know that. But I had to keep trying…for my family."
He went quiet, looking at the surface of the table.
"Mister Jenkins," said Sheriff Shepard, walking to the table. "You have valuable information that can help us put a stop to all this madness. You know Keyes better than anyone, and you know how he operates. If you agree to help us expose him and bring him in..."
Shepard paused. Jenkins looked up, his eyes moving from one face to the other.
"You mean…you would…help me?"
Judy stood up on the cookbook and looked determined.
"Mr Jenkins, nobody has the right to abduct anybody's family and threaten to harm them," said Judy. "The fact that this heinous act was committed in Zootopia beneath our noses, it fills us all with righteous indignation."
Amber and Garth nodded. Shepard did too.
"Your family is being held in Zootopia," said Judy. "In one of Preston Keyes's residences. Well, that's the jurisdiction of my department. I will personally see to it that we take your family into protective custody and put this criminal where he belongs."
"But Officer," said Jenkins. "If Keyes catches whiff of the police looking into his affairs, he could harm my family."
"Then we'll have to do this stealthily," said Garth.
Everyone looked at him.
"You have been acting stealthily, Mr Jenkins, working from the shadows to fulfil the desires of this power-crazed lunatic," said Garth. "Now we're going to use that same tactic to extract your family from wherever they're being held and place them under the safe and vigilant eye of the ZPD."
"But how?" asked Jenkins.
"I have a plan," said Garth. "One that still has a few holes in it. But with the help of all of you, I hope to flesh it out."
Everyone listened to Garth's plan, adding their own suggestions and figuring out the best way to proceed.
For the first time in months, Jenkins felt a ray of hope piercing through the dark sky of his life.
Amber walked back to the doctor's office with Garth to check on Nick. Judy and Sheriff Shepard were finishing up the last details of Garth's plan, doing their best to cover all possible contingencies. Jenkins added his knowledge here and there and they all decided on how to proceed next.
"Okay," said Shepard. "Until it's time to leave, Mr Jenkins, I think it's safest if you return to your cell."
"Yes, Sheriff," said Jenkins.
"Deputy Barkins will stay with you and make sure you're safe until we return," said Shepard.
Shepard walked out of the room, and Judy followed. But before she left, she stood in the doorway and turned around, looking a bit sheepish.
"Erm…Mr Jenkins?"
"Yes?" asked Jenkins.
"Uh…sorry about the…um…you know…"
Judy did a fist and a punching motion.
Jenkins just smiled.
"I deserved it," he said. "For many things. And that's some right-hook you've got there, Officer Hopps."
"Um…sorry about your spectacles…"
"Oh, I don't need them," said Jenkins. "I have perfect eyesight. It's a fashion thing. My wife has been telling me to get rid of them for years, that they make me look old, but I thought they made me look handsome. Thank you for opening my eyes."
Judy smiled weakly. Then nodded and left.
She crossed the town square with Shepard and walked into the doctor's office. They found Nick laughing and wisecracking with Garth and Amber, with Stu and Bonnie adding some funny comment here and there.
"Looks like Officer Wilde is on his way to being a-okay," said Shepard happily.
"He's a strong chap," said Doctor Briar. "A good night's rest and some warm soup will do him wonders."
"He's good to go," said Amber. "Mrs Hopps, if we could take Nick to your home and look after him, and fill him in on the details?"
"Of course," said Bonnie.
"I'll bring the car," said Shepard. "You can put him in the backseat and he'll be nice and comfortable. I'll drive him to your house, Mrs Hopps."
Shepard tipped his hat and went to get his squad car. Amber and Judy helped Nick up and out of the doctor's office as Shepard's car pulled up.
Soon, they were all back at the Hopps family household. Nick was lying down comfortably in the guest room, under warm quilts. Judy was sitting beside him with her paws on the quilt, adding her warmth to the covers. Bonnie whipped up a delicious pumpkin soup, which Judy spoon-fed to Nick slowly and enjoyed every minute of it. Later, the young Hoppses came in and showed their Uncle Nick the get-well cards they had drawn for him with the help of Auntie Amber and Uncle Garth. Nick looked at each card delightedly, praising their work and thanking them, happy to have such a loving family who cared for him. In the past two weeks, he felt that he had become closer than ever to the Hoppses, and he had learned that family was the most important and wonderful thing in the world, and that he would do anything to protect them. Anything.
After the children had gone to bed, Amber and Garth walked into the room. Stu and Bonnie were sitting in chairs beside Nick. Judy was sitting on his bed, holding his paw and giggling at something funny he had just said.
"You are a rascal, Mr Wilde," said Judy fondly.
"Guilty as charged," said Nick with his trademark smirk.
They all turned to Garth and Amber.
"Nick," said Amber. "I think there's someone we all need to talk to."
"Yes?" asked Nick. "I'm all ears."
The Hoppses all looked at him and grinned.
"Um…yeah, phrasing," said Nick.
They chuckled and Amber walked into the corridor, beckoning for someone to come in. Sheriff Shepard walked in and tipped his hat, saying good evening to everyone. And in front of him, cuffed but smiling, was George Jenkins.
"Good evening," said Jenkins.
"Well, hello there," said Nick. "Visiting the convalescing is definitely going to earn you some brownie points. And let me tell you, Mrs Hopps's brownies are deee-lectable!"
Everyone chuckled. Judy admired Nick's ability to joke in the face of someone who had almost caused his death that morning.
"I wish to apologise deeply for the damage I have caused, Officer Wilde," said Jenkins. "I take full responsibility for my actions and wish to make amends by helping you and your fellow officers and friends to put an end to the criminal activity taking place within Terra Firma Incorporated."
"Well, that will do the trick just nicely," said Nick. "Tell us, then. How do we proceed next?"
"Officer Hopps has promised to help rescue my family from Preston Keyes," said Jenkins. "For this purpose, Mr O' Possum has devised a plan. I am to return to Terra Firma and tell the President that I have accomplished my mission and managed to give the authorities the slip. I am to tell him that I must go underground for a while…"
He stopped as everyone looked at him funny.
"Nice choice of words there," said Nick with a sideways grin. "That'll be the joke of the week over at the DMV."
"…um…heh heh…sorry," said Jenkins. "Erm…to go into hiding for a while, until things cool off. He promised me he'd let me see my family after this mission. So when the boys take me over to see my family, you will track me down and pinpoint where he's holding them. Although, that last bit I didn't quite get."
"It's simple," said Garth. "We'll slip a GPS dot into your pocket and I can track you wherever you are in the world. We'll find out where he's taken you and then the ZPD will do the rest."
"Right," said Jenkins.
"We have to do that after you find out where your family is being held, though," said Amber. "Just to be safe. In case he suspects anything and he searches you for bugs."
"Yes, although that is not yet clear to me either," said Jenkins.
"Oh, that'll be a cinch," said Nick. "We'll be there at Terra Firma in disguise and we'll secretly bug you as soon as you learn where your family is being held. Won't we, Susan Eleanor Cottonbottom?"
He turned to Judy, winking slyly.
"That we will, Clyde," answered Judy with a wide grin.
Jenkins took a few seconds to realise. But when he did, his eyes went wide…for a mole, at any rate.
"Wait a minute! Those two…the other…day….THOSE WERE YOU TWO?"
There was a stunned silence, and suddenly Jenkins burst into mirthful, hearty laughter! He had not laughed in months, and it sure felt good to laugh again!
"Oh, my sainted aunt! I cannot believe it!"
After he had calmed down, everyone worked out the details.
"Well, let's get our plan in action," said Sheriff Shepard from the doorway. "Are you well enough to travel, Officer Wilde?"
"If I'm well enough to wisecrack, I'm well enough to travel," said Nick with a grin.
"Nana Bernardine has kindly lent me her station wagon," said Shepard. "She said she'd be delighted to help us in any way she could. She has prepared it for you to travel comfortable, so we can all embark for Zootopia as soon as you're ready."
"We?" asked Judy. "You mean…"
"Yes," said Shepard with a smile. "I think I should come along. I've heard much about your famous Chief Bogo and only spoke to him on the phone. I would like to meet this gent in person and thank him on behalf of the entire town for helping us close this cankered carrot caper."
And from that day on, folks in Bunny Burrow and beyond came to know this debacle by the name Sheriff Shepard had just coined for it.
Nick slept comfortably between warm quilts in the back of Nana Bernardine's station wagon, with Judy beside him, sitting close and rubbing his cheeks lovingly with her paws.
Garth and Amber slept together with their heads resting on each other in the backseat, snuggled warmly like two doves. George Jenkins was wide awake, sitting in the front with Shepard, who was driving. The night was dark and outside was a curtain of blackness as they drove between the woods and hills. Judy looked out the window and felt a comfortable sensation of security, being inside the car close to Nick while they drove from Bunny Burrow to Zootopia.
It was very early morning when the wooded hills gave way to a large expanse of land, and they saw the shining skyscrapers of Zootopia in the distance. Judy knew the stage was set for the final leg of their mission. As Shepard drove into the city and made his way to Savanna Central, with the help of Jenkins's directions, everyone woke up and prepared themselves for what was coming next.
Shepard parked the car outside of Precinct 1 and everyone got out.
"Okay," said Amber. "Judy, the shawl and the outfit."
They quickly draped Jenkins with a shawl and a frilly nightgown they had borrowed from one of Judy's sisters, disguising him in case Keyes had eyes around the city looking for him.
Judy helped Nick get out of the car and she walked with him, her arm around his waist and his on her shoulder, following Amber, who led the way for everyone. They walked into the entrance hall and found everything as it should be. Clawhauser was munching on a large spoonful of Lucky Chomps while he read the morning gossip on his phone.
"Morning, Clawhauser," said Judy as they all approached.
Clawhauser looked up in surprise.
"Hopps! Wilde! Latrans! Mr O' Possum…and…"
"Shepard," said Sheriff Shepard, introducing himself. "Sheriff Donovan Shepard, from Bunny Burrow. And this is George…er, Georgina."
"Hi," said Jenkins, pretending to be shy.
"We have important business to discuss with the Chief," said Judy. "All of us."
"Sure. Um...okay…I'll buzz him and let him know," said Clawhauser, picking up his intercom mike. "Er…what happened to you, Wilde? Why the bandage?"
"It's a long story," said Nick. "But don't worry, we expect it to make headline news soon."
Clawhauser looked curiously at the group as they walked up the stairs to Bogo's office. But then his phone beeped with a notification, and he continued reading the celebrity gossip.
A large group of people walked into Chief Bogo's office. He looked up from the papers on his desk and saw Judy and Nick, in street clothes, Amber and the opossum chap that had helped with the crooked carnival caper two months before, and a sheriff walking with a little mole girl. It was difficult to think of a more mismatched group.
"Well…" said Chief Bogo. "I wonder when my office suddenly became a convention centre. And why aren't you two in uniform?" he added, looking at Judy and Nick.
Then he noticed the bandage on Nick's arm and paw.
"What is going on here?"
"Chief Bogo," said Sheriff Shepard. "So pleased to meet you face-to-face at long last. We spoke on the phone two months ago. Sheriff Donovan Shepard of Bunny Burrow, at your service."
Shepard lifted his paw and looked up at Bogo, straight to the eyes. Bogo managed to smile, a sight about as rare as meteor storm, and shook the Border collie's paw.
"Likewise," said Bogo.
"I can explain everything, but I think it would be best if we allow Mr Jenkins to do so," said Shepard.
"Of course…er, I'll let him in," said Bogo.
"I'm right here, Chief," said Jenkins.
Judy wished she could have filmed Bogo's face as he almost jumped in surprise hearing a distinctively masculine voice coming from what he could have sworn was a little girl.
"Oh, um…." Jenkins said. "I forgot."
Bogo almost jumped again when he saw Jenkins taking his clothes off, thinking he had mistaken the police department for the Mystic Springs Oasis. But he was wearing his regular clothes beneath the disguise.
Over the next thirty minutes, Bogo listened carefully to everything that Jenkins told him. Shepard, Amber, Garth, Judy and Nick added details here and there.
Bogo held a pencil in his hoof as he listened to Jenkins finish the story with the most recent events. The buffalo frowned and looked sternly at the mole.
"You understand, of course," said Bogo, "that regardless of how we proceed from here on, you will be held accountable for your actions. Nothing excuses you from the crimes you've committed, not the least of which includes assaulting an officer of the law, almost causing his death."
The pencil in Bogo's hoof suddenly snapped in half as he clenched it with ire! The top half flew across the room and landed near the filing cabinet. Everyone was silent. Jenkins swallowed hard when he watched Bogo put down the other half of the pencil on his desk, showing no intention of apologising.
If there was something that Bogo took very seriously, it was the assault of a police officer. He might have been rough and gruff and bull-headed, but he cared for his officers, and the fact that Nick had almost died from the snake poison dart was not something that Bogo was willing to forgive.
"I want it understood that despite your good intentions and efforts to make amends, you are still an accomplice to the criminal activity within Terra Firma Incorporated, and will be judged in a court of justice for your crimes."
"I understand, Chief," said Jenkins. "And I take full responsibility for my actions. I just want my family to be safe. I want to end this crazy rabbit's harebrained scheme…"
Jenkins paused, then looked at Judy.
"No offence," he said shyly.
"None taken," said Judy.
"I just want justice, Chief," said Jenkins.
"Very well," said Bogo. "As long as we're clear on that point."
He took a deep breath and turned to Judy.
"Hopps," said Bogo.
"Sir. We devised a plan," said Judy. "Jenkins will return to Terra Firma and pretend he accomplished his mission. He will ask President Keyes if he can hide him for a while until things cool down in Bunny Burrow. We'll plant a GPS dot on him and learn where they're holding his family. Then we move in for the rescue."
"Slow down, Hopps," said Bogo. "There's this little something called a 'warrant', which is required for a police search."
"This won't be a search, Chief," said Judy. "It will be an extraction."
"Wherever they're holding my family, there will most likely be security guards, armed," said Jenkins.
Bogo sighed.
"Waltzing into a private residence, a possible hostage situation, armed guards…someone tell me when this starts to sound like a good idea."
"We won't be waltzing in," said Judy. "We'll be undercover."
"Undercover?" asked Bogo. "Hopps, this isn't some ninth grader's fan fiction where everything just falls into place and magically the bad guys are defeated and the good guys win. If what Mr Jenkins says is true, there is a family's wellbeing at stake. I don't know about you, but I don't want their deaths on my conscience if things go south."
"Chief Bogo," said Nick.
"What is it, Wilde?" said Bogo frowning.
Bogo and Nick looked at each other. Nick knew that his tongue was Bogo's only weakness. He promised only to use his quick wit and eloquence against the Chief when it was necessary, and this was one of those occasions.
"A week ago, if I remember correctly, you told us that you were behind us one-hundred percent if we were right about our suspicions," said Nick. "Well, we were right about our suspicions. You are a buffalo of word, Chief, and I know that you would do anything for justice to prevail, and for Mr Jenkins to have his family back and away from harm. One simple word, one utterance, can change the fate of many people today, sir. Are you going to make the right choice? Time is never on our side, and especially not on the Jenkins family's side. I cannot even imagine what Mrs Jenkins and those poor girls are going through. All I wish is for Opal, our esteemed counsellor, to be able to give them all comfort and help them through this traumatising event. What about you, Chief?"
Bogo cursed mentally, knowing that Nick had put him on the spot. He was caught. Everyone was looking at him, expectant.
"Alright," said Bogo after a long sigh. "Whatever plan you think will be most effective to extract the Jenkinses…you have our full support."
"Thank you, Chief," said Shepard, walking to Bogo's side and shaking his hoof. "You will not regret your decision. I have seen Hopps and Wilde in action, and I would trust my life into their paws without a second thought."
Bogo nodded.
"Alright," said Judy. "Jenkins, call your boss."
"Huh?" said Jenkins. "What should I tell him?"
"Tell him 'mission accomplished' and that you'll be heading to his office in a while," said Nick. "Tell him you managed to give the Bunny Burrow cops the slip and need to lay low."
"O-Okay…" said Jenkins. "Here goes."
Jenkins took his phone out of his coat pocket and dialled the number.
Everyone was dead silent as President Keyes answered.
"S-Sir," said Jenkins. "Mission accomplished."
"Is it done, Jenkins?" said Keyes's voice.
"Y-Yes, sir. I managed to give the cops the slip. And I even managed to get rid of one of the peskier cops as well."
Nick gave him a wink.
"Good. Better than I expected. You surprise me, Jenkins, I am most impressed. For a moment, I thought you had been detained and would be subjected to interrogation."
"No, sir," said Jenkins.
"Where are you now?"
"I'm…on the train, sir," said Jenkins. "Heading to Zootopia. I stowed onboard."
"Good. As soon as you arrive, come to my office directly."
"Y-Yes, sir."
And Keyes hung up.
"Not bad, sport," said Nick.
"Okay," said Jenkins. "What's next?"
"We get into our disguises, and we head down to Terra Firma HQ, and phase one begins," said Judy.
"Care to fill me in on the details, Hopps?" said Bogo.
"Latrans will bring you up to speed, right, Amber?" said Judy brightly.
"Most certainly," said Amber.
"We have to move," said Judy. "Chief, we'll call you as soon as we find out where the Jenkinses are being held."
Bogo was about to say something, but Shepard interrupted.
"It's been a pleasure, Chief Bogo," said Shepard, shaking the buffalo's hoof for the third time. "I shall be taking my leave now, I have important business to attend to in my hometown and we came in a borrowed vehicle. We shall be in contact."
Shepard said goodbye and walked out of the room. Bogo then realised that everyone had left. Everyone, except Amber. She was sitting daintily in front of his desk, smiling and moving her tail slightly from side to side in the most lady-like manner.
"May I offer you a cup of hot chocolate while I explain our plan, Chief Bogo?" asked Amber in her sweetest, most charming voice.
Bogo sighed and nodded. By the looks of it, this was going to be one of those days.
Jenkins walked into the President's office, acting jittery and nervous as usual.
"Welcome back, Jenkins," said President Keyes without looking up from his magazine.
"S-Sir," said Jenkins. "Everything went more or less as planned."
"Good," said Keyes. "Is he dead?"
"Very much so, sir," said Jenkins. "I hit him square in the neck."
"Not bad," said Keyes, looking up from his magazine. "I didn't think you had it in you, Jenkins. I might have underestimated your talent."
"Thank you, s-sir," said Jenkins.
There was a silence as Keyes poured himself a drink.
"Um…sir, there was a little bit of a…hubbub, in Bunny Burrow," said Jenkins. "I really must lay low for a while…"
"Um-hum," said Keyes distractedly as he turned the page of his magazine.
"Do you think…I could hide for a few days, with my family?" asked Jenkins. "I haven't seen them…in so long."
There was another paused. Then…
"Hmm…yes, I suppose so," said Keyes. "You've earned yourself a little vacation, Jenkins."
Keyes pressed a button on the intercom sitting on his desk.
"Jacques, have Etienne and Morris escort Jenkins to my summer home," said Keyes.
Jenkins stood there, trying his best to hide his excitement. The door opened shortly and two enormous grizzly bear bodyguards walked in.
"I'll call you if I need you again, Jenkins," said Keyes.
"Yes, s-sir," said Jenkins.
The two bears escorted the mole out of the room and into the elevator.
The elevator stopped at the ground floor and opened to a corridor that led to the entrance lobby. The bears and Jenkins stepped out, and suddenly they noticed someone small tapping the walls with an umbrella.
"Confounded modern buildings! Why do y'all have to build them like doggone hay mazes?!"
One of the bears took a step forward, but Jenkins told him to stop.
"I'll handle this, Etienne," said Jenkins, walking towards the stranger in the corridor. "Um, Miss? Are you lost?"
Of course, it was Judy in disguise, pretending to be completely clueless.
"Allow me to help you, Miss," said Jenkins. "The lobby is that way."
"That way might as well be this way or the other way to a blind bunny, you silly goose!" snapped Judy theatrically.
"My apologies, Miss," said Jenkins, taking her arm gently. "Allow me to guide you."
They walked towards the exit. The two grizzly bears looked at each other and shrugged, suspecting nothing at all.
"Doggone flea-bitten dumb darn two-bit architects! Think they're so clever makin' twisted buildings more loopy than a contortionist's digestive tract. They ought to be workin' behind a fast food counter fryin' taters and flippin' carrot fritters, the scatter-brained numble-dumblings!" mumbled Judy as she waved around her paw and umbrella.
In one swift move, she secretly dropped a GPS dot into Jenkins's pocket.
They came to the exit and opened the door to the lobby. Nick was standing there, in his farmer outfit, his paws on his hips.
"Susan Eleanor Cottonbottom! What have I told you 'bout wandering off by yerself?"
"Ah, shuddup, Clyde! You're the one who insisted in comin' into this here joint 'cause you wanted them paper cups they serves water in for yer collection!"
"Now, Susan Eleanor, don't be makin' a hubbub and botherin' these nice folks," said Nick, taking her arm. "Much obliged, Mr Mole. I swear to Jiminy Cricket, this bunny gets her marbles more an' more lost by the hour, minute and second."
"Ah, can it, Clyde! Your marbles weren't never even there to begin with!"
"Now hush up, you. Get yer business done and let's skedaddle over to the grilled corn joint."
As Judy and Nick pantomimed and went over to the corridor that led to the ladies' room, Jenkins and his bodyguards exited the building.
"Did you bug him?" whispered Nick.
"Sure did," said Judy. "Garth should be following him now."
Jenkins and his bodyguards got into a black car and drove away. Judy and Nick came out of the building after a while and walked to one of the benches in the front courtyard, where Garth was sitting down and pretending to laugh at something on his laptop computer.
"They're heading towards the upper-class district," said Garth quietly.
"We should get ready for our next move," said Judy. "I hope Amber was able to convince Bogo."
"She's got a silver tongue, that gal," said Garth. "Smooth as glass, sweet as honeycomb."
They waited and watched the dot on the screen moving along a map of Zootopia. After about ten minutes, it stopped.
"There," said Garth. "Now let's Zoogle that address..."
He did and brought up a picture of the house. It was a large residence with a tall fence and a semi-circular driveway. It was smack in the middle of the upper-class district, surrounded by the houses of the wealthy and famous.
"Bingo," said Garth.
"Okay," said Nick. "Now we have to find out how well-guarded the place is."
"Phase two commences. Let's go to my place," said Garth. "I've got the tools of the trade."
They were back at Garth's place. Garth took several strange devices from random corners of his basement and they followed him to the far end, where there was a door hidden among all the piles of old computers.
"Time to get this show on the road," said Garth and he opened the door to reveal an underground garage.
Judy and Nick followed Garth into the garage and saw a pristine black-and-red van, painted in the colours of a famous van from one of Garth's favourite television programmes. It was impeccable and as Garth opened the back, they saw that it was decked with all sorts of electronics.
"I didn't know you had a ride, Garth," said Judy.
"Neither did I," said Nick.
"Hop on board and I'll give you two the fifty-cent tour," said Garth, opening the doors with a remote control.
They got into the van and Garth started the engine. The garage doors of the building opened as Garth pushed a button on the dashboard. He drove slowly outside and soon they were cruising smoothly along the posh avenues of the high-class district, looking at the lush lawns and sculpted shrubs and other fancy features of the residences of the rich and famous.
Garth came to a stop near the front gate of the house they had seen earlier on Zoogle Maps. He turned off the engine and climbed over the driver seat, going into the back of the van. Judy and Nick followed.
"Okay," said Garth, sitting down on a chair that was bolted into the floor of the van and turning on a small computer atop a fibreglass counter. "Let's see what Big Brother can spot in the house of the big bad bunny boss."
"Wire-tapping, are we?" said Nick with a wry grin. "Our list of questionable methods just keeps piling up."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," said Garth with an ear-to-ear smile.
Judy watched as he tapped a few keys on his small computer and a progress bar appeared.
"Are you going to hack in remotely?" she asked.
"Yupperoo!" said Garth. "It used to be that you needed a hardwire connection to the security server in order to intercept the cameras. But now everything is wireless. The cameras, the signal, the servers…everything connects wirelessly. The cameras to the main computer in the security room, and the security room to the security company. It's almost an irony to be using the word 'security' so much while I'm totally playing Nineteen Eighty-Four with these fools."
He waited a few more second, then…
"Aaand…we're in!"
Judy and Nick saw several images of the inside of the house. There were corridors, a dining room, a ballroom, a main entrance hall, and they saw two enormous bears sitting in a lounge. There was a door at the far end of the lounge, and it seemed to be locked with chain and padlock.
"There," said Judy. "I'll bet you anything the Jenkinses are behind that door."
"No need for that," said Garth. "They're right there."
Garth pointed at an image in the bottom left corner of the monitor and they saw them. George Jenkins, his wife and their two daughters were sitting beside a pool in the backyard of the house, and close to them was an enormous grizzly bear in a suit.
"Bingo!" said Nick. "Okay, how many guards?"
"I counted nine, but only three of them are Keyes's guys," said Garth. "The rest are hired from a private security company."
Judy and Nick looked at the images and saw that Garth was right.
Then suddenly…
"Wait a minute! That uniform!" said Nick.
He snapped his fingers.
"I saw that uniform before! James Otterton!"
"Mr Otterton, from the hospital?" asked Judy.
"Yeah! He works for the same company!"
"It's a small world after all," said Garth musically.
"Maybe he can help us," said Nick.
"How?" asked Judy.
"Well, there's a chain of command," said Nick. "Private security guards are hired by clients, but they still respond to headquarters as their top authority. Maybe we can ask Mr Otterton if he can somehow get HQ to call them off for the night."
"Do you think he could?" asked Judy.
"It's worth a try," said Nick. "We don't want them caught up in this whole affair. They probably have no idea what's going on."
"I have a better idea," said Garth, tapping some keys.
They watched him enter the database of the security company, Sentinel Security, LLC.
"What are you up to, Garth?" asked Nick, narrowing his eyes.
"I'm going to pull a Vince McMane and fake-fire these six employees," said Garth. "That way they'll be out of the way for tonight."
"GARTH!" said Judy.
"Just for a few hours," said Garth with a nasty grin as he typed. "They'll get a company email tomorrow morning saying it was all a hoax and some mischievous hacker played a trick on them. Which will be the truth, by the way."
"I never thought I'd be the one to say this, Garth, but I think you're going a little too far," said Nick.
"Aww, c'mon. It's Halloween," said Garth, grinning broadly. "Trick or treat, remember? Let's just play them a trick, it'll be a treat!"
He pushed the ENTER key.
"And there!"
"When this is done, Garth…" said Judy and Nick in unison, then stopped and laughed.
"Yeah, I know, I know, long talk, yadda yadda, blah blah, zap zap, whatever," said Garth, flexing his fingers. "Let's go back to the Precinct. The next part of our plan will require all our expertise."
Amber was sitting in Chief Bogo's office, explaining the plan to Bogo, Fangmeyer and Wolford. She had had Fangmeyer and Wolford called into the office and filled them in on the details of what was going on.
"So you see, dear Officers Wolford and Fangmeyer, we will need your abilities if we hope to rescue this poor family from the clutches of this criminal," said Amber in her sweetest, most adorable voice, swishing her tail from time to time and rocking ever so slightly in her chair, her legs crossed in a lady-like pose, looking at them with her big amber-coloured bespectacled eyes.
Wolford and Fangmeyer nodded to everything she said. Fangmeyer, standing next to Bogo's desk, was enthralled at the figure of loveliness that spoke to them. He tried hard to hide the fact that he was trying, from time to time, to peek up her skirt every time she moved in her chair and swished her tail.
Amber knew she had them eating out of her paw. She had realised in Bunny Burrow that she was very good at convincing people, and she decided to use this new-found ability for the benefit of her friends. And she knew that she had a special advantage with Wolford and Fangmeyer, them being wolves and she being a coyote, very close relatives.
"This mission will require swift, silent and stealthy officers who can go in and out quickly and smoothly," said Amber, looking directly into Fangmeyer's eyes, making him blush noticeably. "Will you help us?"
"YES!" the two wolves exclaimed.
"Umm…yes," said Fangmeyer, flustered. "I shall strive, with all my heart…um, er…ahem, ahem….ability…to do whatever it takes and help the Jenkinses."
"Count me in, Doctor Latrans," said Wolford.
Chief Bogo held back a face, knowing exactly what Amber was doing. He kept telling himself that it was all for the benefit of the Jenkinses, but he wished it was a plan he could believe would actually work.
There was a knock on the door.
"Enter," said Bogo roughly.
Judy and Nick walked in.
"We're all set, Chief," said Judy. "We know where the Jenkinses are being held, and with a bit of luck, the security will be lax tonight. It'll be the best chance we have."
"Hopps," started Bogo. "Might I ask how you came about that information…"
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Amber girlishly, jumping up in her chair.
As she did, her skirt bounced up slightly, and Fangmeyer almost let out a yelp as he saw what he had been trying to see for the past thirty minutes.
"Officers Fangmeyer and Wolford have agreed to give us their full support!" said Amber, getting up and walking towards the door. "Isn't that right, Officers?"
She looked at them with her charming eyes.
"Yes!"
"Absolutely!"
Bogo couldn't help making a face this time.
"Well, we'd better get the preparations underway," said Amber. "We shall meet again here at the precinct at seven. Thank you so much for your help, dear Officers Fangmeyer and Wolford."
The two of them seemed like they were about to melt.
"And Chief Bogo, your support has been invaluable. We shall all do our best to make sure the Jenkinses are safe and under the secure protective custody of our illustrious police department."
"Yes…er, think nothing of it, Doctor Latrans," said Bogo.
She left with Judy and Nick, closing the door. Bogo looked at Fangmeyer and Wolford, still dreamy and dazed.
"You two were like putty in her paws," said Bogo roughly.
"Erm…come again, Chief?" said Fangmeyer.
"Bah, never mind," said Bogo. "At least she's on our side."
Nick, Judy and Amber walked outside of the Precinct towards the parking lot, where Garth was waiting for them in his van.
Judy looked sideways at Amber and grinned.
"Sly coyote," she said.
Amber giggled girlishly and beamed.
"If you got 'em, use 'em," was her response as she adjusted her spectacles.
Garth drove them back to his place. They got out of the van and Garth opened the door to his basement. Amber walked in fascinated, looking all around delightedly at the piles of junk and computers.
"It's like walking into an archaeological site," she said enthralled. "The mysteries of a man cave. Now I shall unravel you."
Judy giggled as she watched her colleague walk around fascinated by the obvious masculinity of the chaotic room before her. Nick helped Garth bring his devices from the van into the basement.
"Well," said Nick, looking at Amber. "I always said this place could use a lady's touch."
Amber and Judy giggled and Garth beamed happily as he set his tools on benches and gave Amber the tour.
After they had settled down and Amber had gone through the tour, they sat down at one of Garth's tables and he poured them grape-flavoured fizzy drinks. Then they worked out the details of the plan, down to the last possible outcome.
"We have a few hours to kill before show time," said Judy. "I say we get rested and ready. We'll need all our stamina and wits about us for tonight."
"Yes indeed," said Amber. "Nick, are you feeling recovered? Any after-effects or dizziness?"
"I'm feeling great," said Nick. "You and Garth did a super job. But I do think I would benefit from a little relax and recovery. We'll meet again here at six. Then we'll all go to the precinct."
"Done," said the others.
Judy and Nick left Amber and Garth and walked to Nick's apartment, which was closer.
Judy opened the door for Nick and led him to his bedroom, tucking him in carefully and making sure he was comfortable and snug.
"If you need anything, honey bun," said Judy, "I'll be right outside in the living room."
"I do need something," said Nick mischievously. "And you won't be outside in the living room, sunshine."
He tugged Judy towards him and lifted her onto the bed, hugging her tight. Judy giggled. She felt warm and cosy as Nick lifted the covers and tucked her in beside him, wrapping his arms around his beloved bunny.
"I thought you said relax and recovery would do you well, slick," said Judy teasingly as she felt Nick's paws caress her body lovingly, wrapped in the quilt and his warm embrace.
"Well, do you know a better way of relaxing and recovering, little lady?" said Nick with the most mischievous of grins.
"Hmmm, good point," said Judy, closing her eyes and savouring the glorious anticipation, breathing in his wonderful scent. "If there is one and we just don't know about it, then ignorance is bliss."
Garth's van was parked half a block away from Preston Keyes's summer residence. A short distance behind, Chief Bogo was sitting with three officers in his squad car: McHorn, Delgato and Grizzoli. Behind them, another squad car was parked. Fangmeyer and Wolford were getting ready, putting on protective vests and making sure their stun guns were charged and ready. Amber Latrans was with them, instructing them carefully. They nodded and agreed to everything their colleague said. Bogo looked at them in the rear-view mirror and frowned.
"Pathetic," he muttered as he watched Fangmeyer and Wolford enthralled by the lovely Doctor Latrans.
Inside Garth's van, Garth was getting tiny headsets ready for Judy and Nick and the wolf officers. They would wear them on their ears and Garth would be able to lead them to wherever they needed to go, hacking into the surveillance cameras of the house and acting as their eyes-and-ears in the sky.
"Ready to rock?" asked Garth.
"Ready!" said Judy and Nick, and they stepped out of the van.
Delgato, sitting in Bogo's squad car, looked and saw two children dressed in Halloween costumes walking down the sidewalk towards the house.
"Hey Chief!" said Delgato. "There's kids in the area, we should evacuate them!"
"That's them, you dolt!" snapped Bogo, his frown setting a record.
And it was. Judy and Nick walked towards the front gates of the house dressed in Halloween costumes. Wolford and Fangmeyer saw them and nodded, following from a distance and stopping close to the entrance.
Nick climbed over the fence stealthily and dropped on the other side. He walked to the guardhouse, which was empty, and opened the gate a fraction.
Judy walked in, signalling for Fangmeyer and Wolford to wait a few minutes before following.
Nick joined Judy and they walked up the driveway towards the front door of the house. Nobody who happened to see them would imagine it was them.
Judy was wearing a witch costume with a fake nose and hat, hiding her ears and her communicator effectively. Nick was wearing a skeleton costume, which was actually just a stretchy spandex suit painted with glow-in-the-dark bones and a skull mask. They were both carrying little pumpkin buckets filled with sweets.
"A skeleton and a witch, eh?" said Nick behind his mask, and Judy knew that he was smirking. "Unoriginal, but effective."
"Now, why Amber decided to make you the skeleton and me the witch…well, I won't read too deep into it," said Judy with a sideways smirk.
They reached the front steps and climbed up. Then Judy rang the doorbell. They heard heavy footsteps, and the door opened. An enormous grizzly bear in a suit opened the door. He looked and saw nobody. Then…
"TRICK OR TREAT!"
The bear looked down, both surprised and confused.
"Wha….what are you doin' here?"
"It's Halloween, mista!" said Judy in a childish voice. "Trick or treat, trick or treat, gimme somethin' good to eat!"
"Apples, peaches, tangerines," sang Nick in a falsetto voice. "Happy happy Halloween!"
"Go away!" said the bear. "We ain't got no candy! Shoo, shoo!"
"Aww, c'mon, mista!" said Nick. "You folks are rich! I'm sure you got full-sized candy bars!"
"Yeah, don't be stingy!" said Judy.
"I said leave!" shouted the bear. "Get lost, kids, or I'll spank you both!"
"Aww, you don't have any treats?" said Judy. "Well, in that case, I guess it'll have to be 'trick'."
And the bear suddenly felt electricity coursing through his body. Judy had taken a stun gun from her bucket of candy and zapped the bear without him noticing it.
The bear buzzed for a few seconds and then fell back heavily on the carpet of the entrance hall, stunned and paralysed.
They walked over the bear and entered the main hall.
"We're in," said Nick, and shortly Fangmeyer and Wolford dashed in quietly.
"The Jenkinses are upstairs, at the very back of the house," said Garth's voice in their communicators. "There are two more bozos, Keyes's goons. No private security guards. Looks like my little joke this morning worked!"
"Eh, eh, Garth!" said Judy nervously. "Focus! On the mission!"
She doubted very much Bogo would approve of Garth hacking into a private company's database and sending bogus emails fake-firing the employees for a night.
The group moved stealthily upstairs and came to corridor that ended in a large set of double doors. They had seen in the surveillance camera footage that it was a lounge, and behind the lounge there was a chained and padlocked door. The two goons were inside the lounge guarding the Jenkins family.
"Okay," whispered Nick to Wolford and Fangmeyer. "Hopps and I will distract them. You two hide behind those two plants at the sides of the door. When the thugs run after us, zap 'em."
"You got it, Wilde," said Fangmeyer. Wolford nodded in acknowledgement.
Judy and Nick walked up to the doors and opened them abruptly. The two thugs inside looked up and were shocked by the sight of two kids in Halloween costumes standing in the doorway.
"OOPS!" said Judy. "This ain't the kitchen!"
"Wrong room!" said Nick.
They dashed off in opposite directions down the corridor.
"Hey! You kids! Get back here!" shouted one of the thugs and he and his cohort ran after them.
"You take the witch, I'll get the skeleton!" said the other goon, and they started running after Judy and Nick.
But they had not moved three feet when they both felt strong electricity cramping their bodies. Wolford and Fangmeyer, hidden behind large vases with plants at either side of the double doors, zapped them and the thugs were soon unconscious on the floor of the corridor.
Judy and Nick ran back to the lounge, followed by their wolf colleagues. Judy took off her fake nose and Nick removed his mask.
"Alright," said Judy, taking her lock picks from her pocket and picking the padlock.
As she did this, a sudden dreadful thought came to her mind. What if they opened the door…and the Jenkinses were not there?
"No," said Judy in her mind. "Focus, Judy. Don't let your mind wander."
She unlocked the padlock and they removed the chains hastily. Then Judy and Nick pulled open the doors.
For a second, Judy felt a horrible dread in her stomach, fearing what could be behind the doors.
But then…
"Um…is it safe to come out?"
Judy and Nick sighed in relief as they watched George Jenkins walk nervously to them, followed by his wife, and his two daughters.
Chief Bogo and the larger officers were in the front entrance hall. The three grizzly bear heavies were cuffed and stuffed in the back of Bogo's squad car, which was parked in the driveway outside the front door.
Garth and Amber were standing in the front hall. Garth was flashing his Junior ZPD Officer badge at anyone who happened to catch his eye. The Jenkinses were escorted to Fangmeyer and Wolford's squad car by Delgato and Grizzoli.
Judy and Nick walked down the grand stairs to the front hall with Fangmeyer and Wolford after making sure the house was empty and secure.
"Hey Wilde!" said Fangmeyer.
Nick knew what came next.
"It's really hot!" said Nick.
"What's hot?" said Wolford.
"What we got!" said Fangmeyer.
"Really hot!" said Nick.
"You'd better run way before you're caught!" said Amber!
Everyone was stunned for a second, looking at her, but then they all grinned and howled triumphantly together.
"AWOOOOO!"
"CUT THAT OUT! THIS INSTANT!" yelled Chief Bogo annoyed as he walked towards them.
Judy giggled mirthfully as the canine officers all winked and nodded at each other.
"I must admit," said Bogo, looking at his officers. "I had very little faith in the effectiveness of this…plan. But I stand corrected, it worked. Marvellously."
He sighed deeply and seemed to struggle with his next words.
"My felicitations, to all of you. You did a great job."
The Jenkinses were safely locked inside the wolves' squad car. As Wolford and Fangmeyer got into their car and buckled up, George Jenkins waved at Judy and Nick, tears of joy in his eyes and his face shining with relief and hope.
"Thank you," he mouthed, and the car drove away to the Precinct.
"Well, that's that," said Nick.
"Yup," said Judy. "And now all we have left is the big boss himself."
"With a bit of luck," said Amber, "he'll be on his way to Bunny Burrow tomorrow morning, none the wiser."
"And so will we," said Garth.
Hours earlier, in the office of President Preston Keyes, his secretary walked into the room with a red envelope, sealed with wax and very official-looking.
"Mr Keyes, sir," said the secretary, a young goat girl. "This arrived just now via courier."
"Miss Blanche, I am in the middle of something quite important," said Keyes, looking up from his online poker game on his iPaw.
"I'm afraid this is top-priority, sir," said Miss Blanche, giving him the letter.
Keyes opened it in annoyance, but soon his annoyance disappeared to give way to a look of triumph.
The letter read:
Dear Mr. President Keyes,
On behalf of the town of Bunny Burrow, I am writing to express our sincere apologies for the way the town reacted to the innovative new agricultural model presented last Sunday evening. We deeply regret our conduct and hope that there are no hard feelings towards our humble farming community.
To make up for our error, I would like to extend a most cordial invitation to participate in the public signing of an agreement between Your Excellency's illustrious company and our town. We have opened our eyes and embraced the future and we would like the President himself to personally sign the contract by which Terra Firma Incorporated can commence the renovation of all the farms in Bunny Burrow.
It would honour us to receive Your Excellency in our humble town and offer all our hospitality, best regional dishes and eternal friendship.
Sincerely,
Mayor Dwight L. Honeysuckle
"HAHAA!" said President Keyes. "I knew a little persuasion would go a long way!"
"Shall I have Rosco prepare your car, sir?" asked Miss Blanche.
"Yes, yes, immediately," said Keyes. "Oh, I can almost savour the flavour of triumph! Take care of the preparations, Miss Blanche, and then take the rest of the day off. In fact, take tomorrow off as well, you and everyone else! This calls for a company-wide celebration!"
"Right away, sir," said Miss Blanche and went to carry out her orders.
The city hall was packed and festive that afternoon! Everybody was present, wearing their absolute best. The middle of the hall was cleared of all chairs and tables and destined to be the dancing floor where the best square dancers of the town would perform for President Keyes. Delicious regional dishes were made by the wives of the farms that had not been affected by the pan-dimonium acetate contamination. Everyone in Bunny Burrow was ready and willing to celebrate and make this the best party ever.
Stuart and Bonnie Hopps and their children, all except for Judy, were present at the event. They were expectant, knowing that something good was about to happen. They kept quiet, though, and acted like everything was normal.
A big black car pulled up to the front of the city hall, and two enormous grizzly bears walked out, escorting President Preston Keyes to the entrance.
"Ah, victory," said Keyes to himself as everyone cheered and greeted him upon his arrival. "One can almost taste it."
The Mayor led him and his bodyguards to the stage, on which a table had been prepared with an ink well and two notaries. A large parchment was sitting on the table, just waiting to be signed.
"This way, please," said Mayor Honeysuckle.
Keyes made a gesture for his heavies to wait for him at the foot of the stage. Everyone applauded and cheered as the Mayor and President Keyes walked up towards the table on the stage. Several dozen cell phone cameras and camcorders recorded the historical moment.
Judge Randolph Romero Lagus was present. He pulled the chair back for President Keyes. Keyes sat down and took a long quill. But before signing, he cleared his throat and spoke a few words.
"This wonderful town shall remember November 1st as the day Bunny Burrow took its first step into the future," said President Keyes.
Everyone applauded.
"Terra Firma Incorporated is happy and proud to foster the first great leap into a future of progress and prosperity for all of you wonderful residents," said Keyes, completely full of himself.
More applause.
"I, Judge Randolph R. Lagus, bear witness to the signing of this official document," announced Judge Lagus, "by which the town of Bunny Burrow agrees to the terms proposed by Terra Firma Incorporated. If there is anyone present in this community who opposes to the signing of this document…"
"I OPPOSE!" said a loud voice in the audience.
Keyes looked up. Everybody looked. At the front of the crowd, leaning on his walking stick, was Cletus Hareington himself.
President Keyes bolted up from his chair.
"YOU!" he shouted. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!"
And a second later, he realised his mistake. But it was too late. One hundred and sixty cameras and cell phones recorded his words. There was murmuring all over.
"Ha! Would be, if it weren't for the brave police officer who saved me!" said Cletus. "And now yer head's on the choppin' block, buster!"
And right on cue, the doors to the city hall burst open. And everyone watched as a tall and lithe vixen ran into the hall, followed by six other people of different species.
It was Beatrice Lorena Wilde! But what a difference! She was wearing a green uniform and protective vest, and in her paws she carried a stun gun, charged and ready.
"Wow…" said little Bianca from her mother's arms. "Aunty Bea looks badass!"
Everyone agreed, not bothering to wonder where Bianca had heard that word.
"Freeze! Environmental Protection Corps!" she shouted in an imperative voice. "Preston Keyes, you are coming with us!"
Preston Keyes looked all around him with murder in his eyes.
"You tricked me!" he spat. "You tricked me! All of you!"
"It's called a hustle, sweetheart," said Bea saucily. "Boom!"
The next events took place so quickly that everyone remembered them differently. The two grizzly bear thugs advanced upon Bea, but she shot one with her stun gun and her co-agent behind her shot the other. Preston Keyes shot towards the end of the stage and jumped at a large window. It shattered and he landed outside on the grass, running for his life towards the parking lot, where his chauffeur was still in the big black car.
Keyes opened the door to the car and jumped in.
"DRIVE!"
"Where to, sir?" asked the chauffeur, an elegantly-dressed ram.
"ANYWHERE! OUT OF TOWN! JUST DRIVE!"
The chauffeur put the car into gear and drove out of the parking lot, just as Bea and her co-agents and the rest of Bunny Burrow, all with cameras in their paws and hooves, poured out of the city hall.
"STEP ON IT!" shouted Keyes, and his chauffeur floored the gas pedal and shot out of the parking lot and towards the town exit.
"To your vehicles!" shouted Bea, and all her co-agents rushed to their vehicles.
Keyes's car raced down the road that led out of town. The chauffeur was confused but he did as he was told, driving at top speed away from the city. Keyes looked back. Seeing nobody chasing them, he sighed and buckled up.
"Close shave," said Keyes.
"Is everything alright, sir?" asked the chauffeur.
"Shut up and drive!" snapped Keyes.
The chauffeur did. They shot past farms and woodland, putting miles between themselves and Bunny Burrow.
Then suddenly…the chauffeur saw lights up ahead. Red and blue blinking lights.
"Sir…there's a police barrier," said the chauffeur, slowing down.
"DON'T SLOW DOWN, YOU MORON!" shouted Keyes. "RAM 'EM!"
"Sir!" said the chauffeur. "We'll get into terrible trouble…"
"WE'RE ALREADY IN TERRIBLE TROUBLE, IDIOT!"
At the police barrier, two squad cars were blocking the road. Sheriff Donovan Shepard, Officer Judy Hopps, Officer Nicholas P. Wilde, Garth O' Possum, Doctor Amber Beverly Latrans and a whole group of people from Bunny Burrow were all present. They had rakes and hoes and scythes in their paws and were ready to use them.
"Alright," shouted Shepard. "Tire shredders! Now!"
Several metres ahead of the barrier, Shepard's deputies Old Ben and Barkins unfolded a spike strip across the road. The chauffeur noticed and slammed the brakes.
"DON'T STOP! YOU MISERABLE COWARD!"
The black car drove over the spikes and the four tires burst! The chauffeur managed to bring the car to a stop a few metres from the police barrier, where Shepard and the others were waiting.
The black car came to a stop. The driver door opened and the chauffeur walked out with his hooves in the air.
"Whatever is going on here, I want no part of it!" said the chauffeur, walking towards Shepard. "I am turning myself in!"
"Good move, son," said Shepard. "Would you kindly cuff him, Judy?"
"My pleasure," said Judy as she cuffed the chauffeur, who offered no resistance.
Preston Keyes witnessed the scene, his face contorted with rage.
"KEYES," shouted Shepard. "STEP OUT OF THE CAR! YOU HAVE NOWHERE TO RUN!"
Keyes cursed under his breath and opened the glove compartment. From it, he took a black case and opened it. Inside was a dart gun with several darts. He loaded the darts into the gun and cocked back the air pump.
"KEYES!" shouted Shepard. "TURN YOURSELF IN! YOU ARE SURROUNDED!"
Keyes opened the door and stepped out of the car. Then he raised his dart gun.
"ANYBODY MOVE AND I'LL SHOOT!" roared Keyes.
"Put the weapon down, Keyes!" said Old Ben, running with Barkins from behind the black car.
"GET BACK THERE!" said Keyes, aiming his dart gun at Old Ben.
"Ben! Do as he says!" shouted Shepard. "You too, Barkins!"
Old Ben and Barkins did as they were ordered, standing behind Shepard. Judy and Nick lifted their stun guns.
"DON'T!" yelled Keyes, aiming his dart gun into the crowd. "I'LL SHOOT THE FIRST MISERABLE WRETCH WHO MOVES!"
Everybody stood still. Judy and Nick knew that the darts were filled with deadly rattlesnake poison. If Keyes started shooting, it would be a terrible situation.
Then suddenly, Garth moved. He grabbed a rake from one of the crowd members and walked towards Keyes.
"STOP!" said Keyes, aiming his dart gun squarely at Garth's body.
"I'll show you, you stuck-up piece of vermin," said Garth as he advanced upon Keyes.
"STOP OR I'LL SHOOT YOU! I SWEAR!"
"I'll rake your face off, you two-bit varmint!" yelled Garth.
"STOP OR I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU!"
"FOR BUNNY BURROW!" yelled Garth in an inspiring war cry. "Schlachtet den feind! RAAAAAHHHH!"
The opossum charged! Preston Keyes pulled the trigger! A dart shot right into Garth's chest!
"AHHRRRGG!" yelled the opossum, pulling the dart out and falling to the ground.
"GARTH!" yelled Amber from the crowd.
"DON'T MOVE! ANYONE!" yelled Keyes, loading another dart.
"I'll kill you…I'll tan your hide…" said Garth as he dragged himself to Preston Keyes's feet.
Keyes kept his dart gun aimed at Garth as he watched the opossum dragging himself with difficulty towards him. And finally…
"My….comrades….ugh…shall…avenge…my…death….ugh…"
And Garth slumped onto the ground at Preston's feet...dead.
"NOO!" wailed Amber. "You evil villain!"
The whole crowd moved a step closer to Keyes, their faces contorted with anger.
"Stand back!" yelled Keyes as he aimed his dart gun into the crowd. "Stand back or I'll shoot you! I'll shoot every one of your miserable hides! Not one more step…"
And suddenly, a long brown whip lashed through the air! It wrapped around Keyes's dart gun and snatched it out of his paw. Then it flung the gun away! Keyes looked incredulous!
"WHAT?!"
It was Garth's tail!
"FOOLED YOU!" taunted Garth.
The dart gun flew through the air and landed thirty feet away in a field on the side of the road.
Garth jumped up from the ground and his fist struck a ferocious uppercut on Keyes's jaw, knocking the rabbit back and sending him flying against the black car with a loud THUD!
"That was for Jenkins, evildoer!"
Preston Keyes fell to the ground, dizzy from the punch and unable to move.
"HAHAA!" laughed Garth. "You have been thwarted by the power of cunning, you miserable pile of regret!"
Garth stood with his paws to his hips and an ear-to-ear grin, posing dramatically and savouring every bit of this victorious moment.
"Thought you had killed me, you vile wretch?! I was just playin' possum with you! And you fell for the oldest trick in the book, like a sucker! Neener-neener-neener!"
Amber walked up behind Garth, laughing mirthfully as she hugged her sweetheart around the shoulders. Everyone walked up behind them, triumphantly watching the scene.
Keyes's head rose a bit and he looked up at Garth, standing there with his arms folded over his chest, a look of sheer triumph on his face. Garth and Amber put their thumbs to their ears and waggled their fingers, sticking their tongues out at the fallen rabbit.
"But…but how…" muttered Keyes. "How…are…"
"HA! How am I not dead?" said Garth theatrically. "You clearly didn't pay attention in science class, you dunderheaded dolt! Don't you know opossums are immune to rattlesnake poison?"
Preston's eyes were wide with surprise and rage as Garth waggled his eyebrows.
"Once again, the stalwart servants of good triumph over the wicked," said Garth with Amber hugging his shoulders, "the hammer of truth smites them with all the power of righteousness! A power so awesome it tears the skies asunder with the clamorous cry of 'Vae Victus!'"
Then Amber chimed in.
"And that's the bottom line…!"
"…'cause Garth O' Possum said so!" they both exclaimed.
Preston Keyes was beside himself with rage. But he could not utter a word. Sheriff Shepard lifted him up non-too-carefully by the scruff and pressed him against the side of the car. Everyone looked approvingly and waited.
"Ahh, I haven't done this in years," said Shepard with a smile. "I hope I haven't gotten rusty."
"Go on, Shep," said Old Ben with a jolly face as everybody watched with big smiles. "Let's all hear it."
Shepard was only too happy to oblige. He cuffed Preston Keyes securely and said the words.
"Preston Keyes, for your multiple crimes, not the least of which include attempted murder, kidnapping, severe damage to private property, verbal and physical assault, and a long list that the judge will no doubt recite for you, by the power vested upon me as Sheriff of Bunny Burrow, I hereby place you under arrest," said Donovan Shepard, and everyone cheered and applauded with approval at those words. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…"
Judy and Nick looked at each other triumphantly. They both felt it. The overpowering feeling of joy as they watched justice being served.