"So, were there any other threatening incidents besides the exploding toy and bomb?" Chief Bogo held a pen to his notepad as Leilani and Duke again sat in front of his desk.
"Yes!" Leilani grabbed the edge of the desk. "We think it was PJ!"
"Well, we can't for sure say it was her." Chief Bogo finished writing. "We'll launch an investigation, but in the meantime, I suggest finding a different place to stay for a few days."
Leilani sighed and dropped her head.
Duke's ears pricked up as he smirked. "Ya know…I hear Rainforest District is a nice vacation spot."
Leilani's head snapped up as she gasped. As she turned to Duke, her mouth gradually gave way to a wide grin.
Duke's eyes darted around between Leilani, Chief Bogo, and the floor. "Yeah, well, uh, I figured since you've liked it since that surgery you had when you were little, and, well, yeah."
Leilani threw her arms around Duke, kissed his cheek, and declared, "You're the best accidental husband ever!"
"Wow! Uh, thanks, Leilani." Duke softly chuckled.
Chief Bogo stood up. "Well, with that settled, I should get going."
Leilani gasped and released her grip on Duke. "Oh! Yeah, thank you, Chief!"
Upon arrival at the train station in Rainforest District, Leilani gazed up at the vivid green trees, houses and other kinds of structures built in and on them from the ground up. Water sprayed from some of the trees.
Duke whistled, "Haven't been here since I did my Rainforest District movie sales route."
Leilani looked up and saw a red blimp cruising past the trees. "Look!"
Duke looked up. "Oh, yeah! They got blimps here. Maybe after the picnic part of our first date, we could take a ride in a blimp? I don't think they're too expensive here, since it's a common way to travel here."
"That's a great idea, Duke! I really hope we can!"
Duke's ears twitched around as he looked in all directions. "Listen, Lei, maybe we should go by different names here so that whoever's lookin' for us doesn't hear our names and think it's free real estate."
"Oh! Cool! I wonder what name I should pick…Courtney! Pretty but common!"
Duke scratched his head. "Maybe I could go by…King?"
Leilani sucked air through her teeth.
"Yeah, you're right. Too similar. Besides, that's one of my brothers' names, and I don't wanna get his car bombed or whatever. Not a very common name, either. How 'bout Jacob?"
"I like it, Jacob!"
"Aw, thank you, Courtney. I guess we should catch a gondola to the hotel."
Leilani squealed and clapped her paws. "There's gondolas here? As in, the booth things on zip lines?"
Leilani stood in the gondola and stared down at the animals, buildings, and smaller trees. The disorientation from the height made her paws sweat as she gripped the edge, but it was enjoyable in a thrilling sort of way.
"I wonder if the animals here know how lucky they are to have these things." Duke had his arms rested on the edge and stared down as well. "I also wonder how many animals fall outta these things."
"What?" Leilani dug her claws into the edge and dropped to the floor.
"Oh! Uh, sorry, Lei."
Leilani took a deep breath and worked her way back up. She gradually placed her arms on the edge.
Duke edged slightly closer to her.
Leilani felt his elbow touch hers.
It felt like forever since she felt this happy. Leilani was in the most beautiful place she had ever seen, the sun provided comforting warmth to her face and arms, and she was enjoying it all with someone she liked…maybe even loved.
