Chapter 6: Apex Predator
The duo stopped off at their place to retrieve a few items, namely firearms, Judy changing into club wear, the short skirt showing off her legs. They both needed to present the idea that Nick was a 'business' man, someone who could act as a mid-level dealer for whomever "the metronome" was.
Nick has gone into the bathroom to spray on some cologne and groom his fur to be more professional looking. As he fumbled in the medicine cabinet behind the mirror, the mirror was tilted and he could Judy finishing up, she had a foot paw up on the edge of a chair finishing putting on the foot coverings, Nick happened to spy the white fur that ran along the inside of her thigh.
Judy almost feeling the gaze turned and saw Nick looking at her from the mirror.
"Don't get any ideas, Wilde." She said playfully with a smile.
Nick snapped out of his gaze and finished up.
"At least, not until we catch this guy." She finished with a giggle.
Nick laughed to himself, he knew what she meant. Judy being the effervescent rabbit she was, she loved being a cop, but he had found out a particular thing about her while living with her, and that success, accomplishment, attaining a long sought after goal, like say an arrest of a criminal, especially one they had worked hard on catching for example. She becomes very amorous, an interesting truth that he was happy to oblige.
Nick had finished, and walked over to Judy. They both took stock in how many rounds of ammunition they could afford to take. Nick had put his gun on his shoulder holster, taking two extra magazines. Judy with her revealing skirt had to use a thigh holster and a smaller more concealable weapon. Nick had the idea to put her larger gun in the clasp purse she had, and a couple of extra magazines.
The hope was none of this would be necessary, and they could chalk it up to having it and not needing it. But with their luck, better to be safe than sorry.
The pair left in Nick's convertible and made their way to the club
Zootopia…..Sahara Square…..Apex Club.
Despite as the name would suggest the club was open to all, there were many predators and prey waiting in the line to get in. The one common theme among them was they were young 20 somethings looking to have a good time.
Nick pulled into a parking space and turned off the car.
"So what's the backstory this time?" asked Judy.
"Well, I was thinking, I'll be in the distribution business, looking to move up in the world, and you're my sexy but capable assistant." He replied.
"…And that's all?" she asked.
"Well you're my assistant….but that I'm hitting 'that' up on the side." Nick replied with a sly grin.
Judy rolled her eyes "Oh, you are SUCH a romantic." She replied sarcastically.
"Seriously though, let's just be careful, act casual and just find out what we need to know." Nick replied more on point.
"I'm more worried about you; you're the one that's going to do all the talking." She said looking at him concerned.
"Hey, who's the professional con artist? I got this." He replied with a small smile.
Judy just held her concerned gaze.
"Hey, it will be ok. Just follow my lead and play along." He reassured her, kissing the tip of his finger and touching her nose.
They took a deep breath and got into character, and stepped out of the car. Nick and Judy walked to the entrance almost acting as if they owned the place, they were stopped by a polar bear bouncer.
"Eh! Back of the line like everyone else." Ordered the bouncer.
Nick presented the business card he was given to the bouncer, who looked at it.
"I was sent by Ben." Said Nick flatly almost as if he explaining himself was beneath him.
The bouncer too the card and turned it over, using a black light he revealed a logo, in seeing it he went wide eyed, quickly giving the card back.
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr?"
"Wilde, Nick Wilde."
"Yeah, sorry Mr. Wilde, you can go right on in, He's over in in the private lounge." The bouncer replied back, almost scared.
Nick and Judy were ushered into the club, as they went in, the loud dance music resonated throughout the place, various patrons either on the dance floor, or drinking at the bar, or sitting at the nearby tables. They were initially worried that a predator and prey walking arm in arm would cause undue attention, but the loud music, rampant motions of people and the flow of alcohol, no one seemed to notice or care. They walked towards the private lounge, another bouncer, another flash of the card and scan by the blacklight. This time, Nick peered at the logo, it was a picture of a classic pyramidal shape with a swinging bar attached, a metronome.
"You can go in, but he'll be down in a moment." Said the bouncer.
Just as they were about to walk into quieter lounge area, the song ended and a voice rang out.
"Ladies, ladies, ladies, and gentlemen, I welcome you to another fine evening here tonight."
Nick and Judy turned to look up at the upper balcony to see a tiger, dressed very well, posh in fact, with a microphone in his paw, very energetic and enthusiastic.
"Tonight we are ALL hunters, hunting for that good time, that great time, the time that we live for, out of our humdrum lives, the time when we really feel alive!"
The Tiger hopped onto the piping of the balcony, gripping his foot paws onto the second pipe, and propping his shins against the top one.
"This time! My friends, is the best time!, The time we hunt for, we thrive for! Carpe Noctis my friends, Seize the Night!"
"Welcome my friends, welcome to the APEX CLUB!" shouted the tiger fervently into the microphone, and well timed air cannons punctuating his speech.
"Yeah, MET-TRO-NOME!" called out a random patron.
Soon the entire club patrons were chanting "Met-tro-nome" over and over, pumping their fisted paws into the air, the tiger on the balcony pumping both his arms in time with the crowd. After relishing the applause for a few moments, he looked over and pointed at the DJ.
"Goldstein!" he shouted.
The rabbit DJ looked up at him, pulling one of the headphones off his ear.
"Drop a 'phat' beat for my friends!"
The rabbit put the headphone back on, nodded a moment and then a particularly energetic base beat came on; the crowd cheered and started dancing, almost bouncing to the beat, a plethora of mammals dancing energetically.
Nick and Judy witnessed this spectacle, looking at each other and then back at the tiger, who had climbed down from the balcony and coming down from the upper floor.
The pair moved into the lounge area, just as an entourage came down the nearby stairs, and behind them came the tiger, flanked by a pair of female tigers, their dresses as glittery, flamboyant and revealing as he was, a good show piece for the tiger that wrapped his arms around them. He was about to not even come into the lounge when a bouncer whispered into his ear. He slowly tilted his head in the direction of Nick, almost locking gaze with him and then whispered something back to the bouncer.
He came walking over to the lounge, which was an octagonal recess in the floor, with plush purple cushions, a small lit floor that would slowly change color with the rest of the club, a shiny mirror and glass table in the center. The tiger and his two ladies sat on one side, while Nick and Judy sat on the other.
"So, I hear you were sent by Ben?" asked the tiger.
"Yes, I described an offer he figured you would be receptive to." Replied Nick
"Really now, and what would that be?" inquired the tiger.
Nick shot a glance to the two female tigers.
"You sure you want to talk business with them around?" he asked pointing to the tigresses
"They are fine, besides you have your rabbit." The tiger replied back.
"Ah, she assists me, an assistant of sorts." Nick explained.
The tiger gave the rabbit a brief look over and smiles slyly.
"Yes, I'm sure she does." He replied still looking at Judy.
He blinked and his gaze back on Nick.
"I've known rabbits before, used them for 'retail' and 'customer service' Tell me, is she good with customers?" He said to Nick, putting odd emphasis on certain words.
"She's not that kind of assistant." Nick replied defensively.
"Ah, a personal 'assistant' I've never been one for those. So tell me….ah, forget my manners, your name sir?"
"Wilde, Nick Wilde."
"Ah so tell me Wilde, Nick Wilde, how does having a rabbit as a personal assistant work, is she good? Filing and sorting, perhaps 'dictation'?" he asked with an odd smile.
Nick started to realize that this tiger was playing with him, and doing so by insulting Judy. He wanted to get a rise out of Nick, but he had to keep his cool. He had to play the part.
"Yes, she is, I trained her 'personally'. She knows her 'place'." Nick replied back in the same euphemistic language, thinking to himself he will apologize later.
Judy without changing her expression glanced at Nick then back at the Tiger.
"Well that's very interesting, perhaps I should consider it." Replied the Tiger.
"What do you think darlin', I just might have a position that would fit you." The tiger offered to Judy, with a cool almost sinister smile about him.
Judy's eyes instinctively went wide at first, and then she saw Nick wave a paw in front of her, he had instinctively bared his claws, his palm almost cupped protectively in the air in front of her.
"She's not for sale, and that is not the business I came to conduct." Nick redirected.
The tiger read this and smiled, choosing to end his play session and conduct business.
"Alright, then what have you come for?" he inquired.
"I came to offer you my network, to help you expand as it were, for a moderate price." Nick offered.
"And what is it that you think I need help with?" asked the tiger with a raised eyebrow.
Nick reached into his coat pocket and put a metal vial on the table, which changed the tiger's expression entirely.
"What's this?" the tiger asked in false ignorance.
"I think you know exactly what it is."
"Sorry, 'fraid not, I'm just a humble proprietor of this establishment." The tiger maintaining his façade of ignorance.
"Well, that's a shame. I was going to offer my services for a paltry sum, in exchange a well-established distribution network would be at the available to the creators of this wonderful stuff."
"Wonderful? Is that how you describe it?" the tiger asked coyly.
"Oh yes, in fact I would even say it's a great 'rush' of sensation." Nick replied with a cool smile.
"Ahh indeed, so let's say hypothetically, if there was such a need, and you were to provide for it, what kind of coverage are we talking about?"
"Pick a district."
"Really?"
"Yup, I've been able to operate for a long time in the districts, all while staying under the radar as it were." Explained Nick.
"And for this coverage, what would be your asking price?"
"What do you think it's worth?"
"Ahh I see what you're doing there, nice try."
"What am I doing?"
"Classic negotiation strategy, playing games, loops of logic, classic fox behavior. But games to me, and I don't like games." Explained the tiger a bit annoyed.
"Really now, I figured you loved games. Considering you've been playing one since the start of this meeting." Nick replied, confronting the tiger.
"Is that SO?" the tiger replied back.
"Yes, you know damn well that you know that I know, you little insinuations moments ago, insulting my assistant to her face and my own, all the while gauging our response." Explained Nick
The tiger sat silently, continuing to listen.
"And furthermore, I came to do business, serious business, and it seems you're just wasting my time."
Nick got up to leave, and motioned for his "assistant" to follow. Judy was reluctant at first but then got up and walked over to Nick, she hid her face from the tiger but she winced seemingly having failed. Nick took her arm and began to walk out.
"Wait!" called out the tiger.
Nick and Judy stopped; Nick turned looking over his shoulder almost dismissively.
"Perhaps, I was a bit too…playful in my actions, come please, let us continue." Offered the tiger.
Nick looked at Judy, and motioned for her to stay, he then walked over to the tiger leaning close.
"Apologize." Nick said plainly.
"What?" the tiger replied incredulously.
"You heard what I said, apologize, to her."
The tiger raised an eyebrow and looked at the rabbit, who was staring back at him, then back at the fox.
"Ahh, more than just an assistant." He stated.
"Never you mind what she is." Nick glared back at the tiger.
The tiger and Nick stared into each other's eyes as if reading for a fight, however the tension broke when the tiger broke out into resounding laughter. Nick taken aback not sure how to react, the tiger once calmed down from his laughter.
"You're absolutely right, one should not allow anyone to insult someone's lady." He said to Nick.
The tiger turned his head and looked at the rabbit.
"I apologize madam, my behavior was indeed boorish." He admitted.
The tiger stood up, motioning to his tigresses to enjoy themselves.
"Come with me, allow me to apologize over a drink, and perhaps we can discuss more about this 'relationship' you wish to have."
He motioned his paw towards the nearby stairs, inviting Nick and Judy to ascend.
"By the way, I forgot to ask, what IS your name madam?" offering his paw.
"Oh…it's uh Francine." Replied Judy, thinking of the only female name she could think of, while shaking the tiger's paw.
Nick winced, mentally slapping himself.
"My name is Jerome." Replied the tiger.
The three went upstairs to the second floor, and into Jerome's office, which had a large window of one way glass overlooking the club. Jerome poured 3 glasses, keeping one to himself and pushing the other two across his desk. He sat down making himself comfortable.
"So brass tacks, what can you offer?" asked the tiger plainly this time.
"Total distribution over the city, I'm not sure exactly where you already are, but I know where you're not, or at least I haven't seen any of these show up there." Replied Nick holding a rush vial in his palm.
"Well if you can deliver, I can offer five percent."
"Five percent? I thought you were trying to apologize."
The tiger laughed. "Trust me, this stuff is highly prized, and very profitable, your five percent would equal…."
The tiger jotted down a number on a piece of paper, and slid it across to Nick, he picked it up and his eyes went wide. The number was eight figures long.
"Wow….that's five percent?"
"Mmhmm. And that's just to start. Like I said, highly profitable."
"Very nice." Nick said showing 'Francine' the number on the paper.
"Of course before I remand any product to you, I will of course need some kind of 'collateral'. Consider it a 'good faith payment.'"
"Just let me know how much, and I will work something out." replied Nick producing one of his old business cards, and a sly smile.
Jerome leaned over and took the card, and smiled back.
"I shall make arrangements."
"Well now that, that is done, I invite you to enjoy the benefits of my club, for my exclusive members. The two of you. Welcome to the Apex."
"It's good to be on top. Right, Francine?" Asked Nick.
Judy sauntered up to Nick and hung on him, and ran a paw along his chest and looked at him.
"I love being on top." She said seductively with a wink, playing her character.
The tiger laughed mirthfully.
"Humor, I love that. As I always see you have to truly enjoy your work if you're ever to find true satisfaction."
"Allow me to walk you down."
The three left Jerome's office, and walked down to the first floor again. Nick and Judy relaxed as they got to the first floor; they have managed to get past the gatekeeper, and fooled him into believing they were one of his own. Maybe it was more relaxed tones of the music that was playing now that seemed calming, almost trance like in its melody.
As Jerome was walking with them, he turned to Nick and slid a brushed metal card into Nick's pocket
"I treat all my executive members well, remember that. Good Night." The tiger replied with a wink.
Nick and Judy started to make their way past the bouncer at the lounge entrance. The plan seemed to go off without a hitch, they had made it.
Then the other hoof dropped, namely in the form of two familiar and loud Oryx brothers, and as if on cue, the music changed from a soft relaxing melody into something more aggressive. Nick and Judy could literally feel the color leave their respective faces, not but a few yards from the front door and this happens. Wide eyed and almost completely paralyzed.
"Oh my god, Nick, Judy, What are you doing here? Are you guys on a date!" said Pronk
"Hey, you trying to embarrass them leave them alone!" replied Bucky.
"Why not, she used to be our neighbor were practically friends."
"Yeah, but her boss Chief buffalo butt probably never lets her have a night off, let them enjoy it!"
"Shut up."
"No you shut up!"
Pronk and Bucky's bickering aside, Nick craned his head around to catch the deathly glare of Jerome, beside him his bouncers, and apparently he heard everything and put two and two together and recognized Judy.
The entire room seem to move in slow motion, Jerome, the bouncers, the rest of the mammals on the dance floor everything seemed to move as if time was slowing to a crawl, his adrenaline flowing, he realized that Jerome had ordered his guards to draw weapons. Each one reaching into their jackets, Nick turned to Judy, Pronk and Bucky.
"Everybody get down!" as he tackled them out of the way and over to a nearby table.
That moment, which in reality was just a flash, gunfire rang out as Jerome and his bouncers fired into the kill zone where Nick and Judy were standing. They simply weren't there. By the time they realized this, Nick and Judy had drawn their weapons and fired back, taking out the bouncers to Jerome's immediate left and right.
Jerome's surprised reaction at this caused him to step back and call over his radio.
"I need more guards! Kill the Rabbit and Fox, NOW!"
The mammals in the club scattered in all directions, the herd mentality taking over. Judy crouched back down under the nearby table.
"Pronk, Bucky, Get out of here now!"
"ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod." Gibbered Pronk.
"We didn't realize, we are so sorry." Apologized Bucky.
"JUST GET OUT! GET SAFE!" she screamed.
Judy and Nick fired to cover Pronk and Bucky's escape, as Nick grabbed Judy and they ran towards the bar, and dove behind it.
"Never a dull moment, huh carrots?!" joked Nick.
"Wouldn't have it any other way!" replied Judy.
A bouncer happened to get the drop on them and jumped onto the bar, before either of them could dispatch the bouncer, he was shot from another angle with enough forge to pull him off the bar top. Nick and Judy turned their guns towards the direction of the shot.
"Seems you two crazy kids are the type to get into trouble tonight." Said the well-dressed figure
"Winston!?" replied Nick with a shocked expression.
"The one and only. Now let's get you out of here." Replied the Wolf.
As the three of them tried to make their way to the emergency exit towards the back of the club, Winston with expert marksmanship would dispatch a bouncer, usually with one shot, and with a tad bit of aged viciousness, shooting them in the head, or slamming them into a wall or table and point blank putting a bullet through their head.
As they manage to find a momentary respite, Judy stepped in front of them.
"No what are we doing, Nick we have to chase him!"
"We got a name, Judy, let's regroup, call in some backup!"
"Nick, we have the opportunity to end this right now!"
"If you do that, I of course cannot be here when any John Q. Laws show up." Clarified Winston.
"Nick!" pleaded Judy
Nick looked at Winston.
"I'll back you up either way kid." Replied the wolf.
"Screw it, let's get this bastard." Muttered Nick as she chambered a round from his fresh mag.
The group went back into the main room of the club; more guards had come in to find the duo. Winston caught them by surprise and managed to dispatch two of them before they realized he was hostile. Judy managed to find a pillar supporting the upper level to take cover behind; some bullets impacted the pillar kicking off chunks of debris. Judy leaned out slightly taking a few shots, leaning back in as the return fire came in. Nick moved to flank the guards to the right as they seemed focused on Judy, the fox took up cover behind a bench seat, he took a deep breath and popped up like a gopher out of a hole taking shots at whatever guards were closest, thinning their numbers by another three, before diving under his cover.
The return hail of gunfire proved that Nick's choice of cover was surprisingly inadequate as several bullets ripped through the back of the bench and into the floor.
Several of the remaining guards retreated back towards the entrance of the lounge area, as Judy blind fired from her spot to take the heat off of Nick.
"Nick, get over here, I got you!" shouted Judy.
Nick moved back towards Judy as Winston dispatched a few guards that had peaked their heads out to see where the rabbit and fox were.
"Come on kids, we are losing time here." Warned Winson.
"What you got somewhere to be old wolf." Joked Nick
"No but I'm assuming you want to catch this guy." He replied.
"He's right we got to finish this." She replied.
Judy reached and got her smaller pistol from her thigh holster.
"Cover me." As she bounced on her feet.
"Whoa, what are you going to do?" Nick asked concerned.
"You know me." She replied as she took off running.
"That's what I mean!" the fox screamed as she moved like a grey blur.
Judy took a run and jumped off a table and jumped up into the air and over the second floor balcony, landing on the floor above. Nick and Winston were completely amazed she was able to jump vertically that high. A few moments later, the sound of gunfire sounded out from the lounge area.
"Carrots? Judy!" called out Nick.
As first silence, Nick and Winston ran up to the entrance to the lounge area, and saw the only mammal standing was Judy, she had managed to shoot the remaining guards by herself. Nick stood impressed, Winston simply chuckled.
"I can see why you took to her." Winston commented at Nick.
With the remaining guards down, they trio proceeded up to Jerome's office, Judy kicked the door open and shouted the words she had been wanting to say to that tiger all night
"ZPD! Put your hands up! Aw crap." She said as she realized the office was empty.
"There is no way in hell he slipped past us." Said Nick.
They looked around the office, for any sign of the tiger. The office had a desk, some stylish club furniture and a few book shelves against the wall. Nick walked up to the desk, he noticed the names on some of the paperwork "Jerome Chandler"
"Well we got a last name, Chandler." Stated Nick.
"Jerome, Jerome, the Metronome." Commented Winston.
Judy looking around the room was about to let her frustration get the best of her when she heard a slight 'whoosh' coming from the nearby bookcase. She got close to the sound, and felt an air current rushing through the seam between the middle case and the right one. On the book shelf was a still metronome, it's classic pyramidal shape, wooden case, metal cross bar with weight attached. She tried to pick up the metronome but it seemed glued down to the shelf. Then it hit her, she paced over to the desk and looked at the paperwork on the desk, that same metronome logo he had on his correspondence, the club card. It was like his personal calling hard.
She grabbed one of the random pieces of paper and went back to the bookshelf, she set the weight of the metronome to match that of the logo, with the weight almost on top and set it to start. It swung back and forth slowly, clicking at the end of each swing. Around the fifth swing, a sound popped from behind the bookshelf and it effortlessly swung open, revealing a stairway that led down.
"This has got to be it." Said Judy looking back at Nick and Winston.
"OK, but I'm calling it in." replied Nick
"Good idea."
Nick dialed the phone his smartphone, it rang a few times and the desk sergeant finally picked up.
"Zootopia Police Department." Stated the desk sergeant.
"This is Officer Wilde, we need back up at the Apex Club in Sahara Square, shots fired, and we are in pursuit of a suspect."
After Nick hung up the phone, he paced over to Winston and gave him a hug.
"Thanks, Winston, for bailing me out…again."
"Hey no problem kid, I know what you're doing is a tough job, just be careful."
"Well I try, but you see how we live."
"I know, that's why I say be careful."
"Well, Ms Hopps, this is where we must part company." The wolf said as he offered his paw
Judy walked over to the wolf and instead gave him a hug.
"Guess it's hugs today." As the wolf hugged back.
"I just wanted to say thanks for being saving us back there." Said Judy.
"Nothing to it. Any friend of Nick's is a friend of mine." He replied back with a smile.
"But I have to bid you adieu, you two, it would not be a wise thing to be here when the police arrive. Like Lash Larue, this is where I ride off into the sunset, for now at least." The wolf smiled.
Winston changed out the mag from his gun and slapped in a new one.
"Also, I got to make sure Jimmie isn't watering down the drinks again." He said with a smile, as he left.
Winston left, leaving Nick and Judy to their job of chasing down the Jerome. The duo changed mags in their guns, and walked down the stairs.