Chapter 6: You Said You'd Stay:
Daniel opened his eyes when he felt the morning sun warm the side of his face. He stretched his arms over his head, a satisfied groan leaving his mouth. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Opening his eyes again, he was met with a confusing sight.
Carol's bedroom was in shambles. The window was broken and covered by wooden boards. The furniture was covered in a thick layer of dust. The eerie silence was broken by the occasional creak of the walls. Daniel's mind was blank. He had no idea what to make of this. He reached to his side to wake up Carol, but he felt nothing but air. He turned his head and let out a sharp gasp, a feeling of shock and disgust filling him.
Carol was no longer beside him. Rather a massive bloodstain occupied the space she had lain. The bed sheets were ripped by what looked like cuts from a knife. Yellow police tape laid on top of the blood stain. Daniel followed the tape and noticed more in the bedroom doorway, the door now wide open. A broken lamp on the floor and some more blood on the walls revealed there was a struggle. The sight sent a chill done his spine. Where was Carol? Was she okay?
He jumped out of bed and grabbed his pants. He dug through his pockets and pulled out his butterfly knife. He slowly crept from the room, keeping his footsteps quiet in case someone else was in the house. The eerie silence unnerved him, but he continued towards the stairs. Arriving at the top step, he listened for any sign of life before he quietly walked downstairs, pausing whenever the steps creaked.
Reaching the bottom, he slid along the wall towards the living room. He peeked around the corner and saw the room was in the same state of disrepair as Carol's bedroom. He stepped inside, looking around the room. Like Carol's bedroom, the furniture was covered in dust. The windows were partially boarded up, letting in little sunlight. The screen to the T.V. was cracked and caked with dust.
Daniel couldn't understand what he was seeing. Just last night, the house looked well cleaned and lived in. Now, it looked like no one had been inside in a very long time. He walked further inside and ran his finger across the coffee table, coating the tip in dust. He looked above the T.V. and saw the pictures of Carol and her family were gone. And there was still no sign of her anywhere.
"What the hell's going on?" he muttered. He looked around the room again, trying to make sense of this.
"Carol?" he called out, waiting for a response. He only answered with silence.
He was getting more and more anxious, not knowing if Carol was okay or not. He decided then he needed to call the sheriff. He quickly ran back upstairs and dressed in his clothes before running back downstairs. He walked into the living room again, giving one last look. Seeing nothing had changed, he pulled his phone from his pocket and turned to leave. Before he could, he heard Carol's voice behind him.
"Where are you going," she said. Daniel could tell immediately by the tone of her voice something was wrong. He turned around and let out a gasp.
Standing in the center of the room was Carol, or what was left of her. She was naked, her body covered in deep cuts. Her fur was unkempt and caked in dried blood. The most disturbing part, however, was her eyes, or lack thereof. Empty sockets, where her beautiful golden eyes once were, stared back at him. In the center of her eye sockets were small, white dots. Both of them stood motionless, staring at each other. Daniel couldn't believe what he was seeing, his struggling to make sense of it. Another minute silence passed before Carol spoke.
"You said you'd stay," she said softly.
"Carol," Daniel whispered. She turned her gaze to the floor.
"Carol," he said again, "What...?"
She didn't say anything, she just continued to stare at the floor. Daniel was beside himself; he didn't know what was going on or what to do. Then, he remembered something, the talk he had with Rick a few days ago. Suddenly, he realized what was happening.
"You're...you're her," he said, "You're that girl, Carrie Walters."
"It's Carol," she corrected, her voice breaking, "Carol Walters."
"But..." Daniel began, unsure of what else to say.
Carol began to sob, tears flowing from her empty sockets and down her face. Daniel went up to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. She buried her face in his chest as she cried.
"Hey, it's okay," he said, trying to calm her down.
"I'm so sorry!" she said between sobs.
"It's alright, Carol," Daniel whispered, gently rubbing her back, "What happened to you is not your fault." Carol sobs quieted down, but her tears still fell.
As he comforted her, he began to think back to Harry's, and all the strange looks they got. And, of course, the behavior of Hopps and Wilde. Now that her secret was out, it became apparent why they acted the way they did; he was the only one who could see her.
"I wanted to tell you," Carol said softly, "I didn't want you to find out like this."
"It's okay," Daniel said, "I understand why you didn't mention this. It's...something that's so hard to believe."
"Are you mad?" Carol asked.
"No," Daniel replied, "As I said, this isn't your fault. You didn't deserve this."
Carol slowly raised her head. Daniel looked down and met her gaze. Her empty sockets were now filled with the beautiful gold eyes he'd come to love. He released her from the hug and looked over her.
Her fur was now well groomed and free of the dried blood. Her black hair flowed over her shoulders, smooth and well kempt like the night before. The deep cuts that scarred her body were gone, the spaces they occupied covered by her fur. Raising his eyes higher, Daniel noticed her full breasts and the small pink nipples at their centers. Looking a little lower, he now focused on her flat stomach, wide hips, and the groomed patch of jet-black pubic fur filling the space below her navel. He returned his gaze to her face, seeing a deep blush filling her cheeks. He felt his face warm up as his mind finally caught up with her state of undress. He awkwardly cleared his throat.
"We should, uh, f-find you some, uh," he mumbled, "Uh, here, take this." He removed his jacket and handed it to her. She took it and quickly put it on.
"Um, I-I don't want you to stay here," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "I'll take you home with me." Carol smiled and wrapped him in another hug.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Daniel released her from the hug and gently took her hand. She gave it a soft squeeze as he led her from the house and to his car. He opened the passenger side door for her and carefully guided her inside, closing the door behind her. Climbing in the driver's seat, he started the car and pulled out into the road, heading back to town.
Daniel and Carol sat in silence the entire trip, the soft rock playing on the radio was the only thing breaking said silence. Daniel's mind was still racing with what he'd just learned. He again thought back to the article Rick showed him. He couldn't believe that girl was Carol. Especially after what the article said happened to her. He glanced at Carol, who was staring out the window. Part of him wanted to ask her about what happened, to get her side of the story, but he decided against it. She would tell him when she was ready.
Another fifteen minutes of driving passed before they reached Daniel's apartment. Like before, he helped her from her seat. Taking her hand, he led her up the stairs and toward his apartment. They walked past the row of doors, stopping at one in the middle. Daniel pulled took his key from his pocket and unlocked the door. He opened it up and motioned Carol inside.
Since his apartment was small, Carol found herself standing in his living room. The room itself was rather small, being only half the size of her living room. There was no wall separating the kitchen or dining room, both of which were tiny. On the far wall of the living room was an entrance to a small hallway.
"Wow," Carol said to herself.
"Yeah, it's pretty bleak," Daniel said, stepping beside her, "But it's home."
"I like it," she said, "It gets lonely living in a big house by yourself."
"Why do you stay?" Daniel asked softly. Carol sighed before looking down at the floor.
"I have to," she replied, "It's where I died."
Daniel wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. She leaned into his touch and rested her head against his chest. He lightly stroked her ears, feeling her body relax.
"Do you want some breakfast," he asked.
"No," Carol replied, taking his hand. She raised her head and gave him a look he easily deciphered, "I just want to spend some time with you." Daniel wasn't dumb, he knew what she meant.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"Alright," he said.
He guided her through the living room and down the hall, stopping at the last door. He opened it and revealed his bedroom. It had a similar layout to hers; a large desk on one side, a bed next to it, and a small window covered by curtains. He led her inside and closed the door behind them.
(Lemon)
Daniel emptied his pants pockets on his desk before taking off his shirt. Carol unzipped the jacket he gave her and draped it over the chair in front of his desk. She then stood by the bed, waiting for him to join her.
Daniel slid his pants off and dressed only in his boxers, joined Carol beside the bed. He again admired her nude body, gazing upon her full breasts and shapely hips. He loved the way her pink nipples contrasted with her light, gray fur. He looked up to her face and noticed she was staring at the floor, and the slight tremble in her shoulders. He gently pulled her into a hug.
"You're trembling," he said softly, "We don't have to."
"I want to," she whispered, "Its...you're my first."
"I'll go slow," he said.
He placed his fingers under her chin and gently lifted her head. He then leaned in and locked his lips with hers. She moaned into his kiss, running her fingers through his fur. She slid her hands down his back, stopping at the waistband of his boxers. She slipped her hands inside and onto his butt, giving both cheeks a firm squeeze.
Daniel moaned and pressed his hips into hers, his cock stirring to life. He rocked his hips back and forth, his quickly hardening shaft brushing through her pubic fur. He reached up and gently cupped her right breast, rubbing her nipple with his thumb. She moaned again, squeezing his cheeks tighter. She moved her hands to his crack before spreading them apart, the tips of her fingers resting just outside his anus.
Daniel sighed in pleasure and released his kiss. He moved his muzzle to her neck and gently nibbled her flesh, giving her breast a squeeze. He slid his muzzle lower, parting his muzzle and dragging his teeth along her left breast. Carol arched her back, her hands releasing their hold on his butt. She slid them up his back, gently dragging her claws along his skin. He responded by sliding his tongue up her neck and chin.
Carol felt her knees getting weak, her pussy soaked in its juices. She slowly sat down on his bed while Daniel continued licking her neck. A moment later, he stepped back from her and grabbed his boxers' waist band. Carol could see his erect shaft straining against the fabric, his precum leaving a wet stain at the tip. He pulled his boxers down to his ankles and his cock sprung free.
Carol eyed his shaft with interest. She could see it twitch with his pulse, the head glistening with his precum. She reached forward and wrapped her fingers around it, feeling the heat through her skin. Her other hand cupped his balls, gently rolling them between her fingers. Daniel let out a soft moan, his cock tingling.
After a minute, Carol released his member and ran her fingers through his pubic fur. Daniel moved closer and nuzzled the side of her face. He then gently laid her down onto her back. She shuffled up the mattress, bringing her legs up. Daniel followed her up, positioning himself at her feet.
He leaned down and planted a kiss on top of both her foot paws before moving up her legs. He focused on her inner thighs, his lips sending shocks of pleasure through her body. She spread her legs wider as he inched closer to her sex.
Daneil stopped kissing her thighs and eyed her pussy. Her lips were swollen with excitement and soaked with her juices. He watched a drop of fluid slide from her sex and over her anus before landing on his sheets. He couldn't wait any longer, he needed to smell and taste her. Placing one hand on thigh and the other in her pubic fur, he leaned in and pressed his nose into her pussy. He breathed in her feminine musk before running his tongue through her flesh.
Carol moaned and arched her back as her body was struck with intense pleasure. Her fingers curled and her claws dug into the sheets, tearing them slightly. Daniel heard the fabric tearing, but he couldn't care less. Instead, he continued his assault with his tongue.
"Oh fuck!" Carol moaned out, "Don't stop!"
Daniel pushed his tongue further into her pussy, savoring her fluids as they flowed. Her muscles begin to twitch, signaling she was close to her climax. She began to pant and buck her hips, rubbing her flesh against his muzzle.
"Oh god! D-Daniel!" Carol moaned through her pants, "I'm so close!"
Her legs began to shake, her panting increased. Daniel wiggled his tongue, pushing it inside her vagina. Carol whimpered and bucked her hips harder.
"I gonna cum!" she panted.
Upon hearing those words, Daniel slid his tongue from her pussy and onto her rear entrance. Carol let out a gasp at the warm, wet feeling wiggling against her backdoor. Before her mind could make sense of the odd sensation, a surge of pleasure slammed through her body. A deep groan escaped her muzzle as she came, strong contractions in her vagina splashing a thick fluid on Daniel's face while the contractions of her hole grabbed at his tongue.
A few seconds later, Carol came down from her high. She lay flat on the bed, eyes closed and panting heavily. Daniel hopped off the bed and went into his bathroom to wash off his face. He returned moments later and sat down beside her, gently stroking her ears. She opened her eyes and gave him a soft smile.
"You're amazing," she said softly. Daniel chuckled and moved his hand to her cheek.
"Ready for the main event," he asked.
"Yeah," Carol replied, "Just give me a minute."
She closed her eyes again and took a few deep breaths. Daniel rubbed her cheek with his fingers, gently brushing her whiskers. She leaned her head into his touch, her muscles relaxing. They stayed like this for several minutes, content with each other's company. Soon, Carol opened her eyes and took Daniel's hand.
"I think I'm ready now," she said.
"Positive?" Daniel questioned, climbing on the bed. Carol gave a nod in response.
With that, Daniel positioned himself on his hands and knees above her, his face level with hers. He leaned forward and they locked their lips together. His cock began to drip pre cum onto her pubic fur as their tongues fought for control. A moment later, Daniel pulled his muzzle away and looked into Carol's eyes. He reached down and grabbed his shaft, lining the tip with her entrance. He met her gaze again, and she gave him a nod. He slowly pushed himself inside, Carol moaning as his cock filled her.
Daniel bit his lip, and his claws gripped his sheets as the most intense, wet heat enveloped his cock. When he was fully seated, he slowly pulled himself till only the tip remained. He then gave a strong forward thrust before moving his hips back and forth.
Carol moaned and writhed under him, her body assaulted by pleasure she hadn't thought possible. Each slam of his hips sent waves through her core. She could feel his balls slapping against her ass, the sound echoing in his room. They'd only been going for a couple of minutes, but she could already feel another climax coming. She wrapped her arms around him, scratching his skin with her claws.
Daniel soon sped up his thrusting, his climax quickly approaching. His toes curled and his fingers clutched his sheets, an intense pleasure building in his loins, everything from the tip of his cock to his anus tingling. He'd been with a few girls before, but none pleased him like this. He tucked his knees up closer to his body, his thrusting becoming frantic. Carol wiggled beneath him, her climax nearly upon her.
"Oh shit! I'm gonna cum!" she panted.
"Me too!" Daniel said, the dam in his cock ready to burst.
Carol dug her claws into his back before sliding her hands down to his ass, squeezing his cheeks harder than she did earlier before spreading them wide apart. In response, Daniel slammed his hips into hers, the impact triggering her climax.
"Oh god!" she shouted as pleasure consumed her body.
Daniel felt her hot fluid splash against his balls, her vagina squeezing his cock with powerful, rhythmic contractions. The sensation finally broke him. He parted his muzzle and bit Carol's neck. He slammed hips against hers one last time, fully seating himself inside her as his orgasm flooded his body, a rumble of satisfaction leaving his throat. His tail flagged upright, and his cock flared, sending thick ropes of seed deep inside her. He felt every muscle in his groin throb as he came. He could even feel his anus contracting between his spread cheeks.
After nearly a minute, they slowly came down from their highs. Daniel's arms gave out and he flopped down on top on Carol, both panting heavily. He placed a hand on her cheek, stroking the fur with his thumb. She tilted her head, giving him better access. He raised his head, and they met each other's gaze. A smile appeared on Daniel's muzzle, and he leaned in a gave her a kiss. Carol released her grip on his butt and placed both hands on the side of his face. They released the kiss moments later, and Daniel rolled himself off her, laying down by her side. Carol curled herself into his chest, as she did the night before. Cuddled together, they slowly drifted off, the world around them gone from their minds.
(Lemon End.)
Nick and Judy's rental car, same time:
Nick tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, singing along with the mid-tempo country song that was playing on the radio. Judy read through her notepad, trying to ignore the song. She was never a fan of country music, thinking every song was the same trucks, guns, and drinking ice cold beer as the last. She looked up from her notes, seeing a sign for Woodland. They were only a few miles out now, something she was glad about.
When she and Nick woke up this morning, they had a talk over what they should do next. After going over their notes, they realized there wasn't anything more they could do in Grazer, so after a short discussion, they decided to bite the bullet and go to Woodland. With it being the weekend, they hoped the college professors weren't too busy to speak with them.
Judy spent the drive writing questions she wanted to ask them. She'd wrote, erased, and re-wrote the questions numerous times, stopping when she was satisfied they were tactful. She knew she shouldn't be too worried, as everyone they spoke to was welcoming and willing to speak with, but a small part of her needed to make sure everything was just right. Then, she remembered something important they forgot to do. She turned to Nick, who was singing along to a new song.
"Hey, Slick," she said. Nick stopped singing and turned down the radio.
"What's up, Carrots?" he asked.
"We never did call the dean, did we?" she asked.
"Uh, no, I don't think we did," he replied.
"I knew I was forgetting something," Judy said.
"We're almost there," Nick said, "I'm sure we could find someone once we arrive."
"True," Judy said, "But I'll call just to be sure, lest we make the trip for nothing."
She pulled out her phone and looked up the number for Woodland Community College. Once she found it, she dialed the dean's office. When the line picked up, Judy and a receptionist discussed their investigation and if the dean was willing to answer some questions. Their phone call lasted a couple of minutes before she hung up and put her phone back in her pocket.
"Okay, so the dean said a few professors have weekend classes and they won't be available," Judy said, "But he said he was willing to speak to us."
"Did he say if any of the professor's would speak with us?" Nick asked.
"He said the one's there were busy with weekend classes," Judy replied, "We'll have to wait till their classes end."
"That'll give us time to grab some food," Nick said.
"We just ate," Judy said, pointing to a bag that contained cardboard trays from their breakfast.
"You know I'm a growing boy, Carrots," Nick said, his sly grin present on his face.
Judy rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to her window. She spotted a few buildings in the distance, along with a couple cars. Nick turned the radio back up and began tapping the steering wheel again. A few minutes later, they passed an abandoned gas station. Judy could see the station's windows were broken and boarded up, and the pumps had been removed. On the corner by the road leading into the parking lot, a tall metal pole stood high above the station. On top of it was a sign that read 24/7.
Judy stared at the station as they passed, even turning around so she could get a better look. As it faded into the distance a thought came to her. That must've been the station Martin worked at. What was odd was the fact the article she read yesterday never mentioned that the station closed. She and Nick would have to look into this later. Right now, they need to focus on the college.
It was another five minutes before they entered the town. The first that greeted them was a rather fancy hotel. It was twice the size of the one they were staying at in Grazer, and it looked brand new. Surprisingly, the parking lot was full.
"Check that out," Nick said, staring at the hotel, "Looks a little too fancy to be in a place like this."
"Maybe this town is more popular than Grazer," Judy said, "I mean, there's a college here."
"Yeah, but it's a community college," Nick said, "It would make more sense if it was some big university."
"Won't get that out here," Judy said, "So a community college is the next best thing."
"I guess you're right," Nick said.
They drove to the center of the town, following the signs for the college. They managed to find it nearly an hour later, mostly because of the poorly labeled streets. Nick parked in the main parking lot, in front of the administration office. They climbed out of the car, the mood soured by the trip.
"I wanna know who put those damn signs up!" Nick said, his hackles slightly raised.
"I know!" Judy said in agreement, "Not even Zoogle Maps could figure it out!"
"You don't think this'll cost us, do you?" Nick asked as they walked to the front entrance.
"Let's hope not," Judy replied.
The door creaked on its hinges, the sound filling the vacant lobby. Nick and Judy stepped inside, concerned by the lack of life. Nick walked up to a reception desk and rang a small bell on the corner. They waited a moment before an antelope emerged from a room behind the desk.
"Can I help you two?" he asked.
"Yes," Judy replied, joining Nick at the desk, "We called earlier to speak to the dean." The antelope thought for a moment before his eyes lit up.
"Oh, right! Officers Hopps and Wilde," he said, "Yeah, uh, follow me, I'll take you to his office."
The antelope left his desk and led them up a flight of stairs. Going left, they walked down a long hallway lined with offices. Most of them were empty, but a few had mammals occupying their desks. They stopped at an office at the end of the hall. The blurred window had 'Dean' stenciled in large, gold letters. The antelope knocked on the door and waited.
"Who is it?" it asked.
"It's Mr. Jones," the antelope replied through the door, "Officers Hopps and Wilde are here. Are you ready for them?"
"I'm ready," the dean replied, "Send them in." Mr. Jones opened the door and Nick and Judy went inside, the door closing behind them.
The dean's office was small and filled with filing cabinets. Behind the dean's desk was a bookshelf filed books and trophies. His desk, however, was sparsely covered, only having a computer and a phone. The dean himself was a large male lion, almost as big as Lionheart. Nick and Judy were surprised to see such a large mammal, considering how small the office was.
The dean looked up from his computer when they stopped in front of his desk. He adjusted the small glasses on his nose with his finger, looking them up a down. Though his gaze was not as intense as Sheriff Redding's, the fact he was such a large predator made them just as uncomfortable.
"Hopps, Wilde," he greeted, "Mr. Jones told me you needed to speak to me about a case."
"Yes sir!" Judy replied, pulling out her notepad, "We're investigating the Carol Walter's murder case and we're hoping you could answer some questions."
"Carol Walters," the dean repeated, "I've the name, but I don't know that much about the case." Judy's ears dropped slightly.
"You weren't at the old college when she died?" she asked.
"No," the dean replied, "I lived here my whole life, and I only started working here five years ago after dean Jackson retired."
"Was Jackson the dean at the Grazer college?" Judy asked.
"He was," the dean replied, "He told me that the Grazer Community College closed a few months after Carol's murder. He said that, and the lack of a suspect made several students leave and admission to tank."
"Several people we've interviewed said her ex-boyfriend was considered a suspect," Judy said.
"Jackson mentioned that," the dean said, "But he said that the police didn't have any evidence against him. That didn't stop everyone else, however. He was guilty in the town's eyes."
"One of Carol's friends we interviewed said that, as well," Judy said.
"Well, as far as I know it's true," the dean said, "Anyway, after he was cleared, and no other suspects were brought in, as I said earlier, admission slowed, and the college was forced to close." Judy was silent for a moment as she wrote in her notepad.
"Okay," she said as she finished writing, "Do you know of anything else related to the case?"
"Unfortunately, that's all I know," the dean said, "And that's all most mammals know really. Once Carol's ex-boyfriend had be cleared, the police couldn't get any leads in the case, even when the other girl was found." Both Nick and Judy perked up at that.
"What other girl?" Judy asked.
"You didn't hear?" the dean questioned, "Another murdered girl was found near a creek just outside of our town about a year after Carol's murder."
"No one we spoke to mentioned that," Nick said.
"She was a runaway from Zootopia," the dean said, "She was badly decomposed when she was found, so it took a while to identify her. The police told the press she fell in the creek and drowned, but since Grazer was still reeling from Carol's murder, they assumed the two cases were related."
"Do you know if they were?" Judy asked.
"An old friend who worked the case told me that the girl had been stabbed," the dean replied, "And her eyes had been gouged out."
"Just like Carol," Nick said.
"So it seems," the dean said.
"Well, this just complicates things," Judy sighed, "Why didn't the police tell the truth about her death?"
"As I said, Grazer was still affected by Carol's murder," the dean replied, "And since they didn't have a suspect, some of the town's mammals were accusing them of not doing their jobs. The last thing they needed was a second victim."
"Okay," Judy muttering, writing in her pad, "This is something we need to investigate further."
"Understandable," the dean said, "Before you go, is there anything else you'd like to know? Maybe talk to some of the professors?"
"We were planning on that," Judy replied, "But with another possible victim, we need to call our chief."
"Alright then," the dean said, "If you think of anything else, feel free to come back."
"Of course," Judy said, putting away her pad, "Thanks for speaking with us." She extended her towards the dean. He reached over his desk and gently shook it.
"Not a problem, Officer Hopps," he said, "You two take care now."
"Will do," Judy said before she and Nick left his office. They waved goodbye to the receptionist on their way out before getting back into their rental.
"Back to Grazer," Nick asked, starting the engine.
"Yes," Judy replied, "We need to call Bogo when we get back to the hotel. Hopefully he knows something about the other girl."
"But wouldn't he have told us if he did?" Nick questioned.
"Maybe he didn't think she was connected," Judy replied.
"That doesn't seem like him, though," Nick pointed out.
"We'll figure it out once we get back to the hotel," Judy said.
"Fair enough," Nick said.
It was much easier to find their way out of town this time, something they were thankful for. Soon they were on the highway back to Grazer. Nick tuned the radio and again started singing along with the songs that played. Judy, meanwhile, was going what they learned in her head, another possible victim.
Their investigation was already hampered by the fact the only suspect was missing, but with the knowledge that there could be another victim made her feel that they were back at square one. She could only hope that either Bogo or Sheriff Redding knew something that could help. She glanced over at Nick, watching him happily tap his fingers on the steering wheel. Sometimes she wished she could share his carefree attitude. A few minutes later, the abandoned gas station came into view.
For some unknown reason, Judy again found herself drawn to it. Something about it just seemed off. She stared at the station's façade as the passed, studying its current state of decay, everything from the rust to the rotting wooden boards covering the windows. Then, something caught her eye.
Looking through the partially covered front window, it appeared that the store's lights were on. Judy turned her head to look into the store as it disappeared behind them. When it could no longer be seen, she turned back around, staring intensely at the dashboard.
'I swear the lights were on,' she thought, 'why were they on?'
"What's on your mind, Carrots," she heard Nick ask.
"That gas station back there," Judy replied, "That was Martin's, wasn't it?"
"Uh," Nick said, thinking for a moment, "I think it was. Why?"
"There's something about it," Judy replied, "I'm sure how to explain it, but I think we should pay that place a visit."
"I don't know, Carrots," Nick said, "That building's falling apart, I don't think we'll find anything of worth."
"Maybe," Judy said, "But like I said, there's something about that place. It seems...off."
"What? Like Daniel?" Nick questioned.
"Kinda," Judy replied, "Maybe not to his level, but like I said, it just seems off. I think we should check it out if we get the chance."
"We could do it now while we're here," Nick suggested.
"I want contact Bogo first," Judy said, "After what we learned today, I think we should clear that up before we do anything else."
"Alright," Nick said, "So, when we get back to Grazer, I'll get us some while you call Bogo. Sound good?"
"Sounds good, Slick," Judy replied. Nick nodded and turned the car onto the road back to Grazer.
Daniel's Apartment, same time:
For the second time today, Daniel awoke with the sun in his face. He rolled over with a groan, grabbing his pillow and covering his face with it. He stayed like that for a few minutes before he finally decided to get out of bed. Throwing the pillow on the floor, he stretched his arms and arched, sighing as he felt several pops in his back. He pulled off his blanket, the chill of his room reminding him he was still naked. He felt a blush appear on his face as he thought about what happened earlier.
"So amazing," he said to himself.
Though he'd had his flings before, none were as passionate and intense as her. He turned his head and was surprised to see that Carol wasn't there. Confused, he stood up from his bed and left his room, not caring about his nudity. He stood just outside the door, his ears listening for any sign of her.
"Carol?" he said, waiting for a response.
A feeling of sadness filled when none came. He sighed and grabbed some clothes before heading to the shower. As the warm water flowed over his body, Daniel wondered where Carol could've gone. He remembered her mentioning that she had to stay at her house, being that's where she died. Did she return? He really hoped that wasn't the case. She didn't deserve what happened to her, she didn't need to be punished by being alone.
Daniel turned off the shower and grabbed his towel. Quickly dying his fur, he dressed and walked to his kitchen, checking each room he passed in the off-chance Carol was inside. Opening his fridge, Daniel took out a carton of eggs and a stick of butter before grabbing a fry pan from the cabinet next to his stove. He turned on the burner and dropped a chunk of butter in the pan, staring blankly at it while it slowly melted. Cracking two eggs, he dumped their contents into the butter. He pulled a spatula from a drawer next to him and waited for his eggs to cook.
The temperature in the room began to drop, sending a chill through Daniel's body. A strange feeling filled him, one he couldn't explain. He glanced over his shoulder, checking to see if he was still alone. Seeing no one, he turned his head back and flipped his eggs. Then, the fur on the back of his neck stood up, adding to his unease. Seconds later, the cold changed into a pleasant warmth. Daniel's unease turned into comfort, and he felt his body relax. Then he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist. This should've startled him, but he knew who it was, and he couldn't have been happier. Turning off his stove, he peeked over his shoulder and gave her a soft smile.
"Hey Carol," he said.
"Hey sleepyhead," she said, squeezing him tighter.
"I missed you when I woke up," Daniel said, gently squeezing her hand.
"I went for a walk," Carol said, "I tried waking you, but you were out. I'm sorry I made you worry."
"It's okay," Daniel said, "I'm glad you're here."
Carol pressed herself into his back, nuzzling him with her chin. Daniel turned in her grasp and wrapped his arms around her, running his fingers along the fabric of her dress. She rubbed her face in the center of his chest while he rubbed her back. He leaned down and gently nibbled on her ear. She giggled at the feeling, scratching his back with her claws. Daniel released her ear moments later and gently cupped her chin.
"Are you hungry?" he asked.
"A little," she replied.
"I just fried a couple eggs," Daniel said, grabbing a plate from a cabinet next to his stove, "You can have them."
"Oh, that's okay, I can cook some more," Carol said.
"It's alright, Carol. You're my guest," Daniel reassured, "Plus, at least I have excuse to not be lazy and cook my salmon cakes."
He gave the eggs a gentle poke, surprised to find they were still quite warm. He scooped them up and set them on the plate before handing it to Carol. He pointed to the drawer next to her, which contained his cutlery. She took a fork and sat down at the table, watching Daniel dig through his fridge. He emerged with a large package of salmon cakes, Carol's tail wagging when she saw they were her favorite brand.
Daniel tore open the package and placed a few cakes in the pan. The smell of cooking salmon filled the entire, making Carol's mouth water. A few minutes, Daniel joined her at the table, carrying a plate full of cakes. He gave her a few cakes, keeping the rest for himself. She thanked him and promptly dug into her breakfast.
Daniel chuckled at her eagerness and quietly began eating. As he ate, he would occasionally glance at Carol. Again, he thought about asking her. He wanted to know more, to hear her side of the story. The article Rick showed him gave very few details, leaving a lot of questions unanswered. He wanted to know but he didn't know how to ask. Carol seemed to pick up on this. Setting her fork down, she reached over and took his hand.
"I, uh, guess you have some questions?" she asked.
"I do," Daniel replied, "But I, uh...if you're not ready to, you know, talk about it." Carol sighed heavily, gently squeezing his hand.
"I've never had the chance," she said, "I've been stuck here since I died, but no one knew. I can't interact with anyone. I've never had the chance to tell my story."
"You have me," Daniel said softly.
"I do," she whispered, "You're the only one who could see me, who could talk to me. I finally have the chance."
"When you're ready," Daniel said.
"Thank you," Carol said softly. Daniel smiled and took her hand, rubbing her palm with his thumb.
"So, uh, is there anything you wanna do today?" he asked.
"We could, uh," Carol began, stopping for a moment to think, "Um...have we gone dancing yet?"
"I don't believe we have," Daniel replied, releasing her hand.
"Let's go then!" Carol said happily, "There's this place outside town called, uh, I forgot, but it's so much fun!"
"Oh, the Redwood Country Club?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, that's the one," Carol said, "Wanna go?"
"Sure," Daniel replied.
Carol smiled, wagging her tail. Daniel smiled and stood from the table. He grabbed their empty plates and placed them in the sink, then headed to his bedroom to change. Carol followed him to his room, standing outside his door. Daniel emerged from his room, dressed in a pair of light blue jeans, a dark blue shirt covered by a dark brown jacket.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
Carol nodded and held out her hand. Daniel wrapped his fingers around it and led her from his apartment. Locking his door, they walked hand in hand to his car. Climbing inside, Daniel drove out of the lot and took the main road out town, dodging the Saturday night traffic as he went.
Nick and Judy's hotel room, one hour later:
After arriving back from Woodland, Nick and Judy grabbed from food from a nearby restaurant and went over their interview with the dean. Their main focused was the potential second victim. If she indeed was connected to Carol's murder, then they could possibly have a serial killer on their hands. A possibility that filled them with dread. With that in mind, Judy dialed Bogo the moment they got back into their room.
"A second victim?" he questioned, "I never heard anything about a second victim."
"From what the dean told us, the police tried to keep it under wraps," Judy replied, "Since the town was still on edge after Carol's murder, they didn't wanna make it worse."
"I suppose that makes sense," Bogo said, "But still, not saying anything would've put the town in more danger. What exactly did the police say?"
"The dean said the police told everyone that the victim was a runaway who drowned after falling into the creek," Judy replied. She heard Bogo sigh on the other end of the line.
"Alright," he said, "I'll dig through my files, see what I can find."
"Sounds good chief," Judy said, "Before I let you go, has there been any update on Randall?"
"I found a report saying a wolf matching his description was seen in Podunk a year ago," Bogo replied.
"Sheriff Redding said the same thing when we spoke to him yesterday," Judy said.
"Oh, well did he say anything else?" Bogo asked.
"No, that was it," Judy replied.
"Well, then unfortunately that's all I found," Bogo said, "I'll try to keep looking, but most of my time will have to be spent on the other potential victim. And whatever Zootopia shoves across my desk."
"Okay," Judy said, "I won't keep then. Thanks for everything, chief."
"You're welcome, Hopps," Bogo replied, "You and Wilde stay safe."
"Will do," Judy said, ending the call.
She set her phone down on the mattress beside her and picked up her notepad. Nick sat down beside her, stuffing the last of his salmon sandwich into his muzzle. Washing it down with his coffee, he peeked over Judy's shoulder, watching her thumb through her pad.
"What's the word, Carrots," he asked.
"Bogo said he'll look into the other girl," Judy said, "He'll let us know when he finds something."
"Should we call Sheriff Redding, too?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Judy replied, "That'd probably be a-" She was interrupted by her phone's ringtone. Picking it up, she saw it was Sheriff Redding calling her.
"Speak of the devil," Nick said. Judy pressed her phone's screen and accepted the call.
"Hello?" she said.
"Officer Hopps," Sheriff Redding greeted, "I hope this isn't' a bad time."
"It's not, Sheriff," Judy said, "We were actually just about to call you."
"Really? What can I help you with?" he asked.
"We went to Woodland Community College today and interviewed the dean," Judy replied, "During which he mentioned another possible victim in the Carol Walters case. We wanted to know if you had any information on that."
"I'll have to look into archives for that," Sheriff Redding, "I was not aware of a second victim."
"We're not sure yet if she's connected yet," Judy said, "Like I said, we just found out about this today."
"Well, I'll let you know if I find anything," Sheriff Redding, "Thanks for the heads up on this."
"No problem, Sheriff," Judy said.
"Now, the reason I called you is that I found Randall," Sheriff Redding said.
"Really!" Judy exclaimed, "Where is he?"
"He's lives in a small suburb called Highlands," Sheriff Redding, "It's on the North side of Bunny Burrow."
"Bunny Burrow?" Judy questioned, "That's my hometown. How long has he lived there?"
"I can't say," Sheriff Redding, "After he left town, he basically disappeared. The only reason he was found is because I sent his file out to every department in the area."
"Well, we're glad you found. Now we can't make up for lost progress," Judy said.
"Glad I could help," Sheriff Redding said, "Call me if you need anything else."
Judy thanked the sheriff and ended the call. She set her phone down on the mattress beside her and grabbed her notepad, scribbling down what the Sheriff told.
"What do we got, Carrots?" Nick asked.
"Sheriff Redding found Randall," Judy replied, "He's in Bunny Burrow."
"Bunny Burrow?" Nick asked.
"Looks like it," Judy replied. Nick let out a chuckle.
"Looks like you get a free trip home, Carrots," he said.
"And you can finally meet my parents," Judy said.
"Uh, maybe," Nick said, looking nervous.
"Nick, don't worry," Judy said, "They'll like you."
"If you say so," Nick said, sound unconvinced.
Judy rolled her eyes and picked up her phone. She opened her Zoogle app and looked up the train schedule. The last train to Bunny Burrow had left an hour ago, so they'd have to wait until the morning.
"Well, the last train to Bunny Burrow left, so we'll have to wait till tomorrow," Judy said.
"That'll give us time to pack, at least," Nick said.
"The first train leaves at 8," Judy said.
"Which means we'll have to get up early," Nick grumbled.
"We can nap on the train," Judy said, "At least the trip's only an hour." She slid off the bed and grabbed her suitcase.
"Come on, let's get ready," she said.
She and Nick spent the next few hours packing and going over their notes. Since Randall was their prime suspect, they spent quite a bit of time coming up with questions to ask him. Judy suggested they take it slow and speak to him with an open mind. Since they had no hard evidence, it was best to not accuse him right off the bat, lest he refuse to cooperate.
Once they were finished with their notes, they climbed into bed and soon fell asleep. Tomorrow was to be a big day for them, especially for Nick. He was still nervous about meeting Judy's family. Though he spoke with her parents over the phone before, he was unsure how they truly felt about their relationship. And while her parents knew about it, most her family did not, and some of them weren't keen predators. Judy assured him that he'd be fine, and that did help a little. But he'd just have to see for himself.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay. I moved to a new job overseas and took some time off from writing to get settled in. A slight change in the story is the location of Martin shop. Originally it was just outside of Grazer, but i decided to have it between Grazer and Woodland. The previous chapter has been edited to reflect. Again, sorry for the delay. Next story posted should be chapter 6 of MHWA. In the meantime, please enjoy chapter 6 of Haunted! Constructive criticism welcome.