Serendipity's Shadow

Rated T

Chapter 37

Once Judy was dressed, she walked out to the kitchen. Nick sat at the kitchen table with a porcelain mug across from him. Tia was standing outside Judy's door staring at Nick intently.

"Everything okay?" Judy asked Tia with a puzzled gaze.

"I'm not sure…sometimes I think the Shadow is more of my enemy than my guardian."

Probably because you saved us from making a mistake.

"He'll get over it." Judy encouraged, urging Tia to come and sit with her at the kitchen table.

"Two sugars and a splash of creamer. Just how you like it." Nick smiled at Judy.

Judy ignored his smile, refusing to fall into that trap again.

"Thank you." She simply responded taking a sip of the tea. "We need to come up with a plan to draw Ermine's men out."

"You being bait is a good plan in theory. But it won't work if Ermine doesn't know where or when you'll be 'alone'."

"Exactly…the question is how to get him this info."

A silence fell between the trio before Cynthia began to speak.

"Why don't we just tell him?"

"What?" Judy asked completely confused by the suggestion.

"…That could work." Nick said rubbing his chin in thought.

"What?!" Judy was even more confused now.

"It can't be me 'cause that would destroy the point of being in witness protection. And if it's you Ermine might think it's a trap. So…why don't we kill two birds with one stone." Tia offered the idea. "In a way…kick Judy out."

Nick stared at the ferret with a small look of being impressed.

"…You are saying make it seem like I am not on good terms with the Shadow in a public enough way…that Ermine will find out no matter what?"

"Yes. And maybe hide out somewhere for a few days that's secure enough that Ermine can't get in but busy enough his crew can keep an eye on you. When a few days pass go for…a walk. I highly recommend the construction district on the outskirts of Zootopia."

"A lot of loud noise down there. It's easy to drown out the noises of a struggle or…an assassination."

At this point, Nick and Tia were in their own world discussing what almost seemed like how to get away with a crime flawlessly. Which only added to Judy's displeasure as a small pang of jealousy stirred in her stomach. Judy argued to herself that it was nothing more than her hormones going wild. And Cynthia was probably seen as nothing more than a child in Nick's eyes, or at least that's what Judy silently hoped.

No. Bad, Judy. Bad! You and Nick are big no, no!

"So…" Judy piped up trying to shut up her thoughts. "Leave you two here, go to ZPD headquarters for a few days, then randomly find a reason to go to the construction district, and that, in theory, is where I'm going to be 'assassinated'.

"Yep."
"Yeah."

Nick and Tia nodded in optimistic enthusiasm that could only match a criminal's way of thinking.

"Well, you two are excited to see me die." Judy tried to joke. "In all seriousness, if this is going to work, we need to plan down to the last detail a bit more."

"Just leave-"

"Don't you dare say 'Just leave it to me.', Nick."

Nick held up his arms in defense while Tia smirked at Judy.

"Two days at the most would be good enough for Quick Shot to get the intel from his men and start the order to follow you. It being too good of an opportunity to miss they will be scrambling for the perfect opening to kill you. Meanwhile, with the Shadow's power, we can secure the location and the Shadow can…question those involved. Allowing Judy's hands to keep clean on and off the record."

Nick and Judy looked at Tia with quizzical looks.

"Are you sure you weren't a lawyer or something in another life?" Nick had to ask.

Tia smiled at the compliment before turning back to Judy who was still staring at her.

"Will Ermine know about this plan because you two…"

Even though Judy didn't finish her statement it was obvious what she was implying.

"Quick Shot never considered my opinion for any of his plans…I was, you know what I was, Judy."

A silent understanding passed between the two mammals leaving Nick to feel like an odd man out.

"So, he won't see this coming." Nick stated.

"Or worst. He'll over-prepare and just sacrifice his men. His crew has always been nothing but collateral. Except for Dean that is. Dean was…well he was-"

"Ermine's personal secretary fuck boy." Nick offered while Judy sent him a glare. "Am I wrong?"

"No." Tia giggled in a pathetic manner. "No, you are not wrong, Mr. Wilde. When Quick Shot had a girl Dean was solely a secretary, of sorts. But when Ermine didn't have, I believe a bitch in heat, as Dean once described it to me. Dean would be the only willing participant for Quick Shot's aggression."

"And here I thought Nick had the crazy obsessed exes." Judy jeered at Nick remembering how he used to talk about how he wished sleeping with someone didn't come with so many strings attached.

Funny how the tables have turned between you and me, Nick.

"Still do on some occasions." Nick mumbled in disappointment.

Sometimes I almost wish you were one of them, Carrots.

"I vote we get this plan in motion by tomorrow afternoon at the latest." Judy stated. "I don't have the patience to drag this out any longer than Ermine is trying to."

And I can't stay long enough for my stomach to begin to show.

"I agree with getting this done as soon as possible too. I'm tired of looking over my shoulder every minute of every day. But isn't tomorrow a little too soon?"

"Not for someone like the Shadow."

Nick stared at Judy and Tia wide-eyed.

"I feel so used lately." He feigned heartache.

"Well, you said so yourself. What use is it to have all your power if you never use it?"

Nick smirked at Judy feeling pride at her ability to casually one up him by using his own words against him.

"I guess I'll have to make a few calls." Nick relented.

"And I'll email Bogo informing him to keep everything on a need-to-know basis."

"I…will…" Tia tried to offer.

"You will help me plan Judy's escape route. A girl like you has the background knowledge to get out of every situation imaginable."

"I don't know whether that was a compliment or a diss?" Tia crossed her arms in defiance.

"I'm sure it was a compliment."
"That's up to you to decide."

Judy and Nick stated at the same time.

Silence once again had fallen between the trio. This one, unlike earlier, was a lot more comfortable to sit comfortably in. As though a small and unstable friendship had begun to settle amongst them.