All Up in the Fur

Chapter 6

6

Judy and Finnick strode into the ZPD, the small fox clutching a pawpsicle in his paws. The leopard behind the reception desk looked up and gave the rabbit a broad, friendly smile.

"Judy!" He lowered his voice as she drew closer. "You're back early. Is there a problem?"

"Yes, I, erm..." She glanced down at Finnick and Clawhauser followed her gaze.

"O... M... Goodness!" The leopard clapped his paws together. "Why, aren't you just so adorable?"

Finnick removed the pawpsicle from his mouth and frowned. "Excuse me, cop? Adorable?!"

Clawhauser's smile was replaced with confusion and embarrassment and he placed both paws on his cheeks. "Oh I'm so sorry! I thought-"

Judy cut him off with a wave of her paw before he could make the situation any worse.

"Finnick here is a friend of Nick's," she said.

"Ooh!" Clawhauser leant over his desk to look down at him again. "How is Nick? I've been so worried about him."

Finnick stared back at the leopard and raised an eyebrow. The silence that passed between them made Judy shift uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Erm, Clawhauser. Is there any chance we can use the computer room for a little while?"

"'We'?" Clawhauser looked from her to the fox and back and scratched his ear. "Well... since he's authorised, I don't see why not. But... could you explain why?"

She fished around in her pocket and pulled out the small tracking device. "This was found on his fur. He's been targeted by the kidnappers."

Clawhauser's jaw dropped and his donut in his paw bounced off the desk and onto the floor.

"So if we can trace the tracker," Judy went on, "then we might be able to find one of the kidnappers."

Clawhauser sighed and wound his paws together. "I don't know, Judy. I think you'd be better leaving it with the Chief."

"I really can't do that." She stared back at the leopard for a moment, watching as a look of worry crossed his features. She didn't really have much choice and out of all the police officers in the ZPD after Nick she trusted Clawhauser the most. She gave Finnick an apologetic look and pulled herself up onto the counter, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Can I tell you something in confidence, Clawhauser?"

"Of course you can! Is something wrong?"

"Yes. You see... Nick isn't sick. We went undercover and followed a pair of suspicious mammals. He tricked them into trusting him and went with them, but I can't let Chief Bogo find out because I'm worried he might not see it that way. And even if he did, if he sent out a team and something happened to Nick..."

His jaw had dropped with each word and he shook his head sadly. "Okay, Judy. I understand. I won't say a word, but... if you need back up, ask for it. Okay?"

She smiled broadly and nodded. "Thank you, Clawhauser."

"I can let you both into the computer room, and I'll do my best to keep anyone else out until you're finished. Here's the key."

He dropped a rather large key into the rabbit's small paws. With another 'thank you' she bounced off the counter and Finnick followed after her, giving one last glance back to the smiling yet worried leopard.

"So you told another cop," he said flatly.

"I didn't have much choice," she said, "and I trust Clawhauser."