A Fresh Start

The Call

Nick searched the house high and low but Judy was nowhere to be seen. Panic coursed through Nick's veins as he noted signs of a struggle. He also noticed that the cruiser was still parked in the car park when he drove in. In her apartment, Judy's stuff was scattered on the floor. There were few drops of blood splattered too. Multiple chairs were knocked to the ground. And Judy's phone was also lying face down just inside the door. Nick picked in up gingerly with shaking hands. The screen was cracked. As the fox looked up, his eyes round with fear, he noticed Judy's tranq gun lying on the other side if the room. Something bad had happened. His breath coming in short gasps, Nick called for back up.

Judy's room had been searched thoroughly for evidence and her neighbours had been questioned. The blood on the floor was being examined by experts and mammals had been tromping through the bunny's apartment all day. Animals were in and out looking or clues and even the ZBI got involved. Now, all Nick could do was wait. Mammals were working overnight to find some evidence of what happened and in the morning Nick would take action. But now as the moon hung in the sky and night fell upon the city, the fox was restless. He wished the chief hadn't sent him home as he felt he needed to do something to distract him from this unbearable feeling of hopelessness. Nick sat on his couch in silence, a plate of untouched food beginning to perish beside him. Nick felt sick to his stomach with worry. What had become of his partner? The fox could not bear the empty silence anymore but he knew he wouldn't be able to concentrate on television, so he jumped up and went for a shower so he could try and make sense of all his swirling thoughts.

Almost as soon as Nick stepped out of the shower he heard his mobile ring. Quickly, he wrapped a towel around himself and ran to grab the phone. When he glanced at the screen he nearly froze at the sight of the caller ID. It was Judy! Yet strangely, it was her work phone, the one which had been stolen after they had been attacked at the abandoned warehouse. Nick slowly picked up the phone and slid the green button to take the call. He only felt dread as he knew something was off. "This is Wilde" Nick answered guardedly even though he hoped more than anything that it was Judy on the other end. A deep, gruff voice spoke. "I told you to keep out of this fox. I warned you to stay away but you and your joke of a partner just had to persevere. Well dont say I didnt warn you, because now you are going too get it. You'll pay for not taking my advice. Dont you think for a second you are better than me because the thing is, we are on the same level. Thats right fox, you're no better than me, so quit playing games and pretending you could actually make something of your miserable life." The voice was full of malice and cold pleasure. Nick knew it was Swiftfoot and he knew he had Judy. "Wait! Please, let her go! -I" He was cut off by the sound of muffled wailing. "Hopps!?" he demanded, but the call was ended in moments and had not lasted long enough for the call to be traced. Nick realised this with a sinking feeling in his gut. Desperate, the red fox called the chief. This is all my fault, he thought bitterly to himself as the phone dialed. I'm so, so sorry Carrots. I should have tried harder. I should've shown you that letter. I promise you, I will get you home safe if its the last thing I do. Nick vowed silently. Although Nick hated making promises he couldn't guarantee, he felt the need to make this vow. He wanted to be with Judy always and keep her safe for as long as he lived. He had never truly needed anybody in his life but now he couldn't imagine life without Judy. "Wilde?" Bogo's booming voice snapped him out of his thoughts. The vulpine realised he was trembling from head to toe and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. Nick took in a long, shaky breath before speaking. "Its Officer Hopps" he burst out.