Darkness

Chapter 2

I DON'T OWN THE ARTWORK!

Nick and Judy scaled the steps at the Cozy Critter Apartment Complex. Judy followed behind Nick. He'd been silent since they received their assignment. He was truly upset about Silver's abduction. She gently grabbed the end of his tail.

"Nick, don't worry we'll find him." She reassured.

He froze, she was holding his tail, one of the most sensitive parts of a predator's body. Oh, how he wished she didn't do that, it was only teasing him. "I know, Fluff, I just have a lot on my mind." He said softly.

They stopped in front of apartment 2H. Knock! Knock! His paw banged against the door.

"Who is it?" An elderly voice asked from the other side.

"ZPD." Nick answered.

An elderly vixen opened the door, her coat was now a dull autumn orange. Her once vibrant blue eyes were now milky.

"I'm Officer Wilde and this is my partner, Officer Hopps. We're here about Silver Wise."

The vixen nodded her head and invited them in. "I'm Bernita Wise." She explained. "I'm Silver's grandmother and legal guardian."

"Mrs. Wise, would you know of anyone who would want to harm Silver?" Judy asked.

"Gosh, no! He's only six." Bernita lamented. "His parents passed away when he was three. They were in a car accident. My husband, Carl, and I adopted Silver. Sadly, Carl passed away last year..." the vixen broke down in tears. "Little Silver is the only family I have left."

Judy took Bernita's paw in both of hers, "Mrs. Wise, I give you my promise that we will find Silver."

"Thank you, young bunny." She wiped away her tears.

"When did you first notice he was missing?" Nick asked.

"This morning. I went to help him get ready for school and his window was open and his bed was empty." She explained.

"Mrs. Wise, is there any possibility that Silver could've ran away?" Nick questioned. The question was harsh, but he had to be thorough.

"No." She said adamantly. "Silver is a good kit, he would never run off."

"Ma'am, may we see his room?" Judy asked.

"Yes, it's this way." She led them to a room the size of Judy's apartment. It had a single bed, a small T.V and a small table in the corner of the room where Silver painted.

The bed was a mess, they were slung haphazardly on the floor. Nick noted this as signs of a struggle. He let his sense of smell take over, he got on all fours and started investigating. He smelled something perturbing, remnants of tranquilizer. A heavy one at that. Like the kind used to take down much larger suspects.

Sniff. Sniff. He inhaled deeply. And he also caught the smell of dirty, sweaty wool. The wool of a ram. Like the ones who assisted Mayor Belleweather in her attempt to destroy Zootopia.

Nick made his way to the window, smelling everything on the way there. The window was big enough for a kit to leap through with ease. A full grown ram though, would have trouble. Especially a fat one like Doug. An adolescent ram, on the other paw could make the grab. Nick studied the window, and noted that it was unlocked last night. Silver was a sitting duck.

"Carrots, call ZPD and have them bring in the forensics team." He finally said. Crawling through the window he followed the scent down the fire escape, down the back alley to a road. The scent died at the road, meaning the suspect had a getaway vehicle.

He made the long walk back up to the apartment.

"The forensics' team is on the way." Judy said.

"Carrots, a word please." Nick called her over.

She scurried to his side, he leaned down and whispered. "I believe a ram took Silver. I can smell wool and tranquilizer. I think the suspect shot him, and grabbed him before the drugs took over. The bed sheets suggest a struggle. Silver tried to fight back."

Nick's sleuthing skills impressed her. She knew her partner was good, but to already have an idea of what kind of mammal the suspect was, took the cake.

"Mrs. Wise, did you perhaps, hear any strange noises last night?" Judy asked.

She lowered her muzzle in shame. "Officer Hopps, I had my hearing aids out last night. Without them, I can barely hear a thing."

This kidnapping was the perfect heist. Silver's window was unlocked. He was small and young and not strong enough to fight back. Not to mention his grandmother was elderly, and slowly losing her senses. The kidnapper must've stalked them out ahead of time, studied their routine.

Nick started to say something to Judy, when Chief Bogo's booming voice came through on her walkie talkie. "Hopps! Wilde! A wolf pup was just taken near the Cozy Critter's Apartment! All nearby units report to Farmer's Grocery store on Star Street!"

Judy hit the respond button, "We're on it Chief."

"I'm so sorry Mrs. Wise, we have to go. The forensics team is on their way." Nick hurriedly explained.

Judy shot ahead, Nick bearing down behind her. "Do you trust me, Carrots?" He panted.

"You know I do." She replied.

"Great." He said, crouching down on all fours. "Hurry, get on my back."

She quickly obeyed, straddling him and holding onto the back of his uniform.

"Don't let go." He commanded as he took off in a dead run. When he went through training he was the fastest runner on two legs. On all fours nothing could stop him. All his years of being a con artist made him agile. Many times he had to haul tail to escape the law.

Now he was the law.