Hot Time in the Cold Town Tonight
“...baby it's cold outside.” Nick's hummed tone caught in the chill of the air.
Judy shook here head giving him a soft slap on the shoulder and huddled into her coat. It was cold in Tundratown, even more than they predicted. Even the slightest breeze cut through the fur on their faces. The large snowflakes fell at a steep angle gathering on the walls of the buildings massing into snowbanks on the sidewalks. This wasn't the type of environment for a bunny and a fox. How could any mammal live happily in this environment, Judy wondered. As she dusted the gathering snow from her coat.
The partners managed to find some semblance of shelter in the alleyway across from the pharmacy. They hunkered down next to a large dumpster. The smell left a little to be desired but it was better than freezing to death. Their warm coats did little to protect them from the wind whipping down the alleyway. Nick pulled Judy close so they could huddle for extra warmth. Nick held Judy's gloved hands in his rubbing the backs of them to help generate heat.
“You'd figure they would report a scheduled blizzard, right?” Nick mused, his words traveled on a puff of air.
“Actually, I think it's always like this.”
“Oh, how terrible.” Nick pulled the collar of his coat tighter around his face.
“God, it's so cold I can't feel my lucky bunny feet anymore.”
“Want me to rub them for you?”
“How dare you, sir? You can't just ask a rabbit if you can rub their feet, it's rude.”
Nick chuckled and touched his cold nose to her cheek. “Hey...you're not just some bunny, you're my wife remember.”
“Oh, in that case, be my guest. One request though can wait until we're somewhere warmer?” Judy worked to stuff her ears under her knit cap.
“Oh, if you in-”
“Shh.”
Judy shushed him receding back into the shadows of the building. There she pressed her body tightly to his, angling her face so it looked as though they were kissing in the whirlwind of snowflakes. Her keen eyes searching the streets. Across the way, the lights inside the Pharmacy went out and the owner, a large black bear, was finishing up his closing duties.
When Judy looked back at Nick their lips almost touched. A sly smile crept across his face, his eyes studying hers. It was that type of look that often trapped her in a blush. Even in the cold she could feel her ears heating up inside her cap.
“Make the call.” Her breath was warm against his lips.
“But what if he sees, maybe we can kiss some more and then make the call.”
“Fake kiss it is then.”
“You're no fun.” Nick chuckled while Judy went back to scanning the store, she could hear Nick dialing his phone.
“Chief Bogo, Wilde reporting.”
“Where are you, it sounds terribly windy?”
“Yeah, that's what I said to,” Nick said, Judy elbowing him in the ribs.
“We're supposed to be kissing, no jokes.”
“What did she say, what are you two doing?”
“Oh yes, she's crazy about me.”
“Gimme that.”
Judy snatched the phone from him pressing her head against his chest. She could hear his heart speeding up in his chest. Nick wrapped his arms around her holding her close.
“Sir, we've been requested to rob a Pharmacy called Lobmein's in Tundratown.”
“Did the baron request this of you personally?”
“Yes, thanks to our last successful mission we've actually been invited to the inner circle.”
“Then that should be all we need to bust him. Excellent work you two. I'm going to put a call into TUSK to put together a task force-”
“Sir, we need a little more evidence.” Judy interrupted.
“What?” Nick and Chief Bogo said at the same time.
Judy covered the receiver looking up at Nick. “We need to at least warn Lavender, Finnick, Pearl, and Honey. If they're anywhere near that place when the cops bust in then they're going get arrested.”
Nick took the phone from Judy, her face shifted to one of concern. A pleading look in her eyes. Nick rolled his eyes sighing, he mouthed the words 'you own me one'.
“It's true, Chief. If we go in there now the only thing we'll be able to get the baron on is conspiracy to commit robbery. That's small time stuff with enough money and a good lawyer he'll be fined at most. No jail time. In that case, he'll just flee and we'll be left with egg all over our face.”
“Then what are you suggesting?”
“I think I can convince some of the mammals in his inner circle to assist us with our investigation. Just one more day should do it.”
“That's a big maybe, Wilde!”
“Yeah, but it's better then him getting away.”
“Ugh...this had better be good. You've been down there for far too long now. But I...I trust your judgment so-”
“One more thing,” Nick added. “You're going to get a reading of a break in at Lobmein's, that's just us. Send resistance but tell them not to go overboard like last time.”
“I'll consider your concern, Bogo out.”
“Can you believe that guy?”
In the wake, all that had happened Judy nearly forgot what the baron had told her. Quickly she snatched the phone back from Nick, trying to get through to Chief Bogo. Obviously, he was gone from his office setting everything in motion for the mock heist. Judy tried a few more times before thrusting the phone back in his hand.
“What was that all about, Carrots?”
“There was something I forgot to mention to Bogo. I know what the baron's planning.”
“You do, when did that happen?”
“When you were sleeping. He wants to take down the ZPD, using the Phraxus serum.”
“What? Why?”
“He blames them for the death of his wife.”
“What? That's crazy.”
Judy told Nick about what happened to the baron's wife. She made mention that she was a little tipsy at the time but remembered most of the conversation clearly. The baron was angry that the ZPD covered up their negligence and promoted the fool responsible. After she told him everything she could remember, she mentioned her theory about what the badger was planning to do. Once he had enough of the Phraxus the baron would arm his followers and launch and all out war on the precinct.
“I don't know if he's got enough soldiers to do that.”
“Doesn't matter, one dart could stop an officer cold. They won't be able to fight back.”
“That's a good point. We need-”
“Shh.”
Judy hushed him again pointing out across the street. Mr. Lobmein stepped out the front door to his shop locking up before bringing down the protective cage over the door. Nick and Judy waited for him to finish locking up and leaving before they made their move.
“Shall we?”
“Sure thing, lover boy.”
Judy wrapped an arm around Nick's back as they strolled across the street. Judy made sure to add an extra stagger in her walk, just a young couple having a night out on the town. It was the perfect facade. They reached the other side of the road and Nick pressed his lips to the side of her head.
“Marry me?” His warm whispered words came out soft against her face.
It caused the fur to prickle up her back. Even if the fox was only acting, his words were very convincing. Knowing that she couldn't let him down, she looked up at him and smiled.
“Oh darling, I thought you'd never ask.” She slurred her words playing the drunk lover to the hilt.
It puzzled her why the smile on his face disappeared so quickly. She stretched up and kissed his lips. At first, it was meant to be a fake kiss but it quickly became very real. The taste of his mouth was pleasant, it lured her deeper into its wonder. Feeling his sharp teeth caused her to tremble with the sense of danger that made her weak in the knees. The way Nick caressed down her back pulling her tighter to him made her feel warm all over. Either Nick was a very convincing actor or he really meant it.
“Wow,” Judy whispered in a warm puff of air against his face.
Her fingers danced circles on his chest. Nick's hand slipped up meet hers with something clutched inside, a small box. “Open this later.”
“What is it?”
“I'm too much of a coward to tell you, so please open it when I'm not around.”
Judy shook her head not understanding what he was saying. Nick simply mouthed the words 'trust me' before leading her around the side of the building. Judy was confused, to say the least, but she did as he asked, slipping the box into her pocket. Obviously, the fox had his reason for being so aloof but she did trust him that all would be revealed later.
When they reached the backside of the Pharmacy, Nick made a cradle out of his hands. He hoisted her up to where she could grab the drain pipe and pull herself up. When she was on the roof she hung down over the edge beckoning the fox up. Nick used a trash can to jump high enough for Judy to grab his hand. She used her leg to push against the lip of the roof, pulling him up.
It only took Judy a few minutes to find a way in, a vent cover buried under a small snow drift. If it hadn't been for the telltale signs of melted slats in the snow, Judy would have missed it. Nick used his utility knife to unscrew the cover plate tossing it aside. She poked her head into the opening for a second before pulling back to look at the fox
“Whose going first?”
“It's pretty dark and spooky down there, Jude.”
Nick balled up a fist and motioned to Judy with his muzzle. Judy rolled her eyes and held up her own fist. They pumped three times and Judy presented a fist to his open palm which he used to smother her hand. A cocky smile spread across his face.
“Paper wins.”
“Dammit, every time!” Judy cursed, slithering into the open vent.
It was wide enough for her to crawl on all fours. Unfortunately, Nick had to use his arms to drag the rest of his body along the tight compartment. Judy grimaced as she crawled into a cobweb. The thin fibers clinging to the fur on her face forcing her to stop so she could wipe it away. Nick, who wasn't paying attention, bumped his head into her rear hard enough to tip her forward onto her face.
When she scrambled around to glare at him he smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “Good thing your butt is so soft, I might have suffered a concussion.”
“You're a dork.” Judy stifled a laugh, before starting to crawl again.
“On a very related note, I have to say the view back here is spectacular.”
“Jeez, I couldn't tell by the fact you wanted to make your head part of the scenery.”
“What can I say, I'm a butthead?”
“Oh my god, Nick. You need to stop. This is serious business.” Judy laughed.
After one final turn, they'd come to the end of the vent system. A large fan blade lay ahead of them with no way through. Right in front of it on the floor of the shaft was another vent that dropped into the shop. The shop was mostly dark inside with the exception of the lights from the refrigerators. Judy spent a long moment trying to figure out if there was some kind of security system. Nick squeezed up beside her so he could look too.
“I don't see any type of security system,” Judy whispered.
“He probably doesn't have one in the store itself, only behind the counter.”
“Why?”
Because that's where the real high ticket items would be.” Nick looked away, clearing his throat. “I mean not that I'd know. That's just where I would have it, you know if I owned a pharmacy.”
“Sure thing, Slick Nick.”
“I will have you know, I am a reformed fox now.”
“I didn't say anything.” Judy peered at him innocently.
“Yeah, uh huh . So what's the plan?”
Judy uses her strong leg to kick the cover of the vent breaking it free from the ceiling. It clattered loudly to the floor below. They both waited for an alarm to sound. When there wasn't one, Nick smirked and took both of her hands lowering her down Nick slipped out of the vent slowly, using his legs to anchor him. Judy looked up at Nick and nodded and he let her drop the rest of the way to the floor. When she set down she backed away giving the fox plenty of room to drop down. Nick curled up onto himself grabbing the lip of the vent before flipping down to the floor. His padded feet barely made any sound.
“Way to go, double-O-seven, very classy.”
“And that's different from everything else I do, how?”
Judy rolled her eyes moving towards the counter in a crouch, Nick wasn't far behind her. The cage that separated the drug store from the pharmacy was down and from what Judy could tell by Nick jiggling it was that the cage was locked.
“Do you know how to pick a lock?” Judy cocked her head towards him.
“What are you insinuating?”
“Nothing, I just didn't want you to judge me for being able to pick a lock, that's all.”
“Wait, you can pick locks? That's not altogether lawful is it, Officer Fluff?”
“Hey, buddy. I just learned how to do it because you never know when a situation will call for it.”
“Fair enough.” Nick produced a nice pair of lock picks from inside his coat starting to work the lock.
“So you do know how to pick a lock? Why didn't you just say so before.”
“I didn't say I couldn't pick a lock. I just asked you what you were insinuating.” He said snidely.
“You're so frustrating sometimes.”
“But you still love me, right? Still wanna marry me and all that jazz?”
Judy wanted to answer honestly but she was still confused as to the motive behind his kiss earlier. “Maybe...ask me again when we're not freezing our butts off.”
“Sure thing, my cute little magic 8-ball.”
There was a soft snick and Nick pushed the cage up just high enough to slip through. Nick pulled himself up onto the counter rolling into a sitting position at the other edge.
“Careful the floor might have...”
Judy tried to warn the fox just as he dropped down from the counter. The moment Nick's feet touched the floor an alarm started blaring, complete with a flashing red light and everything.
Nick grimaced turning to look at her from over his shoulder.“...Pressure sensitivity. Yeah, my bad.”
“Just get the stuff so we can get out of here,” Judy ordered scrambling across the counter to join him.
On the other side, Judy nimbly climbed the shelves, her eyes scanning every bottle she came across, quietly mumbling to herself. “Dia, Diathopamine, Dia...”
“...thropamine,” Nick shouted at the same instance Judy spotted what she was looking for it.
Quickly she ran her hand along the shelf scooping the bottles from the shelf onto the floor. Nick was already picking them up and shoving them into a small black duffle bag. Judy dropped down to help him throwing bottles in hand over hand. They both made sure she grabbed every bottle. When they were all packed away Nick zipped the bag closed throwing it across the counter.
“Let's go!” Nick said slid back across the counter through the gap in the cage, Judy was hot on his heels.
Nick pulled the bag across his shoulders as Judy unlocked the door. When the door wouldn't open she grunted in dismay. The fox whistled and pointed up at the top of the door. Judy saw it. It was a push lock she couldn't reach. Nick was already on it working his way up a nearby shelf. In a graceful jump, he snagged the lock before falling to the floor. Judy rolled out of the way just in time to avoid being smashed by him.
“Whoa, you're quite agile, bunny wife.”
“You ain't seen nothing yet, hubby.”
Judy jerked the door open but the security cage on the outside of the store wouldn't budge. Again Nick was on it working the lock as fast as he could while trying not to rushed it. In the distance, they could hear sirens coming. Their time was growing short, Judy could feel the sweat prickling on her forehead.
“Come on!” Judy urged.
“Carrots, I need you to be cool for second.”
“Cool! I'm freezing.”
Nick chuckled dropping one of his pins. It disappeared into a pile snow that gathered at the edge of the cage. Judy and Nick both shared a look of dismay.
“My bad, sorry.”
“Never apologize for good comedy, bunny wife.”
“I wasn't, I was apologizing for making you drop your pick.”
“It was a tragedy but...” Nick laughed as he slid the cage open just enough to slip through.
“You had it...you're such an ass!” Judy followed him into the street.
Down the street, they could see three police cruisers moving in fast. Washing the dark city streets with red and blue flashing lights. Nick and Judy darted across the street trying not to slip on the packed snow. They reached the alleyway where they hid out earlier but they weren't alone. A large framed figure filled the other end. The red and blue lights from a cop car silhouetted him and caught his badge.
“McHorn.” Nick furrowed his brow.
There was no escape that way, Nick grabbed Judy's hand and hurried back along the street the cop cars gaining on them.
“We're in trouble!” Nick squealed as he ducked around another corner looking down the expanse of a larger street.
“Nowhere to hide!” Judy looked back over her shoulder.
In the center of the street in front of them, a manhole slid open. Pearl popped his head out and glared at them beckoning them inside. Nick looked at Judy and smirked a wave of relief washed over her.
“Convenient.”
“More like a miracle, let's go.”
Pearl ducked down back into the manhole, Nick and Judy following behind him. Nick closed the manhole behind them, just as the cop cars came squealing around the corner, speeding by.
“That was close.” Nick panted.
“I don't think we're out of it yet.”
Nick and Judy looked around the sewage walkway. Pearl touched a finger to his lips and shushed them mouthing the word 'follow'. Why was Pearl there? How did he know how to find them? Judy had a feeling that things may have gone from bad to worse.
