Zootopia: More Than Partners, More Than Friends - Part 15

Story by Magna Vulpes on SoFurry

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#33 of Zootopia


_ "It's a question of methods. Everybody wants results, but nobody wants to do what they have to do to get them done." _ - Inspector Harry Callahan a.k.a. "Dirty Harry"

The entire Zootopia Police Department had been mobilized to search for Anthony and Amanda Skulk. As Bogo had predicted, once the FBI showed up to Zootopia to handle the kidnapping, the ZPD was quickly pushed aside by the authoritarian federal agency. The special agents assigned to the case were completely unfamiliar with the ZPD's procedures, and even went so far as to seriously alter or even cancel the dragnets that had been ordered by the Chief to comb the city in search of Billy Joe Sullivan and Bobbie Sue Murphy.

All of this was working in the two raccoon's favor. Not only was their risk of getting caught now diminished, but they weren't even in the vast city anyway. They had driven to a remote wooded area and now lodging illegally in a run down old cabin. To make matters more difficult for the ZPD, the lovers had torched their old Cadillac after nabbing Anthony and Amanda and were using a stolen car. This meant that the chances of locating the two criminals was even slimmer than before. Things were looking very grim indeed.

Anthony and Amanda, scared for their very lives. Still dressed in their pajamas, they had been tied to chairs in the cabin. Cold, shivering, and wanting their parents, Amanda tried pleading with their kidnappers.

"Please, let us go," cried Amanda, tears flowing down her face. "Why did you do this to us?"

Billy Joe, lit up a cigarette. Inhaling the smoke, he blew it out in Amanda's face. She coughed several times. Billy Joe just laughed in her face. He was getting a kick out of seeing the young vixen crying, begging for her life. "What's wrong, girlie? You miss your Mommy and Daddy? That's too bad."

"You're not gonna get away with this," said Anthony, putting on a brave front. "They're gonna hunt you down and kill you."

"Who's gonna hunt us down and kill us? The FBI? Shit, those morons fuck everything up. They're probably spending more time arguing with the Zootopia Police Department than they are looking for you two little brats."

Anthony glared hatefully at the male raccoon. He knew his brother would be doing everything in his power to find him and his sister. Scared as he was on the inside, he still hadn't lost hope that Nick would find them and rescue them. He had to believe that . . . despite the odds.

"You think you're tough, huh?" said Billy Joe, getting in Anthony's face. The young fox had enough by this point, spitting right in the raccoon's face. Angered by the young fox's attempt to undermine his authority, he reached his paw back, slapping him across the face. Amanda screamed as the raccoon continued slapping her brother. His paw was eventually staid by Bobbie Sue.

"Don't hurt him too bad," she advised. "We want his parents to pay that ten million dollar ransom, after all."

Billy Joe wiped the fox saliva from his face. He snarled at Anthony, who's will he still had not broken, despite the blood that was now on his face from being smack so viciously. "You just keep looking like that, you little rich prick," he said, pulling a knife out of his pocket. "If your Mama and Daddy don't pay us the money we're owed, I'm personally gonna cut you to pieces." He brought the knife within an inch of Anthony's face, grinning sadistically at him. "Then we'll see how tough you are, you little shit."

Nick, Jack and Billy had spent the day searching Zootopia, but it was just as the old cliché said, like looking for a needle in a hay stack. With only three of them, there was so little ground they had covered in the sprawling metropolis of Zootopia. Nick and Jack had rousted up all the criminal informants they knew, and Nick had numerous contacts in that department. Having been a con artist most of his life, he had made a myriad of connections with the criminal world. With his brother and sister's lives hanging in the balance, he waved cash in front of his informants, telling them that he would make it worth their while to help him out. Try as he might, he kept coming up empty handed. He knew that the longer his siblings were held by those two raccoons, the less likely that they would come out of this alive. He had contacted his father, who was busy getting the money together to pay for their ransom. He would gladly give up his enormous fortune for their safe return. He kept talking to his mother on the phone. The vixen couldn't stop crying, worrying about Anthony and Amanda. Even though they were not her biological cubs, she had grown so close to them that she referred to them as "her babies". Nick had to keep his mind focused, or he would start crying too.

He had met up with Jack and Billy a few hours after they had ventured out on their hunt. Things were not looking good for the wolf or coyote either.

"Shit," said Billy. "I tell you, Nick. Me and Jack are havin' a helluva time tryin' to find one damn criminal in yer city that knows anything 'bout those two scumbag raccoons. I think Zootopia might be bigger than the entire Lone Star state."

Nick sighed, knowing that what they were doing was a long shot to say the least. "I know. Those raccoons and my brother and sister could be hiding anywhere in the city. Damn . . . if only we had some way of tracing them or getting a ping from Anthony or Amanda's cell phone."

"I doubt they'd have that on them," said Jack. "They were kidnapped at night in their pajamas--hardly the time when you'd have your phone on you."

Nick wanted to scream. He wanted to pull his fur out he was so frustrated with their lack of progress. But he couldn't let himself lose it, he had to be the cool, slick fox that he'd been when he was a con artist. Sitting down, he discussed various plans that the three of them could try to use to get Anthony and Amanda back.

Back at the cabin in the woods, Anthony and Amanda remained tied up, wondering when or even if they'd see their parents again. Having spent so many hours tied up, the two young foxes were stiff, soar, and needing to heed the call of nature.

"Hey," said Anthony, trying to get Bobbie Sue's attention.

"What?" said the female raccoon.

"I need to use the bathroom," said Anthony.

"He can piss and shit himself for all I care," barked Billy Joe, still pissed off at Anthony for his insolence earlier. He pulled out his knife again, waving it in the fox's face menacingly.

"For God's sake, Billy Joe," snapped Bobbie Sue. "There's no need for him to do that. Besides, I don't wanna be smellin' that. Untie him and let him go to the bathroom in the back."

Grumbling, Billy Joe did as his girlfriend requested. He really didn't care if Anthony were to soil himself, but he knew better than to irritate Bobbie Sue. Taking his paws to the ropes, he untied the fox, giving him a stern warning.

"You got one minute in the bathroom. If you try to jump out the window, I'm gonna chase you down and make you regret the day you ever crossed Billy Joe Sullivan, you got that?"

Anthony nodded his understanding. Billy Joe marched him at gunpoint to the bathroom, warning him again about the one minute he had to do his business before he would incur the raccoon's wrath. Despite his legs being soar from having sat so long, the young male fox moved surprisingly fast. He entered the bathroom, seeing that it was a dirty, disgusting mess. Going over to the rust stained toilet, he pulled his member out and sprayed his urine into the bowl. He had been so full, he was worried that he would wet himself earlier. Feeling better, he quickly pulled something else out of his underwear. In the struggle at his house earlier, the young fox had the presence of mind to actually sneak his cell phone into his pajamas, knowing that it might be the only chance he got to make contact with someone who could help him. He looked at the battery meter, he was down to just 10% battery life. While still peeing, he hurriedly went into his contacts, finding his brother's number. Quickly, he sent him a text, knowing that his one minute would soon be up.

Nick. Me N Mandy, in cabin in woods. Help.

The fox finished peeing, putting his phone back inside his underwear just before he heard Billy Joe banging on the door.

"You'd better hurry up or I'm comin' in there and carvin' you up," yelled the raccoon. "One, two . . ."

Anthony emerged from the bathroom and felt Billy Joe's paw grab him, dragging him back to the chair to be tied up once more. The raccoon continued menacing him, giving him the sickliest smile that he had ever seen.

"Hope you drained it all out, cause you're not goin' again till tomorrow," he taunted the fox. "Now, time for you to get up and go, girlie," he told Amanda. "Same rule applies to you. Take longer than a minute and I'll start practicing my knife skills on you."

Amanda was untied and marched to the bathroom. She wasn't sure, but she could have sworn that Anthony gave her a wink when Billy Joe wasn't looking.

All of the plans that Nick, Jack and Billy had used had been just as fruitless as the last one. It was as though the raccoons and Nick's siblings had disappeared off the face of the earth. Despite all their efforts, they were getting nowhere fast. Nick was at his wit's end. He was also aware of what would happen to him if some of the ZPD, or worse, the FBI found him and his two partners out on the streets investigating the case. He would be in big trouble with Chief Bogo, who had a well earned reputation as being a beast who adhered to procedure with an almost dogmatic fanaticism. The clock was ticking. Time was running out.

Driving down the road, the fox was at the head of the caravan that included Jack Wolfard and Billy Mack. He had been in close contact with them, ready to change direction at a moment's notice. Hearing a ding from his cell phone, he looked down, thinking it was Jack Billy, or possibly even Judy wondering where he had been all day. His heart beat like a jack hammer as he saw it was a message from Anthony, simply saying:

Nick. Me N Mandy, in cabin in woods. Help.

He couldn't believe it. Somehow his little brother had managed to sneak his phone with him during the kidnapping. Instantly, he went into action, calling up Jack and Billy, telling them what was going on. Nick said he had an app on his phone to ping Anthony's phone to determine his location. Going through his phone, he hit the app, hoping that it would work. After a few minutes, his phone got a fix on the phone's location. Luckily, the signal return was showing that the phone was not moving, meaning that Anthony and Amanda were likely not in a car or other vehicle, but held up in the cabin like the message said. Once Nick had found the location, he had Jack look on the maps in his phone to get a more precise location of just where this cabin was at.

"I know that area, Nick," said the wolf. "I used to go camping there when I was a pup."

"Then you lead the way," said Nick.

Jack, in the very rear of the three cars, dropped his speed, allowing for their to be more room before he sped up and took the lead. At this point, the wolf was flooring the pedal, trying to get to the twins as fast as possible. By now, it was getting dark, and it looked like the trip would take an hour going the speed limit. None of the three beasts intended on going the speed limit.

As darkness fell on the cabin in the woods, Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue were both feeling the weight of sleep falling on them. Neither had slept in almost thirty six hours, and they were going to need rest soon to stay alert. Tomorrow, they intended on initiating contact with the police, giving them the instructions on how and where to deliver the ten million in ransom for the safe release of the twins. Billy Joe was really looking forward to the payday he and Bobbie Sue would be getting, and he had every intention of killing the two foxes, just for the hell of it.

"You take first watch," said Billy Joe to his girlfriend, lying down on the bed in the living room. "I'm gonna get some shut eye."

The male raccoon yawned as he spread out on the old bed. He found sleep in only a matter of minutes. Bobbie Sue, with a pistol in her paw, kept an eye on Anthony and Amanda. Though not as cruel as her boyfriend, the female raccoon was far from a loving, caring individual. She gave the two foxes the evil eye as she sat in the dark across from them, the moonlight flooding into the old cabin. Anthony, tired, soar, and wanting to go home, kept a careful watch as he saw the female raccoon was letting her eyelids slip shut. He knew that if he held out long enough, both the raccoons would be asleep and he would be able to spring into action. He saw Bobbie Sue's head lean forward, the urge to sleep slowly overpowering her. Finally, her head fell forward as she snored loudly.

Not wasting any time, Anthony went at it. Fortunately for him, when Billy Joe had tied him back up, he hadn't done a very good job of it. Throughout the day, the nimble, agile fox, who was skilled with his paws, as anyone who saw him play guitar could attest to, was able to untie the rope around him, letting them slowly, quietly unfurl onto the ground. Amanda, shocked as she was by the sight of this, had the good sense to keep her mouth shut. Getting out of the chair, Anthony went over to his sister, and working swiftly, untied her as well. With both foxes now on their feet, they moved quietly to the front door, hoping the rickety old cabin floors wouldn't create enough noise to rouse either Billy Joe or Bobbie Sue from their sleep. Luckily, the two raccoon's were so tired that didn't hear a thing as Anthony and Amanda tip toed out the door, closing it every so gently. They saw the dirt road that ran from the cabin out into the woods and once far enough away, they made a run for it. They had no idea where they were at, but they knew that they had to get away from the raccoons. At any time, Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue might wake up and find them missing, and they had a car they could use to chase them down. They ran and ran, ignoring the pain, hunger, and fatigue they were experiencing at the moment. Their only concern, self preservation.

The two foxes stopped dead in their tracks, seeing a caravan of cars approaching them. They didn't know who it was, but thought that it would be wise to then run up to the cars, banging on the windows frantically. The first car rolled down it's window. It was Nick's partner, Jack!

"Hey, get in kids," he said. "We're gonna get you the hell out of here right now."

Anthony and Amanda didn't have to be told twice. Opening the cars back doors, they hopped in, looking back at the two cars behind them.

"Is that Nick back there?" asked Amanda.

"It is," answered Jack. "The other guy is Billy Mack, he's a detective from down in Texas whose been chasing your kidnappers. He's going back home with us right now." Jack pulled off to the side of the dirt road, as did Billy, allowing Nick to pass them.

"What's Nick going to do?" asked Anthony.

Jack looked back at the two foxes as he turned his car around and headed back for Zootopia. "He's going to take care of some unfinished business."

Bobbie Sue was still sitting in her chair when she finally let the pistol in her paw slip and hit the cabin floor. The sound of the metallic firearm hitting the floor with a THUD! Was enough to rouse both her and Billy Joe from their sleep. Bobbie Sue rubbed her eyes, staring at the two empty chairs where Antony and Amanda had been. She screamed at Billy Joe, flipping out on him.

"Hey, those two little brats are gone!"

Billy Joe, with a pistol in his paw, got out of bed and turned the cabin lights on. Going over to his girlfriend, he saw that the twins were indeed gone. His temper flaring, he hauled off and slapped Bobbie Sue across the face.

"You stupid fucking bitch," he barked at her. "You'd better get your ass out there and find those two, or I'm gonna kill you myself."

"Don't you give me orders, you son of a bitch," she snapped back at him. "It's your fault too, you know."

Rather than going right out and looking for the twins, the two lovers continued their bickering, screaming so loudly at each other that they didn't even notice the car that was slowly creeping up the dirt road towards their cabin. The car, traveling with it's lights off, turned it's brights on, shining them into the cabin as it came to a stop. The two raccoons looked outside, completely caught off guard by the car.

"What the hell's going on?" yelled Billy Joe.

The two raccoons heard the car rev up it's engine, putting the pedal to the metal, the tires screeched as it barreled forward. Bobbie Sue screamed at the top of her lungs in sheer terror.

"He's gonna crash into the cabin!"

Billy Joe tried to get off a shot as the car smashed into the cabin, completely demolishing the front part. He and Bobbie Sue tried diving for cover as the driver of the car, an angry looking fox, got out of the driver's side of the car. Armed with an enormous pistol, he first took aim at Bobbie Sue, sending the heavy caliber bullet from his gun into her chest before she could fire at him. She was dead before she hit the floor. Billy Joe managed to fire off a shot, but it missed it's mark. The fox took aim at him, firing the second round from his gun. His aim was true. The round hit Billy Joe right in the middle of the neck, completely tearing his head off, sending it flying across what was left of the cabin.

Nick Wilde, his Desert Eagle pistol still in paw, walked over to what remained of the deceased kidnappers, giving them each a kick before spitting on their corpses. He looked around at the demolished cabin, holstering his gun as he reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone.

"Chief Bogo? It's Nick Wilde, tell the FBI that I have Billy Joe Sullivan and Bobbie Sue Murphy here. They're going to want some body bags for this one."