We Just Might Make It - Chapter 3

“I thought you said there wouldn't be any cops!”

“Well how was I supposed to know that they would find out about Manches!? I thought they didn't believe me!”

Judy and Nick crouched awkwardly behind a large bush, whispering furiously and staring despondently at the officer stationed in front of Mr. Manches’ house. The early morning rainstorm was clearing, but the air was muggy, and they both were more wet than dry. The smell of damp fur kept flooding Judy’s nose, making it hard to concentrate, and Nick’s complaints were starting to test her patience.

“Well what do we do now?” Nick whispered. Judy rolled her eyes.

“Why don't you shut up and give me a second to figure it out!” She shot back.

Nick shook his head and tossed his hands in the air, but obeyed and kept quiet. Judy’s eyes took in the surroundings. The house was built into a tree that was separate from the rest of the canopy, the only path to it being the thin rope bridge that stretched between the two landings. It was fairly common in the district, and while lovely in terms of landscaping, was irritating in pretty much every other way. The bridge did look like the only path to the house, but there had to be something else. She thought back to the night before, trying to remember the chase. They hadn't made it to the end of the bridge, she knew it.

Her eyes fell, gazing down into the canopy. Yes! A thin web of branches spread between the two trees. It was risky, but she could make the climb.

“Nick, look.” She pointed down to the makeshift pathway. His eyes widened.

“You can't be serious. That's crazy! We can't make that climb!”

“Not ‘we’, me. I had to train at the academy to do this exact kind of thing. I can do it. You just stay here, your fur is too noticeable anyway. I'll be back before you know it.”

“This is insane.”

“Oh stop being so dramatic. Here, hold this.” She quickly started unbuttoning her shirt. Nick’s hands flew to his eyes, a dark bush breaking out over his face.

“Oh my god, what are you doing.”

“The red, it's too noticeable. And would you calm down? I'm wearing a sports bra.”

He brought his hands down but kept his eyes averted. She couldn’t think of a time he had looked that embarrassed. It was almost cute. She guessed his behavior at the naturalist club had been a bit of an act.  

“Awww, Nick. Does this make you uncomfortable?” She laughed as she finished shrugging the shirt off, “You know there no shame in calling it quits.”

“Oh, shut up.”

She giggled and tossed the shirt to him. He caught it and huffed.

“What about your jeans? Blue isn’t exactly inconspicuous.”

“It can’t be helped, besides,” She smirked at him, “If I take off any more clothes your head might explode. We can’t have that.” He glared at her, still keeping his eyes level with her head.  She rolled her eyes at him.

“Alright, I'll be back as fast as I can. Stay low while I’m gone.” She looked around and quickly found a thick patch of vines leading down to the branches. She tested her weight on it, before shifting until it was holding her up entirely, her tiny frame hanging precariously. Nick forgot his bashfulness and watched with wide eyes as she slowly started the climb down.

Suddenly she stopped. After a moment she looked up at him, her expression unreadable.

“Nick...”

“Yeah?”

“If things start to go south...promise me you’ll clear out, ok?”

“What?,” He shook his head, “No, I’m not gonna leave you.”

“Please, Nick. I can deal with getting caught. It won’t be that easy for you. I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me.”

“Not happening, fluff. We go down, we go down together.” Judy had no way of knowing, but Nick had been on plenty of failed jobs, and had a policy of never bailing on a friend. He could hardly count the number of times he had dragged Finn kicking and screaming out of a job gone south(the fennec fox never knew when to quit) and had no plans of changing that policy any time soon.

“Nick-”

“Nope. Not talking me out of this one. Besides,” He gave her a smug grin, “I’ve dealt with cops plenty of times. I can handle myself.”

Judy sighed. She hated to be so pessimistic, but if she got found out they would both be in huge trouble. She knew she would never forgive herself if Nick’s life was ruined by her wild attempt to get her job back. But...it did feel nice to have someone on her side. She had spent most of her life being the only one in her corner, and now, to have someone who would be by her side even if things fell apart? She smiled. It felt good.

“Well, if you insist.”

“I do. Now go on, let’s get this ridiculous escapade over with.” She nodded and started climbing, skillfully moving down the vines. Nick couldn’t help but marvel at her. She might have been just been a bunny, but she had a strength he couldn’t help but admire. It had shown the night before, when she saved them both during the chase, but he had been too busy trying not to die to fully appreciate it. Now he could take in, still blushing furiously, as he watched her nimble descent.

When she finally made it to the lower branches he let out a breath and rubbed his eyes. ‘That rabbit is going to be the death of me.’ he thought, before turning his gaze back to the guard. Judy had been right about the red. If he kept her in his peripheries he could hardly tell her apart from the foliage. She didn't blend in perfectly, but it was enough.

He switched between watching her and the cop, ready to step in if he was needed. She made her way quickly, leaving no time for error in her movements. The cop(a polar bear who looked visibly uncomfortable in the humid air) flicked though something on her phone, blessedly distracted from her surroundings.

“Hey, you, Fox!” Nick started. ‘Great.’ he thought as cringed and turned slowly to see a miffed looking tarsier. Judy was right again, red didn't exactly blend in with the canopy, and he hadn’t stopped to think how suspicious he might look, crouched behind a bush at a major intersection eyeing a crime scene.

He stood up straight, putting on his best innocent smile and addressed the monkey. “Yes, ma’am, can I help you with something?”

“Yeah, you can. Wanna tell me what this sign says?” She gestured to the building behind her. He looked up to see a notice citing a city ordinance against loitering. Double great.

“I’m not sure why that's relevant.”

“Oh it’s relevant all right, I don't need you lurking around outside my shop scaring off my customers. So why don’t you get going, bud.”

It took all of his composure to not snarl at her, instead putting on his best ‘innocent bystander’ voice.

“Ma’am, I’m so sorry, I’m not looking to cause any trouble. I’m simply waiting for a friend.”

“Yeah, sure you are.”

Nick was about to argue when he heard heavy footsteps and the creak of wood. He looked back to see the cop walking over. He groaned and quickly glanced down at Judy. She was almost at the house, but had stopped, her eyes wide. He gave her his best ‘what are you doing finish the job’ look. She shook her head, but he glared at her, daring her to give up. They were in too deep to quit now. He saw her give a small nod before slipping up the wall and into one of the windows.

“Excuse me miss, is this guy bothering you?” Nick snapped his gaze back to the cop.

“Yes, he’s refusing to leave my property.”

“Now, ma’am I’ve told you, I’m just waiting for a friend. She’ll be here soon and I’ll be on my way, I swear.”

“Sir I’m going to have to ask you to leave. You can wait for your friend somewhere else.”

Nick’s patience was starting to wear thin. “As far as I can tell I’m not on any property but the city’s. I’m well within my rights to stand here. As soon as my friend shows up I’ll leave. I swear.”

“Yeah well I speak for the city,” the officer continued, “And I say you have to leave. Don’t make this harder for yourself. Just go.”

Nick sighed, this wasn’t going to end well. He looked back to the house. Judy was still inside, he just had to buy a bit more time...

“I don’t have to go anywhere.”  He stood straighter, awkwardly trying to stare down the cop. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Sir. Im sure you didn't know, but loitering is ticketable offence. I’m giving you one more chance to make this easy.”

“Now I’m sure that I don’t have to cite city ordinances to you, but the laws prohibiting loitering only ban in on private property, and as you can clearly see” He gestured to where he stood, a good foot away from the shop’s yard, “I am not on private property.” The officer sighed, palming her face for a moment. She mumbled something about not having time for this, her her gaze switching between Nick and the shopkeeper, before nodding reluctantly.

“I’m going back to my post. If your friend isn't here in fifteen minutes I’m ticketing you, understand?”

The shopkeeper moved to argue but the cop held up her hand, silencing her. “Fifteen minutes.”

The monkey huffed and walked back to her shop, muttering under her breath about predators and cops. Nick held back a glare and watched the officer head back to her post. He stared back at the house, eyes flicking between the windows and branches. He didn't see Judy, so he kept his stance nonchalant as he waited. As the minutes ticked away he was starting to panic. He didn’t have a way to get to her if she got stuck or hurt, a fact he didn’t like one bit. He paced, hands in his pockets, trying to stop himself from going over all the possible worst case scenarios.

After what felt like forever, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out and flicked to his recent messages.  

'Nick! Made it out, had to take the long way. Meet me at the skytrams. - Judy'

He let out a huge breath, shaking his head and pocketing his phone. He reached behind the bush and bundled up her shirt, before waving pleasantly at the cop and heading out.

--

“Nick!” Judy stood on the blessedly empty platform, awkwardly keeping her arms crossed over chest. He quickly walked over, tossing her shirt to her.

“Oh thank goodness.” She said, quickly pulling it on. “I’m glad you’re ok! How’d things fare with the officer? You looked like you were in a tight spot.”

“Don’t worry, nothing ol’ Nicky can’t handle.” He quickly relayed the story to her as she finished buttoning up her shirt. She shook her head when she was done, putting her hands on her hips.

“I cannot believe some people. I mean really? Scaring off her customers? Who says something like that.”

“Ok, calm down captain justice, it’s nothing I’m not used to.”

She looked at him, her face filled with frustration. “But Nick, you shouldn’t have to be.”

“It’s ok, Judy. Really.” He shook his head and clapped his paws together, “So, how’d it go on your end? Find anything good?”

She looked ready to argue, but reluctantly dropped it. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small plastic bag. Nick eyed it, looking at the contained popsicle stick. The top was covered in some kind of dark blue goop that resembled blueberry jam.

She grinned. “I sure did.”