This is the fifth chapter of this fanfic! Here, Tex has the opportunity to either save the town, or his own life temporarily. I'll give you two guesses, as to which option he goes for! I hope that you guys like this chapter! 👍

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In Tex's office, Willy's Wonderland, present day ...

Tex Macadoo sweated nervously, as he smiled shakily at the two stern-faced law officers in front of him. Is it slightly cramped in here ... or is it just me? he thought.

The restaurant owner was sitting in a red armchair behind a wooden desk; facing the police like a weasel faces the dogs. A metal filing cabinet was propped against the wall next him; right by to a cartoon poster of Arty Alligator.

Purple walls surrounded the occupants; apart from one wall ... which was covered with video monitor screens. The screens showed live footage of the inside and outside of Willy's Wonderland.

Deputy Lund just scowled at Tex, carrying a pencil and sheet of paper in her hands ... ready to take notes. Sheriff Hobson then cleared his throat sharply.

"We got a report of a missing man from up here at Willy's", the male officer said curtly. "Family says he never came home after the party. He's been gone for over a week."

The white-suited businessman's smile got more nervous at that. His brow furrowed as he pondered the sheriff's words.

Party? A week ago ... oh yeah, I remember! There was that yobo who tried to smoke at that late-night party here.

I threw him out to let him sober up a little, and then got asked by Dommie (the green-shirted employee) if I'd moved the singing weasel and ...

...

Oh.

Tex mentally facepalmed at the realisation. Of course. It just HAD to be them!! Willy's Wonderland's famous mascot band, now possessed by murderers.

Jed had told the current restaurant owner months ago that he'd made the mechanical monsters promise to not go after the staff any more ... but it seemed like they'd found a loophole now. Willy Weasel definitely had, for one!

Jerry always struck me as a cunning guy. He wouldn't rest until he found a way out of that promise. Every promise; except the ones Jerry makes to his kid.

A short, sharp cough instantly recalled Tex's attention to the two now impatient police officers in his office. The white-suited businessman deliberately shrugged, trying to seem casual and not so conspicuously suspicious.

"So, what's that got to do with me?" he asked, trying to put on an air of confusion. Unfortunately, Tex wasn't good at lying ... and Deputy Lund wasn't an idiot (yet).

"That's the 5th missing person report we've taken since you opened", the sheriff's deputy said, rather tartly. "Maybe we can take a look at them video monitors you got all over the place?"

It was a rhetorical question, as the restaurant owner well knew.

The cops will go through them, regardless of what I say. And ... maybe that's a good thing?

The sudden thought was VERY tempting ... and seemed surprisingly reasonable. All that Tex had to do was to tell Hobson and Lund about the killer animatronics, and his troubles would be over!

They'd find a way to sort it out: banish the deadly spirits, clean things up ... and the restaurant owner could continue his current career! Without the constant danger to his precious life and limb hanging overhead daily!

Tex took a deep breath, his gaze lazily roaming around the room, and over his office door.

"Actually ..." he began ... and then suddenly froze, his face turning chalk white to match his suit. The businessman then began to quiver like a windblown leaf, his eyes fixed on the door. Or rather, on its lower window pane.

Willimeena, of all beings, was pressing her face against the glass on the other side ... in an extremely childish way. The weasel doll then waved cheerily at Tex, smiling happily. The aforementioned restaurant owner mentally facepalmed ... again.

I should have known not to think so foolishly! Just typical of ol' Jerry; sending his little pup to eavesdrop on me!

He supposed that he shouldn't have expected anything less. When Willis had owned the restaurant, he was always very meticulous about every event and conversation in the restaurant! Always had to know everything that went on!

The white-suited businessman gulped, and smiled weakly at Willimeena through his office door. Sheriff Hobson and Deputy Lund both frowned at Tex's odd behaviour, and turned to look at the door.

The weasel toy must have had a sixth sense or something similar ... due to the speed of her instantly ducking down out of sight. Seeing nothing amiss, the two police officers looked at each other, shrugged, and then turned back to the white-suited businessman.

The aforementioned chap was now feverishly racking his brains for a way out of the whole mess! He couldn't tell the Sheriff and co about the possessed robots now!

Willy Weasel and his gang would turn Tex into Macadoo Macaroons once they heard about it! And they WOULD hear about it ... thanks to the little sneak outside his door!

The restaurant owner's eyes suddenly lit up as an idea came to mind. It wasn't perfect, but it could work!

"Ain't no need for all that", Tex drawled, putting on a sly, confident grin. "That old boy went and found a little bit of lovin' somewhere else is all. He's off ...... uglies in some fleabag hotel room as we speak!"

The white-suited businessman turned and reached for the nearby metal cabinet as he spoke.

"There ain't no sense getting all excited about it, is there, Sheriff?" the restaurant owner said, opening a cabinet drawer and taking out a wad of bank notes.

Tex waved the notes enticingly in front of Sheriff Hobson, hoping that the senior officer would get the message!

As it turned out ...

"I suppose not", Hobson huffed, grabbing the presented money from Tex's outstretched hand and shoving it into one of his pockets. "We can tell his missus we're still following up on some leads."
Deputy Lund looked both shocked and aggravated at this!

"But, Sheriff!" she protested, still holding the pencil and paper in her gesturing hands.

"Cool your britches, Lund. Don't go all Ghandi on me! I got an ex-wife!" Hobson snapped, glaring at his deputy. Another scowl silenced Lund's further protests ... much to her consternation.

"Just keep it quiet up here, willya, Tex? I don't want to come back up here for this again", the senior police officer stated as he then turned and walked to the door.

Deputy Lund followed after Hobson reluctantly, exchanging a mutual glare with her boss as he opened the door. The two police officers then left.

"Will do, Sheriff. You can count on me! Scout's honour!" Tex called after them, actually feeling quite giddy at getting away with his infamous secret.

He waved sassily ... until the door closed quietly. Instantly, the white-suited businessman's smile changed to a glum expression ... and he sighed heavily.

"And there goes this month's profits", Tex muttered, slumping back slightly in his seat. "I'm almost out of cash." The restaurant owner was getting to the end of his tether, and that was a fact!

"What am I going to do?!"

As if in answer, the green-shirted employee suddenly slammed the door of Tex's office wide open! Dommie stood in the doorway, panting heavily like she'd just run a marathon.

"Mr. Macadoo?" she gasped, holding a hand to her chest. "Some guy is out here saying he's got a proposition you're going to want to hear!"

The white-suited businessman blinked in shock, and slow-growing hope. Was the universe finally being kind to him? After so many months of mental agony and fear?

"I'll be darned. Tell him I'll be right there!" Tex said, springing to his feet.

Tex is a real collaborator, isn't he? An unwilling one though ... he just doesn't want to end up dead like Belle. Vote and comment if you like it! 👍