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Starfall: Chapter 11: Closing-In

Politely and with practiced ease, Nick takes the small mammal handle of the front door to precinct one with a single hand-paw, opening it, then stepping back slightly to courteously bow at Judy. All while keeping the cup of coffee in his other hand-paw completely still.

“You’re not supposed to show P.D.A. with me at work slick.” Judy smiles at Nick’s chivalrous act nevertheless. Entering with a cup of semi-caffeinated, safe for Leporidae, coffee in one hand-paw and a bag containing both their breakfasts in the other.

Grinning and following her inside, the door silently closing once he lets go, Nick quickly catches up and playfully takes the bag from Judy grasp.

Once he liberates his chicken patty, turkey bacon breakfast muffin from the brown bag, Nick gently hands Judy her veggie wrap.

“Correct, but since we’re not on duty for another.” Dramatically checking a nonexistent watch on his wrist despite being in full view of the giant digital lobby clock.

“Fifteen minutes, when roll-call starts. I’m not breaking the rules.” He grins at her before unwrapping his food and taking a bite.

Rolling her eyes while doing the same, Judy points her wrap at Nick like a stick. “Bending the rules then. You know Bogo and mammal resources meant as long as we’re on police property.”

“Judy! Nick! A bit early, aren’t you?” A friendly high-pitched voice calls out.

Swallowing quickly, Nick plasters a grin on his muzzle and walks over to the receptionist’s / dispatcher’s desk. His foot-claws tapping lightly on the textured floor. ‘Clawhauser’s looking better.’

“All the more time for you to admire this handsome mug of mine Spots.” Instinctively making space on the small mammal steps for Judy as he climbs up to meet the Cheetah eye to eye.

Laughing a bit, after looking at Nick sternly. Judy turns her attention to the less rotunda than what she’s used to feline, who’s rather distastefully munching on a turkey jerky stick.

“What Slick here means is when he tried to use the toaster oven this morning, the one he got for a ‘bargain’, it decided to give us smoke rather than some cooked food. So we had to stop by somewhere to get something to eat. Speaking of which, the new diet your doctor has you on seems to be doing wonders.”

Dramatically grabbing his chest with one hand-paw, Nick groans. “You wound me Carrots. I was assured that it was basically brand new and had no problems.” Straightening up and forcing his ears and tail to stay still with practiced ease.

“Besides, it’s not like we could’ve afforded a high-end model otherwise.”

Judy’s ears lower to her back as Nick mentioning that. ‘Yea, we’re approaching three years now? We’re still on the First-Tier pay grade… Among other things.’ Cheering herself up and forcing her ears back up.

Chuckling dryly, at their antics, Clawhauser places the half-eaten Jerky stick on the counter. Glaring at it with more than a bit of distaste.

“Yea it has… I’ve lost half my previous weight. If only the food was more sweet and less, well, everything else.”

Climbing up onto the counter, Judy walks over and pats the Cheetah's shoulder while smiling gently.

“We’re just glad to still have you. You gave us quite the scare six months ago.” The sensation of Judy’s friendly gesture puts a smile on his muzzle, though he has to catch himself from showing his teeth like always.

“I guess it was a blessing in disguise that those reporters burst in here looking for the two of you.” Clawhauser forces his ears to stay up while his tail lists sadly off the edge of the chair.

‘Can’t help feeling sorry for the two of them. The day they return from their vacation after the bellwether ruling, some dumbass reporters barge in here wanting to interview them, on top of all the media attention they’ve already had. Of course not taking no for an answer, and in the middle of a shift change, I was the only one available to show them out.’ Mentally sighing, with one hand-paw he gently removes Judy’s from his shoulder, and unconsciously with the other, traces the open-heart surgery scar across his chest through his uniform and fur.

“I’ll say. Chin up Spots, think of it this way. In no time flat you’ll be able to compete with Ms speedster here on the physicals.” Completely ignoring the faux hateful glare from Judy, Nick smiles at the Cheetah with his ears forward and tail lazily swishing back and forth.

“Baby steps first you two, it took me years to hone my body to that point. Clawhauser’s first goal should be to complete the course in an appropriate time.” Stepping back, Judy takes a bite of her veggie wrap as Clawhauser chuckles.

“Yea the doctor said that while my heart’s ‘fixed’, more or less, I still need to watch myself as it’s more fragile. Still, I haven’t had this much energy in years, and I’m sure Bogo will like to have less paperwork to do.” Smiling again at the two in front of him, more to keep the mood up than anything.

‘Not to mention whoever replaces Bogo might not be as lenient on the physical requirements for the position, so, if I want to stay here…’

Nick reaches over fist bump Clawhauser’s shoulder. “Well keep at it Spots and you’ll be the handsomest Cheetah in the precinct soon.”

Chuckling a bit, Clawhauser picks up the jerky stick before looking up at the two. “You two better get going if you’re going to want to finish your meal and not be seen eating in the roll-call room by Bogo. Especially if you want a front seat like normal Judy.”

Judy smiles back at Clawhauser while Nick gives him a thumbs up.

Grabbing Nick’s free arm, she leads him down the steps to the floor. “Come on slick, Clawhauser’s right. We need to get in there, you know how agitated Bogo gets when he can’t see where you are.”

Taking a bite of his breakfast, Nick lets himself be led by Judy. “I surprise Buffalo Butt once for his birthday and now he gets nervous when he doesn’t know where I am.”

Stopping in her tracks Judy faces him. “Just once?” Lacing her words with large helping of skepticism.

“I’m shocked! You think a fine upstanding mammal as myself is responsible for all the other times Carrots?” Planting an innocent grin on his muzzle, Nick returns Judy’s stare. Ears forward showing his supposed sincerity and attention to her.

‘That mask isn’t going to work on me slick, and I know you know it.’ Raising a brow and one of her ears simultaneously, Judy stares back at him, lightly tapping her foot-paw.

Holding his smile for a few moments longer, Nick sighs, then lets it fall. ‘Well, it was worth a try I guess…’ His ears droop down to their normal relaxed state. “Fine. All of them ‘except’ the shampoo incident. Don’t know who did that but I would like to shake the mammal’s paw over it.”

Smiling, Judy continues leading him to the doors for the meting room. Walking up to the small to medium mammal frame, she sticks the half uneaten veggie wrap in her mouth to free up her hand-paws to open the door.

Similarly to what Nick did for the building entrance, Judy steps aside, letting go of Nick, and gestures for him to enter first.

“I seem to recall a certain bunny saying we shouldn’t be showing P.D.A. here.” Nevertheless, he walks through the threshold into the giant auditorium like room. Flicking his tail in her direction, just a bit, as he passes by.

Following him in, and ignoring the mild din of conversation in the room assaulting her ears. Judy removes the wrap from her mouth. “And a certain fox is correct in saying that since we’re not on the clock, it technically doesn’t count.”

Quickly hopping past him, Judy grabs Nick’s free hand again, leading them to their typical spot in the front row at the bottom of the stairs.

Chuckling a couple of times, Nick smirks. ‘I guess I’m rubbing off on her.’ Helping Judy pull the chair back from the lecture hall style desk, He holds his breakfast in his mouth as he climbs up, then reaches down to help Judy up onto the seat next to him.

Leaning forward, Judy places her elbows onto the desk while nibbling away on her breakfast. “Good morning Wolfard” She smiles to her left at the gray and white Timber Wolf. “Good Morning Delgato.” Looking to her right at the light brown and sand colored Lioness.

Said Lioness turns, the smiles. One of her ears flicks in tune with the tip of her tail. “Morning Judy” Turning back to the other lionesses, Delgato resumes her conversation with her fellow pride-mates.

“Hiya Judy. Hi Nick” Grinning widely, Wolfard looks over at the two of them. “A bit early, aren’t you? You and Nick are normally the last ones in before Bogo shows up.”

Taking the breakfast biscuit out of his mouth and holding it in his hand-paw, Nick moves over to fist bump Wolfard. Who completes the gesture once he notices it. “You see, that’s a long story, it all started when… ooof.”

Grinning apologetically at Wolfard, Judy ‘gently’ connects her foot with Nick’s right side. “Our toaster oven died this morning. Had to grab something on the way in.”

Clutching his side while letting out a dramatic groan Nick leans against the backrest of the chair with his eyes closed, a moment later he cracks one open. ‘Oh come on, not even a look from either of you?’

Dropping his smile, Wolfard winces while folding his ears. “Oh that’s rough. Those things aren’t cheap.” Turning his gaze to Nick, he shakes his head once with his ears lowered a bit.

“Even if Judy did hurt you, you must’ve deserved it Nick.”

Huffing, Nick stands while dusting off his uniform. Joining Judy in leaning on the desk a moment later before looking over to Wolfard with his ears forward but not fully up.

“Could’ve just played along Wolfard, and why do you say I deserved it?”

Putting on a lopsided grin, Wolfard looks at Judy, then back at Nick. “Because, in a mated fox’s den, the den is the vixen’s domain, but, you were the one who supplied the appliances Nick, so…”

Letting his ears tail fall a bit, Nick sighs.

“Yea I know that I need to fix it.” Raising his ears back up, he smiles at Judy. Who just rolls her eyes.

“We’ll look for a replacement together. This time, no deals from friends of yours slick, so if it breaks we can just send it to the place we bought it from.”

The background din of noise increases in volume as the clock ticks ever closer to Six AM. Cutting off Nick, just as he opens his mouth.

Closing it, then glancing over at Judy, he smiles. ‘You don’t have to be so modest. Just take the pampering, you deserve it considering all you’ve done for me.’

As Judy joins in on the banging of paws and hooves onto the desks, Nick only don’s his sunglasses and smirk.

As soon as the door to the auditorium stage’s slammed open, everyone stops making noise. Bogo having to duck under the door frame to be able to enter through it.

“Alright, settle down.” Scanning the assembled officers, he twitches an ear. ‘Where is he?’ Said twitch stops upon spotting Nick standing in his usual spot next to Hopps.

Walking up to the podium, Bogo drops a pile of paper case files onto its surface, sending a thud through the audio system. ‘We spent how much on going paperless and somehow ended up with even ‘more’ paper.’

Turning his gaze on the resident fox, expecting a quip, only to find him taking the last bite of his breakfast while trying to hide the fact he’s doing so.

‘In lieu of starting something that will give me a headache, I’ll let that slide today…’

“We have a busy day today, so I’ll get right down to business.” Looking over the filled auditorium of officers.

Picking up the top case file on today’s priority list, his eyes meet Judy’s for a moment, only to move on.

“Officer Johnson.” Bogo glances over to their only male Lion in the district as he stands up. “Officer Jackson” A male Tiger stands up next.

Both of them politely push their chairs in and make their way down to the podium from the upper levels.

“Sahara district has handed us a case they’re having trouble with. A mammal has been cleaning out local pawn shops. Here’s what they have so far.” Handing the two an inch thick case file, Bogo barely gives them a second glance as the two make their way out of the bullpen auditorium.

Sighing, just loud enough for Nick to hear, Judy lays her head in her hands while he glances over to her. Raising his shades just a bit. ‘There are still other cases in that pile, don’t give up now Carrots…’

Lowering his shades, Nick gently places a hand on Judy’s shoulder.

“Officer Anderson, Officer Grizzoli! Tundra Town has asked for some extra mammals to shore up their riot control for one of the demonstrations supposedly advertised to happen today. You two will go and help them out.” A polar bear and brown bear respectively, stand, retrieve a much thinner case file before leaving the auditorium.

Moving a bit closer to Judy. “Don’t worry, I’m sure he has something good for us.” Putting a smile on his face and an upbeat tone of voice.

‘I hope so, still, if I was in his hoof’s….’

Turning to face him, Judy smiles.

“Officers Delgato, Mara, Kora, Siambia, and Kalia.” Delgato and the other lionesses to the left of Judy stand, her ear’s fall against her back in disappointment.

‘Bogo is using her entire pride, must be a big case. Sigh, and it has to go to them and not me.’ She gives a polite smile to Delgato, who returns it as she passes by behind them to get to the podium.

“Both the Mayor and the Representative of the Meadowlands District want this rash of burglaries and car break-ins stopped, despite…” Bogo grumbles to himself. ‘Damn politics’ “The Governor of the state pushing crime ‘reform’. So try to do so without drawing attention of those who’ve been trying to get our funding cut.”

“We’ll get it done Chief.” Delgato smiles, taking the case file from his hoofed hand, before leading her pride out of the room.

Nick folds his ears back before he catches himself and rights them. ‘In other words, just drive through the burbs hoping their simple presence stops them, but, by Karma don’t try to lay a claw on any of them because Karma forbid we try to do our job.’

Picking up the last, and by largest case file in the pile of new special assignments. Bogo pauses. ‘Both the Mayor and the Governor want this case solved. It’s killing the tourist industry in the Rainforest District, and it’s been used as a foil for the Governor’s criminal reform plans. They want me to put our best officers on it, yet they’ve given me a strong ‘warning’ to not put ‘those two’ in too much of harms way. Fucking bullshit politics!’

“Officers Wolfard and Fangmeyer.” Wolfard stands, giving a sorrowful smile to Judy as he heads for the podium. Ears are up and forward facing, yet his tail betrays his empathy to Judy’s feelings.

Said tail wags once he joins Fangmeyer by the podium.

Twitching an ear, bogo glares at both of them with a professional eye upon noticing Wolfard’s ‘subtle’ Lupine body language. ‘First Wilde and Hopps, now these two. Still, the quality of their case work has skyrocketed since they noticed each other…’

“I have both the Governor and the Mayor breathing down my neck to get this case solved since the Rainforest District's petty crime division’s been unable to, among other things. Arrest a simple mugger.” He hands Wolfard the hefty, nearly two inch thick case file.

“This is just the basic information on each robbery the mugger’s been tied to, I have the rest back in my office on the computer.”

Taking the thick file, Wolfard opens it for a moment, glancing at the first page.

Shutting it, he hands it to Fangmeyer who sticks it under her arm. “I’ll be up to collect it once we get our gear from our lockers Chief.”

Glancing to Fangmeyer, Wolfard gives a barely perceivable smile, as he walks beside her to the exit of the auditorium.

Nick slides his sunglasses off his muzzle, glancing at Bogo then down to Judy, who has just about collapsed into herself in disappointment.‘Fuck it.’ Scooting a bit closer, he reaches over and gives her a sideways hug before pocketing his glasses.

“Nick…” Judy looks up at him and whispers in a worried tone. “We’re on the clock, no P.D.A….”

Hardening his gaze, he looks back at her. “You needed it.”

“Finally, our last special assignment today. Officer Hopps, Officer Wilde. Paw patrol in Savannah Square till noon then you’ll mammal the firearm turn in station to comply with the Governor's recent executive order.” Bogo’s ear twitches as he looks at the Fox and Bunny.

Only the former though seems to be able to hide their disappointment well enough that he is sure no one else notices it. ‘Sigh, even I know this sideline assignment’s bullshit, I just can’t do anything about it.’

‘Not only has that executive order been a thorn in our side, causing many unruly demonstrations. Add to that the President of the United States of Anamilia firing just about every chief of staff or secretary with rumors of some of them being arrested. It’s the closest to police work I can get them while still staying within the letter of ‘keep them out of harms way’ in these trying times.’

His ear continues to twitch as Nick helps a despondent looking Judy off the chair, then out of the auditorium. Only when his star officers leave and the door closes behind them, does Bogo address the rest of the assembled officers.

“For the rest of you! Double check the patrol assignment board for any changes to your current routine. Keep in mind with the situation out there you may need to drop whatever you’re doing to help out in a riot.” Pausing for a moment he looks over the rest of the officers; Large megafauna, mid to large prey like him, mid sized predators, and a hoof full of smaller mammals, but none smaller than Judy.

“You’re dismissed!”

-

Outside the bullpen auditorium.

-

Ears laying limply against the back of her head, Judy glances at Nick. “It’s been about six months since the last bit of the Bellwether Trial’s ended, and we’re still doing these ‘barely even police’ work assignments. We should be doing any of those other cases he’s handed out lately! I’d even settle for that Tundra Town assignment over this.”

Hearing the noise of the rest of the precinct standing, Nick guides Judy gently over to a nearby alcove made up of a support pillar and a potted plant. A plant that even his nose can’t tell if it’s real or fake.

Glancing behind himself to make sure none of the mammals exiting are looking at them, Nick focuses on Judy.

“I don’t like this either Judy. We can do better than spend half a day walking around the plaza here, then spend the other half facing barely contained protestors, while we serve as the front mammals of the Governor’s mandatory gun buy back program.” Speaking softly, his mask vanishes as his face falls with the shared disappointment. Taking upmost care to keep his tail and ears steady to hide this from those passing by behind him.

Reaching up to place a hand on Nick’s shoulder, Judy sighs as she tries, and fails, to look him in the eyes. “This isn’t what I signed up for Nick. I wanted to solve crimes, help Mammals, make the world a better place. It feels like we’re being kept at arms length and shielded from any sort of danger, and in turn any chance to help anyone.”

‘Sigh, Judy’s right. Bogo should’ve given us something by now, even just patrolling for traffic violations would be better than this. I know he knows this is crushing Judy’s spirit.’ Reaching up and taking Judy’s hand-paw, he holds it between his.

“I’ll go talk with Bogo, I have a pretty good idea what’s going on here and I’ll see if I can get him to assign us to something better.”

Lifting her head, Judy’ finally meets Nick’s gaze. “Bogo may not like you doing that.”

Smirking a bit, he finds it a chore to keep his ears completely still upon seeing the start of tears in Judy’s eyes. “I’ll gladly take parking duty for however long he deems appropriate If it will get you onto an actual case to work on Judy.”

Wiping her eyes, she gently pulls her hand-paw from Nick’s, then with the back of it, caresses the side of his muzzle gently, tickling his whiskers.

Reaching up, Nick takes Judy’s hand-paw again and guides it back down to the side of her body.

“No P.D.A. remember? Besides, we need to get to our lockers, then I’ll go talk to Bogo.” Stepping back, he dons his shades, only moving for the male locker room upon hearing Judy following behind him.

Stopping only to wave as they head their separate ways for their respective locker rooms.

‘I hope Judy won’t be disappointed when she finally understands this is all political. I can sympathize with his reluctance of assigning us to a dangerous case for fear of the headline ‘Hero’s of Zootopia Hurt’, but to bar two good officers like us from doing anything at all?’

Opening the small mammal door to the men’s locker room, The cacophony of voices and sounds pin his ears against his head.

Plastering the tried and true con-mammal smile, Nick waves hello and greets his coworkers on his way to the back of the locker room.

To a meter tall, half a meter wide large mammal metal cabinet, jury-rigged to the end cap of a row of large mammal lockers and the floor to secure it in place. ‘Speaking of politics.’

Ignoring the new graffiti plastered on the door, Nick grabs the plain U-shaped handle, opening his non-locking locker.

‘Seems our latest request for actual lockers has ended up with the rest of them. Red tape limbo.’ Taking off his uniform’s shirt, he places it on a bolted on small mammal coat rack inside the locker.

Removing the bullet proof vest off the neighboring hook, Nick straps it on, then dons the uniform shirt again. His utility belt and radio with extra batteries are next before he holsters a tranquilizer pistol plus a few rounds of ammo for it.

Lastly, he pulls out his pair of work-shoes from the floor of the locker, shakes them to dislodge anything stuck inside. ‘Well, how about that, nothing in them today.’

Making quick work of putting them on, he closes his ‘locker’. Smiling, Nick nods politely to the remaining mammals in the room as he follows the most of them out, past the general duty board and back into the station proper.

‘Maybe this time Judy will allow me to have Fennic pick up something similar to my current ‘locker’ so she can replace that Ikea particle board thing they have in the women’s locker room as her locker.’ Out of instinct, he takes a roundabout route to the elevator, bypassing most of the crowd and any questions as to why he isn’t headed out of the building like he should be.

“Wolfard?” Coming to a stop in the lobby landing, ‘I would’ve thought he’d already been up to Bogo’s office since he left roll call before Judy and I’

“Oh hey Nick.” Wolfard pushes himself up from leaning against the wall between the two elevators, showing the call button already lit. Ears up and forward with that semi dopey but friendly smile while his tail moves back and forth lazily. “Where are you heading?”

Smiling back up at him. “I guess the same place you are. Bogo’s office. Going up to get the rest of the file for that mugger case?”

Wolfard drops his smile. “Look, if this is about the locker stuff again. I’ve been trying to keep an eye out on whose doing it.”

‘You do not know how much it means to me that you’re even trying to help.’ Letting out a sigh, and lowering his own ears nearly imperceptibly to most mammals.

“No, it’s fine, I’m used to it. I wanted to ask old Buffalo Butt about getting at least Judy onto an actual case. No matter how minor.”

With the ding of the elevator, the doors on the right open. Wolfard lets Nick enter before he does. Once inside the Timber Wolf reaches over without looking, hitting the button for the floor Bogo’s office is on.

“You know, you shouldn’t have to put up with that Nick. Neither of you do. Both of you should get the same lockers each of us have as well. It doesn’t matter that for Judy it may be big enough to string up a hammock and sleep in, your officers just like us.” Pausing as the doors close to let out a yawn.

‘By Luna Fangmeyer keeps me up too late at night…’

“As for Judy, only a blind mammal wouldn’t see she’s suffocating from being sidelined… She ‘does’ know she’s being sidelined due to it being an election year and how you two are still, kinda, in the news every so often?”

Looking at Wolfard, then around the utilitarian elevator, Nick lets out a sigh, allowing his posture drop along with his ears and tail. If only for a moment. ‘Only for you Wolfard. You’ve accepted me almost as readily into your life almost as much as Judy has.’

“No, no I do not think she does. She’s… Still young, her laser focus on becoming a Police Officer I think’s blinded her to the wider picture of, well, everything.” Reaching up to rub a hand-paw over the spot on his muzzle Judy touched.

‘Other than being attracted to a fox like me.’

“I don’t know if she realizes politics plays a role in police work even at our level. I mean she knows Bogo’s career is over thanks to how he initially treated her, she just thinks it doesn’t apply to us.”

Wolfard quirks an ear as the moment the elevator dings, announcing its arrival at the designated floor. Nick instantly goes back to his seemingly trademarked easy going, nothing gets to him, body language.

“Have you tried talking to her about this?” Letting Nick exit first, per the proper mammal size etiquette dictates.

“I do try to every time the subject comes up. She’s treating it like how she treated Bogo’s initial attitude towards her. Like how she set, and still has the Precinct record for the amount of parking tickets given out in a day.”

Wolfard winces. ‘If it wasn’t for the sheer chance of Ms. Otterton showing up as Bogo chewed her out for the Weaselton incident, said incident, and ‘Bellwether’ showing up using her political power. That attitude would still have her doing parking duty to this day, and I don’t think Judy realizes it.’

Nick stops in the hallway near the half open walkway leading to Bogo’s office. “I know that look, and I can guess what you’re thinking. It was chance, not Judy’s attitude that got her to this point.”

Stopping mid-step, Wolfard lets his jaw hang open, if only for a moment. “Keep forgetting you have a real talent at reading mammals Nick.”

Smirking more than just a bit at the Timber Wolf’s compliment, Nick resumes walking, leading the way onto the half open walkway. The right side of it facing the particularly cavernous precinct lobby.

“It comes in handy from time to time, still, Judy’s stubborn and karma dammit that’s one of the things I like about her, it’s also keeping her from realizing how screwed up this whole situation is.”

Wolfard chuckles, his tail wags a bit more. “Judy and Fangmeyer have that in common it seems, it also seems we have that in common about the two of them.”

Stopping a few meters in front of Bogo’s door, Nick looks back at Wolfard. “So, do you want to go in first or should I? I don’t want him to take out whatever sour mood my plan will cause him to be in on you.”

“How about both of you come into my office! I can clearly hear you and Officer Wolfard talking, Officer Wilde.”

Wolfard closes his mouth as he was about to answer.

‘Well here goes nothing then.’ Walking over, Nick hops up and grabs the door handle, bringing it down with him.

Walking inside as the door swings open. He keeps his ears up and forward, tail held still and at a confidant but also friendly angle, subtly scanning the room while approaching Bogo’s desk.

‘He has most everything that could’ve been considered personal already packed away it seems. My plan may also work as it looks like we’re the only ‘free’ set of partners today.’

With a well practiced smile, Nick looks up at Bogo, as Wolfard follows him inside with body language showing how nervous the Timber Wolf is. Tail still, lowered a bit, ears forward and moving back and forth.

Bogo snorts while meeting Nick’s gaze. ‘Wilde wants something, that much is obvious.’ He gestures to the chairs in front of his desk.

“Drop the act Wilde and take a seat. Wolfard, take the seat next to him. I’ll get you the rest of the case file in a moment.”

Climbing the chair before taking a seat against the giant backrest, Nick only drops his smile for a more emotionally neutral look. ‘Guess I used the old charm on him one too many times.’ Taking a breath in and out, then opens his muzzle as wolfard sits down on the neighboring chair.

Bogo raises a hoofed hand, halting Nick before he can speak. ‘Just a few more months you two, then maybe I can get your something once the damn political season is over on my last day on the job. Sigh, I wish I could say that.’

“The answer is No. My hoofs are tied Wilde. You of all mammals should understand why.” Bogo flicks an ear while hardening his gaze at Nick.

“I do, but, you still have some leeway in the matter.” Nick nods to the whiteboard on the wall to their side, next to the door.

“You have some cases on hold due to some staff members here believing those videos, and the media, despite what the president showed and said.”

Bogo glances at the whiteboard, then back at Nick. “I do, but my hoofs are still…”

“Still tied.” Nick politely interjects. “Except they’re not as tightly tied as you may think they are. I bet you’ve been told, though not implied directly, that if you know what’s good for what’s left of your career. You should keep Judy and I out of harms way by both the Mayor whose up for reelection, and the Governor, who’s facing a hard battle in his recall vote.”

Snorting, Bogo leans forward a bit towards Nick, staring him down.

Wolfard glances over at the board, then the two mammals who’ve narrowed their focus to each other, to the point of ignoring his presence. Subtly, with a hand-paw, he pulls his phone out, shooting a shorthand text to Fangmeyer before pocketing it in the same manner.

“So tell me Officer Wilde, since you seem to somehow be in the know of confidential emails. What room do you think I have to interrupt those orders of theirs?” His chair creaking loudly as he leans back into it while crossing his arms over his chest.

A ding sound from Bogo’s office computer cuts through the tension in the room just as Nick opens his muzzle.

Shutting it, and watches as Bogo turns his attention to the aging desktop. ‘Really? Damn thing, just when I was about to show up Buffalo Butt here.’

Letting out a snort of annoyance, Bogo looks back at Nick. “We’re not done here.” Turning his attention back to the Mammal Resources email that was just delivered.

‘By the great Minos, Fangmeyer just ‘had’ to have a family emergency today, didn’t she?’ Feeling his eye twitch as he pushes himself up out of his chair.

‘I can already feel a headache starting, and I’m not done dealing with… Wilde!’ His hoofed-hand stops millimeters from touching the magnetic strip with Fangmeyer’s name on it, to move it to ‘off duty – family’ column.

Keeping his face, ears and tail calm, Nick watches Bogo. ‘He’s figured it out before I could point it out. Though Fangmeyer? Must’ve been bad then for her family to call her at all.’

Lowering his arm, Bogo turns and stomps over to the chair Nick’s sitting on. Trying his awful best to drill the fox into the wooden chair with his eyes.

Sitting up straighter while keeping his tail still and ears neutral, Wolfard swivels to face the two. “Chief, before you try to verbally pound Nick into the ground. I would like to point out that he had nothing to do with Fangmeyer claiming a family emergency and having to leave today.”

Both Nick and Bogo look over to him.

“Hey, you and Bogo are not the only ones whose noticed how Judy’s been acting lately. Fangmeyer and I are her friends too.” Looking back at both of them, he just plasters a small grin on his face to counter their stares.

‘By Luna, Romulus, and Remus, did anyone ever tell them looking at a mammal like that is fucking frightening?’

Wolfard watches the two for another few awkward seconds before Nick snickers, then looks over to Bogo.

“I think that goes to show you’re missing the obvious here Chief.”

Standing back up, Bogo rubs the bridge of his muzzle. “Then enlighten me Officer Wilde. Same with you Officer Wolfard, and make it quick.”

‘Because I’m getting one hell of a headache.’

Nick and Wolfard look at each other, only for Nick to smile and gesture for Wolfard to continue.

He takes in a breath, then lets it out. “Simply put Chief, you may be politically tied in initially assigning Judy or Nick to a case. Except, they can’t tie your hoofs in the matter of, say, using them to fill in for assigned officers that are out sick or otherwise indisposed. Doing that would turn around and bite them in the tail much faster than they think, and they ‘know’ it.”

Bogo’s ear twitches as he looks at the two of them. ‘They’re technically right… Both of those elected idiots want crime taken care of, though in conflicting ways, but they also don’t want the stigma of the one in charge when the hero’s of zootopia get hurt, or even killed.’

Walking back over to his chair, it puts out a groan of protest as he sits back down into it.

“You colluded with Fangmeyer to have her be off for the next few days, so I’ll have no choice in assigning the case to Hopps and Wilde, being the only free set of partners available today, while you do what, Wolfard?” Turning his gaze to the Timber-Wolf, while only losing a bit of it’s earlier ferocity.

“’Collude’ is such a strong word.” Bogo snaps his head towards Nick.

“Shut it Wilde, for once, you’re not in the hot seat.”

Reaching up, Nick mimes zipping his muzzle shut as Bogo turns his attention back to Wolfard.

‘I may regret this later, but anything for a friend.’ Wolfard twitches an ear involuntarily. “I’ll be willing to stuff my tail into the clown-mobile and do parking duty until Fangmeyer returns, and we can do normal case work.”

Letting out a grunt, Bogo looks between the two. ‘Wolfard has obviously spent too much time around Wilde, he’s picking up his habits, or I’ve been too busy dealing with shit storm the politics of this position has become to notice this obvious loophole while winding things down for my ‘voluntary’ retirement soon.’

Reaching up to rub the bridge of his muzzle, Bogo lets out a sigh.

“Fine. Wolfard, you’re on parking duty till Fangmeyer returns. Give the case file I handed to you and Fangmeyer earlier to either him or Judy.” Turning his attention to Nick.

“Officer Wilde, you and Judy will be working the mugger case till Fangmeyer returns.” Bogo leans forward, the desk joins the chair in groaning.

“This is NOT an invitation for the both of you to go gung-ho on it. It is STILL Fangmeyer’s and Wolfard’s case to solve, not yours.”

Using a hoof-tip he slides a generic looking usb-stick across the desk and in front of Nick. “This is the rest of the case. Interviews with the victims, hi-res photo’s etc.”

Standing up, Nick deftly picks it up and pockets it. “Righteo Chief.” Stepping back, he turns to face the side of the over-sized chair.

“Wilde! I mean it, no grandstanding. Keep a hold of Officer Hopps. The city won’t let slide another train incident.” Turning to face Bogo, Nick salutes him, then hops off the chair. Letting himself out moments later.

Closing the door behind himself, Nick only lets his emotional mask fall upon entering the hallway past the half open walkway. Away from where any prying eyes can see him. ‘I’m gonna have to figure out something to get Wolfard and Fangmeyer. I wasn’t aiming for any specific case, yet, this might be just what Judy needs to get out of her funk.’

Pulling it out and flipping the usb-drive between his fingers idly. He waits for, then takes the elevator.

Sighing loudly to himself, Nick shakes his head. ‘Can’t help feeling sorry for the Chief though, sure, he needed some kind of punishment for his discrimination against Judy. The whole two days thing or you’re out of a job threat, but he’s wised up and learned his lesson. They didn’t need to railroad him into retirement in a few months, then tie his hoofs of most of his professional discretion till then.’

Sending the drive into the air as the elevator doors open, he catches it without looking while plastering his normal nonchalant grin with a friendly body posture before setting off for the front of the lobby.

“So the doctor said that if I continue improving at this rate, I should reach the normal BMI for a Cheetah my age in another six months. I just have to try to stick to a more strict carnivorous diet, cutting out as many carbs as I can.” Clawhauser sighs.

“As well as anything with added sugar in it.”

“That’s good news, isn’t it? That would be just in time for the annual physicals, right?” Sitting on the edge of the counter, Judy beams a smile up at Clawhauser.

Climbing the small mammal steps up to said counter, Nick smirks. “What happened to baby steps Carrots?” Adding just a little snark to his voice.

“Nick!” Wheeling around, Judy glares at Nick with her ears fully up.

“He’s got you there Judy.” Looking over at Nick as he watches the fox keep himself ‘just’ out range of Judy’s half-hearted punches. “So did it go well with the Chief, Nick?”

Holding up the usb-drive in his thumb and fore-finger. “Yea.” Stepping just close enough to hand Judy the drive, he smiles back at the Cheetah. “We’re on the Mugger Case till Fangmeyer returns. Wolfard will be in that joke mobile since there’s no one for him to temporarily partner with on another case.”

Eyes widening, Judy snatches the drive from Nick, pocketing it. ‘If it wasn’t for the fact I’d get into severe trouble for doing it, I’d kiss him!’

“Guess you’ll need this too then. Fangmeyer dropped it off on her way out the door a bit before Judy decided to keep me company.” Retrieving the folder from under the desk, Clawhouser hands it to Nick.

Taking it, he holds it under his arm.

Beaming a smile, Judy looks up at Nick with almost sparkling eyes. “We’re going to have to thank her and Wolfard, right Slick?”

‘Just have to figure out what though.’ Glancing up in the direction of Bogo’s office, Nick flicks his ear. ‘Maybe something that will make parking duty more tolerable.’ Turning his attention back to Judy.

“Yes, yes we will.”

Standing up, Judy dusts off her pants. “Take care Clawhouser.”

Stopping midway to the small mammal stairs, Nick looks back at Clawhauser. “We’ll be back later Spots.” Turning, Nick hops down them to the floor.

Judy quickly follows, then with a few hopping strides, moves a bit ahead of Nick. “Nick, what did you do to get Fangmeyer to claim a family emergency?”

Glancing behind himself after turning the corner on their way to the vehicle depot, Nick hands Judy the case file. She flips it open, quickly looking over the first few pages before closing it.

“To be honest Judy, I didn’t have to do anything. She and Wolfard must’ve had this planned all along.”

Coming to as stop in front of the vehicle depot doors, Judy faces Nick. “Okay, we’re ‘really’ going to have to find some way to thank them. You and I both know Fangmeyer has a touchy relationship with her family and I’m sure Wolfard’s father will not be happy about him giving up such a case. As he would put it, ‘You could use it to get a promotion’.”

“So, more than pulling a few strings to get them a dinner at an exclusive restaurant?” He waits for Judy to push open the small mammal door with his ears resting half cocked.

Holding it open for Nick, she eyes his tail for a second as he passes by her. “A dinner like that I think would be a good start.”

Flicking his tail at Judy, Nick leads the way to their modified cruiser, In the back, where it’s been sitting for several months. “I’ll think of something nice to go with it.” Reaching up for the door handle to the driver’s side, his hand-paw is intercepted by Judy’s.

“I seem to remember a certain fox driving last time, so, it’s my turn now.” Slapping the case file gently against Nick’s chest, he takes it, stepping back to allow Judy to open the door.

As she opens it, a set of fold down steps lower into place, allowing Judy to effortlessly get to the modified drivers seat facing the controls.

“Besides, we’re dealing with a mugger here.”

Walking around the front of the car, Nick opens the passenger side door, resulting in a similar set of steps unfolding. Climbing up them, and strapping himself into the small mammal seat, He hits the button for the door to close as Judy does the same.

Clipping the case file onto the clip-board next to the cruiser’s mobile workstation laptop Nick holds his hand-paw out for the usb drive.

Fishing it out of her pocket, Judy hands it back to him while starting the car with her other hand-paw. The well tuned engine giving a throaty purr.

“Oh so you’re above such petty criminals now. Does that mean you’ve moved on from little old hustler me?” Laying the faux outrage tone of voice on thick as he plugs the usb drive into the laptop.

Only for Judy to ‘gently’ punch him in the arm before driving their cruiser out of the enclosed parking garage.

“No you dumb fox, open the folder and tell me what you see.”

Rubbing his arm a couple of times, he pulls over the tray closer to himself, flipping the folder open. His eyes quickly scanning over the map on the first page. ‘No wonder they couldn’t catch this mammal, whomever they are, they’re serious about not being caught.’

“They’re not doing this just when the opportunity arises, or out of desperation, like most muggers, so it isn’t due to luck this mammal hasn’t been caught. They’re using a two layer pattern to space out their victims.” Flipping past the map of incident locations to the paper reports of each incident, the tips of Nick’s tail twitches inside the seat’s tail hole. Concealing Nick’s surprise from Judy.

‘What’s this mammal’s deal? Taking only the cash their victim’s have on paw and ignoring anything else, many of his victims had items worth may times more than what they took.’

Stopping for a red light, Judy glances over to Nick. “Whomever this mammal is, they’re using at least the four – two – one pattern as listed in the academy books. Except the locations they hit seem oddly spaced.”

Judy takes the on-ramp to the Rainforest District after the light changes to green, forcing her to pay attention to the road. ‘Not to mention what this perp is stealing, but I think Nick’s noticed that.’

“Well Carrots, that’s why I said two layers. If they were just using said four – two- one pattern, I would call the petty crime division in the Rainforest District incompetent, or the suspect extremely lucky.” Looking out the window as they enter the heavily wooded district, his ear twitches now along with his tail.

‘I’m sure they’re using the even – odd prime number system. Don’t know how they know about it, but I need a city block number map to confirm it. If I use the connection in the cruiser here Bogo will know, and he just wants us to keep the seats warm for Wolfard and Famgmeyer.’ Feeling how his ears and tail are moving, he forces them to stop while his initial surprise morphs into curiosity, with a touch of fear.

‘They’re staying in the Rainforest District and the Happy-town area, all the blocks they’ve hit can be reached by walking…’

“Carrots, pull over at that coffee shop.” Pointing at the regional chain store just on the edge of a large tree.

Turning an ear to Nick so Judy can keep her eyes on the road. “Why? It’s not our usual spot in this district for coffee.”

Taking the map out of the folder with one hand-paw before pulling out his personal phone with the other, Nick sets the map onto his lap. “Do you want to solve this case?”

Narrowing her eyes at him, then without a word, Judy hits the turn signal, then turns hard at the intersection to pull into the coffee shop. Only when the car’s parked in an empty spot does she turn to face Nick.

“Spill it! There was a string or two attached to this, wasn’t there?”

Sheepishly smiling back at Judy. “Bogo may or may not just expect us to keep the seats warm for Wolfard or Fangmeyer.”

Laying her ears back against her head, her amethyst eyes glare harshly at Nick. “When were you going to tell me this?”

Gently reaching for Judy’s hand under tray separating the driver’s and passenger side of the cruiser. Her hand-paw initially avoids Nick’s, but on the second attempt allows she allows him to gently take hers in his.

“To be honest with you Judy, I was hoping it wouldn’t come up till after we caught the mammal. I was expecting this to be a simple case of incompetence with the petty crime division, while we just so happen to catch them. After all, everyone’s luck runs out eventually and I could pass it off to Bogo as such. Thus, not violating said strings.”

Letting go of Judy’s hand-paw, he watches her ears rise up just a tad.

Continuing to glare back at him while she adds a bit of steel into her gaze. “Except that this mammal seems to be trying hard not to be caught, and they’re using something that I don’t know about, but you do Nick.”

Swallowing hard, he looks into Judy’s eyes. ‘If it was any other mammal I could just ignore it, but from her, it just, pierces right through me…’ Sighing, he lets his ears fall, just a bit, to the sides of his head.

“Whomever this mammal is, they’re somehow using a system Fennic and I developed to stay one step ahead of both the fuzz, and…”

Judy’s ear’s lower again. “Let me guess slick, the Skulk, from finding you or Fennic.”

Nearly imperceptibly nodding at Judy, Nick looks down at his phone. “Big wasn’t a concern since we stayed out of his territory. The Skulk on the other paw, doesn’t take kindly to fellow foxes who stray, at least back then.”

Connecting to the wifi of the shop, he brings up the most recent publicly available numbered city block map.

“Remember Judy, this is before Fennic and I came up with the Popsicle Hustle. Before it was even possible since all the Tundra-Town district was Big’s territory and the skunk rug incident was still fresh enough we would be iced if we stepped paw there. So we had to run similar stuff to the Skulk, while not getting caught ‘by’ the Skulk.”

With the map on the phone and glancing between it and the map of each previous mugging, Nick racks up the math in his head.

Judy’s ears go fully up as the amethyst eyes gain an excited gleam to them. “Which means this mammal must also be on the run from them! Maybe they know something that we can use to bring the Skulk down that isn’t outside the statute of limitations.” Her excitement wanes just a bit upon noticing Nick going completely still in his seat.

‘I must’ve gotten it wrong…’ Nick runs the math in his again, mentally checking each previous location to the numbers at a slower pace.

Unbuckling herself, Judy pushes the tray with the laptop as far back as it can go, opening up just enough space for her to crawl over and place a hand-paw on Nick’s shoulder, ears lowering a bit in concern for him.

“Nick, is there something wrong?” Glancing to his phone, then to the map. Seeing the obvious mathematical problem, she makes quick work of it, only to gasp.

“So I wasn’t wrong Judy. If this mammal is using the even – odd prime system, what we called our little trick, then the next city block they’ll hit is the one where…”

Judy’s ears fall against the back of her head again. “Is the one where Marion and Johnathon live, and where your father’s store’s located.”

She stops Nick’s thumb from hitting the contact for his Mother the moment she sees him try to call them. “Nick, it’s an active case. As much as it pains me to say this. You can’t warn them.”

Glaring at Judy and meeting her sympathetic gaze with his anger filled emerald eyes, he loudly snorts with his ears flat back. The noise of his tail beating the seat fills the cabin. “Why the hell not Carrots!? Mom and Dad aren't young anymore, a hit from a taser that can bring down an average lupine may kill them. For Karma’s sake, they don’t use a bank to store most of their savings or daily earnings outside what’s needed. If this mammal is going to hit anyone for the cash they carry, it’s going to be either one of them!”

Squeezing Nick’s shoulder to reassure him. “While scaring this mammal off and letting them get away? You need to give me a little more credit Slick, I’m not saying let them go after Marion or Johnathon.” Adding a smile, Judy moves a bit closer to Nick.

“I know your family is important to you like mine is, but you need to calm down, where’s the cool and confident Nick?”

Taking a breath in, then letting it out, he raises his ears back up and softens the anger in his emerald eyes. ‘She’s right… I need to calm down. That wound’s still tender…’

“Then what do you propose we do Judy. I don’t want to lose either of them, I don’t know if I could take it after reconnecting with them. Not to mention how much it would devastate my sister.”

Judy glances at the two maps for a moment.

“You know the area, right Nick?” Following her gaze, he then nods.

“Then tell me, how many ways can a mammal who seems to be hitting places within walking distance of the Happy-Town area, enter and exit the revitalized block Marion and Johnathon live in?”

Looking down to the map on his phone, he zooms in on their block, then lays it on the dash between them.

“Well considering the suspect’s description, the subway is right out. We’d receive a call about a suspicious mammal. The traffic camera’s will spot a pedestrian using the emergency lane of the parkway vehicle entrance and flag them for us to pick up. Leaving the sidewalk coming from the west and exiting in the east. Or the park exit in the south.” With a claw-tip Nick traces out each route.

Judy smiles. “Then its simple Slick, we patrol those two adjoining blocks, and all the other entrances to the park. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch the mammal on their way in.”

Raising an eyebrow, Nick looks back at her. “And if we’re not?”

Sitting back in the driver’s seat and buckling in, Judy lowers her ears and sighs. “If we’re not, then we’ll be close enough to render first-aid. We’ll be within the golden half hour for heart attacks, so they’ll have a very good chance of living. Of course, that’s if this mammal hits either of your parents.”

Slumping his shoulders Nick looks at an indistinct point far ahead of them through the windshield. “I don’t like that plan Judy. It leaves too much up to chance.”

Smiling, Judy picks up Nick’s phone and hands it back to him. “Maybe, but it has a good chance to catch this mammal. Better than trying to grab them after they mug someone. Or scaring them off and having to explain it to Bogo.”

Pocketing his phone, Nick pulls the tray back over in front of him to look through the rest of the physical and digital files on the case while Judy starts the cruiser. Pulling out of the parking lot moments later.

Coming across a picture taken from a traffic-cam, Nick pauses. ‘Just what kind of mammal are they? The clothes they’re wearing look a size to small for their frame. The bulges look like outlines of ballistic plates. This mammal either has a really short tail, or no tail. Not to mention the weird cylinder over their muzzle. If they were going for disguising their species, they did a damn good job.'