Chapter One
Not a Murderer
A black unmarked van turned off the main road and onto a gravel path that followed the water. A highway loomed overhead and cast the area below in shadows. The night sky above was clouded over, making it darker than normal. The van's headlights turned off as it reached an area completely hidden by the concrete bridge above. The passing hum of traffic filtered down as the van backed up till it was near the edge. A few specks of gravel fell off and plunked into the murky waters a few feet below. The van shut off and the back opened up, a naked body fell down as soon as it opened.
The tan brown kudu was bound by thick coarse ropes around his midsection, keeping his arms at his side, as well as along his feet. He tried to worm away, but was quickly scooped up by a large gray rhino. The basalt monolith of a rhino wore gray khakis and a black t-shirt that threatened to rip apart to shreds against the thick muscles underneath. A cut ran along the length of his horn. The rhino gave a growl as he fixed the gag in the kudu's mouth. He stood the kudu up on the edge of the water with one hand, while the other grabbed a set of chains bolted to a concrete block each. He fastened them to the ropes around the kudu's legs; then removed the gag. The kudu retaliated by spitting in the face of the rhino and yelled out for help.
A car zoomed by above, rocking the overpass and drowning out his screams for help. The rhino sneered at the kudu as he wiped the spit away. Rage filled his dark olive colored eyes. As the noise lessened a voice spoke from the edge of the van, behind the rhino, "Screaming won't do anything for you Flint."
The kudu looked to the van as the rhino moved away and towards the side. Sitting on the edge, with his feet dangling halfway to the gravel below was a small off-white rabbit. There were black stripes like claw marks on both of his cheeks and a large portion of the tips of his ears were black as well. A black line colored his ears just below the tips as well. The rabbit looked at the kudu with sky blue eyes.
He was dressed in a black suit jacket over a plain white shirt and black dress pants. Resting in the bunny's lap was a white, orange, and green gun. It looked like one you would buy in a toy store, but it was no toy. The bunny kept on opening and closing the top portion of the gun, exposing a small green dart with a small tuft of red on the end.
Sitting next to the bunny on the edge of the van was a small black camera, the red light blinking to show it was recording. The kudu finally broke the silence, "Who are you?"
"My name is not important Mister Harrison." The rabbit stopped playing with the tranq gun, closing the top. He cocked it, pulling the single dart into the barrel. He kept the gun in his lap as he continued, "All that matters right now is that someone wants you dead."
The kudu remained silent as the bunny added, "And if they hired me, then they really want you dead."
"People will know I'm missing, there will be an investigation." Flint countered.
"Yes there will be," the bunny gave an amused smile, "but as history tends to repeat itself there will be no way to connect me."
The bunny removed himself from the van and took a few steps towards Flint, "That's why people hire me Flint. I am the best hitmammal in Zootopia. No mess. No fuss. Just results. And I always get my results."
"W-Who wanted me dead?" Flint couldn't believe that he was afraid of something almost a fourth of his height. He wondered how the rhino, the brute that he was, worked for such a smaller boss. A boss he could probably crush with just his pinkie finger. The rabbit stood between Flint and the van as he raised the dart gun, aiming right for the kudu's chest. The bunny smiled and stated matter-of-factly, "Your wife, Harrison."
"Janet?" Flint felt that the rabbit was lying. Janet would never do this. She loved him, and he her. Their relationship was fine, a bit rocky at times; but whose wasn't from time to time. He looked to the rabbit, "You're lying."
"I wish I was," the rabbit sighed moving the gun to his side, "but you'd be surprised how many times I get requested by a spouse to kill their significant other." He raised the gun again, "You'll soon be another digit to that statistic Flint. Perhaps a spot on the six o'clock news tomorrow about a body being fished from the waters off of the Rainforest District. You should be honored."
"Honored?! Honored that you are going to kill me!"
"Not me," the bunny tsked. He removed the safety, engaging the gun the dart primed to fire, "I'm merely going to put you to sleep and it is the water that is going to kill you. I am not a murderer, just an assistant to the outcome."
Flint didn't get a word out as a small whip of wind filled the empty air around them. He felt a small pinch in his left shoulder. Looking down he saw the green dart embedded in his flesh. The red tuft of faux feathers ruffled in the slight breeze. Flint's eyelids started to feel heavy. His toes went numb and he began to lose what little balance he had. His vision blurred as he watched the white blur that was the rabbit hop back into the van and shut the door. A big gray blur filled his vision as it towered over him. He felt the dart removed from his shoulder before the limb went numb as well. He tried to hold on. He tried to scream for help, but his voice refused to make itself known. His vision began to fade as the rhino pressed squarely into his chest. With one quick effortless push the rhino sent Flint backwards off the edge. With what little feeling he had left he only felt coldness as his body was entangled with it. He finally slipped as he felt something creep along his leg.
…
A little more than ten minutes later the black unmarked van removed itself from the shadowed abyss and back onto the main road. It merged onto the highway it was just under and moved towards inner Savanna Central. The clouds above began to part to expose a waning moon above. Its light didn't make itself known from the yellowed lights hanging over the highway like noose-less gallows. The rhino was at the wheel, silently driving to a destination. The white rabbit was in the passenger seat with the emptied tranq gun in his arms.
He had removed the barrel completely and was working his tiny paws to find something in particular in the inner mechanisms. He had done this before; it was second nature at this point. He found the small gear he was searching for and slowly flicked it a notch backwards. He smiled as he grabbed the barrel next to him and effortlessly reattached it like it had never been removed. He threw the gun on the floor; it clattered before coming to a rest. He looked to the rhino and said, "Let's go tell the new widow that she is now."
The rhino simply nodded and signaled to take the upcoming exit. They seamlessly joined the sparse traffic at the current hour. The bunny looked to the green digital display of the radio. It was nearly four, in the morning. It had all worked as planned; with Flint working the night shift as a security guard at some office building it was easy to get him alone. The graveyard shift is always the best time to make a new addition. He had a feeling that Mrs. Harrison would not be sleeping right now. She would probably be waiting for the doorbell to ring and for him to present her with the proof Flint was dead. He glanced to the video camera resting on the floor in front of him.
A few turns later and the van came to a stop. The rhino shut the van off and he followed the bunny, who carried the camera, to the front of 418 Babylon Terrance. The rhino pressed the pearl like button and a classic ding-dong greeted them. The lights behind the door sprang to life. They heard a lock being undone and the door opened soon after. Standing in the half opened doorway was a female kudu dressed in a lightly pinked nightgown. She looked to the rhino and then the rabbit, "Is it done?"
"Yes Missis Harrison it is. Would you like me to show you," the bunny shook the camera in his arms to emphasize the point. She obliged and let the two pass in. The three of them not paying attention to the car parked on the opposite side of the street. The three passengers of the car removed themselves and walked towards the black van.
Inside the rabbit sat on a chair far larger than him. The rhino leaned against the wall. Janet sat on the couch with the camera in her arms. The display screen was folded out and she was currently watching the video. She watched as the white rabbit shot a dart into Flint's shoulder and the rhino shoved him into the water. A loud splash played out, and she closed the camera. She set it to the side and looked to the bunny, "How much do I owe you Mister Savage?"
"My going rate is five hundred a hit. But seeing as it wasn't as taxing this time I'll make it four fifty. Give you a bit of a discount."
Janet rose and she walked to the kitchen, "In cash right?"
"Yes."
She nodded as she entered the next room over, the light turning on as she looked for the cash. Savage looked to the rhino, "You can wait in the van for me Boris."
"Yes boss," the rhino spoke in a voice graveled by smoking. Boris removed himself from the wall and exited through the door. Janet walked back in with the money in her hands; she walked to Savage, "Four fifty as you asked."
She went to hand him the money, but as she did the door slammed in. The door reached the end of its hinges and made a hole in the wall the size of the door knob. Boris was tackled into the room with a polar bear on his back. A wolf and a cheetah funneled in on top of them. All three of them dressed in police gear. The bear restrained Boris as the wolf and cheetah pointed tasers at both Savage and Janet. Janet instinctively raised her arms, dropping the money. Savage gave a small chuckle and remained still in his seat.
…
Another police cruiser drove up to the barricade formed on Babylon Terrance. The sun had already risen and was washing Zootopia in orange light. Stepping out of the car was a lone red fox. Officer Nick Wilde donned in his classic police attire as well as his aviator sunglasses looked at the scene before him. Several houses were blocked off by yellow police tape, barricades, and police cars. Several officers were keeping the public and the prying news teams from getting a glimpse of the scene outside of address 418. A black van was parked outside of the house, every door was opened and two officers were removing evidence from it. Nick limboed under the DO NOT CROSS tape with ease and walked towards the van.
Officers gave him glances, but returned to their duties as Nick pushed the slightly ajar door to 418. Inside he saw a handcuffed kudu sitting in a chair. She was pleading to the gray wolf officer next to her that she did nothing. Also in the room were a rhino and a rabbit sitting off to the side with a polar bear right by their sides. Everyone stopped at Nick's entrance. He shut the door behind him. He sighed as he removed and pocketed his glasses. He looked to the wolf, "Frank take her to the station, her pleas won't do her any good anymore."
"Yes sir," Frank helped Janet up. He escorted her out into the street where a flurry of flashing lights greeted the two of them. Nick closed the door again and looked to the polar bear, "Lavender can you un-cuff the boys?"
"Never did sir," Lavender answered.
Boris confirmed the statement by standing up and showing his cuff less wrists, "Got what you needed Wilde?"
"Yes, Lavs still needs to take you out in cuffs."
"They chafe," Boris gave a half whine as he turned away from the bear and presented his wrists behind his back. She cuffed him, as he commented, "Next time don't tackle me to the ground as hard."
"Yeah, yeah," Lavender chided as she carried him out into the street where another barrage of flashes greeted them. Nick looked to the only other occupant of the room. Savage had stood up and was now sitting on the couch. He looked to Nick and stated, "McHorn makes a good hitmammal doesn't he Nick?"
"Yep," Nick answered walking towards the chair Janet previously occupied, "So where is Flint right now?"
"I think the arrangement was for your boys to take him to Central."
"You did well Jack."
"I always do my job well," Jack smugly answered leaning back into the couch.
"She believed the video?"
"Every second of it." He looked to Nick, "You got the best ex-hitmammal at your disposal here."
"Any more jobs yet or no?"
Jack shook his head, "The wells been dry the past few months. I think Zootopia is wising up to not trust hitmammals anymore."
"Then I guess your job is successful."
"Are you firing me Wilde?" Jack asked with a raised eyebrow.
"That's Bogo's job if he wants to, but I think he likes having you around."
"A bunny with a record of six murders he likes to have in his company." Jack question, "Are you sure this is Bogo we are talking about?"
Nick gave a small laugh and answered, "Six murders yes, but you also prevented a dozen with this one now."
"Hopefully I can add more to the second list," Jack added removing himself from the couch and walked to the kitchen. Nick followed him lazily, standing in the doorway as Jack hopped up onto the counter. The bunny walked towards a small window that gave a nice view of the alley between 418 and its neighboring buildings. Nick spoke, "All is prepared for your disappearance. McHorn will take the fall and return to desk work. There will be no evidence of Jack Savage here as always."
"You do it the best Nick," Jack commented opening the small window. He looked back, "I'm glad we made that deal instead of me rotting behind bars."
Nick laughed as Jack was halfway through the window, "Knowing your record I have a feeling a worse punishment would have been dealt to you."
"How much worse than a life behind bars?"
Nick looked to Jack as if the bunny should know the answer. Jack held himself by the edge of the window with his small paws. He looked at the fox, turning his ears down, "Do you really think that they would reinstate the death penalty for me?"
"Six murders is quite a big number for Zootopia."
"Yeah," Jack let go and landed in the alley on the balls of his feet. He shouted back to the window, "But eighteen would have been a lot worse."
Nick just chuckled as he gave a goodbye and shut the window. Jack returned it and turned heel. He followed the alley to the other end of the block. Far away from 418 and the prying eyes of the public and media. He exited onto a sidewalk and calmly joined the small bustle of mammals as the work day was to begin soon. He checked his phone, almost 6:30. He smiled and walked to his new destination, breakfast.