Although unique, progressive and beautiful enough to leave even its diverse inhabitants speechless, Zootopia has many similarities to any city. In the deeper regions there are scattered neighbourhoods of squalor and neglect, poverty stricken ghettos of cracked streets lined with borded buildings. Here is where crime exists in its most organised, blatant form (perhaps it is the cause of the economic troubles of these areas). Here, in one of the countless shaded alleyways, Nick and Judy were following a lead - and they were close.
They stood before a humble, subliminal entrance, tucked away from the unwanted attention of the streets. It was completely inconspicious, the perfect place for a criminal to avoid the law; if you were to find it you would have to know exactly where you were going and how to get there. Of course, the two police were not there by accident either.
"This is the current residence of suspect Robert Arthur Coon." Judy smirked and turned to Nick, who characteristically made some useful insights.
"It's a bit of a fixer upper, but home is where the heart is, I guess."
Simultaneously, they kncocked on the door with clenched fists. With authority, Judy shouted a formal request to allow the pair entrance. "Hello, Mr R. A. Coon? This is Officer Hops, ZPD. Please open the door."
No reply.
"You're not in trouble-"
"Yet..." Nick input, under his breath.
"-we just want to ask you some questions." Again, no reply came from inside, only a mocking silence. Judy pressed the point. "Sir, if you don't comply we will have to use force. I'm going to ask one more time: please open the door."
The fox, as laid back as ever, let out a sigh. "Maybe he isn't home."
The rabbit shook her head. "Somehow I doubt it." After waiting for a few seconds she rolled her eyes. "Okay, let's get this door down then." With a few bashes, Nick managed to force the door open, and the police cautiously entered the building, surveying the room thoroughly. There was only enough light to vaguely outline the shape of objects. It was devoid of all colour.
Judy whipped out a torch and revealed the details of the building. Her eyes tailed the beam as she moved it across the room, flooding corners and cracks with yellow light. On a decaying doorframe, a fresh liquid reflected the light, attracting the trained, watchful gaze of the investigators, who moved toward it for a closer inspection. It was blood, newly let, of a healthy, bright crimson colour which painted the rotting wood red as it soaked into it. Further searching exposed more deposits of blood, each viscous, clotting pool larger than the previous. Together, they formed a trail, leading straight down a neglected hallway before sharply turning into an open door out of which a buzzing light irregularly flickered, as if beckoning the police to uncover its mystery.
"Now that can only mean bad things," Nick followed the trail with his claw to the ghastly doorway, "I'm guessing we're going to look in there." His voice wavered slightly.
Judy slowly nodded, and proceeded without words. Slowly, she gently pushed open the door, which moaned on its rusted hinges. Her eyes widened. She looked behind her expecting to see her partner nearby, but he was still standing on the other end of the corridor. She shouted, "Nick, get an ambulance here, quickly!"
Taken by surprise, he jumped, "What?" The seriousness and worry in Judy's voice was sincere and he felt the atmosphere of the room change dramatically. "An ambulance, what for?" He hurried over to the open doorway and peered inside. "Oh no..."