Judy got off the hospital elevator and hurried down the hall to the waiting room. Nick was talking to Ian Furrier, a beaver doctor who had taken care of both of them in the past, and she had no hesitation about breaking into the conversation. "How is he?"
Nick said bitterly, "He'll live. He may never walk again, but…"
Doctor Furrier shook his head. "We can't know that yet, Officer Wilde. As I explained to you, your friend has some cracked vertebrae and significant swelling around his spinal cord but that doesn't mean there will be permanent damage."
"He told me he couldn't feel his legs or his tail."
"It's very possible that's just from the swelling and once it goes down, the paralysis will disappear." Furrier sighed. "It's going to take some time, one way or the other."
"What happened?" asked Judy.
"What happened is somebody broke into Finn's place and robbed him and tried to beat him to death. We were going to get some beer and a pizza and watch TV, it's been a while since we just hung out, and when I got there..." Nick's paws clenched into fists. "Can I see him?"
Furrier hesitated but Judy added her pleading look and he relented. "For a moment. I doubt he'll know you're there, he's been heavily sedated, but as long as you're quiet…"
They walked off down the hall, returning to find Chief Bogo had arrived. The cape buffalo was sitting by himself and he rose to his feet as they walked into the waiting room. "How's Finnick?"
Nick rode over Dr Furrier's attempt to speak. "He's not good. Any leads on who attacked him?"
Bogo spread his hooves. "It's only been a few hours, Wilde." The fox looked disgusted and the chief said encouragingly, "We're treating this like it was one of our own. Every cop in the city is on the lookout."
"A lot of good that will do," sneered the fox. "If you ever catch who did this to Finn, they'll probably turn out to be some thug who's been in the system forever. Catch them, slap them on the paw, let them go until they do something bad enough to get locked up for good. Tell me, Chief, if Finn spends the rest of his life in a wheelchair, will that be bad enough to lock them up and throw away the key?"
"Wilde, you're overwrought," said Bogo slowly. "Understandably so. Go home, get some sleep…"
"Don't patronize me!" said Nick fiercely. He reached in his pocket for his wallet and removed the gleaming badge Judy pinned on him the day he graduated. For a moment he weighed it in his paw, then he threw it at Bogo. "I've had it. No point being a cop if I can't even protect my best friend." He stalked over to the elevator and when Judy tried to follow him, he pressed the button and shut the doors in her face.