NOTE: This is a sequel to "No Second Chances" fanfiction, which can be found at my profile. If you haven't read it before, go and check it out beforehand in order to avoid some spoilers. You will not regret it :D

Chapter 1. „Returns"

2.24 am. Monday, 8 May, 2000

Max Reynolds woke up yelping in terror. It was the middle of night, he realized as he looked around his dark, big room. Instead of going back to sleep, the eight-year-old pup jumped off his bed and walked out to the corridor. He wandered across the dark, empty corridors of Reynolds residence, until he saw what he instinctively sought: the curtains of an opened balcony door waving gently on the wind. Max walked over to them and saw the opened balcony door and there, a wolf in her thirties with a paintbrush in her paw and palette in another, contemplating the painting she was just finishing. It was his mother, Ilya Reynolds. She didn't even notice as he stood right by her.

"Mom?" Max asked, tilting his head curiously.

"Max, aren't you sleeping?" His mother turned around, put aside her tools and patted his head. "It's the middle of night, pup, and it's cold outside," she worried about him.

"I'm not cold," young Max assured and she assured.

"Of course you're not, you're an arctic wolf," Mrs. Reynolds chuckled. "But why aren't you sleeping?"

"Why aren't you, mom?" Max asked watching her with concern. She looked awfully; she was emaciated and looked very, very tired. Mrs. Reynolds smiled weakly.

"I can't, pup," she reminded him. Ilya Reynolds suffered to Fatal Familial Insomnia, FFI for short, an awful genetic disease that caused its bearer to gradually suffer stronger and stronger insomnia until he'd be unable to sleep at all and in result, die of exhaustion. Her FFI had triggered three years earlier and no one before her had lived this long with this burden; it was only possible with the millions that Thomas Reynolds, her husband and Max's father, invested into helping her. Max knew it, even if he didn't understand and couldn't accept that his mother was slowly dying. Somewhere deep in his heart, there lied hope that medics would find something to stop FFI and save his mother. He couldn't know that whole decade later doctors would discover that doxycycline stops progress of FFI; just to save Max, bearer himself, but years too late to help his mother.

"What are you doing, mom?" Max asked curiously, trying to push grim thoughts away.

"Oh, I… I've been painting. I returned to my old hobby now that I have nights all for myself," Ilya Reynolds explained and giggled. "That's how I met your father, you know? I was selling my pictures in the park next to father's hospital; he was there after some minor car accident. He'd keep staring out the window at me for two weeks until he managed to come and ask me out," she recalled blissfully.

"So, how do you like it?" She asked and Max watched it carefully. His mother's painting showed the view of Tundratown in the night with snow-covered rooftops, several lights still glowing in the windows, lines of lampposts, a couple of cars parked by the road, a lonely passerby making his way him and above them all, huge moon shining with its subtle light. Everything looked so realistically that Max was certain at first it was a photo.

"It's amazing, mom. Are you finished?" He asked.

"Almost. There's just one thing more that needs to be done. A signature," she explained and then, some idea came to her mind. "Actually, would you like to sign it with me? I've been thinking of you a lot as I painted, so I guess you could say we did it together," Mrs. Reynolds explained with a smile and Max nodded eagerly.

"Alright then, grab a brush, this one, the thin one. Now, the white paint, we'll use it for signature," his mother guided him. Max grabbed the brush and was ready to write on the painting when she stopped him.

"We won't use your full name, though, but initials, Max. Now, here write M for Maximilian, but remember, very small," Ilya Reynolds told her son. He gently painted an "M" in a bottom left corner.

"Perfect. Now write T for Theodore here… And R for Reynolds right there. Wonderful! Your first painting, Max!" Mrs. Reynolds exclaimed and kissed her son on the forehead, as the pup giggled watching the painting carefully and then, looked up to his mother, grinning. For a moment he forgot that their bliss would not last forever.

6.07 pm. Friday, August 16, 2020

Twenty years later, Max Reynolds, dressed now in his ZPD uniform, was standing in front of the painting "Moonlight" by Jackson Haddock, only by few mammals known by her real name of Ilya Reynolds. When he was a pup, that night seemed like a beautiful dream. Until a year earlier when Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps discovered Haddock's true identity, he thought it was but a one. And now that he knew it was real, he kept staring at the painting reliving one of those few moments he remembered his mother by. Watching the "Moonlight", he didn't even notice when someone came to the room.

"There you are! It's good to see you, Max!" Thomas Reynolds greeted him.

"Good evening, father," Max greeted him. "Sorry that I didn't come to your office first, I just…" Max explained, as his father stood by him.

"Oh, I understand. I do love coming here too. Nothing reminds me of Ilya as well as her artwork," Thomas Reynolds agreed, as he looked around; he had nearly all of his wife's paintings gathered in here. "You should visit me more often, you know. With you moving out and your sister just about to, this mansion feels awfully empty. And while I'm aware Miss Crane…"

"This bunny has a name and you can use it, father," Max reminded him politely.

"Of course, I just…" The millionaire hesitated.

"You're angry with her for that I moved out for her," young police officer finished for him and his father couldn't help but chuckled. Kaylee Crane, the second bunny on ZPD and Technical Officer, for last year being his girlfriend and since recently fiancée, made Max's father awfully jealous. Max saw it clearly since the time he introduced them to each other, but he understood.

"Possessiveness is an awful trait," admitted the old Reynolds and then, lowered his sight at Max's badge. "I can't believe that you actually came back there, to ZPD. With what happened in Watering Hole Port, I was certain you never would," he noticed.

"And I never doubted," Max replied. "But, I didn't come here to talk about ZPD. I wanted to invite you for a dinner to Hamada's. You know, that restaurant you never had time to come with us? Kaylee will be there and Anastasia with her boyfriend too. The five of us, whole Reynolds family. What would you say?" Max offered and, as rarely, saw his father smiling genuinely.

"But of course. When?" Thomas Reynolds agreed.

"Next Thursday at 8 pm," he explained and saw his father's expression changing. "Is it alright?"

"It's just I have a very important…" he hesitated, seeing his son's disappointment. "Don't worry, Max. I'll make arrangements and make sure I come. It's my company after all," he promised.

"Cool. Thanks, dad," Max smiled.

"Not a problem. Do you want… some tea? I mean, I'm going to the banquet later, but I think we should have just enough time to…" His father offered a bit awkwardly. "You're not leaving just yet, are you?"

"I guess I can stay for a tea," Max assured and the two of them went to father's office. On their way there Thomas Reynolds tried to recall last time they had this sort of father-son time, but his memory failed him.

After a visit to his father's house, Max went to market. Kaylee had prepared him a long shopping list of everything they still needed for their new home; mostly all sorts of cleaning supplies they were still missing, food and some things he never would have thought about, like candles, matches or toilet plunger. With the shopping trolley almost full, he stopped at the end of the queue to the checkout, when heard a familiar voice.

"Well, well, well. Max Reynolds, son of CEO of Reynolds Industries and heir to one of the greatest fortunes of Zootopia shopping in a market like an average citizen. What misery has befallen thou?!" Exclaimed the slowly nearing voice. Max turned around.

"Asks the wolf trying to marry himself into the said fortune," he replied and grinned. "Hi, Jason. What you're doing here?" He asked and shook paw of Jason Wolford's, fellow ZPD officer and boyfriend to his sister.

"It was you that gave me your sister's number," Wolford reminded him politely. "And I felt like drinking some soda," he explained waving a small can. "But you look like doing some serious shopping."

"Oh, Kaylee listed the things we still need for the house and well… it's a lot," Max explained.

"That I see," Jason agreed. "Congratulations on your engagement, by the way. I think I haven't got the chance to say it personally."

"Thanks. Quite honestly, I heard so many congratulations in last week that you could be saying it for the third time and I wouldn't even catch it," he explained and both of them chuckled.

"You like to take things fast, don't you? Together for just a year and already put a ring on her. When do you plan wedding?" He wondered, as they started putting Max's buys on the conveyor belt.

"We thought of next April, maybe May. Eight months should be quite enough to organize everything," Max explained.

"And see if you really can stand each other. You know, most relationships fall apart when partners move in together, because you have to be with each other all the time. And you two even work together," Wolford warned him.

"I'll keep it in mind. And how are things with you and Spice?" Max changed the subject.

"Fine. A bit slower," Jason said. "Have you been to your old man's today? Spice said you were going to invite him for Thursday."

"Yeah, he agreed," Max confirmed.

"That's nice. I'd love to know him a bit more. He seems a bit… distanced."

"He kinda is, but recently…" Whatever Max was about to say, he wasn't allowed, as it was their turn to be served. Wolves proceeded to put Max's shopping back into the trolley. Max paid for everything, including Wolford's soda to speed things up, and the two of them went to Max's car. There, they put all the purchases in several cloth bags and into Max's car's trunk. Reynolds thanked him for help and the two of them went each other's way; Max drove toward his new home, while Wolford, living just nearby, walked back to his.

Max and Kaylee's new house was located on Trip Street, just on the border of Savannah Central and Rainforest District, in what resembled typical middle-class suburbs while located nearly in the heart of the city; a nice and quiet neighborhood of two-story houses with a small lawn in nearly safest part of the town. Max and Kaylee had been looking for a place like this for nearly half a year wishing to live together and they found it, they knew it was their sweet spot. One could wonder why they wouldn't simply move in to Max's father's mansion at 1456 Snowy Hills; with Spice soon to move out, it'd be just three of them living there. The reason was very simple; the monumental mansion designed to overwhelm its guests was too much for Kaylee. Every time she came there, she fell small and insignificant and as beautiful it was, she hated that place. After their first visit there she made it clear that she couldn't imagine living in there. She didn't want servants, priceless paintings on the walls and marble stairs with gilded railings around. Max understood it, half-expected even, and didn't argue. And besides, moving out would serve as an excellent lesson of independence; something that he quickly and painfully realized he had no idea about.

It was already dark when Max parked the car in garage and carried all the shopping inside. He left bags on the kitchen table and looked around; he could smell Kaylee, but didn't see or hear her anywhere.

"Kaylee?! I'm home!" He called out.

"I'm upstairs!" Kaylee shouted back and Max recognized the trembling in her voice; she had just been crying. Wolf dropped his bags and hurried upstairs. He found Kaylee in their bedroom with a toolbox by her and nearly assembled bookcase that she was planning to finish today. Now, though, she was sitting on the floor with her legs crossed. She was wore a white T-shirt with short sleeves making visible her scar on left arm, mark of a shameful incident involving Max and Nightowlers. She was slowly getting over it and had no problem with showing it to the public anymore.

Kaylee turned around as she heard Max coming and smiled seeing him. Max approached her and kissed her on the lips. He sat by her and spread his paw around her gently.

"Hey, darling? What's wrong?" He asked and then, watched her paw; she had one of fingers bandaged.

"It's nothing, just cut myself," she muttered.

"Come on, what is it?" He looked her in the eyes and Kaylee turned head away gently.

"I… I've been thinking. You know, I started assembling that bookcase and realized that… No, it's stupid," she dropped the thought.

"No feeling is stupid, Kaylee, I thought we established that. Come on, what bothers you?" Max encouraged her gently.

"I looked around the room and realized that literary everything here was bought with your money. Whole this house was bought with your money. If I wanted a place like that, I probably wouldn't be even given a loan for it. I keep taking from you, Max. First I took the money to cover my debts, now you bought us a house without me spending even a cent and I know I should be happy because hey, I've got everything I need now. But honestly, I feel awful about it. Everything I do feels so… insignificant compared to the money you keep pumping into this house and whole…us thing," she explained. "It's like we could both quit our jobs and go for eternal vacations just because you have all this money and whether I work or not, it makes no bloody difference…" Her voice trembled and Max hugged her bit stronger.

"It does, Kaylee. Everything you do makes a difference. Without your efforts, there would never be us. It was you that kept us together after the Dungeon. It was you that whenever bad things happened, came to my rescue. You make a difference. And speaking of the money, I figured… once we're done with furnishing and everything, I'll stop using father's money. I'll put those funds on bank account and leave it there to grow. If something bad happens, a disease, an accident…"

"A wedding," Kaylee joked and he smiled.

"When we need to cover a wedding or another disaster, that's when we'll use it. But if there's no need, then I will not touch it. We'll make living with our work at ZPD. What would you say to that?" He asked and saw a gentle smile appearing on bunny's lips. She'd like it that way.

"And if your car breaks? A ZPD officer won't afford its repair," Kaylee worried.

"I should have sold it long ago. It's made for racing and fun, not actual utility. I'll buy something family-friendly with a big trunk instead. I barely managed to pack all today's shopping in trunk anyway," he explained.

"Woah, Max, you're starting to sound like an actual adult. Do you have a fever?" She asked putting a paw to his forehead and both of them chuckled.

"So what do you think about it?" Max asked again.

"That… that really would be nice. And what will you do about all that money?" She wondered.

"Keep covering medicine for FFI with it and keep the rest. We're still fixed on that adoption idea, aren't we? We do have two empty rooms here that will need decorating," he noticed.

"I think we are," Kaylee agreed.

"And our kids wouldn't complain about some money for a new start, would they? For college or their own business," Max noticed. "You know, a small loan of a million dollars for a starter," he giggled and Kaylee laid her head on his chest and breathed deeply. And then, she lifted herself slowly.

"We'd better unpack all those bags downstairs. It's late enough as it is," she suggested and Max nodded.

"What about the bookcase?" Wolf troubled.

"We'll assemble it later. I need also to hang the laundry…"

"I can do it," Max assured and Kaylee watched him suspiciously.

"Do you have any idea how to do it?"

"Nope," he shook his head and grinned shamelessly.

"Then we'll do it together," she decided and he shrugged agreeing. With every day he was learning how many basic domestic duties he had no idea about. Good thing Kaylee did.

The two of them came back downstairs to the kitchen and started unpacking all the stuff Max had bought it. Kaylee was ordering Max around and telling him where to put everything and he didn't mind at all; he'd have not a clue where to put half of those things anyway. He stopped at a dozen of spice packages for a moment. Another dozen, that is.

"That's a lot of them," he noticed.

"For every occasion, so we don't have to go look for them when we find a new recipe," explained Kaylee.

"Well, my cooking this far limited itself to grabbing random things from a fridge, so I don't know much about it," Max explained with a grin.

"I figured so," Kaylee rolled her eyes. In meanwhile, wolf reached for the candles.

"And what did we get these for?" In that moment all the lights died at once. Kaylee, not seeing a thing, froze in place, while Max looked around. His night vision allowed him to see surrounding rather clearly.

"Looks like whole street's out of power," Max noticed.

"And that's what we have candles for. Light them up, will you? I can't see a bloody thing," Kaylee suggested. Max found matches and started lighting up candles and putting them on throughout the kitchen.

"So, romantic candlelit dinner?" Reynolds suggested half-jokingly.

"More like romantic candlelit unpacking and candlelit laundry hanging. But then, yes, romantic candlelit dinner," Kaylee corrected him and Max chuckled agreeing. As they continued unpacking the bags, Max was slowly realizing how different would be the life here, on the Trip Street. Everything he knew, everything he was used to would be no more; no more service, giant mansions, quick cars. He'd have to be responsible from now on. Had the thought terrified him? Yes. But he was going to do everything to rise to the challenge. For Kaylee.

8.18 pm. Friday, August 16, 2020

Once again, Detective Judy Hopps ensured herself that there was not the slightest point in planning Friday evenings. Until few days ago, she was quite sure she would be assisting Anderson's case of a bank robber on run. And yet, now she was now sitting in Nick's car with the fox driving through the town, heading for the banquet mayor was organizing. And it wasn't even Nick's idea's either; it was chief Bogo that delegated them to represent the ZPD instead of him. And so, there they were, dressed in elegant ZPD uniforms, making their way Downtown to waste couple hours of their lives. Judy didn't like the idea of having to confront all those rich and important mammals that would probably either treat her like a ZPD poster girl or a peasant, but there was one good thing to whole the situation; she had Nick and all of his sassiness with her. The bunny decided to glance at her partner, dressed in his elegant uniform with badge proudly shining on his chest; Nick could pretend to be careless or shabby about his clothing, but his uniform was always immaculately clean and today he even lost his usual shades, giving Judy a chance to watch his green eyes.

"Waste of time, isn't it? I mean, there'll be some fancy food and drinks…" noticed Nick as he met her sight.

"I don't think we can drink. We're sort of on duty and you're driving," reminded him Judy.

"I know," the fox agreed. "And we have more interesting things to do, like that bank robbery," he finished and Judy nodded.

"Don't get me started," Judy rolled her eyes. "Eight months without a single interesting case. Eight months. When we get a chance to at least assist in one, we get sent for a party!"

"Yay! Party!" Nick waved his paws comically for a second dropping the steering wheel and Judy giggled. Her partner seemed just as unexcited as she was.

"Will we even know anyone there?" The bunny asked and Nick shrugged.

"There will be mayor, Thomas Reynolds…" He started enumerating.

"Yay!" Judy waved paws with fake enthusiasm.

"Yay. Probably couple celebrities, like your favorite actor, Zack Acorn…" continued the fox when Judy elbowed him with a nervous chuckle.

"You!"

"Didn't you adore him?" Nick asked with amusement.

"Yeah, right, maybe in the middle school. Anyone else?" The rabbit just rolled her eyes. Whatever you tell Nick, it can and will be used against you, she noted in her mind yet again.

"Um… Maybe Duchess will show up?" Guessed Nick.

"Duchess? And who's that?" Hopps gave her partner most peculiar look. There were no monarchies in nearby that she knew of.

"Lady Jennifer Tompkins. My local… crime boss? Sort of?" Fox shrugged. "A former gangster…, but a good one. She didn't murder or kidnap people, just… keeps things in check," he explained, uncertain how to put it. Judy just watched him skeptically.

"And how does she get invited to such places?"

"Oh, she's a respected entrepreneur these days. And a philanthropist," he explained.

"Uh huh."

"You'd be surprised how many entrepreneurs started illegally," Nick chuckled.

"I probably would," Judy agreed. As wonderful place as Zootopia was, it wasn't as crystal clear as she used to believe the first time she arrived here. Nick who knew it from the day one just smiled weakly and turned into a driveway. The gatekeeper waiting there waited for Nick to lower the window and introduce himself and then, guided him to the parking.

"No ID checks," noticed Judy, as fox stopped his car. "Someone could just claim to be us and come here to do some bad things. Having murdered us beforehand, so we wouldn't show up, that is," Judy noticed.

"You have a deep-seated need of an intrigue, don't you?" Nick chuckled as they left the car and headed for the banquet hall.

"Tiny bit, I do," she admitted. The fox and rabbit then were greeted by the doorman that recognized them by uniforms and let in immediately, again without checking ID, much to Judy's silent disapproval. The two of them entered then the banquet hall where the most of guests already were and, as much attention as their uniforms brought among dresses and suits, quickly vanished in the crowd.

"Want some snacks?" Nick asked narrowing at the tables with all sorts of food.

"Give them like five minutes, Nick," scolded him Judy. "We should at least talk to the mayor first. Do you see him anywhere?" She looked around.

"If he carried a pair of stilts, then maybe I'd have a chance…"

"Detectives!" Greeted them a voice from behind that startled both of them. Nick and Judy turned around to see the short raccoon; the new mayor of Zootopia, Henry Ketchikan. He greeted them, shaking their paws enthusiastically. "Chief Bogo promised he'd send some representative officers, but I didn't expect you two!"

"I know I'm not that representative…" Nick noticed and Judy kicked him in foot gently. "But I'll take it as a compliment," he added and mayor chuckled.

"Witty as always, Wilde. And Detective Hopps looks as dazzlingly as usual," the mayor added, probably realizing that he was starting to ignore the bunny. "Now that we've got a chance to talk face to face, tell me, do you need anything at the ZPD? I talk with Bogo a lot, but you, foot soldiers, have quite a different point of view, don't you?" He suggested, sounding like a rich guy pretending to know what he was talking about.

"Well, I'm sure the topic was already brought up, but we seriously need reinventing the sedative serum for tranquilizers," Judy noticed. "Recent research proved that there are species among which there appear to be several-percent minorities highly resistant to those: mostly canines and some ungulates. It will take a lot of money and ZPD budget is really thigh recently due to…"

"Yes, yes, I know. Such research costs lots of money, hence the delay, but we'll send the order to Goldrock Institute next week. Thomas Reynolds promised that they'll…" The mayor stopped as he noticed behind their backs. "Speaking of whom, excuse me, but I'll catch you later, alright? Tom?! Got a moment?!" The mayor apologized and before any of them got to say a word, he was already passing by them and catching up with Thomas Reynolds. Both Nick and Judy followed mayor with sight.

"Was it just me, or did mayor just label you as the smart one and me as a cute one?" Judy noticed after a moment of silence.

"Yes, funny. I always thought it worked the other way around," Nick agreed and his partner giggled, even if the aftertaste remained.

"And then he set us up for his old good friend Thomas Reynolds. Not before giving his institute a valuable contract, that is. One hand washes the other."

"Was that cynical Judy Hopps? I think I can die happy now," Nick smirked.

"But not too quickly, I hope. It would truly be shame," said a melodic female voice from behind and Nick and Judy turned around to see a white wolf approaching. She was of medium height and rather slim, dressed in an azure dress matching her eyes. Or rather an eye, as all that remained after the other one was a long scar from cheek to forehead.

"Good evening. Have we met before?" Judy wondered.

"I and Nicholas did for sure. My name's Jennifer Tompkins," the wolf introduced herself and Judy remembered the name. So that was the Duchess Nick mentioned before.

"Pleased to meet you," Judy shook her paw looking her straight in the eye. There was something disturbing hiding under veil of her only iris, but she couldn't quite put a name on it.

"So am I," assured the Duchess. "I won't be taking much of your time, but I'd like to thank you for the way you dealt with Aveline Hawkes' case back at the National Bank B&E last year. You do remember her? A young vixen with little daughter."

"Yes, we do," Judy assured. She kept teasing Nick regularly to ask her out since case's end. She even saved her number just in case.

"It was only fair," Nick added.

"Indeed. Nonetheless, she sends her thanks and you have my gratitude as well. Don't ever change, you two," she suggested politely.

"We don't plan to," Judy assured and the gangster smiled weakly in reply.

"Hopefully. Have a pleasant evening," she wished her and as they replied, the wolf disappeared in the crowd. Nick and Judy looked at each other in silence.

"That's not how I'd imagine a Happytown gangster," Judy stated with confusion.

"I don't complain. Oppositely to Mr. Big, she never iced anyone," Nick added.

"Or killed in general?" The rabbit asked without much hope.

"Only once, but it's a long story and they had it coming."

"We'll have plenty of time," noticed Judy.

"I don't think so," disagreed Nick, as another important-looking mammal approached the two of them. Even if they hardly knew anyone, everyone knew them. And that was just enough to guarantee they wouldn't be bored that evening.

9.28 pm. Friday, August 16, 2020

Much to Judy's surprise, Nick was completely right about the two of them having no time for long stories; two officers quickly became banquet's main attraction, travelling from one mammal to another like a tennis ball around the court. And it was at a moment of one such pass, when out of sudden everything fell completely dark. Several scared screams erupted, but Nick reacted just as quickly as them, if more soberly.

"Everyone please stay calm!" He ordered firmly and glanced at Judy with smirk; she had her concealed gun prepared in her paw and phone with flashlight on in the other. Just in case.

"Everyone please proceed carefully to the exit and wait outside for further instructions!" She ordered and then, the mayor appeared right next to them.

"No, no, no, why are you…" he tried to protest.

"Someone cut off the power. We have here over hundred prominent mammals in a dark, closed hall. If anyone storms inside and takes hostages, we'll have no way of responding," Judy explained.

"Besides, security is already taking your guests outside," pointed out Nick. The mayor wanted to protest, but he just sighed helplessly realizing they were probably right.

"Of course. Let's go outside," Ketchikan agreed reluctantly. Judy and Nick assisted in the evacuation and left the building as the ones of the last mammals. Couple ZPD patrols were already waiting nearby just in case.

"Carrots, look at that," Nick pointed somewhere far away, but Judy didn't quite catch what he meant at first. Everything was pretty dark, so maybe it was his night vision… wait, everything was dark. Half the district went dark all at once, including hospitals, banks, police stations…

"It's not just us. That's some decent blackout," Judy noticed.

"Tomorrow's going to be a busy day, won't it?" he noticed and bunny shivered realizing that he was right. There was no electricity; no surveillance, no alarms, no light. This meant lots and lots of opportunists committing crimes.

"It certainly will," she agreed and then, mayor approached them.

"Detectives, it turns out we have some malfunction in powerhouse with no perspectives of quick repair. The banquet is over, it seems, but I want you to investigate the thing," declared Ketchikan a bit too loudly for a private conversation; Nick and Judy realized that most guests present were listening carefully.

"I think it's work for engineers, not police officers," Judy noticed carefully.

"Maybe. But if it appears otherwise, then I want you on the case. Now, if you excuse me," the mayor replied and returned to his prominent guests immediately, continuing to bid them goodbyes and apologize for inconvenience. And then, Nick giggled.

"What?" Judy watched him carefully.

"You said you wanted an interesting case. Well, there it is," he explained and Judy chuckled. So it seemed.