MAY

Chapter 1: Crime Rate

Present…

"This is Officer Hopps and Officer Wilde! We are in pursuit!"

A speed demon swerves through the central of our city, nearly running over mouse and animal alike. This is the tenth speed demon case in the past three months.

The demon screams down through the Rainforest District. Nick chases him, nearly throwing me out the window.

"Nick!" I scream, "Be careful!"

"I've got him," Nick howls," just a few more seconds!"

"Nick! Slow. Down!"

"No! He's right-"

The speed demon slams on the brakes. Nick yells and I know what happens next was gonna happen.

I fall out the window. Nick clashes into the back of the car, nearly crushing it. I fall out the window, landing shoulder first into the asphalt.

It'll leave a bruise and a big rip on my uniform but otherwise, I'm okay. I've noticed over the past year that whenever I get hurt, I compare it to my stabbing. If it's as painful, if I'm bleeding as much, if I'm going into shock or not. It's become a habit. A bit of paranoia, I believe.

Anyhow, I run through that check list in my mind before I jump up and run to the speed demons car.

"HALT IN THE NAME OF THE LAW!" I yell before I see that Nick already has the lizard cuffed.

"Done and done, "he says proudly. The demon is a chameleon with a mean mug. He's scared up and evil looking.

"Stupid cops," he hisses, "you'll get what's comin' to ya'! Just watch!"

"Yeah, yeah," I growl, rolling my eyes. I've heard the same things over and over in the past year. It's been strange. Almost every criminal I've faced has said something similar. That something is coming and they'll take us down. We'll get what's comin' to us. I've mentioned it to Bogo, but he just shrugs me off. He says they're just trying to scare us. I trust that he's right.

Nick throws the lizard in the back, then climbs back in the car. I hop in, too, my anger still pumping through me. Nick drives back toward the ZPD, a happy smirk on his face. "I'm getting good at these cop chases."

I snort," And almost killing me."

I look out the window as building after building and animal after animal pass by. Nick is looking at me. I can feel his eyes burning into my back. "I didn't mean to throw you out of the car, Carrots."

"That's the fourth time, Nick."

Nick's tail whips against the seat," Maybe if you didn't lean out the window every time, you wouldn't fall out."

"Maybe if you weren't so gung-ho about catching people, I wouldn't be trying to call for back up from outside!"

"She has a point," the criminal in back says.

"Shut up." Nick snaps, elbowing the grate separating us and the lizard.

I sigh," Look, Nick, I think we need a break."

The car swerves a little but he's able to keep it hidden," What? A break? Why?"

"Look at us, Nick. We can't have a normal conversation without arguing. We can't get anything done anymore, and with the crime rate higher than the roof, all the normal partners are being separate. Maybe it's time we do the same."

Nick is quiet after that. We turn into the ZPD and drive up to some of the newbie cops so they can take Mr. Lizard-skin in. I get out first, then Nick follows after. He holds the glass door open and I enter the warm ZPD. Ahead, Clawhauser is stuffing his face with Cheetos while watching his phone.

"Hey, Clawhauser, is the air-conditioning fixed yet?" I call. He glances up at me, then back at his phone.

"Nope. Can't figure out what's wrong with it. It's just dead."

I open my mouth to say more but Nick stops me, "Judy, why? We've been partners for two years. Why stop now?"

I sigh and turn toward the locker room. "I already told you. Bogo will force us eventually and we need a break. Its better you go your way and I go mine for a little while."

I'll back track a little bit. Nick has been irrational lately. He acts top dog between us and it's starting to get on my nerves. And we hardly spend any time together. He's always helping his step-family, Lizzy, Nick and Zoey. And that's not a bad thing. But when he's not he's fussing over me. And I hate it! I need a break. Just a break…

"HOPPS! WILDE! GET UP HERE! NOW!"

I jump when I hear Chief Bogo's voice. I twist to look at the water buffalo. He is leaning over the cement railing, his normal angry face glaring at us. He turns back to his office, expecting us to follow.

Nick sighs," I wonder what's up his tail this time?"

I don't say anything and go to the stairs for the long trip up to Bogo's office.

Once we're seated in the black leather seats in front of his tall desk, Bogo slaps down his hooves angrily. "Do you know what the crime rate is?!"

Nick and I glance at each other, confused," Um…yes."

Bogo slams his hoof down again," Then tell me what it is!"

"Uh…fifty-"

Nick doesn't get to finish. "Precisely! So if you know it, why is Phantom-Hamato Leonardo! - calling me about a three month vacation!"

What!? "Three month vacation? We never…what did Leo…what!?"

Bogo shoves a paper at us. Nick grabs it and looks at it. I watch his eyes grow and jaw drop, "Oh…crap."

I snatch it from him and stare. It's a fax from my friend and brother, Leo, saying he will give Bogo whatever he wants so Nick and I can come to that small city down south called San Howel for June, July and August. He'll even send in two Higher Up agents to replace us for those months. "Oh…" Then I look at Bogo, saying, "We didn't know anything about this."

Bogo's eye is twitching, showing how angry he really is. He slowly taps his desk, making a point, "You tell that superstar that he can't boss me around to get what he wants. Forget it."

"How 'bout for two months?" Nick suddenly says.

I look at him. So does Bogo. "What?"

"How about, instead of three months off, we have two. So we have the end of summer with them."

Bogo snorts," One."

Nick holds up two claws," Two. That's my deal."

Bogo and Nick have never gotten along. That's just a fact. Even if it's over what type of species you are, they will find a way to argue. Especially, now. Nick has a chance to hang out with a friend he lost for fifteen years. He isn't going to give that up.

And Bogo know that.

He groans,"…Fine. Two months. I'll let you off at the end of June."

Nick sighs in relief," Yes…"

"BUT!" We jerk back to Bogo who has this weird smile on," Next time your little friend- Mr. Phantom, Mr. Hamato, I don't care which- calls me about some little adventure he wants to take you on, get it settled ahead of time!"

We don't object. I'm starting to believe Bogo doesn't like anyone. He dismisses us. It's six o'clock. We can go home, but Nick stops me first when we reach the bottom of the stairs.

"I did that for both of us." He says," You will come in July, too, won't you."

He's still trying. I shake my head," A break, Nick. But ya', I'll come. I want to see Leo, too."

With that, I walk away, leaving Nick in the dust.