"So, you're a cop? Tell me what that's like," Leila asks me as we're walking back to her office.
"Oh, it's pretty fun, you know. I'm new, so I haven't gotten to take on that much, but my partners basically the best one there. You know the first bunny cop?" He waited for a moment to see if she knew who Judy was.
"Oh, yeah. She seems pretty cool," Leila smiled.
I hesitate for a second. It almost seems like she's jealous of Carrots. But I can't tell for sure, so I don't want to bring it up and make things weird. "Well, she's my partner," I laugh. Hopefully she isn't too jealous. Not that that would be such a bad thing, I smile to myself. She is pretty cute.
"So, you mentioned a case you couldn't crack? What's going on there?" she presses.
"Well," I chuckle. "I can't really say much, but we need to track someone down and nobody knows who he…" I pause for a second and stare straight into her eyes. They're the same striking blue from the dead fox. How could I not notice that? Well, to be fair, I was pretty distracted… "Actually, is there any way you could get out of work for a few hours? I think you're the answer to our questions."
Leila starts laughing, "I don't know quite what you mean, but sure, I can take an afternoon off."
"Really? Great, After the whole thing about your boss being so mad with you being late, I didn't think he'd be the type to just let you leave. Although, it is official police business," I slyly smile."
"Right, but also, I'm my own boss." She shifts directions to go to the police station.
"Wait, wait," I say, desperately following her. "I don't understand. You said your boss would be furious if you were late again." I paused for a second, "you lied to me?" I frown.
"No, no. I would be pretty mad if I was late again," she giggles. "I never lied." She turns directly towards me, "It's called a hustle, sweetheart." She cocks her head, "Sweetie, don't you remember me?"
What was she talking about? She did look familiar but I chalked that up to me wanting to already know her not actually already knowing her. I frown and shake my head. I can't remember her, if I do even really know her.
"From elementary school?" she asks. "Maybe I look different, but so do you, Wilde. Well, actually, you just look taller is all, really," she laughs.
There really is something about that laugh, though. It does feel as if I've already met her. That's when I remember… when I was little, I never had too many friends, but I had one girl who was closer than everybody else, probably combined. I hesitantly ask, "wait, are you Loser Lizzie?" It sounds weird but that was her nickname way back when, but her real name was actually Leila.
"Hmm, there you go, Nick. I knew there was hope for you after all." She smiles, grabs my arm, and we keep walking.
"How've you been," I ask. "Lizzie, I don't think I've seen you since middle school. You just look so… different." It's the only word I could think of to fit how I felt at that moment.
"Oh, I know. I've really matured, haven't I? You, on the other hand, you look the exact same." I smirk at her. "Really, I mean it. Maybe just a little taller," she held up her paw to my head to measure. "Yeah, you do look taller," she smiled.
"Right," I smile back. "Well, we really do have to get to the station now. I need you for a case. I'm trying to find out who someone is and I think you may be the missing link."
"Oh, Nicky, I'm sure I am. Fine, I'll go with you and we'll check that theory. Although, I do doubt it. I don't know as many people as you. If nobody at the station knows who this is, how would I?"
I chuckle. "Let's just get down to the station." After what seems like a lifetime of walking and train riding, we arrive back at Downtown Zootopia. "Alright, I'm not sure exactly how to ask you this, but…" I freeze again. This seems so weird, there's no way they could know each other. Even if they did have the same colored eyes, are they related? Is that the thinking here? They have to be related? Siblings, cousins? But connected in some way? Come on, fox, no way that could be possible.
But this is the first lead in ages, I need to ask the pretty fox for help. You know, she really has changed so much since elementary school. I sigh slowly and she looks at me with expectant eyes. I have to just ask, that's not hard. Just look into those beautiful eyes and ask her. Show her the picture. Ask if she knows him. Simple.
"Leila, um, okay. We at the ZDP have recently been needing to find out about a fox for reasons I can't really tell you…" I pause again. I can do this. "So, do you know this fox?" I ask suddenly, shoving the picture in front of her.
She looks up at me with wide eyes. She opens her mouth and closes it abruptly, not knowing how to continue. I cock my head and she opens her mouth again. "How do you not know him?" she asks, fully serious. "He's related to you, after all." She states so clearly, as if it was widely clear to everyone. "He's your cousin," she finishes. "Don't you recognize him, Nick?"