Travel Preparations
To the east of Zootopia on an island with pink sands was the Mammal Intelligence Center. Or for simplicity's sake, the MIC. It was a horseshoe-shaped building that stood two giraffes high. Special Tactics forces and agents that specialized in various fields worked here. A moody gray rabbit pushed himself out from under his desk and stood up from his seat. He paced in his office with frenzied steps that were cushioned by a crimson carpet. Black tiger-like stripes decorated the back of his head and neck. He fiddled with the badge pinned to the jacket of his three-piece suit. It marked him as an Investigative Official.
"Too many disappearances," he mumbled. "Murders..." He had been observing the spike in reports around Zootopia about missing small prey creatures. He thought about the reports until the heat of frustration choked his brain. He hit his sturdy dark brown desk with a fist, "The answer has got to be in front of me!" The rabbits' troubled thoughts were disrupted by the squeaking of his office door. He swiftly straightened his posture and watched as a female chipmunk entered his office.
"Agent Jack, The ZPD is prepared for your arrival. Chief Bogo is setting up the agreed upon meeting for noon, today." She placed a black binder down onto a cushion that rested near the door. Jack didn't mind her casual nature. She was a good assistant and was welcome to get as comfortable as she desired while in his office.
"Thank you, Selene. I can't wait to see them. They need to know what we might be dealing with. Chief Bogo had already sent me four e-mails. He is getting desperate." Selene took a pen from the binder and slipped it into her pants pocket.
"How long have you been in contact with them?"
"Chief Bogo had been exchanging information with me about suspiciously high numbers of missing mammals for the past two weeks. He needs to know that this is a lone actor." Jack shut off his computer and placed the chair back under his desk. He needed a clean workspace so he could comfortably spread out. As soon as any short task was complete, he went right back to organizing his space.
"Sir," the chipmunk began, "how can you be so sure that this is the work of a lone killer?" Jack turned to Selene. The dim white ceiling lights sat on the top of his vision as he enthusiastically spoke about his theory.
"There is an emerging pattern in the witness testimonies I have been studying." He grabbed a file from the top left drawer of his desk. "Here, look. I've circled similar comments made from different mammals across Zootopia." Selene stood beside him, listening with interest. In red ink, several words and phrases were marked: Quick moving shadows, a swiping and snapping noise. All of these words were found in several reports. "I was even given some strands of hair found at a few crime scenes. Whether or not any of the hairs belong to the killer is yet to be determined."
"Why were you given the evidence?" asked Selene. Jack bit his lip and mulled over the question. He knew the answer, but he felt disappointment and shame on behalf of the police department for the reason.
"Because Bogo's budget had been choked off, making it difficult for him to fund studies and extensive investigations." Satisfied with Selene's silent nod of understanding, he continued with his theory, "This has to be the work of a single serial predator. He knows how to stay hidden. He acts fast like he knows exactly where to be and when to strike. And then he's gone." Jack sighed. He walked over to his water cooler and grabbed a cup. "All the faint clues that have been found are pointing to one individual. The descriptions are all too similar to point to more than one actor. The shape and size of this mysterious killer have been consistent with the testimonies. But this is not enough. I am going to need more than noises, shadows, and a pawful of mixed hairs that can't even be analyzed for DNA." Jack hurriedly drank a cup of cold water. He winced as a slow sharp ache crawled up his head. He caught Selene staring at him.
"Jack, are you okay?"
"Ow," - he rubbed his forehead in a circular motion - "yes, I'll be alright." When he recovered, he laughed and said, " Brainfreeze from water. I forget the cooler is too good at its job." He shook his head and picked up his files then zipped them up in his backpack. He was exasperated with this case. Although he was an old hare and knew all the tricks of his trade, he still needed a team. And he had heard some good things about the ZPD since Bellwether was arrested. But the same bigwigs that praised the changes and successes of the ZPD were also responsible for their dwindling resources. Jack turned to Selene. "So, then it is time to get going." Selene nodded in agreement and they began their journey to Zootopia.