Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from the movie Zootopia are all owned by Disney the great and powerful. All registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for songs whose lyrics mention coffee. The 1925 A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You by Joseph Meyer, Al Dubin and Billy Rose is an example. It has a simple little message: I don't need the jug of wine and loaf of bread – a cup of coffee and sandwich is enough as long as I have you.
A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich, and You
Judy, as usual, woke up first. She enjoyed a brief quiet time, her head resting on Nick's chest as she listened to him breathe. By turning her head slightly she was able to see the clock on the nightstand, and decided it was time to make coffee. The coffee maker here in Nick's apartment was much nicer than the one she owned. At some point they needed to decide what items they would keep after marriage and what they would give away. And where would they live? Judy loved her larger apartment, but suspected Nick dreaded the thought of moving his record collection. Maybe they would buy a house and start fresh. "Compromise," she reminded herself, "marriage means compromise."
The smell of fresh brewed coffee awakened Nick. He wandered into the kitchen inhaling deeply. "Something smells wonderful."
"Since I've never heard that said of oatmeal I'll assume it's the coffee. It should be ready."
He came up behind her at the stove and put his arms around her, then nuzzled her neck. "No, not coffee... It smells like bunny... I love the smell of bunny in the morning."
Judy giggled, "Is there a time of day you don't like the way I smell?"
"Now that you mention it... No." He continued to nuzzle her neck, and one of his paws began to drift.
"Stop it, or we'll be late for work," she warned.
"Would that be so bad?"
"Yes it would."
"Do you have to reform me completely?" he pouted. "I never had to worry about the clock before."
"And you never had anyone who made coffee for you either."
"Sure I did... At six credits a cup. But the loving brew crafted by your dainty paws is infinitely better than what is served at any coffee shop in the entire city."
"You are very gallant, Mister Wilde," Judy giggled as she served up the oatmeal. "I must think of some way to thank you for the compliment."
"I had a suggestion, remember? But you shot me down – said it would make us late for work."
"You are more... No, I was going to say you are more impossible than usual this morning. But I think this is just your usual level of impossible." A moment later she remembered, "I've lost track. Are we going dancing this Friday or are you playing poker?"
"Poker, at Truckie's. Maybe we can go dancing Saturday?"
"That would be great... I think. A have a couple requests. Is Truckie's wife there while you're playing?"
"Not if she can help it. She takes the kits to see her mother, or sometimes she takes them to a movie and is back before we finish. Why?"
"I'd like to meet her, talk with her. Truckie seems so nice, he's the most normal of your friends. I'd like to know how to keep a fox happy. Maybe she could share the secrets with me."
"You already know how to keep me happy. Truckie normal? I won't tell him you said that, I'm sure he'd feel... Wait a minute, are you wanting to change me?"
"No I love you the way you are. I'm not sure why, but I do. I just want to be sure I make you happy."
"Don't worry. You do, but I'll give Truckie a call and ask if you can meet his family."
"Thanks."
"You said a couple requests?"
"Yes, can you come and watch my football match on Saturday?"
"Sure. Something special?"
"Sort of... Hye was telling me about some place down in the Fourth Ward that might be good for a wedding, and I thought we might go by after the game to see it."
"Okay," he agreed slowly. "And while I'm not opposed to watching you kick around the football you said I should be there to watch the game."
"Um, yeah. If you could sit in the stands with Tom and tell him how wonderful it is to be engaged, Hye would appreciate it." He sighed, and Judy explained. "She thinks it's about time for him to propose. He's as good at ignoring hints as you were. So maybe hearing how great it is to be engaged will get him thinking about it. Hye says she's going to propose to him in three months if he doesn't come through by then. We, Hye and I, figure that you telling him about how great it will be to get married, and seeing a wedding venue may help."
"You do realize it is against the Code of the Male to help trap one of our brothers, don't you?"
"Marriage is a trap? Think for a minute before you answer that question, Mister Wilde."
He nuzzled his nose against hers. "Marrying you will be the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me," he assured her. "But I chose how to live my life – with the most wonderfullest bunny in the world. I'm just saying maybe Tom should be allowed to decide his own fate."
Judy kissed him, "And you are the most wonderful thing in my life. But some males need a gentle hint to point them in the right direction. And some need to be hit with a big club with a nail in it. Anyway, we'll see the... I think it was an old fire station, but it's been converted to a hall for weddings, birthdays, folk concerts, stuff like that. We'll see it with them, and maybe have dinner. Invite them to do out dancing with us after dinner?"
Nick shrugged, "Okay, if I haven't had my limit to his bad jokes."
Judy located two wolves whose phone numbers were found in the recent contacts on the cell phone of the murdered Jewell Graytip.
Nick chaffed slightly on accompanying Judy to interview the two, he wanted to revisit the parking lot Arthur Greytip had used yesterday. He felt certain that somewhere in the timing of the morning he could find a clue. There had to have been some sort of a slip somewhere in the husband's overly exact timetable.
The younger of the two wolves freely admitted to being in a relationship with Jewell Graytip. He had no strong alibi for his movements on the morning of her death. Nick, convinced of the husband's guilt, actually saw it as evidence in the wolf's favor. He felt certain that a careful murderer would attempt the strongest possible alibi, and this male seemed truly grief-stricken and, in Nick's mind, incapable of murder.
The older wolf was big, with large enough paws to have made the larger set of prints at the dining room murder scene. His initial response was to deny knowing Mrs. Graytip altogether and ordering the pair from his business. The fact his private number was on her phone, and the threat of a court order to get his paw prints forced him to cave. He ordered his secretary to hold all calls and led the detectives to his private office. He finally confessed to an affair, and begged them not to tell his wife and family. He claimed that the relationship had ended a few weeks earlier and insisted there was no animosity on either side. Whether his claims were true or not was largely immaterial. He had come into work early, a fact to which there were multiple witnesses, and there would have been no time to travel between the murder site and his office within the window for the crime.
"Murder to keep his wife from learning of his affair?" Judy asked as they returned to their car. "Could be a motive. Might have hired a killer."
"Could be. You think it was?"
"No. But a lawyer will suggest he hired a killer to keep the affair secret from his family."
"And then the killer can blackmail him for both the affair and the murder?"
"I told you, I didn't think he did it. And remember, I was the one who said look at the husband first."
"But you said it on general principles. Any male friends and ex-male friends were on your automatic suspect list too, but we both know it was the husband."
Nick and Judy spent hours at the parking lots Graytip usually used, and the one he used the morning of the murder, and all of the parking lots in between. The one Graytip had used seemed unnecessarily far away to Nick. They walked from the parking lot Graytip had used to the office. The times the wolf had given seemed to fit the time required for the hike. "I could have done it faster," Nick commented.
"No reason to think he needed to run," Judy pointed out. "And he said he stopped at nine and called home."
"He just said he called... But you're right." Phone records confirmed the attempted call. But Nick was convinced it was part of the fake cover story – he made the call to help establish his alibi after killing his wife.
The armadillo at the near lot, who provided a sort of semi-security with his presence on-site, had not made any note of when the lot filled up. Nick hoped the video tape would reveal the time the lot had filled, although he wasn't certain how it would help him. The area was filled with industrial and office buildings, with many surface lots for vehicles. He and Judy tried to quiz attendants at other lots as to when they had filled up. It was hopeless. Only two of the other lots had attendants, and one of them was even further from Graytip's building than the lot the wolf had used. Most of the lots were self-serve. You paid cash or inserted a credit card and got a receipt you left on the dash board. Nick felt a glimmer of hope, the receipt would have a time stamp on it. Some of the lots had security cameras. The one used by the wolf on the day of the murder did not.
"I paid cash for the receipt," Arthur told them when Nick called. "Don't trust those public machines to keep credit card information safe."
"Any chance you have the receipt?"
"No, why do you want it?"
"Just trying to verify your movements yesterday," Nick told him.
Without even seeing the wolf, Nick knew Graytip was smiling broadly, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I had no idea you might be interested. I threw it out somewhere."
Nick felt more convinced than ever that the timing of the parked car was the solution to the crime.
At the end of the day they felt like they had accomplished nothing.
Judy's phone awakened them both. "Hello?" the groggy rabbit mumbled.
"Detective Hopps? We may have the perp for the Graytip murder, suspect is in custody."
"What?"
"A lynx was trying to pawn some of the jewelry taken at the crime scene. The pawnbroker recognized them and delayed him until we got there."
"A lynx?"
"Yeah, he insists he found the jewelry, but why would a thief dump jewelry?"
"A thief wouldn't," Judy confirmed. "The suspect's in jail now?"
"Yep. I guess this could have waited for tomorrow, but thought you might want to know."
"I do, thanks for the call. I think Nick and I will head in to interrogate the suspect."
"Want me to call Detective Wilde and tell him," the dispatcher snickered.
"Don't bother. I'll make the phone call. 'Bye." Judy looked over at the fox, now staring at her with a slightly puzzled look. She held the phone up to her face, as if making a call, "Hey, Nick, can you hear me?"
"Uh, yeah. What's up?"
"Just had a phone call from the station. Officer claims the Graytip murderer has been arrested."
"Unless it's the husband they got the wrong animal."
"I knew you'd say that, and figured you'd want to interview the animal trying to pawn the jewelry."
"You know me too well," Nick told her as he quickly got out of bed.
An officer led the two back to the cells, and hit the bars on one with an animal sleeping on the cot inside. "Get up, detectives want to hear your story."
The lynx opened a bleary eye and stared. "Slick?"
"Shad?" Nick asked.
"What they got you for?"
"I'm a detective."
The lynx managed a small laugh, "No, seriously. You always claimed they'd never catch you."
"Seriously, I'm a detective now. The rabbit here caught me." He turned to the uniformed officer, "Let Shadrach out, I need to talk with him."
"He's suspected of murder, you–"
"No way did Shadrach commit murder. Judy and I need to find where he got the jewelry."
"He could be an accomplice."
"And you holding things up might let someone get away with murder."
As the officer led the way to an interrogation room the lynx looked at Nick in disbelief. "You, a detective? That's funny."
"Not as funny as you being suspected of murder."
"An introduction?" Judy requested.
"Sorry, Judy this is Shadrach Proudfoot." He looked at the lynx, "Still sleeping under the Seventh Avenue viaduct?"
"Yeah. Haven't moved."
"And this is Judy Hopps, first rabbit in the ZPD. You never kept up with the news."
"And the two of you know each other from?" asked Judy.
"Slick would sometimes buy me a meal if he was down my way. Haven't seen him in a long time."
The fox waved the lynx into the interrogation room. "Take a chair. I'll be right in." He gave information to Judy in a low voice outside the room. "Alcoholic. Nice enough when sober– And don't say it, he just sleeps it off when drunk. There's no way he's a killer."
They entered the room. "So, Shad," the fox began, "heard you tried to sell some jewelry at a pawn shop?"
"Yeah. I was out scrounging at some dumpsters... Some of them places throw out some good stuff... Good enough to sell, and right there on the ground by the dumpster there was this cloth with–"
"Cloth?"
"Yeah, blue," he gestured with his paws, "about so big, and–"
"Hold on," Judy requested. She opened the door to the interrogation room and shouted for an officer to bring the file with the prisoner's belongings from the evidence room.
"Continue, please," Nick requested.
"I mean, sure it didn't look like anything that someone would throw out, but there is was, right by the dumpster. So, I don't know, maybe it's fake, but it still might be worth somethin', so I head to the pawn and all of a sudden they're slappin' cuffs on me."
There was a knock on the door, and the officer passed in a large manila envelope. The blue cloth was the missing napkin from the Graytip home.
A pained looked crossed Nick's face, and he closed his eyes and sighed, "Judy, my love, next time I get sounding too smug call me an idiot."
"I love you passionately, dear, but I already do that."
"Well, maybe next time I'll believe you. I let myself get suckered. It wasn't about the time at all. It was about real estate."
"Real estate?"
"The three rules of real estate? Location. Location. Location. Graytip gives me too much information on time, so I figure he's lying for some reason and try to break his timetable. But it was never about time. Graytip needed a parking lot with no security cameras that was both away from his office and near the industrial dumpsters. He needed a place to get rid of the evidence – and leave out some jewelry so some poor sucker could be arrested for theft and murder." Nick looked at the Lynx, "You were set up. Any chance you can remember exactly where you found this stuff?"
"I... I... Maybe. All them dumpsters kinda look the same, but maybe I can remember."
"You gotta try, Shad. The killer left this out for someone to find and take the fall. But there had to be other evidence, and it's going to be in a dumpster somewhere between a parking lot and where you found this. He might have even left the murder weapon out for you to get your paw prints on... See a hammer?"
"No, I just saw the loot and scooped it up."
"Murder weapon may be there. And we got to move fast because I don't know the schedule for garbage pickup and we need to get there first."
Fifteen minutes later Nick and Judy with the lynx, accompanied by two black and white units, were in a long alley backing up several industrial sites.
"I... Um, maybe this is the place," Shadrach suggested.
Nick had Ogle Maps on his cell phone screen. "Could be," he confirmed. "Not the most direct route to his office, but still pretty clear shot from the parking lot."
Black and white units blocked each end of the alleyway. The lynx wandered around a little, peering at the dumpsters. "I, uh, yeah. I think this was where I found the stuff."
"Don't touch anything!" Nick warned. The fox discovered the hammer and glass cutter without much effort, it appeared they were meant to be found. Shadrach was standing with an officer by one of the patrol cars, "You didn't touch this, right?"
"I can't see what you're talking about. Too dark."
"It's a hammer."
"I didn't see no hammer."
"Well, we're taking it into the forensics lap to make sure you didn't. His lawyer is going to accuse you of murder."
"I didn't kill nobody!"
"I know that. But you have to go back to jail until they check it out. You'll get breakfast - and I'll buy you lunch once you're released."
"Can I keep the loot?"
"Evidence. Sorry."
"I hate to be a pessimist," Judy pointed out. "But if the hammer is as clean as you predict that won't be enough evidence for a conviction. Without evidence linking the husband specifically to the crime it's still just circumstantial."
"I know. But the one thing Graytip couldn't control was garbage pickup. If trash hasn't been picked up one of these dumpsters has a plastic bag with his pajamas – or whatever he was wearing when he killed his wife – and towels or some other things he used while cleaning up."
Judy tried to guess how many dumpsters lined the dark alley. "We'd better get started."
One hour and twelve minutes, and eleven dumpsters, later Nick heard a triumphant shout from a nearby dumpster, "Eureka!"
"You sure," he called, "cause I'm really tired of going through this garbage."
"I'm sure. We'd better seal this one and check it out better in the daylight to see if I missed anything, but let's get this clothing to the lab for analysis."
After their long night Judy and Nick arrived at the First at noon, both sporting bandages on their paws. "Work gloves in the car from now on," Judy told the fox. "The plastic gloves don't give enough protection."
Nick ruefully stared at his paws. "You're telling me? I'm not sure I'll be able to shuffle cards tomorrow."
Clawhauser greeted them with, "Alces said go to his office as soon as you arrive."
"He probably wants to congratulate us for solving the Graytip murder," predicted Judy.
"He's going to ream us out for showing up late," represented the opinion of the fox.
Nick called, "You wanted us?" at the door to the office.
"Yeah, come in. Sit," the moose ordered. "Two things. First, good work on the murder. How long until the DNA tests come back?"
"Couple days at least. Press doesn't know. Word that Shadrach was arrested got out, and Arthur Greytip is probably feeling safe."
"Shadrach?"
"The lynx they picked up, who found the jewelry where Greytip left it to create another suspect."
"So what happened?"
"Take it, Nick," Judy suggested.
"We got lucky. He had it planned out for weeks, just waiting for an assignment to check a rental property. Killed his wife at breakfast, cleaned up and went to work. He had a parking lot picked out, no video survelliance and just a little detour to dump the evidence. If garbage had been picked up Wednesday he might have gotten away with it."
"And you're sure the DNA evidence will come back to convict him?"
"Positive."
"You heard the news on wilde?"
"We've been sort of busy, haven't heard a thing since that informational meeting."
"Carson and Parr were able to get a tablet. Raccoon says it was planted in his locker and he doesn't know anything about it. But it proves the stuff is real and out there. Tests showed same compounds found in Bellwether's night howler drug."
"Okay," Nick said cautiously, wondering why the captain had called them in.
"Glad you wrapped up the Graytip murder because you..." He pointed at Judy, "You've just been put in charge of a big one. Big and tough. Stopping drugs isn't easy, as long as animals want to buy there'll be animals selling. This is new, and there either isn't a lot of it or the pushers are doing one hell of a job of keeping it hid. Maybe this is new enough it can be stopped now. Task force has been named to try and find the source. Hopps has lead on the case. You'll meet with your team Monday afternoon."
"Me?" Judy asked in disbelief.
"Those were my orders... Look, I'm sorry. It wasn't my idea to give it to you. You cracked both halves of the Night Howler–"
"You don't think she's good enough?" Nick demanded angrily.
"I didn't say that. This is big and there'll probably be a lot of media attention. I already said drugs are pretty much impossible to suppress. But the real problem..." The moose sighed. "I don't think any detective wanted to serve on the task force. Carson and Parr over at the Third requested to be removed. Said they'd done their part getting proof of the stuff."
"What's the problem, we're shorts? Judy is a female?"
"Maybe. But the real problem is a lot of detectives think you got lucky on the Night Howler Case and were too green to deserve promotion to detectives. Carson and Parr? I've heard you worked with them."
"Yeah, a little rocky at first, but we get along fine."
"You get along as colleagues. Those two are the senior detectives at the Third and have to resent being assigned to a task force where Hopps is in charge... Look, I'm not saying it's right. I resented you two being assigned to my shift. I didn't think you could cut it. You've proven to me you belong here. You'll have detectives from three other precincts working under you – and the two you know best have already tried to back out of the assignment. It's going to make a tough case even harder. I'm just warning you to be prepared. Don't expect it to be easy, and start planning your strategy for Monday's meeting. Sound like you're in charge. Some of them can smell fear."
As they left the Captain's office Nick whispered, "More excited or scared?"
"More scared, I think. I'm not sure where to start... Maybe a visit to the weasel who seems to know every dirty thing happening in Zootopia?"
Nick shrugged, "As quiet as this was Duke may not have anything, but it doesn't hurt to check. I could use a cup of coffee."
Twenty minutes later the rabbit and fox entered a small weasel diner with Duke Weaselton reluctantly in tow.
"Nick," the owner boomed, "wonderful to see you! Since you brought the Mayor here," he kissed his claws and spread them in a gesture which meant, 'everything is better than wonderful'. "Five times as many customers! And they come back, they tell friends. Banks offer me money to move and expand! Detective Hopps! I need your picture too. I'm putting them up on the walls, the pictures of the... Gazelle's people did take out, they promised an autographed... What's he doing he?" he demanded and pointed at Duke. "Get out of here, you cheap crook."
"Tony, Tony," Nick said in a soothing tone, "you never objected before when we brought him in for canolli."
"I don't need the business no more. I can be choosy."
"Refusing to serve an animal can get you charged with discrimination," Judy reminded him.
"He's a punk! Why are you even with a low life like him?"
"He turned state's evidence in the Night Howler case and got probation, remember?" Nick told the owner. "His probation officer has asked us to look in on him every now and then. It's an unpleasant job, but someone's got to do it. And what better way to take the taste of the interview out of our mouths than a cup of your coffee and a cannoli?"
"Fine," Tony grumbled, "but sit in the back where nobody sees him."
As they slid into the booth Duke complained, "Unpheasant job? Da toim youse said was unpheasant job. If Ise such an incontinence for youse, youse could just leaves me alone."
"Would you prefer I told Tony you stooled for us?"
"Duke Weaselton do not stool for nobody."
"I know that," Nick assured him. "But poor Tony wouldn't understand our relationship. We're working for you. We keep the heat from coming down too hard on you, and you repay us by tossing an occasional scrap of information our way. We meet for our mutual benefit... And cannoli. Especially for canolli."
The owner's daughter arrived with order pad, and a camera to take Judy's picture. "Did you give Ernie my name and phone number," she asked Nick quietly after taking their order.
"Yes."
"He hasn't called," she pouted.
"He's very shy, and he's trying to finish up at the Police Academy – it's a lot of work. Want me to remind him, Gina?"
"If you would please... Remember, don't tell Papa."
"What was that all about," Judy asked when the teen departed.
Nick shrugged, "She saw Ernie on television that one time during the campaign and apparently thought he was cute. Why? You still hoping to set him up with that Iris you want for your football team?"
"Sort of... I think he plays too. We need more males and this fox I know keeps turning me down."
Duke coughed, "Could youse two cut da hearts an flowers? Youse it taking time from me financiel transaxels."
"Sorry," Nick apologized, with a tone that had no apparent sorrow in it. "Police are trying to get information on a new street drug called–"
"Ise do not deal in no dope," he hissed in anger.
"Good," Judy told him. "We never said you did. But you hear things. It's called–"
"Youse is asking 'bout wilde, right?"
"So you've heard something," Nick said, excited. "What have you got?"
"Rumors. Rumors of rumors. Da stuff may be one of dem wispy-wills. Expensive stuff... Ise been tempted to offer some under da table, but got no idea what da stuff is supposed to look like, if it is out dere."
"And you also know Judy and I will nail your ass to the floor if we catch you selling even counterfeit dope. No one buying a fake Rolled-Ex watch from you was going to be spending money for a real one, so we figure–"
"You figure," Judy corrected him.
"I figure Rolled-Ex doesn't lose anything... Heck, you might be advertising them with your scam. Dope is something else."
"Ise not afraid of youse two," the weasel lied with a sneer. "But Ise gots me standards... Besides, dere is pushers around who would not takes kindly to me stepping into deir turfs."
"Any claiming to have wilde?" Judy asked.
"Let me answer that," Nick told Duke. He turned to Judy, "The stuff sells for a premium, so anyone who's selling anything claims to have the real stuff and hopes the buyer is too dumb to know the difference. And Duke, who might get beaten up by real pushers if he claimed to have the stuff, stays out of the racket."
"Dat's da truth," agreed Duke.
The rabbit requested, "Names of pushers?"
Nick looked like he wanted to say something, but the coffee and cannoli arrived and he remained silent as they were served. "Sorry to be so slow," Gina apologized. "We've been busier than usual."
After she left Duke told them firmly. "Ise not a snitch. I has given youse information when youse has twisted me arm, but I ain't never fingered nobody and Ise not gonna start."
"We need names," Judy repeated.
"He's right," Nick told her. "It's his neck if he mentions names."
"Tanks, dat's–"
"We kept his grandmother out of–"
"I told you not to go there either," Nick warned.
"My gran? What about me gran? Youse hoid of her?"
"Everyone knows about your grandmother," Nick told him. "One of the last, maybe the last of the old time mobsters. Don't know why nobody's tried to write the story of her life. The things she's seen, incredible."
The weasel shifted uncomfortably in the booth, wondering exactly what the detectives knew about his grandmother's current activities.
"She's another thing Nick won't let me talk about," Judy said glumly.
"The point is," Nick assured the weasel, "she's legend. The stuff she must have in her head? I'll bet she could clear up a bunch of mysteries in the ZPD cold case files."
"Dere ain't no stanchion of imitations on some of da stuffs she done in her yout, but she is an respectable old weasel now."
"Hadn't considered statute of limitations. I still think she should write stuff down, maybe you could get a ghost writer to help you polish it up after she's gone. Might be worth a pile of dough."
"Youse tinks so?"
"I'd want a copy. Sorry to have wasted your time."
"But–" protested Judy.
"We don't ask any animal to risk his or her life," Nick told her. As they left the diner Nick made it a point to remind Duke, "Keep your nose clean, you know the terms of your probation," where Tony would hear them.
"Up yours," the weasel replied.
Nick and Judy read the slim file Carson and Parr had generated in their efforts to verify the existence of wilde. As Nick had pointed out, any animal selling drugs was likely to have claimed to have wilde, so they optimistically began their vain search in the files. The ZPD had lists of all animals ever convicted of selling narcotics, all animals ever arrested for selling narcotics but not convicted, and all animals ever suspected of selling narcotics who had never been arrested. Had the lists been printed out on paper it would have made for a lot of dead trees. The sheer number of names, coupled with the available resources of the ZPD, overwhelmed Judy. She and Nick were scrolling through the records on their computers, hoping in vain to see something that might provide a clue on where to start the investigation.
"Any names Duke could have told us are probably already on these lists," Nick commented as he leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for a minute to give his eyes a break.
"But it might have narrowed things down some," Judy pointed out as she continued to scroll down and hope a clue would leap out at her.
The phone rang on Nick's desk, "Yes?"
"Call for you personally on line three. No name," Clawhauser told him. "Busy?"
Nick looked at the work in front of him, "Not really. I'll take it." He answered, "Wilde here."
"Do not use no names," Duke told him. "I mights have somethin for youse poisonally, if youse can ditch da rabbit for a minute."
"That sounds interesting, Ma'am. I'm not sure if that really police business or not. Why don't I meet you and get a little more information about your neighbor's activities."
"Ma'am? Neighbor? What... Oh, yeah. Da Stealbucks two blocks Nort of da station? Ise ken be dere in ten. Dat woik for youse?"
"I should make it, I need to consult my partner."
"Do not brings da bunny!"
"No, Ma'am, I'll remember that."
Judy had watched him during the phone call. "What's up?"
"Some old female thinks her neighbor is looking through her garbage or something odd. She sounded a little confused. Not sure why she wanted me. You won't mind if I go hold her paw for a minute and tell her to take off the tinfoil hat, will you?"
"It could be a trap."
"I think it falls into the category of reassuring some old crazy. It won't take both of us, and I'll be back soon."
"I think I should go with you."
"I think you should do real work. It doesn't take both of us."
The bunny hesitated a moment. "Okay... She didn't sound like a pretty young vixen, did she? There's more than one kind of trap."
Nick laughed, "I should be so lucky. No, definitely not a pretty vixen."
On entering the coffee shop Nick didn't immediately see the weasel, but a small motion in the corner caught his attention. He ordered a small latte and moved to the back. As he slid into the booth the weasel demanded, "What does youse really know abouts me gran?"
"Nothing, Duke. Nothing. At least not what she may be doing now at the old animal's home. I still say you need to get her memoirs for a book."
"Da bunny..." The weasel tapped his paw nervously on the table. Clearly Judy, and therefore Nick, knew more about his grandmother than they were saying. "Ise mights have a name for youse, but dere is coitain conditioning."
"A name? Someone pushing wilde?"
"No, but a name dat mights gets youse a name. But dere is conditioning."
"And the conditions?"
"Your ears only. Da rabbit do not know."
Now it was the fox's turn to hesitate. Judy was his partner. He was supposed to tell her everything about the case. She was also in charge of the investigation which gave him a responsibility to report everything. Did the fact she was in charge of the investigation, and desperately wanted any information which might help, change the equation?. He wanted her to succeed as much as she wanted to succeed.
"You know someone, who might supply a name, but you can't be sure?" The weasel nodded. "Now, if I get the name of the pusher, I can tell Judy that, just not where I got it?"
"Dat is right. Oh, and youse yoiself can not asks da individual whose name I mights tell youse."
"Then how can I get information?"
"Da name I mights gives sells weed near da univoisity. He hears dings, but he can smell cops – and youse can no longer past as a college student, aldough youse does not yets smell like a cop."
"It's my deodorant," the fox muttered. "I'm not sure you've got squat. Give me a minute to think. I won't lie to you."
"Witch is why Ise makin' da offer to youse."
Judy needed a place to start the investigation. He might be able to supply one. Duke's offer didn't sound very promising, but might be worth pursuing. Anything sounded better at the moment than the endless records on the ZPD computers. "Okay, Duke. You aren't promising I'll get a name from this, but, if I do, Judy won't learn the source from me."
"Youse needs someone to chat wit a skunk named Sunshine Johnny Sunshine whose can unusually be found–"
"Wait, his name is Sunshine Johnny or Johnny Sunshine?"
"Needer, Ise said his name is Sunshine Johnny Sunshine. He dropped a lot of acid back before it was made illegal. He is a strange boid, but he hears stuff. And he says stuff. Witch is why youse does not mention me name to whosoever you has talks wit him."
"Got it. Send in someone to buy some grass, they'll casually ask if he knows anyone with wilde, and if I can find someone who sounds believable I might get a name?"
"Eggsackly."
Back at the First Judy asked, "Well?"
"Two neighbors who hate each other. Currently no reason for police to look at it." Once back on the computer he found a long file on Johnathan Stripe, aka Sunshine Johnny Sunshine. In recent years he had been observed selling small amounts of pot, so small the officers didn't waste time and money with an arrest when the conviction would have just put him back on the street. Different officers offered comments on the skunk. Some were convinced J. Stripe should be institutionalized because of mind damage from too many LSD trips. Others thought the mental lapses were faked. But all the records agreed it had been many years since he had been known to peddle anything other than marijuana. He didn't look like a good lead for any information on wilde, but at the moment he and Judy didn't even have a bad lead.
"Judy?"
"Yes?"
"I know we don't have plans for the evening, and don't make any. I need to run out to the Police Academy."
"An ex-mayor's work is never done?"
"Basically."
The goat Nick had named to head the Police Academy greeted Nick as warmly as the pessimistic animal could. "Here about the program for smalls?"
"Not right now. Need to know how an animal is doing in the current class, a weasel named Ernest."
"Hold on, I'm new here. You say currently enrolled?"
"Yes."
"Give me a minute to call up his file. I haven't learned the names of all the students."
Nick fidgeted as the goat read the comments. Whiskers shrugged, "Lower half of the class. All the instructors say he works hard and is the most polite individual they've ever had. Two think he'll never make a good cop. One predicts they'll stick him as a desk sergeant to handle the public. I remember this overweight cheetah from when I was teaching here, I hear he–"
"Ben Clawhauser. I know him."
"Okay. Sorry. Why are you interested in...? Oh, I see this Ernest comes from Bunnyburrow – a friend of Detective Hopps?"
"Sort of. I need him for a little undercover job."
"He's not a police officer, he's a student at the academy."
"I don't know any cops who can pass for a polite, and slightly nervous, college student. Ernie is a natural."
"You don't use students in stings, it's not safe!"
"He's basically done with classes, right? Instructors all predict he'll pass, right? It's just a little field work for extra credit."
"There is no extra credit at the Police Academy, and he's going to pass and become a cop without needing any."
"Well, if he's passing and going to be a cop anyway I think it's time to give him a small assignment."
"A small assignment?"
"Teensy, tiny little thing. Perfectly safe."
The goat thought for a minute, "Is this important?"
"Might be," Nick shrugged. "Might be a total nothing."
"I'm willing to let you ask him, realize he's under no obligation to–"
Nick took out his cell phone, "I've got him in my contacts."
It took more work to persuade the Police Commissioner to swear in Ernie as an officer. "The fact you appointed me as Commissioner doesn't put me under any obligation, you realize that?"
"Absolutely. And I'd never suggest otherwise. But you feel an obligation to the citizens of Zootopia. I've got an anonymous tip of an animal who might have information on a big case. It might not pan out, but it needs to be investigated and I need a fresh-faced recruit who could pass for a student at the U."
The Commissioner sighed, "The wilde invesigation?"
"Yes."
Ernie has started the Police Academy when the Commissioner had run the program, so the two knew each other. The Commissioner was one who doubted if the weasel was tough enough for the job, but after signing on to assigning Judy the lead in the investigation – the clue as to why Nick needed the weasel's help – he felt obligated to support the fox and rabbit.
"Will we do the thing tonight?" Officer Ernie asked as they left the Commissioner.
"No, right now I take you back to the Academy to resume your secret identity as a cadet in the training program. I need to get your story clear. Hopefully tomorrow night."
"I'm scared out of my mind," Judy confided to Nick. "I have no idea how to lead an investigation."
"C'mon, it can't be as scary as the Night Howler Case, and you cracked that."
"We cracked that. And we were lucky. And I wasn't in charge of anything. Bogo told me I could look for Mrs. Otterton just to get me out of his hair. I don't know how to lead an investigation like this."
"You wouldn't have been given the assignment if they didn't think you could do it."
"Even the police make mistakes."
Nick knew he would be as anxious if he'd been named to head the investigation, and knew his own lack of experience meant he could offer her no concrete ideas. "Hold on. Let me see if I can find someone who might help."
Fortune smiled on him, Detective Nyte was at her desk, "Nyte, I need a favor!"
"For you... Maybe. What's the sitch?"
"Judy is–"
"What's wrong?" the panther asked, the concern in her voice real.
"Panic attack. She got assigned the lead on–"
"Yeah, I heard. It's a compliment. That case should be big. Given how new you both are I was surprised you got it."
"She got it. I don't know about the compliment. I know I wouldn't want it. She's so nervous now that– Can you try and talk her down before she gets so nervous she throws up on her desk or something?"
The panther grimaced, "That bad?"
"That bad. Please?"
"For Judy? Sure." A minute later the large detective tapped Judy on the shoulder, "Interview Room C, now."
"What's going on," Judy demanded as the panther shut the door of the interrogation room behind her.
"Private conversation. Nick says you're scared."
"Beyond scared. Petrified. I don't–"
"That's why we're in here. You don't say that out where the males you can hear you. You are good, Judy, you can do this."
"But I've never–"
"First time for everything. I heard of some stubborn rabbit who insisted she could get on the police force – even though everyone knew she was crazy. She made it. There's got to be a first time... Um, maybe she isn't a good example. I hear she went crazy and is sleeping with a fox or something."
Judy managed a giggle, "You've led investigations?"
"Quite a few. Oh, and we didn't always get enough evidence for an arrest. It happens. No one will blame you."
"I'll blame me! It will be my fault."
"Won't be your fault. Sometimes there just is not enough evidence for an arrest. Do your best, that's all you can do."
"Do you remember your first lead?"
"Oh, yeah," Nyte chuckled.
"Were you scared?"
"Yep. I was first female detective to get assigned the lead position. And I damn well wasn't going to fail. I ran those males under me ragged, but we cracked it. I don't ever want to hear a female detective doubt herself. We are capable. Now, you can tell me to go to Hell if you want, but would you like some tips from someone with a bit more experience?"
"Please, Lylah, I'd be so grateful."
The panther gave her advice on organizing evidence, creating a flow chart to measure progress, and making assignments.
Judy gave a sigh of relief after the pep talk. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. And remember, you're the lead. Don't let any male give you shit because you're a female. You're in charge... Ummm, not sure what to tell you about the fox. Never worked with a lover, but–."
"Fiancé, we're going to get married."
"Same difference."
"No it's not."
"Anyway, point is. You're still in charge of the investigation. But he brings extra concern for you that a regular partner doesn't have. Also means you've got baggage as far as he's concerned – don't let it cloud your thinking... Truth? I'm not sure to think about the fox. He's good, but that laid back attitude sometimes rubs me the wrong way – on the other hand, I think you need some of it. If you start freaking out, and he tells you, 'Judy, chill', you need to listen to him."
"I'll try."
Judy spent the rest of Friday following Detective's Nyte's suggestions on organizing the investigation. Nick spent much of the day pretending to look at the computer files while creating Ernie's role. He wasn't sure of the weasel's acting ability, or skill at thinking on his feet. He needed to keep everything as simple as possible and make the story fit with the weasel's natural personality.
"Hello?"
"Terry? Nick here. Need a favor."
"You wrecked your car and need a ride to the poker game?"
"Nah, I need the name of a pothead at the U, any pothead will do."
"They make you a Narc or something?"
"No, I've got an undercover cop who may need to drop a name. Oh, I don't want anyone who might be selling. Simply someone who it's pretty clear smokes too much."
"I dunno, this sounds a lot like–"
"I told you, just name dropping. Don't even want to meet the user, let alone bust him."
It took longer to convince Finnick's brother than Nick had planned, and Nick wasn't even sure it would be necessary. But a good cover story should have some depth.
To Nick's relief Judy's sister was not at the poker get-together than night. He introduced Truckie's wife to Judy and the two females, along with two children, left to visit the kits' grandparents.
Nick bought in, but as soon as Judy left he stood up, "Need to head out. Working on a surprise for Judy. Hope to be back before she is, but if I'm delayed you don't know where I went and are not sure when I'll be back. I'll have a story for her."
"We don't know where you're going or when you'll be back," Truckie pointed out.
"See, you're being honest. And if I'm back before she is, I was here all night."
"A surprise for Judy?" Terry asked, remembering the afternoon phone call.
"Pleasant surprise," insisted Nick.
"You owe us," Eric told him.
"Owe you?"
"Yeah, if you ever get a call from my wife asking where I was, I was with you."
"What are you up to," Truckie asked his friend.
"Nothing, just want to bank the favor in case I need it some day."
"You call him Truckie too?" Judy asked on the drive.
"It was how we were introduced," his wife laughed. "He'll need to start using his real name someday, but he'll put it off as long as possible. Now, why was it you wanted to meet me?"
"I just want to make sure I can make Nick happy. Truckie seems so nice, I thought you could share some secret on being a wife to a fox."
"As opposed to meeting Eric's wife? Don't blame her for his behavior. And I don't think you need any advice from me. I always thought Nick was totally irresponsible. You've turned him around. I've never seen as happy as he's been since you came into his life."
"Really?"
"Really. Just keep doing what you're doing. Oh, I hope you don't mind, but I told my mom you were coming, and she invited some friends over to meet you. Mostly foxes, but there are some other predators. Everyone is so grateful for you and the work you did solving that dreadful Night Howler thing."
Nick sat at a small table, sipping his double shot of espresso and watching the old skunk. Twice animals, who looked like they were students at Zoo U, walked over and greeted the skunk and money was exchanged for a small plastic bag. Sunshine Johnny Sunshine would then leave the coffee house briefly and return to his table. The fox glanced as his watch, hoping Ernie hadn't backed out without warning him, when the door opened and a nervous weasel entered.
Ernie cautiously approached, "Er, are you Mister Sunshine Johnny Sunshine, Sir?"
"Who wants to know?"
"My name is Ernie, Sir, and–"
"Your name's Ernie Sir?"
"No, Sir, Ernie is my name and–"
"So, you're Sir Ernie?"
The weasel looked so confused and flustered the skunk broke into laughter and apologized, "Your name's Ernie. Here at the U?"
"Yes, Sir, and–"
"Can you drop the Sir?"
"Yes, Sir. I was... Oh, wait, I did it again, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did. Call me Sunshine."
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Mister Sunshine, Sir. I–"
"Nervous?"
"Yes, Mister Sunshine. I, um... That is, I was told that... I, ah, someone asked me to a party and, uh, I, ah asked if I could bring anything and, um, someone said that you..."
"That I might have something to add mellow to the evening?"
"Ah, yes. I'm sorry. I've never... and I..."
"Can I ask who mentioned my name?"
Nick had given Ernie various background details for any questions. One was the name Carl Webb. Terry didn't know where Carl purchased weed, but the fennec had smelled it often enough on the capybara that he knew the rodent smoked it. "Uh... his name is Carl. He's a capy in–"
"Carl? Okay, I can help you."
"Thank you Mister Sunshine, Sir."
Some cash, and a small plastic bag changed hands. Instead of leaving the weasel went to the next stage of the Nick's script. "I was wondering," Ernie asked, and the nervous hesitancy in his voice wasn't acting, "if, uh... Someone said that... See, there's this female, and..."
"I don't give advice on love life," the skunk warned.
"No, Sir. Someone told me there was something... He called it wilde and said that if you use it when you... And I was wondering if you–"
"I don't deal in the stuff, and would advise against it. Good sex is here," Sunshine Johnny Sunshine told the weasel and tapped his head.
"Er, yes, but, I..."
Nick had counted on Ernie's innocence to make the act convincing.
"You're a scared and need a little courage?"
"Yes, Sir. Please, do you know where I could get some?"
The skunk thought a moment. "You said Charles sent you to me?"
"Uh, no, Sir. His name was Carl."
"Do you know a place called The Otter Dive?"
"No, Sir. I'm not old enough to drink. What bus route is it on?"
The skunk sighed, "It's been gone for years. My advice for you is to forget the wilde. If you're not going to listen to good advice find a place called the Pagoda Hell Saloon. Between eight and nine there may be red panda there named Xhou and–"
"Eight in the morning or eight at night, Sir?"
"Xhou don't get up before noon. And you don't approach him if he's talking to anyone – clear?"
"Clear."
"You tell him you've got a prescription for one."
"Prescription for one?"
"Think of it as a password. You don't say it, you don't get your courage."
"Thank you, Sir. Thank you."
Nick waited ten minutes before following Ernie out the door. They met back at Nick's car. "I thought it went well."
"I was scared. You heard everything?"
"Perfectly."
"Can you meet that Xhou?"
Nick sighed, "It would be better if you stayed in the role. Sunshine Johnny Sunshine might be deeper in this than we realize and might describe you. That 'prescription for one' might be some kind of code that fits you and if I try it, it would tip them off. It's too late tonight to try the Padoda Hell Saloon, but I think I need you. You willing to try the next step?"
Ernie looked uncomfortable, "I... I'll do my best."
"Good. I'll take you back now and–"
"What do I do about this, Mister Wilde, Sir?" Ernie asked pulling the bag of weed out of his pocket.
Nick refrained from suggesting, 'Smoke it in good health'. "Give it to me, I'll enter it as evidence." The marijuana would enter a toilet and get flushed as soon as possible. In his youth Nick might have sampled it himself, but a hustler needs to keep his wits about him and Nick had avoided too much alcohol and any drugs to keep to stay sharp.
Nick felt lucky. He'd gotten a name, returned Ernie to the Police Academy, and made it back to Truckie's before Judy returned. Only three players remained in the game when he sat back down at the table, and Nick tried to get rid of his chips by going all on the first hand he was dealt. Two lucky hands later one of the other three was out and Nick had a sizeable stack of chips in front of him. Judy returned in time to see him lose the last of those chips in the final deal of the night.
He would hold on to the lucky feeling as long as he could. He strongly suspected Judy would want an explanation for backing out of their plans for dancing the next night, and while he had resolved not to lie to her, he was equally certain he couldn't tell her the full story.
