"Wait! You saw Les there?!" Judy squeaked as she threw herself next to the makeup team to try and question Nick while he was getting his disguise removed.
"Yeah, it was weird. I turned around and crashed right into him. The dummy was walking out with a pawful of Nighthowlers too. Honestly carrots, I think he might be our biggest suspect." Nick replied and winced when one of the fake scars was peeled away which, in turn, tugged on his fur.
"Maybe... I can see him being able to kitnap a Gazelle, but an Ocelot? Don't you think he'd need some help considering the size difference between the two?" Judy asked as she crossed her arms.
"Good question, but I wouldn't underestimate any type of pred, let alone a weird one like that guy. Don't you remember back in history class whenever the teacher would talk about how small preds used to hunt down larger prey." he shrugged.
"Think we should go talk to him?" she asked yawning heavily, her voice distorted by it.
"Well, he's obviously not in his office, we should go first thing in the morning." He replied.
Judy opened her mouth to respond when they heard a loud scream that echoed in from the main atrium.
Without a word, they stood up, tranquilizer guns in paw and ran for the source of the scream.
Nothing could prepare them for the grotesque sight they were greeted with. Staggering through the atrium was a feline of sorts, though his fur and skin had been flayed from his body leaving him a staggering mass of bleeding muscle. His face was contorted in agony and he reached out to anyone nearby, pleading with them.
"S-some-one. Please…help…me." He whimpered before he finally collapsed to the floor in a puddle of blood.
Everyone in the atrium was stunned by the sight of what happened and several onlookers who had witnessed the feline approach the building had gathered by the doors and windows to look in morbid curiosity. Some fainted while others spilled the contents of their stomachs in revulsion.
Finally, it was Bogo that broke the stunned silence of the room with his massive booming voice. "Clawhauser, I want EMT's down here now. Officers Delgato, McHorn, Trunkerby, get these civilians out of here! Fangmeyer, this is now a crime scene, cordon it. Higgins, he had to come from somewhere, find it out!"
Just like that the entire room was instantly abuzz with activity with officers and civilians alike scrambling to do what they were told. Judy and Nick gave each other a quick look and dashed down the stairs towards the commotion. They forced themselves to look at the body which had become completely still. It was a smaller feline, that was the only thing they could be sure of. As to his species, that was unclear as every inch of his skin had been removed and it was a wonder that he lived long enough to make it to the ZPD building.
"Chief, what the hell is going on here?" Nick asked, a mix of shock and anger in his voice.
"A few minutes ago, we had this poor bastard stagger in dripping with blood, how he managed to power through the streets to make it here just to die without saying a word about who killed him is beyond me, listen here Wilde, do you think this could be the same killer as the two previous cases?"
"Maybe, it meets our sick bastard's level of sadism quite nicely."
Bogo nodded and turned to Fangmeyer, "Detectives Hopps and Wilde think this may be related to their case, make sure all evidence and reports pass by their desk as soon as possible!"
Fangmeyer nodded and returned to setting up the police line on the lobby.
By the time Nick returned his gaze to Judy, she had already begun her examination of the body. While she looked queasy at the sight of it, she managed to keep herself composed and her stomach in check. Nick approached her and forced himself to ignore the strong copper stench of blood when it hit his nose.
"What the hell do you think you're doing without any protective equipment on carrots, it's dangerous!" he asked, paw held over his nose, one paw extended to on her shoulder, eager to keep her from getting any of the viscous red liquid on her.
Judy didn't answer him at first, instead, her gaze followed the bloodied footprints that led up to the building. "He had to have come from somewhere…" she mumbled and began to follow them.
Nick simply sighed in protest and followed her as she headed out the door and past the throng of curious onlookers.
The trail was quite conspicuous, being a series of sanguine splashes on the ground with several smaller drops around and between them. With how much blood there was, it amazed them that the victim survived long enough to make it to the lobby of the ZPD.
Thanks to Wolford's quick work, the trail was blocked off by a string of crime scene tape and officers which allowed them to quickly follow the trail as it led down the steps and around the front of the building to an alley between two adjacent buildings.
"Nick, that feline must've been in unbelievable pain, how did he even manage to make it this far?"
"I don't know carrots...wait, I smell something." He said as his nose twitched, then wrinkled in disgust. "Smells like rotting meat."
They drew their tranquilizer guns and Judy pulled out a flashlight to illuminate the dark alley. The sight that greeted them was not quite what they expected. In the middle of the alley was a dark puddle of blood that had already begun to congeal. To one side on the ground was a long and thin blade and directly in the middle of the puddle was a Nighthowler flower, it's indigo petals stained crimson.
Judy shoved her gun into its holster and let out a frustrated growl that she accented with a punch to the wall. Nick's ears folded back and he placed a paw on her shoulder.
"Judy, calm down." He said gently, using her name rather than her nickname to try and console her.
"I can't calm down! Not when there's a fucking psychopath out on the streets!" she shouted and tried to ignore the pang of guilt that crept in when he cringed at her outburst. She sighed and pulled out her radio. "This is Detective Hopps, Send a CSI unit to Peak Street. We are in an alley between the Bank of Zootopia and McCat's tavern. I believe we found where our victim was attacked."
Nick, meanwhile, had already begun an inspection the alley. "Carrots, I don't see the pelt anywhere, I think he took it with him."
"Dammit, he did this to say that we can't touch him. I mean, he did this right in our front yard." She growled and gestured to the ZPD building that was right across the street from them.
Nick wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Carrots, we're going to catch the bastard, okay? But right now, we have a job we need to do so let's get the crime scene blocked off for the CSI's."
She sighed and hugged him tight, a fresh frustrated tear running down her face, colliding with Nick's jacket as she just stood there and sighed. "Yeah, alright."
It wasn't long until a black and white striped van stopped in front of the alley and a team of technicians in hazmat gear started to comb over the entire area. Nick and Judy, having secured the area, immediately went back to the precinct to pick up a car and make their way to the Zootopia Journal.
"Do we have a plan?" Judy asked as she nervously tapped the rubber pad that made up her foot against the dashboard.
"Well, I figured we'll confront him about being at the drug den with the Nighthowlers. Let's not mention the murders or that we've found the flowers at the crime scene." He said as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel.
They had just arrived at the Zootopia Journal which in all honesty wasn't one of the largest building in Sahara Square, but it was one of the most read papers in the entire city.
"Alright, let's get this creep to croak!" She said eagerly as she stepped out of the cruiser and made her way to the building with Nick close behind.
Inside the lobby was sparsely furnished with little more than an oak desk and a three metal chairs against a wall. At the desk was a pretty ewe with bright blue eyes and pleasant looking smile who looked up at them when they entered.
"Good afternoon, how may I help you?" The sheep asked, her voice humming a bit as she noted her two guests.
"Yes, I'm Detective Wilde, this is my partner Detective Hopps. We're here to speak with Les Catsidy." Nick said and held out his badge for the ewe's inspection.
"Ah yes, one moment." She said and pressed a button on her intercom. "Les, there's a Detective Wilde and Detective Hopps here to see you."
The other end of the line was dead for a moment but finally crackled to life. "O-oh y-yes, send them up!"
"Yes sir." She said with a cheery voice. "Just up the stairs behind me, his office is on the second floor and is third on the right."
Les' office was oddly reminiscent of Bellwether's boiler room office. It wasn't very large and it was cluttered from the stacks of paper and photos that lined the walls as well as the filing cabinets that hugged one side of the room. The wall behind his desk had all its paint outright covered by the papers that were taped and tacked to it.
Les spent the first couple minutes that they were in the office scrambling to free his desk of its clutter as well as apologizing profusely for the mess. After he finally settled down, and with Nick and Judy's assurances that they weren't concerned about the mess, he finally settled down. "S-so what can I do for you detectives?" The Serval asked shyly.
"Well Les, I was just wondering something and perhaps you could help me out a little bit with my question, what exactly were you doing in the Blue Mist den last night?" Nick bluntly asked and kept his trademarked smirk on his muzzle.
Les froze and his eyes darted between Nick and Judy. "Wait! That fox was you?!" he yelped, "I-I…Well…I was doing a bit of investigating."
Nick raised an eyebrow. "Les you better have a damn good explanation to what "investigating" is because right now I can arrest you and throw you in a cell for the next ten years of your life for withholding information from an officer and drug trafficking." He says with a bit of a coo in his voice, taking the situation as nonchalant as possible, inspecting his paws while he spoke.
"I heard about the new drugs hitting the streets and I wanted to figure out what it was. They never paid me any attention and didn't care if I walked off with the discarded flowers. I guess they thought I was a little weirdo with an obsession for flowers." Les replied, not making eye contact with either of them.
"Sure, what exactly did you find out? Because it better be damn good unless you want a ticket straight to a cell." Judy crossed her arms with a frown.
"That Blue Mist is huge overseas, about as big as bite is over here. I think mostly found in the areas around Spain where Nighthowlers grow rather profusely. Apparently Blue Mist has been around for ages and was brought over by folks like the leopard you met at that den. He had started a bit before Bellwether's scheme but was slowed down when they put the flowers on the controlled farming supplies list. He's finally got a method of bringing in the flowers and refining the pollen into Blue Mist over here."
"So why did you take the flowers?" Nick asked with a raised eyebrow and an expression that barely hid that he was unconvinced.
Les opened a drawer and pulled out a large zip-top bag filled with the flowers. "Evidence. Once I had enough information, I planned on going public with my findings and to bring it all to the police."
Nick nodded slowly, "One last question, have you spotted anyone there that drives a black van?" he asked.
"I haven't, no." Les said with a shake of his head.
"Thanks for your time but for your own safety, I'd stay out of the drug den if I were you." Nick said and stood up.
"Y-yes, of course Detective Wilde." Les squeaked.
Without another word, Nick turned and left with Judy taking up point behind him. Once out in the parking lot, he broke his silence.
"I'm not buying it. This creeps a fucking suspect for sure, it's taking every fiber of my being not to jail him right now, but I need a warrant and evidence to do so"
"Oh come on Nick, he seems harmless enough. I mean, what journalist won't put themselves in harm's way for the next big scoop?" She replied.
"I dunno Judy, he doesn't sit well with me and I don't feel comfortable ruling him out as a suspect just yet. I just got a gut feeling, y'know?"
"Oh, you're just being paranoid, slick."
"Maybe, but that paranoia has kept me alive this long."
She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Whatever you say, I don't think he's a problem but we won't rule him out yet if it makes you feel better."
He smirked, "What? You letting it go this easy. Who are you and what have you done with Judy Laverne Hopps?" He chuckled and feigned a wide-eyed expression of shock.
"Oh hush you." She says playfully. "Come on, let's get back to the station."
Fortunately, much of the gruesome scene had been cleared from the Precinct's atrium and the only evidence that remained was the tape outline that had been placed around the body surrounded by police tape. Judy and Nick remained silent as they tried to push the mental image they had out of their heads when Clawhauser spoke up.
"Judy, this arrived for you. There's no return address and the driver couldn't tell me where it was from." He said, already looking wary about the object.
Judy gulped and took the package from the cheetah's paws. She slid on a set of gloves and used her pocket knife to carefully cut along the tape. Once the seam was open, she slowly opened the flaps and picked up what was inside. She stared at it and turned her head away, angry, but not surprised at the gift, she knew this was bound to show up sooner or later.
The rabbit dropped to her knees and put the box down, softly sighing. "It's his fur Clawhauser, the victim's fur." She says, shaking her head, her teeth gritted hard.
Nick gulped, slid on a pair of gloves for himself, and pulled out a piece of paper that was taped to the inside of the box.
"Dear Judy," he read aloud, "It's almost winter and I wanted you to stay warm. I hope you love it! Sincerely, your biggest fan."
Nick gave a snarl and dropped the letter back into the box, all the will in his body keeping him from tearing up the dastardly note. "Clawhauser, get the CSI's up here. I doubt we'll get much, but better safe than sorry."
The plump cheetah immediately had the phone in his hand while Nick wrapped Judy in his arms and gently led her away from the box.
"Come on carrots, let's get you out of here." He said and led her to the break room.
He placed a cup of her favorite tea into her paws and pressed a loving kiss to her lips. "I'll be right back. I'm going to talk to the Sergeant." He said softly and turned towards the door.
"Wait, he did what?" the lithe cheetah sitting across from him growled, slamming her paws into her desk, causing everything currently on the desk to now be off the desk.
"He made her a coat from the latest victim's pelt." Nick stated, his throat feeling awfully dry as he mutters the words.
Sergeant Kii Catano rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Wilde, I don't think we can keep Hopps on this case. The killer is too obsessed with her for her to safely be working it."
Nick nodded solemnly. "I couldn't agree with you more, I feel like we need to put her under protection and keep her away from this case, but the problem is, even if you take her off the case, she's still going to work it whether we like it or not."
"Bogo warned me you two were going to be a pain in my ass." She groaned. "What do you suggest we do?"
"I'm going to try to talk her into at least taking a few days off and put her under guard for her protection. We can even let her do some of the case work from home and that should keep her from trying to come back in."
Kii nodded. "Very well Wilde, get her to take a break from here. I'll talk to Bogo about putting a couple of officers on protective detail for her."
"Thank you ma'am." He said and stood to leave.
"Oh. Before I forget. Agent Anthony Ceptos and Agent Jack Savage from ZBI just arrived from Headquarters. They'll be reviewing the case information then will want to host a meeting with the patrol officers and everyone working with you on the case. Hopps is allowed in on the meeting but as soon as its over, she'll need to keep her fluffy tail at home. Make sure she knows that I'm not above arresting her to keep her safe."
"Yes ma'am." He replied and left the office.
"But Nick, we have a case to work!" Judy pouted, her replacement legs still thumping along as if they were flesh and bone.
Judy's eyes when she looked at him like this was enough to make him melt. "She's not taking you off the case sweetheart. But as it stands, this killer is way to obsessed with you and it makes us afraid of what he might do to you if he gets his hands on you." He said but paused and his ears folded back as he let his emotional walls down for his love. "I'm terrified of what he might do to you." He finished softly.
She felt the insides of her ears burn red and she gently hugged her arms around him. He lovingly returned the embrace and even dared to let her hear when he fought back the tears with a sniffle.
"Please carrots, for me? It'll just be for a few days." He asked, a hint of sadness in his voice, his pride stripped for his beloved.
She was quiet a moment and sighed. "Okay Nick. I'll do it."
He smiled and kissed her. "Thank you Judy." He said with a tired smile. "On the bright side, Sergeant Catano said you can bring the files and notes home and work from home. We just want you under protection until we can catch this bastard."
She nodded. "At least I won't get bored, right?" she giggled. "So when does my 'vacation' start?" she asked with her fingers wiggling air quotes by her head.
"Tomorrow after we meet with two ZBI agents. They sent two criminal behavior specialists who are looking over the details of the case as we speak, Agents Ceptos and Savage."
"Wait a second, the Agent Savage and Agent Ceptos?" She says sitting up, her ears twitching. "They aren't just criminal behavior specialists Nick, Agent Savage is the top Spy in the country and Agent Ceptos is the top Combat Specialist, why would they send a spy and an assassin to catch a crook like this? It seems like we're being watched by the higher ups Nick, you know we have been ever since we cracked the case! There's no way they'd send two figures like that to catch a serial killer and not try and gather some dirt on us!"
"Still, why did it have to be Agent Savage..." She says putting her paw to her face, sighing heavily.
Nick's ears quipped up at the sound of distress in her voice. "I dunno carrots, you got a problem with the guy?" He says shrugging his shoulders, pretending to be casual.
"Agent Savage and I used to be friends in Highschool, but we drifted away after some things happened." She tilts her head and sighs. "He used to crush on me in Highschool all the time, probably the most awkward four years of my life."
"How bad could he be? I mean, that was years ago. Maybe he's over it now."
She simply glared at him. "You don't know him like I do Nick, he didn't exactly take no for an answer, he always bugged at me like a moth to a flame!"
He smirked, "I guess we'll find out on how well this all goes tomorrow won't we?"