The next morning the dynamic duo sat patiently in Joey's Café, a joint that wasn't far from Margeaux's and famous for its breakfast menu. The time was 8:55 a.m., and both rabbit and fox were sporting their usual uniforms, chatting it up to kill time as they waited on their third party to get there.
Griddles sizzled and hoofs clip-clopped as tall, slender waitresses glided to and from each table, their horns only barely missing the light fixtures. One of the gazelles asked Judy if they needed anything, and she replied with a gracious "No, thank you." She wanted to asked her to keep an eye out for Layla, but chose not to to keep their intentions of being there solely to themselves. Who knew what kind of mammals popped up in this place?
A small hippopotamus wailed from the table closest to the door, and his mother beckoned a waitress over. In haste, she realized that the young one had spilled his glass of 2%, and proceeded to reassure the mother that she would have no problem cleaning it up and fetching another one. The mother looked beyond embarrassed and quietly thanked her as she consoled her still-crying child.
"No use crying over spilled milk, kid." Nick mumbled, his voice heavy with sarcasm. Judy punched him in the arm, but both couldn't help but laugh at the irony of the situation. A few moments later Nick glanced at his watch, tapping it with a claw.
"8:58. Foxy's almost late." He chided.
"She'll be here. You said it yourself. She has no choice." Judy reminded him, and Nick shrugged.
Just then the door swung open, the bell clinging loudly against the metal frame. Everyone looked up for a moment, ogling at the newcomer, but soon returned to their meals. All except Judy and Nick, who despite her efforts, still could recognize their prime acquaintance, Layla Michaels. The young vixen looked around wildly for their party. She was wearing a light lavender sundress, a pair of purple-tinted sunglasses, and a large sunhat. She caught the attention of one of the waitresses, who gestured towards them. Both Judy and Nick straightened up as she approached, preparing themselves mentally for anything that was bound to pop up in conversation.
"Good morning! Sunny day out today!" Layla greeted them cheerfully as she took the seat opposite, removing her sunhat and sunglasses, placing them on the cushion beside her.
"Good morning, Layla. How are you today?" Judy asked politely.
"As good as I can be." The fox replied. As she smiled and tilted her head, the light caught onto the pair of amethyst and diamond studs in her large, triangular ears.
"Wow, you clean up nice, Foxy. I'm surprised you forgot your Preyda purse." Nick said, intending for it to be a compliment, but Layla laughed sarcastically.
"Ha ha, very funny. But yes, I can clean up very nicely. Thank you." She said, her eyes doing a once-over of the male fox. Nick rolled his eyes and smirked. Why was it so easy to get under any female's skin? It quite entertained him, and Layla Michaels was no exception. However, he was reminded why they were there with a small kick under the table from Judy, and his face fell to one of neutral coolness.
"Alright, since I think we got off on the wrong paw yesterday, let's start over with the basics about you." Judy started, and with not a word from either fox she continued.
"What is your full name?" She asked.
"Layla Elizabeth Michaels." Layla replied flawlessly, her tongue rolling out her name like smooth chocolate. She loved her name ever since her mother told her to write it out on a piece of paper when she was learning to write.
"Alright. When is your birthdate?" Judy inquired.
"February 9th, 1980." She also said without falter or hesitation. For a split second, Nick felt a pang of disappointment at her confirmed birthdate. Though he couldn't quite put his paw on why.
"And what is your relation to the victims?" Judy asked.
"Friend." That word did not come easy, as Layla swallowed a lump in her throat at the thought of such a general word describing her relationships with all of the victims. It was so much more than that. She was their friend, their colleague, their shoulder-to-cry-on. She had always been the glue that kept the group of talented mammals together, and the lump appeared as she remembered that she had not entirely been doing her job lately.
"Okay. Now onto the questions that truly matter."
Shifting around in the clipboard, Judy clicked the pen open again.
"Can you give us any description of the suspect that we don't already know?" Judy asked.
"Depends. What do you know?" Layla asked.
"That's just it. Nothing. Nobody has ever seen this mammal. Even at a glimpse." Judy explained.
"Well I-" Layla's ears perked up as she remembered something. She reached into her sunhat (apparently there was a secret pocket up in the dome) and pulled out a piece of paper.
"I almost forgot! Allie told me to show this to you guys, that it might help pinpoint who's been doing this." She said.
"What is it?" Judy asked.
"She told me not to open it until you guys were present." Layla explained before carefully unfolding the wrinkled paper. Once fully opened the face of a concert flyer stared back up at them, announcing the upcoming event of the three most popular music artists in Zootopia performing together, live; Gazelle, Jerry Dubois, and Mooselina.
"She said she found it on the floor of the stage after Olivia went missing." Layla elaborated. Judy studied the flyer, Nick leaning in to stare at it as well. Judy suddenly remembered something as well, and her gaze lifted up to meet Layla's again.
"When did you say your friends started going missing?" She asked softly, her brow furrowed in thought.
"A month ago." Layla said quietly as well.
Jerry Dubois, the most recent superstar, had become famous practically overnight, and had released his first album exactly a month ago. Even now, one of the songs played over the speakers softly in the café, and something clicked.
"Wait here." Judy said, sprinting out of the building and over to the police cruiser, the flyer flapping feverishly in her small paw. Layla looked to Nick.
"….Am I missing something?" She said quizzically, and Nick chuckled, giving a slight shake of his head.
"No, not really. She's the wit of this duo. I just sort of play along and add input where needed." He said. "She always gets really excited when she thinks she's found a lead, so I wouldn't think much of it."
Layla nodded, beginning to stare out the window at the foliage surrounding the small café. Daffodils, baby's breath, and roses gave splashes of color as the bright sunlight bounced off of them. The rays radiated against Layla's fur, giving her a soft glow.
Nick studied her for a moment, how she watched the outside world so intently. She truly was the most beautiful vixen he had ever seen, her large eyes curving on her face elegantly. Her crème underbelly accentuated her neck and upper chest well, a golden locket wrapped around it with the cursiveL etched into it. Nick thought of all the things he had said yesterday, and instinctively cleared his throat, straightening as Layla's gaze snapped back to him.
"Look I wanted to…apologize if I came off as a bit of a jerk yesterday." He said, his gaze looking downward for a moment in slight embarrassment. "It was unprofessional of me as an officer, and you had barely given any reason for me to treat you that way."
Layla blinked a few times, her face frozen in confusion and shock. This odious fox, who she thought had made his stance quite clear to her as of late, was now apologizing? She couldn't believe it. Nonetheless, she gave a small smile.
"Apology accepted, Mr. Wilde." She said softly, laying a paw on his. Slightly taken aback by her formal address of him and her touch, Nick quickly looked out the window himself to avoid eye contact with the gentle vixen. His gaze locking on Judy furiously typing away on the cruiser's laptop, a small smile crept up his face. She was such a hard-worker, he wished he was half the cop Judy M. Hopps was.
Layla noticed his gaze, and followed it before giving a small smile herself. Her eyelids drooped ever so slightly, and she sucked in a large breath before pulling her paw away, resting them in her lap.
"You know, all of my friends meant something to me. Quite a bit. They still do." Layla said, making Nick shift his eyes back to hers. However, he did not say a word. Seeing that as encouragement, she continued.
"Terra, Jeremy, Olivia…They all meant the world to me." She said. Realizing she had left a name out, Nick tilted his head slightly in confusion.
"What about Will?" He asked. Layla smiled again, her gaze shifting downward to twiddle with the napkin on the table. It was only then that Nick noticed the tiny ring on her paw, sparkling in the flowing sunlight.
"Will was…..much more than the world to me. In fact, there is no amount of words that could describe what William Dawson has done for me…" She said gently, and suddenly the line between the dots connected in Nick's head. His eyes widened. Layla looked up at him, and seeing the epiphany spread obviously across his face her own cheeks flushed a bit, giving a breathless chuckle.
"Will and I were together for about a year, a year of absolute nostalgia." She said, her voice light and airy at the memories. "Of course everyone in the group knew it was bound to happen, and when it did they were always trying to get us to do duets and dances together. It was positively the best time I had spent with any mammal. He made me feel like a million bucks, and that I could touch the stars if I wanted to." She said, chuckling. But after a few moment, Nick watched her expression fall, and her tone went low.
"But then the fighting came. The names. The disagreements. It seemed that we didn't have anything in common…" Layla said, her eyes keeping from locking with Nick's. "It was a lie, of course, but we felt it was becoming more and more evident that being of two different species, though alike in biology, couldn't possibly make it together physically and emotionally." This time her eyes locked in a dead stare with Nick's, and he could see the shift of dozens of emotions glide across her eyes. Never had he seen such a unique and gorgeous shade of green.
"The final straw was the month before he vanished. I had seen him with another wolf, and confronted him about it, accusing him of cheating. I accused him of not wanting me all along…..that he truly wanted to be with his own kind…not someone like me….." Her tone was full of remorse, and Nick still said nothing. As much as he was a sarcastic jerk at times, he could tell she had been wanting to get this off of her chest for a while.
"The fight ended with a vicious breakup, and me storming from the room. He screamed at me to never come to him for anything anymore, and I told him I would have no problem doing so." She said. There was a long pause as she sighed, resting her cheek on her propped up paw.
"I never really did apologize to him for that night…..or told him how I truly felt." She said quietly, and with this she looked to the window. Nick followed her gaze, and realized she was looking at Judy, who was now printing out a paper from the laptop. She looked back at the male fox, this time her gaze pitiful and concerned.
"Don't make the same mistake with her." She pleaded gently. Layla's words sent a pang of something through Nick's chest. "Tell her how you feel before it's too late."
Nick opened his mouth to deny the claim of her statement, but Judy popped up next him before he could utter so much as a syllable.
"Got his address! I say we go talk to him now before we make up our minds and cuff him!" Judy said excitedly. Nick was frozen for a moment, his mind still reeling over Layla's advice just moments ago. Layla smiled at the two, then stood up, fluffing out her tail.
"Well, I do believe you both have some work to do. I will not keep you any longer." She said, extending her paw. "Good luck, Officers. Let me know what you find!"
"Oh we will! Thank you so much!" Judy said, feverishly shaking her hand before starting to bounce towards the door.
"C'mon Nick! Daylight's burnin'!" She squeaked. Nick shoves his paws in his pockets, shaking his head and chuckling. He extended his paw to her.
"Well, Foxy, I do believe it is time for u-" Before he knew it he was wrapped in warmth and his breath hitched. The beautiful vixen had rejected his handshake and was now tenderly embracing him. Nick was as stiff as a board, but relaxed a little and hugged back. She needed a good hug.
Across the street, Judy looked back to see the two red foxes embracing through the window, and she gasped, her smile faltering. She blinked several times to keep her emotions from pouring out through her eyes, and she haughtily went over to the driver's side and climbed in.
Back in the café, Layla leaned in slightly to whisper in Nick's ear.
"Remember what I told you." She said softly before pulling away, and Nick gave a small nod, straightening his shirt out before walking out.
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Judy's gaze was glued to the windshield, her large feet pressed firmly against the brake as they sat at a stoplight. Having since left the café, Nick's façade had fallen back into a seemingly normal, cool state. Judy looked over at him, the words she wanted to say burning in her throat. Finally they spouted forward.
"So what was that about back in the café?" She asked, her tone edging on accusation. Nick's ears pinned back against his head, though he tried his best to not show any emotion as he looked to his rabbit partner.
"Layla was just…..giving me some encouragement. That's all." Nick uttered softly. Judy's lip curled slightly in a pout.
"Y'know Nick I…..I've noticed you've been acting weird lately…..really weird. Not Nick-like at all. Ever since we met Layla you've been acting….strange….." She said, her voice shaky but sharp. Nick realized what she was implying, and began to object.
"Carrots, I-" He was cut off.
"If you and Layla have a thing, i-it's none of my business. Just keep it professional okay?" She said, and before Nick could start again, Judy continued.
"But it's okay, alright? It doesn't bother me. She's a very pretty fox." She said, but Nick knew it did bother her. He knew bunnies could get emotional, but this was a side of Judy he had rarely seen. He could see the physical pain in her big, watery violet eyes, and deep down he desperately wanted to reach up and brush them away. Judy sniffled, wiping the formulating tears away and then firmly grasping the steering wheel again.
"Get your taser ready. We won't know what to expect out of Mr. Dubois." Judy said, changing the subject completely. Nick did so, glancing at Judy ever so often. The moment to apologize had passed, and the rabbit and fox remained in silence for the rest of the drive.
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The pair was greeted by a pair of golden gates, swung open ad propped, as they arrived at the address of the pop star. Trees lined the entire drive up, sprouting the freshest green leaves and luscious red apples. Upon parking they came to the front door, which was whitewashed and carved to look like a Victorian era doorway. Judy grabbed the enormous doorknocker, which was fashioned and molded in the shape of a lioness with the handle lodged firmly in its grimacing teeth, and pounded it against the regal wood three times.
At first there was no answer, then the door creaked open ever so slightly, a slender zebra poking his head out. He looked quite displeased to be seeing the two cops, but he nonetheless spoke to them.
"May I help you?" He said snidely, his nose firmly stuck to the sky.
"Hello sir, we are Officers Hopps and Wilde of the ZPD. We're here to speak with Mr. Jerry Dubois. Is he home?" Judy rambled. The zebra gave a slight roll of his eyes, then opened the door fully.
"Follow me." He said, his words seeming to pass through his nasal cavity. Judy and Nick did indeed do as they were told.
If the outside wasn't grandeur enough, the inside surely made up for it. Everywhere hung luxurious tapestries and marble columns lined the hallways. Soft, red carpet created a walkway for every twist and turn. The officers felt like they were in a palace of a king, though if they had made the money that Jerry Dubois had made so quickly and immensely, they would have not wasted it either.
"Wait here. I shall alert Monsieur Dubois of your arrival." The zebra said, sounding even more pompous at the mention of his boss' name. Judy and Nick stood idly by, but soon heard some shouting from within the room before the door abruptly swung open.
"Let them in! Let them in!" came a distinct French accent, and the zebra turned to them again.
"Monsieur Dubois shall see you now."
Judy and Nick slowly entered the large room, marveling at the amount of regal paintings hung on the walls, and the illustrious golden curtains that hung from the ten-foot windows on either side. A large mahogany desk sat in the center of the room, accompanied by two chairs in front and a red velvet wheely chair behind. The back was turned to them, but by the slight rocking back and forth they knew someone occupied it.
"Ah, Officers, what can I do for you?" came the voice again, and the chair flipped about to reveal the mammal they had been wanting to see.
The young genet was donning a classy black suit, a black silk tie nestled nicely in the middle. His slate-gray spotted fur peeked out from under the cuffs of his sleeves and many shining rings hugged his digits on his paws. His striped tail, like that of a lemur, flicked about slightly off to the side of the chair.
"You caught me just before my rehearsal dinner at the La Sioux, so if you could make this snappy I would appreciate it." The genet said, straightening out his tie before leaning back, propping his foot up on his knee. Judy took a few steps forward.
"Mr. Dubois, we are here regarding a case of vanishing mammals who have been systematically disappearing from their performances. While we are not pointing fingers just yet, we'd like to ask a few questions." She said. The genet, his expression unchanged, gestured to the chairs in front of the desk.
"Please, sit." He invited, and they did so.
"So what do you ask of me? I know nothing of this case." Dubois stated.
"We know. We are trying to solve it before the press catches on." Judy explained, then he nodded.
"Very well."
"What were you doing the nights of March 13th,20th,25th, and 31st?" Judy asked. Dubois threw his head back and laughed. After a moment or two of laughing, the genet wiped his tears away.
"Do you not know who I am, child?" He asked. Judy was slightly agitated at him calling her a child. The small predator gave her no time to answer.
"I am Jerry Dubois! The hottest artist to ever hit the scene of Zootopia!" He exclaimed, gesturing to his many awards that sat in crystal clear cases all around the room. "I have traveled all over the world, and have inspired the hearts of millions!" He said like a salesman trying to promote his product, throwing his paws in the air.
Looking back to see Judy's hardened glare, Dubois sighed irritably.
"Alright. I see you are not one to be dazzled easily." He said. He whistled.
"Oscar! Oscar vou sotte chose!" He called, and a smaller genet appeared, scrambling up to the desk. He wore a similar black suit to Dubois, but with a bright purple tie instead. He trembled ever so slightly, and Judy felt ever so sorry for the little predator.
"Fetch me my papers for these two officers here." He said, and he nodded, scurrying away. Dubois grumbled, shaking his head and jutting a thumb back to him.
"Brothers. Such fools." He said with a chuckle before the scrawnier genet appeared again, and Dubois snatched it from him.
"That will be all." He said he said through clenched teeth, then tossed the papers across the desk.
"Here is every transaction I have made over the past two months. From hotels, to dining halls, to even liquor." Dubois explained.
Nick grabbed the paperwork, looking it over with Judy looking over his shoulder. Going to the desired dates, they found that at the times of the allotted vanishings Dubois had checked into a hotel in Saharan Square, which was well over 100 miles away from the bars and clubs in the heart of Zootopia, had dined at a frozen restaurant in Tundratown, and other various errands where he and his bodyguards couldn't have possibly been to commit the acts. Judy's face fell to one of frustration, and Nick just continued to repeatedly look at the transactions to make sure he had read them right.
"So you see my furry friends, I was too busy being a fantastic popstar to worry or even care about kidnapping such nobodies." Dubois said snidely, taking a sip from the martinis glass he had set on the desk. At this comment, Nick's eyes snapped up to his, pushing the papers to Judy as he stood up, taking a defensive stance.
"You too were once a 'nobody', Dubois. Never forget that." He said, pointing a finger at the arrogant genet, whose smile fell to scowl as he too arose from his chair and placed both paws on the polished surface of the desk between them.
"I don't particularly care for your attitude, you dog." He said, his voice vicious and sharp with his lip curled in disgust. Nick gave a low growl from the bottom of his throat, which startled Judy. She began to reach for her taser on the back of her belt, but Dubois turned his head sharply to the right.
"James! Jacques! See to it that these two are properly escorted from my abode." He said, a sniveling grin spreading across his muzzle. The two very large elephants grabbed each officer, much to their shouts of protest and anger.
"And if you so much as breathe on Dubois property again, I will show you what it means to be a predator." Dubois shouted viciously.
OOF! The sound Judy made as she hit the dirt was less than attractive, and the two rolled onto their backs as they took a moment to collect themselves from being thrown. Afterwards, Nick got up and brushed himself off, then extended a paw to Judy.
"Need a lift?" He asked only half-sarcastically, and Judy took it willingly.
"How dare he! I could cite him for police assault right now!" Judy said angrily, glaring back at the enormous mansion. "Not to mention how he insulted you! Who calls a fox a dog anymore?"
"Carrots, relax. He's not worth it." Nick said calmly, having since recovered mentally from the ordeal. Still, the way Dubois had addressed the group of aspiring artists, as nobodies, still burned like hot iron in his mind. Though he and Judy had yet to see them perform, Nick was sure the two, especially Layla, was certainly not a nobody when it came to music, or being a mammal in general.
"Well I for one am convinced that this case is the hardest yet." Judy said, waving about the transaction papers Dubois had shown them. "There's no way Dubois or any of his bodyguards could have made it to downtown Zootopia four different times, kidnapped four mammals, then made it in time to perform at Tundratown."
"Well maybe-" Nick started, but was interrupted by the startling static of the police scanner in the cruiser.
"OFFICERS HOPPS AND WILDE REPORT. THIS IS OFFICER CLAWHAUSER. WE HAVE A SITUATION AT 3785 WOODOAK STREET INVOLVING A VANISHING MAMMAL. THERE IS AN INJURED MAMMAL ON SITE AS WELL." Clawhauser's urgent tone shouted over the speaker.
Nick and Judy locked gazes, both of their ears drooping as their hearts sank.
"Layla." Nick whispered, and the officers sprinted over to the cruiser. Nick flipped on the sirens and lights as they started down the driveway back onto the main road, barreling back towards Zootopia.
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So there you have it! So sorry about not updating for a little bit, the weekend was a little crazy for me!
As always, tell me what you thought and give this story a fav/follow if you so desire!
Thanks ever so much and keep your eyes peeled for the next installment!
Sincerely grateful,
AleahLondon1987