Fox Alley was a bleak area of narrow streets and crumbling buildings where unsupervised young foxes ran through the streets and older animals, mostly foxes, sat on the steps of their buildings, smoking and glowering at anyone who walked past. Cars with broken windows, some of them up on blocks, lined the streets and there were no trees and green lawns like in other parts of town.

"I can see why you didn't want to live here," said Judy.

Finnick shrugged. "It ain't as bad as it looks. Animals here look out for each other. Somebody needs food or a place to stay, there's always someone steps up. Everybody here is just so poor, and it's hard for a fox to find a good job." He pulled out his notebook and checked the first address, then drove slowly down the street, stopping in front of a shabby three-story building. "You better come in. This ain't no place for a rabbit to hang out on the street."

Judy got out of the van and a red fox walking past gave her a hard look. She stopped, confused, and the fox snorted and kept going. "I thought you said it wasn't that bad, Finnick."

"It ain't, if you're a fox. Well, come on. It's the third floor."

They trudged up the stairs and down a dark hallway until Finnick found the number he was looking for and knocked on the door. A big grey fox opened the door and smiled. "Finn! What you doing here?" He saw Judy in the shadows behind Finnick and his ears went back. "She with you?"

Finnick pushed past the fox. "Yeah, Kyle, she's with me. You heard about that fox cop getting shot? She's his partner."

Kyle looked dubious but allowed Judy in. "What do you care about that cop? They never did nothing for us."

"That cop's one of the few friends I have in the world," said Finnick. "The shooter was driving a big red car. I figure he didn't start off with a gun. Way I see it, he probably went after some other foxes and when he got away with it, he stepped up to shooting."

"That don't got nothing to do with me," said the grey fox.

"No?" Finnick shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just remember, this animal shot a cop. You think he's going to stop there? You think he won't start driving around looking for more foxes to shoot? And this is where he'll come."

Kyle looked uncomfortable. "When you put it that way...look, I did hear about a fox getting beat up real bad." He scribbled a name and address on a piece of paper and handed it to Finnick. "For what it's worth I'm sorry about your friend."

"Thanks." Finnick pocketed the paper. "Let's go, Judy."

She followed Finnick to the door and Kyle said, "Wait a minute." He went up to the bunny and gave her a hard look like the fox on the street. "You really work with that fox that got shot?" Judy nodded. "You don't got a problem working with him?"

"No." Judy's eyes filled with tears. "Nick is...he's…"

Finnick stepped in front of her and snarled at Kyle, "That's enough. She don't got to explain herself to you."

Kyle considered the bristling fennec fox and the bunny on the verge of breaking down. "Hang on." He went in the kitchen and came back with a little box. "Here."

Judy took the box. "Tea?"

"Yeah," said the grey fox. "My girlfriend makes me drink it when I'm upset. Says it's good for the nerves."

The bunny put out a paw. "Thank you, mister…"

"You can call me Kyle." He gave Judy's paw a brief shake. "I hope your partner will be okay."

Judy nodded, unable to trust her voice, and went out the door.