EDIT: Cover art used with permission of the amazing Littleivy25, who can be found on DeviantArt-dot-com!


Three cruisers in the livery of the Bushel Fields Police Department sped through the early evening, the lights flashing and their sirens wailing. In turn, they entered the abandoned parking lot of the local super-mart and skidded to a halt, doors slamming open almost before they had settled back onto their suspensions.

The occupants piled out almost as one; Chief Tusker led the way, slamming a hoof upon the glass door of the just-closed mart. The warthog wore a stormy expression and, upon the door's unlocking by a shop assistant, barged forward with urgency. If the tired-looking gazelle who had unlocked the door for him had looked surprised before, the veritable swarm of blue-clad officers who followed in Tusker's wake made her goggle in shock. All of them, without fail, wore that same serious expression on their faces.

And all of them were armed with tranquilizer pistols.


The group moved swiftly through the aisles and paused for no-one. Judy, jogging a little to keep up, took note of the animals they passed on their way. Three shop assistants, not including the gazelle from the doorway, watched with curious looks on their faces and whispered to one another as the officers passed. Next, Michael the rabbit who looked on with his glazed expression, followed swiftly by a pair of wolves who manned the vegetable deli. About the only mammal she hadn't seen yet was the one they had come for.

Tusker shoved the double doors that led to the back rooms of the store open and stalked forward. Lights could be seen down the corridor from a small office and a shadow flitted about inside. Judy felt her heart begin to race as the confrontation drew near, and despite herself she rested a paw on the grip of her tranq-gun.

The door to Simon Renner's office burst open, practically coming off of it's hinges. Renner was sitting behind his desk with his feet up, relaxing after an apparently long day. The grin on his face made it look like he had been expecting the interruption.

The officers filed in behind Tusker, taking up positions around the room and standing at the ready. They were back-up, even Tusker, and the show was about to begin.

Nicholas P. Wilde, dressed in full uniform, stepped through the door and kicked it shut behind him. He stepped into the very centre of the room and motioned for Judy to join him from the sidelines. She stepped up, glaring at the smug-looking fox they had come to see, and grinned.

Renner smiled widely, as if an old friend had come to visit, and looked into each officer's eyes in turn. "My my my, if it isn't the Fuzz," he said, "what can I do for Bushel Fields' finest this evening?"

"Simon Renner, you are under arrest for the murder of Leslie Tiller-" Nick said, being interrupted by Renner's smile dropping from his face and a look of concern taking it's place.

"Cousin Leslie is dead?!"

"-as well as the suspected murders of George Merchant, Martin Blower, Evelyn Draper and Timothy Messenger." Nick finished.

"But... but they all died in accidents, Officer Wilde. And now you're telling me Cousin Leslie is dead too? How? When?"

Judy glared at the fox. "About two hours ago, Mr Renner; someone stabbed her with a pair of scissors. We believe you already know this, having performed the deed yourself."

"I- This is ridiculous. Two hours ago? I was here two hours ago! I've been here since I opened at eight in the morning. There are security tapes!"

Nick nodded once. "And we'll be sure to check them thoroughly. As of right now, we have motive for all of their murders, as well as a mountain of things that make you our prime suspect. Threatening Eve Draper, comments about murdering customers for disloyalty, driving miles out of your way to visit a crime scene that you showed surprising insight into, considering the victims were not named publicly until a day later. About the only thing we are waiting for is the final piece of evidence to put you at the scene of the crime... and we're about to get it. Cousin Sissy."

Renner's eyes widened. "Now you see here-"

Judy hopped up onto the table next to Renner's feet and grabbed his ankles before he could move them. "Just stay still please, Mr Renner; we just need to have a look at your legs."

"This is outrageous-"

"And will be over soon. Nick?"

Nick darted forward and pulled Renner's trouser legs up, revealing the red and black fur leading down to the older fox's feet.

Nick picked up Renner's legs one by one and twisted slightly, trying to see all angles. He pushed the suit trousers higher, up to Renner's knees, and tried again, all the while the older fox ranted about abuse of authority. Judy tried to tune it out, but as Nick became more frantic in his searches...

Nick looked at Judy with wide eyes, his neutrality lost in the face of what he was... and wasn't... seeing. "Judy," he said, his voice quiet, "there's not a scratch on him."


Renner exploded, pulling his feet from Judy and Nick's grips before standing. "I have told you miserable flatfoots this already, twice! I have been here, in my store, since eight in the morning; I have security cameras on all of the aisles with time-stamps that cannot be altered, and despite this you still decide you can treat me like some criminal?"

Nick was frozen. "I- we..."

"You had best untie that tongue of yours right now, pup, in case that apology you owe me comes out wrong."

"Mr Renner-" Judy said, freezing as a furious Renner shoved a claw right in front of her nose.

"You shut your mouth, you mouthy little Lucky Charm before I shove you in a box and put you in the toy aisle. I am talking to this insolent little whelp and when he has apologised, you can help stop him from tripping over the tail between his legs."

Renner wheeled back to Nick, eyes glinting dangerously. "Out with it," he growled out, "before I turn your friend here into a pair of keychains."

Tusker took that as his cue to step in. "ENOUGH, all of you! Mr Renner, you have the profuse apologies of myself and all my officers. We have evidence that gave you motive and placed you at the scene of the crime where, earlier today, Ms Tiller was indeed murdered. I am sorry that you had to hear about it this way, but you must understand that we had probable cause and it is a serious allegation. I would thank you to calm yourself and refrain from any physical violence against my officers else we might have to arrest you on an entirely unrelated charge. Wilde, Hopps, get out of the way. And shut your mouths."

Nick stopped gaping and fighting for words, lowering his head and stepping back against the wall. Judy followed a moment behind and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach... and the little voice in the back of her head telling her she and Nick might very well have just signed their dismissal papers.

"Tusker- William, this is absolutely infuriating-"

"I know, Simon. And I have apologised. If you have evidence then we would very much like to see it so we can clear your name. There is a process to be followed here, regardless."

Renner growled and turned on his heel. He tapped a few keys on the keyboard sitting in front of his little bank of monitors and navigated a menu. A few taps later and the footage throughout the day was speeding past, clearly showing a fox in a crisp suit moving from aisle to aisle, greeting and chatting with customers; all except a single fleeting hour between twelve and one where he was seen to purchase something from his own ready-to-eat section and disappear into a room labelled 'staff'. "Satisfied?"

Tusker nodded gently. "Very much so; thank you, Simon. If you'll please excuse us for a moment, I believe I have to have a quick impromptu debrief."

The warthog turned on his heel. "Out; all of you. Wilde, Hopps, wait outside the door. The rest of you can head back. Leave one of the cruisers for us."

There was a mumble of 'yes sir' as the officers filed out as efficiently as they had entered. Nick and Judy stepped aside once they had left the room and awaited judgement. It didn't take long.


"You two feel pretty low right now, I'd imagine," Tusker said quietly after closing the door to seal Renner off from the conversation. "You had a lead and we ran with it out of trust; you both allowed the desire for this murderer to be Renner to get to you and you have now burned yourselves on that. I hope that you will use this as a learning experience. Tomorrow morning I will be sending word to Chief Bogo that you are both suspended, effective as of Monday coming."

Judy nodded once at the verdict but Nick sneered. "Sir, this was all my theory," he said, "punish me for it but don't let this drop on Judy as well."

Judy punched Nick in the arm. "You stupid- Sir, we both thought it was Renner. And the two of us, being adults and capable of making our own decisions will accept that."

Tusker shook his head sadly. "I am sorry. You've both left me with little choice in the matter and while I would have looked the other way in any other circumstances... I'll be waiting out in the car. I believe you both have an apology to deliver."


The door to Renner's office creaked open and Judy walked in. The fox had shed his suit jacket, loosened his tie a little and rolled his sleeves up. "Mr Renner?" she said, hesitating slightly in the doorway.

Renner turned from where he was stood, going from watching the camera feeds of the car park to glaring at the rabbit intruding into his office. "Officer Hopps. Come in. Close the door behind you."

Judy did as asked, approaching the desk. Renner leant over it, the muscles in his forearms making the fur move slightly as they tensed. Judy resisted the urge to shiver. Renner spoke quietly and quickly, a hint of a growl in his voice. "Zootopia's first rabbit officer. I am not going to listen to you give me an apology, fluffy, because as you have probably figured out I don't particularly care to conduct discourse with animals that, should history have unfolded differently, would be sitting on my plate. I don't care if you like me, or even if you know that the feeling is mutual. You have caused me a rather large upset and I am not in the mood to hear the slightest squeak from you. Get out, and send in the walking rug."

Judy turned and left in silence. Beneath her poker face she seethed with fury. Misogynistic, speciest- "Officer Wilde, Mr Renner would like to see you."

Nick raised an eyebrow at the venom in Judy's tone then schooled his face into neutrality once again. He entered the room and, after sparing a glance to make sure Judy was walking away down the corridor, clicked the door shut and stood at-ease in front of Renner's desk.

"Nicholas Wilde," Renner said, sneering at Nick. "What a proud moment it must have been, becoming the first fox officer of the ZPD... then being leashed to a rabbit."

"Mr Renner, you have asked for apologies from myself and my partner. I will give you my apology, however it will only be when you are quite finished inferring that Officer Hopps is somehow lesser because of her species... and if you continue down that particular course of discussion then you will find out very, very swiftly exactly what I believe an abuse of authority actually involves."

Renner barked out a laugh and walked around his desk. Nick's hackles rose and he fought to stop his lips pulling back to reveal his teeth. The older fox stopped, almost nose-to-nose with Nick, and glared hard. "Officer Wilde, did you just threaten me with police brutality, not ten minutes after you have accused me of murder?"

"I don't threaten, Mr Renner. Promise, on the other hand... I can do that."

Renner gave a low growl and bared his teeth. Nick did likewise and felt time slow to a crawl, his heartbeats echoing in his ears with what felt like an eternity between them, even though he knew it must have been moments.

Simon Renner stopped growling first. "You sicken me, pup. I can only imagine what a nightmare you must have been for your poor mother."

Nick growled hard and took a step forward, his nose pressing against Renner's and forcing the older fox back. "You leave my mother out of this or I swear to the Gods I will bury you so deeply that even a wolf couldn't dig your bones up."

Renner shoved him backwards. "If I want to talk about Vivian I rutting well will, Piberius!" he roared.

Nick fell, tripping at the sudden push and falling to the floor. His head impacted against the door, rattling it in it's frame and making him see stars. Nick's eyes were wide with horror. Time's journey through molasses had ended and now his heart felt like it was beating so fast in his chest it might explode. Nick took in the sight of Renner standing above him, tall and huffing in anger and something clicked into place.

Nick's eyes grew wider and his blood turned to ice in his veins. "Oh sweet cheese and crackers; no. No, no-no-no, please, no..."

Renner took a deep breath and calmed himself. He looked at the floor for a moment, then looked back right into Nick's eyes. Light green met dark jade and Nick's throat went dry. Renner closed his eyes and lowered his head again before uttering the single word that would change Nick's life forever.

"Yes."


Judy and Tusker had been in the car together for close on ten minutes when Nick emerged from the store. He looked haggard, like he'd gone ten rounds with McHorn, and climbed into the car in silence. The air in the vehicle, which had already been frosty with Tusker being angry, took on all the cheer of a mausoleum. The trio pulled away in silence, leaving the dark parking lot at a much more gentle pace than they had entered it.

And observed by a middle-aged fox, watching from a darkened window.