The Fox, the Bunny, and the Zootopia
File #09: Bunny In Search Part 2
Rey entered the main street where they can see a line of shops on either side decorated prettily by snow. Almost everyone wore thick clothes like jackets and mantles, Tundratown was very cold. Moreover it's snowing now so obviously it was getting colder and colder.
Rey slowed down, allowing Nick to get more time to see around, looking for a clue about Judy's whereabouts. No result, but they were just beginning. Rey searched for a parking lot while, scanning his surrounding. As soon as he parked his motorcycle, he and Nick got down and took off their helm, allowing cold air to greet their face.
Rey wore a red shirt under an open long-sleeved collared white shirt. Replacing his ZPD pants were black trousers that covered half of his feet. The uniform's belt persisted along with the paraphernalia. He also wore a mint-blue bandanna on his head that kept his ears folded down and some fur pressed down.
Nick wore his sunglasses, a grey jacket over his Hawaiian shirt, and a scarf wrapped around his neck. Both were old pieces of clothing that he only wear when in Tundratown when snowing, occasionally too.
Usually, he'll avoid entering Tundratown if he doesn't have anything to to there. That's why he always watch for weather forecast so he could plan the perfect time to make his pawpsicles. Ah, old habit and business. Another kind of occasion was back then when he works with Mr. Big. Nick didn't want to remember much of his deals with Mr. Big after that wool rug thing, but working with Mr. Big's practically the most times he wears his jacket on.
"You look bulkier," Rey noted while holding a laugh within. "You almost look like me."
Nick snickered. "Well unfortunately, I don't have dense fur like you so I must take extra layer of clothing to protect me from the cold, thank you." Rey just grinned.
There's pros and cons of having dense fur. While you could withstand some degrees of cold like the low temperature of Tundratown, you'll practically overheat easily in hotter areas. That's why Rey often assigned less important assignments on other areas instead of the big ones in Sahara Square. Yeah, Rey might be very active about his job, but he knew his limits. Being in operations in Sahara Square just make him a burden and Rey hates being a burden to others. Another con is that you have to chose larger size of clothes so that the fur don't suffocate you.
"It's a plus being me," Rey retaliated casually. "Well, what next?"
Nick took some moments to think. "After Night Howler Case, Judy's probably the most famous cop in the city, right?"
Rey's grin fell. "You forgot to count yourself in," he said, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, a fox like me, right," the fox said sarcastically, putting his paws into pockets.
Rey shook his head while smiling at Nick's mindset. "Come on. Give yourself some credit," he said, walking by Nick after pushing his shoulder lightly. "Okay, what's about it?"
Nick started walking by the sidewalk. "We'll start by asking people around if they've seen her. If she wandered around Tundratown looking for crime, then at least some people should saw her walking around with a notebook and ballpoint at paw," he explained while walking past some crowd.
"Right. Let's get started then."
The two walked around asking for Judy while showing photos of her. Heck, the photos weren't even necessary, everyone should've known Judy by now. Night Howler Case wasn't a small case after all.
For an instance was when they came into a barbershop.
"Excuse me," Nick said as he walked in. The room was pretty big it could fit an elephant or two.
A barber, a lioness in blue, turned immediately at her visitors. "Welcome to Lion-Esque, what can I do for you? A cut, maybe?" she said, bringing a scissor and a comb simultaneously from a drawer.
Rey smiled friendly. "Sorry, miss, but we're not here to get a cut."
The lioness tilted her head a bit. "We're looking for our friend. We called her for a while but she didn't answer," Nick added.
The lioness nodded in understanding. "Oh well, then. What does she look like?"
"You might have seen her before. Judy Hopps?"
The lioness stunned for a second before snapping her fingers. "The bunny officer?!" she asked excitedly then gasped. "Then you must be her fox companion that helped her solve the case!"
Both Rey and Nick sweatdropped. "I think you got your foxes confused," Nick said, trying his best not to sound lying. "But yes, she is the cop."
The lioness' smile faltered a little. "I think I saw a bunny like her passing this shop several times since morning," she said, putting a paw on her chin. "She went to Birmingham Street and back to the main street several times while holding a note and she looked everywhere." She giggled. "Funny thing. But she stopped appearing since a half past twelve. I don't know what happened, but it seemed like she got her business done."
Rey raised a brow. "What made you think so?" he asked, trying to sound as casual as possible since they couldn't alert anybody who got Judy of their presence.
"Around ten minutes to twelve, she passed again. Her note was closed and she walked straight to Birmingham Street without looking left or right anymore."
"Why do she has to be so obvious?" Nick mentally facepawed himself. "Anyway, thanks for telling us about her, miss," he said, giving snap of a finger before walked out.
"Birmingham Street, huh," Rey said, turning his sight to the left of the barbershop where a sign that says "Birmingham Street" stood from the sidewalk. "I think I see it." Nick just sighed at the obvious.
They walked down the street, which were narrower than the main street but equally crowded. The two passed by some crowd and some cafe before stopping before a river, which was the road's split to the right and left.
"We should split up," Nick and Rey said in unison, both stepped back as they realize that they said that in the same time.
"I'll take the left," Nick said.
Rey turned to the opposite. "Then I'll take the right."
Nick adjusted his watch a bit before calling out on Rey. "We'll meet back here at 15.00." Rey made an OK sign with his paw before running to the right branch.
Nick walked casually taking the advantage of his dark sunglasses to peer at the corners without being suspected. Not that there weren't any, though. He was still a fox, and foxes weren't too trusted. But interestingly, though, people tend to soften around foxes after Night Howler Case, probably because of Nick's part in solving it and that he didn't look as sly and shifty as people would think foxes would be.
After some minutes of skimming the river bends and asking a few people about Judy, which resulted no real lead, Nick saw something that caught his attention: a shadowy alley. To most people, it wouldn't attract much attention, but with Nick's night vision, he could see a certain creature moved in the alley.
After glancing around for a while, Nick walked into the alley. It had some turns, which helped Nick to avoid getting seen by the suspect. Then, he sneaked close enough that he could hear the creature mumbling on his own.
It was a hyena. "Okay, calm down. You've done your part. You knocked the bunny cop out with a stick, then bring her to the boss. It's already done, right?" He mumbled, giving Nick enough information to record on his phone.
Without anymore delay, he came out from his cover. "Whoever you are, freeze!"
The hyena was surprised that he actually dashed off, but instead of going to the other end of the alley, he crashed to the wall instead. Nick could see comical stars spinning above him as he tried to get up but failed and went back down because of dizziness.
Nick, trying to hold his exploding anger inside, went closer to him and grabbed him by the collar of his blue shirt. "Where's Judy?" he said, menacingly, voice full of anger and impatience. "Spill it!"
The hyena was scared to spine, but managed to stutter some words out. "I-I-I won't tell you!"
Nick was about to claw him on his face when she saw a familiar polar bear on the other end of the alley with a shrew on his opened paw. It was Fru Fru and her bodyguard. Nick suddenly got a idea and he walked toward her with the freaked out hyena in tow. He thought about Rey, but he'll endanger Mr. Big if he bring the lynx along, so he'd better leave him until he come back hopefully with Judy in tow.
"Hello there, Mrs. Fru Fru," Nick said friendly, capturing the attention of the shrew who visibly carrying a baby. "Aw. Is that Judy?"
Fru Fru was confused at first, but then brightened up when she remembers Nick. "Why, if it isn't Nick Wilde," she said with her tiny voice, smiling as she did. "And yes! This is Judy Rachel Big. Say hi to Uncle Nick," she said to her baby, who set a sight at Nick and giggled happily. "Aw, she likes you."
Nick just smiled at the sight of Big Family's newborn, but unfortunately, he got his own Judy to worry. "I'm sorry, to interrupt your activity, but I need help."
Her bear bodyguard narrowed his eyes when he heard Nick's words. "Of course I would help you! What can I do for you?"
"Judy is missing." Fru Fru's smile fell. "I'm looking for her right now and found this scoundrel." He pulled the hyena effortlessly into view. "And he is responsible for her disappearance. But he won't budge."
Fru Fru thought for a moment before turning her head up. "Then let's do it like last time. Mr. Dale, we're going back to the mansion." The bear nodded before walking to a limo along with Nick.
When they all got inside, Nick took a surprise as he see the driver. "Well, isn't that Mr. Manchas on the wheel," he said, chuckling as he recognize the black panther from the second row.
Manchas smiled. "I guess I have to thank you and Officer Hopps for solving the case, otherwise I'll be stuck being savage indefinitely," he stated, recalling how blurry the time he went savage was. "I, Renato Manchas, thanks you for your help and work."
Nick's mouth ends lifted a bit. "Psh. It's nothing," he snickered.
Fru Fru took a turn talking after Manchas returned his sight on the road. "Take us back, Mr, Manchas."
"As you wish, Ma'am." Manchas didn't take another waste of second and started driving toward Big Mansion, wherever it was.
"It is nice meeting you again, Nick," the small shrew in tuxedo said. "It's almost feel like destiny that our paths cross once again." His expression couldn't be seen too clearly because of his bushy eyebrow, but the same genuine smile that was similar to his daughter beside him was enough to conclude that he was in a good mood.
Nick smiled in return but immediately remembered the way he dishonored Mr. Big by selling him the skunk butt rug after all the things they went trough. "I feel the same, Mr. Big, though I would want to apologize once more for selling you that wool rug," he said, honestly.
Mr. Big raised a paw, signaling Nick to stop. "It doesn't matter now, Nick. I know that you have realized your mistake so let's forget that transaction." he said in friendly demeanor, making Nick even feeling guilty, but somehow relieved as well. "Now, what it is that made you come here once more for my help?"
"I'll keep it short. Judy's missing, now I caught the suspect but he won't talk."
As soon as he said that, the polar bear behind him, Raymond, brought the hyena onto Mr. Big's sight. "I'll take care of it. Ice 'em!"
And there went his signature words. Raymond picked the hyena up while another polar bear pulled the carpet beneath the hyena and opened the trapdoor under it, revealing a stream of icy river that was freezing him even though he wasn't in it yet.
When Raymond was about to throw him into the river, the hyena exclaimed in horror. "Alright! Alright! I'll talk!" then Raymond pulled him back up a little.
"Spit it!" Nick commanded, brows arching angry.
"A-A-A gazelle o-o-offered me a-a bunch of money to bring him the bunny cop. That's all I know!" he whimpered.
Mr. Big looked at Nick. Nick shook his head and signaled Raymond to do it again.
Before Raymond move his arm even an inch, the hyena screamed again. "NO! H-he-he wore a dark brown puffer vest and matching sweat pants. H-he had messy blond hair. I-I-I swear, it's all I know! For real!" he explained, begging the fox and the shrew to ease his treatment.
Nick pulled a few steps away before nodding to Mr. Big, who then signaled the two polar bears to reverse what they have done until the hyena was on the floor again. Shortly, though, he was brought out by Raymond somewhere else.
"Do you know your target now, Nick?" Mr. Big asked casually, waiting an answer from the intelligent fox.
Nick gritted his teeth. "I know, it won't be easy getting him, but I know someone who can make it easier."
"Who?" Fru Fru asked out of curiosity.
"The star, Gazelle herself."
No! It's three-chaptered! Ya, the next chapter's gonna be the last part because I have something planned after chapter 10. Await it!
