11

"So what's the plan?" asked Nick.

Judy quirked an eyebrow at him. "I would've thought you'd have already guessed it."

She was currently driving them through Downtown, in the general direction of Sahara Square. She watched as her partner took note of it, but his expression remained neutral. "Do I get a hint?"

"I already gave you one earlier."

"Did you?"

She nodded, flicking on her turn signal. Nick turned it back off. "Don't take Herd Street; you'll be stuck at the crosswalk forever. And I don't remember getting a hint."

Judy drove on to the next block. "You did. When I told you that the burrow had been dug by a bunny. I know what you were thinking, Nick."

"Do you?" Still with zero expression. "Your psychic skills must be on the fritz then, Carrots, because there was no one who came to my mind."

Judy supposed she deserved this reaction, considering the way they had started this case. It still hurt, though. She had thought he knew her better than that. Believed her to be better than that.

"You don't have to play dumb," she told him. "I thought the same thing when I heard it was a bunny who had done it."

"You did?"

Judy stopped for a red light. She used the free moment to turn to Nick.

"Of course I thought it. It's not like it's a great leap to make. And you're not the only one with instincts, you know."

"But like you said—it's not about how we feel. It's about evidence."

There it was again, that feeling of surrealism. Judy wasn't used to arguing from this side of the fence. She didn't like it. Nor did she like being forced to tear down her own argument. That was supposed to be Nick's job. And while she was touched that he had taken her kidnapping so seriously and was trying to use it to become a better cop, this rigid stance on "facts only" was getting old, and wasn't Nick-like at all.

Traffic flew by around them. Rhino's in bulky jeeps and mice in teeny-tiny compact cars that raced by in the road margins. Judy checked the light. The left turn had changed to yellow but their light remained red. There was still time to say it.

"I'm sorry," she told him. "For the things I said that night, when we got this case. I don't think I've actually apologized to you for it yet, and I need to. I was wrong to doubt your abilities just because you suspected someone before I did. You may be a bit cynical—"

Nick snorted.

"But you've never been unfair in your observations of other animals." Judy's smile was self-deprecating. "I can't even claim that."

"You say that like I've never made a mistake," said Nick. "But I'm not perfect either. I was wrong about you, for one."

"No, you had me pegged," disagreed Judy. "You were… painfully accurate."

Nick's ears flattened back. "They were just some cruel snap judgments. Nothing to be impressed by. If I had tried, I would've realized how amazing you were sooner."

He was staring out there window as he said this, so luckily he didn't see the way Judy blushed or bit her lip to stop the stupid smile that wanted to overtake her face. "Nicholas Wilde, did you just give me a proper compliment? And of your own free will? You really have changed, haven't you?"

"It's all this mushy talk you've been making us do lately. It's having a negatively affect, clearly."

The light turned green; Judy drove on.

They made their way through Savannah Central. Construction on new tubing for Little Rodentia slowed traffic to a crawl. Vehicles for taller animals—like elephants and giraffes—were being forced to detour around.

"Well," said Judy. "Compliment aside, my point still stands. I know I can't make you fight for the Corsacs if you don't want to, but I hope you'll trust in your instincts again. Because even if they're not foolproof, they're still the best in the ZPD that I've ever seen, and I think you'd be remiss not to use them."

Nick glanced at her and then down at his paws. The minutes passed. When he finally spoke, it was only to tell her, "We still need a motive."

Not exactly the turnaround response Judy had been hoping for. Still. She had said what she needed to. It was up to Nick now.

She passed by the last of the road work, leaving the construction of bright yellow and red tubing in their rearview.

"Motive," she told him, "is what we're on our way to get."

They had just reached their destination when Nick's phone rang.

"I don't recognize this number," he said, tilting the phone Judy's way so she could see it.

"I don't either." Judy threw the cruiser into park. "Answer it. Maybe it's Ray with a list of demands."

Nick didn't look half so optimistic, but he answered. "Officer Wilde here."

There was a startled yip that hurt Judy's ears even from the other side of the cruiser, then silence punctuated by soft panting.

"Who is this?" demanded Nick. "You ruptured my ear drum the least you could do is respond."

"O-officer Wilde?" The voice was soft and quiet and incredibly young. Too young.

"Vixie Swift?" said Nick.

A sniffle. She had both officers' attentions now.

"What's wrong?" said Nick. "Are you hurt?"

There was the sound of fur rubbing across the phone. Nodding, maybe? Or shaking her head?

"Kit I can't help you if you don't talk to me," said Nick. "Are you injured?"

"No," came the small voice. "I'm not hurt."

But she was still sniffling.

"Are you in any immediate danger?"

"Uh… no. I don't think so."

Both Judy and Nick took a breath.

With less panic and more exasperation, Nick said, "What's going on? Where's Robin?"

"I don't know. Robin's not here."

"Is something happening?"

"I don't know."

Nick gave Judy a pleading look. She gestured for him to keep going.

"Vixie," said Nick. "Why did you call me?"

Silence.

"Vixie."

"Robin's not here," she said again.

"Well have you tried calling his phone?"

"This is his phone."

Judy and Nick shared a look.

"Where are you right now?" asked Nick.

"Home." The young fox hiccuped. "I've been home all night and he hasn't come back."

"Robin hasn't?"

More fur rubbing sounds. They interpreted that as a yes.

"Do you know where he went?"

This was apparently the wrong question to ask, because the little kit started to cry. "I don't know! I c-can't get to it! The big d-dummy locked it up. Said I couldn't go with him. And now he hasn't come back and it's raining so hard and—"

"All right. All right, Vixie, calm down. It's okay. I'll send some officers over and you can—"

"No! I don't want them to. Can't you come?"

Nick looked helplessly at Judy.

Across the street, Cottontail's factory stood tall against the storm. Gusting wind had joined in with the rain, sweeping the droplets sideways. Each one that splattered against the cruiser's windows felt like a second wasted to Judy. She had to get in that building. She had to find the answers she needed in order to save the Corsacs. She couldn't leave without them.

But Nick wasn't going to abandoned this kit. The apology was already in his eyes when he looked at Judy, his paw clenched around the phone, as if by sheer force of will he might split himself in two and go with them both, and Judy thought: By all that is great in the Animal Kingdom, help me but I am falling hard for this fox.

"I'll be right over," he told Vixie.

The cruiser shuddered with the force of the wind.

Judy said, "Take the car."

"It's probably nothing."

"She's scared. That already makes it something."

Nick's jaw worked. "I don't want to leave you just because some kit has gotten herself all worked up over some miscommunication with her hapless brother."

"Huh. He didn't strike me as the hapless type. More dashing and romantic."

Nick's expression turned pained. "Really, Carrots?"

So teasing wouldn't work. She went for sincere instead. "You don't have to worry. I can handle this on my own. Go check things out there, and when you're done you can come back and join me here."

He glared at the building across from them. "I should just send someone else. I don't know why I told her I would come. There's no reason that I have to be the one to go."

"She asked for you."

"And?"

"And you want to go."

He scrubbed a paw over his ears. "I am a terrible partner."

"I would argue that, but I don't have the time," said Judy. "So I am just going to state for the record that you are the least terrible partner a bunny could have, and leave it at that."

"I'm leaving you to deal with this alone."

"Because deep-down you know I've got this." She patted her uniform. "See? I have my vest on, and I even stuck a tracker onto my belt, just in case. You, on the other hand, are not nearly so prepared."

"I don't think I'll need kevlar to console a single kit. If there were three or four of them, maybe…"

"Har, har." She pointed to the glove box. "At least take the carrot."

Nick shot her a questioning look but did as she asked. He pulled out the waxed vegetable and stared at it. "Carrots, this is…"

Julie shrugged sheepishly. "I got bored last night watching you sleep."

Nick turned it over, inspecting the leafy end, which now sported a circular seam around the stalk and a bit of excess glue. "What did you do to it?"

"I hollowed it out and stuck a tracking device in it. You told me not to lose it. This way I never will."

He shook his head. "Officer Hopps, you never cease to amaze."

The words were teasing, but apparently her dumb bunny heart didn't know the difference, because it still skipped a happy beat. She went on more quickly. "I synced it with our GPS app. Keep it on you, ok? Even upset, Vixie seems like the wily sort."

"Yes, Officer Hopps."

"Oh. Right. The keys." She held them out. Nick took them, expression falling serious.

"I'll come back as soon as I can," he promised.

"I know. Stay safe, okay?"

"Yeah. You too."

Judy really could have used another hug then, but thought she had pushed him enough earlier with her impromptu cuddling time. She hadn't meant to spring that on him—so to speak—but once she'd been in his arms she hadn't been able to resist taking advantage a bit. His long-suffering sigh had made his opinion on the activity clear, but at least he hadn't shoved her off.

In any case, there was no time for hugs anyway. A small troop of animals had appeared from the factory's front doors and had formed a line, struggling to keep hold of their umbrellas and only half-succeeding. All of them were dressed in security team gray. A scowling armadillo stood in the center, his arms crossed and his frown formidable.

"Looks like they sent out the welcome wagon," said Judy.

Nick scowled. "Except they forgot the welcome part of it. Are you sure you don't need me to stay?"

She smiled and patted his arm. "Go rescue your kit. I'll be fine."

Before he could argue or second-guess further, Judy pushed open the door. The wind caught it and snapped it wide, making the hinges creak. Rain immediately started pelting Judy, the seat, the dashboard.

"Are you sure this was just a storm and not, say, a surprise apocalypse?" hollered Nick.

Judy rolled her eyes and got out. Nick slid over and reached for the door. The armadillo saw Nick and bared his teeth.

"Lovely weather we're having," Nick called to him. "Try not to do anything fortunate like drown in it, all right?"

Whatever the armadillo said in response was blown away by the wind.

Nick looked once more at Judy. Then he pulled the door shut.

Judy didn't wait to watch him drive away. She hurried across the parking lot, hopping over as many puddles as she could. The security team had given up on the umbrellas. By the time she reached them, they were all soaked through.

"You the replacement?" That was from the armadillo.

Judy cocked her head at him. "I'm Officer Wilde's partner, if that's what you mean. You must been Arnie." She held out her paw. Water drip-drip-dripped from the end of her smallest claw. "I'm Officer Judy Hopps."

"You're a rabbit."

"I am."

"But your partner is a fox."

"He is."

The armadillo shook his head, flinging water. Judy didn't think he meant to splash her in the face.

She gave up and lowered her paw.

"I'm here to see Mr. Cottontail," she told him.

"He's out right now."

"Uh-huh. And is it protocol to greet visitors in a pack like this when your boss is away?" She looked at some of the other guards, surprised to find so many bunnies in the mix. They were all stone-faced, staring past her like she wasn't even there, though they were definitely blocking her from the entrance.

"Just a precaution," said Arnie. "We weren't sure who was in the car."

Had they come out here because they'd expected Nick? Suddenly she was glad he hadn't stayed.

"A cop, I should hope," said Judy lightly. "So are you going to let me in?"

The old armadillo looked her over, and for a moment she thought he would send her away too, bunny or not, but then a badger tapped Arnie on the shoulder and whispered, "She's the one Mr. Cottontail went to meet with the other day. Remember? The clover?"

Cheese and crackers, but this was embarrassing. She said nothing as the armadillo looked her over again.

Finally, he said, "I'll escort you to Mr. Cottontail's office. You can wait there."

"Thank you."

As they stepped inside the lobby, feet squelching on the pristine floor, Judy asked, "Has there been any problems since the last incident?"

"No."

That was it.

There was no more talking as he directed her to the elevators and then punched in the code for the top floor. The rest of the security guards broke off, returning to whatever stations they occupied when they weren't trying to run off innocent fox officers.

Soft music played in the elevator's overhead speakers. Judy listened to it as she strove for calm. She wanted nothing more than to lecture the animal standing next to her. Didn't he watch the news? Hadn't he heard about all the good Nick had done since joining the force? Didn't that mean anything to him at all?

But she knew that tearing into him right then wasn't going to change the old armadillo's opinion, and she absolutely had to speak to Mr. Cottontail. And the fastest way to accomplish that was not by ticking off his security guard/bouncer and getting herself tossed out.

So she held her tongue, and her temper, and tried not to drip too much on the floor.

Benjamin Cottontail's office was just as tastefully appointed as the lobby, but with less elegance and more rural accoutrements. One of the walls had been painted what could only be called "barn door" red, and there was a current issue of the farmer's almanac tucked between a copy of Vanity Fur and Scaly Magazine on his side table. His desk was spotless but hand-carved. His bookshelf was divided by subject, of which there seemed to be two: business and self-improvement. All hardbacks.

On the meeting table was a large basket of fruits and vegetables not unlike the kind her parents had brought her on their visit, only Bonnie and Stu would have snubbed the shiny waxed produce featured in this centerpiece.

Arnie returned with hot coffee and a towel for her. As Judy wiped herself down, the armadillo said, "I've contacted Mr. Cottontail. He told me to tell you that he would be right over."

"And right now he's… where, exactly?"

"Out."

Right.

The armadillo left her after that. Judy drank her coffee and paced. Cottontail had an impressive driftwood collection, but a bunny could only stay interested in petrified wood for so long.

She checked her phone. Nick should have reached the Swift's residence by now, but then he still had to trek the mile or so to get to the actual house. She hoped all those trees protected him from the worst of the storm's wrath. The wind was howling now. She could feel the building swaying from the force of it.

By the time Cottontail arrived, Judy's clothes and fur had gone from sopping to merely damp. She had dropped the towel over one of the high-backed meeting chairs so she could sit, but she hopped up again at his entrance.

He looked as impeccable as ever, of course. Not so much as a drop of rainwater stained his gray silk suit. His paw was warm around hers, his smile bright.

"Officer Hopps! It's so good to see you again. I hope you haven't been waiting long. I raced right over when I heard you were here."

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything important for you," said Judy.

"Not at all. I was just finishing up some final preparations for our product's release. Paws crossed that the third time will be the charm, eh?"

"I suppose you've heard the latest news about the Corsacs?"

Cottontail's ears didn't droop so much as swivel backwards in a passing semblance of sympathy. "Yes. Terrible business, all around. But you're still on the case, yes? I have total confidence in you. And of course, my offer of help still stands."

"It's a relief to hear you say that," said Judy. "Because I am still on the case, and I could use your help right about now."

"Name it," said Cottontail.

"I know Nick's poked around here already, but I'd like to take a look myself."

"You want to search the factory?"

"If it's all right with you." Otherwise she was going to have to come back with a warrant, and she just didn't have the time.

Cottontail's smile faded. "I see. And the evidence you have already isn't enough?"

"We just want to make sure we haven't missed anything important," said Judy. "For both parties' sakes."

The other bunny wasn't frowning, exactly. But his mouth had flattened and his eyebrows pinched low.

"I have nothing to hide," he told her slowly.

"Then a quick search shouldn't matter, should it?" pushed Judy. Literally. She looped her arm through his and started propelling him towards the door. "We really appreciate how accommodating Cottontail Inc. has been with this case. Your cooperation hasn't gone unnoticed. Believe me."

Cottontail shot her a look that said she was going to have to work on her schmoozing if she planned on fooling a billion-dollar business mammal, but he didn't balk as she steered them out into the hallway.

"It's dangerous to just wander about the factory," he said finally. "If you will at least allow me to accompany you?"

As if she had a choice. But still, all the better that he come along. Then she could kill two birds with one stone.

Maybe this will be easier than I thought.

"That sounds perfect," said Judy.