8:00 A.M, July 11, Precinct 1
The Bullpen was unusually subdued. Gone was the playful banter and roughhousing, replaced instead with urgent whispering as those that had not been there had the events of the previous day explained to them. Some were surprised to see Grizzoli in their midst, having heard about his suspension.
"Aten-HUT!" called the hippo sergeant-at-arms. Everyone stood as Bogo entered the room. With so much tension in the air, no one started up the usual chant, so it was with sepulcher-like silence that the enormous Chief of Police took the podium.
"Be seated." Once the sound of scraping chairs had subsided, Bogo got right into it. "As most of you may have heard, one of our own has freed the only mammal-of-interest in a homicide investigation and fled with him. Judy Hopps is now a fugitive from the law."
The room erupted into murmurs and not a few shouts of outrage. "Quiet!" Bogo shouted. Silence fell once again. After a second to glare down the officers he knew would be most likely to call out, he continued, "This has never happened before. And as far as the public is concerned, I want to keep it that way. Absolute. Media. Silence. I don't even want you to use their names or species. From now Hopps is Target Grey and her accomplice, Nick Wilde, is Target Red. If I even think one of you has leaked this to anyone, I'll snatch your badge off your chest so fast you'll think you've been shot. Am I clear!?" he shouted, slamming the podium with his hoof for emphasis.
"Sir, yes sir!" the room responded as one.
"Good," he said calmly. He pulled his small reading glasses from his shirt pocket and balanced them on his snout as he continued. "To make sure no one notices a sudden concentration of ZPD resources, most of you will be assigned to search the city. If anyone asks, you're on routine patrols. However, a few of you have been chosen for a joint task force with the sole purpose of locating Targets Grey and Red. When I call your name, head to Conference Room Three." He lifted a list from the podium and began to read it off. "Fangmeyer. Wolford. Higgins. Snarlov. Grizzoli. That's it. The rest of you coordinate with Clawhauser for your patrol assignments."
The tiger, wolf, hippo and polar bears followed their boss down the hall. When they reached the door with a plaque that read Conference 3, they were brought to a stop by Bogo. He turned to face his officers with a warning glare. "You are going to be told to do things you might not agree with. Don't ask why. The less you know, the easier this will go and the safer you will be. Understand?"
The cops shifted uneasily, unnerved by Bogo's tone. This wasn't professional advice. It was a personal warning. The mammals nodded one-by-one.
Bogo accepted their assent with a near silent grunt and opened the door. Conference Room 3 was dominated by a long, rectangular table with matching chairs. There was a white screen and a powered down projector at one end, perfect for presentations.
As the officers filed in, they found a number of animals already sitting at the table. From the top down sat a white arctic vixen, an unusually small red she-wolf, a black-striped rabbit buck, and finally, a chestnut colored squirrel.
Bogo took the seat at the head of the table with the vixen on his left and his officers on his right. He made introductions as everyone settled, "This is the head of the local ZBI Branch Office, Director Skye Vault, and her associates. Director Vault, this is my team: Fangmeyer; Wolford; Higgins; Snarlov; and Grizzoli." He pointed to each of them in turn. Skye didn't move, but each of the ZPD Officers nodded their heads respectfully as their names were called.
"Time is of the essence, so I'm going to get straight to it," the vixen began. She lifted a remote and pressed a button. The lights dimmed as the projector at the end of the table whirred to life. Everyone turned to watch as the screen was split with a picture of Judy on the left and Nick on the right. "These are Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. They recently escaped ZPD custody. The reasons why don't matter. We told your colleagues that your primary focus was Officer Hopps. While that might be true for the ZPD, the ZBI's primary target is her accomplice, Nick Wilde."
With a press of a button, a profile of Nick appeared on the screen. It included his exact physical characteristics as well as some of the most pertinent details of his life, including his proclivities as a hustler and his association with known crime syndicate the Big Family. "Mr. Wilde has recently come into possession of ultrasensitive government property. He must be captured as soon as possible. However, we cannot allow our enemies, or even our allies, to know what we are doing. If they catch wind of what he is carrying, it could lead to an armed conflict."
"War? Are you talking about a war?" Snarlov asked, stupefied. He wasn't the only one, as all of the ZPD personnel had varying expressions of shock and fear. Only Bogo's expression was neutral, as he had already heard this before.
Skye didn't look perturbed by the interruption, choosing to answer the question. "Yes, I am," she said with gravitas.
"What could be that important?" Fangmeyer asked, looking grave. Skye shook her head.
"I can't answer that. And for your own safety, do not try to find out." Her warning affected them all, the cops' mouths snapping shut as they choked off their questions.
Seeing that the interruptions were over, Skye clicked her remote again. Another slide came on, this one a long list of mammals and locations associated with Nick. "These are currently the best leads we have when it comes Wilde's location. Unfortunately, he has a long list of business associates, none of which stand out as likely to help him. We still need to speak to them all."
"What about the Big connection?" Grizzoli asked, having fully recovered from the earlier shock.
"The ZBI's relationship with the Big Family is complicated at best," Skye answered, all business. "Our sources tell us that no contact has been made between Big and Wilde, but that doesn't mean that they don't know where he is hiding. Unfortunately, the Big's won't speak to the ZBI as a matter of pride. We were hoping the ZPD would have better luck. I understand your relationship with the Family is more… amicable, than ours." No one missed how intently she stared at Grizzoli as she said this. The polar bear shifted slightly, drawing even more attention from his colleagues.
"We will contact the Bigs for you," Bogo's voice cut through the rising tension before it could cause problems. "How do you wish to proceed?"
Skye turned to face Bogo as she pressed another button on her remote. The projector shut down and the lights brightened. "The ZBI will handle most of the data gathering. However, due to the extreme sensitivity of the investigation, we were hoping to tap the ZPD's off-the-book resources."
Wolford, Higgins and Snarlov all perked up, suddenly realizing why they were here. They were the most experienced undercover officers in Precinct 1 and had the most extensive network of contacts and informants. Between the the three of them, they handled over half of the department's criminal resources.
"You don't expect us to burn our CIs, do you?" Higgins asked.
"Only if it is necessary, but yes." Skye looked each of them in the eye, trying to impart how serious she was. "Don't forget what's at stake. Not just national security, but national conflict. I expect you to do whatever it takes to avoid a war."
The three officers settled back, their discontent plain on their faces. One of the worst taboos of their work was exposing their informants to danger. If word got around that their protection was unreliable, entire networks could dry up overnight. Years of work would be destroyed.
Bogo read this in them as easily he read their nametags. He made a note to speak to them after the meeting and smooth some ruffled feathers.
Skye continued, noting the byplay without acknowledging it, "But this isn't entirely one-sided. In the spirit of cooperation, the ZBI will share resources in turn. Everyone, this is Senior Special Agent Jan Lanskovitch," she waved at the end of the table.
The squirrel that had previously been quietly waiting hopped gracefully onto the table and stood proud. She seemed unusually slim for her kind, though to judge from her thick, healthy fur it wasn't due to a nutritionally lacking diet. She nodded her head in a professional greeting, looking at each of the police officers with piercing grey eyes, ending with Bogo. "Hello. Thank you for having me here, Director Vault and Police Chief Bogo." The two leaders nodded their heads. The squirrel continued, "I will be the liaison for the Rodent Search and Exploration Command. If you have a lead on a location, let me know and R-SEC will have any building searched top to bottom and the occupants won't even know we were there." Professional pride practically oozed out of her.
"I've heard of you." Wolford blinked his eyes at the squirrel, trying to remember. His eyes widened once he figured it out. He leaned forward excitedly and pointed at her. "Yeah! The Sneaky Squirrels! I heard you guys did all kinds of amazing stuff, like disarming landmines and mapping enemy bases and searching disaster debris for survivors."
Jan looked annoyed at being called a 'Sneaky Squirrel', but her expression softened a little when she heard the undisguised admiration in the wolf's voice. She allowed a tiny, modest smile. "Yes, that is some of what we do."
In any other situation, Bogo would have called Wolford out for unprofessional conduct, but, since it seemed to be improving relations with an ally, he would let it pass. Still, to borrow a common wolf phrase, that was enough butt sniffing. "Alright. Is there anything else?"
Skye spoke up, "I would like to iron out a few details…"
The meeting lasted about an hour. In that time, Jack and Ruby were both introduced as liaisons of their departments. Jack freely admitted his allegiance to the ZBI while Ruby would only say she worked for the government. Since Bogo didn't push, the five officers didn't either.
Once Skye left, Bogo set up his three new liaisons in the office next to his, kept empty for just these occasions. The original desk, a copy of Bogo's and therefore much too large for the small wolf, rabbit and squirrel, was pushed up against a wall and appropriately sized desks and chairs were fetched from storage. While the three set themselves up, Bogo slipped away to have a quiet meeting with his officers.
He found them waiting for him in Conference Room 3, having signaled for them to wait at the end of the meeting. Fangmeyer spoke up as soon as he was seated. "Why am I here, Chief? Why was I told? My contacts aren't nearly enough to bother with bringing me into a secret like this."
"I will explain your role in all of this. Please wait a little while longer," Bogo replied. Fangmeyer leaned back in his chair, face patiently resigned. Bogo turned to Wolford, Higgins and Snarlov. "Do you have any questions about your assignment?"
"I do," Snarlov said. Bogo could tell from his tone what his question would be. "Are we really expected to burn our CIs for some- some vague, theoretical threat?"
"I have seen what it is Target Red carries. Believe me when I say that, if anything, its importance was understated. You will do whatever it takes to find that fox." Bogo's voice was cold, hard iron, and no one there was strong enough to bend it. Seeing how unhappy the three officers were with the situation, Bogo compromised as much as he could. "That doesn't mean you have to burn your resources. Start with the low risk informants first. That should take some time, so maybe this will be over before we have to risk any of the more sensitive CIs. But if it comes to it, I expect you to use whatever resources you have. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." The three officers answered as one.
"Then get started."
The wolf, hippo and polar bear stood and left, leaving just Bogo, Fangmeyer and Grizzoli. Bogo looked to Grizzoli. "I already knew about your cousin. Since the first day I hired you. And I know you talk to him."
Grizzoli looked stone-faced. "I figured. Never could slip anything past you, Chief."
"I'm glad you realize that. Now, get down there and find out what the Big Family knows. Promise them anything short of murder. I need intel on Targets Red and Grey and I need it now."
"Yes, Boss." The surly polar bear quickly disappeared out the door, leaving just a tiger and a buffalo.
Fangmeyer shot his boss a look. Rather than demanding answers, it seemed to say 'I'll just keep waiting until you talk'.
Hearing the unspoken message loud and clear, Bogo sighed and began to tap the table with hoof-tipped fingers. After a few seconds of thoughtful drumming, he said, "Fangmeyer, I have no problem with saying you are one of my best officers, even amongst my lieutenants. You're reliable, fair, and trustworthy. The other officers look up to you. They take problems to you they are too scared or embarrassed to bring to me. I allow this to happen because I know you can take care of most problems, and because you're smart enough to bring the ones you can't handle to me. That's what I need you to do now."
The tiger thought about Bogo's words, his claws tapping on his chair's armrests as he considered the full weight of their meaning even as he felt his chest swell with pride. But warm feelings would have to wait, because he wasn't making the connection. "I don't understand. I could have done that without being made aware. It's still risk with no reward."
Bogo grimaced. What he was about to say next turned his stomach. "Let's say… that what you learned today could be a problem if it got out. I need you to do what you always do. Find the officers with problems and help the ones you can. The ones you can't handle…" He sighed wearily. "Bring them to me."
Fangmeyer stiffened as it finally clicked. "Tell me you didn't just ask me to spy on my own department."
Bogo sighed again, raising one hoof to rub at his temple. Why did he ever take this job? "Lives are at stake. Not just your fellow officers, but every citizen in this nation. If this information leaks, mammals will die."
He watched as the tiger officer leaned forward and back, pensively shifting in his seat. Fangmeyer eventually leaned forward until one arm lay on the table. After a few rapid clicks of his claws on the polished wood, he seemed to come to a decision. "I won't… volunteer. Not for something like this."
He stared Bogo in the eye, silently asking for something. Bogo understood. "I order you."
Fangmeyer grit his teeth and glared at the tabletop for a few seconds. Then he pulled himself together. He smoothed his features into a neutral mask, looked his boss in the eye and said, "I understand my orders. I will carry them out to the best of my ability. If that is all?" When Bogo gave a silent nod, the tiger stood and left without another word.
Bogo found himself alone. He leaned forward, put his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his hooves. He stared off into space, allowing himself a moment's thought. He thought back to when this all began with a few dead bodies on a pier and an overeager rabbit begging to help. He'd had a feeling then that he would come to regret it. Guess he was right. He couldn't help saying aloud, "I never should have let Hopps go on a real investigation. Next time Lionheart tries to force a bunny on me, I'm going to drop the nuisance off in Records and be done with it. Consequences be damned."
Wolford leaned on the Acquisition's Counter, offering a friendly smile to the big ram sitting in the office chair on the other side. "Hey, Shep. How's the missus?"
Shep didn't react much to the wolf's greeting, continuing to stare dully at the game of solitaire on his computer screen. He calmly moved a seven of clubs as he replied, "She left me. Took the kids."
Wolford stared at the ram with complete befuddlement, not even remotely expecting that answer. "Really? You said she was fine the last time I was here."
"I thought she was," Shep said, flicking through the deck. He stopped as he found the ace of hearts and placed it in a cell. "Turns out I don't listen enough. That's what she said in the divorce papers, anyway."
Wolford was starting to feel trapped. He knew Shep, but he wouldn't call him a friend. The ram's bland retelling of what should have been a devastating turn in his life was making it difficult to figure out a response. Should he comfort him? But what if he was happy the marriage was over? It obviously wasn't affecting him much. Should he congratulate him on starting a new chapter in his life? What if the ram was actually depressed? Congratulating him would be the worst thing to do. What do I say!?
A soft, familiar hum wreathed it's way into his thoughts as rhythmic clacks came from down the hall from where he was standing. When he looked up, he spotted a lovely spotted deer walking away from him, heading towards the cubicles.
A relieved smile broke out over his muzzle. "Oh thank god- I mean, good luck with that!" he said to Shep before moving to meet Aura.
The ram's rectangular pupils didn't twitch from his game. "Sure."
"Ms. Hart! Ms. Hart!" The deer turned around to be met with a smiling wolf.
"Oh! Michael. What are doing in the cubicle farm? Chief Bogo didn't leash you, I hope."
The reminder of yesterday's fiasco and the chewing out that followed was enough to make him wince. He forced his smile to remain even as he ducked his head in embarrassment. "Nothing like that. Just a… verbal warning."
The lovely deer's smile turned sympathetic. "Bogo's warnings can be pretty loud and scary, though."
"Well, not really- I mean, sort of? Okay, yeah, he's terrifying."
Aura gave an amused hum. "Hmm. You seem to be taking it well."
Wolford scratched at the back of his neck, abashed. "Well, I've been yelled at before. It's not the first time I've done something stupid."
"Everyone can be stupid sometimes. As long as you don't abuse the privilege, right?" Aura joked.
Wolford managed a chuckle, but it petered off as he realized he didn't know how to respond. There was just a second of awkward silence before Aura jumped back in to fill it, "So. You never told me what you were up to."
Wolford gave her a soft grin as he quickly thought of something to say. It's not like he could tell her what he was actually doing, since Bogo had made it clear he wasn't supposed to talk about his assignment. Time to deflect. "Oh, you know, the usual. Police work. Checking files, running names, interrogating suspects." In a misguided effort to look relaxed and confident, he outstretched his arm to lean against a nearby rack of office supplies and crossed his left left ankle over his right foot. "Ya'know, when I'm not talking to a beautif-aAH!" The rack had wheels and it went flying out from under him. His paw instinctively clutched at it as he fell, dragging it down on top of him as he hit the tile and dumping its contents all over him. Wolford now laid under a pile of office supplies.
"Ohmigod, Michael! " Aura quickly grabbed the rack and righted it, lifting it off of Wolford's head. She kneeled down where she saw his snout sticking up out of the mess and cleared the clutter away from his face.
Wolford blinked up at her, his face shocked. After a second to gather his wits, he leaned up to look at the mess he made. Then he fell back down with a thud, his brow wrinkled with frustration. "Ah, biscuits."
Seeing the wolf wasn't injured, Aura let her worry flow out of her with a soft giggle. "Are you ok?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just-" he grunted as sat up, boxes of paperclips and blank stationary scattering about. "Ugh- abusing my 'stupid' privileges."
"I can see that," she said, her voice tinged with amusement.
"Better start cleaning this up," he muttered to himself. He twisted his body around and dragged the cart closer. He rose up to his knees and began to pick up the office supplies and began to put them back. He was surprised when Aura began to do the same. "Oh, Ms. Hart, you don't have to help."
"I don't mind."
They worked in silence for a moment while Wolford gathered his nerve. "Thanks for helping, even though it was my fault."
Aura just smiled and continued to work. After a few minutes they had everything picked up and put neatly away on the wheeled rack.
Wolford stood first and offered his paw to Aura, who took it graciously and allowed herself to be pulled up. The cop smiled self deprecatingly. "Thanks again. And sorry for wasting your time. And being an idiot. I guess I'm just bad at this."
"Oh? Bad at what?" she asked knowingly.
Wolford lost any confidence he may have had left. He stuttered and stumbled over his words. "Um. Just- Uh, you know. 'Conversationing'- Uh, 'conversating'? Oh, 'talking' might be the particular word I was- Ugh." He gave up with a sigh, dropping his head to stare at the ground in defeat. "I'm a clutz."
When Aura saw the wolf's downtrodden look, the deer decided to cheer him up. "Hey, come on. If every cute guy had good balance there'd be nothing to joke about." Her remark caught Wolford by surprise. He couldn't help but manage a small laugh.
"Heh, yeah I guess tha- Wait. You think I'm cute?" He never got his answer as the deer left him with a soft smile and a simple goodbye.
"Have a good day, Michael." She gave him a small peck on the side of his muzzle and turned away to continue down the hall, leaving a frozen wolf in her wake.
He stared after her in wonder, raising a paw to brush his finger pads over where he could still feel her lips on the side of his muzzle. "She thinks I'm cute," he whispered to himself with a smile.
Author's note: A big thank you to my collaborators: DrummerMax64, BioPhoenix4810, Erinnyes, Chesterization, MilesUpshur47 and especially to Whit, who wrote the scene that became the end of this chapter for me. I didn't know what to do and he really came through for me.