Chapter 3

0938 Hrs, On patrol

"So you don't think Wilde is on to something?" asked Carlos as they drove away.

Hunter looked at him incredulously. "You're kidding me, right?"

"Well, isn't it weird that an adult mammal would steal a lawn ornament in the middle of the night?"

"I'm pretty sure it's weird for anyone to steal a lawn ornament, Carlos, regardless of the time of day. But just because something is weird doesn't mean it's worth wasting time on." Hunter shook his head. "This is a city. It's full of all kinds of mammals, any number of whom are, at some point or another, kinda weird. Hell, even your friends may act pretty strangely if you don't know the context of what's going on."

His cell phone rang. "Hunter," he answered.

"I don't know how much longer I can deal with this camera-pig, Zach. She's going to get me indicted."

"Judy? What are you talking about- is she trying to get you involved in something illegal?"

"No, I'm going to kill her, then they're going to indict me."

"Not getting along too well, are you?"

"Oh, darn it, she's coming back. Look, do you think the relationship between Nick and me is more important than the survival of Zootopia?"

Hunter looked at the phone suspiciously. "What are you talking about, Judy?"

"Wait, wait, never mind, don't tell anyone anything- good-bye!"

The call disconnected.

Hunter slowly returned the phone to his pocket. "See, for example, if I wasn't okay with a little weirdness now and again that conversation would really bother me."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

0945 Hrs, On Patrol, Business District

"At least tell me if you think he's good-looking or not," wheedled Willow.

Judy gritted her teeth and kept driving.

"I mean, with that beautiful tail and all-"

The radio activated and Judy snatched the mike. "Unit Twenty-seven Charlie, go ahead."

"Uh, wow, that was quick- we have a burglary report at a residence, ten twenty two Foxden Road."

"On the way."

"And that smile," continued Willow. "You can just tell he needs a girlfriend to watch him, because he's been such a bad boy-"

"Concentrating on driving, can't talk now," said Judy hurriedly.

"Oh, that's okay, I'll just-"

"You need to be quiet, too. Don't want a horrible accident to happen to anyone."

"Yes, I suppose a car accident would be a bad thing."

"Yeah, that too."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

0948 Hrs, 1022 Foxden Road

"So that's everything that's missing, right?" asked Judy. "Anything else you notice?"

The homeowner who had been burgled, a panda, nodded. "I think so. Though I'm not certain- this is so frightening! A stranger, in my house. I came home early from work and I could have walked right in on him!"

"I know, ma'am," said Judy comfortingly. "We'll do what we can to catch this mammal."

"You just can't have nice things anymore," said the panda mournfully. "You work so hard and someone just comes along and takes it all away. Do you know, this is the second time I've had a theft this week?"

"What was taken last time?" Judy asked.

"Oh, it was the silliest thing- a lawn ornament, a little ceramic owl. Why on earth would anyone steal such a thing?"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1015 Hrs, 7505 Shepherd Walk Street

Carlos frowned as they pulled into the large parking lot, which was situated behind an abandoned building. "Why are we stopping here?"

He looked around, noting how the location they were at prevented anyone from seeing them easily from the street, with the abandoned structure blocking sight-lines. "Wait, is this a stakeout?"

"Sure," said Hunter, settling into his seat and putting it back as far as it would go. "I'm going to keep a close watch on the inside of my eyelids for any signs of suspicious activity."

"You're going to take a nap?"

"Yes, assuming someone will quit chattering into my ear."

Carlos just looked at him, aghast. "How on earth do you have the reputation you have while being this lazy?"

"Bad luck, mostly."

The two settled into an uneasy silence- well, uneasy on Carlos's end. Hunter tilted his head back, cap covering his eyes, and was, to all appearances, fast asleep in seconds.

Until his cell phone rang.

He pulled it out of his pocket with a sigh. "Work, work, work, never any let-up around here." He answered. "Yeah?"

"It's Nick. So I went around and asked a bunch of other mammals in the neighborhood about the suspect."

Hunter covered his eyes with one hand. "I've done less work on an attempted murder investigation, Nick."

"Yeah, but listen- not only did I find -" he heard papers rustling, probably as Nick flipped through his notebook "-ten other mammals that saw the buck with the pick-up, but five other residents reported various lawn ornaments missing!"

"What."

"Someone's up to something, Hunter. This could be important. I've got a description of the truck, too- a white Ram, partial plate WYK-"

Hunter interrupted him. "I'm having serious trouble reconciling 'stolen lawn ornaments' and 'important', Nick."

"Look, I'm having lunch with Judy and I'm going to talk to her about it. You want to meet us at the Golden Dragon at eleven?"

"Well, I was planning on maybe- wait a minute. You've still got that vixen with you, the camera-fox? She's going to go to lunch with you and Judy too?"

"Who, Claudia? Yeah, why?"

"Sure, Golden Dragon at eleven. See ya then." Hunter hung up.

"So what's going on?" Carlos asked curiously.

"Make sure you bring your camera to lunch," said Hunter. "Things might get exciting."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1102 Hrs, Golden Dragon Restaurant

Judy stared at her friend. "So you spent all morning investigating stolen lawn ornaments?"

The fox nodded. "I think I'm on to something here." His "partner" for the day was still outside. Judy was curious to see who was riding with Nick.

Wendy Willow was sitting one table away, having muttered something about "leaving you two alone." Judy had ignored it and thankfully Nick appeared not to notice.

"Yeah, I agree," said Hunter as he walked up to the table, his capybara shadow in tow. "I think he's on something as well."

"On to something, Zach."

"What's sad is he may be right," said Judy with a sigh. "Though for the life of me I can't figure out what."

"What do you mean?" asked Hunter, surprised.

"I just attended a burglary at a residence in that same area. A short time ago, my victim had a lawn ornament stolen from her front lawn."

Hunter frowned. "Coincidence."

"Maybe. But it is kinda weird." Suddenly, she froze.

Both Nick and Hunter followed her gaze to the vixen who had walked up to their table.

Claudia de Ville gave them all a stunning smile and slipped into the booth next to Nick. "Well, it's so good to meet the rest of you! Just pretend I'm not here."

Nick looked at her and smile. "Claudia has been a great help today. She has a knack for getting mammals to talk."

Judy's eyes darted from one to another, her face expressionless. "Claudia?" she asked coldly.

Hunter leaned back. "Do you think this place sells popcorn?" he whispered to Carlos.

Nick seemed oblivious to the sudden tension. "We make a pretty good team," he said. "It's surprising how some people open up when they realize they're being filmed."

The vixen laughed. "Oh, you're just flattering me. Nick did all the work- very clever, very charming, this fox," she said, patting his paw and inching slightly closer.

"It's 'Nick,' is it?," murmured Judy.

Hunter held up a hand below the table where only Carlos could see it. Slowly, he counted down with his fingers- five, four, three, two, one-

Judy stood up. "Oh, hey, look at the time. I should get back to the station and, uh, work on that report."

Nick looked at her, innocent confusion all over his face. Hunter suddenly frowned at his expression. "But we haven't eaten yet."

"I'm, uh," Judy paused, glanced at Claudia. "I'm not hungry."

Hunter was now watching Nick with a growing look of suspicion on his face.

"See you guys later," said Judy. She rushed out.

Behind her, Willow grinned widely and followed.

"I wonder what that was all about?" mused Nick. He froze as he caught Hunter looking at him.

"We need to have a quick word, fox."

"Uh-"

"Oh, hey, looks like there's something on your vest," said Claudia. She took out a handkerchief and started rubbing the front of Nick's uniform. Nick glanced nervously at Hunter, who pointed at the door.

"Now."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The two of them stood outside the restaurant. Hunter looked down at his friend. "You're not that stupid, Nick."

"Is that your way of trying to give me a compliment, Zach? Because I gotta say, it could use a little work."

"Oh, I could believe you wouldn't realize that bringing the girl you're flirting with to lunch was an unintentional mistake," continued Hunter, ignoring him. "But not realizing how upset Judy was after those first couple of seconds? You're playing a game, huh?"

"Didn't someone tell me that getting in the middle of relationship stuff makes you an idiot?"

Hunter squinted at him. "Not as much as trying to hurt someone just to prove a point."

"She made it very clear that she didn't want a relationship with me!" said Nick, suddenly angry.

"And what the hell do you think you just made 'very clear' to her, Nick?"

Nick froze. His ears went flat against his head.

"Hell," continued Hunter, "I'm not saying it wouldn't work- the whole 'make her jealous' thing. But you two shouldn't be together- if that's what you want- because you can't stand to see the other with someone else. You two should be together because neither one of you can stand being with someone else." He sighed. "Anything else is death for a relationship- trust me, I know."

There was a long silence as Nick thought about this. "I screwed up."

"Hey, he can learn after all. I owe Bogo five bucks."

Nick sighed. "You know, only a fox can be so sly and so dumb at the same time."

"Stupid like a fox, eh?" Hunter patted him on the shoulder. "Well, there's always time to apologize. Let's go eat."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1115 Hrs, Business District

Judy drove.

Her thoughts were a turmoil. She hadn't meant to make Nick think there was no possibility of a relationship. She just didn't want to deal with it right now. She was still learning the job, still trying to decide where she wanted to go in the department, in her career, in her life. Nick was- a confusing factor.

Like now. So he was acting all googly-eyed with a vixen. So what? She didn't own him, she didn't have any real hold on him. It shouldn't bother her.

But it did.

Though, that wasn't the only thing that was bothering her.

"So Claudia was pretty friendly with Officer Wilde, huh?" said Willow cheerfully. "It's a good thing there's nothing between you two."

Judy gritted her teeth.

"Oh, I know what's going on, though. It's okay to be jealous, sweetie. But a fox like that- well, he's going to have a bit of a wandering eye."

Judy slammed on the brakes and the pig flew forward with a surprised snort, only her seat-belt keeping her from hitting the dashboard.

"What-"

"Out," ordered Judy.

"But-"

"Out!"

A moment later, a very confused pig stared after the patrol car as it screamed down the street.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1122 Hrs, ZPD Headquarters

Bogo answered his phone. "Chief of Police."

"This is an outrage!"

Bogo sighed. "What did Hunter do now?"

"Who? No, this is Wendy Willow, from ZRN- I was just abandoned on the street corner by one of your officers."

"Yes, that would be Hunter. He's the human one."

"No, it was not Officer Hunter, Chief Bogo."

Bogo blinked. "It wasn't? So it was Wilde? That's really not like him."

"No, will you stop talking and listen? It was Hopps!"

There was a long silence.

"Officer Hopps."

"Yes, that's what I-"

"Officer Judy Hopps."

"You can't possibly be this dense."

Bogo leaned back and rubbed his forehead. "Just one quick question, Ms. Willow."

"Yes?"

"What on earth did you say to that bunny?"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1204 Hrs, Business District

Nick had decided that he needed to find Judy and apologize, but in the meantime he had something else to apologize to.

They had just finished a very quiet lunch and he and Claudia were getting back into the patrol car. When she sat down he took a deep breath. "There's something I need to talk to you about, Claudia."

"Oh?"

"Well, we've been getting along pretty well, and the thing is, I may have gotten a bit overenthusiastic at times..."

"What are you saying, Nick?" she asked curiously.

"Look, I'm sorry if I was leading you on at all. I'm afraid I'm not really interested in a relationship right now. There's- well, there's someone else important to me and-" he finally looked over at her.

Straight into her camera. She looked up when she saw his look of shock. "Oh, go on, this is great stuff."

"What- what are you-"

She stared at him. "For the show? The audience eats up this dramatic romance stuff." She paused. "Oh, dear, you didn't really think that it was anything more than a game?"

"Well, it kinda was," began Nick, before he scanned ahead and saw where he was going with that sentence. "I mean, so you weren't at all interested...?"

"Oh, honey. No." She reached into her purse and pulled out a small pouch. "I suppose I can put this back on, now," she said, putting on a wedding ring.

Nick's eyes bugged out. "You're married?" he yelped.

"Oh, don't worry, he understands these things," said Claudia with an airy wave of her hand. "At least, I think he would if he ever found out about it."

Nick considered this. He suddenly patted his pockets. "Oh, gosh, I must have left my notebook on the table inside the restaurant- could you run inside and get it, please? I need to check in with dispatch."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1212 Hrs, ZPD Headquarters

Bogo's phone rang again.

"Chief of Police."

"One of your officers abandoned me at a restaurant!" shouted a female voice.

Bogo nodded. "Ah, there we go. How long ago did Hunter leave?"

"Hunter? He wasn't the one who abandoned me, it was Officer Wilde!"

"Really? I mean, if you mammals are this annoying, how on earth has Hunter put up with you for so long- unless," said Bogo, in sudden realization. "But even he-" he stopped as he further realized what happened every time he decided that something was too far for Hunter.

"What do you mean, annoying?" said the infuriated voice.

Bogo was already buzzing Clawhauser on the intercom. "Clawhauser!"

"Sir?"

"Get Hunter on the radio. Verify that his passenger is a) still with him and b) alive." He thought for a second.

"And c) not trapped in the trunk of the patrol car."

"Uh, sir, are you forgetting-"

"Right. And d) not tied onto the roof of the patrol car."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1214 Hrs, 7201 Shepherd Walk St

"Clawhauser to Hunter."

Hunter picked up the radio. "Hunter, go ahead."

"Can we speak to your passenger, please?"

Hunter glanced over towards the door of the convenience store where he had stopped to let Carlos use the restroom. "He's a bit tied up right now."

"Oh, no, the chief was right," he heard Clawhauser mutter.

"What?" Hunter spotted Carlos coming through the door. "Hang on a sec, I see him. It's for you," he said, handing the mike to Carlos.

The capybara looked at it curiously before keying the mike. "Um, this is Carlos."

"Carlos! You're alive!"

The capybara looked at Hunter, who shrugged. "Um, yes. Any reason I shouldn't be?"

"You're not tied up or stuck in a trunk or anything, are you?"

"Um, no."

"Oh, good."

There was a pause.

"Well," said Clawhauser cheerily. "Have a nice day!"

Carlos replaced the microphone as he slowly sat back down. "What was that all about?"

"Oh, they probably were worried that you'd been annoying me," said Hunter.

Carlos laughed nervously. "And they thought you might have locked me in the trunk or tied me up?"

Hunter eyed him. "Or killed you."

Carlos chuckled. "Right, but I'm sure they were only joking..." his voice trailed off as he caught Hunter's eye.

The cop put the car into drive. "Yeah, sure," he said in a neutral tone. "Joking."

The capybara sat very quietly.