A/N: The previous chapter received a major overhaul due to criticism received.

Chapter 37: Duty

Vivian had a duty to perform. She couldn't place the happiness of her son nor one specific mate above the needs of everyone else. She was relieved she didn't need to resort to more drastic measures. If her son refused she would have forced him to cooperate regardless. The stakes were that high. The industry dared to make a move on her when she was showing off her charges the grandeur of Zootopia. They will pay and she would make sure of that.

They gained a captive that spewed off names to save his own fur. That same captive was the one that dared to threaten her son and his mates right in their own home. She went to sleep thinking of how her charges could kill each other. It didn't add up. The rabbit serving them at the hotel ominously went towards her, "I'm sorry, your food was expired. Let me reimburse you."

The rabbit gave her sixty dollars. It was the same cost as her meal. She threw the money in his face. The rabbit continued with the feeble apologies.

She later found three of her charges were dead. There was no evidence of foul play but she refused to believe that. They were given a private room without any access to electronics. It seemed as if they killed each other without any provocation.

A brief search was inconclusive. She told the ZPD about the chef and quickly saw her charges to safety. She couldn't linger to see how it all played out. How could three rabbits suddenly and seemingly kill each other under a room with no surveillance? They were friends or so she thought. It made absolutely no sense.

She would return to Zootopia alone in the morning and figure this out. Mr. Big and his polar bears were needed to protect Nick and his mates.

Dawn came far too quickly rousing her from her sleep. She ate breakfast with them taking careful note that Jill wasn't there. The contract was cruel but it still provided a great boon to her. She was certain Jill was strong enough to survive. They had to be and if she wasn't, at least Nick wouldn't be in jeopardy. It was also the first time she noticed Nick was collared. No doubt there would be a long explanation. She didn't have time for this.

She had to talk to Mr. Big before she left. "If Jill breaks the contract, kill her and send someone to apologize on their behalf."

"You want me to kill one of his mates?" Mr. Big said.

"Is there a problem? It's just a precaution."

"Not at all. Should I tell Jill's her potential fate?"

"If you think it will help. I need to get back to Zootopia. Something happened and I will find out what. They will not get away with this."

She entered her car driving off to Zootopia. She reminisced as she drove. Her son was ensnared in a treacherous web by the bunny he loved. He wanted to be with them despite how cruel they were towards him. It wasn't her place to judge but to provide support. At least, the rabbits were improving. She lost him before and didn't want to lose him again.

She went to the ZPD to query about the incident. She and Bogo were on friendly terms thus she didn't have to wait long. "I would like to know if there's any progress in the investigation?"

The buffalo sighed clearly worn out by the ordeal. "There's been no evidence of foul play by anyone. We searched and interrogated the entire hotel. I think the only explanation is, they are rabbits."

"Three friends don't simply kill each other with no warning. Is there any evidence of drugs? We know how nighthowlers affect animals."

"We ran tests for nighthowlers and drugs despite there being no evidence."

"There must be something. What about the chef? He told me my food expired and tried to give me the money on the spot. He must be hiding something."

"There are no signs of forced entry. No drugs and your charges disabled the surveillance cameras. The chef proved very helpful for our investigation. He admitted he delivered food to their room at 10 am. That was his only interaction with them."

"Food isn't free. My charges didn't have any money. That proves he's guilty!"

"We cannot arrest animals for giving away free food. The hotel would terminate his employment if they see fit."

"You wouldn't mind if I paid him a visit, would you? Just a friendly chat. I also want to thank him for telling me my food was expired especially after I've eaten it."

"You're going to do that anyway, aren't you?" She remained silent because he was right. "Alright, I'll have Wolfard and Fangmeyer escort you to his house."

"You don't trust me," Vivian said. She clenched her teeth from the rage she felt.

"Would you prefer some time in prison instead?" Chief Bogo said. "You know what you can be charged with."

"Try it and I'll drag you down with me. Especially, since he's still employed."

"They will keep their distance and remain out of sight. You will not kill the chef."

"I've no intention of killing someone useful to our cause. Now, here's a list of names for you to investigate." She gave him the list she compiled from their captive during his interrogation. "They are connected with Bunnyburrow in some form."

"I will see to it."

"Immediately."

"Of course." The buffalo grit his teeth.

She drove towards the chef's home. Chief Bogo didn't disclose his name but that wasn't important to her. She'll learn it from him. Her wardens were out of sight just the way she liked it. Chief Bogo did everything he could to impede her investigation. She figured that she got the best deal out of him.

The tainted ZPD partners were well out of sight. Bogo had told her that they were loyal but the wolf was the one who tried to order rabbit meat unauthorized. She couldn't trust him regardless of what Bogo said.

She arrived at the house. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, nothing was amiss. It looked like a standard house made of brick just like all the others. She knocked. The chef came to greet her. The chef was still in uniform. "Allow me to apologize again for using expired ingredients in your food."

"I never caught your name, my good rabbit," Vivian said. She smiled as best she could. "I wanted to personally apologize for my rage yesterday. I was under a lot of stress. I didn't even ask for your name."

"My name is Ramsay, please, come in."

She went into the house which seemed ordinary. There weren't signs of a secret agent nor a serial killer or even a murderer. He decorated his walls with pictures of food that he serves at the hotel. He had a shelf full of trophies displaying his various accomplishments.

"May I personally serve you today?"

"Why certainly," Vivian said. "Can I watch?"

She thought she'd probably unearth some deep dark secret within the food he was preparing.

"But that's boring," Ramsay said.

"I don't mind learning how to create meals like you," Vivian replied. She looked at his body for any signs of anger or annoyance but she failed.

She thought she was winning when the chef hesitated for a moment. She watched Ramsay work while she snooped around in the kitchen looking for anything. Nothing was suspicious, he didn't even have nighthowlers.

He worked and she watched him. "I don't think I can keep this up any longer," Ramsay said. She could taste victory within her grasp. "I'm deeply affected by the loss of my three friends yesterday."

"Friends?" she asked much harsher than she intended. She was waiting for a confession or an admission of guilt. She quickly composed herself. The chef didn't know her own connection with them nor her suspicions of him. "Tell me what happened," she said as compassionately as she could to the murderer.

"Three of my friends were found dead in their hotel room. The police said my friends killed themselves. Can you believe that?"

"I don't believe that, not for a bit." She decided it would be a good time to segue into rabbit traditions. "What do you think happened?" She hoped for a grand conspiracy tale that would make her question everything she thought she knew.

"Someone must have killed them! The police lied about the wounds. There's no way the three of them would kill each other. They were my friends."

"Can you tell me where your friends were living recently? I would like to know more about them. Do you know of their activities within the past week?"

"We weren't that close, but it still hurts to see them dead." The chef gasped. "I'm sorry, the meal's all ruined again. I can't even do anything right."

Vivian convinced him to sit with her on the couch. "It's okay, helping you is far more important. Tell me about your friends."

"Annie was a pyromaniac that loved to play with fire. She set everything she could on fire just to watch it burn. She was first on the scene in Bunnyburrow whenever a fire broke out." That much was correct. That explained Annie's fascination with fire. "She loved those kit-kat bars. Candy made for felines and that was my last gift to her. Free of charge. The hotel reprimanded me for it but … I'm glad I did. I saw the smile from her face one last time."

Vivian studied Ramsay's grey face for any signs of lying but all she saw was a rabbit in his grief. He seemed sincere but he was still a rabbit. She was determined to bring justice to her charges. Annie never let on her fascination about felines when she was with her. She seemed distasteful at very idea of Nick and Judy being together. Ramsay didn't seem to be lying though.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked.

"Thank you, I'm too poor to even afford therapy," Ramsay said.

Someone knocked on the door. Ramsay leaned on her for support as they went to the door. He was emotionally drained from the recollection. "What can I do for you?" Vivian asked with venom laced in every word. They messed her ploy up.

Ralph Wolfard was the one to respond, "There have been complaints about noise."

"Why are you even employed?" Vivian said.

"We respect the law here," Ramsay said. "Is there anything I can do for you? I'm sorry about my vixen friend. She doesn't trust police officers."

"That was a brazen lie!" Vivian said. "Noise complaints! Give me a better reason. Do you hear any noise, right now?"

"My partner means noise complaints filed yesterday. You remember that loud party, right? We're investigating those claims now," Nadine Fangmeyer said. Vivian glared at the tiger but said nothing.

"I don't sell out my neighbors," Ramsay said. "I would like you to leave."

"May we speak to your friend privately?"

"I am not going to talk to you useless cops," Vivian said.

"No one will care if a fox goes missing," Nadine said.

"Is that a threat?"

"I'm going to ask you to leave before I call the cops," Ramsay said.

"We are the cops," Ralph said.

"He means useful cops," Vivian clarified.

"Let's leave, we have other neighbors to question. We'll be over at house 501 if you change your mind." The tiger persuaded her wolf partner to leave. They walked away slowly enough for her to catch, "You should know what you're doing."

The incompetent cops ruined everything. Her suspect didn't talk about his other two friends thanks to their interruption. He moved on to his boring personal life and boring interests. She was certain that he was guilty regardless of what she saw and she would prove the truth. She just needed time.

She kept her senses on guard for any signs of treachery.

A/N: I'm interested in what people think about Vivian this chapter. Constructive criticism is welcome as always.

I've also written the next chapter already but since it's explicit, I'll have to sanitize it enough before I can post it here in good conscience.

For once, FFN and AO3 will have two different versions of the story once the next chapter is posted.