I am just glad to finally update this but I will say I am ashamed for letting another year pass.

Much thanks to Wildefox24 for being patient and taking the time to edit this!

The officers and the siblings spent many painstaking hours analyzing the information gathered from the two visits to the Bank of Zootopia. Using the information on Riley's database, they performed background checks on the security mammals, filtering out the ones with no prior history working at a bank or their lifestyles not matching their earnings. In between tasks, the four took breaks by experimenting in the training yard or exploring the Animus.

When the analysis was complete, they combined that information with the investigation into Hart's assets. The group took care to ensure that all of the information would not be ruled inadmissible in a court, and not reveal information about the Assassins or the Templars. One final review was completed before they compiled everything into one large packet.

Seeing the packet on the table, Nick, Judy, and Valerie felt confident with the evidence. However, they heard nothing from Riley and turned to see an emotionless expression on his face, concerning them.

"What's wrong?" Judy asked. "Did we miss something?"

Riley shook his head, "No. We have enough evidence to bring down Hart."

"Then what's bothering you?" Valerie asked.

Riley sighed heavily. "Here's the thing; I can only assume the Templars are beginning to realize that Hart is becoming a liability to their cause. What they do depends on this heist. If Hart succeeds, he can disappear, and no one would ever find him again. That makes killing him easier. If he gets arrested, his inner circle membership will not protect him forever. Templars guard their secrets at all costs. Again, it makes my job easier if they kill him. The issue is that I will be blamed for Hart's death regardless of who is responsible. I would rather through my paws, but..."

"Since Bogo doesn't understand the full scope," Nick continued. "It's hard for him to see assassination as a sensible course of action."

Valerie and Judy nodded, having also come to that realization.

The conversation dried up as the four pondered their current dilemma. Valerie and the officers hadn't thought far ahead or considered the ramifications of arresting Hart. The most difficult aspect would be keeping him alive long enough to be successfully convicted. It hadn't occurred to them that his death might be the simplest solution. Bogo's opinion on that route however; would be entirely different.

Finally, Riley broke the worrying silence, "Pie and milkshakes?"

The other's ears perked up as they nodded. Clearing their minds and focusing on something else could help in finding a solution.

"Great, let me get changed and we'll take the subway entrance." Riley stood up and walked to the bed.

"Oh joy," Nick remarked. "I can't wait to see your magnificent disguise."

Riley chuckled as he knelt by the bedside drawer. "It's simple enough to blow your mind."

The black feline was already wearing a polo shirt and black jeans when Nick and Judy returned from the second trip to the bank. Valerie and the officers saw Riley bring out a glasses case from the drawer. The officers became confused and were about to comment, when Riley opened the case and put on a pair of sunglasses. But this only brought more confusion. Riley finished the disguise pulling out a plastic packet of white surgical masks from the second drawer.

Nick and Judy stood slack-jawed and arms limp while Valerie had to restrain a chuckle at their reactions. Riley put on the mask and secured the top on his nose with the sunglasses, preventing his breathing from fogging the lenses.

Nick finally recovered from the shock and put his paws up in surrender, "You know what? I'm not even going to question how anyone could be fooled." He lowered his paw and became serious. "But how often do you wear that?"

"Only on the rarest of occasions," Riley said, his voice slightly muffled from the mask. "But that's what eagle vision is for. Obviously, I remove the glasses when inside. That's just asking to be stopped and searched. As long as most of my facial recognitions are hidden, I'm golden."

"What's the reason for the mask?" Judy asked.

"Contagion."

"And the sunglasses?"

"Light sensitivity."

Nick smirked and crossed his arms. "And here I thought you were going to be blind, deaf, and mute."

"I would, but I don't know sign language." He went to retrieve his bag, in case of emergencies. "Come on. You can ask more questions at the diner."

The diner was two blocks away. Sitting in a corner booth, the four mammals glanced through the dessert menu after placing their orders for milkshakes: vanilla for the siblings, blueberry for Nick, and strawberry for Judy. Being in a group, Riley could keep his glasses on without drawing suspicion. A moose server returned with the milkshakes before finally taking their pie orders: apple for Riley, cherry for Valerie, blueberry for Nick, and spinach for Judy.

"Way to be the odd one Carrots." Nick elbowed his friend.

"Oh shush," Judy batted with her paw. "So, is this a regular place you visit, Riley?"

Riley nodded. "I come here to relax after work and also to prepare for missions."

"It does give off that mood." Valerie looked around, taking in the scenery.

The lights were bright enough to compliment the time of day. The colors and design projected an old-fashioned look that left positive reviews from the customers. The food was also excellent, but the location's specialty lay in the desserts. The moose finally returned with their pies, and the mammals thanked him before digging in.

"Alright, here's how it works," Riley lowered his mask to eat and drink. "We can talk about anything, except for the current case. But I also have the right to change topics if I deem it necessary."

The others nodded, and the conversation became quiet as they began eating. Nick and Judy started thinking of good questions. Many ran through their heads: mainly about the siblings' private lives, the Assassins, or the Templars.

One particular did come to Judy's mind, but before she asked Riley, the rabbit turned to Nick and gave him a nudge with her elbow. The fox turned his head sideways to see her motioning him to look down. The fox did so and saw Judy flicking her wrist a few times. It only took him a moment to understand her question. Nick nodded, and Judy took it as confirmation.

The rabbit faced the siblings and asked her question. "How did you join the Assassins?"

Riley halted with the fork in his mouth and swallowed before chuckling. "Would you be surprised to know that this is one question I can answer without restraint?" The feline then pointed at the table with his fork. "And that the encounter happened in this very booth?"

"Really?" Judy perked up.

The black feline nodded. "Looking back on it, I was amazed too. Didn't have to fight my way out of trouble. Not physically. Do you remember Valerie's reaction when she discovered that I was an Assassin and why we rescued her?"

The officers nodded.

"It should come to no surprise that the Assassins and Templars targeted me at one point. I won't get into detail right now, but their first attempts when we were kits caused harm and made us bitter towards them. It's part of the reason why Valerie and I never mentioned us being hybrids for security reasons. It worked for a while, but as the saying goes: hubris will be your downfall. I don't know why so many years passed before the Orders tried to contact me again. What is important is that the past finally caught up, and this time, there was no way out."

20 years ago, Saturday night,

Riley sat in the very same diner, enjoying his dessert: a slice of apple pie with a vanilla milkshake. The black feline was writing on a notepad while occasionally checking the time. He enjoyed coming to the establishment after a long week of work and cooking his meals. It was also a short walk from his apartment, so the opportunity to relax at such convenience was too good to pass up.

His regular visits also netted new friends and benefits. The feline would chat with the staff when alone, saying hello upon first entering, before graduating to a first-name basis. Sometimes they gave him leftovers when Riley was having a rough day. The feline paused his writing to finish his dessert, hearing the front doors open. The feline paid no mind until he heard footsteps approaching him. Before long, the footsteps ceased, and Riley looked up and started at the sight of a hooded mammal sitting across from him. The black feline opened his mouth when the hooded mammal placed a finger to his lips.

"Shh…"

Without thinking, Riley closed his mouth, and the hooded mammal spoke. "Are you Riley Lucius?"

After recovering from the surprise, the black feline got a good look at the mammal sitting across from him. Instantly, his eyes narrowed as he calmly began packing his belongings. "Goodbye."

"You're not leaving unless I let you."

Riley zipped his bag with emphasis, not taking his glare off the mammal. "Yes, I can."

The hooded mammal then raised a slip of paper. "No, you can't." Riley paused to see what it was and froze. It was the receipt for his meal. "Now unless you want to draw attention to yourself by skipping out on the tab, I suggest you sit and calm down."

"And if I don't?"

"Look ahead."

Riley leaned his head sideways and saw another hooded mammal eating a meal and sitting by the entrance. The mammal in question caught sight of the black feline and subtly shook its head. He then looked around and saw no one else present, starting to worry that something had happened to the staff.

"Relax," The hooded mammal said. "No one is hurt. The owner is a mutual friend. Why do you think you felt safe in here?"

Riley almost felt betrayed that the owner had neglected to mention their relationship, but he couldn't have known because he never asked.

"We only want to talk. It's a matter of life and death."

The hybrid hated to admit that the mammal was right. Something would have happened to him already if they intend to harm. With a heavy sigh, Riley set his backpack in the seat and reluctantly sat back down, still glaring at the hooded mammal.

"Good. Now you seem to recognize me."

Riley turned away, facing the restaurant's scenery. "I know who you belong to with that attire. I'm also aware of your enemies."

The conversation then became quiet. Riley still refused to make eye contact with the Assassin or his partner, trying to figure out a way to escape. With no help from the owner and any action taken by him would be futile, the black feline decided to wait it out.

"Was it a bad experience?"

Riley's train of thought came to a halt at the question. While he tried to keep a stoic face, his reaction was the inch the Assassins needed to run their mile.

"You'll have to forgive our behavior. We were told to tread cautiously around you, but not for this reason. I am certain that you have some choice words for the Order. Consider this an opportunity to release that anger. We will not be offended."

Riley continued to look anywhere else but the Assassin while contemplating his words. He struggled with what he wanted to do and what was the right thing to do. The feline began to shuffle in his seat and tap his fingers on the table. Only the sounds of the diner permeated throughout the establishment. He finally turned his head in the direction of the Assassin but kept his head down. Meanwhile, the Assassin and his partner remained silent and watched their mammal of interest and their surroundings.

"Despite my anger and bitterness, rebuking you will not change the past," Riley finally raised his head to make eye contact. "But the lingering consequences from their actions all those years ago are sufficient."

The Assassin nodded. "Thank you. If it's any consolation, the Order was going through a very rough transition and things got out of control."

Riley rolled his eyes at the understatement.

"The point is while our standards have changed, the creed has not. And right now you must listen to what I have to say."

Riley sighed heavily and got comfortable in the booth. "Can you at least answer a few questions after you finish?"

"I promise. Now, has it ever crossed your mind why you and your sister happened?"

Riley shrugged. "I guess my parents were lucky. I never really considered it much."

"It was more than luck. But before I explain, I have one question for you. Can your mind comprehend the information?"

The feline raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"Let me rephrase that. I suspect that you can comprehend the information, but will you?"

Riley tapped his fingers on the table before a smirk grew on his face. "I can suspend my disbelief."

The Assassin chuckled. "You're a hard mammal." He took a deep breath. "Your parents are descendants of a rare bloodline dating back thousands of years. The bloodline is significant because it contains properties that allow hybrids such as you and your sister to exist outside normal hybrid species. But hybrid properties are not the only reason why your bloodline is special. The genetic information contained inside your DNA holds many secrets. That's all I will divulge. If you agree to join us, your questions will be answered, and you will be protected."

Riley remained still after the Assassin finished, never turning away throughout the explanation. The hooded mammal hoped he gave enough to convince Riley and suspected that appealing to the hybrid's very existence helped significantly. The Assassin and his partner had contingencies should talking fail, but the two would rather have Riley come willingly than by force.

"Alright, I'll come with you," Riley then raised two fingers. "But I have two conditions."

On the inside, the Assassin felt immense relief that things worked out peacefully. He just hoped that the hybrid's requests would not be the deal-breaker. "What would that be?"

"You afford that same protection to my sister. If your enemies know that I joined you, they'll set their sights on her next. The last thing I need is for our family to be torn apart further."

The Assassin nodded. "I can assure you that we will do everything in our power. We would never let her fall to our enemies. What is the second condition?"

"I get to tell her about all this." He quickly put his paw up. "Let me explain. She is just as bitter about the conflict as I am. She'd rather that no one recruits her. But if Valerie sees me, it should allow us to explain and reason with her. Easier with family than with a stranger."

"Fair points. I will inform our leaders of your terms. Is that all?"

Riley nodded.

"Alright then." The Assassin reached into the robe and brought out a stack of money and a card. The mammal slid the items forward to Riley. "The card has the location of a bureau. Meet me there at the time listed, and I will let you in."

"What's the money for?"

"Dinner is on me." A smirk appeared on the Assassin's face.

Riley scoffed but nodded.

"I'll see you soon." The Assassin stood up and proceeded to the entrance where he met up with his partner and together, they disappeared into the night.

Riley's attention was then directed back to the card lying on the table. A range of positive and negative emotions raged inside him. If he were honest, the feline just wanted to be left alone, but if the Assassins found him after all these years, their enemies are sure to do the same. That meant his sister was in the same danger, and nothing good would come from that.

With a deep sigh, Riley pocketed the card and his wallet, gathered his belongings, and went to pay for his meal. He'd expect them wanting his answer as soon as possible. In his mind, that meant one thing. "Pack your stuff."

"I hate moving days…"

The table was quiet once again after Riley finished his story. The officers had captivated looks while Valerie had a mix of shock and understanding.

"Wow," Nick said, still enamored from the details. "Talk about a first impression."

"Understatement of my lifetime."

"How did you deal with the aftermath?" Judy asked, hungry for more information.

The black feline sipped his milkshake. "I focused on job searching and refreshing my knowledge from my major. During the interview process, I couldn't shake the feeling that the Assassins had an influence on the outcomes. But I only had suspicions since rejections and lack of responses is normal."

Judy had a confused look on her face. "They wanted you that much? I see it now, but I wonder how you impressed them back then."

"I didn't know it then, but my actions attracted attention from both sides."

The dots started to connect for Valerie as her mind drifted back to the reunion. "I understand now. You couldn't run away anymore, so you had to make a decision."

Riley nodded. "Yes, the Assassins won that night because they got to me first. Simple as that. The Templars could have been successful with me had they been more ambitious."

To the officers and his sister, Riley's origin was a far cry from Valerie's. The brother's statement of how he could easily have been on the other side alarmed them. Valerie understood that she could be a Templar right now. The officers wondered if they would ever fully discover the secret conflict. But the discussion of Riley's origins did raise an interesting topic.

"You said that the Assassin mentioned you and your sister having a special bloodline," Judy said. "How do you determine that?"

"One is through the Animus, but that is not public knowledge. Having hybrids is the only publicly known way to find out."

A smirk grew on Nick's face, and he proceeded to nudge Judy, "What are you saying Carrots? You want us to get married and have little rabbit-foxes to find out?"

The rabbit blushed hard and slapped Nick's arm away with both arms. "Stop it! That's not what I meant! And we have the Animus!" After Judy calmed down, she resumed with her questions. "Based on your information, what happened to the other unnatural hybrids? Did the Orders pursue them too?"

"Unfortunately yes, it ain't easy for a skunk-beaver hybrid to hide when their appearance expose them. Valerie and I are part of the lucky ones that can pass off as multiple species. But it doesn't eliminate the possibility of genetic defects. We got lucky where only our fur conditions and growth spurts were affected. It was only recently that the Assassins and Templars revived the search for hybrids."

"Sweet cheese and crackers! I forgot about the defects!" Judy exclaimed.

"They must want something else," Nick said. "Why go through all that trouble for your DNA?"

"There is another reason," Riley said. "Remember in the Rainforest District how Valerie and I activated that pedestal?" Riley said.

It only took a moment for Nick to come to the realization. "They need them to access the sites."

Riley nodded. "Correct, but more importantly, their DNA can allow hybrids to wield the Pieces of Eden without any adverse side effects. But it can be fatal for an ordinary mammal. In case you haven't already figured it out, seeing the effects of the artifacts on yourself also determines if you have that DNA."

"That makes sense now," Judy began piecing things together. "Templars try to catch Valerie for her DNA and use her to acquire the artifact." This also raised another question. "Do you know of any hybrids in either Orders?"

"To my knowledge, most are Assassins because we are ahead of the curve by hundreds of years. It's easy when the Templars used to consider hybrids abhorrent. But I didn't think one could be a Templar until a few years ago."

"What happened?" Judy asked.

"It was a defector. During the interrogation, the hybrid explained that while they couldn't live publicly, knowing they could exercise power upon ordinary mammals behind the scenes was enticing. To make their oppressors experience their pain and suffering."

"So they play on their emotions," Nick shook his head. "They never cease to exploit an opportunity. But it does explain the length and care in pursuing Valerie."

"We tried reasoning that we wanted to coexist. Being in opposition to regular mammals would be a detriment to all the hybrids. Sadly, the defector couldn't be convinced, and that meant he couldn't be let go. The experience made me wonder how many hybrids thought similarly and joined the Templars."

"I won't lie that retribution has crossed my mind," Valerie said. "But in the end, I just want to live a normal life, and I believe most hybrids share that sentiment. Every species has something unique about them. Hybrids are just… more unique than the rest."

"That's another silver lining. Because everything has to go right for the parents to have enough DNA, those hybrids are rare. Even rarer are the ones who survive the birth and the defects."

Nick and Judy were fascinated at hearing another possibility for hybrids and wondered if they had that DNA too. While aware of common examples such as ligers and coywolves, they didn't think it was possible for other species. Still, even with special DNA, parents faced low odds of success.

"This is just an idea," Judy proposed. "A friend of ours works at a facility that specializes in hybrid research. This information could be a breakthrough for them."

"Are you talking about Honeywell?" Riley speculated.

"You heard of it?" Nick asked.

"Yes, I did some passive investigation years ago but concluded that the facility was independent of Templars. As for your proposal Judy, that's going to be difficult even if I wanted to. They'll need the genetic information stored in the Animus, but the Templars currently own the technology. I doubt the Order sees any benefit of even loaning it to Honeywell. I can't give mine either since it will alert the Templars." He could see the gloomy look on Judy's face from hearing the bad news. "But that doesn't mean we can't work something out after this is over."

With her ears still drooping, Judy sighed heavily. "You're right. Honeywell doesn't need to be dragged into this." But her mind couldn't stop imagining interspecies couples being overjoyed at the thought of being able to have children if they had the special DNA.

"Thank you for understanding. Sadly, we have to cut this conversation short because an idea just came to mind."

"Whad'ya know?" Nick remarked. "Your thing worked."

Riley pointed his fork to the empty plate. "Always trust the pie." He brought the conversation back on topic. "I was wondering if you two are still assigned to those murder cases against me."

Judy became curious at his intentions. "Bogo never officially took us off after you came forward."

"Come to think of it," Nick said. "As far as the city knows, we're still pursuing you. If it weren't for Depolitio's investigation, the politicians would be breathing down our necks right now."

"Where are you going with this?" Valerie asked.

Riley folded his paws together. "Crazy idea, but maybe we need to consider Hart's residence. Looking at the entire bank layout with all the information, innocent lives will be put at risk because of how populated the location is."

"Violating the first tenet," Valerie said.

"Exactly. Without proper technology and an adequate team, infiltration will fail, and I will get caught. No offense, but the Animus accelerating the training would require days to accomplish. Time we do not have. I don't have to explain how this will compromise the Assassins."

"No offense taken," Nick said.

"What about the second tenet?" Judy asked.

"This is unorthodox, though none of my actions since the beginning has been, in the eyes of the Assassin Order. Anyways, I may have to expose myself a little for my idea. If I can't get to Hart inside the bank without causing a ruckus, then I must force him to be at his home. Hart knows that I'm coming for him. He just doesn't know when, but I will make that clear. This will also force him to choose between his safety and the operation. If the idea succeeds, we can minimize risks and chaos."

"What about the mercenaries?" Nick asked.

"They need to be arrested at the bank. Doing so at their homes will only drain time and resources. Better to catch them all at once."

"How do we arrest Hart if he could be in one of two places?" Valerie asked.

"If he is at the bank, we can proceed as normal. Valerie and I keep Hart distracted until you arrive. Then we'll secure his residence. If not, the police can use my scare tactics as probable cause. Hart staying home only makes it easier for us to get to him. I don't like going from a guarantee to a high chance, but this would be the best course of action if I'm thinking as law enforcement instead of an Assassin."

"I would have to agree on that," Judy said.

"What about convincing Bogo of…" Nick quickly looked around and subtly made a slashing motion across his neck.

"I will try to avoid that. However, if Hart decides to go for the kill, there are two outcomes. Either the police get there in time to stop him, or we will defend ourselves which could lead to his death."

"Is there any scenario where the first one happens?" Judy asked.

"That depends where Hart is. Either way, this is where Bogo's input can be helpful."

That afternoon, five mammals sat around a table in the conference room of Precinct One: Nick, Judy, Riley, Valerie, and Bogo.

"I'll admit. I did not expect you to have the results this quickly." The Cape Buffalo said.

"We already investigated Hart's background, so we only needed information on the bank. Since I'm doing this your way, I didn't enter the bank. If I did, you would be hearing news of Hart's death."

"And I promise this will be more beneficial to us both than taking his life."

"We'll see." Riley scoffed.

Bogo ignored his remark and continued with the questions. "So what's your conclusion?"

"Here's how I believe the operation is carried out. On the day the armored trucks visit, Hart brings in his mammals under the guise of additional security. That is the only time when entering the vault with extra mammals does not look suspicious. While the normal transfer takes place, Hart's mammals are secretly moving the funds to their vehicles. At the end of the workday, everyone goes home, and Hart delivers the money to his group. It seems to be a foolproof plan except for one fatal flaw. The mammal in charge of the entire operation."

Bogo raised an eyebrow, and Riley took it as a signal to continue.

"No one else at the bank knows of this. The employees will either demand a cut or threaten to expose the operation because of morals or not receiving a favorable cut. But there are drawbacks. One mammal overseeing everything can lead to mistakes. Such as inadvertently recording the transactions and later having them discovered by accountants. When those mistakes were brought up, Hart was forced to investigate and report them." Riley placed the packet on the table and slid it to Bogo. "It's all in here."

The Cape Buffalo opened the packet, pulled out his reading glasses from his uniform pocket, and began reading its contents.

As the others patiently waited in silence, they felt confident in their findings. Yet all of that rested on Bogo's approval. That date was quickly approaching, and the window for the legal route dwindled further with each passing day. They could see the various expressions on the Chief's face, as he continued to read on the elaborate scheme to use mammals' money to fund his Order's plans, range from interest to disgust.

Nick and Judy felt concerned that should the worst-case scenario occur, Riley would carry out an assassination. He had no obligation to the ZPD and would dissolve the partnership if their paths no longer ran parallel. Being on opposite sides of the law, they could no longer support him in his fight. That reality remained a constant reminder despite having worked well together.

Valerie being involved only complicated the matters for the officers. The incident after her rescue meant that in the eyes of Nick and Judy, the ZPD could not safely protect Valerie. Without that support, she would reach that point where she had blood on her paws. A stain she could never remove and live with the consequences for the rest of her life. Nick and Judy didn't want to involve a civilian, but the Templars forced Valerie's paw.

Finally, Bogo placed the packet down and removed his reading glasses. The other mammals waited in anticipation as he looked directly at them. The silence was deafening. Judy's nose started to twitch while Nick coughed, hoping to break the uncomfortable feeling. The siblings just remained stoic in their seats.

"Well?" Riley finally spoke.

"A part of me is wondering about the vague legality of this information. Some of this evidence may be deemed inadmissible by a judge, especially if there is evidence of bribery. But it is clear that all the questionable actions were conducted by you and Valerie on our own accord, and the officers merely acted on your tips. I believe this is enough to indict Wesley Hart."

The officers and Valerie felt an overwhelming relief that their work paid off. But as much as they wanted to celebrate, this was only the beginning.

"How soon can you secure a warrant?" Riley continued.

"Your timing may be cutting it close. If I get this out today, it's possible to secure one and plan the operation before the end of the fiscal quarter."

"There's always the chance that Hart changes plans, so we must keep an eye on his movements."

"I will leave that task to you."

"Indeed. If anything does happen, I'll make sure to report to you, but that won't stop me from taking action if employee lives are in danger, or the evidence is in danger of destruction."

"Just don't cause any more deaths," Bogo pleaded. "That's all I ask. Is there anything else?"

"A few things. I know it is best that if we limit my presence at the Precinct, but if Hart is to be brought down, you and I need to be informed of our plans."

"I can agree to that, but what plan do you have that doesn't involve killing him."

"I'll go into more detail tomorrow, but here is a summary. Hart knows I'm coming for him. Let's use that to our advantage by forcing him to slip up. That can give us the opening."

Bogo remained silent as he thought over the proposal. The idea had merit. Riley interfering with Hart's operation would throw the entire thing into disarray. Bringing it to the surface and attracting attention. The Cape Buffalo began to see the chances of success. "That may work, but the details need to be ironed out for me to be convinced."

"We'll have plenty of time tomorrow."

"Alright. Meet me in my office after morning assignments. Is there anything else?"

Riley turned to Nick and Judy, both nodding for him to proceed.

"At the behest of your officers, it has been suggested that you could arrange an office for myself and Valerie to work with Officer Hopps and Wilde."

Bogo was initially shocked at such a request but began to understand after considering the reasons. "While it would prevent your location from being revealed, it will be difficult to make the accommodations. If this is to be possible, you and Valerie cannot be in that attire at the Precinct. Now I understand keeping your identity a secret, and I would be lying if my curiosity is tempting me. But if you wish to be here, you need to find an appropriate attire and an alias."

"Not a problem."

"Very well," Bogo began packing up the documents. "If there is nothing else left to discuss, then I have a lot of work to do. I'll keep you updated with my progress."

"We'll take our leave then."

The meeting concluded, and all the mammals left the conference room, first the officers and the siblings, then the Chief. With the day's objectives completed, the four hung out in Hopps and Wilde's office until the end of their shifts.

"Do you think he would assign our office to be your place to work?" Nick asked, swiveling in his chair.

Riley stood in a corner of the room with his arms crossed. "It would not surprise me, but my hunch is that it will be out of sight from cops, criminals, and civilians."

Judy hopped on top of the desk. "If you get sent to the boiler room, I'll ask Ben for tips to make it comfortable. He was… temporarily relocated there during the Nighthowler incident."

"I understand."

Valerie had been pacing around the room when she stopped at the desk and leaned on it. "How do you plan on scaring Hart?"

"Subtle messages in his workplace and his home. But I'll have to observe his behavior first. He is already paranoid so anything can tip him over the edge. Besides, there is still the matter of the two accountants."

"I still don't understand how Hart thinks pinning this massive operation on them will work," Nick remarked.

"It's meant to be a distraction. By the time they figure it out, Hart will be long gone. It won't stop me from trying to find him though. As I said, it will only make it easier to kill him."

"What are we going to do then?" Judy asked. "We can't leave them."

Riley sighed as he turned his head sideways. "I do want to help out. Honestly. But warning them will only make them get involved."

"We do nothing then," Nick said.

"Not directly, but we need more information. Whatever it is, the accountants cannot be rewarded. Also simply increasing their workload will not do since Hart can override that. Now, this is unusual for me, but since I need to work with Bogo, can you three perform this task?"

The others didn't hesitate to agree.

"We got this!" Judy exclaimed.

"Piece of cake," Nick remarked. "I did some of that stuff before joining the ZPD."

"We'll keep you updated," Valerie said. "Just don't panic if we need help."

The feline chucked at the last comment and smiled, assured by his family and friends. "Good."

I also like to thank eng050599 for letting me reference Honeywell. If you're interested in learning more about the location and exploring how hybrids would work in Zootopia, you should check out his fic Lost Cause and Broken Dreams. Be warned...it can get angsty