"Better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie." - Russian proverb
11:15 A.M ; The next day, in an undisclosed location...
Sporting his now signature beige suit, Nick stood at a podium. It had all been leading to this. Several spotlights fell on him, bright enough to nearly make his eyes water, but he forced them open to stare at what seemed to him a dark void. Jaw set and shoulders squared, he put a paw on his chest and stared meaningfully into the middling distance.
"For too long, the mayors of this great city have only been concerned with winning and keeping the office. It's time we had a mayor who will serve the mammals of Zootopia. I will be that mayor. Vote for me," he gave a strong thumbs-up with a confident smile across his face. "And you'll have a partner in City-Hall."
Speech done, Nick fell silent. There was no answering applause, or cheers, or even jeers. Just eerie silence and the blinding lights. Finally, just before the quiet became torturous, a voice pierced through the void.
"Cut!"
The spotlights blinked out, replaced with much milder fluorescents. A small filming studio was revealed, with cameras, boom mics and stage lights all manned by uniformed mammals. Letting out a breath, Nick slumped over his podium. He rubbed at his eyes with a groan. "I'm gonna go blind…"
A paw tapped his elbow. Nick turned to look down and found Niel O'Leary at his side holding up a cold water bottle dripping with condensation. Nick took the gift and drank greedily. When the bottle was half emptied, he tore it away with a gasp, then let out a grateful sigh. "Thanks, Niel. I never knew those lights could be so hot!"
"Don't mention it," the opossum said blandly, crossing his arms over his black bomber jacket. "Thanks for actually using the speech I wrote this time. I was beginning to wonder if you would ever listen to my advice. I was starting to feel redundant."
After another quick sip of his blessedly cold drink, Nick laughed. "You're not redundant at all. Who else would show me all the best places for coffee? The morning java is the only thing keeping me going right now."
Niel shook his head, but there was just the tiniest quirk at the corners of his lips as he replied. "What can I say? Caffeine is my religion."
Nick barked another short laugh before letting out a sigh. He looked around nervously, especially at the stage lights. "Am I gonna have to do that again?"
The opossum shook his head. "Nah. That last one was pretty good. I think we have enough for a couple commercials."
"Oh thank goodness!" Nick swiftly cried as he hurried away from the podium, making good on his escape. Niel just watched him go, then rolled his eyes and turned to deal with the crew. Lots of work still to do, after all.
As Nick carefully stepped down from the short stage, Samantha hurried up to him, clipboard in paw, smiling and cheerful as ever. Her business outfit this time was pure white, like snow, but it did nothing to stall her warmth. "Nick! You did such a great job!"
"Thanks. Those lights were hot!" He exclaimed, wiping at his forehead with one sleeve. "I'm glad it's over."
Samantha laughed good-naturedly, then patted Nick's arm. "Well, it's over - for now, anyway - but it's time to move on to the next big thing!"
Nick sat on the edge of the stage with a sigh and twisted the cap off his water bottle. "And what would that be?" He asked before tipping the bottle back and draining what remained.
"We have to get you on the trail!" Samantha declared with vigor. "We have to get you out to the districts where you're not as well known and show you off! I've already got a couple venues planned out in the Meadowlands, and one out in the Marshlands. Hope you're ready for a road trip!"
Nick placed his empty bottle down with a sigh. "Sounds like a lot of driving. It's been a while since I visited sheepland, but from what I remember, it feels as limitless as your enthusiasm."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Samantha waved him off. "I rented a bus!"
Nick looked up sharply. "Can we afford that right now?"
"Oh, sure!" Samantha bubbled with joy. "The Police Union has been setting us up with so many contacts! We're getting the preferred rates on everything. I'll have to send Mr. Redhorn a gift basket! I wonder if he likes wine…?"
Relieved that his campaign wasn't going to go bankrupt just yet, Nick smiled and stretched his arms over his head. "That's good. So!" He brought his arms down and slapped his thighs. "When does all this happen?"
"We leave the day after tomorrow," Samantha replied. "Start in the Meadowlands, then over to the marshes. Three days total."
Nick blanched. "Three days? Judy won't like me being gone that long."
Samantha hummed thoughtfully, then tilted her head. "Why not invite her along?"
Nick shook his head. "She's already blown most of her vacation time this year helping me through therapy. Anything she has left needs to be saved for emergencies. But… I'll manage. She will too."
The meerkat noticed the way that her friend's ears dropped with disappointment. Her cheery expression softened. "I'm sorry, Nick. I know this must be hard for you, dealing with such a stark change in career."
"Yeah," Nick agreed softly, siphoning a short sigh through his nostrils. "It was solving cases that really brought us together. I have the ZPD to thank for my marriage. Literally - I proposed to her right in the Precinct One lobby. I can't help but think that… since we both aren't on the force, we might-"
Samantha bapped the fox on the nose with the eraser on her pencil, effectively silencing him. "I'll stop you there. Don't be saying stuff like that. I think we both know that you and Judy didn't marry each other because of your job. A job is just a job - it doesn't define who a mammal is. You and Judy got married because you love each other, silly. If that weren't the case, she wouldn't have stuck around to help you after your injury, right?"
Nick rubbed at the back of his neck. "Good point. Sorry, I guess I'm just a bit down about the circumstances. I just don't want us to drift apart."
"That desire is all you need not to, Nick," Sammy assured. "You should find the time to take her out on something special soon, like the ball at the Grand Palm the other day! You two had a blast there! And honestly, you'll be needing another break after this week. It's gonna be a busy one!"
Nick nodded, allowing a smile to spread his lips. "Aye aye, captain. I'll see to it once we return from the trip. Anyways, is there anything else we need to do here? I've got a thing at noon."
"A thing at noon?" Sammy repeated.
"Just a quick lunch with someone I met at City-Hall," the fox explained, instinctively tucking his paws into his pockets and feeling the business card he'd acquired from that deer yesterday. "Shouldn't take long."
Narrowing her eyes, the meerkat relented with a nod. "Alright, but make it snappy, okay? I need you back by one thirty to make more cold calls!"
Nick chuckled nervously, trying his best not to let his dissatisfaction at that notion seep through his expression. "Yeah… great. I'll be back as soon as I can. Promise."
11:30 P.M ; Two days ago, the Nocturnal-District…
Peace and quiet were a crime-lord's best friends.
That was certainly the case with Vladzotz Fangpyre, and he knew that his counterparts from the other districts would attest to that as well. The work of a mob boss was both taxing and dangerous, filled with responsibility, orders, and hardship. When moments of tranquility arrived, enjoying them to the fullest went without question. Vladzotz knew this better than most, being the most reclusive of the crime-lords - a trait that had worked to his advantage against his enemies more times than he could even remember.
Patience as the night in all its silence, he was a creature of great caution and focus. Little epitomized that fact more than his crusade for vengeance against the mammal that had nearly burned down Castle Fangpyre, all those years ago. His relentless hunt had nearly cost him his very life. Such was the double-edged sword of a mammal unfettered in their ambitions to the point of near-madness.
A sigh escaped the crime-lord's fangs. He didn't like thinking about how far off the deep end he had gone, back then. It had taken the destruction of Castle Fangpyre for good, and his near-death experience through it to finally make him realize the error of his ways. He lightly touched his scarred eye, recalling his month of hiding as he recovered from his injuries in the aftermath of the manor's fall. It had been among the most painful periods of his life, both physically and mentally. And yet like blood washing away in rain, all the suffering seemed to disappear when he had reunited with Lucy.
Vladzotz leaned back in the velvety red seat behind his desk, and stared up at the wood ceiling. His study was a quiet, dim room on the safehouse's third floor filled with shelves of books and Gothic furniture sized for small mammals. It was his haven away from the chaos of the job, where he could only hope to go for more than a few hours before some minion knocked at his door, bringing fresh news or requests. Vladzotz thought to himself in silence.
What was it Cristoforo had said at the summit? That he too was beginning to wish for something more? Something beyond our work? Perhaps that little shrew carries more wisdom than I thought.
His subconscious punished him for sparing a compliment to the enemy - bombarding his mind with images of fire and smoke; memories from the night that had taken his family from him. Vladzotz growled, sitting forward in his chair and gripping at the surface of his desk. His fangs ground together as a familiar flicker of rage fastened itself around his heart like a noose, tightening and forcing it to beat faster, harsher.
No, his thoughts echoed in his skull as though shouting into a tunnel. That wretched traitor deserves no mercy! He's nothing more than a miserable little pile of secrets! He breathes lies and deceit! Fangpyre justice will teach him of the pain I have suffered! He deserves it… I deserve it! Have I not suffered more than any from his treachery? I-
Scritch! A sharp scraping sound pierced his sensitive ears, derailing his train of thought. Vladzotz looked down at the beautiful surface of his desk, and saw that he had inadvertently dug his claws into the wood, leaving discolored furrows in their wake. A ragged exhale trickled through his fangs, and with its release, Vladzotz could feel the noose around his heart slackening. He gently pulled his claws from the wood, folding his wings and tucking them against his chest.
What am I doing? I must calm myself. It is… unhealthy to think this way. Unsophisticated. Unbefitting of a crime-lord… of me.
Vladzotz placed the thumb of his right wing over his breast pocket, feeling the slowing beats of his heart. Though he hadn't thought of his old family locket in ages, and knew not where it even was, he was distinctly aware of its lack of presence in the pocket. But that wasn't what he searched for. Instead, he dipped his claws inside and retracted a small photograph. It depicted he and Lucy's smiling faces on their wedding day surrounded by friends, allies, and what little family either of them had left. Vladzotz didn't consider himself a sentimental mammal, but looking at this photograph never failed to help calm his nerves. Another exhale left him, this one more relaxed than before.
A knocking at the office's door caught the bat's attention. He slipped the photo back into his pocket before clearing his throat and announcing in his smooth, velvety tone, "Come in."
The door creaked ajar, and Lucy's head popped into view. "Heeeeere's Lucy!" Her high-pitched voice greeted. A giggle followed, and she stepped into the room before kicking the door shut behind her.
"Ah, hello, my dear," Vladzotz replied with a smile, rising to his feet. "Welcome home. Was your mission a success?"
"Yep! Sure was. Had a lot of fun, and I think I found some juicy intel too!" Lucy said as she dropped her thieving bag atop Vlad's desk. "Can't say I enjoyed Tundratown all that much, though. Felt like my wings would freeze solid."
As Lucy stripped away her parka, Vladzotz eyed the way her normally lean belly bulged against the skintight black fabric of her bodysuit, as though she'd just drank a huge meal. "I presume you encountered resistance?" He asked.
Lucy gave a small belch. "They resisted all right." She licked her lips. "But I did manage to get these."
After tossing her parka on a nearby chair, Lucy reached over and unzipped her bag, pulling out the documents she'd stolen from Big's weapons cache. Vladzotz stepped closer to examine them. He hefted a few papers in his claws before donning his reading glasses.
"These are commerce records," he deduced. "They describe shipments of fish to a warehouse under ownership of an arctic wolf by the name of Niko Bellupine. I know this mammal. He's one of Mr. Big's top lieutenants. This warehouse, this, erhm," he readjusted his glasses, narrowing his single red eye at the paper. "Subzero Storehouse, is undoubtedly a front for the Tundratown Mafia."
"Sounds like a real fishy business, huh?" Lucy smirked, allowing herself a snicker at her own joke. "I guess we'll have to pay them a visit. Good thing I like seafood."
Vladzotz set the paper back atop his desk. "Your appetite for destruction will serve you well, then. If we can take this warehouse before they take our properties on the surface-world, it would buy us a valuable advantage in the war. Is this something you can handle?"
Lucy gave a wicked grin. "With pleasure! But not by myself!" She cocked her hips to one side. "I'm gonna need a whole team if we're gonna make a catch like this. Give me a few days to leverage some old contacts. I know a guy that can help."
"And who would that be?"
"Oh, just a three-ton elephant that owes me more than a couple favors." Lucy claimed innocently.
Vladzotz blinked his single red eye. "You have a fully grown elephant in your pocket?"
"Yep. I saved his life back when I was with the Infernum, and he kinda does whatever I say now."
"Excellent!" The crime-lord flashed sharp fangs in a smile. "He will be of great use to us in this conflict."
"You bet he will," Lucy agreed. "I'll spend the next few days prepping for the assault - gathering the team and making plans - and I'll lead the charge myself when we're ready."
Vladzotz nodded, and placed one wing on his wife's cheek. "I trust your expertise. But please be careful. The warehouse will surely be well defended," he spared a wary glance at the document on his desk. "And from what I've heard, this Niko mammal is a fervent follower of Big's. He won't be so easy to overcome."
"Don't you worry, I'll make up a plan so brilliant he won't even know what hit him," she spread her jaws wide in a yawn, and rubbed at her eyes. "But that's a problem for tomorrow. I'm tired, flying all the way here after such a big meal. Care to join me?"
Vladzotz spared a glance at his work desk, eyeing over the documents he had yet to go over. Then he looked at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. "It is nearly noontime. Some rest sounds lovely. We can resume our endeavors in the evening."
"Good choice. I'll see you there." Lucy teased before skipping off toward the bedchamber.
A smile spread the crime-lord's fangs. Everything in this war before now had simply been the calm before the storm. What was to follow would surely be eventful. Vladzotz figured he'd allow himself some peace and quiet first. He flapped off after his wife, happily leaving his troubles behind in the office to gather dust like just another book amongst his shelves.
12:00 P.M ; Present time, Savanna-Central...
If there was any activity, simple as it was, that never failed to fill Nick with joy, it was walking through the streets of the city.
Mammal-watching, taking in the vivid sounds of the chaotic urban life, and relishing in the feeling of the sun on his fur was as good as it got. Even his injured leg failed to stall the spring in his step as the fox strolled the sidewalks of Savanna-Central. A few pedestrians even pointed and waved at him during his walk, recognizing him as the fox from TV. He never hesitated to shoot back an appreciative finger gun. Eventually, he happened across the restaurant where Bradley Stagnew had invited him to chat.
The cafe was a quant, polished establishment filled with bamboo and smooth wooden floors. Lots of windows allowed in plenty of natural sunlight, and the smell of coffee and pastries filled the air. Nick spotted Bradley Stagnew the moment he stepped into the building. The deer's antlers were hard to miss. He sat in a corner booth sipping at a cup of steaming brown liquid. His tall, lanky body was wrapped behind a clean dark blue suit and tie, and he smiled at Nick's approach, showing off his rows of perfect white teeth.
"I'm glad you could make it, Mr. Wilde," his normally commanding voice applied a quieter, more relaxed tone. "Take a seat."
The fox did exactly that; hopping into the other side of the booth. Despite the slight size difference, the furniture was thankfully comfortable. "I really do appreciate you taking the time to lend an insider's perspective. Truth is, I could use as much help as I can get." Nick said.
"I'm happy to provide it," Bradley amiably assured, leaning back in his seat and calmly clasping his hoofs over his lap. "So, what would you like to know about City-Hall?"
Nick paused a moment, thinking over that very question. His first instinct was to say that he didn't have any inquiries in particular, but this was an opportunity to learn, after all, and one he fully meant to capitalize on. "Well, I guess knowing what it's like there in general would be a good start. Is there much politics behind the politics? Heh."
A small grin tugged at the corner of the deer's mouth. "Oh, there's plenty. What, were you expecting a utopia? City-Hall eats the spineless for breakfast."
"I see…" Nick murmured to himself before clearing his throat. "And does that menu happen to include newcomers?"
"Assuredly," Bradley confirmed while nonchalantly taking another sip from his teacup. "Anyone who doesn't fit in with the status quo, really. A new mayor comes in now and then with a few tweaks to the formula, but generally, the city government doesn't change, and neither does Zootopia. With your plans, you're going to be fighting an uphill battle."
Nodding, the fox slumped back in his seat. "Yeah, no need to remind me."
Bradley calmly set down his drink. "Mr. Wilde, I can't help but get the impression that you're not all that excited to become mayor."
Nick opened his mouth to retort, but something caused him to hesitate. He realized, deep down, that Bradley was right. The fox swallowed, quickly finding his words. "I'm not gonna lie, a part of me really doesn't want to. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited by the challenge, and really want to do my best to make the world a better place, but…"
"But?" Bradley asked, earning a sigh from Nick.
"But I'm worried that it's gonna put a strain on my marriage. I don't wanna damage what I've spent so long building with my wife. Not only that, but making cold calls all day, and putting up with commercials…" he trailed off with a shudder, thinking back to the hot lights of the stage. "Just isn't me. I love the speeches, and the planning, and the idea of helping the city for a cause I believe in, but I worry that if I actually win this election, that there'll be no going back. And honestly, that change kind of scares me." He chuckled mirthlessly. "I thought I would have gotten used to change by now, with all that's happened in my life, but I guess I'm more stubborn than I thought."
Bradley clasped his hoofs together and leaned across the table, propping up his arms with his elbows. "Is that all?"
"Yeah, I guess that's all. I know, I probably sound like the biggest pessimist in the world right now, with all these amazing opportunities-"
"Not at all," Bradley assured. "It's normal to have doubts at times, no matter one's circumstances. Do you want my honest advice?"
Nick raised his paws. "Let's hear it."
"I think that if you're hesitating on thoughts like these, then you should quit right now. Hang up your suit, and walk away from it all. Find another job, and enjoy the rest of your life with your wife," the deer urged, voice calm and surprisingly cold. "Because if you can't handle what you're experiencing now, you'll never succeed as mayor. Do you think that if you win the election, everything just fits magically into place? What you're doing in your campaign now - the calls, the high-stress deals, the endless paperwork - it's what you'll be doing every day in office. And Zootopia needs someone who can handle it. The city would only be hindered if someone inept finds themselves in the highest seat of the land. Wouldn't you agree?"
Glancing away, Nick swallowed hard. This guy's got a point, he thought to himself. Am I really cut out for this?
Bradley's serious expression softened as he leaned back in his side of the booth, antlers nearly impaling the wall behind him. "What made you want to become mayor in the first place? I saw your speech on the news, but I want to hear it from you."
Nick just shrugged. "I wanna make the world a better place. Give predators stronger rights. End the Prioritization Policy."
"What made you want to become mayor?" Bradley repeated his question with a harsher tone of voice, startling the fox. It was like the deer could flip between affability and assertiveness at will, which Nick wouldn't have been surprised if he'd picked up from working at City-Hall. Either way, it was clear that Bradley wasn't the type of mammal to sugarcoat.
At first, Nick wanted to go on the defensive, but the deer's piercing blue eyes seemed to force a proper answer out of him, like a coach training a student. "Seeing my family forced to live in poverty," he admitted, words far more confident than his first answer. "Standing by and watching the city government get away with crimes that'd put any one mammal in prison for life." He paused, his coming words catching in his throat before he forced them out too. "Breaking my leg… and feeling like there wasn't a damn thing I could do for anyone."
A few quiet seconds passed as the deer registered all this information. "I think you know what you truly desire, Mr. Wilde. You have my advice. Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"
Nick released a slight sigh. There admittedly wasn't much he could think of after such thorough soul-searching, but he managed to come up with one: "You told me that it was your job to count the votes during elections. Do you think there are enough mammals in Zootopia that would vote for someone like me to give me a chance?"
"I do," Bradley replied without hesitation. "But you'll need to work hard to earn their support, and even harder to overcome your opponents in the race. Don't let the defeatists get under your skin - those mammals that call you dirty because you've got the guts to stick your paws in the mud to build something better - but you must be realistic with yourself. Your ambitions cannot outweigh your abilities."
"Okay," the fox simply said, getting the impression that the deer spoke from experience. "I understand."
He must not have been doing a good job of hiding his apprehension, because Bradley grinned knowingly and gave a half-shrug with one arm. "I know all that might not have been what you wanted to hear, but believe me, it's what you needed to hear. The truth is harsh sometimes. If you're going forward with this, you have to be all in, and not a drop less. Zootopia deserves mayoral candidates with the drive to overcome their doubts. You know what it takes now. It's just up to you to decide if you have what it takes. For what it's worth though, you've got my vote."
Nick allowed himself a smile. "Thanks, Bradley. You've definitely given me a lot to think about. I'll put some more thought to it on my campaign trail."
"That's good. A speech-filled road trip will give you plenty of opportunities to see if this is the line of work for you. Trial by fire, right?"
"Something like that." Nick took in a deep breath before exhaling wearily, ready to change the topic. "You're full of wisdom. Thanks for the advice." A relaxed smile spread his lips as he pushed his inner doubts away. "What got you into politics, anyways?"
"Nothing more than a desire to keep this city free from disorder. I feel that tallying votes allows me to provide order to the system."
"Is that all?" Nick pressed, sparing a brief glance at the deer's side of the table. He noticed for the first time that Bradley had organized everything atop it, from his own silverware to the salt and pepper shakers, into perfect, visually pleasing alignments. Something told Nick that the desire for order came naturally to the deer.
"You doubt me?" Bradley chuckled. "That's the thing about reasons: they're usually quite simple."
Nick smirked. "Fair enough. Don't mind me. Just trying to understand what makes a mammal tick."
"I'm certain you'll put such talents to use on the campaign trail," Bradley assured. "I have to ask, did you ever imagine you'd be running for mayor before now?"
"Not one bit," Nick answered honestly. "But it's been growing on me for a while. I always knew that there were things in Zootopia I wanted to fix, but it took becoming a cop and nearly dying half a million times for it to finally get through to me."
"Sounds like strong positive reinforcement. May I ask what you did before you were a police officer? For as famous as you are, there's not much info about that period of your life."
Nick rubbed at the back of his neck. "Oh, well…" he swallowed. "Let's just say I tried my hand at entrepreneurship. I also traveled a lot! Heh. I did business in all twelve districts and beyond! Fun stuff. And before even that, I spent a lot of time in Tundratown at… another company. Didn't like it so much, so I jumped ship and became my own boss."
The deer's eyes flickered at that comment. "Tundratown, hm?" Bradley mused. "This company you worked for during your time there… who were they?"
It was at that point that Nick realized he was letting himself get backed into a corner. The last thing he wanted was for this mammal to piece together his criminal history.
"Oh, just a local taxi company," he admitted, which to be fair wasn't wrong, save that it omitted the fact that said taxi company was a front for the Tundratown Mafia. "Part time work, just for some extra cash, at the time."
Bradley narrowed his eyes as though trying to study Nick. The fox couldn't deny that it felt uncomfortable. But as quickly as it came, Bradley relaxed his expression contentedly.
"You've come a long way, Mr. Wilde." He finally said. "I hope you're proud of your accomplishments."
Nick let out a sigh of relief. "I am. One hundred percent." He then spared a glance at his phone. "I should probably be going. My Campaign Manager wants me back soon."
"Don't let her sink her claws in too deep." Bradley joked, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.
"Oh, trust me, I'm doing my best," he said as he hopped out of the booth and stared up at the deer. "Again, thanks for all the advice. I'll take it to heart."
"That's very good. Don't be afraid to give me a call if you ever need more advice, or just want someone to talk to. You have a lovely day, Mr. Wilde."
Nick waved as he paced off, and swallowed hard when he stepped out of Bradley's line of sight, wondering if he'd actually lost more from that conversation than he'd gained.
12:30 P.M ; Precinct One, Savanna-Central...
Though it was early in the day, Precinct One was alive with activity. The morning meeting in the Bullpen had just been completed, and the officers were streaming out into the lobby and dispersing to their assignments. Three officers congregated in this current, like an eddy in a river.
"Officer O'Conall, Officer Ewever," Judy greeted with professional enthusiasm. She held a folder under her arm. "Got a minute?"
"Lieutenant Hopps," the sheep and wolf greeted back as one, though Mary's voice was much quieter.
"Alright, so! Our first case together!" Judy clapped her paws together and grinned at the two of them. "Aren't you excited?!"
Harlan smiled in his usual reserved way, while Mary tried to smile, though it came out as more of a nervous grimace. The two murmured discordant agreement.
If their lack of enthusiasm bothered Judy at all, she didn't show it. Still smiling, she turned and walked away at a quick pace, and waved for the other two to follow with her free arm. "C'mon! We can review the case together in the breakroom."
A few minutes later found them settled around one of the tables set up for smaller mammals. It was actually a touch large for Judy and Mary, though Harlan had to crouch a bit and his knees bumped the table's underside. Judy had no food or drink, while Harlan had a black coffee at his elbow. Mary's coffee was so laden with cream and sugar it was nearly white, and she had two donuts stacked on a napkin. Judy eyed the mid-sized donuts, then the undoubtedly small-sized sheep, who blushed and quickly wiped the crumbs off her uniform.
If she were tempted to admonish her subordinate, Judy made no sign. Instead, she got right to the point. She slapped the folder on the table and pushed it over to Mary. "Alright, Mary, please go over this. Officer O'Conall and I are already familiar."
While Mary did that, Judy addressed Harlan. "So, Officer O'Conall. You know everything so far. A crime involving illegal firearms in a shady office building. The founder of the company that owns the building is probably involved, but we can't prove it, at least yet. And he's definitely a jerk with something to hide. What do you think we should do?"
Eyes on the table, Harlan rubbed his chin and hummed thoughtfully. "Seems like we can prove he's up to something. That little executive order of his was highly irregular, and directly involved with the crime. We ought to be able to convince a judge to get a court order."
Judy nodded along with all his points. "That's fair. A court order for what?"
Harlan looked stumped. He crosses his arms against his uniform. "Oh, uh… everything involved with that building?"
"That's awfully vague," Judy admonished gently. "There's a lot of wriggle room in that, and Rupert is going to have a whole team of high powered lawyers who've made their careers on stomping investigations just like this. We have to be specific."
Rather than hazard another foolhardy guess, Harlan shut his mouth and retreated into thought. He stared deeply at the table again, carefully considering his answer. Next to him, Mary placed the folder down, having already gone over the sparse details. "We don't have enough information for a definite answer," she said, voice soft, but sure. "We have to learn more, or we'll be shooting in the dark."
Judy nodded along in agreement, while Harlan stared at Mary, blinking as he absorbed her words. "So, when you don't know enough, what do you do?" Judy asked.
"You research," Mary replied without having to think about it, head tilting to the side and causing her braided balls of wool to swing like pendulums.
"That's right," Judy said with a pleased smile. Mary had always been the more academic type, and it was good to see her putting that aptitude to work. "So, what do we research?"
"We'll begin with all public records available for that building," Mary dictated with surety. "Not just the ones involved with the case, but everything going back to when it was either built or bought by Clovestone. We check the records for everything that looks like this," she held up the confoundingly slender folder, "and see if we can find a pattern. If something like this happens all the time, we can investigate Clovestone for run-of-the-mill aiding and abetting, or at least criminal negligence. If something like this has only happened a few times, then we know it's probably something bigger. Maybe it's a service Clovestone offers to those willing to pay a higher price than most criminals can afford for a quiet place to do bad things, in which case this might have ties to organized crime."
While the tiny ewe explained everything she had deduced, Judy's proud smile beamed more and more brightly until it could have lit the room. Harlan gawked at Mary, open mouthed and blinking, truly surprised at how far she'd gone on such little information.
Mary continued, "And if this is truly a one time affair, then we know something important prompted an otherwise straight lace company to illegal action, which means something big, and probably recent. If that is the case, then we could check Clovestone's recent activities and see what sticks out as unusual, and that will probably lead the way." She fell silent, folded her hooves primly atop the closed folder and looked steadily at Judy, much like a student after finishing a report to a professor.
Judy beamed. "That's fantastic, Mary! Some cops could investigate a big company like this for days and not work out what you did in just a few minutes! Ooooh, you're going to be a fantastic detective one day, one of the best in the whole force!"
"What she said. That was amazing," Harlan agreed with a wave at Judy.
Mary blushed and looked away. She grabbed one of her donuts and stuffed it in her mouth before she could say something foolish.
"So, I guess you two know what that means!" Judy said with cheer, pulling the other two's attention back on to her. "Time to go back to Public Records!"
It was later that afternoon when Judy dropped the last box. Leaning back with a huff, she surveyed the medium sized conference room they had borrowed for their purpose, which was now covered in boxes stacked two or three deep, all acquired from Public Records. Next to her, Harlan leaned against the door frame with an exhausted huff. While Mary and Judy had done their best to pull their weight, Harlan had undoubtedly been their workhorse, having done the most heavy lifting by far. Mary might have been the greater academic, but Harlan was undoubtedly a strong mammal. With the way their differences played off one another, Judy was certain that they'd make excellent partners.
While Harlan rested his aching muscles, Judy couldn't help but notice the way that Mary spared brief glances at him in between paper sorting. The rabbit smirked, but otherwise chose to remain silent. She made herself a mental note to have a chat with her about it soon, but those were problems for later. Right now, the present demanded their focus.
"So, that was grueling." Judy said frankly.
"I've never seen this much paper in my life. What's it all for?" Harlan demanded with a huff. He flapped a paw at the expanse of boxes, each filled to bursting with forms and records. "How could all this possibly be necessary?"
"Cover your tail." Mary said absently as she was reading the labels on the sides of some boxes.
Judy and Harlan shared a confused glance, then looked back to Mary as one. Judy asked, "What was that?"
"'Cover your tail'," Mary quoted again, louder, still fiddling with her boxes. "You know, like that phrase: better cover your tail before someone cuts it off. Bureaucrats put every little detail of every little thing down on paper so some unscrupulous mammal can't come back later and claim they backed out on a deal or broke a contract or something. Think of it like insurance. Everything they put on paper now is something they can use to defend against a fraudulent claim later."
Judy mulled that over before nodding. Harlan just rolled his eyes with a huff, clearly not entirely convinced, but unwilling to push the point further.
"You sure know a lot about how the business world operates." Judy commented.
"My dad was an accountant. He taught me a few things. Ooh, look, I think this is the oldest box!" Mary said with some excitement. She pointed to a bottom box of a stack of three. She stood up and tried to move the one on top, but the stack was taller than she was and the box probably weighed more than she did. She had barely shifted the thing and she was already trembling with the strain. Judy opened her mouth to offer help, but she was interrupted by Harlan's long legs brushing past her.
"Ewever, stop before you crush yourself. I'll handle it," Harlan said, already putting action to words. He leaned over and grabbed the second box down, causing Mary to hastily back up. With barely a grunt, he shifted the top two boxes to another stack, then hefted the box Mary was after and jerked his chin toward the conference table. "Table good?" he grunted.
Mary stared at him for a moment, flummoxed, before blinking and jerkily nodding her head. "That'd be fine. Thank you."
"No problem," Harlan gruffed as he paced over the mess toward the table. Mary picked her way along after him, her short stature forcing her to navigate the stacks like a maze. Judy watched them with an inquisitive eye. Mary had been glancing at Harlan, and Harlan was quick to come to Mary's aid without even having to be asked, even though he was still undoubtedly exhausted from moving all these boxes. Maybe she would have to have that talk with both of them…
It was nearly dark when Judy dropped the lid on the last box. She stood atop the conference table, which was so covered in file boxes that she barely had room to stand. Looking around, she found Mary slumped in a chair, rubbing her aching eyes with both hooves, the picture of mental exhaustion. In the next chair over was Harlan, slumped over with his head on the table, the picture of physical exhaustion. Though Judy had offered to help multiple times, Harlan had insisted on moving all the boxes himself. While Judy would usually insist on helping anyway, this time she had let him do the heavy lifting while she and Mary had skimmed through all the files, looking for another executive order like the one that had started them on this path. This system, with Harlan fetching the boxes while Judy and Mary rapidly searched the files, had let them chew through all the files they had retrieved from Public Records. It wasn't a very in depth search, to be sure, but what they were looking for wasn't subtle: a record made thin by an executive order waiving many important requirements. All of the records they had checked that day were thick with all the usual documents showing proof of identity, insurance, associated bank accounts, and so on and so on. They hadn't found a single example of what they were looking for.
Summoning up the last of her energy, Judy put on a smile, clapped her paws and exclaimed, "Alright, team! We managed to get through the whole thing in a single day! I'm so proud of you!"
It took a long few seconds, but Mary and Harlan did manage to pull themselves up straight in their chairs and offer some thanks for the kind words, Mary with a weak smile and Harlan with a small nod.
Taking their mute responses in stride, Judy continued, "So, we didn't find any more executive orders. Mary, you remember what that means?"
"That we have to check into all of Clovestone's recent activities to see what prompted the change." Mary responded.
"Which means more paperwork!" Judy said with forced cheer.
Harlan slumped with an audible thump as his head hit the table. "Oh, no," he moaned.
"Not today of course!" Judy quickly assured. "We're done for today. Actually, you both could have gone home an hour ago. Thanks for sticking with me!"
When Harlan didn't respond, Mary laid a comforting hoof on his arm. The wolf twitched, then huffed out a sigh. "No, it's fine. I'm just… thinking about all the decisions that brought me here, is all."
While a nonplussed Mary blinked, Judy just smirked. That sounded like something Nick would say. It warmed her heart to see the effect her dear husband had on the next generation of cops. She only wished that he were here now to see how much his students from the academy had grown.
Judy went on, "Like I said, all the new paperwork will start tomorrow. Go home, get something to eat, and take a hot bath. O'Conall, I mean you. It'll help with those sore muscles, and I need you at your best tomorrow."
The next day, after dealing with their morning patrols and afternoon paperwork, the trio went back to Public Records and got everything available on Clovestone's activities going back six months. When they had everything requested and moved into a new conference room, they were surprised to find only about half of what they had yesterday. The three stood together, staring at the formidable but still very much reduced stack of boxes.
Harlan was the first to put his unease into words. "I don't mind less paperwork, but doesn't this seem… wrong, somehow? Clovestone Industries is such a huge company. There should be more, right?"
Mary and Judy nodded their heads as one, with Judy adding, "Definitely."
After a moment more of hesitation, like they were afraid the documents were trapped somehow, they got to work. Unlike yesterday, they studied the documents carefully, searching each one for anything that stood out as strange. This slower perusal meant that Harlan actually got to sit down and go through the documents as well.
The hours slowly marched along as the three read invoices, projections, quarterly reports, monthly reports, cost analyses, and on and on and on, until the sun had set once more. It never seemed to end, and it never seemed to change. While there were small occurrences here and there, which were all dutifully noted down, nothing stood out as such a huge change as to encourage a successful company to incur legal trouble. No huge dips in the market, no foreign power attempting a hostile takeover, no new government regulation threatening to suddenly upend their business model. In fact, the company was more wealthy and powerful than ever.
"Nothing. Nothing. Nothing!" Harlan snarled as he snapped his folder closed and slapped it on the table. In the chair next to him, Mary jumped, startled at the unexpected noise. As Judy looked up from her own file, her cool expression revealed she wasn't nearly as surprised. As the day wore on, she had noticed Harlan's demeanor growing more surly, his speech more clipped, his movements more forceful. The wolf was getting frustrated, and the rabbit had known it would only be a matter of time before he cracked.
"Is there a problem, Officer O'Conall?" Judy asked, quite calm.
"You bet there is!" The wolf snapped as he launched out of his chair. He pointed across the room to the pile of boxes and folders they had spent the day combing through. "I've spent the last two days learning exactly how rich and powerful Rupert Clovestone is! This guy has been in business for over half a century, and he's spent every minute of it suppressing predators! He's spent millions of dollars lobbying for district infrastructure funding. The Prioritization Policy - that's him! He's behind it! And he's made billions building the skyscrapers that sprung up because of it! Spent more money than any of us will ever see in our entire lifetimes combined lobbying for legislation that's destroyed countless futures! Hundreds of thousands of predators have wasted their lives away in Happytown because of this dirtbag, and now I get to find out exactly - to the cent - how much money he's made in the last six months. Why!?" The wolf exploded anew, causing Mary to jerk in her seat. Judy just sat calmly, letting the wolf speak his mind. "Why does this- this- this monster get to do these awful things and stay rich and powerful? If any predator had done one tenth of what he's done, the prey in this city would have rioted! But not for this guy. No, no. Since he's prey," Harlan's fiery gaze was on Judy as he said this, so he did not see Mary flinch as though stung. "He gets to be on top. Where's the justice? Where's the decency?"
"It stands before me." Judy said like it was the simplest thing in the world.
Harlan opened his mouth to continue his rant, but stopped as what she said registered in his mind and derailed his train of thought. "What?"
"I said it stands before me," Judy said again, louder, with a wave to indicate Harlan. "Justice. Decency. That's what a cop is for. Bringing those things to the mammals who need it, whether that's criminal or victim. The world isn't fair. The system is broken. I've learned that the hard way. That's why we need good cops. Like Mary. Like you, Officer O'Conall."
Rather than look reassured, Harlan looked conflicted, baring his teeth with frustration. He was still furious, but Judy's words had stopped him in his tracks, and it was clear he didn't know what to do. Out of the corner of her eye, Judy noticed that Mary was wide eyed and trembling, staring at Harlan like she'd never seen him before. Before anything else could happen, Judy set her folder down and pushed it away.
"I'm calling it a day," Judy said, and though it sounded casual, it was clearly an order. "I think we are all a little too tired and frustrated to be productive. Officer O'Conall, please go home and consider what I've said."
For a moment, Harlan just stood there, paws clenched at his sides so tightly his arms trembled. He glanced over to Mary, and grit his teeth when he caught sight of her concerned expression. Then he about-faced and strode rapidly out the door, leaving the two small females alone. Judy sighed, pinching at her brow.
I'm such a fool, she thought to herself. Harlan grew up in Happytown. I should have known better than to place him in a case against a mammal like Clovestone.
Judy then hopped from her chair and stepped quickly to Mary's side. The ewe was staring wide-eyed at the empty doorway where Harlan had disappeared. When Judy laid a paw on her arm, she jerked and stared at the rabbit like she hadn't even realized she was there.
"Mary, are you alright?" Judy asked softly. If the way the arm under her paw was still trembling was any indication, she knew the answer.
"Did you see him? Did you see how… how angry he was?"
"We all have that moment when we have to confront the unfairness in the world. The truth is harsh, and everyone handles it differently. I once quit the force for about six months, so I think Harlan actually handled it pretty well!" Judy smiled, trying to inject some levity, but quickly dropped it when she saw that Mary didn't look reassured. "He just needs some time to cool down. Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to walk you to the bus?"
"No, no. I'll be fine. It's just- No. I'll be fine."
The way she stared at the door like she was afraid Harlan would come back didn't make a convincing case. Judy took one of Mary's hoofs, squeezed her fingers and asked, "Are you sure?"
Mary tore her eyes from the door so she could look Judy in the eye and said with a shaky nod, "I'm sure."
Though she was far from convinced, Judy knew she had to respect the ewe's word. With a nod of her own, she stepped back and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Mary called out, causing Judy to spin around. "The pattern! About Clovestone Industries. I was going to tell you, but then Harlan… well, anyway… I think I figured out what the pattern is."
Judy blinked, but she was instantly all cop again as she asked, "What is it?"
"Clovestone hasn't made any new investments lately. None at all. They've even refused to begin any new projects that don't pay upfront. And they've sold stocks, and liquidated a bunch of properties," Mary explained, voice still soft and shaky as she concluded what that meant. "They're gathering funds. A lot of funds. They're about to make a huge move. I'd have to do more research to be sure, but it might be the biggest move they've ever made."
The bunny nodded. "If that's true, it may have something to do with the shooting at the office. We'll look into it more tomorrow. Go home and get some rest. You did good."
A faint smile grew across the ewe's snout. "Thanks, Officer Hopps. I'll… see you tomorrow."
Mary quietly gathered her belongings before exiting the conference room, leaving Judy by herself. She sighed once more before flopping to the floor and staring up at the ceiling. If this was what it meant to be in charge, the bunny wasn't sure if she wanted such authority. Managing subordinates of her own was so much different than only having to concern herself with a single partner. The excitement of the promotion had long since worn off, and in that moment, Judy realized that it didn't fulfill her. The thought of all the extra pay, authority, and responsibility all would have invigorated her back when she was fresh out of the academy. But even now, past it all, something just felt missing to her.
Shaking the thoughts away, Judy pulled out her phone and scrolled to Nick's contact. She lingered on it for a moment before calling him and bringing the phone to one ear.
A few seconds later, her husband's voice broke through the silence. "Well, if it isn't the embodiment of overtime. So, you plan on moving into the office, or what?"
Judy allowed herself a laugh. "Don't worry, I'll be back at the apartment shortly. It's just been a busy day. I know you're probably tired, but when I get back… is it okay if we can talk, for a bit?"
"Of course," Nick replied nonchalantly. "Wouldn't be a good husband if I didn't listen to your late-night tirades, would I?"
The bunny rolled her eyes. "Jerk," she muttered beneath her breath, though not without a smile pulling at her lips. "I'll see you soon."
10:00 P.M ; Savanna-Central...
After a long, exhausting day of commercial shoots and cold calls, a certain fox was stretched out across his couch, green button down opened up to let his cream colored chest fur loose, legs and tail strewn haphazardly across the cushions and head propped on the arm rest. One arm lay across his belly, the other was thrown across his face, eyes tucked into the crook of his elbow to hide them from the lights he'd been too lazy to turn off.
Click!
Ears pricked at the sound of the front door unlocking, but otherwise the fox didn't move. He sat there, quiet and still, as he listened to the knob turn, and the hinges squeak as the door swung open.
KATHUD!
Nick jerked up as the sound of the door slamming shut boomed across the apartment. Wide eyed, he stared in the direction of the noise. From across the room, he was slightly startled to see his rabbit wife, still in uniform, coming straight for him. She looked mad enough to spit, and the expression caused Nick to petrify. She was in arms reach before he found the wherewithal to speak.
"Carrots-? OOF!"
Once she was in range, Judy crouched, leaned forward and jumped in one smooth movement. She crashed into Nick's chest, knocking the breath from his lungs as he was thrown back into the cushions.
It was surprisingly quiet after that. Nick lay there, blinking down at the rabbit on his chest, dumbfounded by his wife's inexplicable actions. Judy, for her part, didn't move or say a word. She just lay there, paws fisted in Nick's fur just hard enough to pinch, and face buried in the scruff of his throat. Her ears were pulled back as far as they would go, a sure sign of distress.
After a few moments of contemplating the reticent rabbit, Nick rolled his shoulders and wiggled his hips until he was comfortable in the new position. Then he wrapped an arm around Judy's slim shoulders and another around her hips. He buried his nose between her ears and let out a breathless chuckle.
"That kind of rough housing is for kits, Carrots," he murmured into the wonderfully soft fur. "I'm an old fox, now. You have to be gentle with me."
Judy didn't rise to the bait. She just pulled her legs up and tucked them in until she was a ball in Nick's arms, seeming to do everything she could to hide in her husband's embrace. Nick dutifully adjusted his grip to accommodate her, silently granting her wordless request for comfort.
After another few moments of quiet, Nick gently prodded again. "Carrots?"
Judy pressed her face even harder into Nick's fur as she let out a long groan. "I think I messed up…"
Nick lifted a paw and began to pet Judy's ears, going from base to tip in long, slow strokes. "Who, you? No. It can't be!" He denied with badly feigned astonishment.
Judy let go of his fur with one paw so she could thump him. "Don't be such a jerk!"
Nick grunted with the impact, then barked a short laugh. "Alright, alright. I'm just glad you're not mad at me. The way you looked, I thought I was about to get thrown out the window."
Judy pushed up just enough so she could glare at him. "That can still be arranged." She threatened.
Nick grinned down at her. He moved the paw from her ears to stroke her cheek and asked, "But then who'd make your oatmeal just the way you like it?"
"It comes in a box."
Nick gasped dramatically. "My secret revealed!"
Judy glared, then snorted, then laughed. Giggling, she collapsed back onto Nick's chest and said, "You're so dumb!"
"That's right," Nick sing-songed. "Your dumb fox."
Judy's laughter tapered off, then the two fell quiet again, but this time it was a better quiet. More companionable, less stressful. Exactly what Nick had intended. He began stroking Judy's ears again, and was pleased when he found the powerful muscles at their base were much more relaxed.
"Wanna talk about it?" He offered. "You mentioned wanting to talk over your call."
Judy let out a little sigh. "Yeah. I guess I should…"
She explained what had happened - how they had been investigating the office building, then Clovestone Industries, and her unpleasant chat with its CEO. What they had learned over the last two days, and the conclusions they had reached.
Judy concluded, "So, after looking through the records, we realized something big, and I feel obligated to tell you, Nick," she winced a bit. "Rupert is the mammal behind the Prioritization Policy."
Nick's head shot up from where it had been resting. "Whoa, wait! Really?"
Judy looked up at him, expression grim. "Afraid so. He's been lobbying to redirect infrastructure funding to the primary districts for decades, and he's profited immensely from building their skyscrapers. He's…" she briefly trailed off, remembering his harsh words and stern face. "Not a good mammal."
For a long moment, Nick could only stare while he processed her words. Then his head fell back with a groan. "Of course you'd get to investigate the one mammal I'd want to see behind bars the most in the world after I can't help anymore. Darn knee…"
Judy reached up to stroke Nick's cheek, smoothing the fur comfortingly. "Sorry, Slick."
Nick let out a long breath, then he grabbed Judy's paw from his face. He held it, stroking her knuckles with a thumb pad. He looked back to her and smiled. "Good thing you're on the case! There isn't a mammal on the force more suited to take him down."
An apologetic grimace fell over Judy's features. "I don't know if I can, Nick. I hate to say it, but lobbying isn't illegal, and his connection with this office shooting is so thin. Besides, he's a really powerful mammal. It might not work out."
Still stroking his wife's knuckles in one paw, Nick considered. After a moment, he kissed the back of her paw and laid it on his chest. "If you can't nail him for a crime, when I become mayor, I'll nail his ability to lobby. When I'm done, Clovestone's political meddling will be a bad memory."
Judy smiled, and laid her cheek back down on his chest. "When you become mayor? Not if?"
Nick smiled at her. "Confidence is key in politics."
"And if you have nothing else, you've always had lots of confidence!" Judy joked.
Nick nodded along sagely. "It's the most important trait a mammal can have, after all. Who needs things like talent or hard work?"
"Certainly not you." Judy giggled.
"So, what happened next?" Nick moved the conversation along.
Judy explained that they had been researching all day, and she had been noticing Harlan struggling with the material. Then she got to where the proverbial valve blew.
"Oh my gourds, Nick! He was so mad! No, not mad - furious! I haven't seen him snap and snarl like that since he went savage back at academy!"
"I don't blame him." Nick said mildly.
"And you should have seen Mary!" Judy moaned with dismay. "She looked like she thought he was about to eat her. She was so scared. And I thought, well, maybe…"
Nick waited, but when she didn't finish the thought, he prodded, "Maybe…?"
The bunny sighed. "Well, there were signs, you know? Little glances, going out of their way to help each other, always sitting together. I thought, you know…"
"That they might be like us." Nick finished the thought.
Judy nodded, disturbing the cream colored fur she was still buried in. "Yeah. Something was there, but now I don't think it's gonna happen. I messed it up."
"You messed it up? How?" Nick asked, incredulous.
"I should have known Harlan would react like that. I mean, I knew he was getting upset, but nothing like that. And poor Mary-"
Nick placed a claw on her lips, silencing her. "I'm going to stop you there, dumb bunny. You are not responsible for Harlan's behavior. He's a cop, he needs to learn to control himself. And if Mary can't handle him when he's upset, then whatever you think might have been between them was never going to work out. You haven't done anything wrong, and you especially didn't break up any pretend theoretical relationship."
Judy pulled the claw on her lips away. "But, Nick-!"
"Judy," Nick said sternly, and Judy paused. "You are not responsible for Harlan and Mary's personal lives. You are their superior officer, not their mother. You need to take a step back."
It was Judy's turn to consider Nick's words. After a moment's thought, she huffed. "I guess you're right. Still sucks beans, though. They would have made a cute couple."
"Maybe." Nick murmured a half-hearted agreement.
"How're things going on your end?" Judy shifted the conversation.
"Oh, you know. Hours and hours of cold calls. My favorite," Nick snarked sarcastically. "Sammy's ringing me dry with all this campaign stuff. Oh!" He exclaimed before Judy could respond. "We got our first popularity numbers, too. Sammy says that for a total newcomer, I'm doing pretty well."
"That's great!" Judy exclaimed.
"Yeah. Not all good news, though. The numbers in the Meadowlands are pretty low, which is a big deal, considering how big a portion of the vote they are. It doesn't surprise me, though: the Meadowlands isn't exactly known for supporting new faces, especially ones with pointy smiles."
"Oh. Well, I'm sure you'll figure something out."
"Speaking of…"
Something in his tone grabbed Judy's attention. She pushed up from her place of supreme comfort on her husband's chest so she could look him in the eye. "Nick?"
Nick quickly tried to explain. "We have to do some serious campaigning out there, or we'll never get the numbers up. And you know how far it is. We're even renting a bus, so we can cover the most ground possible."
"How long?" Judy demanded.
"Three days," Nick sighed. "We leave tomorrow."
Judy chewed her lip thoughtfully, then nodded decisively. "I'll have to check to be sure, but I still have a few vacation days, I think."
Nick grabbed both of her shoulders and when he had her full attention, he shook his head. "Judy, no. We've been over this, you have to save whatever vacation time you have left for emergencies."
"C'mon, Nick! This is important!"
"But it is not an emergency!" Nick shot back. "This is only the beginning of the campaign. We're going to have to do this more, maybe a lot more. What then? When you blow through your last few days, what are you gonna do? Play hooky? Tell the Chief that missing your busted husband is a diagnosable condition and take a medical leave?"
"I didn't say anything like that!"
"What will you do after your vacation time is gone? Tell me." Nick challenged.
"Why are you fighting me so hard on this!?" Judy challenged right back. "Don't you want me to be there?"
"I want you to be there more than anything!" Nick burst. "Spending everyday working with you to make the world a better place was the best time of my life, but it's over now! Okay? It's over…"
There were tears in Judy's eyes. Nick's frustrated panting caught in his throat.
Judy sniffled and swiped at her eyes like she was angry at the tears. "Fine," she forced out through a throat made tight with emotion. "It's over." She shoved Nick's paws off her shoulders and hopped off him to land on the carpet. Head down, ears back, she marched off into the kitchen.
Temporarily paralyzed by a mess of emotions, Nick let her go. After a long few seconds to pull himself back together, he forced himself up and off the couch and after her. When he got to the kitchen doorway, he lingered, watching the single most important being in his life as she snatched a frozen dinner-for-one from the freezer and threw it into the microwave. After she forcefully jabbed the buttons to get the device going, she stood there, arms crossed defensively, eyes on the ground.
The buzzing from the microwave was unbearably loud in the stillness that followed. Seconds counted down on the electronic display, and each one seemed to drag on longer than the last.
It wasn't even a full minute before Nick could suffer no more. He began to walk toward Judy, who turned her face pointedly away. When Nick reached her, he fell to his knees by her side to lower himself to her height, threw his arms about her, and said, "I'm sorry I pushed back so hard. I just don't want you to burden yourself for me. I'm… enough of a burden like this, as is," he resisted the urge to shift his injured leg with discomfort. "Please know just one thing: I love you. More than anything. Don't forget that."
Judy's angry facade broke immediately. Turning about in her husband's arms, she buried her face in his chest and wailed, "It's not fair!"
Nick lowered his head so he could bury his eyes in her shoulder. "It's not fair." He agreed, voice as heavy as his injured leg felt in that moment. They stayed like that for long minutes, grieving and comforting.
Then the microwave beeped loudly. With a watery chuckle, Nick lifted his head. "Grub's ready. What are we having?"
Judy raised her head to stare with reddened eyes at the microwave. "I don't know. I just grabbed the first box I saw."
Nick sniffed. "Smells like one of my fish protein bowls." He reached over and popped the door open. A glance was all it took to confirm. "Yup."
The bunny wrinkled her nose. "Gross. You have that one, I'll get something else."
A little while later found them curled up together on the couch watching an episode of the latest show on their favorite streaming service. Empty plastic trays on the coffee table were all that remained of their dinner.
As the credits began to roll, Nick grabbed the remote and shut off the TV. Before he could propose they retire for the evening, Judy spoke up, drawing his attention.
"Nick, I know you're worried that I'll do something stupid. That I'll rush off on some reckless pursuit, like I always do, and make a mistake without you there to keep me cool. That I'll mess up my career because you're not my partner anymore." Nick stared down at the rabbit tucked into his side. Judy stared back at him, smiled and reached up to pat his chest. "You don't have to worry. I still love being a cop, and I'm going to be the best cop I can possibly be. One you'll be proud of."
Nick smiled back. "I'm glad to hear that, Carrots."
Judy frowned a bit, and pressed her face back into Nick's side. "I still miss my partner, though. He was an insufferable smart aleck, but he was a great cop. Don't think I'll ever have a partner like him again."
The fox wrapped an arm around her and squeezed. "I miss you every minute of the day, Carrots. You can guarantee that if my push for mayor falls flat, the first thing I'll do is rejoin the force as a detective. Promise." He paused briefly and then brightened up as an idea reached him. "Say, how about we make up for a little lost time?"
Judy raised her eyes to stare at him, curious. "How?"
"After I get back from my trip, let's go on a date. Just you and me, we'll even turn the phones off so no one bothers us. How does that sound?"
Judy smiled. "You, without your phone? Is that even possible?"
Nick rolled his eyes. "Oh, har har. I'm serious, though. We'll go someplace nice."
"Nice like…" Judy looked at him with a knowing grin. "That fancy restaurant in the Rainforest-District? That's right on top of the waterfalls?"
"Sure? Why not?" Nick replied easily, despite internally wincing at the mere thought of the price. But that apprehension melted away at the sight of his wife's happy face.
Judy's smile lit the room. "I'd love that, more than anything."
Grinning and looking quite pleased with himself, Nick scooped Judy up into his arms and started for the bedroom. "C'mon, dumb bunny. We both have an early start tomorrow."
Judy snuggled in her husband's arms, face buried in the ruff of his throat, and smiled dreamily. This, she thought to herself, is what I needed after such a long day.
Another chapter, another step forward for the plot!
I had a lot of fun writing this one. You can probably tell that Harlan and Mary will be getting some much-needed time in the spotlight down the road as their investigation with Judy breaks new ground, which is something I'm looking forward to sharing with you. They'll be getting some very interesting character development. Everyone will!
I hope you're as excited for the next chapter as I am! We're going to be visiting a brand new district in my work for the first time in a while: the Meadowlands! I look forward to detailing exactly what adversities Nick faces on his campaign tour there. And you can be certain that when he returns, he and Judy will get a very well-deserved scene together.
I am also happy to announce that I am accepting writing commissions! Happy to write just about anything, and if anyone is interested, PM me and we can discuss it further. :)
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, though! Feel free to let me know what you think so far in a review, if you'd like. Regardless, you can expect the next chapter, "Over the Hill," to arrive soon.