It was good to be home in Bunnyburrow. The sights, sounds of Zootopia and her small apartment made Judy forget the normal things she use to see every day while growing up.
The great hall in the Hopps household was a good example. Large cavernous area more like an old style theatre, have more than one level and the kitchen at one end acting like a stage. She appreciated the open plan space but maybe not the loss of privacy.
Standing in kitchen with mum catching up on local news and trying to avoid the subject of work, her mind drifting as mother continued to talk and cleared up from dinner. Looking out over her brothers and sisters she watched Nick playing cards with warm smile. Then noticed flapping rabbit ears across the room above where her partner was sitting.
Continuing to watch Nick, her father, brothers and sister playing poker. The unseen or ignored siblings pulling their ears and making faces. Then the pattern, ears north & west and down repeated 3 times.
Judy was sharply reminded of a scene from movie watched years ago and game played across a table (All be it a rock). "You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia,' but only slightly less well known is this: 'Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line."
She giggled to herself and thought even less well known was never play cards in the Hopps household without some caution and understanding of her family history.
Wondering if she should intervene or take advantage of partners lack of observation. She continued to watch to see who was taking advantage of the information. Slowly one by one the rabbits in the game put the cards down, starting with her father.
Deciding that Nick being hustled again by a bunny was no bad thing. But considering what her father had said when she first left for Zootopia a few years ago, there was going to be words said and ears bent soon. As well as educating Nick in the near future.
Some months later…
The duo of Wilde & Hopps found themselves finishing night patrol near the docks in Savanna central and returning to station. Passing by the bridge Judy once found her fox and bring back many memories.
Playing "I Spy" much to bunny's amusement given the darkness. Suddenly interrupted by Nick's "Uh" and "Stop Carrots".
"It's your idea to start this game" she stated flatly.
"No, the car Carrots".
Not looking at his partner instead keeping eyes on a derelict warehouse across the road as the car came to halt. There is was again a small flash of light like lightning.
"What's up?" a puzzled look on the bunny's face.
"Light from that warehouse" Nick replied. "Better check it out". Hopes of quick end to a long shift fading fast he sighed.
Walking over to the perimeter fence the fox carefully looked over the wasteland between fence and warehouse. Not seeing any movement outside and spotting a row of windows high above the boarded windows on the ground floor. He turned to his partner and suggested "Want to take point for recon Fluff? Windows and back. I'm getting to old for this" pointing and dramatically pantomiming a back injury.
"Ok rusty" giving him a smirk and rolling her eye. Then with little effort jumped easily to the top of the fence and dropped softly on the other side. Nick watched her carefully approach the building and continued to scan for other movement in the darkness. The bunny quickly shimmied up the drain pipe not aware of Nick keen interest in the movement of her backside. Her tail easy to see given it's colour and his night vision. Thinking to himself "Old habits die hard".
Drawing level with the upper windows Judy was aware of a dull glow. Looking through a broken windowpane she could see a number of cars which had inspection lamps on them. Then suddenly flash of blue white light left spots in her vision and two voices started.
"Ok that's it" a female voice said.
"You sure given the stress?" another male voice asked. Soon spotting the male tiger.
"Yep, it's not an engine mod only roll cage repair" the unseen female voice continued.
Thinking to herself this sounds like race car. Casting her mind back she remembered reported cases of elusive street racers in the morning meeting weeks ago.
Judy was about to slide down when she heard more voices.
A deep booming voice asked. "Anything?". This sounded like larger animal and appearing from the corner below her an elephant came into view.
"Nothing police band clear. So we good for tonight?" came the reply. Now this voice sounded familiar. What had Weselton got himself into this time she sighed.
Acting quickly Judy continued her climb to the roof. Standing waved both her arms and ears at once.
Watching with great interest Nick saw his partner pause at the window and continue to the roof. Then waving her ears. Then continue to give pairs of ears signals without using her radio.
"N & NE", "SW & S", "SW & S", "S & NE" and "W & SW". Then covered her eyes.
"SW & S", "SW & N", "W & S", "N & SW", "N & SE". Covering her eyes again, then lifting her left ear up and keeping her right eye covered.
Frantically finding his note book. Writing the movements down and checking his notes. The fox stood there for a few moments putting it all together. Finding his personal phone and contact for Chief Bogo. After a moment the call was answered "Bogo".
"Office Wilde"
"Wilde how the hell have you got my personal number?"
"Sorry Chief police radio monitored. Office Hopps reporting cars and four possible suspects related to crime, need backup, warehouse, Animalia street south docks."
"DONE will txt E.T.A." and the line when dead.
Nick tapped his talk button on his police radio twice. July waved and lay down on the roof.
It was not long before large vehicle with no headlights pulled up behind their patrol car. A rhino climbed out with his tiger partner following. Nick updating officer Mchorn and Delgato with more information on passed on by Hopps as they planned their raid.
Officer Mchorn looking between his binoculars, Office Hopps and the fox "Seems you can teach old canine new tricks".
Surprised how well semaphore works with bunny ears given size and distance they can be seen with and without night vision. But then again rabbits and hares are basically walking semaphore towers. Bunny semaphore based on flag semaphore originated from 1866. So Hopps family using this form of communication around the farm for various reasons seem likely. Seeing 2-way radio was only started around 1923.
Will leave you to work out Nick poker hand, but here are the Police codes:
11-58 Radio traffic is being monitored. Phone all non-routine messages.
10-29v The vehicle wanted in connection with crime.
Bunny semaphore Image Link (Please remove * from web address to access image as image manager not setup to allow images within your stroy or links to images):
https*:/drive*.google.*com/*open?id=1VUXOPdGfkmOJg51a0HyDTA1vh-AMky_p