Nick and Judy cautiously approached the darkened location of a reported altercation between multiple mammals. Judy was on point to take advantage of her twitch reflexes, tranquilizer at the ready. Nick trailed slightly after so he could use his superior night vision and still have a clear field of fire over his partner. Trunkaby and McHorn waited at the end of the alley to backstop the small duo.

Judy's ears twitched at the sound of something moving farther back in the alley. "ZPD, come out with your paws, hooves or trotters up." her soprano voice cut through the shadows.

One such shadow suddenly detached itself and surged forward. "Greetings offiththerssss..."

One of Judy's darts sprouted from the dark clad mammals shoulders even as Nick groaned. "The Doof, Kerfuffle-Fhtagn, and now him."

Judy looked askance at her partner as he holstered his sidearm and moved over to the fallen mammal. "Nick, you can't just stroll up to him! He could be armed or-"

"Oh I guarantee he's armed fluff, but he's not dangerous; not to us anyway." He turned slightly towards the alley entrance. "Francine, Frank, can you call back to the station and see if any form 1021's have been filed by Francis Jr.?"

Judy started at Trunkaby's decidedly rude trumpet. "Him? Seriously?"

Both smaller officers were now standing over the fallen beast, who upon closer inspection appeared to be a relatively small white tail deer dressed rack to hoof in black naugahyde. The menacing mein was capped off with a black fedora and domino mask.

"Who is he, some kind of vigilante?" Hopps eyed the stranger with skepticism.

Nick was about to speak when McHorn's voice boomed down the alley. "Wilde, Clawhauser says ole' Frakie's got an open case on file since Tuesday. Says it shouldn't have crossed into the Savvy, but with this nutjob you never know."

"Right. He was deeper in the alley when he spooked Hopps into shooting him-" Francine and Frank both barked out a laugh, "-so I'm gonna check whatever he was into. Can you watch him with Hopps? I don't want her hop-kicking him through a dumpster." With that, the vulpine clipped a light onto his shoulder and headed deeper into the gloom.

Judy's foot drummed in frustration at the mystery at her feet until Frank ambled over as Francine called their status in. "Who is this guy Frank? Everyone's acting like it's 'the Doof' all over again."

The rhino snorted. "Not exactly. Check his belt on the left side."

Judy searched the small collection of pouches on the deer's left side finding an odd assortment of tools and supplies she would expect for a forensic technician, or a comic book hero. She also found a single gold shield similar to her own badge. "He's a cop?!"

"Not quite madame." She started as the deer leverd himself into a sitting position. "I am the scourge in the shadows, I will shed the light of truth and justice in the darkened corners of the city; I am, the Night Hunter!" So saying, he handed Hopps a card from one of the pouches on his right side.

She stared uncomprehending for a moment as she read, then reread the card.

"Francis Thurston Deering II, The Night Hunter

PI, CID License# 2125 "

She looked up at the preposterous mammal in front of her. "You're a bounty hunter?!"

Francis snorted. "Officer, I assure you I am much more than some bail-chasing glory seeker."

"Then what's with the costume?" She crossed her arms and thumped her foot.

"Mammals can dress however they want Fluff." Nick strolled back to his partner. "Alright Night Hunter, I count three toughs from the Third Street Hooligans hogtied back there. What's got you picking fights with a pack of dingoes?"

The deer retrieved his shield from Hopps. "My client is the mother of one of their most recent 'recruits'. I've been retained to wrangle the wayward pup and suggest the gang turn elsewhere for recruiting. I can hardly be faulted if they decide to try and roll me in an alleyway. And before you ask, those three are not Unlawfully Restrained. Each one is holding the lead for the slipknot securing the next. They can free themselves any time they want, providing the work together. Isn't that right, Red Rocket?" The PI had a particularly smug look on his face as he glanced at the back of the alley.

Nick bristled as McHorn began massaging his temples. "Right. Well, call in any further changes in your locality next time. Francine, we're done here; call it in."

"Certainly officers. Have a safe evening." The cervid spun dramatically and headed back into the alley's depths.

Judy boggled back and forth at the various mammals. While she personally disapproved of his methods, Judy couldn't find legal fault with The Night Hunter's logic, so she followed Nick out. "You're explaining all of this to me Slick," she smirked, " or should I call you Red-"

"Only if you want me to taze you in the scut."