Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from Zootopia are all owned by Disney the great and powerful. Any and all registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.
Cab Calloway mentions Smokey Joe in several songs. Zaz Zuh Zaz dates to 1933.
Now, zaz-zuh-zaz was handed down
From a bloke down in Chinatown;
It seems his name was Smokey Joe,
And he used to hi-de-hi-de-ho.
Zaz Zuh Zaz
The second victim of the ghostly killer was a graduate student at Zootopia University. He lived in a cheap off-campus apartment a couple miles from Zoo U. He had been out with friends and was returning home after one o'clock in the morning. The shots woke several people in the apartment buildings that lined the street of the murder. A rabbit, also a grad student at the university, claimed to have gotten to a window in time to see a shadowy figure bending over the body of the victim, but it was too dark to even identify the species of the killer.
The first victim had been an opossum. The second victim an otter. While the murder was not committed within the Fourth, the fact it appeared related meant the crime was handed to the detectives covering the first killing.
Once again, video images picked up a strange figure in the area of the area at the time the killing took place. Once again the shell casings at the crime scene were old, even if still effective. A second challenge medal of similar design was found with the body, this one with two recent scratches marring the surface.
The pewter piece had been identified in the prior week by a collector as one given to members of a short mob some half a century before. The gang had been led by an animal of unknown species called Smokey Joe. The detectives at the Fourth discovered the father of the first victim, a stock broker, had belonged to the gang. As a result the detectives on the case had dismissed the importance of the challenge coin as a lucky piece the victim had inherited from his father and irrelevant to the killing. They were able to determine the second victim, a graduate student in physics at Zootopia University, was a grandchild of a member of the long defunct mob. However, the presence of the coin and the second scratch on its surface suddenly seemed relevant.
The media loved the story.
The Baseless Conspiracy Network (formerly known as the History Channel) ran various specials, each of which identified Smokey Joe as a different species.
One radio station peddled the idea that an old mobster, a member of some rival gang, had recently been released from prison and wanted to eliminate those associated with Joe's mob. The fact records showed no such release didn't stop the theory.
The most spectacular idea was that Joe had been eliminated by rivals in his own mob, and was now back from the grave for revenge. While no animal would actually say on air that he or she believed in ghosts the theory still led to the killer being dubbed the Ghost of Smokey Joe.
Nick watched as Judy and the other three members of the wedding party practiced the traditional panther wedding dance on Tuesday evening. The fox didn't deliberately eavesdrop on the nearby panther couple during the rehearsal, but the two were not quiet in their comments. George's parents, the couple, were less than thrilled at their son marrying an older female and shocked that a rabbit would not only attend but had a role to play in the ceremony. The mother glanced around and noticed Nick. "There is even a fox here!" she told her husband. "Surely George wouldn't have invited a fox."
Nick pretended to be a custodian, checking for any rubbish left by the last group to use the hall. He slowly moved away, checking under chairs for litter.
"Wonder what Stu and Bonnie really think of me marrying Judy?" Nick thought. "Can't be that bad." While he and Detective Nyte didn't get along well he respected her, and felt sympathetic.
Most of their week at the First was taken with a hit-and-run. A wolf fishing in a river had seen a vehicle matching the description of the car going into the river. It was easy to establish it was the vehicle the rabbit and fox were looking for. The owner insisted the car had been stolen, and proving he was lying required several days.
Judy and Nick enjoyed a low stress weekend. She played football on Saturday. They went out for pizza with Judy's raccoon friend Hye and her male friend Tom after the game.
Before they had left the apartment for the football game Judy had asked, "You remember what I said?"
"You mean my orders? I'm to tell Tom how wonderful it is to be married to the sweetest female on the planet? Will that work? I mean, if I'm married to the most wonderful female there is, why should he–"
Judy sighed, "No, you don't remember what I said. A suggestion! I gave you a suggestion! Hye thinks Tom seems skittish about marriage and needs reassurance that marriage is wonderful. You do think marriage is wonderful, right?"
"And, 'I'll get back to you on that', is the wrong answer, right?"
"Only if you ever want sex again, ever."
After returning home Nick told Judy, "Tom claims he wants Hye to marry him, he just doesn't know how to ask."
"How could any male be that stupid?"
"We are dealing with Tom here."
"What did you tell him?"
"I had it on very good authority that Hye wants to marry him, and it really didn't matter how he asks – he just needs to do it. Then he said something about what if he got the wrong ring, and I said buy the ring after she says yes. Then she'll get one she likes, after all a wife tells a husband what to do for the rest of his life."
Judy groaned, "You didn't."
"Of course not... Well, I did tell him to ask first. You don't have to have the ring at the time of the proposal."
"Perfect. Do you want your reward now or later?"
"What's my reward?"
"Whatever you want. I don't want to tell my big, strong husband what to do for the rest of his life."
"Anything?" Nick leered.
Judy suddenly felt nervous, "That's, ah, what I said. What are you..."
"Haven't decided yet," Nick told her, taking her in his arms and kissing her. "I've got to be careful or you'll never give me another offer like that."
It was a rare Sunday when Mirage didn't have an exhibition in the afternoon. The feline gave Judy a lesson on one pool table while Nick and Finnick played on another.
"Your game is improving," Nick said as he pulled a ten from his wallet for the fennec.
"Yeah, learning stuff while I'm working for the slave driver."
"You told Judy your debt will be paid in a couple months?"
"Yep. It'll feel good to be a free animal again."
"Any idea what you'll do?"
"Nah... Still deciding. Might work for the slave driver awhile longer – just 'til I get my shit together."
The rabbit and fox enjoyed another low stress week of work: two convenience store robberies, a mugging, and a domestic violence accusation. Incredibly stressful for the animals in the events. Routine and relatively stress free for the detectives.
A low stress week followed by stressful weekend. Judy played as much football as time allowed, but left early for a fast shower before putting on the rabbit-sized version of the flowing blue dress worn by the female friend in the traditional panther wedding ritual.
The next afternoon there were a large number of guests to see Ernie graduate from the Police Academy. The Bunnyburrow contingent consisted of the weasel's mother and three friends: a pair of rabbit twins, the Lumpkin brothers, and a slightly older cousin named Frank. Judy's sister Susan, who had gone to high school with Ernie, stood with the Bunnyburrow visitors. The detectives who had worked the wilde case with Judy all attended. Gina and her family stood by Nick to watch the ceremony, occasionally glancing daggers at Iris, who stood by Judy.
For being in the middle of his class Ernie received an unusual amount of attention. He had done very well in the academic portions of the program, and barely passing scores in the physical requirements. When the program was expanded to bring in small animals the changes might make it easier for shorts to display their skill sets as well, but Ernie graduated under the same curriculum Judy experienced.
"I don't believe Zootopia Police Academy has ever before given a commendation for bravery in the line of duty to an officer at a graduation ceremony," the goat who headed the Academy told the audience. "And here to present the award is Detective Lylah Nyte."
"Bagheera," she corrected him as she moved to the microphone. "It's now Lylah Bagheera."
"Congratulations, Missus Bagheera," Ernie told her.
She grinned at the weasel, "Thank you. Just married last night, but I wouldn't have missed this."
She praised the weasel for his role in the wilde case to degree that embarrassed Ernie. She told the audience Ernie had saved her life.
Ernie took his turn at the microphone, he corrected Lylah – saying she had saved his life, and thanked every detective on the team – especially Nick and Detective Kane for coaching him; and Susan, Iris, and Gina for helping him in the role of college student.
Nick, who felt guilty for having placed Ernie in a dangerous situation, had suggested to Judy they treat Ernie and his Bunnyburrow friends, including Susan, to dinner. He'd suggested Tony's as a good place for dinner – which, of course, meant Gina was invited. Nick thought Gina and Ernie made a good couple.
Judy felt some guilt for allowing Ernie to continue in an undercover role, and gratitude for how the weasel had helped expose the gang. She agreed with Nick that they should pay for a dinner for Ernie's mother and friends. She made sure Iris was invited. Judy felt the first year student at Zoo U and Ernie made a good couple.
Tony, who looked on Ernie as a good match for his daughter Gina, had been delighted with the suggestion, and Judy and Nick had to argue with him to let them pay.
Gina was of the opinion that Frank was a good looking weasel, and it would be nice if Iris fell in love with him and moved to Bunnyburrow. Iris was of the opinion that Gina might be happy with Frank in Bunnyburrow – leaving her in Zootopia with Ernie.
After the ceremony the media wanted pictures of Ernie with Lylah. As the photographer got ready to take the photos a skunk darted out, threw her arms around Ernie and gave him a kiss – then informed the media she was Ernie's female friend.
The camera animals asked her to get out of the picture.
"Who's that?" whispered the panther.
"Her name is Cheryl Flowers... She asked me out for coffee and... She said Judy gave her my number... I, uh, think she may be crazy."
Lylah made a mental note to ask Judy what the rabbit had been thinking.
Iris and Gina held one idea in common. Stuffing the skunk in a burlap bag, tying it shut, and dropping her off a bridge into the deepest channel in a river seemed like a good idea.
The mystery killer made no appearance that weekend. The Fourth precinct detectives in charge of the case worked on establishing any sort of connection between the two victims other than the obvious link of a gang that had broken up long before.
While the ghost killer kept a low profile, Tuesday afternoon Nick and Judy were handed a nasty triple homicide, a mother and two children.
Nick closed his eyes and sighed before starting the car to verify an alibi, "This one's really ugly, Carrots."
Judy nodded glumly, "Yeah. I mean, usually you look at a husband as the prime suspect... He really... I don't think that was acting. And questioning a husband and father after he's just lost his wife and kids with what we just asked? I feel like a monster."
"That's what I mean. Lose your family and then have the police interrogate you like you did it?"
"Well, it will be easy to prove he didn't kill them if he was at work, and I'm betting he was."
"But then we need to look and see if he hired someone to... Don't think he did. Some former male friend or jealous co-worker most likely. Maybe a burglary gone wrong. I'd love to wrap this one up fast. Don't know if it will give him any peace of mind, but I know I'll feel a lot better.
It was still not solved on Thursday evening when Malus Kane, a detective from the Fourth who had worked on the wilde case, came to the apartment for a home cooked meal and to report on Ernie.
"How's he doing?" asked Judy. "What sort of assignment did he get?"
"Assigned to work patrol with an old officer. Oak's partner retired a month or so ago. I think Oak's up for retirement next year. They're an odd couple."
"More than Judy and me?"
"A giraffe and a weasel."
"Oak is a giraffe? How... That sounds crazy."
The wolf shrugged. "Oak is a good officer, but he sometimes misses details – just too tall to see things. That was Ernie's best work at the Academy. Oak has the patience and experience to be a good mentor. Meanwhile, if anyone want to laugh at a giraffe working with a weasel, I'm letting it be known around the Fourth that Able and I are tight with the weasel. Anyone who wants to laugh won't do it where we'll hear about it."
"What do you hear about the Smokey Joe case?" Nick asked.
"As a detective of the Fourth talking to a detective from the First or as a friend?"
"Let me guess, official Fourth party-line is progress is being made and you follow that up with animals of interest are being investigated or you hope to have a suspect soon."
"Right."
"And the real scoop?"
"Jonathan and David are in over their heads. Not sure if it's their fault or all the crazy angles on that case. Glad Able and I didn't catch it. Would you want it on your plate?"
"No way," Nick agreed. "Can't speak for the rabbit though. Judy loves a challenge."
"Yeah, I hear she even caught a fox. A bunny like that is capable of anything."
Judy wondered what the wolf had meant by 'caught'. If he meant their recent marriage it showed the knowledge was more public than she and Nick wanted.
The third victim of the ghostly killer was a middle-aged raccoon, who worked in the stock room of a large department store. Some who worked under him complained he paid too much attention to the length of their breaks, but that was the worst anyone had to say. In the previous few weeks he had mentioned to a few animals that his father had been a member of the Smokey Joe mob, but had expressed no fear for his own safety – laughing at the idea he might be a possible target.
Some nervous animals began wondering what their parents and grandparents might have doing sixty years earlier.
Nick and Judy managed a limited breakthrough on the triple homicide the next week. A couple hairs gathered at the crime scene did not match any family members or friends. The DNA of the hairs matched an unidentified lynx burglar, wanted for two other crimes, one of which included a brutal assault on an elderly female.
"Failed burglary?"
"How it looks. Now we have to wait for the guy to slip up someway."
"I don't want to wait, Nick. We need to find this guy before he hurts or kills anyone else."
Nick had the radio on for overnight news as he prepared oatmeal for breakfast. The weather was exactly what one might expect for that date, and the traffic jams were in the same exact spots as they were every day this time in the morning commute. Turning on the news was routine in the morning. No one expected to hear anything wildly unusual.
"And, in the morning's top story, the ZPD has announced an arrest in the so-called Smokey Joe murders. Duke Weaselton, who was associated with Dawn Bellwether's Night Howler Conspiracy, was arrested late last night. Weaselton turned state's evidence in Bellwether's prosecution and was free on probation. And now, Sports with Chet Obvious."
