Chapter Four- The New Partners and The Old Ones

Nick's point of view

After being told that our new "partner" went outside, I was scanning the front of the station while Judy was inside probably asking questions. It didn't take long to find the officer sitting on a bench and smoking a cigar, it was actually pretty obvious considering the guy seemed to leave the smell of smoke everywhere he went, when I got a few inches closer he turned around and sighed, probably realizing he shouldn't kill me, I hope. He looked at me and blew smoke from his nose "so your . . . Wilde?" Yeah . . . Just call me Nick, he rested his arms on his legs "well. Nick. I've heard some shit about you" what kind of shit? I asked with a hint of suspicion "you and that bunny took down Bellwether, that means you've got something of use" use? I asked walking in front of him "yeah" how can you tell otherwise? "Bogo would never speak highly of an exceptional officer" you've got a point there, Frederick, he looked at me and shook his head "that son of a bitch" I grinned, so you're one of the oldies? "Oldies? I was Bogo's partner, you talk like you know everything" he filled us in on a lot "sure he did" he said dabbing the cigar "he didn't tell you shit and neither am I" I had a feeling but he did tell me to ask you what you did in the special forces, he looked at me and grinned "nothing special, took out a few terrorist cells, killed key leaders of those groups, I was behind the stoppages of numerous terrorist attacks on this country" that doesn't sound small to me "cause it isn't, if your my new partner your gonna have to know how I operate" I'm guessing from your background, like a swat team? "No . . . Shoot first, ask questions later, they just took a shot at the label of this police force, they think their tricky but I always manage to catch up to them, just know that this isn't all flowers and butterflies, this is dangerous work" I wouldn't have joined if it were otherwise, I am a man of my wits, he got up "yeah? Well don't let them get you killed, fox" fox? "It's a nickname" then can I just call you bear? "No" then . . . "You'll live" o-okay then, I said following him, not sure where we're going though "the squad room, I've got a hunch" what've you got? "A Texas Longhorn named Damian Hornby and the weasel who tried killing you last month, we're gonna pay them a little visit once we get their info" h-how do you know their names? "I know a lot of mammals in high places, ones that owe me a favor or two" "hey Nick I just finished . . ." Judy stopped mid sentence as he just walked past her, she started following us "glad you could join us Hopps, mammals like you are what we need" he said as we got to where our cubicles were.

What else do you know about this then? "About what now?" Judy asked confused "I do know that this guy isn't alone, even then, the intel I've got is still circumstantial, he's only a suspect but a damn guilty looking one, if he and his buddies managed to pull this off" that's gotta be a big crew though "Nah, I've done much worse with only three mammals by my side, let's just hope this doesn't turn into something messy" "messy?" She asked looking up at him "from what Bogo's told me, you guys are short on men" you know exactly why, I grumbled "that sheep in office right? Hoofer?" "He passed a law making all companies lay off or fire all predator employees, including the police force" Judy said as his grin went to a monotone expression "yeah . . . I've been meaning to do something about him for a while now, but we've got two problems on our hands, a group of wannabe terrorists and a tyrant taking the place of Bellwether" I scoffed, wannabe? "Fine, terrorists" he said, rolling his eyes.

As we walked into the office he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigars, lighting one as we took our seats, I would say it's illegal to smoke in the building but "you know I don't give a shit, good" "why were you a police officer if you don't care about the law?" He leaned forward "I make my own rules honey, I hope we don't run into any problems with that" Judy took an offended expression and I couldn't help but to laugh, it depends on what they are. Two knives were thrown into the desk "rule one, always carry a knife" and then two military pistols "also actual guns, the ZPD's gone soft over the years" "well we don't take too kindly to killing criminals Mr Manson" Judy said as if it were wrong to carry a gun rather than a tranquilizer gun, he grinned "well where I come from, we don't negotiate with terrorists, we don't shoot em with little darts either" I like it, I said cocking the gun "you even know how to shoot a gun, Wilde?" Nick, and yeah I've been to the range once or twice "so you don't know how to fire a gun." He asked sternly, I . . . I guess not "then keep the tranquilizer guns but I'd recommend you go to the range more than twice, you never know when your firearm will come in handy" so what's the lead? "Don't have one" but I thought you said . . . "I'm letting the big guys look more into it, we can never be so sure, right now you two should be doing your daily rounds" "at this time of day?" I said pointing to the clock "if McHorn says so, you can leave and I'll stay here, there's also a lead in Happytown so I'll go there" I wouldn't, that place is like the Bermuda Triangle for cops, he grinned "now do I look like I give a shit? Besides I still have to make a few stops first" he said before getting up and walking out.