"The eagle has flown."

Nick quietly walked abreast with the rabbit, who had repeated the line a few times since Bogo had said it. Nick stuck his paws into the pockets of his uniform trousers. "I have no idea, Fluff." They went quiet for a moment before there was a low hum above them. Nick glanced upward through the window, where there was a plane visible. "There's another plane ready to land. 'Let's just run our engines at full power over the police station,'" Nick joked. "'What's the status on their eardrums?'"

Judy ignored his joke. "Hold on, Nick. Landed." She stopped walking.

Nick was still busy talking. "'How loud can we make these engines?'" He glanced behind him. "Fluff, what's the hold up? Let's go get some donuts or something."

"Wait a second. Landed."

Nick turned around, sighed, and watched her with both paws on his hips. "We all know planes land, Carrots."

"But what Bogo said. The eagle has flown."

A smile grew on his face. "What if it's the opposite of the eagle has landed?"

"Bingo!" Judy said, quoting Nick. She hit his arm. "Pretty sneaky, Slick!"

Nick chuckled. "The eagle has landed."

Judy had her face in her phone, and a second later she handed it to Nick. He took it from her. "'The eagle has landed. Coined by Neil Pawstrong when he landed on the moon, the phrase 'the eagle has landed' is now used to mean success, achievement, or accomplishment.'" He handed the phone back to her.

"If we're thinking the opposite, then…"

"We didn't do so hot, Fluff."

Judy smiled. "Yeah, I guess." Despite the fact they had obviously failed at something, Nick's wit still made her laugh. Once the humor had died down, though, her smile fell. "But we failed, Nick. At what?"

"I mean, Bogo didn't look too angry, so I can gauge that it wasn't too bad?" He turned both paws upward. "Maybe?"

"I mean, that's still not good news."

"To be fair, not much with Chief Buffalo Butt ever goes well."

Judy shook her head with a smile. "You'd get in so much trouble if he heard that."

"Oh, I'm fully aware of the consequences of my choices, Fluff." He smiled. "I still don't know what came of you."

She nudged him. "Don't make me tickle you, Nick."

Nick stepped back with a smile. "Let's not try that at work, okay, Sweetheart?"

"Too bad." She lunged forward and got him by under the armpits. Nick stumbled to the ground, laughing hysterically.

"Oh, Carrots! Stop!" He smiled, laughing again, until a smile came to his face. He gasped for air, pulling away from her. Judy thankfully stopped before too much attention was put on them. "I swear, I'm getting payback."

"Try me, Nick. I have two hundred siblings. No tickle spots."

"Everyone has one," Nick said briefly, stepping up to the rabbit, who didn't flinch. "You're really confident in this, aren't ya?"

"I am. One hundred percent."

Nick reached behind her ear and tried tickling it. Judy didn't flinch. Nick stepped back, impressed. "Perhaps I was wrong, Fluff."

"I can prove the Wilde wrong once in a while," Judy said.

Nick shrugged. "Whatever. We've got a case to get to, right?"

"First a talking to with Bogo. I hope he yells at you more than me."

He chuckled. "We'll have to see about that." He pulled her into his chest. "I hope it's not too bad."

"Me neither." She took a deep breath, sighing and turning her head a little. Suddenly she pulled back, laughing. "What the heck?"

"Got ya, Fluff!" He lunged forward and tickled under her chin. She began laughing hysterically, just like Nick did.

"Okay, Nick!" she said in between tears and giggles, managing to get away from him. "We gotta stop. We're literally in the middle of the lobby."

"Relax. Everyone's on duty. And we open in"—he pulled his phone out of his pocket—"two minutes."

Judy lunged forward, but Nick dodged her. "You tried, Fluff." He helped her off the ground. "Enough of that. Can I get my donuts now?"

"Only one. I don't want a chubby fox."

Nick touched his stomach in faux sadness. "Aww, Fwuff, I thought you wanted me chubbwy."

Judy smiled, and a giggle escaped her mouth. "I like you just the way you are. Slim and thin." She caught him under his arms again. "Easier to tickle too."

Nick pulled back from her. "Kinda hard to come up with new tactics when you're around me all the time."

"That's the point, Fox." She pushed her nose up against his. "Why don't we make a deal. You can have more than one donut, but I get to tickle you again."

"This would be like your fifth time, Rabbit." He squinted. "I dunno."

"No deal, then. You can stay my slim fox."

Nick shook his head. "Fine. But not now. People are coming." He began walking backward toward the cafeteria. "You coming or what?"

There was a polite, almost frightened knock at the door of Bogo's office. "Come in," he boomed, and the door creaked followed by Nick and Judy entering. Judy entered first, and then Nick, who walked like he always did, this time holding the last piece of a donut He rounded the chair first and jumped up, then reached out for Judy's paw and helped her up once he'd stuck the last piece of donut in his mouth. The two sat down on the chair, bodies touching. Once they had settled, they both looked up at the chief.

"Thank you for coming in on time," Bogo said, glaring at Nick for a moment. He was silent for another moment and then looked at Judy. "I assume you both were wondering what I meant by the eagle has flown."

Nick shrugged. "It was floating around in my mind, sir."

Bogo ignored him. "I normally use the phrase the eagle has landed to mean this precinct has accomplished something." He pointed at a medal plaque on the wall next to the bookshelf. "Two years ago, our precinct had the most successful year in the book. We stopped a record two hundred and fifty robberies and arrested three hundred." His eyes darted to Nick. "I specifically used that phrase when I was given the award."

"Congratulations, Chief," Judy said.

"Thank you, Hopps. Now. In lieu of my phrase, late last night I was informed that Bellwether managed to escape prison."

"Escaped?" Judy said, eyes widened. Nick looked at Bogo with eyes like dinner plates. "So that's what you meant by 'the eagle has flown.'"

"Yes. We don't know of her exact whereabouts, but she's dangerous. Precisely why I sent everyone but you on patrol. You both know her more than any of us. Even me." He opened the folder in front of him. "I assume you both are fairly familiar with her case." He turned the open file toward the mammals. "Seven months ago, she was sentenced to twenty years in prison for masterminding the Night Howler scandal. We were just informed that her cell is empty. Two of our detectives have been investigating since we knew, but there's no trace of her escape. It's as if she was never incarcerated in the first place." He sighed. "I know it's not the news you want to hear during the holidays."

"It's all right, Chief," Judy said. "We'll get through this."

Bogo simply looked at her. "Your assignment is to go down to the jail and perform some interviews. Our detectives have only done scene investigation, and as such, we have yet to talk to anybody about her. After you have interviewed everyone you can, return and report."

"Yes, sir," Nick said.

"Thank you, Wilde." He nodded toward the door. "You may go."

Nick jumped down first, then helped Judy down to the floor. Just before Nick exited, Bogo spoke. "Wilde."

Nick peeked back inside. "Yes, Chief."

"No dillydallying."

"I'll restrict myself, sir," Nick said. He disappeared out the door, leaving Bogo alone. Hope they'll be okay, he thought.