Chapter Thirty-Two
Omen Befallen at Bullpen
Like a streak of lightning, the door at the front end of the bullpen burst open, and the impending and inexorable form of Chief Bogo stormed in. The officers who had started jeering at his coming were silenced by the very manner of his presence. All officers' attention was drawn, instantly and without question, to their chief. All from the largest elephant to the smallest rabbit... even Nick was undeniably struck by the appearance.
"Officers!" Bogo boomed, all eyes upon him, "This drug spree ends now, right here, right this moment. It will not be an easy task, and I grant you, there will doubtless-be splinter groups, who will carry on importing and selling drugs until the last of them are snuffed out. However, by dusk tonight, you: the finest damn officers in all Zootopia... in all Zoophon! You will have brought down the crushing blow upon the heads of those responsible. With the information provided by a key witness, Mister Black, and the deft detective work of Officers Hopps and Wilde, we now know all we need to know to make our pinnacle move against them," his voice became lower, yet more powerful and moving, as he leaned over his lectern.
"This," he continued, "has been the largest, single threat to Zootopia in recorded history. Not since before the forming of the Reformation of Species Pred/Prey for Cultural Amalgamation, which declared all mammals equal and foreboded the eating of the small by the large. The world then was torn by constant war between the ruling races, but never since has the shadow of a threat been lain across our city like this. The damage they have caused is immeasurable: not only from spreading addictions throughout the populous, but of draining this city's financial resources, and of impairing its active work force."
"The sheer volume of illegal substance entering this city is unacceptable. The amount of people required to farm, ship and sell the drugs must be enormous. The amount of wealth, whatever heathen runs this operation has gained, must be tremendous. I admit," Bogo added grimly through a pause of scorn, "the odds do not appear to be in your favor. We may know the name of a mammal high-up, one 'Victor Nyilas'. But we know very little more than that… and yet..." A strong smile grew on his face, "We still have the advantage. And the advantage is right in here with me… You." Briskly, Bogo moved around the barrier and straightened before all his officers, addressing them with might and main.
"They don't just hoof out police badges in school Lucky Bags, after all! And I know every last one of you has worked your guts out to be where you are today. I am proud of you. Very proud, of all of you. No matter how large this gang is, they are merely in passing. This, structured, secure civilization, is set in stone. And you, each and every one, unanimously and without exception, are its guardians." Bogo somehow became even higher, his voice rising louder than they had ever heard it before. "Guardians, you hear me?"
"Yes-Sir!" the room cheered.
"And who do you protect?"
"Zootopia!"
"Who, do you, protect?"
"Zootopia!"
"Good! Now then," he shouted, quieting the cheering, "confidence speech over, time for the facts. Three days ago, Tuesday, the abandoned industrial building, Ladders and Ladders and Co, sustained heavy damage from a fire. For the following evening and the morning of the next day, I had Officers Hopps and Wilde investigate this outbreak. Together, they found traces of an alcoholic fire accelerator and some form of incendiary device. Alongside that," he added, feigning cheerfulness, "a body. So well done Hopps and Wilde." Bogo stopped and picked up the report on the fire, which included what Judy had written.
"Our forensics team, and the Officers of the Murder Investigation Bureau, established that the fennec fox killed at the scene was either knelt on the floor at the time, or shot by a larger mammal. The bullet," he continued, holding his hoof like a gun shape in the reliant place, "entered the skull around about 'here', and made egress through either the left or right eye. Then it became impaled in the opposite wall, which was later discovered by an M.I.B. Officer and identified as a bullet shot from a Ruger SR1911 Master Edition." Reaching into a drawer, he took out an old technical photograph of what Judy instantly recognized to be Nick's gun.
"The Ruger SR ME," Bogo continued through a tone of devoid humor, "is the only gun of its kind ever made, yet sadly," he lied, "the owner of this gun has not yet been ascertained." Bogo paused for a moment and watched Nick's face out of the corner of his eyes. The fox didn't even bat an eyelid. Bogo breathed in a long breath — what else could he expect from a fox — and started slowly pacing as he continued his speech.
"Also worthy of note about the fire at Ladders, is that a window was smashed in by a rock for the arsonist to gain access to the building, before the door was unlocked from the inside. Some large pieces of wood were piled up on the fourth floor to bury the corpse in, while acting as fuel. However, the window pane would have only allowed a small-sized mammal access into the building, and yet the size of some of the pieces of wood moved would have required a larger mammal. So at least two arsonists are suspected, probably more." The findings of the investigation at Ladders concluded, to which Bogo set down the report on his lectern patiently.
"Under most conditions," he started anew, "that would have been the end of it and this fire would never have been connected with the drug spree currently in operation. However, Officer Wilde picked up the scent of a fennec fox whom he recognized. Believing it to be this person, Hopps and Wilde then found and questioned the fox, Finnick, who was once a close friend of Officer Wilde," he added, glancing to Nick. Bogo thought he noticed something odd in the brief glance he gave, and looked back to the fox a second time, to which the gaze turned into steel at the disgruntling sight.
Nick was sat there on the chair next to Judy — his aviator shades back on to hide his black eye — with nothing more than a smug grin on his face... holding paws with Judy under the table. He didn't actually have to see their limbs, Bogo could tell just by the angle of their arms and the blush on the rabbit's face. He was so damn cocky.
Bogo's rage began chipping away upon his face, hence that awful grin died in a flash.
...
"You do realize, Sir, that Officer Nick Wilde may be the very mammle we seek, who is in charge of this drug operation?"
"What?" Bogo answered in disbelief, the volume of his voice growing as he spoke, "You mean the mastermind behind it all: the mammal in charge of importing shipments of drugs from another country. The administrator behind organizing and facilitating the movement of drugs from shipment to warehouse to dealer. The supreme supervisor!" he shouted, "Of a multi-bloody-billion dollar criminal operation... who still has time to work five days a week as a copper!?"
Jack's gaze crashed to the table, where he and Bogo were sat either side of. That statement did seem a little far-fetched, even to him. Bogo rested in his chair and looked disinterestedly around the sparsely furnished and whitewashed walls of the small interrogation room he and Savage occupied.
"I think, Sir," Jack trod, softly, "we can be fairly sure Wilde is most definitely not at the head of the operation. But I do believe he is in some way connected."
"Pish-tosh. Don't talk rot."
"Let us, Sir," he said, trying to calm Bogo, "take a step back from this, shall we? Let us examine purely the facts of the operation."
Bogo realized he was getting too involved, thus becoming 'irrational'. "Be quick about it, Savage," he grumbled, glancing to the clock, "I have to get down to roll call in five minutes."
"Let's take a look at these in purely chronological order, Sir. First, we know that he had direct access to his father's supply of drugs on the night of his death—"
"Officer Wilde was never under suspicion for the death of his father!"
"And yet," Jack countered, "the fact remains true. Before," he continued from where he had left off, "rather uncharacteristically going to an up-'til-late-party, despite the fact, when questioned at the time, his mother had said that he rarely left the house, except when he had to."
"What are you implying?" Bogo shot, impatiently, "That Wilde spiked his father's drug supply to intentionally give him an overdose, before heading to a party for a conveniently provable alibi?"
"Why not?" Jack asked without a shadow of a doubt.
Bogo brought his face close to Jack's. "He, was, seventeen."
There was deafness with the intrusions of the clock's ticks. Jack gazed calmly into Bogo's blazing eyes. The rabbit waited for the emotion and confrontation to fade from Bogo's face, and for him to sit back in his chair as he had been, before replying, "This is merely a stating of the facts as we know them... Sir."
"And these 'facts'," Bogo vexed, "seem to be very much against Officer Wilde."
"I would be willing to accept that these may just be unfortunate coincidences, Sir. If you would be willing to likewise accept that these might also be criminal acts performed by Wilde intentionally."
"Believe him capable of thoughtless murder? And yet capable of falling in love with Officer Hopps?"
"If our fears are recognized, and Wilde truly is the unsavory character he could be, his relationship with Hopps to him is nothing more than a display of emotional power. It may be he feels no real fondness or attraction to Judy Hopps, beyond a sexual one, that is. And that he merely wishes to show dominance over her."
"Goddamn you, Jack," Bogo huffed in doubt, "I thought you were with me on the idea of the two of them being together. Must you always stand completely against how I feel?"
"If I want you to equally consider both sides of the argument, yes, Sir."
Bogo squinted. "You mean you intentionally and actively stand against what I believe to make me think harder on the subject?"
"Yes, Sir. If I merely agreed with whatever you said, you may reach a conclusion quicker. But you would never have considered the matter in such depth, would you?"
"I… I thought you were just being an arse."
A thin smile grew on Jack's face. "That too... Sir. Of course, the most damning piece of evidence is that this Frank character… if that is indeed his name, was murdered by the very gun in Wilde's possession."
"One of two guns, Savage. We haven't located the other yet."
"The other," Jack countered, "which just happens to have belonged to Wilde's former romantic partner: Scarlett. Who, incidentally, was violently murdered one night several years ago. Whom, coincidentally, Wilde just happened to be suspect number one, for a second time."
"We may not consider Wilde as Scarlett's murderer," Bogo shot, "that charge was dropped many years ago now."
"Only due to lack of evidence, Sir. Not due to proof of innocence."
"He never so much as went to court."
"But he was jailed for her murder."
"Provisionally only."
Jack tutted and slumped back. If Bogo wasn't even prepared to listen to his suggestions, why was he even here? "Remind me again," Bogo said, tiresomely, "why it is we're hiding the fact we know there are two guns, and that one of them belongs to Wilde?"
"Lots of reasons," Jack smiled. "For one, he's an officer, so we need to give this more time and care than if he were just some civvy we picked up off the street. For another, if we start throwing accusations about Wilde around, Wilde being just about the one 'fox' in the city people look up to and respect, we're going break the public's opinion of foxes all over the country. There's also the issue with the murder of Scarlett and that, and call me speciest if you must, Wilde, being a fox and a particularly sly and cunning one at that, could look whiter than white if he knew he was under suspicions. Even if he was up to his, erh… heh, up to his 'Nick' in crime."
Bogo looked down at the table, thoughtfully. At heart, he still didn't like the sound of any of this, and yet, he knew he was bound by law to continue to investigate the fox's involvement. "You don't... you don't suppose it could be a set up? You know, to frame Wilde."
A single, dry laugh left the rabbit's lips. "I can think of easier ways of framing someone, Sir," he now chuckled in reply, a grin upon his face, "I mean, if I wanted to frame someone, I'd probably just stab the guy's lover, hide the murder weapon in his house, alongside some letters from her address to another mammle to make it look like she was having an affair. Then I'd let the whole thing look like an act of passion! I think the whole 'criminal drug shipment of epic proportions' is a little bit overkill for the sake of incriminating one officer."
Bogo sighed and sat back, looking off the side. He gazed out through one of the thin cracks in the lowered blinds, out through the window, beyond which he could see the glistening city and the harsh light of the sun, as it climbed ever-higher through the morning sky. Jack observed him with dulled interest. Bogo accidently noticed the clock tho, and realized that it was over. "I have to go," he remembered, standing, "roll call starts now."
"Sir," Jack called, "one more word." Bogo paused and half-turned to the rabbit, stood halfway between the interrogation room and the corridor.
"Bogo, when all is said and done, Officers Ho—" Jack sighed, "Nick and Judy are still… as you yourself said, the very best officers in the ZPD. Now, Nick may or may not be innocent. But either way, at this pinnacle point in the investigation of the drug spree... and Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps working together on this may be the final push needed to bring this gang to an end." Savage crept closer on the table, earnestly. "You must continue to use Wilde in this case. Or else all may slip through your fingers."
Bogo remained in the shadows of silence, until nothing more than two small words cracked his lips, "Thanks, Jack." The door then closed, shutting soundlessly behind him.
With an airy sigh, Jack moved back low in his chair. He raised his arms and rested his paws behind his head, his legs coming up to rest on the table. He stared blankly at the whitewash wall as he thought — the cogs in his mind ever-turning.
...
Bogo brought his mind back from his recollections. Nick's smugness had shriveled to a nervous frown, and Judy had gone from just holding his paw to hugging his arm protectively with an apprehensive-such of her own.
Opening his mouth, Bogo moved on, slowly, "The findings... of this—" he found his throat dry — the result of too much talking and not enough sleep, and just one too many celebratory glasses of brandy. He paced back to his lectern and poured a glass of water — the room following his movements as he tipped back the large container. He set it down on the wood's rim, with a dull thunk, before attempting to re-ignite the engine again.
"The findings of this interview were recorded upon Officer Hopps' famous carrot pen. During questioning, Finnick: real name, Finnegan Depesdo, revealed a number of important facts which would've otherwise gone unknown. Firstly, the identity of the murder victim. It is impossible to 'officially' identify the murder victim, due to the severe damage caused by the fire itself. However, Finnegan's brother, Frankfurt, appears to be the likeliest candidate. Not only was Mister Depesdo able to provide us with the victim's identity, but of his movements also. When asked, Finnick claimed his long-estranged brother had come to him asking for one thousand zevs to purchase a crate of illegal substance. Such is cheap, to sell on for a high profit. He was to purchase it from the disused industrial building, Ladders and Ladders... and you don't need me to point out the connection." A few officers chuckled, but Bogo silenced them with a glare of discipline.
"If true, this suggests that this drug operation uses a number of key buildings or 'hives', if you will. They act as a center point to sell drugs off to independent drug dealers, who will then sell them on to drug users, rather than standing on the streets and putting themselves at risk. It's easier to have scapegoats. In essence, it's the same kind of operation that car manufacturers tend to have. Car manufactures make cars, yet they do not deal with selling the cars off to the public themselves. Instead, they sell them in mass to major car dealers and salesmen, leaving the middlemen to deal with commercialization."
Bogo leaned back on the side of his spot, resting his palms on the board behind him as he talked, "Owing, once again, to information provided by Mister Black, we now know that there are ten such 'hives' currently in operation, including Ladders and Ladders. They may or may not yet have a replacement. After Black... 'questioned' the coyote, who is apparently in charge of the important drugs from the shipment, he was informed the name of another one of the ten Hives. It was the company Erkin Enterprise, which I have already checked in the police database. It appears to be a perfectly legitimate busies. But we'll soon see just how legitimate tonight…"
"Now, in accordance with the murder of Frank, it is my belief, that he was killed by those in command of selling drugs at Ladders after he threatened them with blackmail. In other words, he demanded he be given a discount or else he would give incriminating evidence over to the police. If he didn't return, a friend would do it for him. I suspect the drug traffickers then proceeded to kill Frank and then burn down the factory, thus wiping away all evidence of drug sales, and covering themselves should this 'friend of Frank' try and hoof the incriminating evidence over to us: the ZPD. However, they have helped us in this more than harmed us, as the number of dealings in that area has been reduced to zilch since it burnt down, more or less proving it was, in fact , a Hive for further drug sales. We are yet to identify the other eight Hives, but it is my hope we will find out some names and locations when we raid Erkin tonight."
Bogo finally paused to allow that statement to settle. He stood from supporting himself to moving in the center in direct sight to all his officers. "So, to sum up, we know how and why the victim at Ladders and Ladders was murdered. We know where the drugs enter the city from and how they are sold. We know the location of one of only nine remaining Hives in operation, and we know the name of the crook in charge: Victor Nyilas. Today, we will scramble to find out as much information as we can about this operation and its surrounding network. Including, hopefully, where these drugs are grown and shipped from, and if Nyilas truly is at the top. Then this evening, at five-thirty, we will storm Erkin Enterprises, and show those drug runners just what it means to go against the cops of the ZPD."
Reaching behind him, Bogo swiftly picked up the five documents, which he hoofed to the officers in question. "Trunkaby, McHorn, Fangmeyer and Delgato: I want the four of you patrolling the city docks. Another shipment so soon is highly unlikely, but I want each of you to search the harbor with a fine-tooth comb. Keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior and see if there's any way of finding out where that shipment of drugs originated from."
"Snarlov, Wolfard: you two are to go back to Frankfurt Depesdo's house and tare the place apart. If my suspicions are correct, somewhere in there, is proof that drugs were being bought and sold from Ladders and Ladders. Take a truck with you. Confiscate all his belongings for forensic examination.
"Grizzoli, Rhinowitz, Higgins: a simple job for you three. Find out who the hell this Nyilas character is. Check the police database, go down to city council, check the parish records. I don't care how you find him, just get everything you can on this... even whatever species he is by five o'clock, or you'll be on parking duty for the remaining duration of this case!" At hearing the added threat, the three officers concern-rushed to get out the door first, barging past their colleagues in their bid to avoid the ZPD's second worst job. But Bogo's voice stopped them — stopped everyone — as it called out again.
"One more note before you get to your assignments. You're to keep away from Erkin Enterprise itself, understand? They cannot know we are organizing a raid for this evening. If they're willing to torch Ladders just for the sake of one independent mammal, just think what they'd be willing to do if they knew we were coming. And one more thing," he shouted as the last of them left, "I want everyone back here, in full tactical armor by five p.m. for the raid on Erkin. Any questions? Good," he said before anyone could ask, "let's roll out!"
The last of the officers made to rush out in hurried excitement, leaving only three mammals in the bullpen remaining. "And last," the Chief took in a long breath to calm himself, "but definitely not least: Officers Hopps... and Wilde."
His gaze lingered on the fox a moment longer than necessary before he pulled himself away. Steps were being taken, whether Wilde was dirty or innocent, it was imperative at this moment that he had all hoofs working for the raid tonight. "I need all my officers. But for this mission I need my best. And I need to be able to trust both of you entirely. I have to let myself..." Bogo became aware he was mostly talking to himself now — confusing Nick and Judy, who were watching with some small concern. Grunting, Bogo moved behind his lectern and sat down to the closest chair, while adding more words to the room, "Officers. Together, the two of you have made more headway with this case than I could even begin to think was possible. You have shown endless energy in persuading and discovering more proof and insight into how the drug runners operate in this city. All that we now know would not have been possible without your aid. I am not ashamed to admit it: I am indebted to you. Both of you."
Judy's ears were already pricking up at the compliment. That was praise of the highest order from Bogo. Even Nick appeared visibly pleased.
"But, I must sadly ask you to do one more... rather dangerous, mission for me. I have… as you now know, everything in place I need to perform the raid on Erkin. Except for one thing... a warrant. As it stands, we are lacking the proof of probable cause I need to get us a search warrant justified. If I am to convince the judge to give written consensus to enter a public building of this nature, I need some hard evidence. I need someone on the inside."
It clicked with Judy first, she snapped forwards on the table, keeping one paw firmly held in Nick's, as she asked, "Into... into the lion's den? I thought you told everyone to stay away from Erkin in case they suspected we'd be raiding them later."
"Yes, Hopps, I know. And if you and Wilde were not the very best officers in my employment I would never ask you to do so now. However, you are the best, and I believe the two of you are capable of getting proof of the kind of operation they're running."
Judy looked down at the table. She braced herself, took in a small breath, and reminded herself she was an officer of the ZPD, and that it was her duty to stand strong, being the force of justice between the innocent and the sinful. The life of a police officer was a dangerous one. She had to do this. She released the hold on Nick and placed her paws on the table. "What would you have us do?"
"Your instructions are in this file," Bogo answered, leaning back in his chair and slapping down the document on top of two sheets of paper — two sheets of paper, which he was careful to make sure were covered by the file so that Judy only saw it after picking it up. She slipped down from her and Nick's shared chair and onto the floor, hence pacing over towards Bogo's desk. Nick, likewise, hopped down onto the floor, but remained on his spot. Judy leapt on an adjacent chair and was now level with Bogo's desk's top. He pushed the file to the edge of it — the two pieces of paperwork still beneath it — and Judy picked up the file while thanking him. She spotted the fine detail at last, instinctively. Her eye was just drawn towards it like a magnet to iron.
There were two of them — two legal forms. At the top of each page was written, in pen, a name. One: Judith L. Hopps, on the other: Nicholas P. Wilde. She scanned the page. It was all filled in — everything — with the signature of the Chief scribbled at the bottom. Her expression rose to look at Bogo — his face as stony and impassive as ever.
"Whatcha got there, Carrots," Nick asked with forced cheerfulness, while he paced over to see what had caused the rabbit to freeze up in such a way. The fox climbed up onto the chair beside her, and his reaction was none less different than the doe's.
Bogo sighed. "Read it out," he prompted.
Judy blinked, looking back down to the page. "Application for Police Learning and Development Program (IPLDP), leading to Level 3 Diploma in Policing (QCF), training for promotion to..." Judy stared at the word... "for promotion to Detective Inspector?" She gawked at Bogo with a stunned amazement of disbelief.
Bogo smiled, thinly. "You get us that warrant," he added, "and I may even think about sending them off for approval."
Nick glanced between Judy and Bogo. He may not have liked the idea of his lover being put in any more danger than absolutely necessary, but this was Judy's dream — and skipping the rank of Inspector to go straight to Detective Inspector? — that was no small feat. This had to be done. "We'll do whatever it takes, Sir," Nick took initiative, both mammals looking over to him as he slipped his polarized glasses off his muzzle and winked, "you can count on us."
Bogo nodded, while Judy saluted with incredible respect, and the two officers made egress from the room.
Bogo sighed, slowly, gazing down at the two Policing Diploma applications before him, the fox's last words ringing round and around his head.
"I hope so," he muttered out loud. "I sincerely hope so."
…
Author's notes:
Hesitance jumps around your mind,
Grooms decision thus chosen blind.
Your thoughts most succulent of snack,
All delivered by luscious feedback.
So don't hide like a tiny shrew,
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