Judy jerks awake, her heart pounding. Her eyes dart around the room trying to adjust to the darkness. She remembers now, 'I'm in Nick's apartment..' She wipes tears from her eyes and places her hand on her chest. She takes a few deep breaths, feeling herself calm. 'I'm in Nick's bed?' She gets up and goes into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror she can see dry tears staining her cheek fur. Her amethyst eyes look drained and blood shot. 'That must have been some nightmare-glad I can't remember it'. She comes out of the bathroom and sees the clock on Nick's nightstand reads 5:30am. Judys ears twitch, she can hear a faint bubbling. A smile starts to form on her face 'Coffee' she thinks. She opens the door and quietly bounds towards the bubbling sound in the kitchen. Nick is leaning back against the kitchen counter, watching a coffee pot fill. "G'morning, Carrots" Nick says weakly. "Nick, you look terrible, did you sleep at all?"
"Nah, had a lot on my mind" he shrugs, scratching the fur behind his neck. "How did you sleep Carrots?"
"Y-yeah, I slept well enough"
Nick raises an eye brow "should stick to telling the truth, it's what you're good at."
Nick pulls two mugs out of a cabinet and hands one to Judy, it reads 'I didn't do it' with the bottom of the 'T' turning into a fox tail. "Cute" Judy says as she fills her cup.
"I thought you would prefer that one". Nick holds up a mug 'I'm not fat, I'm just fluffy'. "I was going to give it to Clawhauser.."
Judy punches Nick in the shoulder playfully, "Don't you dare!"
Nick pours himself a coffee and puts in 11 scoops of sugar, pauses, and then stares at Judy as he slowly puts a 12th scoop in his cup. Judy just laughs, "you pulled an all nighter, I won't make fun of the coffee in your sugar today." Judy pulls at the baggy sweat pants "I'd like to go home and grab a change of clothes, I can't just hangout in your sweats all day."
"Ok."
"Just ok? No witty jab?" Judy says with a smile.
"Not today Carrots, at least not until this caffeine and sugar kick in." Nick stretches and heads to his bedroom, "Do you need the bathroom before I freshen up?"
"No, you can go ahead." Judy says as she heads into the living room to sit on the couch. Laying on the couch is a recurve bow and several steel tipped arrows with green fletching. She turns her head to shout to Nick but hears the water turn on. 'What in the world is Nick doing with this?' Judy thinks you herself.
Judy pulls out her cell phone and sees 8 missed text messages from Fru Fru. Each text sounds more worried and urgent than the last. Judy texts her 'I'm ok, it's been very hectic."
'I'm so glad, are you safe?'
'Yeah, I spent the night at Nick's.'
'Oh my gawd, details?'
'We ate and watched Crazy Rich Pandas, but I fell asleep half way through'
'Oh, ok' Judy could almost hear the disappointment in her text.
Judy giggles to herself.
'Why does everyone th..' Judy stops and deletes the text, after thinking for a second she decides to go with 'you seem disappointed'
'Well, yeah, a bunny and a fox would be so romantic. Love conquers all, Judy'
"What are you smiling about over there Carrots?" Judy didn't even notice Nick come out of the bedroom. He's wearing khaki slacks and a blu button down shirt. "Just talking to Fru Fru... ready to go?"
"Yep, what do you think?" Nick gestures to himself "you said I needed to 'diversify' my wardrobe". Judy laughs "you look quite dapper." She says with a smirk.
They exit the apartment, once downstairs Judys says "I'll call us a cab."
"I have a better idea." Nick waves at a brown sedan with tinted back windows and a very noticeable antenna cluster sticking out of the roof.
"The not-so-undercover undercover cruiser." Nick mocks.
The vehicle pulls up, Officer Delgado, a male lion with dark brown mane, bright yellow fur and brown eyes is driving. With Officer Fangmeyer, a grey wolf with dark brown fur, white muzzle and blue eyes is sitting in the passenger seat.
Fangmeyer, looks at Nick's tired eyes, then at Judy wearing Nick's sweat suit. "Tough night? Or great night?" as he raises his eyebrows suggestively.
"Ugh, just give us a ride to my place please."
As Judy opens the back door and climbs in with Nick in tow. Nick takes an exaggerated sniff and says to the two male officers "Gross, smells like shame and sex in here."
"Only smell back there is what you brought with you, Wilde." Delgado laughs jovially. Judy sighs loudly "C'mon guys, can we pleeeease lay off the innuendos?"
"Sorry, Hopps." Fangmeyer apologizes. After a few moments of silence, Delgado says "yeah, I let Fangmeyer stay at my place when he had his apartment fumigated... nothing weird about two officers sharing accommodations." Nick looks at Judy with a smirk and ignores her eyes pleading with him to just this once be silent "yeah, but now he's 2 months pregnant!" Everyone laughs except Judy, whom just growls at Nick. Nick gives her a playful shove, and she smiles back at him.
The radio blares "10-50 disorderly person complaint. Impersonating the landlord, 1250 Lynwood rd, Lynwood Apartments." Fangmeyer checks the gps "That's like 2 blocks from here, you two don't mind if we do some actual police work this morning do ya?"
"Of course not, I don't have anything else to do on my day off...other than watch you two work." says Nick sarcastically
"Great, watch and learn from the masters." Delgado says with a toothy grin and flicks on the lights.
Fangmeyer picks up the radio "10-4, unit 5-15 enroute".
Judy shifts in her seat and looks at her phone. "Anyone have Detective Kobal's cell phone? I'd like to shoot him a text, see if he found anything"
"Sure, I'll share his contact with you" says Fangmeyer as he pulls out his phone and texts Judy a Detective Kobal's number.
The squad car pull up in front of a gray and red 5 story building. There is a fountain in the court yard and some black benches flanking it. Sitting on one of the benches is a pair of grayfoxes, and a mountain lion wearing some coveralls. In the fountain was a female 12 year old fox, splashing around with a male 5 year old.
"We'll be right back, don't talk to strangers!" Delgado shouts into the back seat as he exits the vehicle. Fangmeyer exits the vehicle and adjusts his duty belt while entering the courtyard with Delgado.
"Good morning, officers." the older male fox says while standing, "can I help you?"
Delgado replies, "got a complaint from a tenant that someone matching your description was impersonating the landlord."
"Oh, yes, well that was me. I *am* the landlord."
"Well, confessions always make things easier." says Fangmeyer.
The mountain lion starts to stand and says "He does own this building."
"You shut up! We aren't talking to you, we are talking to the fox!" Orders Delgado.
The fox puts up his hands "I can clarify this whole misunderstanding, my name is Clarion Graymore, I own this building, I have paperwork filed at city hall, but I also keep a copy I carry with myself just incase of misunderstandings." He slowly reaches inside his sport coat and pulls out a folded up paper. He cautiously steps toward Delgado and hands him the paperwork. Delgado steps back towards his partner and they examine the paperwork. "Hmm, looks real" says Delgado. "I assure you it is." says Clarion.
Delgado hands back the paper and gestures towards the kids playing "they need to get out of the fountain. You may own the property, but you don't own the township and there is an ordinance against playing in public fountains."
"Kids come out of there right away, I apologize officer."
As they walk away Fangmeyer says "in the future be more polite to your tenants."
As the two officers get back in the squad car it takes every bit of self control for Nick to pretend the display didn't get to him. Judy puts her hand on Nick's arm. "Hey you two, no hanky panky back there." Fangmeyer joked, but no one laughs. Delgado just rolled his eyes.
"Was that really necessary?" Asks Judy, "they were just a family at a property they owned."
Delgado says flatly, "Need to take every call seriously and approach every perp with a hefty dose of skepticism, you know that already Hopps"
Judy looks at Nick, but he just shakes his head in resignation and puts his hand on top of Judy's.
Fangmeyer says, "We all have our inclinations. Ya know, wolves, we howl and we just can't help ourselves. Foxes they just..."
Nick interrupts coldly, "lie and steal?"
Fangmeyer backpedal "no, not all foxes-just foxes think they are smart".
Delgado swats Fangmeyer shoulder "shut up, what's the matter with you?"
Fangmeyer shrugs "what?! You told me th-..." Delgado glare at him and shakes his head. Fangmeyer continues "I didn't mean anything by it, I like you, you're one of..." Delgado hits him again.
Nick just smiles and says "it's ok, I know what you mean". Nick's face is smiling but Judy can feel Nick tremble under her hand. Fangmeyer just sits quietly rubbing his shoulder.
The car pulls up in front of Judy's apartment, Nick steps out and leans on the passenger window "you guys can go ahead, we might be a while." Nick winks suggestively.
Fangmeyer looks at him, furrowing his brow until he seems to understand the innuendo and cringe noticeably. As the car starts to pull away Nick can hear Fangmeyer whisper to Delgado "gross".
Nick and Judy head up to her apartment. They bump into Dharma, the old armadillo superintendent for the complex. "No guests for more than 3 days, or they have to pay rent." she says to Judy. "It's okay, he isn't moving in." she says back. "Three days!"
Nick whispers to Judy "what a pleasant old woman."
Judy unlocks her door, and Nick pushes it open, placing himself between her and the tiny studio apartment "all clear" he says jokingly. Judy just pushes him out of the way and starts gathering a change of clothes. Judy's apartment is a tiny blue studio apartment, with a small bed in the corner adjacent from a writing desk. The bed has rows of stuffed animals on it, mostly rabbits. Nick closes the door behind himself and sits on Judy's bed, moving some of her stuffed animals. "Your place looks smaller every time I see it, I think most our jail cells are bigger than this."
"Well, I'm never really here, I'm always out with you, or working. Can't really justify spending more on something I'll never use."
Judy sits on the bed and faces Nick, "so I've been thinking..."
Nick nervously stands up and cuts her off, "no, no, no, let me stop you right there Carrots, no good conversation has ever started with 'I've been thinking.'"
Judy combs back her ears back with her hand and sits back, resting on her hands.
Nick surrenders to the power of Judy's amethyst eyes, " Ok, ok, what have you been thinking about?" Nick sits on the bed and faces Judy.
"Well, someone tried to kill us yesterday, but I'm no one, I'm not important...so I was thinking maybe they tried to kill you?"
Nick sighs in relief, "and my tardiness saved me?"
"I never thought I would see someone look relieved after telling them about a possible plot to kill them."
Nick laughs nervously, "I'm just glad they want to kill me and not you."
"So do you have any enemies from your hustler days?"
Nick rubs his chin, "I can't think of anyone that would come after me with so much fire power... it's nearly impossible to get a rifle, or a handgun. These guys had military grade assault rifles and body armor.. maybe they mistook us for someone important. Or wanted to kill you for being the first rabbit officer, or me for being the first fox. Or maybe they just wanted to kill a pair of cops, and thought since we are the smallest we would be the easiest."
"I text Detective Kobal, but he hasn't gotten back to me..."
"Carrots, he might not recognize your number...it's our day off, how about we go unwind? If he doesn't get back to us by 6pm, we can go to the station and bother him in person. Deal?" Nick extends his hand. "Deal." Judy takes his hand in a shake. "Now, either get out or close your eyes so I can change."
Nick grabs a pillow and presses it over his face, covering his eyes so only his muzzle is sticking out, "if you take too long I might fall asleep." Judy quickly changes into some blue jeans and a dark green hoody. "Ok, all changed". She picks the pillow off Nick's face, revealing a very unconscious nick. "Oh Nick..." she smiles at him. She quietly locks the door of her apartment and sits on the floor by her bed. Judy unlocks her smart phone and starts lining up the camera so she can take a selfie of herself next to a sleeping Nick. She takes over a dozen pictures, deciding the one she took where Nick has his mouth open slightly with tongue hanging out was her favorite.
Incoming FaceTime from mom. Judy quickly hits the decline button. She sighs in relief. Judy texts her mom, 'I'm busy, I'll call you later.' And continues to play with her phone. She takes another good picture of her with a sleeping Nick and texts it to Fru Fru, 'am I feeling naughty? Yes, I am' the incoming text is 'young lady?!' Judy confused by Fru Fru's response and reads the text history 'I'm busy, I'll call you later'
"Sweet cheese and crackers! Mom!" Judy puts a hand over her mouth as Nick protests the burst of noise and rolls over.
Judy quickly darts out of the room fumbling with the lock and answers her mom's face time from the hallway
"Mom, hey". Her mom cuts her off-
"Judy?! You with that fox?"
"Mom, no, it was just a joke"
"Judy, we cant tell your father. His heart is going to explode."
"Mom, no. His name is Nick, he's my partner.."
"Your partner?!" Her mom interrupts.
"You spoke to him on FaceTime once. My police partner. We work together. We aren't romantically involved."
"So you aren't in love with the fox?"
"No mom, he's just my friend. We were up late on a case and he fell asleep on my bed, it's no big deal, really."
"Ok, well, are you seeing anyone?"
"No mom, I'm too busy with work."
"Well, you should come home, there are a lot of very eligible bucks I'd like you to meet".
Judy receives a text from Det Kobal 'sorry been busy, lot happening'
"Mom, I have an incoming call from work, I have to go, love you bye!" End call.
Judy flips back to her text messages and messages Kobal 'what did you learn about the case'
'Can u meet?' He replies.
'Yes, where?'
Judy stares at the three dots indicating the recipient is writing a message for what feels like ages.
'Zpd, my office, I'll be here for 2 more hours'
'Ok, I'll cya soon.'
Judy turns and heads into her apartment and finds Nick awake sitting up.
"Nick, while you where asleep I got word from Kobal about our case he wants to meet at his office."
Nick stretches "It's ok, I caught a power nap. I'm good to go.. 'make the world a better place'" he smiles, while flatly quoting Judys favorite line.
They catch a cab to zpd 1, when they arrive they are shocked at the level of activity. Twice the usual number of officers are here, booking suspects and processing complaints. Clawhauser is flanked by 2 snow leopard females on one side and a gazelle male on his left processing paperwork with lines almost to the door. They shout a greeting but Clawhouser doesn't even notice. "I think this is the first time I have seen him without food in hand." Says Nick. Judy stops and looks around "What is going on in Zootopia?" she notices many of the officers are wearing revolvers.
They continue into the detective stables.
Detective Kobal sits at a desk, several folders laid out across it. On corner of his desk is a weathered looking photo of a younger Kobal wearing a police uniform, smiling happily with a black and white female wolf, holding two pups, one white, one black. Next to that picture is another photo of Kobal with two girls in their early teens, one white, and one black. Behind him, there is a pegboard covered in post-it notes, with photos of items from the crime scene, and photos of Nick and Judy's wounds.
Kobal stands and gesture at two cheap looking folding chairs.
"Please Hopps, Wilde, have a seat".
As they sit Kobal catches a strong whiff of bluberry shampoo.
"Did you two stay in Nick's apartment last night?"
Judy rolls her eyes and sighs, "It was just a movie and Nick slept on the couch."
Kobal puts his paws up defensively, "I don't judge, I dated a desert wolf once."
Judy slaps herself while Nick says, "You are a wolf!"
"Yeah, but a greywolf. My parents where so mad... but anyway, love is love right?"
"Ok, ok, can we get on with this?" Judy says through the palm of her hand. She takes a deep breath and says "what did you learn about the case?"
"Oh nothing, it's far too early."
Nick massages his temples in frustration, "Why are we here? You said you had to tell us something."
"I asked if you could meet, so I could tell you that when hiding from possible assassins, you shouldn't stay at your house, or in this case the house of your mate."
"He isn't, we aren't... are we done here?"
"Yes, but I believe the chief would like to talk to you."
Judy gets up with a grunt and leaves the office with Nick behind her. Nick looks back and Kobal gives him a toothy smile with two thumbs up. Nick just shakes his head and follows Judy.
"Carrots, are you hungry?"
"No, I'm frustrated..well, yes, and I'm frustrated."
"Well, I'm sure once you get some food in ya, you'll feel right as rain."
Judy smiles weakly.
They make their way through to Chief Bogos office. The door is open and the Chief is sitting behind his desk.
"You wanted to talk to us?" Judy says.
Bogo looks up "yes, but I was planning to just call, what are you doing here?"
Nick speaks first "Detective Kobal wanted to talk to us about nothing... what can we do for you chief?"
"I wanted to see how you are holding up?"
"We're fine." Nick says, with Judy shrugging in agreement.
"If you two feel you are up to it, I'd like you to come back Monday. If not, I completely understand."
"What happened to protective custody?"
Bogo picks up a case file and begins reading it, "Be careful out there. Dismissed". Without looking up Bogo pauses and sighs "what is it, Wilde?"
"Wilde?" Bogo looks up from the case file and is surprised he is alone. "Hmph, first time for everything, now I'm here talking to myself and pretending to read this." He sets the file down.
A wolf with a white face wearing a black jacket and matching hat walks down a hallway. The front of his hat and back of his jacket has the word 'locksmith' embroidered upon it. He has a clipboard in one hand and a red tool box in the other.
The locksmith comes to a door, tucks the clipboard under his arm and pulls out a key unlocking the door. He opens the door and sees a snow leopard wearing a blue jacket and hat that has 'plumber' embroidered upon it. The room is small studio apartment with a bed in the corner and writing desk adjacent from it. The bed is covered with stuffed animals, mostly rabbits. The floor is covered in small female mammal sized clothes. The locksmith takes a step inside "What a mess. " the locksmith says.
"Messy tenant." the plumber says, dryly.
"Why are you here?" the plumber looks the locksmith up and down.
"Here to change the bathroom lock." The locksmith says.
"There is no bathroom." says the Plumber.
"Why are you here?" Says the locksmith. "I'm here to fix the toilet..."
The locksmith breaths deeply and slowly closes the door behind him.
"Nick, you look tired, do you want to go home, I can cook?"
Nick rubs his eyes "Trying to finish what the wolves started?" He laughs.
Judy brush's an ear back "C'mon, my cooking isn't that bad"
Nick just rolls his eyes and Judy punches him in the stomach "Ouch, ouch, so violent for a bunny"
Someone shouts "Hey! That fox is attacking that rabbit!" Nick and Judy turn to see a lemming pointing at them, and the rest of the mammals on the train are looking at them.
A big muscular black panther twice the size of Nick gets out of his seat and walks towards them "Let go of the cute bunny!" he demands.
Nick gulps as Judy stands up between them and says "he's my friend a-and I'm not cute!" The panther stops and looks at her "No, you are definitely cute... this fox is your friend?" Extends a claw tip at Nick that's nearly the length of Nick's finger.
"Yes, he's my best friend. We were just playing, don't hurt him." she grimaces as the panther comes closes
"Sorry, little bunny." The panther grabs a hand rail and looms over Nick staring at him with a sideways glare.
Judy sensing Nick's anxiety puts her hand on Nick's arm and gives it a squeeze. Nick looks back at her with a little smile. Judy is too busy looking in Nick's bright green eyes to notice the panther visually cringe.
They take the train to Happytown, then walk 3 blocks to Vulpstrum. A fox owned and operated karaoke bar. The hostess, a petite wombat leads them to a booth. This is the first time since leaving Judy's apartment that Nick feels actually relaxed. He rolls his shoulders and stretches out resting his arms on the top of the headrest. "Do you want to share an appetizer? I'm thinking about a black berry platter..."
"Sure whatever you want, Slick."
A red fox waitress sashays up to their table "Hi, is this your first time at Vulpstrum?"
"No" Nick answers for the both of them.
"Ok, welcome back, we have some new specialty's, we have Apex wagyu Steak. It's highly marbleized, it's a little expensive, but well worth it. Also have some of our usual specials right here." She points to a trifold menu on the table. "Can I start you with anything, drink, or appetizer?"
Nick gestures for Judy to order first, she looks at the menu "we can just order if you are ready?" Nick nods.
"Ok, I'll have a cabbage burger with side of fries."
Nick sets down his menu "I think I'll try that apex wagyu steak and how about a pitcher of White House honey ale for the table"
When the pitcher arrives, Nick pours for them both and keeps their mugs topped off the for the whole meal.
The main courses arrive and Nick looks at his steak "this looks different, I don't think I've ever had a steak like this one..." he sticks his fork into it and red juices flow into his plate. The sight and smell of it made him salivate. He cuts a piece and the meat is so tender it took almost no pressure at all. He popped it into his mouth, and even before his teeth bit down the explosion of flavor was exhilarating. Judy just watched as Nick reacted to his first bite "wow, I've never seen you look so satisfied" Judy said taking a gulp of her ale.
"You have no idea, I think my tongue just lost its virginity."
Judy laughs "Nick, that's gross"
Nick cuts his next piece of meat using his fork "wow, so succulent" Nick gulps down his beverage and refills his and Judy's cups.
"Are we drowning our sorrows or celebrating?"
"We are celebrating not dying!" Nick raises his glass and waits until Judy raises hers as well and toasts their cups.
"Cheers!" Judy says while licking the spilt ale off her hand.
They finish their food and drink several pitchers until they lost track. The bill came and Nick quickly snatched it up "wow! That was some expensive steak, but worth it!" Judy slurs "how much do I owe you?"
"You can get the cab and we'll call it even." Judy nods in agreement and Nick pays with his credit card.
When they stand up to leave the realization of how intoxicated they are hit them. Nick got half way onto his feet and fell back into his seat with a hearty laughter. "You're so drunk" Judy says. They get outside using each other for support to walk in a half straight line. They call a cab and ask for a ride to Nicks apartment "that's 24 dollars" says the camel taxi driver. "Wait, shouldn't we pay once you actually get us there," Asks Judy
"No, not for fox, fox pay first, then get ride" Nick's ears fold, intoxication inhibiting his ability to hide his emotions. Judy looks at the camel and feels rage surge through her chest "how dare you! This is Nick Wilde a Police Off..." Nick puts his hands on her shoulders. "It's okay, let's just pay him and go home." Judy looks at Nick's forced smile and sighs feeling completely defeated "Fine, but I'm giving you 1 star!"
She pays, they get in the cab and head to Nick's place.
"Maybe I should go home, I don't have anything to wear. And I don't want to over stay my welcome"
Nick turns and looks at Judy "Judy, you are always welcome, and I would really, really like you to come spend the night"
"Um, ok.." she swallows back her nervousness.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Rabbit! Are you ok in there?"
"She isn't answering the door, what should I do?"
"Knock again!"
"I already knocked, you knock!"
"This was your idea!"
"Shut up, she could be in trouble!"
"You shut up!"
"No, you shut up"
Behind the door of Judy's torn up apartment a white faced wolf pants, now with a swollen eye and bleeding cut on his muzzle. He holds up the lifeless body of a snow leopard, with an arm around its broken neck. In the other hand he holds a suppressed pistol trained towards the door. With a silent sigh he lifts the pistol and rubs the bridge of his snout with his thumb. Silently protesting the bickering happening just outside the door. He checks his watch, 1:30am... 'where is this rabbit?' he thinks to himself.
Back at Nick's apartment, Nick and Judy watch the second half of Crazy Rich Pandas. They laugh together at some funny scenes, and eat buttery salted popcorn. "I don't know if I thanked you, you changed my life."
"Yes Nick, you thank me every time you drink too much, and then I thank you because you changed my life too."
"I didn't hear you thank me," he smiles up at Judy, "Thank you, Nick" she smiles down at him.
"You're welcome..." his mouth smiles, but his ears fold in sadness. The weight of the last 48 hours combine with the alcohol to completely disarm him. His eyes close and tears begin to fall. Judy touches it with a finger tip and wipes it from his cheek "Oh Nick.." she says quietly. Her ears droop as she cradles his head.
4am that morning, "Sebastion, I don't know about this" the red fox says to his black fox friend wearing a building maintenance uniform "trust me Lon, this guy hasn't come or gone for 2 days, he probably went on vacation someplace after that shooting out front."
"Or maybe he's dead?"
"That's even better, less chance of him coming back an interrupting us. And I'm tellin ya Lon the guy is rich.. I've only had to go in a few times to fix things, but he has huge TVs, fancy stuff. Guy probably has all his money hidden in the mattress too".
They stop in front of an apartment door "Here it is". Sebastian pulls out his maintenance key ring, quickly finding the proper key for 103, he unlocks the door and open the door just a crack. A waft of putrid air hits him in the face causing him to recoil away from the door and gag. "Wow, he must have left something out to spoil while he was away" he covers his nose and calls into the room, "Mr. Nanko! Are you in there? I'm just here on account of the...Uh smell.."
No answer,
"Told ya he's gone Lon, let's have a look around."
They enter the apartment. It's a very clean area with kitchen, dining room and living room very neat and orderly, on the wall is a 27" old style tube tv "fancy TVs, huh Sebastian?" Lon gestures are the 20 year old tv.
"Shut up and keep looking, he's old he must have something nice."
Sebastian goes into the main bedroom "Lon get in here, I found something"
The red fox, Lon quickly heads to the bedroom and finds Sebastian holding two big hand fulls of jewelry with 2 expensive watches on each wrist "I found the jack pot". Lon stuffs fist fulls of jewelry into his pockets, "I'm going to have a piss." Sebastian opens the door to the master bath and the stench is even greater, holding a handkerchief to his mouth, he reaches in and flicks on the lights. "Oh bloody hell!"
On the toilet is a mangled corpse, the only evidence this was once a goat is its muzzle and singular remaining horn. The other is torn out at the root. Its face ripped bare, frozen in agony. Its teeth broken into shards, pieces litter the linoleum floor. Nylon zip ties around its feet and hands, holding him bound in place. All of his skin has been stripped off his muscles, the muscles have been flayed from thighs, ribs are broken, jagged pieces poking out the musculature on its flanks. Its eyes are ripped from the sockets, leaving dark empty pits in its skull. The bathtub is the depository of carnage, flesh, blood, frothy dissolving bones, broken teeth, and feces. Four empty 5 gallon jugs labeled perchloric acid sit between the mangled figure and the bathtub.
Two foxes flee from the apartment, not even bothering to lock the door on the way out, and not noticing that Lon dropped his wallet in the frantic scramble out.