October 2, 2017
9:00 a.m.

From her desk at the front right of the courtroom, the pine marten clerk stood up. "All rise," she said as a black-robed camel entered from a door to the right of the bench. "Superior Court for the Third District of Zootopia is now in session, the Honorable A. G. Rabah presiding. Case number TDZ-CR17-7474505B, State of New Yak v. John Joseph Wilde Jr."

"Thank you," the judge said as he sat down. "You may be seated. Please refrain from any conversation or use of electronic devices until this hearing has adjourned. The purpose of today's hearing is the sentencing of Mr. Wilde on all counts of the information, all nine of which the defendant pleaded guilty to at the July 20 arraignment. These charges are serious, and when combined, would carry a maximum penalty of forty years' imprisonment with the possibility of parole after twenty years and a fine of 3.8 million dollars. In determining an appropriate sentence, the court has taken into consideration the defendant's pleas, his cooperation with police and these proceedings, favorable sworn statements from twenty-six former patients, there being no known instances of harm coming to any former patients, sentencing guidelines, the recommendations of the district attorney's office, the defendant's personal and professional conduct, and the defendant having no other criminal record beyond an arrest for possession and discharge of illegal fireworks almost three decades ago. At this time, will the defendant please rise?"

John, along with his attorney, Graham O'Pangolin, stood up.

"Mr. Wilde, on combined counts one through seven of the information, the court hereby imposes a sentence of twelve years' imprisonment and a fine of fifteen thousand dollars. On count eight of the information, the court hereby imposes a sentence of three years' imprisonment and a fine of five thousand dollars. On count nine of the information, the court hereby imposes a sentence of one year's imprisonment. These sentences shall run concurrently, and you shall be eligible for parole after the completion of 50 percent of the longest sentence, assuming good behavior."

Assuming he'd be paroled when eligible, it was a year and a half less than Nick's guess. He nodded lightly.

"Is there any further business to come before the court?" Rabah asked.

"No, Your Honor," Rachel Kiboko, deputy district attorney, a hippopotamus, said.

The pangolin said the same.

"There being no further business, this hearing is adjourned," Rabah said, tapping his gavel once.

As the rest of the courtroom stood up as instructed by the clerk, John felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned to the left and then held out his paws for in-front cuffing when he saw it was the tiger bailiff, a standard procedure for transport to prison despite his cooperation. Once cuffed, he turned his head toward the gallery to look at Nick, Gideon, and Judy, all of whom he had said goodbye to earlier that morning. The next time he'd see them, he'd be wearing not black but orange.

— § —

11:24 a.m.

"Here we are," the moose guard said as he pointed, "Cell A113. Home sweet home."

A spotted hyena sitting inside looked up as the guard and his new cellmate approached.

John looked up at the guard. "Thank you." He patted his jumpsuit where nonexistent pockets would have been. "Now is it customary to tip? I don't seem to have my wallet."

"Get in the cell."

As John crossed the threshold, the guard walked away. The hyena walked up to the smaller predator and extended his paw. "Roger Laffer. Embezzlement. Hey, you're that guy who said he was a doctor, right? Who worked on Gazelle and everything?"

John nodded as he shook Roger's paw. "Guilty as pleaded. I'm John Wilde."

"Oh, this is great! Can you look at something for me? I have this tooth—"

"Sorry, I'm retired. Also, I claimed to be a plastic surgeon. I never studied dentistry."

"Right. Right. It's toward the back." Roger opened his mouth wide. "Dwas dat lwook enfecked ta ew?"

John rolled his eyes and then looked inside. A second later, he pulled his head away. "The newest prison janitor could tell that half your gums are infected, Roger. Get an exam at the infirmary today. And have the chaplain say a few prayers for you."

"So you're saying I should start brushing my teeth again?"

— § —

October 4, 2017

"Are you sure, ma'am?" the deer asked as he slid the piece of paper he had been handed into an envelope.

The possum nodded to her assistant. "I'm sure."