Nick got into the police car and started going through the file. "Claret Simpleson has some serious assets. He has two townhouses, a penthouse at the Lunar Resort, matching Furraris for him and his wife, a custom built Panther Blaze motorcycle…" He turned a page and whistled.

Judy leaned over to look at the folder. "Does that say what I think it says?"

"If you think it says he gets paid a hundred thousand dollars for every episode of The Scrambled Badge whether or not he appears in it, it says what you think it says." Nick shook his head. "I want his job. I'd love to get paid whether or not I show up."

The bunny gave him a look. "I thought you were past wanting money you hadn't honestly earned."

Nick's eyes twinkled. "For a hundred thousand dollars, I wouldn't care how dishonest I had to be." Judy huffed in annoyance and the fox said, "Seriously, Carrots, think about it. Simpleson has more money and more expensive toys than all the animals we know, except for Mr Big. Don't you think he might be willing to kill to protect it?"

"I don't know," said Judy thoughtfully. "Don't you think murder is going too far? It's not like he would lose everything in a divorce case. At the worst he'd have to give his ex-wife half of his property and maybe pay alimony. He'd still have his big career." She took the file from Nick and ran her paw down the page. "He has over a million dollars in the bank, he'd still have plenty of money even after the divorce."

Nick said soberly, "He wants to throw his wife away like an old shirt. Maybe he hates the idea of sharing anything with her."

"But killing her lawyer isn't going to stop that from happening." Judy snapped the file shut. "He's going to have to split his money with her no matter who represents her. It just doesn't make sense."

The fox took the file back. "Well, let's go talk to them. Maybe something will click once we see them."

"Maybe." Judy started the car. "Who do you want to try first?"

The radio crackled. "Car 51, do you copy?"

Nick picked up the microphone. "Go ahead."

"See the yak at Mystic Springs Oasis."

Judy groaned. "What does Yax want?"

"What's it about?" Nick asked the dispatcher.

"No idea. The call came in on the non-emergency line as a request for you and Judy."

"Copy that." Nick put the microphone back. "Well, at least it's not something we have to respond to right away."

"No," said Judy glumly, "but we should go anyway. Yax helped us save Mayor Burney's son, we owe him." She started the engine and pulled out into the street.

"I could go after work," the fox ventured. "You know how much you hate that place."

"I do, I really do," sighed the bunny, "but I wouldn't feel right about not going when Yax asked for us both."

She drove determinedly to the Oasis and parked, ignoring Nick's quizzical expression as he opened the door and the smell of incense wafted over them. The fox shrugged and waved her in, taking off his sunglasses in the dim interior.

Yax was behind the reception desk, chanting softly to himself, but he was not so lost that he didn't notice them coming in. "Hey, Nick! Glad to see you still got the bunny scout with you."

Judy snapped, "Is there any reason I wouldn't be with him?"

"Well, yeah." The yak peered at her with an expression that almost looked serious. "I was hoping I wasn't too late."

"Too late for what, Yax?" asked Nick patiently.

"Too late to warn you whatever you're working on, you gotta stop working on it." Yax stared into the distance. "I saw her die."

Nick and Judy stared at each other, speechless, then the bunny summoned up all of her composure and said politely, "Thank you for letting us know, Yax. I'll be sure to be extra careful."

"Won't do any good." The yak closed his eyes and the chanting started again.

Judy headed for the door. "Let's go."

They went back out to their car and she started the engine, saying brightly, "We should go see Belinda Brown first."

Nick reached over and turned off the engine. "Maybe it's not such a good idea for you to work this case."

The bunny reached for the keys and he took them out of the ignition. "I thought you didn't believe in Yax's visions."

"I don't." The fox frowned. "Maybe. Or maybe I don't know what to think. Look, he told us right where to find Mayor Burney's son when nobody else had a clue. What if he can see the future and if you stay on this case…" He couldn't go on.

"Nick." Judy laid her little velvet paw on his arm. "I'm a cop. It's all I ever wanted to be. You know as well as I do what that means. There's always the chance something could happen in the line of duty. And don't forget you were shot and you almost died and it had nothing to do with any case we were working on." Her voice shook. "You weren't even in uniform. You just walked down the street in front of a bigot who hates foxes."

He rubbed the scars on his chest. "You could skip this case, Judy. Mayor Burney asked for us but that doesn't mean you have to work it." He gazed at her imploringly. "Let me handle it by myself and you take some time off. You could go visit your mom and dad."

Judy held out her paw and Nick reluctantly surrendered the keys. "We'll do this together, Nick, just like we always have." Her soft violet eyes locked on his sharp green ones. "The only way I'll feel safe is if we're together."

He swallowed hard and nodded, managing a smile, but his heart was leaden with foreboding as they drove away.