There was a knock at Judy's door and she called, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Carrots," Nick called back. "Are you ready?"

"Just about." The bunny opened the door to her partner and they both fell silent, staring at each other.

Judy had never seen the fox looking so handsome. He wore a tux in the latest style, complete with gold cufflinks and a silk pocket square, and he was totally at his ease as if such fine clothes were his normal attire. For his part, Nick was stunned at how good Judy looked in a slinky purple dress that fell to the floor and was slit to the middle of her thigh so her legs showed with every move she made. She wasn't wearing makeup but the color of the dress made her eyes glow and he was the first one to speak. "You look beautiful."

Judy blushed. "You don't look so bad yourself."

He offered his arm. "Miss Hopps, may I escort you to the dance?"

"You may indeed, Mr Wilde." Two hearts raced as Judy took Nick's arm and for a brief moment they both contemplated ditching the party for another kind of evening, but duty called and they walked out to the unmarked police car the fox had checked out of the impound yard.

"Nick!" The bunny stopped on the sidewalk, gazing at the low slung black convertible. "Is that a Sable?"

He opened the passenger door for her. "I thought it would be fun to arrive in style."

Judy settled into the richly upholstered interior, sighing. "I can't believe the chief let you have this car. It's worth a fortune."

"Actually he gave me permission to take the Bison truck they impounded last week." Nick smiled at Judy.

She smiled back. "He's going to be furious."

The fox leaned over. "Do you care?"

"Not at all." The bunny was leaning too, then she sat back and said regretfully, "I suppose we'd better get to work."

Nick blew out his breath. "I suppose you're right." He started the car. "If you're cold I can put the top up."

Judy gazed up at the stars. "No, don't. I'm warm enough."

They arrived at the Lunar Resort and handed the car over to a valet, then went inside and took the elevator up, getting off at the penthouse to find waiters circulating the packed room with champagne and plates of hor d'oeuvres while their host, Claret Simpleson, held court at the window, his arm locked around Belinda Brown's waist. Nick took two flutes of champagne and handed one to Judy, sipping as he appraised the females. They were elegantly gowned and made up, with jewelry costing many times what he could ever afford, but none of them was as lovely as Judy and he smiled at her. She smiled back, having confirmed that none of the males in their expensive attire and accessories looked as good as Nick. For a moment, it was almost as if they were really there just to enjoy themselves, then Tab Rotter came up with a wide insincere smile and they were all business again.

"Officer Hopps! Officer Wilde! So good to see you. I was hoping you would take Claret up on his invitation."

"Were you?" Judy put her empty glass on a tray as a waiter went past. "I would have thought the last animals you wanted to see here was Nick and me."

Rotter chuckled. "That would be true if I had anything to hide. I don't, and neither does Claret." He waved at the room. "Go ahead. Mingle. Ask all the questions you want. I don't suppose there's anyone you know…"

Nick handed his glass to a waiter and took a spring roll. "Actually, I do see a friend. Will you excuse me?"

"Of course." Rotter left and Nick turned to Judy, his eyes twinkling.

"Want to say hello to Yax?"

Judy stiffened, her eyes like saucers as she caught sight of the yak in a red velvet tuxedo with a bright gold cummerbund. "I don't believe it."

"Neither do I."

She snapped, "You can talk to Yax. I'm going to see if Belinda found that account number."

Judy headed for the picture window and Nick took a moment to appreciate how her dress accentuated her curves before going over to Yax. "This is the last place I'd expect to find you, buddy. All these clothes."

"Nick!" Yax smiled brightly. "Claret and me go back. Like, all the way back. We went to school together. He even helped me open the Oasis."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah. He loves the naturalist lifestyle." The yak chortled, then caught sight of Judy at the window and dropped his glass of champagne. "What's she doing here?"

Nick frowned. "She's my partner, remember? We're working a case."

"That the dress she dies in," whispered Yax. "I'm telling you, Nick, I saw her die and that's what she was wearing."

Chilled, the fox stared at Judy. Simpleson had moved away from his wife and the bunny was in earnest conversation with Belinda. "Nothing's going to happen to her here with all these animals around."

Yax was almost in tears. "This is how it always goes down. Nobody ever believes me until it's too late."

"I don't know what to believe, Yax," said Nick evenly, "but I can tell you Judy is never going to abandon this case over one of your visions. If you have anything real to show she's in danger…"

The yak took two glasses of champagne from a waiter and drained them. "I never have anything real. I just see." He waved to another waiter and took a whole tray of champagne flutes. "And right now I don't want to see anything."

Nick and Yax were not the only animals watching Judy and Belinda. Across the room Claret Simpleson and his lawyer Tab Rotter were staring at the bunny and the ocelot.

"This is it, Tab. I just know it," murmured the mountain lion. He caught the wolverine's arm. "There, see?" Belinda handed Judy a piece of paper and walked away.

Rotter shook Simpleson off. "I'll take care of it."

"What are you going to do?"

Rotter ignored him and followed Judy as she went to the powder room, waiting until she came out before going up to her. "Are you enjoying the party, Officer Hopps?"

"Yes, it's very nice but I need to find my partner. Have you seen Officer Wilde?"

"As a matter of fact, I have," said Rotter. "He was looking for you. I think he went to the kitchen. I'll show you the way."

They walked down the hall and looked in the kitchen, where a harried staff bustled about preparing more food and drinks. No Nick. "He must have gone back to the party," said Judy.

She turned to go and the wolverine pressed a gun in her side. "Move." She glared at him and he jabbed her with the gun. "I said move." He walked her to the service elevator. "Give me your phone."

She gritted her teeth and handed it over and he tossed it into the hall before taking her down to his car. "Get in."

Judy balked. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

He raised the gun. "You can get in and drive, or I can hit you on the head and put you in the trunk. Your choice."

She swallowed hard, then slid behind the wheel. Rotter got in the passenger side, facing her, and they drove off.