Chapter 3
Incident at Zootopia School for the Deaf
"Okay," Nick began while Kate interpreted in signs, "What is your relationship with Lizzie Blacktip? You know… friends or boyfriend-girlfriend or just classmate. Be honest."
"Well," Bob signed, "She and I have been friends since we first came in school in first grade. And, now, we just started dating few days ago."
"Just started dating?" Judy asked, turned to Nick and back to Bob. "That might be a possibility a cause for motive. Are there anyone jealous or upset that you two are dating?"
"I don't know. Everyone seems to be okay with us being together. Maybe we missed something."
Nick and Judy sighed, it was going to be harder without a possible lead to suspect. Nick thought of something, turned to Bob, "Did you or Lizzie have old boyfriend or girlfriend before you two went together?"
"Lizzie is my first girlfriend. As for Lizzie, I am not sure but she used to hang out with some guys. Maybe one of them? But I don't think it's possible."
"Why is that?" Nick asked.
"Because those guys she hanged out before are not foxes," Bob answered. "One is rabbit and other is manx cat and, uh…. A wolf, a jaguar, and a raccoon. Oh! They all have either short or bobbed tails." Judy and Nick looked at each other. Seems that Lizzie has a thing for animals with a short tail. Judy turned to Bob and asked, "Does she like animals with a short tail, not long tail?"
"Maybe but I could be wrong because she also has friends with long tails," Bob answered.
"Well," Judy said, "That is a good start. Can you tell us their names? All those with short or bobbed tails."
"Okay," Bob signed. "They are Chester Jax, Bill Bushson, Tom Short, Harry Moonhowler, um…. Oh, Justin Fluffrings." As Kate interpreted each name, Judy looked through the list of students, she turned to Nick, "They all have short or bobbed tails." Nick nodded.
"Um… is Lizzie popular with guys at school?" Judy asked.
"Yes, she's popular with guys at school. She's pretty fox." Bob answered.
"All right," Nick said, "Can you tell me where you were last night between twelve midnight and one a.m.?"
"I was sleeping in my dorm room in Bussmoose Hall."
"Okay, who are your roommates there so we can verify your being there?"
"Yes, they are David Buckwhacker, and Frank Ottermore," Bob answered. "They are beaver and otter."
"Okay, we will ask them later. Thanks for your help, Bob." Nick said.
Judy led Bob out to the hallway, there is a red fox sitting on the bench next to the door. "Thanks for bringing Mr. Snowtail in and we want you to bring in uh…," Judy looked at the list, picked out a checked name, "Bill Bushson, please, Miss…?"
"Miss Redtail,"the fox answered. "I will bring him in shortly."
"Great," Judy smiled. She returned to the table and turned to Nick.
"I am curious," Judy wondered, "Can a fox or anyone with long tail tuck in tail to make it looks like it's a short tail?"
Nick was surprised by the question, pondered a moment before answering, "Yes, I think we can if we can tolerate some discomfort for a short period of time. I remember a fox from my school tucked his tail for Halloween event. He dressed up as the zombie or something, I don't remember, and he made it looked like a bobbed tail. He mentioned that it was uncomfortable because he tied his tail with an elastic band. His tail was bended for a few weeks since that party before going back to normal. I think I'm getting where you are heading. Since Bob said that Lizzie is popular with guys and you are right about asking me that question because some might be jealous especially with a foxy fox."
"So, when we question some foxes, we can look for bended tail if possible," Judy pondered. "Yes," Nick answered, "we will do that. Also other animals too, not just fox."
Judy nodded, "We need to be discreet with it so that we do not let them know we look at their tail." Judy turned to Kate, "We need your help as well, will you, Miss Manor?"
"Yes, I can be discreet and will let you know after each interview," Kate replied.
"Great," Nick said, "and also at female students' tails as some might be jealous of Lizzie's popularity and it happened in the girls' dorm where boys are not allowed in." Judy groaned.
"That broadened the field of suspects instead of narrowing," Judy said and before Nick could reply, there was a knock at the door. "Come on in!" Judy said loudly at the door.
The young tan bunny came in the room. Judy motioned to the bunny, "Good morning, Mr. Bushson. Have a seat across from us there." Judy said. The boy complied and sat down.
"Can we call you Bill?" Nick started as Kate interpreted. Bill nodded. "Sure, I'm surprised that you two are cops. Most cops we see are big and you two are smallest. The cops last night are big. And I have never seen any fox as cop either."
"Well, we are the first bunny and fox cops," Judy smiled. "But let's get to the task now, can you tell me about last night between twelve and 1 a.m.?"
"Yes, my roommates, Kevin, Travis, and I were in our room, playing some games as it was Friday so no school. Then we went to sleep around 10:30 or so."
"What are your roommates' last names?" Judy asked as she looked down the list.
"Kevin Thumper and Travis Earthburrow," Bill signed while Judy marked the names on the list.
"Okay, do you know either Lizzie Blacktip or Bob Snowtail?" Judy asked as she looked up from the list.
"Those foxes?" Bill exclaimed. "No, we bunnies don't want to be friends with those fo – " He stopped as he looked at Nick. "Sorry, Mr. Fox. No offense."
"None taken and call me Officer Wilde," Nick said, "I understand how you feel about fox but you need to get over the prejudice and stereotype and get along as Judy and I have. We –" Nick stammered a bit before continuing, "We have been friends since we first worked together on her first case last year. We learned that we are not what stereotype suggested by our each species, and we overcame our old prejudices and worked well together. That's why we are partners at ZPD. Yes, we had our ups and downs but that's normal between any friends, regardless of species. Can you do that in the future?"
"Yes, sir," Bill signed as Judy smiled at Nick's words of wisdom.
"All right," Judy said, "Do you know anyone who might be jealous or upset about Lizzie and Bob's new relationship?"
"I don't know for sure," Bill signed, "Maybe a few foxes and others but to attack Lizzie, I have no idea who would do that. Yes, we had bullies and all that but Lizzie is popular so…"
"How do you know Lizzie was attacked?" Nick asked.
"Gossips," Bill signed, "It go around very fast in the deaf community." Nick and Judy looked at each other, recalling Chief Bogo's comment about it earlier in the day.
"I guess that there are some troubles between rabbits and foxes since last night, correct?" Judy said.
"Yes." Bill signed, as Judy recalled being in middle of protest during the savage situation last year so Judy said from her experience, "Of course, however, my experience from last year is that you need not jump into conclusion so let us do our job and we will find the right person as I have learned from my mistakes. Please keep the gossip from spreading out further."
"Yes," Nick agreed, "I guess that is all for now."
Judy stood up from the chair and led Bill to the door, opened it, motioned Miss Redtail over, which she complied. She looked down her list, "Okay, bring over uh…" she gasped at the recognition of the name, "Maria Bunhill."
"Got it," Miss Redtail said as she led Bill down the hall. Judy closed the door, went to sit down at the table. Nick propped his arm on the table, asked her, "From your gasp, I assume you know this next visitor, Carrot." Judy sighed.
"Yes," Judy answered, "Maria Bunhill is from Bunnyburrow. I know her family and saw them during the festival because they live on the other side of town from our home. I recalled the parents mentioning about having deaf daughter long ago but I don't see them often. I have met Maria few times but we didn't talk much as she was shy."
"Interesting," Nick smiled as Judy playfully knocked his arm off the table, wiping his smirk off. "Knock it off, dumb fox," Judy retorted, "I just hope that she's not the guilty party as I would hate to face her family if she's guilty."
"Understood," Nick said with both his paws up. The knock on the door cut off the conversation as Judy got up and opened the door to welcome the next visitor. The young bunny gasped and hugged Judy hard. She signed too fast for Judy to understand so she turned to Kate for help. Kate signed, "Can you repeat that so I can interpret to Officer Hopps?"
"Oh!" she exclaimed in voice then signed, "I am surprised and happy to see Judy here and," she turned to Judy, "I did not know that you are the cop here!"
"Yes," Judy said, "I am a cop and how are your family?"
"They are fine," Maria signed, "but I missed them."
"Of course," Judy agreed and led Maria to the chair and then sat across from her at the table. Seeing her nervousness, She said, "Nothing to worry about, he's my partner and his name is Officer Wilde."
"Oh!" Maria signed, "Is he the boyfriend that my family talked about?" Judy and Nick looked at each other in embarrassment. "Uh…" Judy stammered, "D-don't worry about it. W-we want to get on with the relat… er, I – I mean, the investigation, all right?" Maria giggled at Judy's stammers. Judy sighed, "This is serious, Maria!" while Nick sniggered at her side. She pinched his side under the table, causing him to startle.
"Okay, Judy." Maria signed as she calmed down while Nick rubbed his side from the pinch. Judy smiled at her success.
"Okay, now, tell me what happened and where were you last night, Maria," Judy started.