21. Return of The Con Artist

==Nick==

Mister Big's hallway was a large as it was cold. I sat on a maroon, thickly cushioned bench next to the door, to what I remembered to be his office. I was glad that my feet dangled a few inches above the ground; the marble stones conducted heat well and were therefore viciously cold. In the back, the gentle tones of Jerry Vole echoed through the house and gave a certain serenity to the mansion. I, in contrast, restlessly swayed my feet antiparallel. However, in comparison to my previous visits, it was out of agitation rather than anxiety. Every second wasted here, was another I could have used to track Judy or her kidnappers.

I had the urge to just get up and leave, but I fought that inclination. From where I sat, it might appear as though I was all alone, yet I knew better than that. In this house, you were always being monitored and not just by the small surveillance cameras that stared down at you from each corner. I pricked up my ears. There it was! A cough. There was somebody else in the hallway. So, they knew how worked up I was about being kept waiting for so long. I checked my watch. I had been sitting here for fifteen minutes now. And all the while Judy was being held captive somewhere.

"I've had enough of this."

I jumped from the bench and walked to the door. With the knob in hand, a stern voice warned me.

"You can't go in yet."

I noticed the polar bear sitting at the end of the hallway. He sat on a similar bench as I had been on myself and was reading a newspaper. Despite not looking at me, he seemed to know what I was doing.

"Why not? I've waited long enough."

"You can't go in yet!" He repeated louder.

"Why not?" I replied, also raising my voice.

"You can't-"

"You know what, I have no time for this." I interrupted him.

With a little more aggression than intended, I pulled open the wooden door. The sharp, creaking noise silenced the conversation inside. Big and another shrew were standing close together, the former having his hand on the latter's shoulder. It was Fru Fru's husband, Edgar. He was deeply shaken.

"Don't worry, Edgar. We will find her." Big reassured him.

He nodded and turned around. Only then did he spot me in the opening.

"YOU!"

He pointed at me resentfully, his beady little eyes scintillating from the tears. His hateful tone startled me a bit and when he hopped off the desk, he spurted over to me faster than I could respond.

"What are you doing here?! Don't you have kidnappers to find?!" He snapped.

"Trust me, I'm wondering the same thing."

He didn't listen as his intention was not to get a reasonable answer from me. He collapsed against my shin and cried. I bent over and patted him on the back gently. He sobbed some imprecations at me about how I was not doing my job. I didn't feel offended; I couldn't blame him. This morning I had beaten up my coffee machine over Judy's abduction. I knew the anger he experienced, the grief, the helplessness of not-knowing. His wife had been taken. His pregnant wife. He, as the father, would feel more responsible than anyone for her safety. After a few seconds, he pulled out a handkerchief and dried his eyes as well as my leg. He muttered an apology and went downstairs.

"Nicky, come further." Big called from inside.

I walked by Koslov, who had instantly responded to my entrance. He hadn't taken any action though. After closing the door behind me, he returned to his position behind his boss's desk. Only after Mister Big had resettled himself in his chair, did I sit down. Upon seating myself, I realized that the desk was much higher than the chair. This brought me on a face-to-face level with the rodent. This did simplify a conversation, yet it also gave a subconscious hint of Mr. Big's high influence, something that he always liked to remind me off.

I waited for him to start the conversation, since that was how I was taught to be respectful in his presence. The large, bristly brows hid any form of emotion as they always did, but I knew that underneath them, there had to be sorrow. His daughter was possibly in mortal danger and knowing his dedication to his family, the news had to have come in hard. It was virtually impossible to read his expression. The only way to do that, was to sense it, albeit that included a certain degree of guessing… Believe me if I say that I loved a gamble every now and then. Just not with this particular rodent.

"I'm sure you know why I asked you to come here."

I opened my mouth to refute his words, since 'asking' implied a choice. I didn't. It would lead to nothing anyway. It was evident that he had brought me to hear me out on the case. Regrettably I had little information for him.

"I think I do, sir."

"Well?"

"Errr, where do you want me to start?"

"I want to know who did this…"

"Well at this point we still have multiple possibilities and-"

"STOP WASTING MY TIME!"

He scared the hell out of me. I had never heard him yell and frankly it terrified me that he could put up such a voice. Eyebrows or not, his emotions were evident. He was very, very angry.

"Sorry, I'm just a little worried about my daughter." He resumed as calm as ever. "You understand, right?"

Naturally, this too was not a question.

"I do, sir."

"Good. So, I'll ask you again. Who did this?"

"We don't know."

"You don't know…"

"It's simply too early to draw any direct conclusions."

"So, after all this time, you still don't know who is responsible…"

His tone set my hairs on end and despite the cold, I felt my hands and back getting sweaty. This kind of speech was mostly a prelude to the inevitable ice tub in his basement. If we had been there, instead of his office, I was probably already gasping for breath in arctic waters.

"Look, I understand that this is just work to you and that you can't spend work twenty-four seven, but I get a feeling that you're not doing your best here, Nicky."

"I'm sorry?"

"I realize now that I made a mistake by leaving this to the cops. I should have taken matters into my own hands from the start."

He gestured to Koslov, who made his way to open the door. I rose to my feet and planted my palms onto the desk.

"Are you saying that I'm not taking this case serious enough?"

"That is exactly what I'm saying Nicky. Truth be told, I never believed you were the right man for this job and if Judy hadn't convinced me, you'd not be here. For her sake, I've given you two a chance. Unfortunately, you screwed up and now my daughter is paying the price for your lack of dedication."

Something snapped in me. My anxiety vanished and an anger set in. The same kind that turned the coffee machine into a punching bag this morning. He wasn't just insulting me, he was insulting Judy as well. Maybe I had not been taking this case as serious as I could have, however Judy was always professional. Always putting other mammals' needs in front of her own. Him saying otherwise, was a step too far. Mob boss or not, I did not allow this.

"Escort Mr. Wilde off the premises." He ordered.

Koslov took hold of my shoulder. In response, I pushed his arm away. This surprised him long enough for me to confront Mr. Big.

"You think I'm not taking it seriously? Do you even know that Judy was taken too?!"

"I do, but I-"

"But what? You don't really care? No, why would you? After all, she's not your family…"

I heard Koslov reaching for me again. Unexpectedly, Big raised his paw to stop him.

"… Well maybe you don't care about her, but I do! Judy is my family. No, actually she is more than that. She's the love of my life. Yeah, that's right. You know why? Because besides having a pretty face, she is the only animal who isn't judgmental about me. Who honestly believes in me, trusts me, gives me confidence, and you claim that I wouldn't do anything to get her back? How dare you. How dare you even think that? Do you have any idea what I would do to see her safe again? Do you? And how dare you even say that she didn't put her best effort into finding the person attacking you? Calling her unprofessional is the greatest lack of insight I've ever encountered!"

I was so angry, I had said things animals in this house had been killed over for even thinking them. Koslov knew that too and when I was done talking, his claw nearly crushed my shoulder to make sure I wouldn't squirm out as easily as before. The small mammel reclined in his chair and buried his chin in his right hand, probably contemplating what to do with. It didn't matter. Big deserved to know the truth. That I would burn down Zootopia to get Judy back, something I knew he would do just as well for his daughter. Simultaneously, I was mad at myself for speaking out of tone as I had. If he killed me now, who would look for Judy? I had promised her parents I would bring her home safely. I couldn't do that from my coffin.

"Release him." Big said at length.

My rage disappeared as soon as it had welled up. Then again, the surprise of not being executed at the spot was too great. Koslov hesitated for a second, probably equally thunderstruck.

"I said release him."

The blood circulation in my arm resumed. I pretended to flatten my uniform, while in fact rubbing the five bruises that Koslov's grip would inevitably leave there.

"I had no idea you and she were that close, or that you were this passionate… Maybe you are the right man for the job." He said ponderingly.

My instinct told me to thank him, however my head overruled this idea. After his insults that would not be logical and I was glad that he admitted his mistake. As far as Big ever apologized for anything at least.

"I'll give you three more days to find out who did this and unlimited access to any resources I can provide you with, to accomplish this task. In return I expect to get updates from you constantly, do we have a deal?"

"In contrast to popular belief, you can trust me on this."

I was already out of the room when I heard him calling me again.

"Nicky…"

I turned back to him.

"Bring our girls back." He emphasized.

==Judy==

"What a lovely surprise to see you again, Miss Hopps." Jake Hare said, bending forward.

"I wish I could say the same."

He reared back up and smirked. He was again wearing a grey suit with black stripes, only this time with a pitch-black shirt and no tie. I hated to admit that with his pale fur, it made him kind of handsome, yet I knew from experience that on the inside, a mammal could hardly be uglier than him.

"Come now, where are your manners."

"I'm sorry. I left them in the car when I was dragged from it."

I sounded like Nick. Sarcasm was more his thing than it was mine. It didn't really suit me and as an officer, it wasn't a very useful trait either. Still, I had to admit that it could be enjoyable. Seeing Jake's smile fade gave me a certain satisfaction.

"I figured you'd be happy that I brought you here." He said as he starts to circle me.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" I frowned.

"Well, seeing as though they could also have shot you."

A shiver tremored over my spine. Suddenly, my throat became dry too. I hadn't really thought about that. I could just as easily have been killed.

"Then why didn't you?"

He stopped in front of me and crouched to look me straight in the eye.

"And waste this pretty face?" He said, stroking my cheek. "Heavens no…"

I pulled my head away from his hand. He scoffed.

"I was hoping you had reconsidered. Especially now that I have saved your life."

"On what?"

"On us."

He shocked me so much that he made my ears jump upright. So, that's why he had left me alive. The nausea of my first encounter with him returned. God, why did this creep had to fall for me. I felt so disgusted.

"I'd rather be killed than be with you."

He stood back up.

"Unbelievable. You really prefer a fox over your own kind?" He asked genuinely surprised.

"Me and him have more alike than you and I will ever have."

"Are you serious? He's got no money, no status, no power. Heck, if it weren't for you, he wouldn't even have had a job!"

"There's more to life than a big wallet." I reminded him.

For some reason, he just didn't take no for an answer. And how did he dare to place himself above Nick. They were complete opposites of one another. Nick was patient, caring and shy. This guy was a spoiled, arrogant jerk.

"You disappoint me Judy." He shook his head sadly. "But, I'm sure you'll come 'round."

"I wouldn't count on it."

"No?"

Before I could reply again, he lashed out at me, his paw whipping me across my face. It was as vicious as a snakebite and with speed to match. I felt rather than saw the action. The marks of it burned painfully on my skin and I couldn't withhold a few tears from springing into my eyes. He lifted my face to have me look at him and smirked content upon seeing them. He had wanted to hurt me and he had. The sadistic joy of it was written over his foul grin.

"Trust me dear. Before the day is over, you'll regret not having chosen the real man."

I snorted amused by the irony that his mind failed to see. Something which clearly agitated him.

"What's so funny?"

"You're beating up a lady and you call yourself a man?"

He struck me another time. I flinched as it came down perhaps even harder than the last one. It was driven by anger, and my continuing defiance was fueling it well. Maybe sarcasm wasn't the best decision right now. A small stream of blood meandered down my suffering cheek. It was caused by the ring Jake was wearing. I lifted my head to look at him. He was clearly used to being in control and the fact that I didn't do as he pleased, made him desperate and spiteful. What a pathetic piece of rabbit. I pierced his eyes with my own. He raised his paw for a third blow, but stopped when he noticed the reflection of fortitude in mine. He wouldn't break me, no matter how often he'd hit me. Sensing that determination, made him scared. He lowered his hand and turned around, correcting the borders of his shirt.

"Fine then. But you'd do well to rethink your attitude before our next conversation, Miss Hopps." He commented and went up the stairs.

He opened the door and glanced down at me.

"Or I might not have a use for you any longer."

==Nick==

"Remind me, why are you here again?"

I posed the question to the muscular polar bear, that had barely managed to squirm himself into the passenger seat of my car. He must be getting seriously cramped up. The seat wasn't designed for his posture. With his grumpy stare through the windshield and his neck in a near nighty degree angle, Kevin looked like a vulture that waited for his next meal to blow out its last air. Not that that wasn't the case sometimes; I was well acquainted with their line of work after all.

"To collect a very sensitive piece of evidence from the limousine."

"Oh yes. And what was this evidence exactly?"

"I can only tell you if it turns out to be relevant."

"Well, you can only access it with my help. I'm sure you're familiar with the quid-pro-quo principle?"

"Considering that I haven't strung you up for insulting my boss, I believe I've already lived up to my end, wouldn't you say?"

"Actually, I have to disagree with you on that." I replied apologetically.

"Well that's too bad."

I never liked Kevin much anyway. Nor any of Big's polar bears. They were all so emotionless. And the few moments that they weren't, they were still terrible company. When I parked at the precinct, I asked him to wait for me to arrange an entry for him. What he didn't know was that I had no intention of smuggling one of Big's henchmen into the police station. I agreed to give the mob boss his updates and to do whatever I could to rescue Judy and Fru-Fru, but only if I deemed those things useful. Retrieving some evidence that could potentially hurt their family name, was in my opinion not a contribution to finding the kidnappers.

That didn't mean however, that I had not become curious. Perhaps I had to have a look at this 'evidence' myself instead.

"Hey Ben. Do you know if Johnson's in? Bogo told me he had arranged for the limousine to be brought in."

The rotund cat got a fright when he saw me.

"Nick! Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry about Judy. I miss her so much too. I hope she's all right!"

"That makes two of us."

"Listen, I'm sorry about that whole thing yesterday. I shouldn't have been poking around like that. I feel so bad now, with Judy missing and you guys fighting and all."

I felt a severe sting in my chest. The realization that the last thing Judy and I had done was argue, was perhaps the thing that pained me the most about her kidnapping. The fear that I might not see her ever again to right that wrong… It made the guilt I felt weigh so much heavier.

"It's fine, I don't blame you. It's my fault. I'm the one who messed things up." I confessed.

"Don't say that Nick. I'm sure they'll get her back."

"Yeah… Wait, what did you say? They?" I asked.

A nasty suspicion crawled out from the more paranoid corners of my brain.

"Oh. You didn't, I mean-uhm… I-I meant we. Of course, we. Just a slip of the tongue."

I raised an eyebrow and looked at him incisively as he laughed nervously.

"What are you not telling me?"

"Nothing. Nothing." He said, evading my look by diving into some paperwork.

"Ben…"

He smiled again insecurely.

"Well, errr. It is possible that the chief has taken you off the case."

"HE DID WHAT?!"

I blasted my chubby friend almost from his seat and stormed up the stairs. In the distance, I faintly heard Clawhauser call to me.

"Don't be mad at him, Nick! It's only logical what he did! Don't say things to him you might regret!"

The echoes of his warnings sounded familiar. As if I had said them myself. I couldn't remember. All I knew, was that Bogo was gonna get it. I nearly punched a hole in his door when I got to his office. When I got no response, I opened it myself. I barged into a private conversation that, as fate would have it, involved him and Bob Johnson discussing Judy's case.

"Why did you take me off the case?!" I called out.

The buffalo looked up from the papers and the lion turned around with equal curiosity. There I stood: enraged and gasping for air from rushing up all those stairs. I expected Bogo to verbally bash me for my lack of discipline. He didn't. He remained tranquility incorporate. He whispered something to Johnson, in response to which the cat stood up and made his way to exit the room. When he reached me, he looked at me compassionately.

"Hey Nick, I'm sorry about Judy. Know that I'll do anything to-"

"Shut up! I don't want your pretended sympathies!"

I was so fed up with everyone right now and his nagging was the last thing I wanted to hear. Johnson sighed and left the room.

"Wilde. Sit down for a moment." Chief Bogo said.

"First I want to know why you took me off the case!"

"I'll tell you when you sit down." He repeated himself.

"I want to know why?!"

He shot me a deadly glare.

"Personal involvement, Wilde, what else? It can't get any more personal than what you two have and you know it! Now stop acting like an idiot and sit down."

"You… We… How… What?"

I was so dumbstruck by the fact that he knew that Judy and I had withheld our personal affair from him that I got lost in my words. I wasn't shocked by his knowledge, nor disappointed or anxious. I was only surprised. While I was convalescing from the shock, Bogo reviewed the dossiers on his desk and calmly reorganized them. And by remaining so calm, I felt indeed like an idiot by acting so pumped up.

"Well?" He asked again sternly.

"Y-yes. Of course, sir."

I noted that I had rediscovered my respectfulness somewhere. I sat down in the wooden chair with my paws between my crossed legs. Only now the chief granted me another look, though I dared not meet his eyes. I think his gaze had pierced my aggressive outer layer and had seen me for the emotional wreck that I was. He put his stuff aside and folded his hooves.

"Look. I know that you care much more about Judy than we do, and that is fine, but that is also why you must let us do the investigation. You cannot trust your own judgement right now. When it comes to the ones we love, we are blinded by our emotions. Don't get me wrong, loving someone is great and it makes you capable of amazing things, but you know as well as I that investigative police work is not one of those things."

I had my stare still pinned at my feet, silently regretted my outburst, and letting his words sink in. He was right. Having kicked down his door like a crazed beast was first-hand proof of what he said. When it came to Judy, I couldn't think straight. I couldn't perform my duties this way.

"You are right, sir. Please accept my apologies."

"I understand your grief, Wilde, I really do, and for that reason I will turn a blind eye on your antics."

"Thank you, sir."

I dodged a bullet for the second time today, yet the mercifulness of my superiors wasn't limitless. Eventually my luck would run out. Before that happened, I needed to have a grip on my emotions.

"But please. Don't ever shout at me like that again. I can't put up with that behavior from my staff on a regular basis. I would lose my authority."

"I understand. Trust me, it won't happen again." I promised and got up from my chair.

"Good to hear. And don't worry about Judy. That rabbit is one tough cookie. She'll survive. And with every available mammal working on her case, she'll be back with us before you know it."

I smiled sadly. Every time her name was mentioned, I missed her more. He muttered a 'dismissed' and returned to his paperwork.

Outside, Bob was leaning against the wall in the corner. He was browsing the file Bogo had given him. When I approached him, he looked at me with an indistinct expression. He was probably unamused by my treatment, yet also aware of my difficulties with mentally handling Judy's abduction. Or at least I hoped he was.

"Hey Bob, I would like to apologize. I was unnecessarily rude to you, I had no right to say what I said."

"It's all right. I understand that it must be hard to relinquish this case. If my partner was missing, I'd probably want to do it myself."

"No, the chief is right. I'm too involved to stay objective. I'm sure the case is in good hands with you." I said, extending my hand.

"I'll do my utmost. You have my word, man." He replied, shaking it.

After he had entered Bogo's office, I slowly treaded down the stairs and to the parking lot. They were right. When it regarded Judy's welfare, I wasn't objective. She meant the world to me. She was my world. And that realization had only strengthened now that she wasn't in it anymore. With that in mind, I wasn't capable of acting as an officer. I wouldn't be able to play by the book with emotions running as high as the had done today. And for that precise reason, it had dawned on me that I shouldn't be trying to find her as Nicholas Wilde, ZPD Officer. I had to find her as Tricky Nicky, Con Artist.