Nick leaned against the wall in the exercise yard, watching apathetically as the other prisoners played basketball and lifted weights. His whole world had shrunk in a matter of days to a routine of getting up, tidying his cell, and going to work in the prison laundry. He was losing track of time. Had he been here a week, or was it already a month? He closed his eyes against the bright sunlight, wishing for his sunglasses.
A booming voice invaded his ears. "I heard about you on the news but I couldn't believe it!"
Nick opened his eyes to see the former mayor, Leodore Lionheart, standing in front of him. The big lion had lost none of his genial manner and he seemed oddly delighted to see the fox that had helped put him behind bars.
"Couldn't believe what?" Nick's voice was very quiet. "Couldn't believe a cop could go bad?"
"Oh, no, that's not it!" Lionheart chuckled. "If Bellwether could be a criminal mastermind, anyone could go wrong, especially a fox. No, I couldn't believe they let you on the force in the first place. Even with my mammal inclusion initiative I would never have let a fox join the police."
"Tactful as ever," murmured Nick.
"No hard feelings though!" Lionheart spread his paws. "In fact, this might have been the best thing that ever happened to me. I've only got a year to go and I've already got a book deal. Who knows? I might even go back into politics someday." Lionheart paused but Nick was silent and after a moment he asked, "So just what are you in for, Wilde?"
The fox hesitated, then said in a flat voice, "You remember Bellwether had accomplices? Three rams?" Lionheart nodded, and Nick went on. "We picked up two of them right away, but the third one, Doug Ramses, the one who cooked the Night Howlers toxin and shot the predators, he was a little harder to find. We finally located him and Judy and me went to pick him up." A spasm of pain twisted the fox's face. "He...he killed...Judy trying to get away from us. And then I killed him. And now here I am, for the rest of my life. No parole." He paused, then said very softly, "It was worth it."
Lionheart had no use for foxes but Judy Hopps had been something special. He thought of the day she graduated the police academy, all bright eyes and big hopes, and he felt an unaccustomed pang of sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear about Officer Hopps."
"Thanks." Nick mustered a ghost of a smile. "At least no one will ever have to worry about Bellwether and her goons again. We got them all." He lifted himself off the wall and walked away slowly, his head bent, and Lionheart watched him go, the pang of sympathy growing in a way that was almost painful.