Nick rubs his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

I stand up and look out the entrance. "I.. I just forgot, or didn't put it together. We need to get to my parent's."

Nick gets up slowly and walks over. His soul is hurting. I can hear it in his voice. "Judy, what are you talking about?"

"Yesterday. I received an email. It had to be from them. Did you leave me a drink when you left lunch?" A chill runs down my back.

"No. I didn't. I got one for me when I went back up to work on my cases." Nick shifts uncomfortably.

"They must have left it!" I feel so violated. "Nick, did you see any- wait. Which case were you working on?" I almost forgot.

Nick puts his paw on my shoulder. "Rabbit, what are you talking about?"

"Nick. You know exactly what I'm talking about. I went to see Bogo. He found the Wall case you were working on. Why did you not tell me?" I stare at Nick, and he just stares right back. He is clearly not wanting to talk. He starts back down the tree, and I follow.

Once we reach the bottom, Nick starts walking towards the door to the kitchen. "Judy, I need a moment, ok? I promise this will all make sense."

"Take your time, Nick. I'll be waiting out front." I watch him walk towards the door. He stops as he is reaching for the knob. I know he is bracing himself to say goodbye. I'll be just a step away, Nick.

I walk through one of the broken sections of the fence. The wood is so flimsy a board falls when I touch it. I walk out to the jokester and look at myself in the mirror. Blood had rubbed off on my face, arms, and a little on my vest when I was with Nick. I reach into my back pocket and take out a paw wipe. I wipe as much of my fur clean as possible. I sit in the car and wait a while for Nick to come out. I look at my watch. Ten past three in the afternoon.

After a while of waiting for Nick, I take off my vest and begin to clean it down with a second wipe. I hear the front door open. Nick walks towards me. He has on a new suit. It's dark grey with a black tie, his badge is pinned on his chest and police belt on. It fits him well. His police uniform is folded in his paws. His face is cleaned and stoic.

"I know this isn't the official uniform, but it's not soaked." Nick shrugs and hangs his head down.

I stand up and feel his shirt. "Where did you get this suit? It looks nice."

Nick looks back at the house. "It was my father's."

I ask the question I already know the answer to. "Are you going to be ok Nick?"

"I need to be." He places his paw on the car and looks out in the sky towards the smoke plumes at the Wall.

"Soo.. why did you have that case pulled?" I try not to push him, but I need to know.

Nick sighs. "I received a tip. I was working on a case Bogo assigned when my phone rang. Someone had been buying materials to make explosives. The one who made the tip said they had overheard them talking about possible targets. Two of the proposed targets were my mother's house, and the Wall. I guess they needed the bombs for the Wall, and they sent the sheep here instead."

"What? Nick, who tipped you off? Who else knew this was your mother's-" I hear a blaring noise coming down the street. "You've got to be kidding me." I stare right at Nick. His face shows the tiniest enjoyment over my incredulous look. At least he isn't feeling destroyed right now.

"I called him on the radio when I was cleaning up. He's always got my back, and has his ears in the underground market." Nick's smile continues to grow ever so slightly. "He is the one who tipped me of the explosives purchase."

The music is blaring. The muffler consistently popping. The van stops behind the jokester. "I can't believe you called him." I roll my eyes at Nick and put my vest back on.

"Hey! He can help. We aren't getting to your farm in this tricycle." Nick watches as the driver door swings open. Finnick jumps out.

That loud voice starts barreling out. "What's up Nick? How can I help?"

"Hey buddy. Thanks for coming on such short notice." Nick motions us all to the back of the van and opens the door. He throws his bloodied uniform in the back.

Finnick sees the uniform and his eyes open wide. "I'm sorry, Nick. Does this have to do with the buy I told you about?"

Nick rubs the back of his neck. "Yeah, it does. I need you to keep this quiet for now, but.. they used the bombs on the Wall… and they murdered my mother."

Finnick is shocked. "I'm sorry Nick. But I don't understand, who are 'they?' The buyer was just a-"

I interrupt Finnick. "A ferret."

"Yeah." Finnick looks up at me confused. "How did you know?"

"Because I know who it is." I pause for a moment. "At least I think I do. Finnick, we need to ask you a favor. Can you drive us to my family's farm? It's in Bunnyburrow."

"All the way out there? I guess. There isn't a third seat though, so you'll have to hold on in the back." Finnick points to the open back of his van.

"Why do I have to go back there?" I look at Nick.

Nick just smiles at me. "Because I called shotgun!"

"No you didn't!" I punch him in the shoulder.

"Yes I just did!" Nick pushes me out of the way and hops into the passenger seat.

Finnick just shakes his head and walks back to the driver's seat. "You two have gotten so much worse over the years."I make sure I have the jokester's keys and hop in the back of Finnick's van. I stand behind Nick's seat and grab a hold of the chair.

Finnick has stayed pretty much the same since I found who was behind the elephant costume. He still works his small time hustles by himself. Nick asked me to turn a blind eye to Finnick's doings when we finished working on the Night Howler cases. I told Nick I would on condition Finnick started reporting his taxes properly and did everything legally.

For the most part though, we have stayed away from our criminal contacts, it's not good for us to be seen with some more.. colorful characters, but Nick trusts Finnick and I trust Nick. For now, we can't spare any trust to anyone but who we know. Nick and Finnick go a long ways back. They fought for each other and were 'working' partners for years before I came along. Though he is a small time criminal on the side, he has integrity when it comes to Nick.

We all talk on the way back to my family farm. I learn that Finnick saw the ferret make the purchase in the Nocturnal District under the city. It was a perfect place to make the buy, really. In the darkest part of the city. Nick pulled the case to try to see if he knew the suspect of the failed bombing. He didn't, but he kept looking to see if there was any parallels between the first attempt and the supposed one Finnick observed, and if the threat to his mom was credible. When the bombs hit the Wall, Nick's first thoughts were to make sure I was ok. When I mentioned my parents out in the streets, with the light of the Wall fires, Nick remembered. He knew his mom would be next, he panicked and ran as fast as he could to make sure she was safe.

Beyond Nick's mother and the Wall, the bomber knew to take out the power before the attack. They broke out Bellwether from prison under the cover of night and darkness. They knew to attack the power plants of the city. And to do it all at a relatively same time, without being noticed. This animal has to be smart, skilled, and must have help. I hope we aren't in over our heads.

"Just up over here Finnick." I see my family's farm. My mother is outside sitting on a chair and talking to my siblings in front of my old home. "You guys might want to let me get out and talk to them." I check the time. Quarter past seven.

We don't have a lot of time, I love my family but I need to talk to my parents. We stop a short walking distance from my mother. I step out the back of the van. I take a deep breath and start walking towards my family. They all see me and start running over. I haven't been home in months. They all welcome me the only way the Hopps family know how, erratically. I'm almost caught up in the moment. Everyone is so nice and welcoming. For a moment, I'm truly home.

My mother makes her way through the crowd. I see my dad running out the house and trying to catch up. "Alright everybody, I need to talk with mom and dad now. I promise we'll talk more soon." My mother looks so happy. My father runs up and hugs me.

My mother pries my dad off of me. "Oh Stu, you're going to suffocate her! We are so glad you are ok Judy." My dad nods.

Dad looks so relieved to see me. "We heard about the explosions in the city but we couldn't reach you on your phone! The other families said they couldn't even get into the city for the market."

"I'm so sorry guys. The power for the entire city went out last night. I would've called but it's been a long day." I look back at the van. Nick and Finnick get out and start walking over. "I need to ask you guys something."

My mother looks concerned. "Of course Judy, you know we are always here for you. We still have power here, and warm food."

I look back at the two foxes as they walk up and back at my parents. "We have a lead on who is behind the attack in the city. But I need to know where Gideon is. He is the only one who can help us."

My dad looks shocked. "Well, Gid doesn't come around until tomorrow. I can't say we know where he lives. You and-" My dad looks over my shoulder and pauses for a moment. "-those two are welcome to stay overnight. Gid doesn't have a phone so we can't really call him"

"He doesn't have a phone?" I ask shocked.

My mother chimes in. "His family has always lived a more simple life Judy."

Nick and Finnick arrive behind me. "Mom, Dad, you remember my partner Nick. This is our friend Finnick, he drove us out here. Our police car was taken to use in a police perimeter as they were containing the Wall."

My parents met Nick soon after we became partners. They were cautious at first, but their partnership with Gideon really tamed their anxiety of foxes, well really a lot of predators. Plus, since they have expanded their business, they were able to buy a more newer and more fuel efficient car to come visit me the city. My parents requested to meet Nick on a few occasions, and we met them for lunch a couple of days. They would ask a lot about the Night Howler incident and the cases we've had in the past. I really think they felt a lot better once they could see that Nick could hold his own, and felt a strong loyalty between the two of us. Mom and dad never met Finnick but they seem to trust him. After all, they trust Nick and I, and we trust Finnick.

My mother extends their offer once again. "Really Judy, you and your friends can stay here for the night."

Nick reaches out and shakes paws with my mom. "Thank you Bonnie. We appreciate your kindness." Nick looks back at Finnick. "Can we ask another favor of you guys?" I didn't think Nick would ask anything of my parents. "Can we borrow your old truck? Finnick and I discussed that it would be better if he could get back to the city tonight and see if he can find anything else while we are out here."

My dad looks uneasy as he reaches into his pocket. He grabs the keys to the truck and hand them to me. "Take care of her now Judy, she's getting a little rusty."

I take the keys and place them into my pocket. "Thanks dad. Can I have a moment with Nick and Finnick?" My parents smile and start walking back towards the house. My dad looks back once or twice as I yell over at them "We'll be right over! You can stay in front of the house!"

That loud voice nearly cuts me off. "Wow bunny. You're folks are alright. Nick and I were talking though. I'm going to head back to the city. I'll see if there is anything I can find on where this buyer is." Finnick grins. "After all, there's only room for one big time hustler in town anymore." Finnick jabs Nick and waves us off as he scurries back to his van.

I look at Nick. "I really wish you'd talk to me before sending off our ride."

"Hey, he was only going to head back if we got the truck. Besides, no one uses the truck anymore except for stuff around the farm. We'll have it back before your parents know it." Nick nudges me and starts walking towards my parents.

We walk up to the house and we all look back as Finnick's van pops and squeals away. My parents point us towards the guest room and Nick falls into the bed. I talk with my brothers and sisters for a few hours. They all are so interested in life in the city. I don't talk about the horrors of the day past, they don't need it. Nick comes out a few times and tries to sit down next to me, but he stays mostly silent. I can tell he is uncomfortable and whisper to him that he can go back into the room if he wants to be alone. I think he sees my family, and misses his.

Once the family starts heading to bed I grab a few charging cables and head to the guest room with Nick. Nick has turned off the lamps and is laying on his side. His legs dangle off the end of the large bunny bed. I plug in our phones and sit down next to him. My watch says eleven twenty-four at night.

Nick rolls over and looks at me. "This isn't a dream, is it?"

I look into his eyes. "No, Nick. I'm so sorry."

Nick's eyes start to well up and he turns around. "So what's so special about this Gideon? Do you really think he can help?"

I know he is trying to get his mind back on track. "Nick, we'll talk about it in the morning. He knew someone we need to talk to, that's all. There's no couch in here, do you want me to stay or go? I still have my bed here."

Nick doesn't say a word. I start to get up when he grabs my arm. "Ok Nick. I'll stay."

Nick and I sleep in our uniforms that night. On opposite sides of the bed, we face away from each other. I set my phone alarm for five thirty in the morning.