An animal's height is a defining feature in what the seating arrangements will be towards any event that you come into. Being small gets you in the front, while the taller mammals stay in the back. Games, concerts, or plays, if you're small you'll always be guaranteed a front row seat. This can take a somber tone at a funeral however, where your height can put you to bare right in front of whomever had the misfortune of being deceased at the time, and that is where Nick sat. Front and center as the casket of Detective Leopold Shultz is sunk into the earth below. Killed in the line of duty, Zootopia's most successful detective's career met its end on the job, against those who choose to fall on the wrong side of the law. And despite all of the skill, experience, and prowess acquired in over twenty years of dedicated service to the ZPD, it all failed him.

Such a day like this carries itself on the shoulders of Nick. Even at the gathering, the weight of the loss of one of ZPDs finest can be seen over the heads of all who wear blue on the streets. So it comes to a surprise when he sees Judy, bright eyed and ears high smiling at him.

"First time doing this?"

"I didn't even know the guy. My sympathies for his loss should be distant, but-"

"-he had no family and we're the only people who will remember him."

"Yea, something like that."

Her look and tone was an odd spot in an otherwise dark room. Everyone was in murmurs, but Judy spoke loud enough to be heard by any wandering ears in the crowd. Nick, had to know why.

"You're handling this well."

"We rabbits have big families. Funerals are a regular occurrence for us. We don't get sad over the loss of the one's we loved, but we do celebrate the life they lived, being grateful that we had a chance to know them."

"Predators don't really do big families"

Large families, a foreign concept to Nick, but it seems like the rabbits of Bunnyburrow and rabbit kind in general have a good idea on how to honor the dead. A party for the fallen to remind us how grateful we should be for the life we live. But a rabbit's life is scarce in danger, unless you wear a badge on your chest. Judy can just as likely find herself on the wrong end of a criminal's intent out there as the venerable Det. Leopold. The thought of Judy's casket being descended to the earth gives Nick's heart a few beats to skip about.

"I got to get out of here. The music has no pulse, the sweet cakes aren't so sweet, and the punch has lost all of its… punch."

"Making jokes I see. Now you're getting it"

"I wasn't joking."

Nick leaves, counting the steps before Judy catches up to him. "Nick, I know you're sad, but there's something you need to know."

"What is it Carrots?"

"Det. Leopold, he lived two floors below me."

"I'm sure it's the landlord's responsibility to move out all of his stuff.."

"That's not it. The night before Leopold's death, as we finished our shift, I was going up the stairs when I saw a porcupine leave his room."

"Just because he has no family doesn't mean he has no friends."

"But he doesn't, Nick. The precinct called him lonely Leo for a reason. The only thing he had was his job. And there was something else. The porcupine had a package with him."

"We run a beat, Judy. We're not detectives. Inform Chief Bogo, he'll put the right mammals on the job."

"I already did."

"What did he say?"

"I can't commit resources on a hunch."

"The last time you had a hunch it led to something big. Is this happening all over again?"

"I don't know, but there is a mystery that needs to be solved and I need a partner."

"Today's been a heavy day."

"Then let's lighten it up a little. You and me, sleuthing, off the clock, what do you say?"

Nick sets his gaze on the mound of dirt over Leopold's casket, still fresh, as is the reminder of how dangerous life can be under the badge. If her hunch is more than just that he may find himself in the same spot as the late detective, six feet under, covered in dirt, with his mug on the wall, "To the Fallen." And this is going to be off the clock, freelance, no backup. Is she aware of any of this? Or does she not care?

"Alright Carrots. You and me. Let's go."