Far below the canopy tucked away inside a tree through a jungle of leaves is Coco Lobo's. It's a nighttime joint that's only spoken about in the ears of the ne'er do wells of Zootopia. And you'll find them there, that's the kind of clientele Coco Lobo's wants. If you're looking for someone to disappear or a message to be sent through the application of lethal force, you go to Coco Lobo's and hire someone to do it for you. If you're tripping the law then this ain't a bad place, but if you are the law. Its just trouble, and with a face like Judy's and a history like Nick's, that's exactly what you're going to get, trouble.
"You've been here before haven't you Nick?"
"Not here, but places like this. You can get things here that you can't get anywhere else."
"Just for hustling right?"
"Just that. I never got that bad, Judy. I wasn't good, but I wasn't dumb enough to be that bad."
"You don't like me going in there do you?"
"Can I stop you?"
Judy leads the way. The dusty remnants of Nick's life gets a clean wipe as a surge from the past enters his conscious. While never a patron of Coco Lobo's proper it was places like these where he stepped up from being a small time hustler running little league scams to making the big bucks. Scum joints like this is where he learned every name, place, and way to make a sly deal while excusing yourself from the arm of the law in the process. He doesn't want her to see this den of dissolute's, this reflection of a part of him he left behind. He searches for the proper cocktail of words to stop her, but he's caught without a sword. Not often does Nick feel like there's not a thing he can say. Judy's just too committed to her job to stop. Even if it isn't her case to begin with. Someone was murdered and an injustice has been done. Nick is left without a choice, he takes a deep breath and lets it all pass him.
They enter Coco Lobo's, and are greeted in silence by all the shadows on the wall. Just the eyes peering through the hazy veil with all thoughts questioning the audacity of the moment. A cop is here, and it doesn't matter that they aren't wearing their standard blues, these life long criminals can smell it, see it in the way they walk and talk. They know they're not welcomed here. Nick and Judy knows it too.
Judy ignores what she sees, but her ears betray her. They fly up on high alert. Anything can happen at this moment. Yet still she moves like she belongs here. Nick has no misconception of the sacrilege that is happening at this moment. He's deathly aware that at any moment him and Judy might end up front page on the Zootopia Times, as two off-duty cops slain for what? Getting a drink?
The bartender makes it clear that they're only getting one chance at avoiding conflict, "Friend. I think you two got lost. I suggest you leave."
Nick gets the hint, "Of course. We walked into the wrong place. Heck we're in the wrong part of town. I swear this happens all the time. We'll be going now."
"Not until I ask a question," Judy interjects, "There was a leopard who frequented this establishment."
The rhino snorts, "There are a lot of leopards who come here."
"This one was a detective. He went by the name of Leopold Shultz."
The rhino leans over Judy casting a shadow that consumes her, "You dare bring that name up around here."
Nick tugs on Judy, "Unless you want to end up in a casket like Leo we should get going."
Judy pulls her arm away, "He passed away a week ago. We're trying to find the one's responsible."
They both stare each other down. Nick just watches anticipating the moment where a fist slams down on the bunny. His jaw goes lazy to the floor instead when he see's the rhino smile and crack a laugh, "Oye, Boscoe. You lost the bet. Someone is trying to find Leo's killer."
The bar shows it's warmth and hospitality as the crowd of derelict criminals laugh and holler, resuming their conversation, even the music goes back on.
The rhino grabs two small mammal glasses and fills them on the tap, "Names Jeremy. You'll have to forgive the first impression. We don't really like your kind around here."
"Totally acceptable. I wouldn't like my kind around here either. Foxes, some of them give the whole of us a bad name."
"I was talking about cops. You don't have to be wearing a badge to sniff em out, but Leopold was a good guy. A lot of respect for him. So if you're investigating his untimely death, I suppose we can part some of his respect over to you. So here," he passes the drink over, "These are on the house."
A wolf whom Judy and Nick can assume is Boscoe, hands over several bucks to Jeremy. "I honestly thought they would send no one, but I'm glad to have lost this bet." He turns to the two cops, "Junior is in the back. He wants to speak with you. Take your time finish your drink and head through that door when you're ready. There's no rush. Junior's a patient wolf."