Chapter 3: On The Trail
The trio of officers had left ZPD around dusk and had gone to visit Mr. Big in Tundra Town. Snow was lightly falling and there was no wind to blow it around in the calm night. There were children of different species playing in the wide open spaces on the far side of the road in a field of snow dunes. They passed the snow covered buildings in the city that stretched high into the sky. The three officers drove in a normal vehicle to not alarm any of Mr. Big's security at the gate. Nick lowered the driver side window to speak with one of the polar bears whom approached the vehicle. "Hey Tony."
"How's it going Nick?"
"We're here to talk with Mr. Big, there's another problem only he can help us in."
"Hold on." Tony walked over to an intercom and talked to someone on the other line. He nodded his head and walked back to Nick, "Alright you can enter."
"Thanks bud." Nick rolled his window up and proceeded after the chain was removed. The officers waited in a fancy room in the home, in the center was a table right for their sizes where Mr. Big's family would be placed. They waited for the polar bears and Mr. Big in the paws of the biggest one to showed up.
"So, how is it you guys know this guy?" Robert asked curiously.
"It's a bit of a long story, we had a bit of a misunderstanding after Nick and I were caught in one of his limousines as we investigated for clues in a missing mammal case. Luckily having saved his daughter from a giant donut that was heading for her got us his trust."
"I tell you, I thought we were goners that time, he nearly iced us." Nick tapped his foot on the carpet below him.
"And it was all because Nick sold him an expensive rug he shouldn't have."
Just then the polar bears entered the room, with the biggest one approaching the table putting Mr. Big, his daughter Fru Fru and granddaughter Judy upon it.
"Judy, Nick. So nice to see you two." He gives Judy a kiss on each cheek, "How have you two been? It's been a while since we've seen you."
"Yes it has." She looks to his granddaughter, "And my look how you've grown little Judy, love your dress."
"Thank you aunt Judy." Little Judy said in a shy flattered voice.
"So what can I help you… three in?" Mr. Big noticed Robert behind them.
"I'm Robert Lyle, new to the ZPD force and partnered with these two sir."
"Well Mr. Big I have something to ask you about the crime wave that's been going all around Zootopia and wanted to know if you know anything about it?" Judy was a bit nervous having asked him.
"I don't really know much about what's been going on. A mysterious organization appeared as of nowhere and started causing all this mayhem."
Nick stepped forward two steps coming next to Judy, "Are you in any way a part of it?"
"No of course not, this group had offered me to join up with them, but I refused on account of the disappearing officers. I don't do business that way."
"Can you tell us where we could find them by a chance?" Robert asked.
"I don't know where they have their center of operations. A representative had came to us with the offer. She was real lovely, but we couldn't accept the offer. She left this little souvenir just in case I changed my mind."
The polar bear standing near the fire place brought over a glass cup and placed it on the table. It had "Have A Jolly Ol' Time At The Platinum Paws" designed on it.
Judy took out her notepad and began to write.
Robert then stepped up, "Was she a squirrel by a chance?"
"Yes she was, how did you know?"
"We interrogated a gopher whom was given a job offer by her. He said he had been working with you."
Mr. Big knew whom Robert was talking about, "Ah Gabriel, he was always doing things behind our backs. He's lucky you caught him otherwise I would've iced him." Mr. Big bent his fingers in his hand into a fist.
Fru Fru placed her hands on her hips, "Dad what did we talk about discussing those things in front of Judy?"
"I'm sorry honey you know how back stabbers get to me."
"Do you know where she came from at least?"
"She had said if I were to change my mind I would find her in the swamp lands. I'm sure if you search there, you'll find her."
Judy finished writing and put her notepad and pen away, "Thank you so much Mr. Big it really helps getting closer to solving the cases."
"Any time my dear, the family hopes to see you two more often."
"Oh we will Mr. Big. And bye little Judy and Fru Fru."
"Bye aunt Judy."
"I hope to see you soon Judy, hopefully we can go shopping sometime." Fru Fru waved at her.
"We will you'll see. We'll see you all later." She waved at them as she exited the room.
After having left Mr. Big's home, the night had settled. There was hardly any traffic and a few citizens out and about. Nick dropped Robert off at his apartment.
"Thanks for taking back me here. Now tomorrow once we log in all the information into the system we'll be heading to the swamp lands. If what Mr. Big said is true, we are getting closer to find a big lead on this case."
"We're departing so soon?"
"Yes Hopps, I know you want to get Nick settled at his new place, but that will have to wait. We'll meet tomorrow around noon and head to the train station together."
"Alright, we'll meet you there."
"Have a good night officers."
"You too as well. See ya tomorrow." Nick replied and drove off as Robert walked to the building.
"Boy he really is serious on solving this case isn't he?"
"Yeah, but I think there's more to him than what he led on."
"What do you mean?" Judy was confused at his remark.
"Did you see the face he made when Clawhauser told him we were more than partners? There's more to him than what he led on, but it'll reveal itself soon."
Judy thought about it as Nick drove on. They arrived outside the apartment complex where Judy is still a resident within. She gets out of the car and walks around besides Nick's window.
Judy places her arms on the side of the door, "Are you sure you don't want to stay the night? You'll need the sleep for tomorrow. I have extra blankets and pillows you know."
"I'll be alright Judy, I'm going to get most of my things from the bridge and move them all into the apartment."
"Tonight?"
"I figured it'd be better to that way I have a real roof over my head. But any way, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Judy nodded, "OK, sleep well tonight Nick." She padded his right paw.
"You too carrots."
Judy gave a playful annoyed look at him, "You're still going to be calling me that?"
Nick shrugged his left shoulder, "Time to time."
Judy rolled her eyes smiling and walked on into the building as Nick drove off.
At the train station around noon everyone was boarding the train destined for the swamp lands. They sat in a booth for four having drinks on the side as they discussed what they were bound to do once they arrived.
"This is so awesome; we're going to go see a new section I have never been in."
"I haven't been there myself, but from what I've been told it is a wild place, for officers at least. It's more of a place to undermine the law, so do expect criminals among the population."
"Hey pal relax OK? We'll do just fine, besides I have been there a few times even had a job there. What we need is to play cool and not be all flashing our badges." Nick insisted.
Judy was curious about his time there, "What did you do there Nick?"
Nick had put a face of uncertainty, "Just a place where all mammals would go to have some fun. Nothing big."
"Alright Wilde, how are we going to do this?" Robert leaned back on his seat.
"Easy. For starters, we're not going to be wearing our uniforms if we're going to be going into places. Blue bloods are not welcomed at almost every establishment there. We're going to have to blend in with the crowd if we don't want to attract attention and maybe scare off any body linked to the criminal organization."
Robert nodded his head, "You're right Wilde, that is why we'll be purchasing clothing at the nearest store and leave our uniforms at the ZPD station there." He then pulls out two small communicators designed to look like leafs, "Here."
"What are these?" Nick pointed at his leaf.
"Let's just say if either one of us gets into some sort of trouble we can find each other through these."
"By the way how will we know where to look for any suspects and get on the organization's trail?"
Nick nodded, "Judy has a point, I mean are we going to be knocking on every door until we find our squirrel?"
"No. If this squirrel happens to be who I think she is; I'll be able to identify her. And as Mr. Big showed us, we'll have to look in the Platinum Paws." Robert looked out the window at the rain forest district's roads and a few homes that were built in the biggest trees, his breath lightly fogging the glass.
"You do know our suspect?" Judy squinted her eyes a bit leaning forward.
"I might, but as I said if it just so happens to be whom I think it is."
"Mind telling us who she is and how you know her?"
Robert gasped knowing he couldn't keep it from them, "Back in Jungnala I had a partner of my own. She was my informant, working with the scum that caused trouble time to time. I hadn't heard anything or seen her since the group back in Jungnala disappeared, I figured she left with them."
"Oh. I can see you really care for her."
Robert backed away from the window and looked at Judy, "It isn't that I care for her, I mean she's just my informant. Trading info to avoid being taken in. That's all."
"Come on buddy you know you got feelings for her." Nick teased pointing at him as he sat back placing his left arm over the seat, Judy smiling at what he was doing.
"Stop it Nick." She giggled.
"Any way, we should head to our cabins. I imagine we'll be arriving in the evening before night settles."
Robert slid to the end of the booth and headed to the stairs that led to the upstairs cabins for small animals.
"See what'd I tell ya, there is more than what he leads on."
"He's somewhat trying to hold back his feelings don't you think?"
"Well whatever, we'll just have to see how it all unravels when we get there. But I guess we should go and rest, it's gonna be a long night."
As they left the booth the train reached the end of the rain forest district and went into a tunnel that would then be traveling through the meadow district. Everything was green and had a few trees on the landscape. A few rivers ran through separating the land, which had small towns with a wide distance from one another. As Robert had said the train reached the station in swamp lands. The sun had just about to set, but illuminated the orange horizon that was slowly being engulfed by a purple sky with a few stars becoming visible. The odd city was slowly coming to life as the lights began to illuminate the streets packed with all sorts of animals beginning their night of fun.