Ch. 5: Ironclaw

Bogo had taken one look at the muzzle Judy had brought in and disappeared into his office to make a few phone calls. Judy studied the muzzle while they waited; Clawhauser was back at his desk, telling anyone who would listen that he had saved Gazelle's life.

"There's a weird symbol inside it," Judy said, peering into the muzzle to stare at what looked like a coat of arms. "Look."

She offered the muzzle to Nick but the fox took a step back, eyeing the metal object with venom, "Keep it away from me."

Judy pulled back, remembering too late how Nick felt about muzzles, "Sorry."

"Do you think it's the Night Howlers again," he asked tightly, keeping his eyes on the ground.

Judy shook her head, "No, I don't think so. ZPD has been careful in monitoring if Night Howlers are shipped into the city. Besides, if that tiger had been infected by Night Howlers he wouldn't have just run away like that. He would've kept attacking until he was subdued or…" Judy trailed off.

"Killed," Nick finished for her.

"It's not the Night Howlers," Judy insisted.

"But it looks like something just as dangerous," he replied.

"Judy, Nick," Clawhauser called from his desk, taking a break from chatting an otter's ear off, "Chief just called he needs all officers in the bullpen for a meeting."

Nick and Judy shared a look; Judy looked down at the muzzle.

.

A few minutes later the bullpen was full of all the officers of ZPD, and Bogo looked more serious than usual.

"I have just gotten off the phone with Elkcatraz," he began somberly, "Ironclaw has escaped."

Murmuring immediately broke out, anxious and confused; Judy raised her paw, "Excuse me, sir. Who is Ironclaw?"

"She is one of the most dangerous criminals Zootopia has ever known," he answered. "She nearly had all of Tundra Town destroyed when she was last free, it was pure luck we caught her and was able to make an arrest. But now, she somehow freed herself." He looked around the room, his eyes hard. "Ironclaw has a knack for leaving a trial of chaos around her, and despite being questioned she never told us how, we could suspect Night Howlers but the only thing for certain is that we have to keep our eyes and ears open."

"She's been causing all these fights," Nick demanded.

Bogo nodded, "And odds are the next time you see one she won't be far from it. Now, this is red alert but the public are not to know until we have a solid lead, panic will not help us. Until another fight ensues go back to your original duty. Dismissed."

The animals crowded out but Judy hurried over to the buffalo. "Chief, that's it?"

"I'm afraid so," he replied. "One of the reason Ironclaw is so dangerous is because we don't have much information on her."

"Well I can't wait patiently for another fight," Judy argued, "Isn't there someone else who might have more information?"

Bogo huffed but looked thoughtful, "…There's a wolf, named Casper; he's a retired Elkcatraz guard. He might have something else to tell you."

"Then Nick and I are on it," she told him, dragging her partner out of the room before he could get a word in.

.

They were driving through the city, the GPS blaring instructions, when Nick spoke: "Carrots, I'm gonna do this thing I like to do that involves me telling you this is a bad idea, you ready?" He cleared his throat, "This is a bad idea."

"And I'm going to do this thing where I ask how so." She cleared her throat, "How so?"

"The last time we went to interview an animal we nearly got our faces clawed off. Remember Manchas?"

"Yes, and I also remember the last animal we investigated was Weselton."

"Weaselton," Nick corrected, "And he was a weasel, a panther and wolf are different, we can't step on them if they go rabid."

"Don't worry, Nick," Judy assured, "I'll protect you."

"Hah," Nick shot back. "We both know if anyone is carrying anyone out of there it's gonna be me carrying you, in which case you owe me dinner."

"Deal," she agreed, the car parking as they reached their destination.

She knocked on the door of Casper's house and an olden, raspy voice invited them in. Judy didn't hesitate to open the door and walk in, Nick grabbing her shoulders as he followed. Judy could feel his tension through his paws.

A gray timber wolf sat in an arm chair, his eyes glared at them as his TV blasted an old black and white comedy. If it wasn't for the TV and the door Judy had left open the room would've been pitch black.

"Mr. Casper," Judy asked warily. "I'm-"

"I know who you are," the wolf growled in his gravely voice. "Your Chief called, you want to know about Ironclaw."

"Yes, sir," Judy answered, "We think she's somewhere in Zootopia."

The wolf nodded, "There's no where else she'd go."

"What can you tell us about her," Judy asked.

"She hates this city," the wolf growled, "Don't ask me why, she never told anyone why. I just know she will reverse it back to the Stone Age if she can."

Judy looked up at Nick before speaking again, "How can she do that?"

"Chaos," he replied. "Somehow she can make any animal turn on each other, and she is patient. If she is free to do such things she will, no matter how long it takes."

"And you have no idea how to stop her," Nick asked.

Casper shook his head, "I'm afraid not. But I do know she hates any positive relationships between predators and prey so I'd watch your backs."

They thanked him and turned to leave but Casper's voice brought them to a halt.

"One more thing, I don't know if this will help the case, but Ironclaw's birth name is Lucy Lionheart."