Ch. 3:
The Mystic Spring Oasis looked like Nick would imagine upon hearing the name, the front lobby decorated with crystal wind chimes, a lit fountain and the air full with the thick scent of incense while calming meditative music played.
With Judy at his side they walked to the front desk with a mediating yak sat.
"Hello?" Nick asked but the yak didn't appear to notice him, continuing to vocalize. Nick frowned as he got louder, "Hello? HEY!"
With a shake of his horned head the yak pulled his long braids back to reveal his eyes that fell on the two smaller animals.
"Hey, I was wondering-" Nick began but the yak interrupted him.
"I'm gonna have to hit the pause button right there," he replied, flies buzzing around his head. "Because we had to ban salesmammals a few months back."
"Uh…nope," Nick slowly shook his head, his lips pressed together for a moment before continuing, "I'm actually a cop and I was told a Mr. Emmitt Otterton came here once in a while." He offered the yak the photo, "Maybe you've seen him around?"
An expression suddenly split over the yak's face and Nick tensed, waiting to hear some very important and valuable information.
But instead the yak violently sneezed, making Nick flinch as mucous and flies flew everywhere. "Yeah, ol Emmitt," the yak laughed as he gave Nick back the photo. "Haven't seen him in a couple weeks, but hey, you should talk to his yoga instructor, I'd be happy to take you back."
"Oh, thanks so much," Nick was delightfully surprised as the yak stood up and headed to the door next to his desk. He didn't think he'd find any mammals so willing to help. "Thanks a lo-WHYARE YOU NAKED!?"
Nick whirled around to put his back between him and the nude yak who let out a laugh, "Oh, we're a naturalist club don't ya know." He shook his hips in a way Nick didn't appreciate in the slightest.
He glared at Judy who still wore her smug smile. "Yeah, remember how in Zootopia anyone can be anything. Well these guys-" she leaned far too close into the fox's personal bubble-"They be naked."
And suddenly Nick was horrified of the hell-beast he had hustled into helping him. She didn't bat an eye as they walked through an oasis looking courtyard full of naked animals, bathing, relaxing, grooming, all the while Nick kept his eyes on the ground. He had nothing against naturalists but he barely looked at himself when he was naked.
"Oh dear, this isn't making you uncomfortable is it?" Judy asked in faux dismay, placing her paws on her cheeks. "Because you calling it quits is the absolute last thing I'd want."
Nick scowled at her, "Then you have nothing to worry about."
Her ears fell, "Boy, that's the spirit."
Finally they reached a group of animals performing revealing yoga tricks, a tattooed elephant the one in charge.
The yak spoke to them, "As you can see Nangi's an elephant so she'll totally remember everything." He addressed the animal, "Hey, Nanji, these dudes have some questions about Emmitt the otter."
"Who?"
"Uh, Emmitt Otterton? Been coming to your yoga class for like six years?"
"I have no memory of this beaver."
"He just said he's an otter," Nick pointed out, his hope plummeting at getting any good leads here.
"He was here a couple Wednesdays ago. 'Member?" the yak continued.
"Nope."
"Yeah, he was wearing a green cable-knit sweater vest, and a new pair of corduroy slacks. Oh, and a paisley tie. Sweet Windsor knot. Real tight. Remember that Nanji?"
"No."
Nick quickly pulled out his pen and pad and furiously scribbled the words that came out of the oblivious yak's mouth.
"Yeah, and we both walked him out and he got into this big ol' white car with a silver trim? Needed a tune up. The third cylinder wasn't firing. 'Member that, Nanji?"
"Nope."
"Uh, hey," Nick caught the yak's attention. "You didn't by any chance catch the name of the plate number, did you?"
"Oh for sure. It was 29THD03."
Nick quickly wrote the number down. "Wow, that's a lot of great info, I owe ya one."
"Told you Nanji's has a mind like a steel trap," the yak replied. "I wish I had a memory like an elephant."
"Well, I had a blast," Judy replied as the two walked out of the oasis. "Oh, and you are quite welcome for the clue. And seeing as how any moron can run a plate I will take that weird little pen of yours and bid you adieu."
"The plate…" Nick looked up and then bared his teeth in frustration. "I can't run a plate! I'm not in that stupid system yet!"
"That's a shame really," Judy said flatly. "Now be a doll and give me the pen please."
"Now hold on," Nick smirked down at her, "What did you just say? Any moron can run a plate? I wonder if there's any long-earred morons around that are up to the task."
She scowled as he waved the pen between his fingers, "Fox, I did what you asked! You can not keep me on the hook forever!"
"Oh not in your wildest dreams," he replied. "After all I only have thirty six hours left to solve the case. So can you run the plate or not, sweetheart?"
Her scowl turned back into her evil smile, "Now that you mention it…I have a pal at the DMV."
.
"Flash is the fastest guy in there he'll run your plate like that," Judy snapped her fingers for emphasis as the two stepped into the DMV.
"That's exactly what I need because this is the most ridiculous time limit and I-wait." Nick stared ahead in utter horror. "They're…they're all sloths?!"
He looked around at all the windows, each one had a sloth that were very, very, very slowly stamping, stapling and snapping pictures, a series of long lines filling up the large room.
"You're a fluffy little liar," he snapped at her.
Judy held her paw over her heart, "Are you insinuating that just because he's a sloth he can't be fast. What happened to anyone can be anything?"
They walked, well Nick walked Judy skipped, to the only empty window in the room. "Flash, Flash, Hundred Yard Dash," Judy greeted the sloth. "It's marvelous to see you again."
She leaned her elbows against the table of the window as the sloth slowly pulled his mouth up into a smile, "Nice to…see you…too."
"Flashy Dashy I'd love you to meet my new friend…Baby, I've forgotten your name."
"Heh," Nick smiled drolly at her before showing his badge to the sloth. "Officer Wilde, ZPD. How are ya doing today?"
"I am…doing…" the sloth trailed off.
"Good?"
"As well…as I…can…what…can I…do?"
"Well, if you could-"
"For you…?"
"Uh…I was thinking you could-"
"…Today…?"
Nick looked to Judy who just smirked and mouthed 'Hang in there' and then back to Flash. When he didn't appear like he was going to open his mouth again Nick continued, "I was wondering if you could run a plate for me? I'm in a hurry, by the way, my job's kinda at stake." Maybe pity gave sloths a speed boost.
"Sure…what's the…plate…"
"29-"
"Number…?"
"…29THD03."
Flash slowly, oh so slowly, moved his finger over the keyboard in front of him, he clicked a key, "Two…nine…"
"THD03," Nick repeated, digging his claws into the desk before him.
"T…"
Nick nodded, "HD03."
"H…"
Nick placed his elbows on the desk, covering his mouth with a paw as he realized he was going to lose his job.
"D…"
He wondered what else he could do to keep from living on the street? He guess he could work at the market like his mother.
"0…"
Maybe he could write a book? Telling the world how he had achieved his dream only for a carrot-sucking she devil in a rabbit suit snatch it away from him two days later.
Flash hovered his finger over the number three but before he could press it Judy spoke up: "Hey, Flashy Dashy wanna hear a joke?"
"You wouldn't!" Nick nearly foamed at the mouth as the sloth slowly lifted his head, keyboard forgotten.
"…Sure…"
Judy grinned at Nick. Obviously I would. "What do you call a three humped camel?"
Nick lifted his head up to the ceiling, praying to Marian for saintly patience.
"I don't…know…what do…you call…a…?"
"Threehumpedcamel," Nick growled keeping his eyes on the ceiling.
"Three…humped…camel?"
Judy threw her hands open as if the joke would jump out from her palms, "Pregnant!" She broke into condescending laughter and actually leaned her head against Nick's side, making the fox's mouth twitch.
Flash eventually laughed at the joke and Nick hoped Marian had heard his prayers that felt more like begs, "That's hilarious now remember how my job was at stake-"
"Hey…Priscilla…?" Flash slowly turned to the sloth next to him.
"Wait…"
"What…do you…"
"No…"
"Call…a three…humped…"
Nick slammed his face onto the table before literally sliding to the floor, no longer caring for acting his age around perfect strangers and a grinning bunny.
But eventually-eventually-Flash did his freaking job.
Nick snatched the slip of paper and read over the address before the sloth had finished speaking (which wasn't a big feat). "It's registered to…Tundra Town Limo Service! A limo took Otterton! And it's in Tundra Town!" He grabbed Judy's shoulders and shook her, "It's in freaking Tundra Town!" He dashed to the door while Judy casually threw a goodbye to Flashy Dashy.
"Get a move on," he snapped over his shoulder as the doors slid open, "We need to beat the rush hour before-" he looked outside. "OF COURSE IT'S NIGHT!"