Nick and Judy followed Doctor Furrier into Finnick's room prepared for the worst, only to be stunned at the sight of Chief Bogo and a large rat in a tweed blazer in an earnest conversation with the little fox.

Nick stopped short. "What is this?"

"Don't blame me," Finnick grumbled. He shifted in the bed, grimacing.

Judy came into the room as Furrier closed and locked the door. "I don't understand, Finnick. I thought you were robbed and badly hurt."

Finnick glared at Judy. "My garage is trashed and I can't feel anything below my waist. Is that bad enough for you?"

The bunny knew the little fox far too well to be offended and she went to the bed and put a paw on his shoulder. Their eyes met, and after a long moment, Finnick patted Judy's paw and smiled, just a little. She smiled back, then turned to Bogo. "Sir, I'm not trying to sound insubordinate…"

"Just a minute, Officer Hopps." The beaver doctor came over to the bed and moved the blanket aside, then squeezed Finnick's foot. "Do you feel that?" The little fox shook his head.

Furrier sighed and tucked the blanket back around him. "It's still too early to tell, but your x-rays are very encouraging. There are some cracks in your vertebrae but nothing is pressing on your spinal cord. I'm hopeful that once the swelling goes down in a day or two, you'll begin to regain feeling and movement." He nodded to Judy to continue.

"As I was saying, Chief, I don't want to sound insubordinate…"

"A little late for that," grumbled the cape buffalo. "If I live to be a hundred I'll never forget your first day."

The bunny didn't miss a beat. "...but I think an explanation is in order."

"Allow me." The tweed-clad rat stood up on her chair and produced a badge. "Officer Hetty Radan, Internal Affairs."

Nick's eyes narrowed. "What does Internal Affairs have to do with this?"

"Please have a seat, Officer Wilde. You too, Officer Hopps. I have a proposition for you." Radan waited until Nick and Judy sat down, then took a folder from the table next to Finnick's bed. "Some time ago, we became aware of the possibility of one or more vigilantes operating within the ZPD." The fox and the bunny started to speak but Bogo silenced them with a harsh gesture and the rat went on without missing a beat. "A prostitute, a sheep named Tamara Jade, was found murdered two days after she was paroled."

This time Nick did speak. "I'm sorry to say it but there's nothing strange about a prostitute getting killed."

Radan turned a page. "There is if she was suspected of blackmailing someone in the police department. After her death, a key was found among her personal effects. That key opened a safe deposit box at the Lemming Brothers Bank. The box contained a recording of a phone call Miss Jade made, threatening to report an unidentified officer to his superiors. Apparently she witnessed the murder of another animal, a burglar named Jengo Slate, a hyena. He was a suspect in several break-ins where homeowners were not only robbed, but badly beaten." Finnick's ears perked up and Radan nodded. "Just like you, sir. Miss Jade told the officer that she had seen him, while he was off-duty, stab Mr Slate and get into an unmarked car."

"How did she know the killer was a cop?" asked Judy.

"She had seen him in uniform, rousting prostitutes. One of her friends gave her the officer's name." Radan ran her paw down the page. "Unfortunately, the voice on the other end of the line is unidentifiable, and Miss Jade used a public pay phone which averages a dozen calls a day to the ZPD. It's impossible to trace who she spoke to." The rat closed the folder and regarded Nick soberly.

He shifted under her gaze. "You said you had a proposition."

"Your friend has been victimized." Hetty Radan nodded to Finnick. "Chief Bogo filled me in on some of your past exploits. You're quite an actor, Officer Wilder. I think you could convincingly portray someone so angry about what happened to his friend that he would be willing to take the law into his own paws."

Nick looked taken aback. "After everything I've been through to be accepted as a cop, you want me to go rogue?"

Radan shrugged. "I've told you why Internal Affairs believes there are vigilantes in the ZPD. It's possible Miss Jade and Mr Slate are not the only victims. If you're not willing to take the assignment, we'll just have to keep working the case from other angles."

Judy said shrewdly, "I'm guessing that you wouldn't want to take advantage of Finnick's situation if there were any other good angles."

"That is true," said Radan suavely. "The attack on your friend is a perfect opportunity."

"Now wait just a minute!" snapped Finnick. "You ain't using me to wreck Nick's life. I said I would listen to what you had to say, and I heard it, and I say no." He looked at his friend. "I don't want you doing this."

The red fox smiled a little. "It's not like I would really be going bad, Finn. It would just be an act, like the old days."

The little fox scowled. "Those were pretty bad days. And what about Judy? What's she supposed to do while you're on this job?"

Judy said slowly, "I have a feeling I'm going to have a part to play too." She looked at Radan. "Am I right?"

"Quite right. For Officer Wilde to sell this, he has to be seen turning on his friends, particularly you." Radan looked uncomfortable for the first time. "I realize this is a lot to ask, but…"

She fell silent as Nick and Judy gazed at each other for a long moment, then turned to Finnick. No words were said, but it was as if a whole conversation took place between the three animals and both foxes nodded when the bunny said, "We'll do it."

"In that case, I'll leave and come back up in the elevator as if I've only just arrived," said Bogo. "Give me ten minutes, then come out." He went to the door and opened it, then looked back at Nick. "Make it good, Wilde."