Chapter 3: Bleating the competition

Zootopia…Vole Gardens…LAMB HQ

The League for the Assurance of Mammal Benevolence or LAMB, was a much older and affluent organization then PAC, while PAC formed in recent years due to either predators attaining political power or because the reactionary moves by prey animals had gotten to an intolerable point no one could say. However LAMB on its face represented at least in the beginning, a whole encompassing organization, the original stated goal was to attain equality for all mammals. Yet in recent years they seemed to focus primarily on prey issues.

Now the stated reason for this was due primarily to numbers, there is mathematically more prey and so their issues affect a wider population per capita. But while this has always been true it's only recently in the organization's history that they have changed focus.

As they drove into Vole Gardens the quality of the buildings took a definite upswing. LAMB HQ for example was in a deco style building, with shaped and polished edges made to resemble the old buildings from the 1930's, giving it a sense of old world charm, while the building itself was obviously quite new, in fact some of the concrete still had sharp edges from being poured not that long ago. The building must have been at least five to six stories tall.

The three of them walked into the building, the high grade tile resembled marble and may in fact have been marble from their reckoning. Because of this, the tap of Nick and Vivian's claws on their foot paws made a louder and more noticeable 'tick-tick-tick' sound that normally would be inaudible. The pat of Judy's large rabbit feet could also be heard. The sound itself was not distracting but it was noticeable, normally such a low sound would be subconsciously dismissed out of hand but because of its amplification and the persistence of the echo, suddenly it came to the forefront of their minds and the strange oddness of never noticing it before soon followed.

As they approached a security desk, with an aged sheep security guard sitting at the matching desk. A Ram's head logo on the patch of his sleeve, the words: League for the Assurance of Mammal Benevolence engraved in the white block wall behind him. Its sharp cut features stood out. But what made Nick and Judy look at one another was the Ram's head patch, it seemed very familiar yet they couldn't quite place it, possibly another feeling of Déjà vu, after all they dealt with Wolverine Risk Control agents, perhaps just the look of any security guard was tripping their memories.

"You got an appointment?" muttered the old sheep guard.

"No we do not, but I am Officer Judy Hopps, this is Officer Nick Wilde and Agent Carter of the FIB. We were wondering if we could talk to whoever is in charge around here." Judy asked sweetly and putting on a smile.

"Uh huh. Well let me look that one up." The old sheep muttered.

The old sheep opened his phone book looking for a name and extension. His slow movements reminded Judy of a particular sloth, but not nearly as slow. The old sheep tugged at his chin, muttering to himself. After a minute or two he picked up the phone and dialed a number. It rang several times before the receiver finally clicked.

"Mmm, Hey Ms. Powell, I uh got a couple cops and an agent with the FBI."

"FIB." corrected Vivian

"Yeah, FIB down here, they want to talk to someone in charge."

"Heh, oh yeah, down in the lobby. Right, ok, see you in a sec."

The old sheep clicked down the receiver slowly and carefully and looked back up at the trio.

"It'll be a couple of minutes, you can wait right there." The sheep informed pointing a hoof over at the nearby waiting area behind him.

The trio walked over to the small prepared waiting area, it was a nice looking area rug, with very plush seats and small oak coffee table. They didn't bother to take a seat but they did take notice to how upper class this place was, much different than the business park of PAC headquarters.

A few minutes later the nearby elevator doors opened up and out stepped a female pig, dressed in a pant suit. She walks up offering her hoof to Judy.

"Hello, Officer."

"Hopps, Judy Hopps." She introduced herself

"Oh, You're Judy Hopps, I've read so much about you, yes now I recognize you. Those newspaper pictures don't you justice, hon." Replied the pig.

"Why thank you…I guess. This is Officer Wilde, and Agent Carter with the FIB, and we have a few questions to ask, if we may?" she smiled and then pointed to her companions as she introduced them.

The pig noticed Judy being flanked by two foxes, and smiled uncomfortably.

"Sure…"

"My name is Lisa Powell, assistant director of LAMB." She introduced.

"Can we speak to the director?" asked Judy.

"Oh…well she's very busy. I mean I could check…." She responded flustered.

"I'm sorry madam, but are you uncomfortable?" asked Nick.

"Uh, I'm sorry, yes, it's just that with yesterday's events, we are all a little on edge. I hope you can understand."

"We do, which is why we are here, we are trying to investigate the matter. But I just think we all need to take a deep breath and calm ourselves down." Nick said calmly.

The pig cleared her throat, taking a breath.

"Yes, your right of course, I will have to check, but she has been in meetings all morning with various groups we work with, but I will try to see if I can get her to pull herself away."

"Do you create your own commercials or do you hire out to a third party?" asked Vivian nonchalant.

"Oh, our public service announcements, yes we make them onsite."

"So you have AV equipment, editing studio, that sort of thing?" the arctic fox continued.

"Yes up in our marketing department. Why do you ask?"

"The broadcast last night used a clip that is from one of your PSAs." Replied the white vixen

"Oh dear, really?"

"Yes, we were hoping to talk to your videographer."

"Sure, please follow me."

The Pig had ushered them into the elevator, pressing the floor for the department in question. A short elevator ride later, they came out onto a busy corporate office; the air was filled with the chattering of animals on telephones, the clatter of keyboard keys and the general malaise of an office.

The pig had taken them to their videographers' office; standing in front Judy rapped on the door with her paw.

"Just a second." Came a voice from inside the office.

The sound of an animal stumbling from behind the door and then it opened. A pangolin, wearing glasses, taped at the center, a bit of a bookish type.

"Can I help you?" asked the pangolin speaking in a nasally voice.

"Hi Max, these animals are from the ZPD, they have a few questions for you."

"Sure, sure, come on in" the pangolin offered, motioning with his paws.

The trio walked inside to see the office in a state of disarray, in short an absolute mess.

"Did….you have a break in?" asked Judy.

The pangolin laughed out loud.

"Oh no, no no. It's just been like this, the last guy didn't do a good job. I've been playing catch up ever since."

The trio stepped carefully around the objects on the floor.

"So maybe you can help us, we're looking for a particular clip. And we were told that it filmed by you guys." Stated Nick.

"Um…ok, do you have anything I can search for a name or a date or something?" asked the pangolin.

"Yeah, just pull up all the clips from the press conference about a year and half ago, ya know, the one about the preds going savage thing."

"Oh, yes, most definitely."

As the pangolin searched his files, Nick turned and smirked at Judy and Vivian. After a couple of minutes the search revealed several recordings from that day.

"Here you go, everything that was filmed that day."

Nick scrolled through the folder clicking on a couple of the videos, eventually getting to the bottom but not finding the clip he was looking.

"Uh, Carrots, Snowball…..We got a problem."

Judy and Vivian came around to look over Nick's shoulder.

"It's not here…"

"You sure you checked everything?" asked the vixen.

"Yeah." Replied Nick

"Max?" asked Judy

"This is all we have; well I mean all we have left."

"What do you mean?"

"Well like I said the last guy was messy, In fact other people tell me the guy was aloof with the work, like he was barely doing the job."

"Wait, you've never met him." Asked Nick

"Me…oh no, I got hired only like three or four months ago."

"Wait, so you didn't record…." Concluded Nick

"This stuff? Oh heck no, the other guy did it, he was the one behind the camera."

"When did he leave and why?" Asked Judy

"Oh um, something like six months ago, and why? Well no one here really knows why, he just left; at least that's what people tell me."

"Can you tell me his name?"

"Uh…Jesse…..something."

"Jesse Whitman. Yeah, that sounds right. Anyway, when he left he took a lot of stuff with him, computer files, and things like that."

"And you're saying he left only six months ago?" Judy asked as if putting the details together.

"Yeah."

"Can you excuse us for just a second?" Judy said to Max as she ushered the pair of foxes over to the other side of the office.

The three mammals almost huddle together to discuss as quietly as they can.

"I think I figured it out. This sheep named Jesse, that was one of the sheep that were with Bellwether." Said Judy.

"What do you mean, you're saying you never arrested him?" asked Vivian.

"No, we didn't, and that was something I was always concerned about. People were so obsessed and focused on Belllwether's trial and her conspiracy that they didn't concentrate on getting the rest of the bad guys." Judy replied.

"Wait a second, the ZPD knowingly failed to catch the rest of the perpetrators in this case?" asked Vivian incredulously.

"It's not that simple, Snowball, the whole thing blew up and was political shitstorm." replied Nick

"I told you not to call me snowball, and actually it's very simple, if it comes out that this 'Jesse' or any of Bellwether's fellow conspirators are responsible for this. The ZPD's head is going to roll, namely you two, since you were head investigators on the case." explained Vivian.

"Because, and trust me I know, If and when the public finds out the ZPD failed to finish the job, I guarantee that everybody is going to distance themselves from the case, point fingers and eventually it will roll downhill to you." The vixen finished.

"Look I think we are getting ahead of ourselves here, we're assuming this has anything to do with Bellwether at all. It doesn't make sense." Said Nick.

"What do you mean?" asked Judy.

"Well Bellwether was trying to demonize preds, but this guy is trying to demonize prey, because of the injustice of Bellwether's plan." Replied Nick

"I know, but part of me is saying it's not that simple, that maybe it's fake out, just like the first time, we think it's pred but in reality it's a prey." Shot back Judy.

"Wait second, so you're thinking that Bellwether is somehow exacting some plan from prison?" asked Vivian.

"No, not exactly, it could be…..another group we've dealt with" she replied back to the vixen but shooting a glance at Nick.

Nick seeing this and the insinuation huffed in disbelief.

"No way, no friggin' way, they're dead, I mean 'dead' dead, we watched it happen." Countered Nick.

"I'm sorry what are we talking about here?" asked Vivian confused.

"Another case…" the two of them answered sheepishly.

Just then the door to Max's office opened up and Lisa Powell stuck her head in. The trio turned their heads toward the door.

"Officers? The director will see you now."

The trio looked back at each other nodding in agreement.

"To be continued…" said Vivian putting a pin in the conversation.

They followed the pig to a larger office, who ushered them inside. The office was just as palatial as the rest of the office space. A large desk made of patterned wood and a high polish sat in the middle of the large room. Several other pieces of furniture adorned the office, a couch with coffee table presumably for more informal meetings, and a nearby minibar for several glass flasks filled with various alcohols. The floor, the same white marble they had encountered down in the lobby.

"When I told the director your names, she apparently wanted to meet you immediately."

Judy and Nick glanced at each other with confused looks on their faces, Vivian simply raised an eyebrow.

There was the sound of a figure walking up to the door.

"Please hold my calls, I have a very important meeting." Said a familiar sounding squeaky voice.

As the door opened a small sheep walked in, a poof of wool atop her head. Judy gasped and gripped Nick's forearm so hard it made him wince in pain.

"Ow, carrots."

The small sheep walked up to the three, her blue eyes giving each of them a once over. She offered her hoof to Vivian.

"So are you Officer Wilde, I've heard so much about?"

"Uh, no you want those two." Replied Vivian pointing to her right.

"Oh my apologies."

She side stepped over and offered her hoof to Judy.

"Officer Hopps, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Judy stood shocked unable to move.

"Uh, you don't recognize us?" offered Nick.

"Well of course I do, I've seen your pictures in the papers."

"That's not what I meant."

The sheep took Nick's paw and shook it.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Gillian…Gillian Bellwether."

Judy chuckled nervously. After looking at the sheep for a moment she finally picked up on certain features, namely that the sheep's eyes were blue not green and that she was not wearing glasses.

Judy nervously offered her paw, to which Gillian promptly took and shook enthusiastically.

"Why so nervous, Officer?"

"It's just…I mean, you look…..um never mind."

"Oh it's because of my no good cousin isn't it?"

"Cousin?" Nick replied with a nervous expression.

"Yes, my cousin, Dawn. She did all those horrible things to those predators."

After the sheep had gotten done introducing herself she made her way to her desk.

"Lisa, I will take it from here, thank you."

List simply nodded and left the office, closing the door behind her. The trio spun around to face Gillian, Nick and Judy still a bit nervous that they were in the same room as a Bellwether once again.

"So what can I help you with?" Bellwether asked sweetly.

Vivian stepped forward with no fear.

"We were looking for the source of a clip, it's the same one that a terrorist used and we need to know who has it?"

"And did we have it?"

"No, but we think one of your former employees did, a Jesse Whitman."

"Jesse…Yeah he was terminated."

"Why?"

"Well because I have reason to believe he was involved in something illegal."

"Like the savage conspiracy?" Stated Vivian.

"Maybe, it didn't come to my attention about WHO exactly recommended him until about six months ago."

It was now that Judy and Nick calmed down, with Judy stepping forward.

"So he was working here for a whole year AFTER Dawn was arrested?" Judy asked.

"As I said, I didn't know at the time, Dawn hasn't been with LAMB since she was elected with Lionheart." The sheep replied.

"She used to work here!?" Judy exclaimed.

"She helped start LAMB." Gillian corrected.

"And you're telling me you had no involvement with her schemes?" Judy suggested, practically accusing.

Gillian was taken aback and disgusted by the implication.

"No. And I resent the accusation." Gillian defended.

"She didn't mean anything by it…." Vivian interrupted trying to keep the conversation civil.

"Yes, she did!" Gillian exclaimed squeaking slightly.

Gillian climbed down from her chair and walked over to Judy getting practically nose to nose with her.

"How dare you even suggest that? What Dawn did was…..unforgivable."

"I worked too long and hard to try and build some kind of bridge between Predator and Prey in Zootopia, only to have her destroy it all by abusing her power and launch some kind of plan."

Gillian teared up, her voice breaking.

"I loved my cousin, we grew up together, and we were like sisters. She was a kindest and sweetest ewe you ever met. Even when they said on the news what she did, I refused to believe it."

"I still can't believe she did those things, and I'll never understand why."

Gillian covered her face with her hooves and broke down sobbing. Judy simply stared at her with distrusting eyes; she didn't believe it for a second, while Nick and Vivian seemed to. Nick even came over and patted her on the shoulder.

"Look I'm sorry, we didn't realize that this would bring up painful memories." Apologized Nick.

Gillian collected herself enough to dry her eyes, taking a tissue out of her pocket and wiping them.

"Look, I don't expect you to understand. I know to you she was a criminal and a horrible person, but to me she was family." She said wiping the running mascara off her eyes.

She walked back to her desk and took a deep breath trying to steady her voice, and then she hit the intercom.

"Lisa."

The intercom beeped back.

"Yes Gillian?"

"Can you get the HR folder for Jesse Whitman and make a photocopy for the Officer Hopps."

"Yes, ma'am."

There was a silence for a moment but the intercom was still open.

"…Is everything alright Gillian?"

"Yes, yes, I am fine, just please get the file." She requested.

"Okay." The pig replied and then clicked off the intercom.

Walking back to the trio, Gillian offered her hoof that had Gillian's LAMB business card in it.

"I hope that the file helps you and that you find whoever it is you're looking for. And if there is anything I can do to help, please don't be afraid to call me."

Judy took the card and put it in her pocket.

"Thank you." Judy said trying to muster some false sincerity.

"And for what it's worth Judy, I'm…..I'm sorry for what Dawn put you through."

Judy didn't reply she simply turned and started walking out, she couldn't find the words. Gillian simply cast her eyes down, almost ashamed. Nick saw this exchanged and couldn't help but be saddened by it.

The three left LAMB, with the photocopy of the folder being given to them on their way out, back in the car and on the road, Judy had a look of frustration.

"God, can you believe the nerve." Said Judy frustrated

"What are you talking about, carrots?"

"Oh that display back there. And the fact that you two ate it up." She fired off.

"Carrots." Nick replied a bit hurt.

"Oh come on Nick, you're supposed to be the con man, I can't believe you fell for it." She said incredulously.

"Judy, I've seen a lot of cons in my life and I'm telling you, she was being sincere."

"That just means she's a better actor than her cousin." She replied coldly.

"Officer Hopps, if I may, don't you think that maybe you're letting your anger for one Bellwether, cloud your judgement regarding another." Inquired Vivian.

"You know what Agent Carter, I'm going to ignore that since you weren't there, and I know Bellwether."

"Yes, DAWN Bellwether." The vixen corrected.

Judy was so steeped in her anger she completely missed the fact that she flubbed again.

"Oh shit." She whispered as she put her paw on her face.

Nick suddenly realized what Judy had said and they both looked up toward the rear view, the vixen in front glancing back at them and then towards the road.

First it was silence and then she took a breath

"I already knew."

"Knew what?" asked Nick slightly nervous.

"I knew about your past, the cons, and your jumbo pop hustle, your dismissal from the ZPD and subsequent return to a life of crime."

Nick tightened his lips and looked up as if he was found out.

"I also know about Judy too, small town girl, with big city dreams. Her flagrant disregard for authority and now her apparent anger towards any sheep named, Bellwether."

Judy just scowled at the reflection of the vixen in the rear view.

"I research everyone I work with."

Judy took an audible breath.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Well not to be rude but, unlike you I don't say everything that's on my mind." Replied Vivian.

"Plus I wanted to see what kind of mammals you are."

"And what kind of mammals are we?" asked Nick.

"The kind that keep secrets…even from each other."

Judy just shook her head and stared out the window as they headed back to the station.