Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from the movie Zootopia are all owned by Disney the great and powerful. Any and all registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.

I started this years ago. Had several chapters written and lost them. Rewrote them but stopped at a logic block. (No good way to move from point A to point D. Found a logical continuation and wrote another few chapters in my spare time.) Finished rough draft on an enforced vacation.

This is set in my Who Do You Trust? continuity, six years or seven years after the movie.

Chapter title is from the musical Oliver!

I Am Reviewing the Situation

"No," Nick said firmly. "No way, no how. Nope. Forget it."

"But consider–" Vaughn Wheeler, a forensic pathologist with the ZPD, tried to argue.

"Nope. I will not, under any circumstances, endorse parole for Doug Ramsey. If you will remember, he tried to kill Judy and me."

"I know. And that's why he's in prison. But I think he's a changed animal."

"And you know this because?"

"I've been to the prison. I've talked with him. I believe an animal can change."

Nick snorted, "I know animals can change. You used to make sense."

The hamster raised an eyebrow, "Want to discuss change? A hustler who went on to become a respected member of the ZPD?"

"Or a respected member of the ZPD Forensics Lab, who married the most dangerous head of a small mob?"

"Imperial Enterprises is completely legit!"

"Or at least they haven't been caught. And I never tried to kill anyone."

"Anything Chelsea did was before–"

"I'm talking about Doug Ramsey."

"Nick, could you hear me out, please? I've seen the list of animals who'll be questioned by the parole board – you're on it."

"And I plan to remind them of all the harm Bellwether's plot caused the city."

"Bellwether's plot. Exactly. It wasn't Ramsey's plot, it was Dawn Bellwether's. She was smooth. She knew how to manipulate the fears of prey species – use it to stoke prejudice against pred species. He wasn't the only animal led astray."

"Boo hoo," Nick retorted sarcastically. "Poor misguided attempted murderer Doug Ramsey... Wait, you said you went to the prison and talked with him? Don't take this the wrong way, but are you out of your fucking mind?"

"I went to him for help. When he wasn't working for Bellwether he was a chemistry professor and one of the top toxicologists in the world. Forensics was trying to determine cause of death, and whether it was murder or could have been accidental."

"And he helped the ZPD?"

"Yeah. Wasn't easy. You may guess they don't allow him to work with chemicals in the prison. I'd take in a question, he'd tell me what to look for. I'd take in what I found, he'd ask more questions, I'd do more research and bring in the new findings for him to evaluate. It took several weeks – several weeks of talking with him. I think he realizes his mistake. And I know if he had access to a real lab it wouldn't have taken weeks to figure out cause of death."

"Sure," snorted Nick, "and who's going to trust Ramsey enough to let him near a lab?"

The hamster grinned, "I'm thinking maybe the ZPD. I mean, he applies for his old job back at Zoo U? You think the administration wants a high profile criminal on the faculty – no matter how brilliant? You think any private industry would risk someone who caused the harm he did the city? You think the city can afford to hire the level of chemist Doug Ramsey is?"

"Don't insult yourself. I happen to know there are some smart animals working in forensics."

"Yeah, some of us chose forensics over private industry or teaching. If you want money you go private. Ramsey could have made a hell of a lot more in private industry, he chose academics. That's closed to him now. They're both closed to him now. We could use him in forensics."

"And you think anyone would trust him?"

"Not at first. It would take time. But, look at it this way Nick, if he is lying and is not a changed animal he's going to be surrounded by members of the ZPD every working minute of his day. He could be a tremendous asset to the city... He could be a tremendous asset to you and Judy in some case where you need answers. And that won't be possible while he rots in prison."

"But he won't be trying to kill anyone while he rots in prison!" The fox sighed. "I'll go with you to talk with Ramsey. I'm not promising to support you and your crazy idea. Is that clear?"

"Absolutely. Nick, there is one thing I want you to never doubt. I would never make a suggestion like this if I thought there was any way it could hurt the city – or hurt you and Judy."

"I know. I know. I'm just afraid he's pulling the wool over your eyes."

The ram and fox stared at each other through the thick glass in the prison visiting room.

Nick anticipated that meeting Doug Ramsey would be massively uncomfortable for him. He would have been delighted to be proven wrong, and took no pleasure in finding out he was correct. "At least," he reflected as he faced the chemist – who he had not seen since giving testimony in court six years earlier – "Ramsey looks as uncomfortable as I am."

Vaughn was either oblivious to the tension between the two, or simply chose to ignore it as he cheerfully introduced the two and tried to get a conversation going between them.

Ramsey would have agreed with Nick on one point, they both believed the hamster had lost touch with reality. Ramsey had tried to kill Nick. There was no way the fox could forgive or forget that fact. A good word from Nick to the parole board might sway them to release him. The ram knew this, but felt in his heart Nick was incapable of a recommendation on his behalf. The fox might be there to taunt him. Ramsey wasn't going to crawl and beg for Nick's mercy, only to get kicked in the teeth. He had his pride. He nodded, almost imperceptibly, at the fox, "Good afternoon, Detective."

"Afternoon, Professor," Nick replied with equal coldness.

"I assume Doctor Wheeler applied some pressure on you to get you here."

"Moderate pressure. The bonds of friendship."

"He is, of course, wasting his time – and yours. You will not speak on my behalf to the parole board."

"Not planning to. He isn't wasting your time too?"

"Time is the one commodity I have. Visitors are rare. My family and colleagues have written me off." He looked at the hamster. "While there was no point in bringing Detective Wilde here, I do want to thank you for asking me for consultation. The mental stimulus – and the chance to talk with an animal with an intellectual capacity beyond that of common street thug – has been very meant a great deal to me. I am grateful. Please, if any other problem arises, I would be grateful for the chance to work with you again, in any capacity."

The prison had allowed Nick and Vaughn as much time as the detective and pathologist wanted – something in violation of the usual rules, but none of the three animals was usual.

The conversation jerked along roughly, with the hamster trying desperately to make it seem somehow normal. It lasted longer than either the ram or fox had expected.

"Vaughn tells me you regret what you did. Wondering why you haven't said it?"

"Would you believe me? Tell me, Detective, how often do you hear someone tell you after an arrest that they're sorry for their actions, or hear them claim it in court? Do you believe them?"

"Hear it a lot... Oh, most of them are sorry. They're sorry they got caught – not sorry that they did the crime."

"And you have a reputation for being good with lies yourself."

Nick acknowledged the truth of the accusation with a nod of his head.

"But my first question was whether you'd believe me if I said it?"

"I... Probably not. I was going to say I'm not a mind reader."

"Thank you for your honesty. I ruined my life listening to Dawn Bellwether, and we came close to ruining this city. Worst mistake I've made in my life. But I take responsibility for my crimes. I'm not going to claim I'm a victim or try and throw myself on anyone's mercy. I deserved the sentence I received. But yes, I'm sorry for what I did. In retrospect I can only be grateful you stopped us."

Later in the conversation Nick commented, "Vaughn tells me you helped him out with a forensics problem."

"More like he helped me out by seeking my opinion. An animal could go crazy in here without something to do."

Nick avoided the retort, "It was going crazy that got you locked up in here." "Did he tell you that he'd like to have you working in the ZPD Forensics Lab?"

"He mentioned it. There are other fantasies he could have mentioned, but didn't. He would probably like a car that runs on water or a million credits in the bank. Not like either of those will happen."

Nick didn't comment on the number of credits Vaughn had access to. "No, seriously. Vaughn would love you there."

"I think, when I get out in twenty years or so, I'll just climb on the back of my giant pet crow and fly to the moon. You're talking fantasy stuff. We all know I won't be paroled, and we all know the ZPD isn't going to hire someone with my record."

"Your record," Vaughn reminded him, "is an outstanding chemist – and maybe the best toxicologist in the world."

"Who came too damn close to starting a species war that would have destroyed Zootopia."

"The ZPD could use you – a way to make up for your crimes."

"Vaughn, I respect you. I'm grateful to you for taking an interest in me. But you aren't being realistic."

"This isn't Nick talking. You know I'm not trying to dash your hopes or play with you. I don't think he is either. But I want to know, as a friend, if you were released – would you work for the ZPD if we offered you a job?"

"That's a huge if," Ramsey shrugged, "maybe twenty huge ifs." He fell silent for a minute. "You called me a friend? Yeah... If I were offered a job with the... Hell, we should be realistic for a minute. I'll probably need to take anything I can get if and when I leave this place."

On the drive back from the prison Doc Wheeler asked, "What did you think?"

"I'm not sure if Ramsey or I will ever speak to you again after today."

"Seriously, Nick."

"What makes you think I wasn't serious?"

"Look, I knew it wouldn't go smoothly. Was that the same animal who tried to kill you? And don't say, 'Of course it was'. You know what I mean."

There was a period of silence before Nick admitted. "I'm not sure. I need some time to think. I need to talk with Judy."

"Of course. I don't want to feel like I'm pressuring you to decide anything now... Just want to leave you with a couple random thoughts. The old saying, "In case of doubt we should always lean on the side of mercy. And acts of kindness often come back and are repaid many times over."

"Sounds like you're trying to guilt me into a decision."

"Maybe," the hamster confessed. "I know, logically, there is no particular reason to change your mind... You know I'm not a bleeding heart who thinks all prisons should be closed. We need them for dangerous animals. I don't think he... Would it have made any difference if he asked for you to give a good word to the parole board for him?"

"No... No, it wouldn't. I'm impressed that he admitted his crime and said he got what he deserved. I'm sick of criminals claiming innocence. Sick of lawyers excusing crimes–"

"All animals deserve legal representation."

"Fine. But if animals lie and hide crimes, and don't have law degrees, we charge them with being accessories after the fact."

"And if an animal truly repents of past sins and wants to change his life around?"

"Now I know why you're pressuring me and not Judy."