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.
Chronological Note: For dubious reasons the beginning of this chapter is set prior to the end of the previous chapter. We'll arbitrarily say the last chapter ended on a Thursday evening in Zootopia. This chapter begins that same Thursday morning in Bunnyburrow, then I'm back to that evening in Zootopia, into the morning hours of Friday in Zootopia, and back to Bunnyburrow later that Friday.
All's Well that Ends...
Nick had told Judy that surveillance on Doug Ramsey was due to end today. Nick told her not to expect too much too soon. It might be days or even weeks before the Professor gained more information.
But Judy still struggled to force a new train of thought into her mind. The rabbit had avoided both Duke and Teresa after the fight. It seemed impossible they could have resolved their dispute. She felt slightly guilty about avoiding them and decided to catch up. To the best of her knowledge neither had killed the other. Judy allowed for the possibility that Teresa, being much more familiar with Bunnyburrow than Duke Weaselton, would have found it easier to hide a body.
Judy decided to stroll to the pie shop and see if Duke were still alive. She couldn't simply make the trip, however, as a welfare check on the weasel's safety.
"Jay?"
"Yes, mommy?"
"Want to go the the pie shop?" Judy, of course, knew the answer without asking.
Judy enjoyed Jade taking her hand as they strolled down the street. Someday soon her daughter would desire a sense of independence and refuse to hold hands. "I'm getting maudlin," Judy told herself. Of course, if she and Nick were to have another child it would extend the years she was the most important female in the world to a young animal.
"Mistah Duke!" Jade called and took a chair at the weasel's table. "What pie ya got?"
"Lemon chiffons."
"Is it good?"
"Dere iz no bads pie here, kiddo. But dis just might bes da best."
"Can I have some, Mommy? Can I, please?"
Judy stopped at the window to the kitchen, "Small slice of lemon chiffon for Jay and a strawberry-rhubarb for me."
"Sure thing," called Gideon. "Out in a minute. Anything to drink"
"Milk and hot tea, please."
At the table Jade was telling Duke about harvesting sweetcorn. The weasel might have been trying to look interested, it was hard to tell.
"What iz da city news? Please tells me I wills not be stuck in dis place forevers. I hoid dings iz dog-awful."
"Nick is optimistic," Judy told him. Nick hoped for some kind of break soon. She was hoping for one even sooner, but she wasn't giving Duke any details.
"Da fox? He seems likes more of a pestimist. Youse is da animals I looks to fer optometry."
"Well, at least he's hoping for progress."
Duke opened him mouth to suggest Nick was cheating on Judy with some cute vixen, but thought better of it. He wouldn't make his dig in front of Jay. "I still hears da city iz downs da crapper."
"We just have to wait on that. Duke? I, uh... I haven't heard from you or Teresa. Have the two of you come to a decision?"
"Nuttin' iz settleds. I offers to cut cards fer da advance check an' she says she woulds not trusts me deck. We gots a meetin' scheduled fer dis evenings. She claims she gots a way it wills all woik out."
"Side streets," Professor Ramsey suggested once inside the oryx's car. "I shouldn't be seen outside if the GPS shows me in my apartment." He actually wanted desperately to be seen. Could Bellwether know he was working for the police? Did she resent the things he had said at his parole hearing? Was he going to be driven into the countryside and murdered? But asking for side streets seemed like the safest request he could make, trying to preserve the appearance of loyalty to Bellwether.
"Got it," the oryx cheerfully assured him. "Nothing too public. Not now anyway. When the prey inherit the city the way we deserve she won't have to hide in the shadows anymore."
Doug wanted to ask questions. Maybe, if he made it back alive, he could provide valuable information to the police. On the other hand, asking too many questions might look suspicious. The ram wished he had Nick's glib manner, he could probably pump the officer for all manner of information without Ollie being any the wiser of what he had revealed.
Fortunately the oryx seemed happy to chat about some details. "Special meeting. Our usual meeting spot. We meet every few weeks... How well do you know the Fifth?"
"The Fifth?"
"Fifth precinct."
"Sorry, I just work in the lab. I don't have police training or know any exact boundaries."
"No problem. You may need a driver a couple times. This isn't easy to find without practice."
"Is she staying there?"
"Shouldn't ask... And I don't know. Most of us have no idea. Safer that way. This is an old theater just for big meetings."
The ram nodded with what he hoped was sympathetic understanding. "Good. Sorry for asking."
"No problem. You're probably pretty much out of the loop and–"
"I'm so far out of the loop I can't even see it on a clear day," offered the ram, in what he hoped would be taken as self-deprecating humor.
The oryx laughed and Doug relaxed slightly. The officer seemed like a nice animal. Not all Bellwether's followers were wild-eyed crazies. She had the ability to persuade even normally peaceful, honest citizens that driving pred species from the city was a rational course of action. If everyone tonight was as cheerful as the officer behind the wheel Doug felt like he'd have a reasonably good chance of making it back to his apartment alive with important information.
The ram hoped he would not have to meet Bellwether face-to-face. He didn't think he could pretend to accept her as a leader. He was certain his current revulsion towards her would be written on his face.
The happy oryx seemed willing to supply Doug with other details that might prove important. "This should be a big meeting. We don't have a lot of big meetings... I'm pretty sure she'll be here, welcoming you and all."
"Great. I'm dead."
"Okay, maybe it's not just about you. She addresses any new animals in the big meetings. But you're important! Mostly you'll hear from Emilio, or José, or Frank... Emilio and Frank for sure."
"Emilio and Frank?"
"They say they met you at The Fold."
"Oh. They didn't give me their names. I didn't ask. Security is important."
"Sure enough," Ollie laughed.
The First was the part of the city residents liked to show off to outsiders. Even in the First there were some areas that could be considered seedy. Other precincts suffered more from urban blight. Many parts of the Fifth enjoyed gentrification, with older homes being rehabilitated and the low rents along old retail streets drawing in an eclectic mix of businesses, such as eateries that found the young and hip sitting in chairs on the sidewalk outside a coffee shop, sipping Cappuccinos, and discussing what stores they'd visit after eating at a panda, or armadillo, or meerkat cafe for lunch.
The officer drove into a neighborhood where gentrification had not arrived. He pulled into an empty lot, choked with weeds, and turned off the engine. "We walk from here."
At the corner of the lot an animal in ragged clothing sat on a milk crate and rattled a tin cup as they walked by. A sign propped against the milk crate read, "Will loaf for food," "Change for a prey species down on his luck?"
"Nice sign," Ollie commented. "Sentry duty?"
"Well, duh. Remember anything important! Fill me in later!"
Ollie glanced as his watch. "Oops, should have been here ten minutes ago."
An abandoned theater stood a block ahead. Ramsey assumed it was their destination. He guessed it would hold several hundred animals. Perhaps he could hide himself better in a crowd, although the thought of Bellwether commanding so large a following gave him a new level of fear. There had been less than two dozen who served as the core of her former plan, with followers around the edges being less informed of the details of the glorious cause they donated money towards.
A shabbily-dressed animal across the street nodded to them as they arrived and went into the theater.
To Ramsey's relief the number inside the theater was, to his estimation, less than a hundred. He had feared hundreds. To his greater relief Ollie said, "Good crowd tonight."
An animal Ramsey recognized stood on the stage. The professor looked the oryx and raised an eyebrow. "Emilio," whispered Ollie.
Emilio seemed delighted to see the newcomers. He strode to the wings and said something. Moments later the crowd fell silent as Dawn Bellwether emerged and spoke.
Bellwether had added martyr for the cause to her résumé as she addressed her adoring followers. She was persecuted for daring to stand up for the rights of prey species. Preds wielded disproportionate power in Zootopia. In every business and institution of the city preds had more positions of authority than their numbers deserved. The value of prey species was underappreciated and undervalued. The only hope for prey species was to arise and cast out the preds, turning Zootopia into a city where every animal would have true freedom and the opportunity to be valued for his or her contributions to society.
The small throng fell silent, listening to rapt attention. Ramsey had fallen for it once. The professor now recognized many of her claims as outright lies. But despite knowing her claims to be lies he felt himself moved. Was the police department really designed to oppress prey rights and uphold pred prerogatives? It started to make sense in his own mind once again.
If given a platform to speak and an audience to listen Bellwether could harangue an assembly for hours, and it was even easier to continue preaching to a congregation of true believes. Dawn fed on their positive feedback.
The lights flashed on and off three times. Dawn ran back behind the curtains. Emilio hurried onstage, "Police are at the front of building." He pointed to the rear of the building. "Out, as quickly and quietly as possible. Don't leave evidence behind."
Ollie gave the professor an questioning look.
"No idea what this is about," he said honestly. "You've been with me every second! Let's get out of here!"
The first animals out the door to which they'd been directed were greeted by a swarm of police officers. Those still inside pulled the exit doors shut and headed for another exit, where they found more officers and more of Bellwether's followers were arrested. The second set of exit doors were pulled shut and the desperate mob surged for the remaining emergency exit. The police also had it covered and the animals left inside decided to try and break through the police they were sure waited outside the main entrance.
The quick-thinking Ollie told Doug, "You're my prisoner!"
"What?"
"I'm in uniform. I captured you. I can blend in and get us out of here."
Ramsey knew he had not informed the police of his location and had no idea of the treatment he might receive. "Sure. Thanks."
The two waited for the chaos to die down slightly before making their attempt at the first exit door. "Just about done in here," Officer Ollie told the other police. "I found Ramsey back with his crowd."
"What's the word?" a zebra demanded.
"The word?"
"Arrest them," the lieutenant told the officers with him.
Ramsey wasn't certain, but strongly suspected he and Ollie were treated a little more roughly than necessary before being thrown in the patrol wagon.
Processing the prisoners might last a whole day. Every interview room at the Fifth was being used for questioning, and the break room had been commandeered for interviews – to the complaint of officers who wanted coffee and the snack machine. There was a fifteen minute gap between questioning suspects in the break room to allow officers access. It was not clear if technically Lylah or Bogo was in charge at this point. Lylah was in charge of the Bellwether search, and Bogo was in charge of the raid. There was no conflict between them, other than Lylah firmly telling Bogo, "Ramsey is mine to interview. Make that clear to every animal doing questioning."
Neither Nick nor Vaughn had been part of the REDS, but the two rode a bench in the lobby of the Fifth and tried to gather information from the confusion going on around them. And, unfortunately, passing on details to the pair did not appear to be a high priority for anyone.
It was five in the morning before Doug Ramsey was brought out of lock-up and escorted, in cuffs, to an interrogation room. For almost four hours different animals had been removed from lock-up for questioning. Some had returned. Some had not. The cells were dreadfully overcrowded and the belief was that some were being transferred to cells in other precincts.
"Take the cuffs off him," Lylah ordered the bobcat leading the professor.
The bobcat hesitated, "But–"
"NOW!" the captain roared.
The bobcat hurriedly followed orders.
"Forgive my wife," George told the officer, we're dead-tired and we're not even half-way through yet." The bobcat left and George pointed to a chair. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
"I don't suppose the offer would include a cold cider?"
The panther grinned. "For you? Anything."
George ran from the room on his errand. "Let me call Nick and Vaughn, they're in the lobby and need to be here," Lylah told the ram. "Vaughn sent a nasty text threatening to chew my ass off for letting you stay in the holding cell. We didn't have Bellwether and we thought it was safer to leave you there in case she managed to avoid capture."
"So you found her?"
"Hiding in a small chest. You wouldn't think an animal that small could be so dangerous. We knew we had all the exits covered, but that theater is big!"
The fox and hamster arrived, smiling and offering congratulations to all.
George ran in a couple minutes later with a cold six-pack. Ramsey drank half of his in one gulp, then wiped his mouth. "Tastes great."
Nick took a sip and looked at the can, "This is good stuff."
"Should be," George assured him. "I paid enough." He popped the top of a can for himself.
"You're on duty," his wife reminded him.
"This might be the biggest bust of your life," George reminded her and handed her a cold one.
Lylah looked at the can then shrugged, "You're right," and popped the top.
Vaughn coughed for attention. "Could someone find a cup for me? I believe we all have cause to celebrate."
They asked Ramsey to describe his evening to them and he sketched what had happened.
"You're free to go," Lylah told him. "I'll have an officer escort you home. You can sleep in your own bed. No idea when George and I will get off. And I'm sure I'll tell you this again, but thanks. You three need to clear out now."
"Okay," yawned Nick, "I'll be glad to–"
"What in the hell is going on in here!" someone bellowed. The animals turned to see Bogo standing in the doorway. "Why is that criminal here, holding–"
"This 'criminal' was the hero of the bust. He was working undercover with us and we couldn't have captured Bellwether tonight without him."
Lylah, the only animal present with a rank equal to Bogo tried to explain simply. "Nick had a plan to get Ramsey back in the good graces with Bellwether's gang. It worked and... Oh, the knife from the Thidwick case, it never left the Forensics Lab, and–"
"And that got him accepted? Why didn't you tell me?"
"We couldn't afford to tell anyone! If there was even the slightest hint leaking out, if a single animal didn't sound as angry as they should, the Professor's life was in danger. We had to keep it limited to just us knowing what was happening."
"We didn't tell anyone that Doug was on our side at the time of raid," George added. "If Bellwether hadn't been found it might have been dangerous for him."
Bogo stared at the ram for a minute in silence. "I'm gonna need a little while to process this. When I heard you'd been captured last night I was sure you were a total bastard and now... Give me a little time."
"Understandable," Lylah nodded. "Oh, could you assign some alert officer to drive the professor home? Long night for him. And get word out he's a hero."
"Sure. Long night for all of us."
Ramsey had a question before leaving, "How did you know where I was, and that Bellwether was there?"
"Your call."
"What call?"
"We had a call from... Well, the animal didn't identify himself. Said where you were, and that Dawn was at the meeting. REDS worked perfectly."
"I didn't call. I didn't have my phone. I was told to leave it at my apartment so it wouldn't ping and give away my location."
Every animal in the room looked confused.
"You didn't call, really?" Nick demanded.
"Nope."
"Then who in the hell did?" Lylah wanted to know.
Vaughn called Imperial Limousine to get himself and Nick to their homes. "You're impaired," he told the fox.
"Can't argue," yawned Nick. "Haven't been this tired since the Quagga case."
He returned to his real apartment, glad to discard Ehud Gray. He knew he should call Judy. It was too early to call Judy. He should text Judy. He was too tired to use his phone, the screen looked blurry and his paws weren't working properly. "I'll take a quick nap, then call or text," he promised himself and collapsed on his own bed. It would be hours until he would awaken.
Judy had another poor night's sleep. Nick had done better since she threatened him if he didn't call, but no call last night. The fox had told her that Doug Ramsey was no longer under surveillance, but warned her it would be days before any breakthrough. So, why hadn't he called?
There was a gnawing fear in her stomach in the face of the unknown. If Nick were somewhere in disguise it would be dangerous to call him. The local radio station had little to say about Zootopia news.
Judy called her friend Hye, "Hey, do–"
"Judy! Do you know what's going on with the police?"
"No, I'm in Bunnyburrow, and what's–"
"It's all over the news! Except nothing is really on the news! They say Bellwether was... They're saying a lot of stuff. You don't know what to believe! I thought you... There's supposed to be a press conference later this morning! You're police, so–"
"And out here in Bunnyburrow I don't know what's going on."
"Well, whatever it is, it's big!"
Judy wasn't sure whether to feel elated or worried. She glanced at the clock. Ben Clawhauser should be on duty at the desk. It took seven minutes to get through. Seven minutes is an inexcusable length of time to get a call answered at the police station.
"First Precinct, Clawhauser speaking."
"Ben, This is Judy, what's–"
"No time to talk!" Ben hung up on her.
Judy stared at the phone in disbelief. Ben would never hang up on her. Something had to be very, very bad.
Things weren't even very bad, merely bad. A large portion of the police resources was tied up with processing suspects from the Bellwether raid. While the police had not yet released official word on what happened it was obvious to the more ambitious criminals that this might be a good time for a little smash and grab. And there were enough ambitious criminals, and the ZPD was stretched thin enough, that Ben Clawhauser didn't have time to talk with his favorite rabbit in the entire world.
Judy called the radio station to see if they would run the ZPD press conference, assuming there was a ZPD press conference. Hye had not been certain. The radio station had no plans to run a Zootopia story. The local audience was more interested in a program on carrot futures.
Late in the morning Judy's phone ring. Ever since Nick had left for Zootopia the rabbit's phone had never gone more than two rings without being answered. This was answered half-way through the first ring.
Caller ID did not show Nick. It showed Teresa Ferressi.
"Hello?"
"Officer Hopps? Teresa Ferressi. Would you bring the publisher's check to the court house?"
"You and Duke said I should only bring it if you both expressed–"
"Hold on, please, I shall put Dominick on the line."
"Ossifer Hoops?"
"You do that just to annoy me, don't you?"
"Youse wounds me."
"Believe me, I'd like to."
"Brings da check to da courts house."
"Now?"
"Da sooner da betters."
As she headed for the court house Judy wished she had asked where to go when she arrived. She did not need to worry. Bunnyburrow's most famous living citizen was told by the receptionist, as soon as she entered. "Ms. Hopps, Judge Crater's chambers – room 215."
Judy recognized the judge from an earlier to trip to Bunnyburrow, and the fat rabbit with distinctive marking as lawyer Julius Flywheel. A middle-aged female she did not recognize was introduced as a notary.
"Now that you're here," Flywheel told Judy, "we need you to witness a–"
"Dids youse brings da–"
"A witness?"
The lawyer spoke up. "A business contract."
"Do I need to read this?"
"You are simply witnessing the signing," the judge and lawyer assured her. "Nothing in it concerns you." Nick would not have signed anything without reading it first. But this was Bunnyburrow and a judge and lawyer she knew would not lie to her. But Judy had been in the big city long enough to hesitate slightly before signing her name as a witness after the mustelids signed their names.
Teresa stuck out her hand, "The check, please."
Judy looked at Duke, who offered no opposition.
"Ms Ferressi leaves tomorrow for Zootopia, where she is authorized to act as a purchase agent for Mister Weaselton. They signed the power of attorney forms before you arrived."
"I wills packs up her stuff and brings it wit me to da city when it iz agains safe."
"But where will Teresa stay? What will she use for money to set herself up–"
"I will be staying with Dominick's mother until such time as he is able to return in safety and I can afford an apartment."
"Well, I'm glad the two of you found a solution," she told them. "I'm not sure you needed me as a witness for–"
"We both trust you more than any other animal in town," the ferret assured her. "And we wanted you here as a witness for the second contract."
"Second contract?"
"Their wedding," the judge explained.
"If Dominick has any thoughts of trying to renege on our financial agreement I wish to make it exceedingly difficult for him," explained Teresa.
-The End-
Well, sort of. There will be a collection of epilogues to tie up most of the loose ends you're currently thinking about, and a few you may have forgotten.