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.
Yes, I know I'm mixing couplets in the title.
If Wishes Were Watches I'd Wear One at My Side
It was late afternoon when Nick arrived in the city. He was slightly worried about his new overalls, but decided 'Ehud Gray' would have purchased them new before he came in to see the big city. The straw hat Gideon had given him was old and battered. If anyone commented on the contrast he would assure the animal that his grandpappy had worn that same hat when he had visited Zootopia half a century earlier. Nick rejected the idea of chewing on a wheat straw. Too much of a caricature. Someone might post a video to ViewTube™ and result in him being recognized.
He began by making himself obnoxious to his new neighbors, 'Ehud Gray' introduced himself and promised to be 'right neighborly' while he was seein' the sights of the big city. Most simply slammed the door on his face. Two threatened to call the property owner and report Mirage for allowing this creature to stay in her apartment while she was gone. Nick had no good excuse for being there, but made himself the kind of animal no one wanted to question closely. They would simply ignore or avoid this odd fox as he came and went.
Nick was particularly proud of his line, "Well, slap me with a rolling pin and call me a biscuit! Good to meet you!" He figured no one would want to talk with him after he used the phrase. He would certainly never talk with any animal who greeted him that way.
Nick weighed who to tell he was in town. He saw no danger for his friends by telling them he had returned to the city. While knowledge of his presence seemed unlikely to put their lives in danger there was always the remote possibility it might endanger his own. If friend A mentioned it, without thinking, to co-worker B and B didn't recognize the need or silence, or the revelation were accidentally overheard by C.
Judy had extracted a promise from the fox to alert Lylah to his presence in town. Nick didn't call Lylah, he called George. It was important for husbands to stick together.
Nick wanted news the panthers couldn't give him. He wanted to watch, hear, and read the local news without the filters of friends and co-workers who would present what they thought the couple in Bunnyburrow should hear.
And, of course, Nick needed to talk with the CEO of Big Industries it didn't matter that the name on the articles of incorporation read Imperial Industries – to Nick it remained 'Big Industries'. Nick's 'working relationship' with Chelsea Dagger didn't 'work' as well as his relationship with Duke. Duke would never have been able to threaten Nick's life. Dagger had the power. "At least she's mellowed a bit with marriage."
Nick and Judy had been known to debate which of the two couples was the oddest in Zootopia – the fox and rabbit, or Doc Wheeler and Chelsea Dagger.
The fox insisted that only insanity on the part of one or both of the other animals could explain their marriage. Judy guessed the ever polite hamster was the first animal to show true respect toward the mobster, not from fear but because all animals deserved to be treated with dignity. And perhaps because Judy did not know Chelsea well she could imagine the lemming pursing the repressed forensic pathologist and breaking through to an emotional center Wheeler had not found in himself before. The rabbit projected a little of herself into her understanding of the lemming, but she didn't explain her theory to Nick – who was sure to laugh at the idea the bunny who wanted to join the ZPD could have anything in common with a small mobster.
None of Ehud Gray's temporary neighbors would have believed he was having dinner at the Big mansion. Not that he told any of them. Fru-fru was there, with her family, for dinner. Judy sent her love to the family and a basket of fresh produce. Nick kept everyone entertained during dinner with his tales of a big city animal trapped in Bunnyburrow.
Fru-fru didn't seem to register anything about Nick's Ehud dye job, and the twins didn't know enough about Nick or the city to say anything. Fru-fru's husband recognized Nick's need for a disguise and said nothing.
The serious conversations began after Big's daughter and her family left, in one of the conference rooms of the mansion designed for interviews with short species. The meeting began with Chelsea laughing loudly, "That's a disguise?"
"Not for anyone who knows me. I'm avoiding my old haunts. Do you have anything on Bellwether?"
Chelsea shrugged, "I am amazed that I have virtually nothing to tell you – certainly nothing of value. Bellwether's first attack on prey animals was before Rodentia had become more integrated in Zootopia infrastructure. She simply ignored us then. Most larger species still do."
"Hard to believe you couldn't find anything."
"To be perfectly clear, I've not made it our highest priority. I've asked animals if they notice anything unusual that might relate to Bellwether to make a report. I've not asked animals to drop everything and focus on finding her."
"But Big Industries is everywhere."
"Imperial, but you won't find any detectives on our payroll. And she's doing a very effective job of staying hidden even from the detectives of the ZPD. Maybe Vaughn is to blame."
"Me?" asked the startled Doc Wheeler.
"We're married. Some small businesses, not knowing you are utterly incorruptible, image Imperial Industries has an inside advantage with the police. Any followers of Bellwether might avoid saying anything to an Imperial employee."
Nick looked like he was thinking, and Wheeler suddenly felt nervous, "She doesn't use our marriage for leverage," he assured the fox. He didn't think she did, she promised she did not and he hoped she was telling the truth. "But she's right – there are animals who think she and the police have a 'special' relationship. They might be trying to stay under the radar in regard to Imperial."
Nick couldn't believe the lemming hadn't discovered anything. Big Industries had too many contacts. But perhaps it made sense. As she said, looking for Bellwether was not her highest priority. And, as Vaughn said, Bellwether could be keeping a low profile in regard to Chelsea's businesses as well as the ZPD. It's true Doc Wheeler agreed with what his wife said, but that was a husband's SOP. And that could have really been what she told him. But the fox did not trust the lemming to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing might but the truth. She might be, but even if she were Nick would refuse to believe it.
Big had known peace in Zootopia was good for his businesses. Dagger was running things now. She knew it too. Whether he trusted her or not Nick said, "Thanks. Your directions to animals to report if they see anything are still out there, right?"
"Of course, Detective."
"Would you take it as an insult if I asked Doc to have a little talk without you? ZPD business."
"Vaughn and I try to give each other space and respect each other's work."
"No problem, Nick," the hamster assured him.
In Bunnyburrow Judy found herself in an uncomfortable situation, a need to find Duke Weaselton and talk with him.
"Make it look casual," she reminded herself, "make it look casual," when, on her fifth 'casual' stroll past the pie shop that day, she found him sitting inside. The bell on the door tinkled as she pushed it open.
"Duke, how are you doing?"
The weasel stared at her suspiciously. Judy sounded almost friendly. That wasn't her job. Nick could sound friendly. It often didn't even sound like an act from the fox, and the weasel wanted to believe Nick really took an interest in him and wasn't exercising his hustler manners. The rabbit had to be faking. "Iz is, uh, doin' as wells as mights be expectorated."
"Wonderful," Judy assured him and pulled out a chair to sit with him at the small table. "So... ah... how is the work coming?"
"Woik?"
"On the book? The book you and Ms Ferressi are writing?"
The weasel looked thoughtful. "Dat is an interestin' question which Iz has beens woikin' on philentropily."
"I don't understand. How is that a philosophical question?"
"Da writin' part. Me gran was mind, not hois. Da stories is da ones dat Iz is tellin' her. So, is Iz da auteur? She puts her nose in da hair like dis is her book."
"It's collaboration, Duke. You each contribute what you are able. Your grandmother was an amazing individual. Animals enjoy reading about amazing animals. She finds beautiful words to tell your stories, but–"
"Buts Iz is da moist impoitant in dis collarbration?"
"You're both important! You need each other. Now, is there–"
"Wills youse tells her dat?"
"Tell her what?"
"Dat we needs each udder, and reminds her it is da story of me gran, not hois."
"I'm sure she knows that, Duke. Now are–"
"Females does not knows deir place," muttered the weasel. "Uh, presents company accepted."
Judy sighed, if he interrupted her question one more time she would grab him and shake him until his teeth rattled. "I've seen a couple chapters. Does she have any more done? I'd like to see them."
"Iz believes dere is more dat has beens done, but Iz does not has dem wid me. She has sents dem aroun' to a couples publishin' houses in da city."
"How are you doing, Doc?"
"I should be asking you how you're doing. You're the one stuck out in Bunnyburrow – although I'm guessing some of those stories you told were exaggerated a little."
"They were, but I asked you first."
"Is that a slap at Chelsea? Me? She and I–"
Nick put up a hand, "No attack on anybody. You're ZPD. You're the member of the ZPD I probably trust more than anyone but Judy and maybe Ben Clawhauser. But Clawhauser would try to sugarcoat things and Judy isn't here in the city. What's the feeling in the ZPD?"
The hamster shrugged. "The forensics lab is a different world from being out on the street. I'm not sure how well I know the feeling of average officers."
"Give me your best shot."
"And remember, there are a lot of officers who don't confide much with smalls." Nick thought he heard a note of bitterness in the hamster's voice, one he'd heard before.
"I'm not asking you to be omniscient, just give me your take."
"Sorry, Nick. It's just... Anyway, answer to your question. I'm not sure. I'm picking up feelings of frustration. The way she seems to easily evade the police search? I think more and more officers are worried there aree Bellwether agents on the force. The pred officers remember how bad things were. They don't want it to happen again. Some of them are starting to distrust prey officers."
"Ouch. Lylah hasn't mentioned that to Judy."
"Not surprised... No one wants to talk about it. Maybe I'm worried over nothing. But sometimes I think I'm seeing tension between officers who bring work into the lab – sometimes even between officers who've been partners for years."
"Even partners sometimes have tension."
"Yeah, but I feel like it's worse now... I hope I'm wrong. Maybe it's just frustration that she's still loose in the city and it isn't really distrust of each other."
"We can hope. It'd be crazy, wouldn't it, if she's left the city and we're tearing ourselves apart without her."
"Crazy, as in not funny at all?"
"Yeah, not at all. Any efforts to get an undercover officer into her group?"
"Well, given all the mistrust within the department no one talks about the possibility. They'd be afraid of the officer having his or her identity blown and being killed. For all I know the Bagheras are trying something, but if they are they're playing it close to their vests. It's sure as hell not known, if it is happening, for fear some double agent on the force – if there is one – will pass the information on to Bellwether. If she's even in the city.
"Hard to believe things are this bad."
"If... Maybe... Perhaps... This whole thing is frustrating."
"Could you ask Chelsea to... Sorry. I know the two of you try to keep your work lives separate. And she's told anyone to report anything suspicious. I should just try and be grateful. Damn it, I hate feeling helpless, having to wait for Bellwether instead of doing something myself."
"Pretty sure that's true for all of us... Hey, thanks for recognizing that... I know if she gets anything solid Chelsea will give us any help I ask for. But she feels like it's the ZPD's job to find Bellwether, not hers."
"And she's right."
There were several minutes of silence, both animals trying to think of any plan with potential.
"What's it like for Prof Ramsey?" Nick finally asked.
"Pretty close to Hell," admitted the hamster. "Might be easier for him back in prison."
"Any chance we could... You really think he has nothing to do with this?"
"That's my opinion, for what it's worth. What are you thinking of?"
"Could we ask him try and get back in Bellwether's organization?"
"No. Are you crazy? She probably does have some informers in the department. You'd be signing his death warrant."
"I'm not talking about the department knowing. I'm talking about just the three... Better give George and Lylah a head's up too."
"Oh, you've seen the movies where someone is put into prison to get the goods on a convict – and then the only animal knowing the one is innocent gets killed in an accident."
"Yeah. Besides, they're officially in charge and both preds. I know how badly she wants Bellwether back behind bars."
"But while I don't know her well she's kind of like Judy. She goes by the book and I don't want to try counting all the regulations you want to break."
"I don't want to break regulations. And I'm sure as Hell not breaking any laws. But if we want to bring Bellwether back in we're going to have to bend or maybe ignore a couple regulations if there is distrust in the force."
"And if you tell Lylah and she doesn't support you? She can shut you down."
"Not if I don't tell her the name of the animal I want to use. I'll call her up and offer her a hypothetical, 'Hey, if I've found an animal willing to try and infiltrate Bellwether's organization, and can I count on your support on the QT?'."
"And Doug Ramsey hasn't said he's willing to do anything for you. He's not even an officer, he's a forensic chemist employed by the police lab, but that isn't the same as an officer."
"But he's on the police payroll."
"He's not an officer, and Bellwether might be particularly happy to have him killed since he repudiated her when he got out on parole."
"Let me think. If I can come up with an idea will you talk to him with me?"
"No promises. Nick, you can't ask an animal to risk... Okay, the city asks officers to risk their lives. He's not an officer and he could be a target."
"Let me try and think of something. I'll talk with you first before we ask him."
The hamster sighed, "Why am I afraid I'm going to regret this?"
"Maybe you're a pessimist?"
Judy answered her phone, "Hello?"
"Detective Hopps?"
"I wish you'd just call me Judy," the rabbit told Teresa Ferressi.
"I'll try, but the fact you're Detective Hopps is what got my sample chapters onto several publishers' desks and read. Without mentioning your name in my cover letter I suspect I would have had my unsolicited manuscript returned to me, unopened, by any publisher.
"One read it?"
"It appears, to me, that they all gave it a look."
"Have you heard from any them?"
"Absolutely! And I'm beyond ecstatic! Two are interested in publishing the book! I– I may need your help with Dominick."
"My help?"
"Two solid offers on the table. One offers more up-front, but a smaller percentage of royalties. The other pays less up-front, but promises higher royalties."
"And which one do you–"
"Higher royalties. I have faith in this. But I can see your Duke being short-sighted and–"
"He's not my Duke."
"Sorry. The point is, I will need to call you in when Dominick wants more money immediately and doesn't see the advantage of larger payout if sales are good. I am counting on you to provide a voice of reason."
"Duke doesn't like me. You need to try and explain it to him without me. The two of you are writing the book, I have nothing to do with–"
"Except for the preface you and your husband will write."
"Okay, other than that. It's you and Duke who... Have you told him yet?"
"No, I haven't. I wanted to consult with you about–"
"Call him. He needs to hear it too. And maybe he'll be reasonable about which offer to accept."
"Judy, you have known Dominick far longer than I, so you have more experience with him than I possess. But I need to ask, in your time knowing him, has he ever been reasonable?"