Judy dropped the bombshell once we'd split up from the other two.
"So, Nick, will you, um…are you busy this weekend?" I looked over at her as she steered the cruiser back into the precinct motor pool.
"Why, are you asking me out?" I gave a little laugh that was completely at odds with the way my stomach twisted. She let out a huff of exasperation.
"No, nothing like that," she replied, putting the car into park. I tried not feel a little hurt by the way she brushed the joke aside without a second thought. "It's just, well—I invited my mother to Zootopia for Mother's Day weekend, but I don't really know anything fun to do." We hopped out, wheels turning in my mind.
Honestly, I hardly gave much thought to Mother's Day anymore, made it easier to ignore how I felt about…things, but if it was Judy's mom…it should be fine. Famous last words, right?
"Sure, I can help you think of something, plan out a nice trip to the big city for her." Judy gave a horrendously cute little hop.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Nick! I owe you so big for this." I shook my head, feeling my cheeks and ears grow warm.
"Nah, don't worry about it, Fluff. Besides, I'm pretty sure it's me that owes you. Now, come on; we've got evidence to log and some videos to watch until we want to die."
"She hardly ever takes any time for herself," she continued as we made our way upstairs. "So I want this to be special for her." Judy stopped suddenly. "Oh, but nothing that would scare a country bunny, Nick. I don't want her going back to Bunnyburrow to drum up a mob to bring me home." I nodded and gave a two-fingered salute.
"Can do, bunny boss. Your dad coming, too?" She shook her head.
"No, thank goodness. He's got the farm and my siblings to look after. Besides, if he were coming, there would be no chance I'd get through the weekend without a big fight over me moving back to the 'Burrow."
"Yikes," I replied.
"Tell me about it. But I do want you to meet them sometime. Maybe we can visit them?" I gave a noncommittal shrug.
"Can't say I've ever been out of the city. It could be nice." Internally, however, all I could think about was how much of a nightmare that would be. Stuck in Hicksville with a crush on my diametrically opposed prey? Under the same roof as her parents and a thousand siblings?
I couldn't control the microscopic shudder that ran down my spine.
…
"Goddamit," I said, leaning back in my chair and rubbing at my sore eyes. I'd been scrubbing this VHS tape backwards and forwards for over an hour and a half, trying to discern even the slightest bit of detail about our assailant, and so far I had two bullet points written on a post-it.
Six feet tall, or thereabouts.
Probably canine. Maybe.
The alley was simply too dark and the quality of the footage too low to pick out anything else—gender, fur color, a more specific determination of species, whatever. Hell, I wasn't even totally sold on them being canine—they could have been a medium-large cat, like a mountain lion or something.
"Please tell me you've been having more luck than I am, Carrots," I said wearily. She shook her head slowly, focus still locked onto her own monitor, a slight frown and a crinkle in her brow evident that she had not.
"No," she replied eventually, sinking back into her chair as well. "The angle's all wrong." I leaned over to peek at the infrared footage.
"Did Loxley have any claw marks, anything that might be able to narrow down species?"
"As much as I hate to say it, no," Judy said, clenching her paws slightly on her armrests. "Our perp must have been using fists only. The forensics team may have some fur, but they're still separating it from our victim's." There was a rapping sound above our heads.
"Wilde, Hopps," Bogo greeted. "Have you got a moment?" Judy perked up.
"Of course, Chief. What can we do for you?"
"Wolfard mentioned that you had a feeling the Loxley case may have been attempted murder, Wilde, is that right?"
"Yes, chief." I replied. "It's just a hunch, but given the way Loxley's belongings were hidden at the scene, and the extent of his injuries, I feel that it's a strong possibility." He nodded.
"That's what I was afraid of," he grumbled. "Do you two think I should hand this over to Homocide?" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Judy's face turn brittle.
"Ah, no, chief, I think we can handle it with Wolfard and Fangmeyer just fine." I replied, keeping an eye out for Judy as I did so.
"At least let them look over the case," he said, leaning into the cubicle wall a little. "I know you two are good cops, but Lowell and Howlton both have a lot of experience. They're a valuable resource to have on a case like this."
Though she was attempting to school her face the way I'd taught her, I could see Judy's eyes threatening to screw shut, and the pleather of her armrests looked ready to tear at any second.
"I really don't think that would be a good idea, Chief." I insisted, pressing back as hard as I dared without angering him. He took a long look at me.
"Walk with me, Wilde." Moaning internally, I rose from my seat and followed Bogo out. Up the stairs we went, bypassing his office and heading towards the roof access.
Though it was mid-spring, it was a warm evening. Summer was on its way to Savannah Central, without a doubt. The sun was beginning its descent towards the horizon, casting long shadows and leaving the sky a cozy orange-ish purple.
"Wilde," Bogo began, resting his arms against the low wall surrounding the roof. "I'm aware that you might not be too keen to work with Lowell and Howlton, but you need to learn to cooperate with your fellow officers. I've already spoken with both of them—"
"Hold on," I said, interrupting him. "Why would I have a problem with them? It's Judy they bothered." He stopped, suddenly very still.
"Did Hopps not share with you the harrassment report she filed?" I shook my head slowly.
"I know they said some stuff that got under her fur, probably about being a bunny and maybe even about being a female—"
This time Bogo cut me off.
"No," he said slowly. "Lowell and Howlton spent their shift with Hopps telling her to put in a transfer to get away from you." I froze. "Hopps filed a report after her shift on your behalf, detailing the anti-fox rhetoric she'd been subjected to for eight hours."
Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.
"At any rate, I've spoken to them both about their behavior," he continued, turning to look out at the setting sun. "They might not like it, but they will be cordial and helpful to you if you work with them."
"Honestly, chief, I've got no problem with them," I said, sidling up the wall myself. It was a bit too high to lean against in the same way Bogo was, so I opted to jump up and sit. "It's Hopps I'm worried about. She…she was really shaken up by what they'd said to her." Bogo breathed a heavy sigh.
"She's a very good cop, but so thin-skinned when it comes to you, it seems." He fell silent.
I realized that, as just, really, super shitty as it would be, now was a good time to ask him about that third piece of advice he'd mentioned during my ride-along exam. Sure, it was tremendously embarrassing, but if it helped, it would be worth it.
Judy was worth it.
"Hey, um, chief?" He grunted. "What was that, uh, third bit of advice you had? From the ride-along?" He turned to look at me, amusement splashed across his normally stoic face.
"I remember saying I'd tell you—when you both came to see me." I leveled a flat glare at him.
"You've got to be kidding me." He chuckled and turned to leave.
"If you're really up for it, I'd like you to take the case to Lowell and Howlton yourself, Wilde. Hopps is still too upset to deal with them directly, and you need the insight they can provide."
Once he had left me alone on the roof, I scrambled for my phone and dialed Finnick.
"What's up, Wilde?"
"Finn, cancel the job. Do not follow those cops anymore, got it? I'll pay you for what you've done so far, but the plan is scrapped."
"What's goin' on, man?"
"I was wrong. I thought those detectives were picking on Judy, but they were actually badmouthing me. If I prank them, it'll look like retaliation." He scoffed.
"So?" I groaned.
"Finn, I am on very thin ice here. Things are changing towards foxes, very slowly, but I'd be an idiot to think that things have changed that much that fast. Plus, they're both clearly bigoted towards me anyway. All a prank would do is confirm what they think they already know." There was a pause.
"I get it. Hey, man, don't worry about payin' me for today. We could just get drinks some time or somethin', catch up."
"Are you sure, Finn?"
"I'm sure. Just let me know when." I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Okay. Sorry for all this, man, it's just been—agh, it's just been so hectic lately."
"Don't worry about it. I gotta go, though, catch you later."
"See you 'round," I said, ending the call.
Judy was positively vibrating with excitement when I returned to our cubicle.
"What's got you so hyper?" I asked, sliding into my chair.
"I got something!" she cried, jumping from her chair right into mine. "Scooch," she commanded. I obliged, acutely aware of how close we were. She pulled up the tape I'd been reviewing. "So, it's very brief, but I definitely caught a glimpse of a tail right…where…ah, right here!" She pressed play, and sure enough, there was the brief, but unmistakable profile of a wolf's tail.
"Judy, I could kiss you," I proclaimed without thinking and wincing immediately as what I'd said registered. "That narrows down what we're looking for considerably."
"It's not that much, but it's a start," she agreed.