Disclaimer: Zootopia and all Canon characters are owned by Disney. All other characters, product names, trademarks, and copyrights, belong to their respective owners.
…..
"Uhh, you look very cu—"
"Harumph," interrupted Judy, folding her arms across her chest.
Nick gulped, "I meant you picked out a beautiful dress for this evening."
Judy remained stoic and unmoving in the back seat of Mr. Manchas' limo—except for the part where she scooched away from her fox after he refused to tell her why this dinner was so important that not only did he buy her a new pink dress, recommended by Fru Fru, of course, but he was also wearing the most conservative dark suit he owned.
With a matching tie so subdued that a banker would yawn seeing it.
"It's almost as beautiful as you are," added Nick in a hopeful tone.
Judy turned away from Nick and, after a huff, looked out the side window at the streetlights reflecting off the ice and snow-covered Tundratown landscape.
Nick fidgeted as he watched Judy stare out the window. A glare, a harumph, and at least three more huffs culminating in an ear flip, which he'd never seen Judy do to him before, all meant that he was in trouble. Jokes hadn't worked, and after an earlier grump, he knew that the jury was in serious deliberation as to the answer to his usual 'you know you love me' quip.
A new tact was in order.
Nick took in a cleansing breath and…
"Puppy dog eyes won't work either," grumbled Judy.
…let it out unused.
"Carrots, come on. You know you can't stay mad at me forever."
"Was that a challenge, Wilde?"
"Uhhh… no."
"Then what's with all the secrecy? What are you and Mr. Big meeting about?"
"Look—"
"And I don't want to hear it's just you and Mr. Big rehashing old times because I'm your girlfriend and your partner, and I've got a bad feeling that whatever you two are going to be talking about might end up with you taking an ice bath."
Nick gently turned Judy until they were facing each other and said, "That won't happen. I have to do this myself, and… I promise I'll tell you everything afterward. Okay?"
Judy's stern look softened just a bit at the obvious honesty from her fox. Reaching up, she cupped his muzzle, saying, "We're in this together. You've got my back, and I've got yours. But for this to work, we have to communicate. And right now, I'm worried because you're not telling me what's really going on."
Taking Judy's paw off his muzzle and holding it in both of his, Nick looked his bunny in the eyes and said, "Okay, no jokes, no deflection. Yes, I'm a little worried too. But this isn't something you or anyone else can help me with. You know Mr. Big through your friendship with Fru Fru and little Judy. I know him from having worked for him for a few years and from almost getting iced by him.
"His world is different from anything you've ever seen, even as a cop. And in his world, and mine, this is something I have to take care of on my own."
Judy looked into Nick's eyes, and not seeing the usual twinkle from a successful prank or the half-lidded smirk of a hustle in progress, she sighed. "Okay, but you swear nothing bad is going to happen."
"I promise, scouts honor," said Nick, holding up his right paw and making a two-fingered scout sign.
And hidden from Judy behind his back, his other paw with fingers crossed.
-/-/-
"How'd it go?" asked Mikel. "Did you slay the story beast and break open the gates of hidden truth?"
Slamming the apartment door shut, Cassy stomped to where her boyfriend was working on his computer and said, "It's so much worse than I thought. Bad enough that whatever's going on has to be going all the way to the top."
"The top? Do you mean like Mayor Osborn? Damn, I thought he was cool too."
"No, not Osborn, a lot higher. I saw Bogo this morning running the investigation, and he's got connections into the Commonwealth, and surprise, surprise, I also found out that bastard Elkdon's a major player and involved in all this up to his antlers."
"You think he was the one that punked you in Mordinia?"
"Yeah, this whole thing stinks as bad as that overfull mega-fauna porta potty we had to use at last year's Burning Mam festival."
"Whoa," Mikel said, nose twitching at the disgustingly bad memory, "what are you going to do? Did you get enough this morning to publish, or are you still going to try and get an interview with Chief Bogo first?"
Cassy shook her head, "No, I promised my source they'd stay confidential, so I'm going to need more before I can post anything. And if it were just up to Bogo, he's okay enough that I think he'd do an interview, but no way will the Commonwealth or Elkdon let him sit down with me one-on-one, at least not for the kind of interview where I get to leave with my video and my memories intact.
"No, I need to get him out in the open, somewhere with witnesses where the Commonwealth can't interfere when I ask my questions."
"A ZNN studio?" asked Mikel, "They've got lots of cameras."
"No, it can't be a pre-recorded interview. It needs to be live and with cameras that the Commonwealth can't shut down."
Drumming her clawed fingers on the table, Cassy thought. 'Bogo's smart and experienced. He knows how to handle the media, not like Hopps when she…'
"I think I've got an idea. Did you finish editing that video I sent you last night?"
"You mean the one of you skulking around in the dark? Yeah, I'm done. I did the best I could with it, but the lighting is terrible, and the audio is still kind of muddy. It's like a bad version of that already bad Bear Witch remake."
"Good," replied Cassy, smiling now. "I've got a few more edits for you to make, and then I want you to post it on that secure site you told me about and send me a link. I think special ZNN correspondent Cassidy Longtooth has a call to make."
-/-/-
Manchas pulled in front of the Big mansion and turned his charges over to a single large polar bear. The stoic greeting from Morris sounded stilted but felt ominous to Judy's sensitive ears.
The near silent walk through Big Manor felt more like a walk through death row than a stroll to dinner, and Morris didn't help lighten the mood any once they reached Mr. Big's office, where he knocked twice and waved Nick in.
Judy followed Nick until she ran into a large paw.
"Nyet, just fox."
"But—"
Nick moved back toward Judy and, pulling her into a hug, said, "It's okay. Go visit with Fru Fru and little Judy. I'll be right there."
"I don't know. I still think I should go with you."
Releasing Judy for what he hoped wasn't the last time, Nick shook his head, "No, like I said, this is something I have to do myself. I'll be okay, I promise."
Judy looked up at Morris, who shrugged.
"I'd better go," said Nick, giving Judy a quick kiss. "I'll be fine."
Morris shut the door behind Nick and then, stepping in front of it, looked down at Judy.
Paws on hips, Judy's foot started vibrating until she very pleasantly asked, "Did I ever tell you about the time I knocked out a rhino while sparring at the ZPA?"
Morris gulped but, to his credit, didn't move.
…..
Nick slowly walked, execution style, up to the throw rug in front of Mr. Big's desk and paused. Unlike the joke Daisy had pulled on him in Mayor Ackerbunn's office, Nick knew exactly what flowed under this rug.
Big's office was empty, no Polar bears in waiting, no traps he could see, just an empty desk surrounded by frost-covered bookshelves and,
The candle-lit memorial to Mr. Big's Gram-mama.
For seven years, he'd feared for his life while living under the bargain forged by Sister Mary, and now… and now he was here to forge something new, something that hopefully didn't involve him becoming a fox-sized Pawpsicle.
With a sigh, Nick stepped into the middle of the rug and waited.
As if on cue, a side door opened, and Nick watched as Koslov, Mr. Big's closest ally, stoically made his way to the large desk in front of him. Gently setting his boss on the desktop, the large polar bear made sure Mr. Big's chair faced Nick, then stepped back.
"Put me down right now or I'll– Aaaargh, three against one isn't fair! What are you doing to Nick? I demand—"
Mr. Big nodded toward the main door and waited silently while Koslov whispered something into a hidden microphone.
Whatever he said, the hallway disturbance quieted down enough that Kevin and Raymond were able to join Koslov in time to see Mr. Big hold out his paw.
Nick stepped forward and carefully kissed the ring being held out, nodded to Koslov, and moved back to the center of the rug.
"Judy cares for you very deeply."
"Yeah," Nick chuckled as he gestured to himself, "I am kind of hard to resist."
The resulting silence was deafening. Deafening until it was replaced by an angry polar bear's growl.
Nick's fake smile fell as he took in the steely-eyed glare from Mr. Big and replied, "I'm Sorry, I meant that yes, she does, and for the life of me, I can't figure it out. She's amazing, and I'm… me. A former con fox, a mob errand boy, and now a lowly cop. I don't deserve her, but I do love her more than anything in this world. More even than my own pelt."
"Is that why you broke faith with my family and came here today? Something that I told you would cost you your life?"
Raising a finger, Nick said, "Ahhh, technically, you were the one— Aaaack!"
Carpet gone and trap door open, Nick found himself hanging by Kevin's paw over the watery grave that stories told had claimed so many of Mr. Big's enemies.
"Yes, yes. I'm sorry, yes, that's why I'm here."
"Nicky, twice you have disrespected me by coming here. The first time, I overlooked the insult because of the debt I owed Judy for saving my daughter, but this time, you will not be afforded the same grace."
"But, sir. Mr. Big. If you'll just let me explain. It wasn't—"
"I loved you like my own, and then, at the time of my greatest need, you turned on me. You defiled my Gram-mama by tricking me into burying her in the most offensive rug possible, a skunk butt rug.
"I have abided by my promises to Sister Mary and then to Judy, but you continue to defy me. Even now, you disrespect me by continuing to deny what you did, what you did to my family. And for that, I must ice you. Kevin, if you please."
"Wait, Mr. Big, please, I have something I... I found, something that will prove to you that we were both hustled. I never meant to disrespect your Gram-mama or you. Please."
Mr. Big glared at the flailing fox until, with the wave of his paw, granted the fox a short reprieve.
Nick landed in a heap on the now reassembled water trap, but not before a whispered warning, "Nyet zabavnyy biznes, or we squish you."
Nodding, Nick quickly straightened himself into a sitting form he'd hoped never to be using, Vulpeirei, deeper than reverence and only a kit step away from begging for your life.
Feet curled under his tail, Nick cupped his paws, palms down, while slowly bending forward until his muzzle was a whisker away from the floor. Keeping his gaze down, he silently did a three count while turning his head and exposing his neck, followed by two breaths and the words, "I disrespected your invitation. It will not happen again. M'av'a scusari."
A slow and very precise four seconds of motion later, Nick was sitting on his legs curled under him, back straight and paws resting on his thighs, waiting for Mr. Big's response.
Mr. Big nodded slowly in recognition of the depth and formality of the apology being offered, and with a small motion of his ringed pinky finger to signal his bears back, he said, "You may speak."
Standing up, Nick straightened his tie and asked, "Sir, how did you find out the rug was a skunk-butt rug?"
Koslov growled and stepped toward Nick, as did Kevin, while Raymond reached for his gun.
Big snapped his fingers, leaving the fox unmolested on the wooden trap door.
Motioning toward his Gram-mama's memorial, Mr. Big waited for Koslov to retrieve the single most evil item within his home's walls. As his trusted second showed Nick a small mammal-sized, black-edged envelope, he said, "I received this the week following my Gram-mama's funeral. A Victorian-styled death notice, and inside was a signed note stating that you knew of the rug's origin and gave it to me as a way of proving that you could hustle anyone."
"You have to believe me, Mr. Big, sir. I would never do that to you, especially when you'd taken me in after my mother died. I had no point to prove. There was no hustle."
Waving toward the items now spread out on the desktop, Big spat out, "The note was signed by the Mule. There was a receipt for the rug with your signature on it included with the note. And scraps of the rug not buried were verified.
"The note was the truth, you shamed me."
"No sir," and then reaching toward his Jacket pocket, Nick…
…felt Raymond's gun pressed against the back of his head, "No move, or you die."
"Sorry," Nick said, "An envelope, it's in my pocket. May I?"
Big nodded.
Not taking his eyes off of Mr. Big, Nick slowly, ever so slowly, took out a black-edged envelope from his pocket and handed it to Kevin, who, in turn, gave it to Koslov.
"Seven years ago, I stood here on this very spot and told you some mammal hustled me into buying that rug. As you pointed out at the time, I had no proof to back up my claims, just the word of a young street fox.
"You never told me about the Mule's note. I never knew until today the extent of his deception. And up until ten days ago, when I saw the Mule's body in Mordina, I had no idea that it was him who had sold me that rug or that it was the Mule using me to send you a message.
"I freely admit that I signed that receipt, but now that I know more about how the Mule operated, I don't believe he intended to send you what he did. I believe he wanted to hurt you much more than that, and he would have if he'd sent you what I think he dropped in the alley after hustling me."
Big looked over at Koslov, who was now holding the envelope next to the one Big had received years earlier, and said, "They are the same."
"Yes, sir," nodded Nick.
"Open it if you would, please, Boris."
Koslov carefully opened the small envelope and, pulling an elegant gold script card out, showed it to Mr. Big.
"I heard the Mule always sent proof of his kills to the victim's family or friends," said Nick. "Something very personal, something that would make his point in the cruelest way possible. It was his calling card, in a way. A sick and twisted calling card, but one that he was known for.
Both mammals read the script until Koslov growled, "No one but Mule could know this."
"The signature?" asked Big.
"Same," replied Koslov.
"It is also the same card and the same script as the one Adrian showed us after his friend's funeral," said Big.
"Yes, sir," growled Koslov. "Card same. Evil animal, hurt families bad. Koslov want him dead many more times."
Nick cleared his throat before saying, "Sir, now that I know what the Mule sent you years ago, I'm even more certain that what he sent you was not what he'd originally intended. He lost his real calling card trying to get a twofer by setting me up."
Koslov opened the envelope wider until seeing what remained, he poured it into his boss' waiting paws.
"Gram-mama's necklace," whispered Big, holding the red ruby and gold chain necklace in his paws. "I was not fully convinced that it was the Mule that sent the note and receipt because it was so impersonal. Now I know the truth of what happened.
"Yes, sir," replied Nick, "and I'm ashamed of the fact that I let him use me to get at you."
"Nicky, hear me. As terrible as what the Mule did was, if he had sent me this as he had planned, it would have shamed my family beyond redemption. For the other families to know that the Mule could hurt me so deeply and still be able to take the time to do this heinous thing would have been the end of the family."
"And my sleuth," rumbled Koslov, "all of us dishonored by our failure."
Rubbing the stone with his thumb, Big asked, "Nicky, why did you not show me this when I first confronted you about the rug? So many years lost to anger and disappointment. It did not have to be."
Nick opened his mouth to answer the question, but nothing came out. Taking a breath, he tried again and mumbled, "I, uh, forgot I had it."
"What?" asked Big, raising a bushy brow. "Speak up."
"I said I didn't know what it was at the time, and then I forgot I had it," replied Nick nervously.
Koslov whispered something to Mr. Big.
"Should I be wondering where Finnick was during this transaction?"
Nick's eyes momentarily went wide before he caught himself and shook his head.
"You always did worry more about others than you do yourself. Too good-hearted for the difficult parts of the family business."
Pulling out a handkerchief, Mr. Big wrapped his Gram-mama's necklace in it and, handing the bundle to Koslov, said, "Have the necklace cleaned, destroy the rest. That diàvulu's name shall not be spoken again in this house."
-/-/-
Judy, arms folded and a scowl on her face, was gently placed in a small clear space on the floor across from where Fru Fru was sitting, sorting through this month's fashion magazines.
"Tea?" asked Fru Fru.
"Harumph," replied Judy, turning her nose up at the cup Morris was holding out for her.
"It's not Morris' fault," said Fru Fru. "Daddy needs to talk with Nicky in private."
"I should be in there," grumbled Judy, finally taking the cup from her friend's bodyguard, "Nick needs me."
"Of course he needs you. But today, he needs to talk with Daddy and work things out."
"What things?" asked Judy, "Nick won't tell me anything about what he's doing."
Fru Fru sighed, "Daddy and Nicky are so different, and yet, in some ways, they're the same. Gram-mama was born and raised in the Old Country, and when Daddy's parents passed so young, it fell to her to raise him. If it weren't for her instilling so many of her Old Country ways into Daddy, he never would have been able to command the respect needed to build our family into one of the great houses of Zootopia.
"Nicky, on the other paw, has always been an old soul. Daddy once told me Nicky honors the old ways of his species in remembrance of his father, who honored his father before him, and for his mother, who he feels he wronged before she passed."
Smiling as Morris freshened her tea, Judy said, "I didn't know that about your dad, but Nick and I have talked about his parents. He has a lot of guilt related to them, and I think he's still punishing himself over how he behaved toward them when he was a kit."
"Yes," replied Fru Fru, "they are both males trying to tame their demons, and that's why Daddy and your Nicky need some alone time to work things out."
Pausing only long enough to join Judy in taking a sip of tea, Fru Fru added, "Besides, how else is Nicky going to get Daddy's blessing for when he asks you to be his mate?"
Judy coughed and almost spat out her drink.
"What? Mates? We're just friends, I mean like really close friends, but not like boyfriend and girlfriend, because—"
"I know, space in the middle. That doesn't explain why you're wearing Nicky's mark."
"Ahhh, mark? What mark," Judy stammered, "I washed, I mean, Nick didn't mark me. That's crazy."
Leaning down to Judy's head, Morris took in a sniff so powerful that Judy felt her ears almost get sucked into the bear's nostrils.
Morris thought momentarily and then nodded to Fru Fru before stepping back.
"Did you know that a polar bear can smell food at a distance of over 20 miles?"
Judy sagged, "I thought that was just in the Arctic."
Morris smiled.
Getting up off the floor, Fru Fru walked over to where Judy was sitting crisscross and, resting a paw on her friend, said, "Anything you want to tell me?"
Judy looked at Fru Fru, then up at Morris, and then toward the playpen where little Judy was playing with a shrew-sized Mr. Microphone, and said, "How's little Judy?"
"Fine. Deflect much?"
Out of things to look at, Judy mumbled, "Uh, we ight, um, be orting."
"Excuuuuse me?" asked a now big-eyed Fru Fru.
"Nick and I, we're kind of together, you know, and courting, sort of."
"That's wonderful!" Fru Fru shrieked as she clapped her paws together. I'm so excited for you two. When is the mating ceremony? I know the perfect caterer, and we must find you a dress. And the honeymoon, where are you two going to go? Ooh, we need to find you something edible Nick can nibble off of you on your mating night. You know Paulu loves my sawfly flavored—"
Fru Fru, no, stop. We don't have a date picked out, and we might not ever be able to pick one out. It's against the law for interspecies couples to get mated, and my family, well, my dad is weirded out by predators, and I'm still kind of worried about how some of the rabbits in Bunnyburrow might react toward my family if they were to find out Nick and I are a thing, I mean I want to, but you know there's still some stuff we need to work through before we can. Otherwise everyone will freak."
Fru Fru put a paw up to her muzzle and rubbed it for a few moments, "Do you want me to ask Daddy to send Morris and a few of the other bears to Bunnyburrow to explain to them that it's okay for you and Nick to be together?"
Morris punched the palm of his paw and growled.
"Uhhh," Judy cringed, "I don't think that's such a good idea. I think maybe Nick and I should try first, and if that doesn't work, I'll let you know."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah, pretty sure."
"Okay," chirped Fru Fru, clapping her paws together. "Then let's talk about kits. I remember you said you're from a big family, so…"
Judy groaned.
-/-/-
"I owe you an apology, Nicky. I have wronged you these many years by not believing you.
"M'av'a scusari."
Giving Mr. Big a deep bow of respect, Nick said, "No apologies necessary, sir. Your family has suffered greatly, and I am relieved to no longer be a part of that most difficult time."
Mr. Big stood and returned Nick's bow of respect with one of apology, saying, "If times were different, I would invite you back into the family, but those times are past, and I'm quite certain your report to Adrian on this evening's meeting will already be interesting enough without him seeing the word Cugine, or possibly Consigliere being mentioned."
"Yes, sir," replied Nick, nodding his head. "I'm honored to hear those words spoken, but you are right. Times have changed, and I believe that similar to Judy, my relationship has to be 'family friend who's a cop and would feel awful about arresting anyone in your household, but he would if he saw or heard any felonious behavior."
Mr. Big nodded and then, with a slight smile, replied, "You do know that Judy includes many misdemeanors on her watch list."
"My partner enjoys paperwork quite a bit more than I do, sir."
Chuckling now, Mr. Big snapped his fingers, and a teen polar bear carrying a tray entered the room and handed both Mr. Big and Nick drinks.
"To our new understanding," said Mr. Big, holding a small wine glass up.
Nick, about to sniff out the history of the dark liquid in his larger wine glass, stopped when he heard, "Yours is blueberry juice in deference to your father."
"Thank you, sir. And if you don't mind, I would like us to honor your Gram-mama as part of our reconciliation."
Mr. Big nodded in appreciation and, holding his glass up again, said, "To all our cherished family unable to be here, we miss and love you."
Both drank deeply and, once done, set their glasses down to be taken away.
Once alone again, except for the ever-present Koslov, Nick made to excuse himself when Mr. Big motioned for Nick to wait.
"Nicky, now that our past troubles have flowed away like ice water under a trap door, I have a last favor to ask of you."
"Of course, sir. Anything I can do that won't put me on Chief Bogo's list. Carrots warned me that I'm on his version of double-secret probation, probably forever with my luck."
Mr. Big chuckled, "Yes, I imagine that is true, but the task I have in paw for you is one in which Adrian will approve of. I am tasking you to watch out for Judy, to do your best to temper her impulse to jump into dangerous situations without thinking and getting hurt. Fru Fru and little Judy would be devastated if she were to be injured, and there is very little I can do outside of the major families to protect her myself."
Nick cringed, "You want me to try and keep Carrots from getting hurt? Have you seen her drive? That in itself is terrifying, and then her cooking, only a mammal with a cast iron—"
Koslov started to growl a warning and then caught himself and shrugged instead.
"Yes, sir. With my life," saluted Nick.
"Nicky, I know you. You make light of those things that are important to you. And I know Judy is important to you because I know you are important to her. Promise me that you will care for her, and care for yourself. Neither of you will be able to survive without the other, and you are both practically family to me now. Promise me this, and I promise when the time comes for you to propose to Judy, you will have my blessing to take her as your mate."
Nick, about to bow his respect, instead froze and, in a most undignified way, said, "Mates?"
"Yes, Nicky. Koslov can smell Judy's mark on you, and he tells me Morris has detected your mark on Judy. I also understand that you and Judy are courting according to the old ways."
"Yes, sir. And thank you for your blessing. There are still many hurdles that must be overcome before I can take that step, but knowing we have your blessing is a great burden off my shoulders."
Koslov chuckled at what else could have come off Nick's shoulders if this meeting had gone poorly.
"Very good, Nicky. Now we shall test you." Waving to Koslov that it was time to join his daughter, Big continued, "Little Judy is learning to sing the alphabet, and Fru Fru wishes her to practice on an audience."
Walking next to the Koslov, Nick grimaced, "Do I have to?"
"Yes, Nicky. And after that, Boris and I have much to discuss with you regarding the raising of your future kits. You do recall that Judy is from quite the sizable family."
Nick groaned.
-/-/-
"So, Paulu, what do you do for Mr. Big?" asked Nick. "That is if you can say, you know, me being a cop and all."
"Oh, yes, of course," replied the small shrew setting down his dessert fork. "I'm heading up the 'Give Back Big' charitable organization. We started with a grant from the Big Family Trust, and we're growing it into a multi-district resource. We've opened up food banks in most of the districts, two job training centers, and next week, we're opening our first homeless outreach center."
"Really, charities?"
"Yup, it caught me off guard too. I was the lead accountant for the Zootopian Heart Association, and I figured I'd have to leave charities behind to work on Mr. Big's books. But right after Bellwether was put in prison, Mr. Big called me into his office and said he wanted to give back. He said something about paying it forward, and since Fru and I were mated and expecting, he wanted to make the world a better place for his grandkits. Next thing I knew, I was creating a charity from scratch and figuring out ways to help not just those in Little Rodentia but mammals all over the City."
Nick leaned close and whisper-asked, "Seriously? Mr. Big said all that?"
Paulu glanced across the table at his father-in-law catching up with Judy and, motioning Nick closer, whispered, "I swear it's all totally legit. He made me swear that everything would be 100% above board and that no less than 95% of the money donated would be spent on actual programs that help the community. I seriously don't know if he's being straight with me on why he's doing this, but Nick, I'm telling you this is the best, most fulfilling job I've ever had."
Nick chuckled as he nodded toward Judy, who was now holding little Judy and giggling with Fru Fru, and said, "I might have a guess or two as to why Mr. Big is trying to turn over a new leaf."
Paulu smiled as he looked at his mate and, after giving a little wave to the girls, whispered out the side of his mouth, "Is it true about you and Judy?"
"If you mean that car carrier losing its load on the Z-110 during that ZPD high-speed pursuit last Spring, no, there wasn't any proof posted anywhere that it was us."
Paulu chuckled at the obvious deflection, and, about to press, he nodded toward his father-in-law instead.
Catching the motion, Nick watched as Koslov whispered in Mr. Big's ear and, after a moment, turned on a large screen TV.
…..
"Thank you for that sports report, Howard Coshell, and go Tundrawolves!"
"Yes, Peter, all of Zootopia is rooting for our hometown favorites. But before we break for the evening, we have another shocking report from ZNN's newest investigative reporter, Cassidy Longtooth. She's been looking into what happened Friday night in the Savanna Central Industrial district."
"You mean a follow-up to Hog Porkson's amazing story on the importance of fire safety?" asked Peter into the camera as he grabbed a small fire extinguisher and set it next to him on the desk. "In that case, I'm ready, and if you kits out there have been paying attention, I bet you're ready too.
"Go ahead, Fabienne."
"Seriously Peter, a fire extinguisher? You know there's a reason why Porkson's been on special assignment investigating backups at Prideland Municipal's waste–"
"Hot mic, hot mic," came a whisper-shout from off-camera as the picture faded to a new video.
"This is Cassy Longtooth on special assignment," whispered a groundhog into her phone's low-light camera before switching views and pointing the phone at what was left of a five-story building off in the distance.
"I'm at the site of what we were told was the damage caused by a small gas leak." Cassy zoomed in on her target. "I know it's hard to see, but something happened here that was much worse than a gas leak. This building, which city records tell me used to be a warehouse and testing facility for kits' toys, looks like it was hit by a couple of salvos of artillery. And that building over there," whispered Cassy, panning across a large vacant lot to a building with its center section collapsed into rubble, "looks like it was hit by some sort of ground-penetrating missile."
"That one was totally not my fault," groused Judy, "and it wasn't a missile, it was—"
"Carrots," interrupted Nick. "Ixnay on the issilemay."
Judy looked around at all the mammals in the room, mouths agape.
"I mean, I heard it was totally an accident, not that I know anything about what happened or anything 'cause I wasn't there."
Nick shook his head as Cassy's video continued.
"There were reports that a Commonwealth Army Guard unit may have been involved too. I recorded this earlier from a secret location."
…..
"Garry, wait up," said a mostly dark-furred wolf in a security guard's uniform to his all white-furred partner. "What do you think really happened here?"
"I don't know, Larry. Something bigger than what they're letting on."
Garry stopped in front of where Cassy was hiding and nodded toward the wreckage, "I thought that Founder's Day fireworks display carried a big punch, but this… this had to have been a lot bigger. I mean, it looks like a squadron of bombers used this place for target practice, followed by a Platoon of APC mounted soldiers as clean up."
"That is so NOT true. There weren't any bombers, and the attack helicopters didn't show up until after–"
"Carrots!" whisper-shouted Nick.
"…the TUSK units, and uh…" Judy sighed, "the Army APCs."
"After those guards finished with a mini-howl and moved on, I was able to see a series of ambulances being loaded up from behind a blocked-off and tented area with what I have to assume were casualties from whatever devastation rained down on these buildings Friday night.
"I don't know how many mammals were lost in this apocalypse, nor where they've been taken, but something terrible happened here, and we, the people of Zootopia, deserve answers, answers better than 'a gas leak.' I call upon Chief Bogo of the ZPD to level with the City on what really happened here and whether or not the citizens of Zootopia are in any danger of another devastating event like this happening again.
"This is Cassidy Longtooth reporting from Savanna Central. Thank you."
…..
Koslov turned off the TV as everyone turned and stared at Judy.
"What?"
Clearing his throat, Mr. Big said, "Nicky tells me you and he are leaving for Bunnyburrow tomorrow."
"Yes, sir," replied Judy.
"A wise decision. If there is anything I can do to help expedite your trip out of the City, please let Manchas know, and I will take care of it."
-/-/-
Bogo switched off the ZNN video stream with a click of his computer's mouse. And by clicking, what was really meant was, crushing the offensive device in his hoof until he'd ground it into a fine pile of plastic and electronic parts.
"Longtooth. Damn it, why'd it have to be her?" grumbled Bogo to his computer's screensaver. Elkdon had to go and use her as his patsy witness in Mordinia, now she's on high alert, thinking everything is a conspiracy. And, unfortunately, in this case, she's right. A few more days to quietly investigate would be nice, but if push comes to shove…
"Damn, just a little more time…"
Tapping a contact on his phone, Bogo glared at the device until he said, "Clawhauser."
"Yes, sir?"
"When do Hopps and Wilde leave tomorrow?"
"They're on the late train to Bunnyburrow,"
"Good. Tomorrow after Hopps and Wilde go to meet with Dr. Badger, arrange a press conference. Schedule it for right after their train leaves. And Clawhauser, not a word about any of this to Hopps or Wilde. Understand."
"Yes, sir. What's the topic?"
Drumming his fingers, Bogo smiled as he said, "Fire Safety."
-/-/-
"It is done."
"Thank you," replied Sister Mary. "Your debt with me has been settled."
"No, that is not the way of this," replied Mr. Big, sitting alone with no family nor any bears within earshot of his conversation. "You were right from the beginning, and if not for you, I would have committed a grievous mistake. My debt to you has not been settled, it has been magnified beyond that which I can abide. What can this humbled old shrew do to even the balance and lessen the burden on my soul?"
"Antonio, this wasn't about favors or debts, it was about two kits in love and doing what was right by them. You don't owe me anything. What I did, I did for love. Love that was, love that could never be, and a love that will never be broken."
"Deloris, please… there must be something… or someone. Family, maybe?"
Sister Mary sighed. Her family had long ago shunned her for what she'd started out as and later never acknowledged the good she'd become. She was far from perfect, but she'd committed herself to helping those around her, and that commitment had kept her soul from shattering and healed her broken heart. Over time.
Time.
Time for family.
Time for love.
Time for change.
"There is one thing."
"Name it," replied Antonio Big, crime lord, head of one of the wealthiest, most powerful families in Zootopia, widower, father, grandfather, and long-time friend. "And if it is within my power to grant, it shall be done."
Sister Mary smiled, "It is."
…..
A/N:
Nyet zabavnyy biznes (Russian) = No funny business
M'av'a scusari (Corsican) = I have to apologize
Diàvulu = Devil
Cugine = Cousin
Consigliere = Advisor