Chapter Text
It was a quiet day at the ZPD. Nick and Judy had finished their daily patrol, and were working on paperwork opposite each other on their computers. The minutes whiled away as nothing interesting seemed to catch their attention.
"Hey, hang on a sec..." Judy clicked into a familiar case file that had been appended. "Patrick Caterwaul is getting out on parole soon?" She blinked. "Tch, you and I put that guy away!"
Nick craned his head backwards to look at Judy's screen. "That snow leopard?" He blinked, then leaped out of his chair and planted himself next to Judy's chair, bending over. "No way. Wasn't that guy in for putting a hit out on a mouse?"
"Among other things," Judy nodded, her voice heavy with disdain, "ugh, that sucks. Feels like we just arrested him."
"Those fat cats can get those lawyers that make the law of the land look like a joke," Nick frowned. "Really steams my clams."
Just then, Judy's ears perked as her desk's phone rang, but no sooner had the phone finished its first ring then Nick had scooped it up in his paw.
"Officer Wilde."
"Nick?" Benjamin Clawhauser blinked from his workstation. "I thought I called Hopps' desk."
"Clawzy in the Hauser!" Nick snapped his free hand, pointing off in the distance. "Oh, you did, but I grabbed it first. Aren't I as good, though?"
Clawhauser chuckled while Judy's brow furrowed in mild irritation.
"I suppose he did say either of you," Clawhauser scratched at his chin. "We got a call from an Oswald Rodbit? He says he knows you two? He has a suspicion that there's a fake investigator tying up a car at his auto repair garage."
"Oh yeah? We know him," Nick nodded, fetching a pen and paper from Judy's desk, encroaching on her space as she gave a terse "hey!" in protest. "How on earth would he know the investigator was fake?"
"Said she looked like a weird, tall sand cat, and he'd never heard of any sand cat investigator in the ZPD," Clawhauser went on, looking through some files. "And to be honest, I think he's right. We only have two sand cats in the whole ZPD, and they're both stationed in Sahara Square."
"I guess we can go down and take a look," Nick affirmed. "We still got some time on the clock. This isn't really... this isn't our purview, is it?"
"Not really," Clawhauser admitted, "but if she is a fake, call in for backup and we can get someone from the actual ZBI there to take her into custody."
"I guess the rabbit trusts us, fair enough," Nick nodded. "Got it. Over and out." He put down the phone and yanked Judy's keys from the somewhat-obscure place she liked to hide them in her desk drawer, tossing them to his bunny partner.
"Hey! Nick, you-!" Judy sputtered, . "You wanna fill me in on where we're going?"
"Ozzie's Auto Repair," came Nick's reply as he gathered his things.
"Sand cat, sand cat..." Judy thumped her fingers against the steering wheel as they drove toward Ozzie's Auto Repair. It wasn't too far from the precinct, and Judy had made the trip enough times that she didn't even need to put the address into her navigator. "Nope, I'm coming up blank. I think I would have recalled a sand cat making detective."
"Me too," Nick nodded, looking out the window.
"You have any idea who it could be?" Judy twisted her mouth. "Any ne'er-do-well police impersonators you used to rub shoulders with?"
"Actually, I do know who it could be," Nick rubbed his chin.
A moment of silence filled the cabin as Judy made the last turn.
"Well, are you gonna tell me?" Judy grunted.
"Nah, just in case I'm wrong," Nick chuckled. "But if it's who I think it is, we have nothing to worry about." He pulled out his taser. "We'll set our phasers to 'sand cat' just in case, though." He flinched as he received a text. "Clawhauser says Ozzie wants to meet us in his office to discuss what's going on." He jolted a bit as Judy performed a rough park to the side of the Ozzie's Auto Repair driveway. "Hey!"
"Just wanted to make sure you're paying attention," Judy smirked, launching out of the immense vehicle. As she padded over to the main door, she noted that the garage doors were closed, and no other cars were in the driveway. "Hm, odd. Does she have her own car in there, or did she not even drive?"
"I mean, we probably didn't need to drive, it's about a fifteen minute walk," Nick chuckled.
The two made their way into the lobby, waving at the sand cat behind the store's counter.
"Ortensia, right?" Nick flicked a finger at her. "Officers Wilde and Hopps, ZPD. Is Oswald Rodbit in?"
"He's in his office in the back," Ortensia nodded. "Is he in trouble?"
"No, and neither are you, unless you suddenly decided to become an investigator," Judy chuckled.
"Oh, you mean the female in the garage?" Ortensia seemed to consider. "Yeah, I just don't see it. She doesn't look like any sand cat I've ever seen."
"Curiouser and curiouser," Judy looked up to Nick as they prepared to open the door to Oswald's office.
"Now I'm sure I know who it is," Nick let out a soft "heh".
The two opened the door to Oswald's office, and he greeted them with a wave.
"Ah, the mammals in marine," Oswald clapped his paws together once. "Thanks for coming. I just didn't know who to call. This 'investigator' has tied up my garage all afternoon. Says she's lookin' for bugs. Dunno, sounds dangerous. Standard white coupe."
"And from what you told Officer Clawhauser," Judy checked her notes, "you figured she wasn't a legitimate officer because she's a sand cat? How would you know if a sand cat was a detective?"
"Well first of all, you look at her?" Oswald shook his head. "She looks like a kid pretending to be a detective. And seein' as my girlfriend's a sand cat, I'm pretty sure she would have told me if one of her species made detective. Heck, she's related to one of the ZPD guys in Sahara."
"I guess that makes some kind of sense," Judy tapped her chin. "We'll take a look and see what we can suss out, Oswald."
"Thanks, guys," Oswald nodded. As the two were leaving the office, he called after them. "And see if I can get my garage back anytime soon!"
Nick and Judy stood at the door to the garage, which Ortensia had indicated to them. The two had their paws on their hips, ready to draw their tasers.
"Okay, Nick, now would be a good time to tell me who you think this is," Judy grit her teeth.
"It's Lina Bell," Nick said, preparing to have Judy open the door. "99%."
"Lina Bell?" Judy let the name bounce around her neurons for a moment. "Wait, Lina Bell? She's not a sand cat, she's a -... wait, what is she again? A fox, I'm pretty sure, right?"
"Yup, an Anihonese red fox," Nick nodded.
Judy relaxed a bit, her head sagging to the side. "Well I'd gotten all tense for nothing then." Then, she straightened up again. "Then again, you never know."
"True," Nick affirmed. "Alright, let's go."
"Wait, Detective Bell is actually a detective, isn't she?" Judy threw her paw in front of Nick to hold him back. "I'd read that on the news, pretty sure."
"Yep," Nick affirmed, then threw open the door ahead of Judy.
Off working near a mid-size white coupe, looking into its trunk with a magnifying glass, was a fox just about Judy's size, perhaps an inch taller. Her fur tended towards peach and she had bright blue eyes. Her clothes looked like they came out of another century, with a brown and white houndstooth beret and shawl, evoking the sense of classic, bygone detectives. She had a long, fluffy tail with the classic "brush tip" of a red fox.
"Hello?" The fox greeted cautiously, blinking at the new arrivals. Upon surmising who they were, she gasped and quickly pattered over to them. "Officers Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps! Hello!" She bowed deeply, making both other mammals blink and look at each other. "I've heard of you and wanted to meet you!"
"Detective Lina Bell?" Judy asked to confirm.
"Ah, yes!" Lina took out her badge and flipped it open to show them. The two scrutinized it, and it seemed legitimate. "Is there something wrong?"
"Ah, no," Nick shook his head, "we just, we were in the area and thought we'd make sure everything was going well."
"Right!" Judy nodded. "We heard the car may have been... ah, bugged."
"Bugged?" Lina tilted her head. "Is that how you say it?" She scampered back over to the trunk and motioned them over. The trunk seemed mostly empty. "Yes, this trunk was bugged." Nick noticed her pronunciation was a bit stilted and weak on the consonants, a result of hastily taught Minklish, he surmised.
Judy blinked, looking into it. "Did you already get the bugs out? I don't see anything."
"Ah!" Lina shook her head, putting a glove on and reaching into the trunk, pulling out a translucent, oblong wing. "Here." She peered at it with her magnifying glass. "This dragonfly is not native to Zootopia or bordering lands. These bugs definitely must have traveled against their will."
"Huh?" Judy blinked, trying not to laugh in surprise. "Oh, insect bugs."
Nick swallowed a note of surprised as well, and coughed. "The case is about bugs."
"Yes!" Lina nodded emphatically. "A collector in Pawaii, a chameleon, lost his prized bugs! He had a collection from all over the world. And I've been looking at samples of discarded scales, wings, and legs all afternoon!"
"Oh, um, hm," Nick scratched his chin at the seemingly trivial assignment. "You don't think someone just ate them, do you?"
"Maybe," Lina nodded, but then began to look doubtful, "but an exotic collection like this... it could be sold to a zoo or a collector for a lot of money. Maybe several hundred thousand hen, er, or a few tens of thousands of bucks."
"Someone's illegally transporting or selling bugs in Zootopia?" Judy blinked. "That's strange."
"A little less strange to us meat-eaters, Judy," the taller fox shook his head, "some mammals will go through a lot to taste something exotic."
Lina gasped and clasped her hands together. "Officers! You arrested an Anihonese illegal seller of paintings, right? A fox?"
"That's right," Judy nodded, somewhat flabbergasted. "How did you know that?"
"Ahheheh..." Lina rubbed behind her head, her tail swishing nervously. "I have looked into you two somewhat, sorry! Your story is inspiring."
"Well, thanks," Judy smiled, though Nick didn't seem as moved. "We did arrest a fox, I believe using the pseudonym Redd? He owned a boat."
"I must compare notes with you back at the station soon," Lina nodded again, looking excited. "The sea trade route from Anihon to Zootopia goes past Pawaii. Maybe he could have done it or know someone who does!"
"I mean, it's a long shot, but it wouldn't hurt to check," Nick shrugged. Lina nodded, pumping her fists, a bright smile on her face. "Incidentally, do you know how long you'll be tying this car up?"
"Maybe an hour," Lina considered for a moment. "I already questioned the owner of the car and he said it'd been stolen from him and scruffed up, and he was having it fixed up and detailed here."
"All right, we'll see you back at the station then, Detective Bell," Nick saluted. "Call Clawhauser if you need anything."
"Mm!" Lina nodded. "I'll do my best!"
"We'll see you soon," Judy nodded.
The two walked, somewhat dumbfounded, to Oswald's office, knocking and entering.
"Well?" Oswald wondered anxiously.
"Seems like you'll get your garage back in about an hour," Judy nodded.
"So that cat was legit?" Oswald blinked. "In that outfit?"
"I think she's trying a little too hard to fill the role," Nick chuckled. "But yes, that's Detective Lina Bell, she's a red fox that hails from Anihon."
"What? A fox? With those wide cheeks she's got?" Oswald tilted his head. "Guess her tail was a bit long, and with that white bit on the end..."
"They do say that foxes are more cat-like than other canids," Judy giggled.
"Lies and slander," Nick monotoned.
"What I don't get is... how? How'd she get on the force so quickly?" Judy tapped her foot. "I remember her being sworn in, all the news coverage. Something about a... bear?"
"Yeah," Nick nodded. "A friend of that one bear, Duffy something or other. He's some sort of hotshot cultural liaison between Anihon and Zootopia. No idea why or how he got so popular."
"Oh, Duffy?" Oswald blinked, slamming his hands down on his desk. "Easy! Minnie Mouse made him."
"Uh, what?" Judy blinked, a paw to her chin. "Made him?"
"Like, made him the bear he is today," Oswald nodded. "He was determined to be a sailor, and made all kinds of friends on the way, and has been trading culture and goods between Anihon and Zootopia for the last decade and a half or so."
"Wait, you know Minnie Mouse?" Judy gave a tittering laugh.
"Ah, yeah," Oswald grinned, "small world, eh?"
"No way! What's she like?" Judy glowed, leaning in. "Is her voice as high-pitched in real life?"
"What my bunny friend means to say is, how is Minnie Mouse involved?" Nick chuckled at his excitable partner, who looked a touch embarrassed as reality sank into her like an arrow.
"I think she funded his expeditions to some degree," Ozzie folded his arms. "Didn't ask why. Could be she wants to break into the Anihonese film industry with Mickey? Don't know that far."
"Detective Bell was a promising young fox from Anihon who just barely made detective," Nick recalled, "and I think someone higher than us decided she should get her feet wet with the ZPD. Seems a bit odd, but..."
"Well, thanks for clearing that up for me, guys," Ozzie smirked. "To be honest, I wish I'd see less of you these days; this isn't the first time you guys have held up my garage for an investigation."
"Oh, sorry about that, but duty calls," Judy chuckled nervously. "It's for ah... a very important investigation."
"Yep," Nick added tersely. "Very important."
As the two officers collected themselves and entered into their cruiser, Judy's paw paused before she put the key in the slot.
"Okay, she was small, she was so small," the bunny suddenly babbled. "She's the smallest red fox I've ever SEEN! She was as big as I AM! And that COLOR!"
Nick could only chuckle for a few moments at the sudden outburst. "They do make red foxes that small in anihon. And the color isn't atypical either."
"And what was she wearing" Judy laughed. "She looked like a kit trying to play Sherlock Stables on Halloween."
"Mm," Nick nodded, seemingly distracted.
"Ah, sorry," Judy flashed her teeth in guilt, turning the key to the cruiser. "Was that out of line?"
"No, it's just," Nick sighed. "She remind you of anyone?"
There was a silence as Judy drove back onto the road to head back to the station.
"...Me?"
"Kind of, didn't she?" The fox nodded, folding his arms. "Sounds like she was fast-tracked into the ZPD because of some government program or another, and she's stuck on some menial case by herself."
"Hey, I mean bugs are important to predators, aren't they?" Judy lolled her head.
"Not as important as fish, generally, but we're also not talking about a large amount, from the sound of it," Nick shrugged. "I dunno."
"What, are you annoyed another little upstart has wormed her way into the ZPD?" Judy teased, giving Nick's arm a slap with the back of her hand. When he didn't reply, she blinked, her eyes opening wider. "Oh, you are?"
"I dunno, Fluff," Nick sighed, easing back more into his seat. "Something about that youthful optimism still just makes me want to squash it down like a plump little bug."
"Well, thanks for restraining yourself," Judy laughed wryly.
"But she doesn't even have the good sense to be antagonistic about it," Nick shook his head. "She's polite, eager to please, friendly, and doesn't have that spark of defiance you do. I worry she'll be walked all over, or just paraded around for what she 'represents'."
"I guess," Judy's smile faded, but grew back smaller. "I dunno, maybe you're reading too much into it."
"You don't feel annoyed at all?" Nick looked over to Judy. "You've barely ever heard of this fox before, yet she's passed both of us up on the hierarchy."
"I'm not the one with the green eyes, Slick," Judy teased. "That said, she'll have a ways to go. Even though we're beat cops, we still have some pretty important arrests under our belts. Like a certain sheeeeep?"
"Heh," Nick smirked, but his smile fell as he looked out toward traffic. "Kinda spooked myself a bit. I did... feel a little jealous, I guess. I thought it was just that optimism of yours that I disliked, that I just wanted to belong, but I did feel that twinge of the ol' 'green eyes' flaring at seeing that earnestness from a new young go-getter, I suppose. Especially because she's a fox, I guess. I didn't think I'd need to feel 'important' to fit in in the ZPD, but I almost feel like Lina Bell threatens that in some way. I dunno, it's dumb."
"Hey, hey, no one said anything about that," Judy gave a pained smile. "Nick, no one can take what you've accomplished away from you, okay?" The two exchanged a gentle smile, and Judy added a giggle to hers. "And unless this bug thing turns out to involve all of Zootopia in some huge scandal, I don't see her becoming a household name anytime soon."
"Don't tempt fate, Fluff," Nick enunciated, wagging his index finger. "The way that Oswald rabbit's luck is, I wouldn't be surprised if his auto shop was the battleground for the fate of the whole city at some point or another."
"Well, that'd be novel, at least!" Judy shrugged.