Chapter 3:
Too Close

I wasted no time. We were going to find this mauling monster today!

Nick surprised me when he said, "I'm driving."

I looked at him like he was... well, it's just a stering wheel. "It's in your paws, Slick."

We set out to Sahara Square. Nick strapped himself in and started the vehicle. Forget the fact he hardly drives it, he knew where to go better than I did.

"Clawhouser has a guy on traffic cams as we speak." I told him.

"Good." Nick shifted into reverse, pulled out, shifted back, and got on the road. "It's very unlikely they'll get away again, not with that eye in the sky."

Nick's driving was surprisingly smooth. When we arrived at Sahara Square, we took a few oddball turns, until we reached an apartment complex. We drove around only halfway until finding a truck that very closely resembled the one we wanted to find. White and shining from a very recent car wash.

I squinted my eyes, trying to recall the details. It's relative size and shape seemed acurate. I had to make sure. I slowly exited the vehicle to examine the truck. I climbed into the bed and peeked inside. The back seat looked as if it were stained.

I shined a light inside... sure enough, there was still blood on the seat from yestuday's mauling. THIS was no doubt the right truck.

I got back to the crime cab and closed the door. "Park behind it. This truck isn't going anywhere."

"Hmm, good call." He did as I told him.

"Now... we wait."

Nick leaned the chair back. "So, what do you wanna talk about?"

"Did you see ANY video footage of the animal that drives this thing?"

Nick looked at me. "I'm afraid not. This particular area isn't under survailance."

"Darn."

"But, no worries, Carrots. We'll find them."

As an hour... hour and a half went by, I nearly fell asleep. I woke up to a tap on my shoulder. "Hey, Carrots, check it out." I snapped awake and looked to where he gestured. I found it odd...

The very same black jaguire I saw kissing the zebra the other day... was coming this direction. She suddenly stopped when she saw the cop car. She looked shocked. She was looking directly at the truck in front of us, then at our vehicle.

I had a feeling well up inside of me...

I think... We found our killer.

I stepped out of the vehicle. "Hold it right there! We have some questions."

The leopard immediately ran towards the truck. She used a remote in her paw to unlock it. I jumped up at her, grabbing her other paw. She swung it like lightning, flinging me harshly onto the asphalt. To my horror she started the car and barreled OVER the curb in front of her onto the grass. "AFTER HER!" I yelled towards Nick, getting to my feet and leaping onto the truck. The moment I grabbed the handle to Nick's door, he looked at me like I was crazy. "I said GO!"

After a moment, he gave me a reluctant nod and the vehicle roared to life. I clutched the door handle and pulled myself up, using the rear view mirror as leverage. I hurled myself up onto the top of the vehicle, grabbing the lights (that were now flashing) with my dear life. I took a deep breath and slowly skidded myself towards the passanger side, realizing I could've asked Nick to just roll down his window to let me in. Well, it's a little late for that. I heard him scream. "JUDY!" I knocked on the roof to let him know I was still up there. When I was closer to the passanger side of the roof, I could barely see that the passanger window was already rolled down for me. I tried to think of how I was going to get down there.

"Hang on!" I heard him yell. "Just keep hanging on!"

There was a red light ahead of us. I knew neither the truck, nor Nick was going to stop for it. Until suddenly... the vehicle started coming to a slow. My heart started pounding. "She's getting away!"

"GET INSIDE THE DAMN VEHICLE!" I heard Nick shout.

I used these few seconds to maneuver myself over the open passenger window. I fell inside and landed on the passanger seat, just as Nick pressed his foot harder on the gas. "WHAT... Wh- WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

I shook myself. "I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

"I've never seen you do that before!" Nick spouted.

"Just focus on the truck!" I strapped myself into the seat.

After a few intense moments of pure car chase and no conversation... he asked me. "ARE you okay?"

"You heard me. I'm fine."

"You're insane." He concluded before gaining more speed. So much I had to roll the window back up so my eardrums wouldn't pop.

The truck made a dangerously sharp right turn. Our vehicle followed persuit, and I felt the wieght shift to the driver's side. We lost a bit of speed doing that, and were lucky we didn't topple over. This truck was CLEARLY not going to stop for anything.

I heard my radio go off. It was Clawhouser. "Guys, there's a LOT of moving traffic up ahead at the red light. If you keep going you might have a collision!"

"We'll avoid it." I told him. I turned to Nick. "We're not letting her get away!"

"My thoughts exactly, Carrots."

Another cop vehicle showed up at the next red light. It drove directly in front of the crazy jaguar's truck. It didn't stop her, and the truck veered around the cop car like it was nothing. I gritted my teeth. Now things were getting out of control.

The light up ahead turned yellow. The truck was no where near it, but gained speed anyway. 3 seconds after the light turned red the truck made it to the intersection... along with a much larger vehicle.

Then it happened. Her truck wasn't fast enough... and it impacted the driver's side of the larger vehicle. In front of both me and Nick's eyes, we watched as the terrible collision unfolded. Shattering glass and dented metal strewn all over the road. The truck itself flipped over. My jaw dropped. We were clear from the wreck, but both other vehicles looked horribly bad... I don't know if either driver could've survived it. I grabbed my phone... and with shaking paws I dialed for an ambulance.

The chase was over.

The jaguar was covered in blood, with several fractures... but still alive. As for the other driver, it was an elderly elephant who had unfortunately been killed.

I guessed it was a suicidal attempt... turning into a homicicdal tragedy. I'm not gonna call this a car "Accident." ... It looked more intentional than anything I've ever seen.

She went into the abulance, and was likely cuffed at her hospital bed. I felt like a horrible creature, letting this happen. I sat there at the hospital as Bogo talked with the Doctors about the situation. My very own words echoed in my head, "Go faster!" and "Don't let her get away." were almost the only things I could hear. ... until my face was buried in my paws. I rubbed my forehead, trying to get the sounds out.

Thinking about it harder... I really was just doing my job wasn't I? I don't know how things could've turned out any differently.

A large hoofed palm was placed on my shoulder. "Hopps. Look at me." I raised my head, my ears back in dread. Cheif Bogo looked sternly down at me. "The jaguar is caught. Nobody else is going to die on her account."

I closed my eyes and nodded. "Good to hear." Considering the fact an innocent civilian died this afternoon...

"You'll be taking the weekend off. Monday I'll start you on a new assignment."

Those words ate me on the inside... it felt like a suspension more than a break. I wanted to capture this jaguar before anything else bad could happen. I can't help but feel like that poor elephant would still be alive if ONE small thing had been different...

I was clearing out my locker later that afternoon for the weekend. I had only seen Nick once or twice but didn't know what to say to him. I don't feel like we succeeded today, even though... it should've counted as a success. We caught the murderer, but ... I don't think we made the city any safer.

Random enough, as I was changing out of my cop uniform Nick walked into the locker room with one of the wolf ZPD members. I paniced and hid my topless self behind my locker door, almost closing it all the way as I heard them converse.

"Then what happened?" The wolf asked him.

"I had to speed up, right? This is where it gets REALLY crazy. The light ahead of us turned yellow, and the incredulous leopard PICKS UP speed. We're like, still a half mile away. She's gonna run a red light. We all saw it coming."

I shut my eyes tightly. I didn't want to relive this. My clothes were still in my paws, and I continued to take off the remainder of my uniform. For a moment, I was only in my underwear. Heaven help me if Nick ever saw that.

"She barrled directly into an elephant's car. You should've seen it! It was insane! I swear it looked like it was on purpose."

"Wow." I heard the wolf open his locker door. "Why didn't either of you page us?"

"It all happened so fast." Nick said.

I cocked an eyebrow as I looked out one of the locker door slits to see Nick unbuttoning his shirt. "I'm telling you, that jaguar gets off on killing animals. She's probably pulling patients' plugs at that hospital right now!"

"Dude, we should like... go over there. Make sure she's not on the loose."

"Yeah, maybe." Nick took off his shirt. His orange and white furred turso is one I've seen before a few times in here, but he seemed to be getting undressed more casually in front of that wolf then he ever had when I was in here. I couldn't look away. I... don't know why. It was weird.

He loosened his belt. My eyes widened a little... he was going to take off his pants, WHILST giving a conversation. And the worst part... I couldn't look away.

No... I did... but, I looked back a moment later. Some part of me was too curious. I've known Nick for a while now, and seeing him act like this was new for me. Did he ALWAYS undress in front of others so liberally?

I saw his pants come down. He stepped out of the fabric and back onto the tiled floor. He reached down and picked up his pants, tossing it into his locker.

I felt like a pervert watching him. I turned away, scolding myself. Bad bunny! Checking out a naked fox inside a multi-gender locker room. I heard his voice again. His conversation didn't miss a beat. "In fact, what if we finished the job ourselves?"

The wolf's reaction sounded confused. "What do you mean, Wilde?"

My reaction was equally confused. What DID he mean? I had to look out once again.

"I mean, look at this." Nick reached into his locker and took out the firearm that Bogo had given him. "Okay, bare with me. What if I... well, you know? Pulled the trigger on her? Would the Chief fire me?"

The wolf himself started unbuttoning his shirt. "Gee, that's a good question. I mean, she's a murderer. Murdering a murderer shouldn't get you fired."

"Who said I was gonna kill her? I could... heh, I dunno. Slow her down." He went to put his gun back. "It's just theorhetical. I haven't even fired the thing yet."

The wolf's shirt came off. "Hey, you're off tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I could take you to a shooting range."

My eyes widened and my head hit the top of my locker with a bang. "Ow." I peeped.

A shooting range? What the heck IS that? I've never heard of such a thing. That sounded dangerous!

Their conversation was stopped. Nick's eyes went to my locker, and I don't know if he saw mine or not... I think it was too dark. I heard him respond to the wolf. "Sure. I suppose. Just for fun right?"

"Of course." The wolf loosened his belt. "It's just targets and stuff. Though... sometimes I wish they'd put criminals in there." He laughed at that. Nick chuckled... but I wasn't laughing.

Though, I was relieved to hear about the "targets". I thought they shot animals in there.

Nick took his casual pants and stepped into them, pulling them up and concealing his masculinity. I was a bit relieved when he did.

I had sort of seen the wolf as well without clothing, but I didn't pay nearly as much attention to him. Within the next minute they were both in their casual clothes and bidding each other a "See you on Monday." type farewell. The wolf left the locker room, but Nick stopped on his way out. He turned to look at my locker one more time before leaving.

My heart was pounding and I didn't even realize it. Nick must've known I was in here... he probably thought I was spying. I don't know... It was an honest mistake.

I felt the room go quiet again, and I finished getting dressed. I felt a combination of strange feelings at that moment... not just from seeing Nick naked... or the context of the conversation they were having... but from my own judgment of character. My own morals. Was I starting to not care about things? ... I mean, I guess this is a first time I've seen Nick carry an entire conversation with somebody else. I felt like he was branching out, and I was becoming yesturday's friend...

I didn't have time for such thoughts. I left the locker room and headed back to my place. There was a television there waiting for me.

The day was over now. I had to move on... I had no choice.

The least I could do now is try to enjoy the weekend.

Zoolu had a wide selection of shows for me to watch. My stupidest mistake was turning on a movie that would make me cry my eyes out.

Tailtanic.

Little did I anticipate the raw emotions I'd be feeling when I watched the ship go down, bringing 1,500 mammals with it, and only saving 700.

I clutched my tear soaked pillow tightly in my arms, burying my face every 3 minutes. Eventually I'd have to come back up for air, but when I did, another mammal on screen would drown.

Let me break down the plot, if I may.

A poor 3rd class Doberman named Jack falls in love with a 1st class Husky named Rose. Together they enjoy a forbidden relationship on this luxuriously enormous ship, the Tailtanic. That lasts a good hour and a half, with 2 to go, and here comes the kicker... she takes off her clothes so he can draw her in the nude.

Now, this bothered me for a few minutes, until the ship grazes an ice burg the size of a small Restaurant. This causes the boat's demise, as well as my emotions to go into overdrive. By the time the movie ended, my eyes were red, my pillow was tear-stained, and I wanted to call my mom... and thank her for not being like Rose's mother.

I never, and I mean NEVER had that difficult of a time with movies. I normally was the one who kept my composure, comforting those around me if need be. I wasn't one to cry, but... doggammit, this movie. I can't stress it enough.

I turned off the television, and sat there in silence. Not even the noise from my next door neighbors was heard. Usually that meant they weren't home.

Stepping out of my bed, and placing my feet on the floor, I turned to look out of my window. The city was illuminating with lights and colors from all around me. A sight that would never get old. I opened my window, so I could feel the cool breeze, and hear the sounds of the bustling animals below. It put a small smile on my face.

The smile was a little forced, I'll admit. But, I tried to remain optimistic. Despite the disasters and tragedies of this world, one must decide if they would try to be a hero for others... or just save themselves.

I do understand that the voyage of the Tailtanic was headed for Zootopia. A place striving to become harmonious and safe at the time. The animals that survived were lucky to become a historic part of this city's origin... but the ones that perished...

I sighed, and folded my arms, resting my chin over them as I cast my gaze downwards at my precious city. The music of Tailtanic's theme song would echo in my head through the sound of the breeze. "My heart... will... go on." I whispered to myself.

My eyes closed and I tried to drift away into a pleasant daydream.

Then... sirens.