The Greys Chapter 14: Judy Hopps
#15 of The Greys
Judith Laverne Hopps stared at the computer screen in front of her. She'd been staring at it for at least fifteen minutes as she typed out another report. The one thing people never learned about was how much paperwork the police had to do every time they made an arrest or completed an assignment. It was a bit of a grinder, but it also made sure perps were put away.
But at the moment, Judy just wanted a distraction. When her phone started to ring, she just about leaped from her seat for joy. "Finally," she groaned out as she pulled out her m-Phone and pressed the answer ScreenTime button. Her mother appeared immediately, sitting down in her favorite chair, but she looked different. She wasn't her normal happy self, rather, she looked worried.
Judy's ears immediately drooped as she stared at her mother's face on the screen, "Mom, what's wrong?"
"Judy, I really hate to ask you, but..." Bonnie didn't get to finish, "Mom, you know I'd do anything to help you and dad."
"Oh no, Judy, it's not like that. You see, there's a nasty rumor floating around about Gideon's mother, and I thought... I thought you might be able to clear a few things up. People seem to really listen to you," the worried mother rabbit told her daughter.
"What kind of rumors," Judy queried, her face showing obvious curiosity.
"Well... I don't want to be spreading the rumor more than it already has been spread, but someone named Kody Grey showed up in town today, and Gideon said he was his cousin, but you're Aunt Mary-Ann says that he's actually Gideon's twin brother that Jeane locked away in the attic."
The younger rabbit rolled her eyes at the mention of her Aunt Mary-Ann. She was notorious for gossip and rumors. If she'd actually finished high school, she probably could have gotten a job writing headlines and articles for the Zootopian Inquirer or the Bi-Weekly Global News. "Mom, you know not to believe Aunt Mary-Ann," Judy replied as she shook her head.
"I know, Judy, but I'm more worried that other people in the town will believe her. Do you think you can pull some strings and find out," her mother begged. It wasn't the most legal thing in the world, but it wasn't like Judy hadn't bent the rules before, especially on her first case.
"I'll ask Chief Bogo if I can look into it as an identity fraud case, but I can't promise you he'll let me investigate," Judy told her mother.
"I know you'll try, Judy. You've always been a try-er."
"I'll let you know what I find out, mom. Is dad around?"
"Stu's out playing bridge tonight."
"Say 'Hi' to him for me."
"I will sweetheart."
The ScreenTime call ended abruptly before Judy put her phone down on her desk. She wondered if Nick had ever known a fox named Kody Grey, though, really she should have asked her mother for a picture before the call ended. It would have helped.
A thought popped into Judy's mind. Tim Church was their resident criminal sketch artist. The little rodent could draw a picture of Gideon's face if she gave him a description. That might actually work. It was at least some place to start.