Zootopia: The Wilde Bunch - Part 4 - The Task Force
#44 of Zootopia
After the tragedy that had occurred the night before, Nick Wilde managed only a few hours of sleep before coming into work that Sunday morning. Rather than going to his office like usual, he had been ordered to report to Zootopia's 1st Precinct. Grabbing a cup of coffee, the fox entered the briefing room at the precinct; where he sat down next to his former partner, Jack Wolfard.
Chief Bogo entered the room looking even sterner than usual. Standing at the podium, he addressed the assembled officers. "Morning, everyone. I want you all to know that I just got off the phone with Mayor Lionheart and he assured me that can use every asset at our disposal. There's no budget restrictions on this, no worries about being per-approved for overtime pay. This case is our top priority." The cape buffalo looked out into the crowd of assembled officers and nodded towards Nick. "Captain Wilde, would you please come forward and give use a briefing on the events that took place last night?"
Nick got out of his seat and approached the podium. Opening his briefcase, he took out his notes that he'd written down last night. "At approximately 8:03 last night, an unknown shooter fired seven rounds down into a crowd of civilians from the Zootopia City Bank Corporate Office Building: killing seven. When my officers recovered the supposed weapon, they found that it not only possessed a high powered scope, but that scope also had night vision and a noise suppressor, meaning that whoever did this has access to considerable funds and or to military hardware." The fox then took took out photos of all seven victims and taped them to the dry erase board in front. "Here are photos of our victims. So far, the only thing we know they have in common is that they are all prey."
"What about the building rooftop?" asked Chief Bogo.
"I spoke to the CEO of Zootopia City Bank last night. He informed me that the entrance to the rooftop is locked at all times. CSU found no forced entry, meaning that whoever did this likely has access to the rooftop. I have my officers running background checks on every employee of the building. We're looking for any criminal activity on their records, and we're also checking to see if any of them have a military background, since whoever did this showed incredible marksmanship. Now I know there will be confidentiality issues about this, but we're also checking to see if anyone that works their has ever been institutionalized for mental health reasons."
"What about the PLA note that was found near the weapon?" asked the Chief.
"I forwarded that to the Intelligence Unit. So far, they don't have any information on any known criminal organization that uses that particular acronym. I informed the uniform officers under my command that they can start throwing money at some of their snitches to try to get them to cough up any information they might have about the PLA."
"Very good," said the chief with a nod. "Captain Wolfard, how has the investigation been going in the 8th Zone?'
Jack Wolfard approached and stood next to his friend, Nick. He cleared his throat before addressing the task force. "I have my officers combing the blocks around the crime scene to try and maintain order. I know it's not usually that busy on Sunday, but come tomorrow morning, we're going to have thousands of beasts that will be passing through there. With your permission, Chief, I'd like to authorize a 24/7 helicopter patrol around the area."
"Already taken care of," said Bogo. "I've ordered all the chopper pilots to report anything suspicious they find. Mayor Lionheart is going to hold a press conference in an hour where he'll be warning citizens to stay off rooftops unless absolutely necessary. I also have SWAT on standby for when we find out who this bastard is." The Cape Buffalo looked around the room. "Now, before we adjourn, I just want all of you to know this: I don't want there to be any arguing about turf on this, understood? We have seven dead civilians right now, and I don't want there to be anymore because someone refused to share information about this case with their fellow officers. I expect all of you to give one hundred percent on this one. I will not let some terrorist bring Zootopia to its knees." With a stiff upper lip, Bogo nodded to the task force. "Alright then, let's get to work."
Everyone started to leave the room, but Nick approached the Chief. "Excuse me, sir?"
"Yes?" said Bogo, turning around to face Nick. "What is it Wilde?"
"I spoke to my father last night and he told me he's willing to put up considerable reward money for information that leads to the arrest of the shooter."
Bogo, who did not have the best relationship with Nick after the fox had gone on a vigilante mission that lead to the death of his siblings kidnappers, nodded. "I appreciate that, Wilde. I'll be sure to let the mayor know."
Nick "Thank you, sir," said Nick.
Nick watched the Chief exit, leaving only himself and Jack Wolfard left in the room. Nick approached his former partner, sighing. "I tell you Jackie boy, I have a feeling this is gonna get worse before it gets better."
Jack nodded, a look of gloom hung about him. "I'm afraid you might be right about that, Nick."
Back at the Seventh Zone's building, Nick walked inside and went to his office, briefly looking at the window that read CAPT. NICK WILDE: SEVENTH ZONE COMMANDING OFFICER before entering his office and sitting down at his desk. He turned on his computer, seeing the wallpaper that contained a photo of him with Judy and the kids. It was times like this that the fox worried about the safety of his family. There was some maniac on the loose, supposedly targeting prey animals. He quickly opened his email, trying to get his mind off his family, lest it cloud his judgment.
All of the emails Nick viewed were reports from the officers who served underneath him, letting him know what, if any progress had been made so far in the case. Nick skimmed through the reports, most of which were reports on all the background checks that the task force had been doing on all the employees of the Zootopia City Bank Corporate building. So far, nothing had turned up that looked promising. Nick leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling, trying to figure out just how in the hell they were going to catch this guy.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Nick looked at the window of his office door and saw that Sergeant Rockwell, the rhino that had been on scene before him was standing at the door. The fox motioned for him to enter.
"Good morning, sir," said Rockwell. "You sleep much?"
"A few hours," said Nick. "What's the latest on the case?"
"I've had the uniform guys assemble all the witness statements, and I think our theory about this guy targeting prey is probably true."
"What makes you say that?" asked Nick.
"Those streets were pretty crowded when that guy started firing shots. There were several predators that told our guys that they were standing right next to some of the victims when they were hit."
"And all seven beasts were killed by head shots," added Nick.
"Exactly," said the rhino. "We're also checking to see if any of the animals who work there have a military background, given how precise this guy's shooting seems to be."
"While you're doing that, try to see if anyone that did serve in the military left on less than honorable terms."
"Check for disciplinary problems?"
"That," said Nick, looking into his empty coffee mug. "And see if you can get a military official to comment if any thing turns up. I know they're usually pretty tight lipped about service records, but just mention the word 'terrorism' and they'll start talking."
"Understood, sir," replied Rockwell, noticing that his Captain was staring into an empty coffee mug. "Could I get you some coffee, sir?"
"Thank you, yes," said Nick. "Lots of hazelnut cream and sugar, please."
"Oh, I think somebody knocked that flavor of creamer over and spilled it in the fridge last week; frig is still a mess. I really need to get after building and maintenance about how they've been shirking their cleaning duties. Why I ought to . . ." It was then that Rockwell noticed his Captain was giving him a very strange look.
"Something wrong, sir?" asked the rhino.
"Building and maintenance," said Nick, staring past Rockwell.
"Sir?" asked an even more confused Sergeant.
"Building and maintenance," said Nick in a louder, more confident voice. "Think about it, Sergeant. Who is most likely to have a key to the rooftop?"
The rhino saw where Nick was going with this. "I'll have my guys start looking up the building and maintenance employees right away, sir."
"And try to see if we can get any surveillance footage from inside the building there," added Nick.
"Right on it, Captain," responded Rockwell.
"And get me my coffee," yelled Nick as the rhino left his office. "Lots of cream lots of sugar!"
Nick turned his attention back to his computer, when his cellphone rang. Looking at the screen, he saw that it was Judy on MUZZLE TIME. Smiling, he opened the call and found that it was not just Judy, but his four kids on screen.
"Hi handsome fox," said Judy.
"Hi, honey bunny," said Nick, smiling for the first time since getting news of the spree shooting. He looked at his two sons and daughters. "Hi, brats."
"Hi, Daddy!" squeaked the four funnies.
"The kids wanted to make sure that they're Daddy is okay," said Judy.
"I'm fine," said Nick.
"When you comin' home?" asked Sammy.
"Not sure yet, pal," responded Nick with a sigh. "Hey, can you kids go play for a little bit? I need to talk to Mommy."
Nick saw the four disappear from view. Judy turned around, making sure that they were no longer in the room. "What's going on, Nick?"
"I'm now part of a city wide task force that's been formed to hunt down the guy that killed those seven animals last night," said Nick. "We still don't have much to go on . . ." He stopped himself from going any further. "And that's all I can really say at this point."
Judy nodded her head in understanding. Having been a police officer herself, she understood that Nick really couldn't comment that much about an ongoing investigation, or he could face disciplinary measures. "Is there anything I can get you?"
"No," said Nick. "I don't want you going into the city while this maniac is still running around. In face, how about you just stay there at my parents' house for now. The kids will be fine, and I know Mom and Dad would feel much better if you were there with them."
"Okay," said Judy, getting teary eyed. "I guess I should let you get back to work."
"Yeah," said Nick. "I love you, honey bunny."
"I love you too," said Judy, now unable to keep from crying. "You go hunt that guy down, okay?"
"I promise you I will," said Nick, unable to stop from shedding a tear himself. He kissed the cellphone screen before ending the call. Throwing the phone back down on his desk, he once more leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling, wondering when he'd get to see his family next. Again, he realized that he couldn't let himself think about or it would just interfere with the task at hand. He resumed browsing the numerous police reports, when he felt a terrible rumble throughout the building. Jumping to his feet, he ran out of his office and into the squad room.
"What the hell was that?" yelled Nick.
A dispatcher, having just got the news, yelled back at Nick. "Captain, we just a report of an explosion several blocks away!"
Nick immediately leaped into action. "Everybody drop what you're doing now and get down to the scene, now!"
The officers ran towards the buildings front entrance as Nick went back into his office and got his Captain's cap and trench coat, along with his sidearm. He had a terrible feeling that this explosion wasn't accidental.
Nick arrived behind his own officers. The scene that greeted him was like something out a nightmare. A small building that had been a vegetarian restaurant was now a burning pile of rubble. Dozens of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks were already on scene. Nick saw to his horror that there were several dead bodies scattered around, as well as numerous wounded animals wailing in pain. The fox caught sight of Sergeant Rockwell and started giving him orders.
"Sergeant, get those bodies covered up right now! Have the uniform assist the medics with those wounded animals. Everybody be on guard for any armed beasts who aren't in uniform, and get some yellow tape around this perimeter, god dammit!"
Though the senior officer on the scene at the moment, Nick was content to just give orders. Having been trained to give medical attention, he went over to a wounded rabbit lying on the ground and broke out his first aid kit. The rabbit's injuries were severe and he was losing blood fast. Nick went to work licking split, applying gauze and tape to the worst of his injuries. The rabbit moaned in pain before coughing up blood. Nick yelled for medics to come, but there were so many wounded, and only so many medics.
"Stay with me, pal," Nick urged the rabbit. "Come on, you'll be alright. Stay with me. Stay with me!"
Nick watched as the rabbit emitted a raspy, blood soaked breath as he closed his eyes. Nick shook the rabbit, trying to rouse him, but it was too late. Nick got to his feet and looked down at the dead rabbit. Without a tarp to cover the body, Nick decided to take his own coat off and cover him up. He looked around and tried to find more animals to care for, all the while he hoped that this was just a terrible dream that he was going to wake up from at any moment.
Over an hour passed since the explosion had occurred. Nick now sat on the sidewalk, his clothes and fur covered in the blood of various dead and wounded animals. He couldn't believe that some creature or creatures could be so hateful, so malicious that they would wantonly kill innocent civilians who had done them no harm. He hoped that he would never witness such violence, such destruction ever again in his life.
"On your feet, Captain Wilde," came a gruff voice behind him.
Nick stood up and saw that it was none other than Chief Bogo who'd ordered him up. Beside the Cape Buffalo was his old partner, Captain Jack Wolfard. "Sorry, Chief," said the fox.
Bog looked Nick up and down. The fox could see that his chief was genuinely startled by all the blood and gore that the fox was covered in. Jack was also shaken by Nick's appearance.
"Casualties?" asked Bogo.
"Forty-two dead so far, Chief. Dozens wounded. I just . . . I can't get my mind . . . who would . . ."
Bogo, seeing the Captain was obviously suffering trauma, put his paw on him. "You need to go talk to the department shrink after you get out of those bloody clothes, and then I want you to go home for the rest of the day."
"Sir?" said Nick.
"Go see Judy and the kids," said Jack.
Nick turned to walk towards his car, but the Chief stopped him first. "Wilde?"
"Yes, sir?" said the traumatized fox.
"Before you leave, you should know that I got this recording on my phone right before Captain Wolfard and I arrived on scene.
Nick saw the Chief take his cell phone out and turn the volume up to full. A loud, distorted voice could be heard on the message.
"This attack is another campaign carried out by the Predator Liberation Army against the majority prey oppressors. We demand that all prey submit to our dominion, as is the will of nature herself. We will carry out missions every day until all prey have left Zootopia. All hail the supreme predators!"
The message ended. Bogo put his phone back in his pocket. Nick looked at the Chief once more. "At least now we know what PLA stands for."
"And what they want," said Jack.
"Chief?" said Nick.
"Yes, Wilde?"
"I promise you," said Nick, stepping forward. "That when I return to work tomorrow, I will not rest until I've brought in every single member of this Predator Liberation Army . . . dead or alive." Nick had never been more serious in all his life. Bogo and Jack looked at each other and nodded, knowing that Captain Nick Wilde was a fox of his word.