Meeting The Fam - 6

Mrs. Wilde’s house was small and unassuming, humbly perched on the 3rd floor of an apartment block. The doormat was welcoming, but dusty and unused. Judy knocked on the door and waited.

“You know what, Carrots, maybe we should come by another day.” Just as Nick turned to leave, he heard the door crack open.

Judy smiled and extended a hand to the elderly fox.

“Mrs. Wilde?”

“Oh, you’re Judy Hopps, aren’t you?” She shook Judy’s hand and smiled warmly, catching sight of Nick in the back, ready to walk away, “Is that… Nick?”

Nick froze and turned to look at his mother. She looked old and tired, but there was that same motherly tenderness in her gaze, full of unconditional love for her son. It hurt to look into those eyes again.

Slowly, he walked over and forced a smile.

“Hi, mom. Long time no see, huh?”

She nodded.

“Well, come on in! I wasn’t expecting any guests, so I don’t have much on hand. Sorry dear.”

“It’s alright, ma’am.”

She closed the door again and the lock was fully opened. The door slowly swung open to reveal a Fox with an uncanny resemblance to Nick, seated in a wheelchair.

“Come on in! It’s cold outside!”

Judy followed her in and dragged Nick along. Her home was pleasantly furnished, laid out in a way that made it simple to maneuver with a wheelchair. As she prepared some tea in the kitchen, Judy and Nick took a seat on the soft, fluffy couch.

She returned with a tray balanced on her lap which she placed onto the coffee table before taking her place opposite them, pouring herself a cup. Judy helped herself as well, but Nick just sat there, not making eye contact with either of them.

“Well, officer Hopps, what brings you to this old vixen’s home?” She smiled and sipped her tea daintily.

“Well, I was hoping you’d be able to help us with this case concerning your husband.” Judy watched for Mrs. Wilde’s reaction, but she didn’t seem fazed. Rather, she seemed tired.

“Oh, what did he get himself into again?” She asked with a sigh, glancing at Nick who turned away.

“Well, he broke out of jail a few days ago,” Mrs. Wilde’s ears perked up, “And we were wondering if you could give us any information about his whereabouts!”

“Robin’s free?”

“Well, he sort of conducted a jailbreak…”

“But he’s running free right now, is that right?” She asked, leaning back and adjusting her blanket on her lap.

Judy nodded, slightly confused at the happy smile on her face, though it was directed at Nick.

“Nick! Did you hear that? You father’s-“

“Free. Yeah, I heard. I’m a cop too, mom.” Nick crossed his arms, looking at the ground.

“Oh, you’re a cop now? That’s… Unexpected.” Mrs. Wilde coughed and smiled a little at Nick, who didn’t look up.

“Uh, ma’am, if I may redirect you to the subject at hand…” Judy smiled and took out her laptop, opening up a map of Burrowtown that showed all of Robin’s targets. Mrs. Wilde took out her reading glasses and looked closely at the map. Like her son, her eyes were razor-sharp and focused.

After a bit, she removed the glasses and leaned back into her wheelchair.

“Sorry, dear, but I can’t make out anything Robin might be planning from that map…”

“Oh… Well, what about this?”

Judy pulled out the ring and handed it to her. She examined it closely and chuckled.

“Oh, this ring. It was our wedding ring… May I take it out?”

“Well, I’d rather we keep it intact as much as possible…”

Mrs. Wilde nodded and handed it back to Judy before turning to look at Nick.

“Nick… Are you still upset, sweetie?”

Nick didn’t reply.

“Sweetie, your father…”

“He’s not my father. Not anymore…” Nick sighed and leaned back into the couch.

“Nick, don’t say that… he just wanted to protect us.”

“Yeah, by running away. How did that help? He left you alone to take care of me!”

Mrs. Wilde took a while to respond.

“He left me alone because if he didn’t we’d all be implicated. Nick, please listen to me…”

“No. I’m sorry, mom, but this isn’t getting anywhere. Come on, Hopps, let’s go.”

Nick got up and walked off before either of them could stop him.

Mrs. Wilde sighed and sipped her tea before looking at Judy who’d been listening rather attentively throughout the entire conversation.

“I’m so sorry, officer Hopps. He wasn’t always like this.”

“Oh, don’t worry ma’am, Nick told me everything.”

Mrs. Wilde nodded and beckoned Judy close, taking her hand.

“Officer Hopps. Judy. Please take care of my little Nick. He’s had it rough growing up,” She glanced out of the open door, making sure Nick wasn’t there listening, “Judy, did he talk to his father yet?”

Judy nodded. Mrs. Wilde sighed.

“I don’t suppose it was a pleasant talk?”

Judy shook her head.

“I’m not too surprised… Twenty years locked up in jail will do things to a fox.” She let go of Judy’s hand and turned to look out the window. The cloudy skies threatened rain in a few hours, lit orange by the setting sun.

“I think you should go and find Nick.” Mrs. Wilde said with a gentle smile, “I’m sorry I couldn’t help with your investigation.”

“It’s alright, ma’am.” Judy smiled and left, closing the door behind her gently, but not without leaving her number with Mrs. Wilde. In return, Mrs. Wilde told her something about the ring.

“It was made by one of the best smiths in town, Ratson’s Forge. You may want to look there; he was a close friend of Robin. Good luck, officer Hopps.”

Judy thanked her for the lead and walked off, casting one last look back at Mrs. Wilde. The old fow smiled and waved her goodbye before gently closing the door.

When she stepped outside, Judy was surprised to find the cruiser still there with Nick curled up in the passenger seat, fast asleep. He jerked awake when Judy started the engine.

“Your mom’s a nice lady, Nick.” Judy noted as the cruiser rumbled back to Burrowtown, the dirt roads crackling beneath its wheels. There was a peal of distant thunder accompanied by a flash of lightning.

“Yeah, she is.” Nick leaned out of the cruiser, feeling the wind on his face.

“So… Why were you so mean to her?”

“How else could I act? I ran away from home to become a conman when I was twelve, Carrots. Do you want me to look her in the eyes and say ‘Hey mom, I’m back!’?”

“But you’re a cop now, Nick.”

“Yeah, but did you see her face when I told her that? Let me tell you, she wasn’t happy with it.”

“She said it was unexpected. Nick, you’re overreacting. Cheer up a little!”

Nick didn’t say anything, instead choosing to close his eyes and fall asleep in the passenger seat. Judy sighed as she looked back at the road. Her phone rang shortly after and she answered the call. It was her parents. They said they wanted to see them as soon as possible.