Chapter Text
"I skipped you two in the bullpen for a reason," Bogo said. He shook his head again. "No. I'm not putting two veterans on parking duty when forensics is waiting on their reports."
"Forensics has our reports, Sir." Judy sat on the front edge of the chair, so her legs dangled into space. She was used to the oversize furniture now - whether she was in here to get dressed down or commended, it was as much a part of Chief Bogo's office as he was. Nick had even stopped teasing her about it. "We finished those this morning before roll."
"You still have better things to be doing than scut work, Hopps." Bogo appeared so totally unimpressed with their initiative that Judy couldn't tell if it was an act. He tilted his head so he could squint at them over his glasses. "It's for breaking in the rooks, as you well know. I'll never understand why you're so fond of it."
Judy had considered her first ever meter maid role punishment for all of two days. Now it was even more special - not that she or Nick would get into the details of exactly why.
Bogo did actually know, of course. Judy was sure of it, because it was hardly a secret. He'd been one of the first to acknowledge it, and the first to cut them careful slack.
But he had a reputation to maintain, too. He was still watching them in stony silence.
"It still needs doing for the day, doesn't it?" Judy asked. "You didn't put anyone on it in the bullpen."
"Department revenues aren't going to collect themselves," Nick added. He leaned forward on the knee he had up on the edge of the chair. His tail swished. "And we're back to being good publicity again. Or at least Judy is."
Judy wanted to scowl at him, but he was right. For what it was worth, they were in the headlines for good honest policing far more often than anything bad these days. But Bogo still didn't look ready to risk those odds.
"We'll even try to pick up leads for the next case while we're out," Judy said. She pointed to the thickest file on the desk above her. "The commerce one, with the longshoremammals in Canal District."
Now their chief snorted and looked at the map on his wall. "Not likely. The union never budges until the courts get involved."
Nick was already smiling. They had anticipated this. "Is Paulie Stamper still running things down there? Big rhino?"
Bogo pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's too early for this, Wilde."
"No problem," Nick said anyway. It wasn't an act. Judy knew he actually enjoyed when he could bend his old life to help his new one - and she knew that he wouldn't have brought it up at all if there were any risk of it spiraling out of control, like it had so many fateful times before. They were smarter than that now. "He and I go way back."
"Do tell."
"Well, it's not like Paulie is up to anything illegal himself," Nick said. "He likes the job perks too much to risk any of it, and he likes to say there's no one as good at directing a load than him. I'm guessing he's right, too."
"Your vote of confidence won't plug up these undeclared imports."
"No, but if we find him, I can talk to him about passing on some info, and in ways that won't draw any attention. Mammals down there might notice commerce reps. They'd definitely notice OCD."
Bogo raised an eyebrow. "As opposed to ZPD's celebrity duo."
"We are smaller than Reeves." Nick couldn't resist. "He thinks it's not a bad idea, by the way."
Bogo's surprise moderated, at the mention of their forethought. Judy kept her ears up and smiled wider for him, just in case it helped. He had to know they wouldn't rush into anything so sensitive. "And I'll keep Nick from running off and trying to solve the case himself."
Bogo finally sighed and pulled a briefing packet from the top of the huge binder. "See that you do, or it's two months of tax cases for the both of you."
Judy couldn't help but beam at her partner.
"Yes, Boss," Nick said.
"You're up to, what, four hundred now?"
"That sounds right," Judy said.
"Five hundred tickets by the end of the day, then." The smile nearly - nearly - cracked through Bogo's scowl while he dared them to object.
Not likely, Judy thought. A challenge was a challenge. "We'll get it done, Sir."
"Go see Stamper first." Bogo gave them the paperwork, somehow managing to look like an indulgent parent and ominous boss at the same time. He knew, all right. "And be careful."
Judy took it and they slid off their chair to leave. Nick waited until they were out in the busy hallway to wink at her excitement.
"Told you he was going to bump the count."
"It's worth it," Judy said. She read the file over. The parking tickets could wait, for now. Bogo was trusting them with the first steps in what could be the department's next big case, and she didn't intend to let him down. "We'll just get to go to more places."
"Let's make sure that includes Sahara," Nick said. He donned his favorite glasses and held the door for her. Their little buggy was waiting. "Fin's got the stand down there today, and I want a pawpsicle."