Zootopia: ZPD Mysteries - Case #1: The Blackout at Steel Mountain Manor

Chapter 1: Popping the Weasel

Time Setting: May 31st, 2017

The late afternoon sun shone down on the climate-controlled city of Zootopia, sending its golden-orange rays from a million miles away to kiss the surface of the buildings, the leafy grass in the city's parks and to warm the backs of the animals living in the city like a living, benevolent flame. Zootopia was the crown jewel of all the Free Lands, and every animal that lived within any one of its many districts knew it.

In Savanna Central, the main hub of Zootopia's business, government and law enforcement, many animals were coming home from work or school, or stopping at their favorite joints to eat, or cooking dinner for their families and spouses. It was a typical late afternoon in Zootopia, with animals of every imaginable size, from the biggest elephant to the smallest Arctic shrew, from the fastest cheetah to the slowest of sloths (very slow indeed), relaxing after a hard Wednesday.

But not two certain animals.

In front of a rundown, trashy apartment building, with the faded sandstone-colored walls trapping every photon that emanated from the sun, half a dozen cars from the Zootopia Police Department, or ZPD, were parked in a raid-style formation. From amidst the crowd of towering, hulking ZPD officers, a small, gray-furred figure stepped towards a parked prisoner transfer truck, holding a struggling, slippery weasel between her two paws.

"All right, Wezzelton, you know your rights," Officer Judy Hopps explained. "You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

Judy Hopps was the first (and so far, only) rabbit on the Zootopia Police Department's force, and had proven herself a capable officer in the many months since the days of the Bellwether Conspiracy. Her long, fuzzy grey ears were on constant alert, and her deep violet eyes scanned for criminals like two purple hi-def security cameras. She may have been a sweet little bunny, but she was anything but weak.

And since her admission into the ZPD, every criminal in Zootopia knew it.

The scraggly, ugly, tan-furred weasel struggling in her paws spat out a cliché defense.

"Officer," Duke Weaselton growled in protest, "this ain't what it looks like! I've been framed! I would never do such a thing!"

Beside Judy, her best friend, Officer Nick Wilde, held onto the weasel's shoulder tightly with his foxy paws.

"You would never go out bootlegging Finess beer?" Nick asked, having known the crooked little rat for a long time. "You, who successfully swindled the makers of Meowana and Giraffic World 2 into giving you their movies before they were even finished? Besides, you labeled the stuff 'Duke Weaselton's Homemade Beer!' You really think we're that stupid?"

Nick Wilde was another first for the ZPD: the first-ever fox officer. Having grown up on the streets of Zootopia, Nick really was the epitome of a tough, street-smart fox. He always wore a distinctive tie, whether in uniform or out of it, and was armed with a brain full of knowledge about the criminal underbelly of Zootopia. With tons of friends from all walks of life, and a sly, sarcastic mouth, Nick really was an incredible asset to the ZPD.

"Sorry, Wezzelton," he chuckled, "but you can't fool your old friend."

The little weasel continued to thrash about as he was crammed into the back of a waiting squad car. "For the last time," he shrieked in protest, "it's WEASELTON! DUKE WEASELTON! Why is that so hard for you coppers?!"