back toward Olivia with a slight edge in her voice. She didn't like to throw her weight around, but she felt the need to subtly remind Miss Poisson who was wearing the badge here. "What can you tell me about Doug Woolard?"

Olivia jerked as if she had stuck her finger on something sharp, and a brief look crossed her face; too brief to interpret if it had not been so intense. It was a look of absolute rage.

"Doug Woolard, did you say?" she asked, regaining her composure. Though her face was once more calm, her voice carried an undertone which seemed to ask, "Why do you speak of him as though he's still alive?"

"That's right," Judy affirmed, sensing that she was on the trail of a strong lead.

Olivia turned to her assistant. "Lillian, if you would?"

The younger skunk dipped at the waist. "Of course." She left the room swiftly, but without a sense of hurry – as if she were just naturally accustomed to moving quickly.

Miss Poisson looked back at Judy, her eyes looking as though they were barely holding back a raging inferno. "Woolard once worked for my father," she explained. "Lillian is bringing you his file now, but to be brief, he was one of our leading chemists, second only to my father and myself.  He was fired, and had the law allowed it we would have done much more."

"Why?" Judy leaned forward. "What did he do?"

Medusa herself would have withered at the sight of the skunk's scowl. "It is all in his file – including much which may be news to you at the ZPD, for reasons also detailed in the file."

"Sounds like a pretty thorough file," Judy remarked.

Olivia snorted and sat back, folding her arms. "I don't forget grievances such as he committed easily," she answered. "Nor do I forget favors – and I would consider it a personal one if, should you find Woolard, you would make his arrest as... unpleasant as possible."

Judy shook her head. "I don't modify arrest procedures," she replied. Then she thought back to the two times she had snagged Duke Weaselton. "Well, no more than I have to. I just do my job and bring 'em in."

"A pity," Olivia uttered under her breath. Then she turned her head as the door opened, and received the file from Lillian. She rose to her feet and crossed the room, looking like she was about to hand the folder to Judy.  She stopped, however, about three steps short.  "Understand," she said, her voice dead serious, "that the information in this file must not appear in any official case; I give it to you only if I have your word that none of it will be circulated."

Judy wasn't sure she could promise that, and she hesitated just a little.  "All ZPD report are confidential," she assured the skunk.

Olivia shook her head.  "You misunderstand.  This is for your use only, and by use I mean tracking down Woolard.  Do you understand?"

Judy nodded.  "Okay, I guess that's fair."

Olivia handed the folder to Judy. "This will get you started. I'll mail you the rest of what you've been promised as soon as possible." Glancing at the clock, she added, "Now if you have no objections, I have something to prepare for – and I am already behind schedule."

"Thank you," Judy replied with as much sincerity as she could fake. With that, she left.

Her products may eliminate odors, she thought to herself, but something here definitely stinks.

A short time later, back in Olivia's dressing room, the heiress voiced her thoughts to Lillian.

"If Judith Hopps wants to chase after Woolard, I can live with that. All the better if she brings him to justice – or as near as she dares. Still, I can't have interference with the family business, so I'll have to make certain she is satisfied with the information she gets."

Lillian said nothing, knowing that whatever she thought, this was a business matter to Olivia – and Olivia always won in the end when it came to business.

"Now then," said Olivia, studying herself in a mirror and making a few adjustments to her jewelry, "let's get back to the party. Enough unpleasantness for one evening, yes?"

This time, Lillian heartily agreed.

So, that's your start to my first Zootopia fanfic. What do you think?

Please read and review! Suggestions welcome.