Author's Note: Sorry! I truly didn't intend to be misleading last chapter. Duo will be back--just not quite--yet.
Witness Protection Part 66
Passing Judgment
The foyer was dark, and I pressed myself against the wall, edging carefully into the living room, and flipping on the light switch at the same time as I said "Police!"
But I found myself talking to an empty room--an empty and totally destroyed room. It was incredible the amount of damage that had been inflicted on my sparsely-furnished apartment.
Couch cushions were strewn about, slashed and shredded, their contents scattered throughout the room. My stereo was in pieces on the floor, disks open and smashed, and speakers torn apart.
It was as if someone literally dismantled every item in the room, looking for--
I spun in panic, my gaze seeking the velvet bag with the ashes, only to see it lying amid the ruins of the table it had been on.
"Fuck!"
I hastily did a search of the rest of my rooms, making sure there was no one in hiding--my paranoia back in full force. But aside from my tidy kitchen looking like a bomb had gone off--
And with that thought, I was grabbing my cell phone and scooping up the bag in the foyer, then dashing back out into the hall.
It took several rings, but finally a sleepy voice said "Chang," in an irritable tone.
"Wufei--someone broke into my apartment tonight--while I was out. Fuckin' trashed the place!"
"Are you all right? Where are you?" he asked, sounding like he was waking rapidly.
"I got out. I'm in the hall near the elevators. Not to sound totally paranoid or anything--but after what happened to Barton's car--"
"You think this was Khushrenada's people? How would he get a message to them so fast? Fuck! Never mind. We underestimated his power again--I'm on my way--"
"Careful!" I cautioned sternly. "Too many people have seen us together. Check your car. And don't just walk blindly out the door. Jesus, I'm sorry, 'Fei. I never dreamed his reach still extended so far--"
"I'll be careful. And you--just--stay put. Watch your back until I arrive."
"Don't call the station," I warned. "We've still got leaks there, and I don't want them to know you're on your way here."
"Goddamn!" he spat. "I thought we put this behind us."
"It won't be over now until Oz is totally defeated. I just--I didn't think. I had to fuckin' gloat, and now--"
"I'm on my way."
I closed the cell phone and stood a shadowy alcove of the hall, with a velvet bag clutched in my arms, heart pounding wildly.
It took me several minutes to calm down enough to stick a hand in the sack and feel the box of ashes and the cds still safely tucked under it. I don't know if I was more relieved at finding the disks, or finding the box unbroken. If Duo's ashes had been spilled across that hallway, I think that final desecration would have just driven me over the edge.
As it was, I wavered between blind rage that Khushrenada would dare send his people after me, and concern that they might target Chang as well.
But then, I'd been the one to spit in Khushrenada's face; I'd been the one to flaunt my power over him. Why had I thought it would end there? I knew how ruthless he was--how powerful. Why did I think he wouldn't try to get to me?
Obviously, he was trying to demonstrate to me that his reach had not diminished, even from behind bars.
As I pondered that, I found myself wondering why there hadn't been someone waiting inside, to beat the whereabouts of the disks out of me. It would have been a smarter move than trashing my apartment and leaving.
Unless of course, they had waited, but gave up when I didn't show. Heck, for all they knew, I could be in D.C. signing on with Alexander and his crew to get a front row seat for the dismantling of Oz.
The quiet "ding" as the elevator reached my floor had me diving for cover and turning my gun on the opening doors.
And I was much relieved when my partner stepped out with his own weapon at the ready, breathing a visible sigh and lowering it when he saw me. "Are you all right?"
I nodded, catching my breath and finally holstering my gun. I hefted the box of ashes. "They didn't find them," I told him simply.
"I don't give a shit about that," he snapped in reply. "I give a shit about you."
"Yeah, well--they didn't get me or the disks."
"Good." He eyed the open doorway of my apartment. "I imagine if there was any kind of explosive device in there, it would have been triggered upon your arrival."
"Good point."
"Not that I'm not just as paranoid as you--but--shall we go in?"
We edged over to the door and cautiously made our way back in among the shattered remnants of furniture.
"Shit," Chang muttered. "They really took the place apart."
"I think they were mad that they missed me," I quipped mirthlessly.
"Where were you?"
"After lunch, I took the car for service, grocery shopped, and treated myself to dinner and a movie."
"And look where it got you," he joked weakly, tiptoeing among my broken belongings. "We should get the lab boys down here to sift through this and look for prints--"
"I suppose so," I shrugged, picking up the Reapers jacket, which was lying among the blankets and pillows that had been yanked off my bed. "God--I'm glad they didn't rip this apart." I wrapped it around the velvet box, tucking the whole bundle under my arm.
"Is there--anything salvageable?"
I drew a deep breath and sighed. "Yes. Although the couch is a total loss, as is most of the wooden furniture, and--" I had to pause to swallow a lump in my throat. "--my laptop, all they did to my clothes was fling them around. Stuff is just tossed and dumped--not all broken."
"So--how about gathering some clothes and coming to my place until forensics can go through this?"
I shook my head. "I don't want to impose--"
"Jesus, Yuy! Stop that! It's no trouble--and you're not safe alone. Not until Alexander gets the wheels in motion and Khushrenada knows it's truly too late. We need to communicate that to him."
"I thought I did," I snapped in frustration. "I made it plain that I was bringing him down."
"He must think you plan to do it yourself--and that if he moves fast enough, he can still prevent it."
He had a point. Maybe once Khushrenada realized I'd already passed the disks along, he'd back off. Or maybe, he'd send someone for a bit of payback.
Chang was already pulling my suitcase from the closet, and picking up slacks and shirts from the floor to begin folding them. He was careful not to touch any solid surfaces or objects that might hold fingerprints. But he gradually made a dent in the chaos.
I put the Reapers jacket and the velvet bag on the bed, and set about helping, relieved to find most of my pictures of Duo simply scattered from the shoebox they'd been kept in. I was able to gather them up, dust them off, and replace them in a box that had become yet another treasured possession.
~*~
It took the better part of the night for us to pack the belongings I valued enough to remove from the crime scene, and the sun was rising by the time we had my suitcases, backpacks and a few boxes piled in the foyer.
I'd have made coffee, but even my carafe was in a shattered heap in the sink. Assholes. What kind of bastard smashes a man's coffee maker?
"Yuy--I should go home and get ready for work," Chang announced, looking at his watch and rubbing his eyes. "I can file a report on this and get the ball rolling on an investigation."
"Sounds good. I can come down later, after I get hold of the super and have him rig up a temporary lock for the door," I said while muffling a yawn.
He frowned in concern. "I don't like the idea of leaving you here alone."
"The sun's up, Chang. I can call the building superintendent any time now. I won't be alone long." I gestured to the pile of belongings. "Besides, getting these down to my car will keep me occupied for awhile."
He left reluctantly, after rehashing a list of precautions worthy of a nagging mother.
I propped the door shut behind him, setting a couple of suitcases against it to slow down any would-be intruder, and stumbled out to the kitchen to see if I might at least have a few sodas left to salvage from the refrigerator.
I sighed as I popped one open, studying my once-pristine kitchen with weary resignation. It could take weeks to restore it to livable condition.
Of course, I had weeks, didn't I? My vacation was still pending--and there was even less to keep me here than before. If I moved in with Chang just long enough for the verdict to be announced, I could leave immediately afterwards on my journey.
I didn't think Wufei would mind overseeing the reconstruction for me. In fact, I knew he'd be flattered that I trusted him with such a personal favor. I wasn't sure I deserved such a partner, but I planned to make sure he knew how much I appreciated him.
The sudden ringing of my cell phone nearly made me jump out of my skin--all but dropping my soda on the floor. And after a moment of fumbling, I managed to dig it out of my pocket and flip it open.
"Yuy."
"Heero? It's Quatre--I just talked to Wufei and he told me what happened. Are you okay?"
"Jeeze, I'm fine. And there was no need for him to call you--"
"He didn't. I called him." There was a momentary pause. "Heero--the jury's in. Court's in session at ten o'clock this morning."
"Holy shit!" I blurted. "Is--is that good? Do you think--?"
He gave a wry laugh. "I have no idea. But I need to head in to meet Noventa early. I was going to drop Trowa off at Catherine's and have him get a ride with her and Wufei. But after hearing what happened to your apartment, I'd rather drop him off with you. Safety in numbers, you know."
"I'm fine, counselor. I don't need--"
"It's already settled," he said firmly. "Wufei's going to arrange the morning off and pick Catherine up and meet the rest of us at the courthouse. He told me where to drop Trowa, so I'm just calling to bring you up to speed and let you know to expect company."
I sighed, realizing they'd neatly outmaneuvered me. Not that I was so stubbornly independent that I'd turn down help at this point--but I didn't relish the thought of having Trowa get hurt because he came with me, instead of staying with Quatre.
"Heero--it's over," Quatre said, cutting into my brooding. "In a few hours it'll all be over, and even Khushrenada will have to know it's too late to strong-arm you into giving up the disks."
"I hope so," I said fervently.
After ending the call with Quatre, I called the building superintendent, and he wasted no time in getting down to my place to effect some repairs.
He muttered about the shoddy security in the building, and how he kept advising the owner to get a better system, but I assured him that break-ins happen all the time, even with high-tech security systems.
I couldn't help thinking that all the cameras and locks in the world hadn't kept Khushrenada from slipping undetected into Zechs Merquise's penthouse to kill him.
Well--undetected except by Duo. The human factor.
Thank God for the human factor. It solved as many crimes as technology ever did.
I figured while the super was working on the door, I could start making trips to my car with my luggage. So I left him at his task, cautioning him to wear his work gloves and keep any pieces of scrap he had to remove, in case they might contain fingerprints.
I hadn't thought I was taking that much--some clothes and food, a few cds not crushed in the wreckage, blankets and towels, and of course Duo's ashes, pictures, and the Reapers jacket. But surprisingly, I ended up filling the back seat of my car and most of the trunk.
When I returned for the last bag, the super was done rigging up a padlock, and handed me the key with instructions to have the officers who came to inspect the crime scene turn it in when they were done, so he could proceed with the complete door replacement.
I thanked him and sent him on his way, stepping into the foyer to take a quick look around and see if I'd forgotten anything important.
I'd finished that final check, walked back to the door, and was lifting my last bag, when the sound of a footstep had me whirling in alarm and reaching for my gun.
I guess paranoia dies hard--I was half-expecting it to be someone Khushrenada sent to finish me off.
Instead, Trowa was standing there in jeans and a sweatshirt, his hands thrust deep in the pockets of his jacket. He quirked a vague smile as I sheepishly holstered my gun and looked around my apartment with a raised eyebrow. "And I thought Duo was a lousy housekeeper--"
I rolled my eyes, and shoved the suitcase into his hands. "Make yourself useful, why don't you?"
Smirking at my tone, he hefted the bag, and accepted the soda I went back to the refrigerator and brought to him. "What? No coffee?"
"They broke the machine," I said sourly.
"Bastards."
We rode the elevator down in silence, though I took the opportunity to study him with a sidelong glance. He looked a bit pale and tired, and I wondered if he was sleeping any better yet.
"So--Quat told me you're taking some time off," he said conversationally as we walked up to the car and I popped the trunk.
"Wufei's a blabbermouth," I grumbled, stuffing the last of my luggage in and closing it. "I need to--get away for awhile."
"Yeah." He watched me walk around to the driver's side, his green eyes pensive. Then he nodded towards the loaded back seat of my car. "Looks like you plan to be away a long while."
"I--don't know how long," I admitted.
As long as it takes the memories to become bearable? As long as it takes to forget Duo's dying words? Forever?
"I--promised Wufei I'd come back for the wedding at least," I told him.
"Good. That's good." Trowa's own eyes looked a bit haunted. "Quatre's taking me to one of his mountain chalets for a bit--after the verdict. He said it's beautiful--that it will cheer me up." His face looked anything but cheerful. "Maybe he doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does," the dancer added somberly.
I gave a wry snort. "I hardly know you at all--but I know it's gonna take a long time for anything to really cheer you up."
He smiled sadly. "You too." He frowned a bit, shifting restlessly. "Did I ever say thanks for all you did for Duo?"
"Didn't seem like I did very much at all," I sighed. "Not like Zechs Merquise--" I found myself thinking of all the crime lord had been willing to do to protect his future with Duo.
"He wouldn't have wanted you to be like Zechs," Trowa said quickly. "Don't get me wrong; they had a good thing going. But when they were out in public, you could tell Duo was trying a little too hard to be--well--worthy, I guess. With you, it was different. He seemed more--at home." He raised a less troubled face to me. "Thanks."
"For what?" I asked hoarsely, trying not to show how much it hurt to dwell on all the might-have-beens.
"For genuinely loving him--just the way he was. I wish--I wish he'd had more time--to enjoy that."
"Fuck!" I blurted, turning sharply away and clapping a hand over my mouth to stifle an agonized gasp.
Why the hell did he have to say that? It brought an all-too familiar stab of pain that hurt more than the bullet Catherine had dug out of my arm.
And speaking of arms, a pair slid around my waist from behind, and a face nestled into the back of my neck. "Sorry--'m sorry."
I hadn't even realized I was crying until I heard soothing "shushing" noises, and became aware of the wetness of tears soaking into the back of my shirt as Trowa sobbed just as helplessly. It was strangely comforting to realizing I wasn't the only one to feel the loss of the smart-mouthed, streetwise beauty I'd fallen in love with.
Had Trowa even had a chance to cry about it? Or had Quatre tried to constantly buoy up his spirits? Now that I thought about it, though I'd seen him pale and drawn and unhappy looking, I had yet to see Barton break down and cry.
"Jesus," I whispered. "'Bout time you let it out."
His arms tightened convulsively, but his soft, heartbreaking sobs didn't let up for quite a while. Not that I minded--it was kind of nice to be the one doing the consoling for a change. I put my arms over his, gently holding them in place and just waiting in silence for him to run out of tears.
It took a bit longer, but he gradually relaxed against me and stopped crying--then pulled away and turned his back, self-consciously wiping his face with a sleeve.
"Fucking hell, Barton," I said huskily. "You should've come over a couple of weeks ago and we could've both gotten some of this shit out of our systems."
He gave me a watery smile over his shoulder, and managed a wry snort. "Yeah, like I'm gonna cry on a cop's shoulder--"
"Any time," I offered promptly.
"It's just--I think because it's almost over--it just kind of overwhelmed me this morning," he admitted quietly. "While I had the trial to focus on--"
"It helped, didn't it?"
"It helped push the pain into the background," he admitted.
"Yeah, but that doesn't make it stop," I pointed out.
"What does?"
"I'll let you know when I find out." I gave a wan smile of my own.
"You think you'll find the answer--out there?"
"I sure as hell hope so."
"You sure being alone is the way to go?"
"Chang asked me the same thing." I gestured to the velvet-wrapped bundle in the middle of the front seat. "But I'm not really alone, am I?"
Trowa winced slightly. "Where will you go?"
"I dunno. Up the coast. Probably stop in Euphoria at some point. Duo liked it there. I think he'd want to go back."
"And then--?"
"I honestly don't know. I haven't thought beyond taking the ashes-- After that, I really will be alone."
He laid a hand on my arm. "Naw, man. Y'won't. For one thing, dumpin' Duo's ashes into the ocean won't get him out of your system. He kinda stays with ya, if y'know what I mean. And secondly, the rest of us will be here waiting for you to show your surly face in town again." He smirked, though it still looked a bit forced. "Got free passes to the circus any time you want."
"That's too good an offer to pass up," I grinned back. "So--you ready to go see this thing through?"
He nodded, walking around to the passenger side of the car. "Guess we gotta do this 'united front' thing one more time, eh?"
"At least," I agreed.
As I climbed into the car, I felt the dampness on the back of my shirt, and picked up the Reapers jacket, debating whether or not to wear it.
Trowa caught the hesitation, and gave a quick nod. "I think you should."
So I pulled it on over my shirt, as if wrapping myself in an embrace from Duo. And it did feel right. While I could make the excuse of having a wet shirt I needed to cover, in reality, donning that jacket felt like I was bringing Duo into the courtroom with us.
Between that and the outpouring of emotion Barton and I had shared, my mind was curiously calm as we drove in companionable silence to the courthouse.
I should have been anxious about the jury's decision, tense and edgy about the break-in at my apartment, and apprehensive about the unmapped road trip I'd shortly be taking. But I simply felt--wrung out.
I was eager for the verdict, to be sure--but not frantic. I knew that even if he was acquitted of this one crime, Khushrenada wouldn't escape justice for long.
~*~
Of course, when we got to the courthouse, it was a worse media circus than it had been the first day of the trial, and it took Barton and me the better part of an hour to work our way through security and gain admission to the restricted levels of the building.
But we finally made it to the floor where the courtroom was located and ended up waiting for admittance with the rest of the mob.
I'd been looking for Alexander since we got there, expecting to see him ready and waiting to take Khushrenada into custody, if the murder rap failed. But the FBI agent was curiously absent. Probably still off doing damage control in his leaky organization.
And he'd thought I'd want to join them? No thanks. With all its own flaws, the precinct I worked in was still the job I enjoyed.
Or I had enjoyed, until lately. I thought I might find that satisfaction in it once again--eventually. I knew one thing for sure; I had a good partner and good friends, and life--even without Duo--was still better than the alternative.
Wasn't I just the philosopher?
"Where the fuck is Chang?" I muttered, looking restlessly at my watch.
"You kidding, Yuy? He and Cathy are probably still trying to convince those security goons she hasn't got a gun stashed in her poofed-up hair," Trowa snorted.
I was really starting to like the guy. He had a knack for saying just the right thing at times. I could see why Duo had adored him--he was good company and had a calming manner about him.
"Well, if they tried groping her the way they did Duo, Chang probably broke someone's arm," I quipped back with a smirk.
"I'll help him," came the quick response.
As the doors to the courtroom were opened and people began filing in, my cell phone rang.
"Yuy."
"Heero? It's Wufei--"
"Where are you?"
"Catherine and I are at the hospital. Some idiot ran us off the road--must've been drunk the way he was weaving-- Anyhow, we're fine. They're just finishing checking Catherine's ankle. It's a bit sore--"
"We're heading into the courtroom now," I told him. "You'll miss the announcement--"
"That's okay. We'll be there by the time you finish--to celebrate," he added optimistically.
"Just look after Catherine. Jesus, 'Fei--I'm glad you're all right!"
I heard a smile--just like Quatre had said you could--as he replied. "Thanks. See you soon."
Trowa glanced questioningly at me. "What was that about Catherine--?"
"They had a little accident, but they're fine--"
My phone rang again and I answered impatiently, wanting to get inside and find a ringside seat to watch Khushrenada get what was coming to him.
"Yuy."
"So--are your partner and his lovely fiancée all right, Detective Yuy?"
I paused, feeling ice spread through my veins. "Who is this?"
"The one who paid you a visit last night--only you were too rude to show up."
"Listen--!"
"No! You listen! After the acquittal, you'd better make arrangements to return my employer's property--unless you want your partner to have a more serious accident--perhaps terminal. Or maybe something--unfortunate--could happen to his pretty little gal--or the stripper and lawyer you spend so much time with--"
I felt my throat constrict, and my voice was a livid whisper when I spoke. "Listen, you fucking piece of shit--you lay a hand on him, or anyone else, an' I'll rip your goddamned heart out of your chest with my bare hands!"
"Gotta catch me first, asshole. Just remember, you've been warned."
Trowa was staring at me, brow furrowed with concern. "Yuy? What was that about?"
"N-nothing," I stammered quickly, slamming my phone shut and stuffing it into my pocket.
"Cell phones off!" the bailiff at the door reminded me curtly as I started past him.
I dug it out, obligingly switching it off, and then striding quickly into the courtroom--immediately catching sight of Khushrenada and his lawyers. The crime lord's gaze sought mine at once, and a slow, menacing smile graced his lips.
"Bastard!" I swore softly. "I'll fuckin' kill--"
I'd started towards him, when I felt Trowa's hand close on my arm in a surprisingly fierce grip. "Talk to me, Yuy," he murmured in an undertone, shoving me ahead of him into a row of seats and all but forcing me into one.
I glared at him as he plunked down beside me, using his body to act like a barrier between me and the hated syndicate leader.
Deep green eyes delved into mine. "Something just set you off. What?"
"Chang's accident--wasn't an accident."
Trowa stiffened, his face turning bleak. "They want the disks, don't they?"
"Quatre told you?"
"He's my lover; of course he told me." Trowa brushed aside my outrage, not realizing it was fear for his safety if Khushrenada ever learned that he knew about the disks.
"Barton--you pretend you never heard about them!" I cautioned.
The courtroom was filling up fast, and I desperately cast about for a way to warn Wufei of his danger. I couldn't pull out my cell without tipping off Khushrenada--and probably getting thrown out by the goon at the door.
"This court will come to order--" began the bailiff.
Trowa poked at my side, still prying for information, and I slapped his hand away, trying to focus on how to neutralize the threat.
The threat.
Khushrenada.
And why did whoever had called me say "acquittal," as if it was a sure thing? If Khushrenada was acquitted, he'd be released--free to take the reins of his empire again--and try to silence me before I destroyed it.
Apparently he didn't realize I'd shared the disks with Alexander--though considering his information network, he had to know his corrupt agents had been collared.
Unless Alexander was one of them, but not on the list--
I had to stop thinking like that, or it would drive me crazy. Alexander couldn't be in on it, or he'd have blown me away that day in my car--silenced me and taken the disks. I felt certain of that.
But speaking of him, he still hadn't arrived. I'd expected him to be in court for the verdict, eager to lord it over Khushrenada that he was screwed no matter what.
There'd been that frantic call yesterday--so had Alexander dashed off on another mission? What could be more important than the judgment we'd all been awaiting?
And what the hell could I do to stop Khushrenada if he'd bought himself an acquittal?
Reaching a snap decision, I shoved my car keys into Trowa's hand, leaning in to whisper in his ear, and catching a slight scent of cigarettes that reminded me of Duo.
"Listen, Tro'. If for some reason I can't make the trip, will you take Duo's ashes to Euphoria?"
"What?" His eyes sought mine, even as the judge was asking the jury if they'd reached a verdict. "What are you going to do?"
"Chang can tell you how to get there. Just promise!"
He flinched, and then nodded slowly, almost questioningly. "I promise."
I turned to face the front of the courtroom, hoping Chang would forgive, or at least understand, what I planned to do if "not-guilty" was announced. I surreptitiously reached up under the Reapers jacket I was wearing and put a hand on the butt of my gun.
"Yes, Your Honor--in the matter of the State versus Treize Khushrenada--we the jurors find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree."
There was a collective gasp from the entire courtroom, and a growing swell of amazed murmurs. But out of everyone there, Khushrenada and his lawyers looked the most shocked.
For my part, I let out a near-sobbing breath of relief at knowing Treize Khushrenada would not be walking out of there a free man. Not that he would have anyway--once I'd decided that his threats against people I considered virtual family warranted lethal force.
I'd have put a bullet between his eyes and gladly taken the consequences. What's the worst that could have happened? Jail time? Or death at the hands of his vengeful lackeys? Acceptable, if it protected those I held dear.
Now I just needed to get word to Alexander to fuckin' cut Khushrenada off from outside contact until the downfall of Oz was well under way. And if he wasn't around shortly, I felt certain Captain Po would take action once I told her about the attack on Wufei and Catherine.
I felt Trowa put a warm hand on my arm, and lean in close. "Jesus, Yuy--you were--? You'd have shot him?"
"In a heartbeat." As I turned a shaky smile towards the slender dancer, my gaze slid past him and I saw Relena and her father standing just inside the door.
She was dressed in a pink frock, her hair pulled back into its customary style. She looked--very innocent.
But I knew how guilty she was--all that she'd done--and looked for a bailiff to take her into custody.
My searching gaze caught her eyes, and--she smiled, almost warmly.
How--odd.
Then she reached into her tiny purse, and with a dainty, gloved hand, drew out a sleek .38 and raised it unhesitatingly towards Khushrenada.
I opened my mouth to shout a warning--but before I could--before anyone could even react--she fired off five quick, successive shots.
If there'd been chaos at the verdict, it quadrupled at the roar of shots and the sight of Khushrenada clutching his chest and staring in disbelief into Relena's icy blue eyes before crumpling to the floor.
I shoved people aside and tackled Relena before the dazed court officers had even twitched in reaction, wresting the gun from her unresisting hand and pinning her down.
"Why?" I demanded harshly.
Granted, I'd wanted to do the same thing myself--but I knew she wasn't looking for revenge on Duo's behalf.
So--why?
"He'd have told them about my father," she whispered. "That was the deal--if he was convicted, he promised he'd ruin him."
"Being related to Merquise wouldn't have ruined him," I told her sternly. "It would have blown over eventually. But having a murderer for a daughter--?"
She gave me a wide-eyed, stricken look as the court officers took her from me, slapping her in handcuffs and dragging her out of the room.
"Jesus fucking Christ!" I spat, turning a wrathful gaze to the Chief. "Why the hell did you bring her here?"
"She said she wanted to turn herself in!" he sputtered. "She said she'd confess to everything!"
I shook my head, picking the .38 up off the floor along with her purse. "What'd she do--tell the guys at the security desk the gold on the pocketbook is what set off the metal detectors?"
He nodded, looking more horrified by the minute. "Oh, God--I should never have let her talk me into this--"
"No. You shouldn't," I said coldly. "She should have gone down to the station to turn herself in, and you know it. You should have guessed she had something else in mind, wanting to come to the courthouse."
"Why? What did she say to you?"
"She did it to protect your reputation," I told him flatly. "She knew about Zechs and had been to see him--and she was afraid there'd be a scandal if the press found out his link to you. Khushrenada played on that and used her. He was blackmailing her, Chief."
"That's what Captain Po said, when she brought the warrant--but I didn't have a chance to discuss it with Relena--to explain that it didn't matter. She showed up this morning out of nowhere and wanted to surrender to the police--"
"Well, she did," I shrugged. "But not for the crime you thought it would be."
He turned as Captain Po stalked over, and I handed her the gun and purse, shook my head, and stepped away so she could deal with the Chief in her own way.
Trowa stood dumbstruck, his eyes darting between the crowd gathered around Khushrenada, the people scrambling to make room for paramedics, and the bailiffs trying to herd everyone out.
I caught his arm. "C'mon--let's get the hell out of here."
"But--who was the blonde--and why--? What just happened?" he asked in confusion.
"Khushrenada found out it doesn't pay to threaten family," I shrugged.
TBC...
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