He raised an eyebrow at the guard standing in front of his cell. "Yes?"
"You've got a visitor Bates."
"Do I?" He sat up, stretching, and walked to the door. He threaded his hands through the space and waited for the distinct, familiar, embrace of the metal cuffs over his wrist. Once there he stepped back, waiting for the door to open, and followed the directions of the guard to the visitor's room.
Except there was no one in there but a tall, dark-haired woman. She had her arms crossed and, even from a distance, appeared less than impressed by her surroundings. When the guard called out to her she turned and set her jaw in almost resignation.
"This is him?"
He snorted, "Thanks very much."
"He's who you asked for." The guard nudged him toward the seat.
"Yes but I expected he wouldn't look like a lorry ran him over." She sniffed, "And have you offered him a shower since he came here."
The guard ignored her. "You've got an hour. No more."
"I know how much time I need, thank you." She shooed the guard away before gingerly taking her seat, sitting on the least amount of space as possible. "I'm not a fan of this particular meeting place."
"Well, DI Crawley, I believe you're the one who put me here so it's a little late for regrets on that account." He held up his handcuffed wrists, "I've acquired a new collection of jewelry though if you're looking for suggestions."
"No, thank you, and you can lose the smartass attitude Mr. Bates."
"Should I have my lawyer present for this?" He looked around, "I don't want to be caught in a surprise interrogation like last time."
"That's not why I'm here."
"Then why bother coming if you're not your boss's attack dog."
She sighed, "I'm here because I want to fix this."
"Which part?" Mr. Bates rolled his shoulders back. "The part where I got railroaded or the part where you arrested me and had your Silks get the judge to deny me bail?"
"That wasn't me." She held up a finger, "That was my boss. They wanted a closed case and now they think they have it."
"With me showing my face in front of a judge in prison scrubs to turn the jury against an obviously guilty man?" Mr. Bates scoffed, "They've got it right in the bag from where I sit."
"But they don't have to."
Mr. Bates raised an eyebrow, "You're not here to beat a confession out of me are you?"
"No." She leaned forward. "I'm here to help you if you're willing."
"Help me?"
"Help you get out of your prison scrubs and back to your life."
He shook his head, "That's the thing. They don't tend to take you back to the Army once you've served some time in another division… like corrections."
"We both know you're not really in the Army anymore." DI Crawley laughed a little, shaking her head. "If you were in the Army then getting your records wouldn't have been like pulling teeth and we wouldn't have had to read around black redaction lines."
"I'm still in the Army."
"Suit yourself." She raised her hands in surrender. "I came here as a friend and I could use a bit less antagonism to that effect."
"We're not friends."
"You're friends with my father and while I'm getting undue pressure from the head of CPS on this-"
"Is it still Carlisle?"
DI Crawley gritted her teeth. "Yes."
"Is he still a wanker?"
"That depends. Do you consider him ignoring all my requests about this case because I broke off our engagement the actions of a wanker?"
"Usually."
"Then yes, he is." She took a breath, "That's why I'm here. I don't think you're getting a fair shake and, as the closest thing you've got to a relative, I'm here to help you."
"You can't. Not unless you want to lose the job your father fought so hard against you having."
"That's why I'm not… at least, directly." She slid a card over the table and he picked it up. "That's a friend of mine. "She's a former Silk so she knows how they run."
"When she get out?"
"Before Carlisle came in and put his stamp on it all. She turned private after the Green case." Mr. Bates looked up and DI Crawley nodded. "That's right John. She's the one you're thinking."
"Why leave after that? She built her best reputation on putting that terrorist away."
"One tends to leave the cases that leave one emotionally and physically shattered." DI Crawley stood up, "I've told her to visit you on the next go round so she'll be here tomorrow. If you can, do your best to act politely toward her."
"I'm always polite Mary."
"Not to me."
"You put me in these." John held up his hands. "What do I need to know about her since she'll have everything you've got to give her on me?"
"Be honest with her. She hates a liar, even for the best intentions. She also hates self-flagellating martyrs so you'll have to curb back that instinct."
"Right." He rolled his eyes before focusing on her. "How's Robert?"
"In pieces about this. He wouldn't speak to me or Tom for a week."
"It's not like you didn't deserve it."
She scowled, "I did my job, John, as you did."
"I was a sniper Mary. That was different."
"You could've gotten him out." Her eyes rolled tears to the edge but she kept control of her emotions. "You saw it and did nothing."
"That's a lie and you know it. The report clearly stated that three of his attackers went down with my bullets through their brains. I didn't see the last man Mary." John stopped, clenching a fist to keep his hand from shaking. "I didn't see the last man Mary. I had him covered from my position but I couldn't see the last man."
They stayed silent for another minute before Mary, wiping at her eyes, finally spoke. "She'll be here in two days. Don't waste this John."
"I won't." He stood, the guard coming closer to take him back to his cell. "Thank you, Mary, for doing this. You didn't have to."
"I know I didn't. But I needed to. For Matthew and my father if for nothing else."
"Was there something else?"
She took a deep breath, "For me. This case ran you over and you've done nothing to deserve that. My conscience demanded this."
"I hope you don't regret it."
"Hardly." She waved him off, "Until next time Mr. Bates."
"Until next time DI Crawley."