Chapter 4

"On Death Row at Rikers"

While New York's law and order were coming together to pay their respects to Alexandra Borgia, the two men who killed her sat in two cells next to each other as they awaited their fate at the hands of the executioner. Both Ricky and Vincent, despite being sentenced to death, were proud of the fact that they slaughtered Alex because of the fact that she was intruding on their business. They were believed that because they possessed DEA badges, that they were above the law and they could kill whoever they wanted and not regret it afterwards.

However, the death of Alexandra Borgia sent shockwaves throughout Rikers Prison. Among those affected were some of the criminals that were jailed while Borgia was partnered with Jack McCoy. One of those was Dwight Jacobs, a man who kidnapped a five year old girl in order to sell her for money and would only give out her location if he didn't serve any jail time. When he found out that he would not be getting out of jail, he was led out of the courtroom screaming at McCoy that he had a deal with him and that it was now broken.

"You know, its funny," he said to several inmates during the active period at the prison. "Remember how I told you when I was screaming at Jack McCoy when I learned that my deal would not be honored?"

"Yes, go on," said Jason Corley, who was serving 25 years for throwing acid on the daughter of one of Van Buren's friends. "Tell us more."

"Well," sighed Jacobs, walking towards the basketball court where the inmates were playing basketball. "I told you that I was screaming at McCoy because I didn't have any respect for him, but that I did have respect for his assistant. When I learned that I would be spending the rest of my life here, I promised myself that I would respect Alex Borgia for how she aided McCoy in getting that little girl back."

"We all seemed to have respect for her," sighed Corley, sitting down on a rock. "That woman certainly knew how to make criminals like us see sense. You might as well say that prison changes a person."

All the other inmates agreed at this, knowing that whether they were all serving a short sentence or a life sentence, they knew that prison changes people from being high and mighty to low and weak.

"Do you think that they will ever change?" asked an inmate. "I mean, Ricky and Vincent?"

"I don't think it will," replied Jacobs. "Those two killed a woman that could have one day filled McCoy's shoes. To be honest, I would rather respect Borgia than McCoy and I wouldn't even care if my freedom was being taken away."

While the rest of the inmates continued their activity and reflecting on what could have been, Ricky and Vincent sat in their cells silently as several guards came forward banging on their doors.

"The warden wants you to scrub your cells, ADA murderers!" called a guard.

"Kiss my ass!" retorted Ricky. "That's what you can tell him!"

This did not go well with the guard, who opened the cell door and pushed Ricky against the wall, grasping his hand with his wrist tightly, causing Ricky pain.

"You listen and you listen good, Robinson," hissed the guard. "You know that you and your pal are going to die at any time, so you better get used to having your freedoms stripped away."

"Yeah," said another guard. "Impersonating DEA agents to murder innocent people, its people like you who make us sick."

The guard holding Ricky released his grip on him and the other guard brought over a bucket and mop of soap and water.

"Clean your cells or else!" shouted the guard.

"Or else what?" asked Vincent, crossly.

"Or else both of your testicles will become my personal property," laughed the guard as he slammed the doors of the two cells loudly.

"It doesn't matter," said Ricky, looking to his partner. "That bitch deserved to die for not minding her own business. I hope she rots in hell."

So, the two men began their mandated cleaning as crowds of law and order descended on the Frank E. Campbell funeral home as the wake for Alexandra Borgia was now taking place. Lines of people in police and fire uniforms filed past Alex's open mahogany casket while her family stood next to the casket, receiving hugs from those who came to pay their respects.

"You want to do this, Joe?" asked Van Buren, who was worried for him along with Ed. "You don't have to."

"No, I need to," replied Joe, trying to hold back tears. "I want to see her."

"All right," said Van Buren, holding his hand. "We're right here for you."

So, the retiring detective walked up to the casket and bent down to pray at it. But, before he could utter a word, Joe lost his composure and silently began to cry, while looking down at the body of a young woman that had so much potential. Even Van Buren and Ed Green both had to shed a tear as they stared down at the casket.

At that moment, Jack McCoy and Arthur Branch arrived and approached the casket, looking down at the body of the woman who had been the junior assistant district attorney of New York County and the most hardworking of all the junior ADA's that had been under Jack McCoy.

"Alex," cried Jack as he knelt down at the casket. "I want you to know that I am sorry that this had to happen. If I only I could have convinced you to step off the Andreas case."

At that point, Jack began to sob quietly as Arthur patted down on his shoulder.

"You did what you had to do, Jack," he said quietly. "Alex was a fighter to the end."

Jack continued to weep at the casket for a brief moment before going to his feet and walking past the family, hugging them out of respect for their daughter, sister and friend. Meanwhile, Alex's ghost floated past the crowd of mourners and floated up, looking down at her body lying in the casket.

"Nice of them to dress me in a suit," she said to herself. "I always said I wanted to be buried in one."

She then floated towards her friends and colleagues in the law and order department as they all stood in a far corner of the chapel, mourning together along with all who were mourning as well.

"Maybe I should have listened to you, Jack," sighed Alex sadly. "I just wanted to prove to you that I could handle a major case, but I guess I was wrong and you were right."

So Alex just floated as she continued to witness her own wake taking place. At that moment, Alex witnessed Arthur step outside to take a phone call, only for him to return a few moments later with a look of satisfaction on his face.

"What is it, Arthur?" asked Van Buren.

"It was Rikers," replied Arthur, who took in a heavy sigh. "They scheduled Ricky and Vincent to be put to death tomorrow after the funeral."

So, it seemed that Ricky and Vincent were going to die on the day of Alex's funeral. But, it was clear that heaven would have no room for killers like them…