"Hello boys," Alice said, hoping that her voice didn't give away how little sleep she got last night. At long last, she was finally meeting her clients, the Gangreen Gang, who all crowded around the other side of the table, staring at her intently. They were in her office at the firm where she worked. Also in the room was Jack Wednesday, who kept eyeing the police officer who was there to make sure the gang didn't try and pull anything (though, in reality, the officer was ignoring his duties in favour of listening to his Walkman with headphones on, hopefully giving the others a bit of privacy). Two more officers were waiting outside the door and the tension in the room was high.

"Finally, we meet at last." Ace said sarcastically.

Alice ignored him. "You're here today so we can work on your case. Now, I believe you're being falsely accused…"

"No shit."

...and so you're gonna have to be honest with me. You didn't get up to anything illegal that night, did you?"

"Nah. We only graffitied the subway."

Alice sighed. "Well, you'll probably get booked for that, you know, but as long as it's not murder."

"Now you listen here, toots," Ace began. "We didn't murder him, and hell, we ain't even seen him before. So you get us out of this, and don't act like you're above us…"

"First of all, I'm thirty-five and you're seventeen, I'm too old for you, so don't call me toots," Ace blushed a little as the others snickered. "And second of all, I can get you out of this. I will get you out of this. Imprisoning the innocent is just as bad as letting the guilty go free."

Grubber blew a raspberry that sounded like an agreement.

"And I just want to discuss some things with you, things that confused me and I just want to figure them out." Alice then focused on Arturo. "I presume you're Arturo de la Guerra?"

The teen looked at her warily, as if he thought she was going to scold him. "Sí."

"I just want to know something. I know you've all committed crimes at one point or another. I've seen it with my own eyes. And all of you have criminal records…" Alice paused briefly as she gazed around the room before returning to Arturo. "...except you. Why is that?"

Arturo looked at Ace, who looked at Snake, who looked at Grubber, who looked at Big Billy, who looked back and waved, saying "hello!"

Alice wrinkled her nose in confusion. "Um, what?"

Ace turned to her, took a deep breath, and began to speak. "Well, his old man's heart would break if Arturo ever ended up in prison. So," He hid his face, as if what he was about to say next was humiliating. "We covered for him."

Alice leaned forward in her seat. "You covered for him? As in, took all the blame for his crimes so he wouldn't go to jail and upset his father…"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, how about that!" Jack said, speaking up for the first time. That had actually blindsided him. Never in a million years would he have guessed that a demonstration of almost brotherly love was the reason behind the lack of a criminal record. It just goes to show that there was still a lot to learn about the Gangreen Gang.

Alice was touched. She couldn't stop that smile on her face, until she began talking again. "So, me and Jack spoke with all of your parents…"

"Ya spoke to my parents, eh?" Ace said, intrigued.

"I didn't personally, but Jack did."

"Uh-huh." He turned to face the truant officer. "My old man spit on ya?"

Jack was a little blindsided by the question. "Yes, he did."

"Did he tell ya how I'm a whiny brat who doesn't deserve nothin'?"

"Yes."

"Figures." Ace sniffed, but whether it was an indifferent sniff or he was trying to hide the tears that began to creep into his voice, Jack couldn't tell. But since Snake reached over to pat his back, he figured it was the latter.

"...and we asked all of your parents if they were willing to appear in court as witnesses. Unfortunately, it was a no from everyone except Arturo's father and Snake's sister."

Snake sat bolt upright. "What? Sssamira'ss gonna be a witnesss?"

"Mm-hm."

"Man, if it weren't for your sister, then your parents would have skinned you alive by now!" Ace chuckled.

Grubber let out a couple of raspberries and the whole gang began howling with laughter.

"Shush!" Yelled the policeman in the corner. "I can't hear my music!"

For some reason that just made the gang laugh even louder.

Alice rolled her eyes as she fished a few pieces of paper out of her briefcase. "Right, boys, now I'm going to read you your rights…"

"Is this satisfactory, Mrs Kendall?" The employee asked delicately, trying to avoid offence. The poor woman had just lost her husband to a violent gang, she didn't need to be any more upset.

Patricia gazed up at the obelisk-shaped headstone. It was at least a good few feet taller than her and was made of smooth and shiny black marble. At eye level was the inscription:

BRIAN OSCAR KENDALL

27 AUGUST 1959 - 8 JUNE 2001

LOVING HUSBAND, DOTING FATHER

Patricia sniffed loudly and the employee of the funeral home stood awkwardly; should he offer he a tissue? Or did she already have one? Would she be offended at a potential offer, or not? Being in the presence of one of the richest women in Townsville was daunting.

But just then Patricia whipped a tissue out of her purse and pawed at her eyes with it.

"Yes...yes, it's beautiful. But what about the plot?"

"It's being dug as we speak, ma'am. And the flowers are being arranged too."

"Good. I'll pay for the headstone now." She took out a wad of cash and dropped it in one of the employee's outstretched hands, and the used tissue in the other before heading out, heels clicking loudly, as the employee sighed and briefly considered finding another job.