Chapter 20
Mike's alarm clock began to buzz, but the noise didn't have to awaken the engineer. He had been tossing and turning all night long, and was already sitting on the edge of the bed when the alarm sounded. He slapped the top of the clock, silencing the annoying sound. Stretching his arms over his head, he inhaled deeply in an effort to chase away the fatigue he was already feeling. He stood up, padding across the room to his bathroom to begin his morning routine.
Half an hour later, he walked into his kitchen to start a pot of coffee. His stomach rumbled, protesting the emptiness, but he was too worried to eat. He didn't want to have to rush out of the hearing hoping to make it to the bathroom in time. He dropped a couple of slices of bread into his toaster, hoping that dry toast would settle the uneasiness in the pit of his stomach.
It took him another half hour to eat the toast, washing it down with a cup of black coffee. Still feeling unsure about the stability of his digestive system, he decided he would have to stop at the corner market and pick up a Sprite on his way to the hearing, hoping the clear soda would keep everything settled until after the hearing. He straightened his tie, feeling the tight Windsor knot threatening to choke him. He decided to leave early, allowing him enough time to run by the police station before he went over to headquarters. He had been instructed to meet with Lieutenant Crockett for a few minutes prior to meeting with his attorney. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he knew he had to follow Barney Olsen's instructions. The former fireman had sounded very sure of his plan when he telephoned Mike the previous night, and Mike didn't want to do anything to interfere with the plan that would hopefully get him back to work as soon as possible.
E!
Across town, Marco opened his bedroom door, expecting to see Bri curled up asleep on his sofa. Even though he had begged her to sleep in his comfortable bed, she had refused. Because of his sister, he had learned a lot about the behavior of women in her situation, and he feared that she felt undeserving of a good night's sleep. He wondered if perhaps Beverly had felt the same way when she first escaped the business. Did she still feel undeserving of the simple comforts of life?
What he saw when he walked into the living room, made him catch his breath. She was gone. The blanket had been neatly folded and placed on top of the pillow. He walked past the unoccupied bathroom, then into the kitchen. There was no sign of her.
"Damn it, Bri," he mumbled to himself, angry at the young woman. "Don't do this to Mike!"
As he stood in his living room, staring at the empty spot on his sofa, he heard his back door open. Spinning around, he saw Bri walking into the apartment. "I'm sorry, did I wake you when I went out?" She asked, closing the door behind her.
"No, no, you didn't. I was just kind of worried about you. I was afraid you had changed your mind," he said, gesturing to the folded blanket.
"About testifying at the hearing? Not a chance, Marco." She stepped into his kitchen, placing an empty glass into the sink. "I just needed a little fresh air and a drink of water. The morning is always the most peaceful time of the day. I couldn't sleep, anyway." She quickly spun around, her hand flying to her mouth to cover her gasp. "Ohmygod, I'm so sorry."
"For what?" He asked, confused by her sudden change in behavior.
"I didn't think about how it might look to your neighbors. I'm sorry. I really am."
Marco could see her thin arms beginning to tremble in fear. "Whoa, slow down. What are you apologizing for? I don't understand."
"Your neighbors! If they saw me, they'll think you… Um, you know… That you hired me for the night. I don't want to mess up your reputation, Marco," she said softly, her eyes misting over. "I should've been more careful."
Marco watched her drop her gaze, his heart aching for her. Was this the life Alexia and Beverly had endured? In the pit of his soul, he knew it was, but he couldn't stand here and watch her weeping when there was no reason to. He walked over to her, careful not to invade her space or touch her. "Bri… Bri, please look at me."
Her dark eyes looked upwards, but she seemed unable to make direct eye contact with him. She looked over his shoulder as she wiped her face with her hands. Marco pulled a paper towel off the roll sitting on his counter and handed it to her.
"Bri, who I allow to stay in MY apartment is MY choice. I chose to allow you to stay here, and I don't care what they might think or say. However, I know them. I doubt that they saw you, and even if they did, I doubt they would care. I certainly don't. You are a grown woman, and if you want to sit out on my balcony and watch the sun come up, then what's the problem? I told you last night to make yourself at home, and I meant it."
Bri felt her lower lip begin to tremble. No one had ever said anything so nice to her in her entire life. A wave of jealousy washed over her, and she thought about how lucky Alexia was to have a family that still loved her, especially a brother as warm and protective as Marco. Bri longed to have a family, people to welcome her back from the dark place where she had existed for so many years. She pushed the jealousy aside, drying her face with the paper towel he had handed her.
"Atta girl," he said with a smile. "Now, you were saying you didn't sleep well?"
She nodded her head. "No, I didn't. I mean, the couch was comfortable and all… I just couldn't stop thinking about today."
"I understand. Why don't you go ahead and get your shower while I cook us something to eat. Chet and Caroline should be here soon," Marco commented, feeling relieved. "I'll get you my robe to wear until they get here with your clothes."
"Will you let me wash the dishes?" Bri asked; she hated feeling like a charity case, even though that's exactly what she was and she knew it.
"We'll see. Dirty dishes are the least of my concerns right now," he replied, heading down the hallway to his bedroom. "There's soap and shampoo in the bathroom, but they may not smell very feminine, I'm afraid."
"Right now, I don't smell very feminine," she said, attempting a little humor to lighten her mood. "Just being clean will be great. Do you know what Caroline is bringing me to wear?"
"She mentioned to Chet that she had a sundress and sweater that she bought while she was pregnant, but she never lost enough weight to fit into it," Marco called out, pulling his robe out of his closet. "It's a size larger than what you said you needed, but she said she thinks it'll work."
"Uh-oh…"
"What? What's wrong?" He asked, walking back into the hallway, handing her his robe.
"Um," she accepted the garment, staring down at the raggedy jeans she was wearing that covered her legs, then back up at her host. "You got an extra razor?"
"No, but I'll put a fresh blade in it for you," he said with a smile.
As soon as Marco had everything set up for Bri in the bathroom, he hurried to the kitchen to begin breakfast. It was nearly seven o'clock, and he still had to get ready himself, pick up his mother and Antonio, and then head over to The Wellhouse. He was so happy to be bringing Alexia home today, yet his heart was still heavy as he dreaded the hearing. Mike had tried to assure him that everything would be alright, but Marco had been able to hear the worry in the engineer's voice. He said a silent prayer as he prepared a couple of breakfast burritos for himself and Bri.
Bri exited the bathroom, wrapped up in Marco's robe, her damp hair clinging slightly to her neck. She inhaled the aroma of the scrambled eggs and peppers, and hoped that her nervous stomach would accept the food. "Mmmm, that smells delicious," she said, finally allowing a smile to decorate her face as she entered the kitchen.
Marco placed their plates on the kitchen table, returning her smile. "I thought you might like a good homemade breakfast." He poured them both a cup of coffee before returning to the table. "It reminds me of the breakfasts I had when I was a kid." He watched as a shadow crossed her face, and he wondered what kind of childhood she must have endured. "I'm sorry," he said, pulling out her chair. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories for you."
"You didn't. I was just thinking about how great it would be to have a home and a family, you know?"
"Yes, I know," he said, reaching out to take her hand before saying grace. It had always been a custom in his family, but he never considered that Bri may not understand the routine. He held his hand open, waiting for her to place her hand in his. He saw her hesitation, and was about to pull his hand back when she responded. He bowed his head and began to pray. He thanked God for the food, but continued on requesting divine intervention for the outcome of the hearing. Finally, he requested blessings upon all of those he held dear, and he included Bri in the request. With a gentle squeeze, he ended the prayer with amen, never looking over at his guest. He had heard her sniffle and felt her fingers quivering. He didn't need to look at her to know she was crying. He just hoped that she understood how important she was, not just to Mike today at the hearing, but to Alexia and the rest of the Lopez family. She was Alexia's friend, and that meant that she was a member of the extended Lopez family, even if she didn't know it yet.
While Marco was getting ready, Bri decided to wash their breakfast dishes, wanting to feel useful and to repay Marco for his kindness in some small way. A knock on the door startled her, and she walked over to peek out of the peep hole before opening the door. Marco had described Chet and Caroline to her in case the couple arrived before he was ready. When she saw a mustached man with curly hair, she opened up the door.
"Hi, um, Marco's getting ready," she said, stepping aside for the couple to enter. The first thing that caught her eye was the pretty dress draped over the woman's arm.
"You must be Bri," Caroline acknowledged, stepping through the doorway ahead of Chet. "I'm Caroline and this is Chet."
"Hi," Bri commented, curling her dark hair behind her ear. She felt uncomfortable standing in Marco's living room wearing his robe.
Caroline sensed her uneasiness, and spoke up. "Okay, why don't we sit down at the table and go ahead and do your make-up? I don't want to get any powder on the dress since it's a light color."
Caroline draped the dress over the back of the sofa where Bri had attempted to sleep the night before. Bri's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "Oh, it's so pretty." She saw the tags flutter, proving that the dress had never been worn before. Her heart leaped into her throat, realizing that she was going to get her wish. She was going to have something new to wear at the hearing. She thought about how surprised Lennie would be when he saw her walk in, wearing a new dress.
"I loved it when I saw it, and it was marked down to half-price for the end of the season. I was pregnant, but assumed I'd be able to wear it as soon as I had my baby. I didn't realize that my shape wouldn't be quite the same afterwards," Caroline laughed, using her hand to gesture for Bri to take a seat. "So, I hope you can wear it. I'd like to see someone be able to use it."
Bri ran her fingers lightly across the polyester material. It felt so soft beneath her fingertips. The yellow background was accentuated with large white flowers with blue dots in their centers. Caroline watched the young woman who seemed so mesmerized by the simple garment, and realized just how little Bri had to call her own. She exchanged a sympathetic look with her fiancé as she dropped the navy blue sandals down beside the sofa.
Chet set the small cosmetics case on the kitchen table before returning to the living room, turning on the television set and taking a seat in Marco's recliner. "I think I'll just watch a little TV while you girls get all gussied up."
"Gussied up?" Marco commented with a smirk as he walked down the hallway, having overheard his best friend's comment. "Where'd you learn to talk like that, amigo?"
"Are you makin' fun o' me, Marco?" Chet grinned, thankful to no longer be the only male in the room. His gratefulness was short lived when he saw Marco holding his car keys in his hand.
"No, of course not. You just reminded me of Festus from Gunsmoke," he laughed, shaking his head. "I've got to head out. Any questions about what to do?"
"Nooo, we're jus' gon' wait right 'ere fer Ron an' 'en head on down 'ere ta headquarters soon as da ladies git all spiffied up," Chet remarked, using his best imitation of the famous Western character.
Marco shook his head in amusement as he walked out his front door, leaving the three remaining adults laughing loudly, releasing the tension that they were all feeling. They had a long morning ahead of them and everyone was feeling nervous about what was to come.
E!
Marco picked up his mother and nephew, then drove over to the DeSoto residence. The three Lopezes walked up to the front door, allowing Antonio to do the knocking. As soon as the youngster made their presence known, his uncle held his hand out. "Good job, Ant. Gimme five."
Antonio grinned widely at the antics of his Uncle Marco. He slapped the man's open palm just as Roy opened the door. Roy smiled down at the child waiting at his threshold.
"Hello, Antonio. There's a pretty little girl who's already here and ready to play with you," Roy announced, as the energetic youngster ran past him in search of his favorite playmate. Roy turned around welcoming the adults into his home. "Good morning, Mrs. Lopez, Marco."
"Please let Joanne know how much we appreciate this," Maria stated, pulling Roy into a warm embrace and planting a kiss on his cheek.
"I will. I guess I'll see you two soon, huh?" Roy offered, as the two Lopez adults turned to leave.
"Yes, is Johnny coming?" Marco asked, remembering the somber mood of their junior medic during their previous shift.
"Said he'd be there. I just hope he brings a better attitude with him," Roy mumbled, watching as Marco gave a faint smile of recognition. They were all wondering what might be wrong with Johnny.
E!
Johnny walked down his hallway, his hair still damp from his shower. Dressed in only his faded jeans, he felt the coolness of the morning air drift across his naked chest as he entered his kitchen for a fresh cup of coffee. He poured the steaming liquid into a thick brown mug then sat down on his sofa, staring at the navy blue photo album that held some of the best and worst memories of his life. He sipped the coffee, unwilling to open the reminder of his past pain. He needed to be in a positive frame of mind for Mike's sake.
He ran a hand through his hair, finger combing it while it dried. No matter how hard he tried to block the sights, smells, and sounds of his past, the intrusive thoughts had found a way to invade his mind and his dreams. Last night had been no different. He had awoken with his legs tangled in the sheets, his breathing coming in short pants as he felt unseen hands torturing him. The nightmares always ended the same way, with an explosion that catapulted him into consciousness. He leaned his head back against the sofa, exhaling loudly. He had to calm his nerves before he went down to headquarters. He was sure that Mike was anxious enough for all of them. The last thing the engineer needed was for his friend to be as upset as he was.
E!
Alexia sat in a rocking chair on the porch of The Wellhouse, waiting for her mother and brother to arrive. There were two small boxes stacked in the chair beside her, holding the possessions that she would be carrying home with her. Home – the word had never held such sweet meaning to her as it did today. She heard the front door open. Turning her head, she saw Beverly walking out with her purse on her shoulder.
"Mind if I wait with you?"
Alexia smiled back at the woman she had come to think of as a big sister. "Not at all," She said, removing the boxes from the other chair.
"I brought us a couple of sodas," she said, handing one can to the younger woman. "I thought it might help. Are you nervous?" Beverly asked.
Alexia accepted the proffered can, popping the tab off to drink the cool liquid. "Yea, kind of," she said, placing the metal ring into the ashtray on the small table between them.
"What makes you more nervous, testifying, or knowing that Bri is supposed to be there?" Neither woman was aware of what had happened the previous day.
Alexia was stunned at how accurately her counselor could read her. "About the same for both," she responded. "I still can't believe she's doing this. She used to be nice, my best friend, you know? Now it's like I don't even know her. Maybe I never did," she said, staring down at the can. She lifted it to her mouth as she waited for Beverly's response. She had grown accustomed to these impromptu counseling sessions. They were always helpful.
"I think maybe the two of you should talk when this is over."
Alexia shook her head. "No way. If she goes through with this… If she testifies against Michael, I'll NEVER speak to her again. She'll be dead to me."
Beverly wanted to say something to encourage Alexia, but she couldn't find the words. Nothing seemed appropriate at the moment, and so she chose to remain silent, sipping her soda while they waited for Marco to pick them up. After only a couple of minutes of silence, she saw the familiar burgundy sedan turn into the driveway. "Well, time to go, Lexi."
E!
Back in Marco's apartment, Bri stood staring at a face she barely recognized in the bathroom mirror.
"I think you look beautiful," Caroline stated. "I was afraid that my foundation would be too light for your complexion, but you have such pretty skin that you don't need any."
Bri continued looking at her reflection. "I didn't know how much better just a little make-up could be," she stated, turning her head from side to side. "I've always worn it heavy because it's what's expected, but this," she locked eyes with Caroline in the mirror. "This looks so nice."
"Good, I'm glad you like it. You are a pretty young woman, Bri. And I'm glad you've gotten off the streets. You have a bright future ahead of you. You just need to embrace it," Caroline said, picking up the brush and pulling it through Bri's dark shiny hair. "Now, let's get your hair pinned up in a barrette, and we'll be ready to get you dressed."
Walking out of the bathroom, they heard a new male voice talking to Chet. When they walked into the living room, Chet was talking to a man Bri recognized from her time in jail the previous day.
"Um, Lieutenant Crockett, this is my fiancée, Caroline Marks and this is Bri," Chet said, introducing detective Crockett.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am," Ron replied, shaking hands with Caroline before turning his attention to Bri. "Bri, are you ready for this? You can still change your mind."
"No," the younger woman replied. "I'm not changing my mind. I want to do this."
"No one is forcing you into it?" The detective asked, concerned for the young woman's welfare.
"No, I'm doing this because I want to do it, and it's the right thing to do. I've done a lot of bad things in my life. It's time I did something good."
"Alright, let's get you wired up. Caroline, if you'll come help me, I'd appreciate it," Ron said, not wanting to be alone with Bri while he connected the device to her. It would require that he see her partially naked which could put him in a compromising position. He was helping out his fireman friend who had been wrongly accused of dastardly deeds. He didn't want to be in a similar position.
Caroline picked up the dress, carrying it down the hallway to Marco's bedroom. It was bigger than the bathroom, and they would be able to maneuver around in it. Once inside, Ron pulled out the mechanism that would allow him to hear and record anything that Hunley might say to Bri if the fire marshall pulled her aside for a conversation before the hearing began. Everyone involved agreed that the more evidence they could acquire against Hunley, the better off Mike, and especially Bri, would be.
"Alright, if you'll loosen the robe just a bit, I'll try to be as discreet as possible connecting this to your bra." He felt his face blush as Bri quickly opened up the front of the robe wide enough to expose her cleavage, but keeping the tie cinched around her waist. Quickly, he clipped the tiny microphone to her white undergarment, then handed her the rest of the device. "Okay, now just let this wire run down to your waist, and clip this to your, uh, clothing," he instructed, glad that he didn't have to ask her to reveal any more of herself.
With Caroline's help, Bri twisted her torso enough to run the black wire down through the space between her breasts until the small box was hanging around her waist. She reached inside the robe, and clipped the device to her underwear.
"Okay, is it in position?" Ron asked.
"Yes."
"Alright, we need to test it. I'm going to go back down to the van that's parked outside. I want you to turn it on. When you see the red light come on, it's working and I should be able to hear everything you say. Don't worry about the battery. It'll last for several hours. So you can just turn it on and leave it on, or you can turn it off until you get there. But make sure it's on BEFORE you walk inside." He grinned at her. "And don't talk badly about me, alright?"
Bri smiled at his joke. "I won't. Thanks."
"You're welcome. And thank you for exonerating Mike, and helping us get the bad guy." He smiled at her again. "I'm gonna go out now. You two just keep talking and finish getting dressed. Once you are completely ready, speak to me directly so I can make sure that the microphone is picking up your voices."
"We will," Caroline said, opening the door for the Lieutenant. "Thank you." She closed the door, turning back around to see Bri running her fingers across the dress again. "I can't believe I'm going to wear a new dress." She looked up at Caroline. "I promise I'll take good care of it. I'll change just as quickly as I can when this is over so I can give it back to you."
Caroline knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. Bri didn't seem to understand that Caroline was giving the dress to her. "I can't wear it, Bri. I'm giving it to you. It's yours now, if you want it."
Bri's eyes seemed to sparkle for the first time in years. "For me? A new dress for me? One that I can keep?" She exclaimed, bouncing on her feet like a child on Christmas morning.
"Yes," Caroline responded, finally understanding why Bri had been so amazed by the garment. It was a nice dress that didn't come from a second-hand store, or a dumpster. It was an item that the young woman had been given without any expectations for sexual services in return. It was a gift. Caroline felt the backs of her eyes stinging when she realized that the dress she had just given Bri might be the first gift the young woman had ever received. Quickly, she helped Bri step into the dress and zipped it up. She then helped her position the matching navy blue sweater over her shoulders, buttoning it in the front. She watched in wonder as the young woman looked at herself in Marco's mirror, running her fingers down the front of the dress and smiling at her reflection.
"Okay, Lieutenant Crockett. She's dressed and ready to go," Caroline said, opening up the door for Bri. She followed the young woman down the hallway, happy when Chet gave out a low catcall whistle.
"Wow, you two look very pretty," he said, standing up. "Ready to roll?"
Caroline picked up her cosmetics case off the table while Bri stepped into the navy sandals to complete her outfit. "Let's do it."
Outside, Ron swiped at his misty eyes, then gave the trio a thumbs up as they exited Marco's apartment. He had overheard the excitement in Bri's voice when she found out that the dress she was wearing wasn't a borrowed garment. It was hers. When he saw her exit the apartment, he was pleased with the confidence he saw on her face and in her gait. She was feeling better about herself, and for that, he was truly grateful. Now he just hoped he could keep her safe from Hunley over the next couple of hours.
E!
Mike stepped into the waiting area outside the conference room. He glanced down at his watch, then back up at the empty corridor. He had hoped Barney would be here when he arrived, but he had arrived a little early. Nervously, he paced across the grey tiled floor, feeling as if time were both standing still and passing too quickly. He wanted this to be over, yet he dreaded the arrival of ten o'clock. The echo of footsteps coming towards him from the corridor caused him to spin around in time to see Barney waltz into the waiting area bringing an air of confidence with him. He had worn his best suite, and was decked out in his newest Rolex and diamond pinky ring.
"Hello, Mike. How did it go this morning?" Barney asked, strutting over to shake hands with his client.
"Fine, I guess. I just hope this works," the worried engineer commented.
"Oh, it will, it will. Is she here, yet?" He asked looking around the empty hallway.
As if in response to his question, the door opened again and the three Lopez adults and Beverly walked in. Mike swallowed hard when he saw Alexia. She looked so healthy, and… The word that came to his mind was pretty. She looked very pretty. He licked his lips as he headed over to speak to the group, never taking his eyes off of her. "Hello, everyone. Thanks for coming."
"Mike, you mean the world to us. We wouldn't miss this for anything. It's all going to be just fine," Maria said in her calming thickly accented voice. He saw the string of beads protruding from her closed fist, and knew that she had brought her rosary along. It gave him a sense of peace to know that while he was inside, facing hell itself, Maria would be in touch with Heaven on his behalf.
Marco and Beverly each took turns shaking Mike's hand and wishing him the best. They followed Maria over to a group of chairs lining the wall, leaving Alexia alone with Mike and Barney.
"Hello, Michael," the young woman said softly.
"Hi, thanks for coming. I just hope you don't have to actually go inside."
Barney watched the exchange between Alexia and Mike. He grinned knowingly at the couple. "Ahem," he said, reminding them of his presence. "Let's talk about what to expect."
E!
Leonard Hunley shuffled the papers on his desk, still wondering if Bri would show up for the hearing. His anger at the young woman was causing his face to redden, something that happened when his blood pressure rose. He knew that without her testimony, the evidence he had concocted against Hank's engineer would be considered circumstantial, at best. He didn't know if it would be enough to ruin his career, let alone send him to jail.
When his telephone rang, he yanked the receiver from the base and barked into it. "Hunley speaking."
"Mr. Hunley, I have a call for you," the switchboard operator announced.
"Fine," he groused. "Put it through." He waited for the outside call to come in. "Hello, Leonard Hunley."
On the other end of the line, Bri stood behind the closed door of the telephone booth. She was only a few blocks away from headquarters, but she needed to set the plan in motion. "Lennie?"
Hunley wiped the perspiration from his face. "Where the hell have you been?"
"I-I'm sorry, baby. I got arrested yesterday afternoon. I couldn't get to the bus stop in time," she said, her voice calmer than she had anticipated it would be.
"Are you gonna get here in time for the hearing?" He asked, unconcerned about Bri. He only needed her testimony, nothing more.
"Yes, I'm, um, I'm gonna be there, but… Lennie, I got it."
"Got what?"
"I got Mike's voice recorded. He was telling me he was sorry that my baby died in the fire. Lennie, it's gonna work. I swear, it's gonna work. A certain fireman is going to jail today," she said, excitedly, knowing full well which fireman she was talking about.
"Good girl," he said, the cockiness returning to his voice. "Get here early enough for me to hear it before the hearing."
"Yes sir, am I gonna get my money?"
"Oh, of course you will," the fire marshall lied. "I wouldn't cheat you, Bri. Now, get your ass over here ASAP!" He ordered, slamming down the telephone. He would be glad to get this day over. He had grown tired of her and needed a change. Maybe it was time to find a new girl to meet his needs. As soon as she realized she wasn't getting the money he had promised her, he knew she would no longer be willing to provide for him any longer. He smiled to himself as he considered the possibilities. By nightfall, Mike Stoker would be in jail, Hank Stanley would be devastated, and Hunley would be enjoying the carnal pleasures of a new young purchase.
Bri hung up the telephone, looking out at the police van parked across the street. She waited for the signal they had agreed upon. The telephone she had used to make the call to Hunley had not been chosen at random. She had been driven there by Lieutenant Crockett, who had arranged for a tap to be placed on the line. As soon as he received word from the station that the conversation had been recorded, he gave her another thumbs up. They were stacking the deck against Leonard Hunley, and the evil man had no idea what was about to hit him.
Bri saw the thumbs up sign from the detective. She felt a sense of relief as she opened up the folding door and stepped out into the crisp fall air. She pulled the navy blue sweater around her shoulders, walking the remainder of the distance to headquarters. She didn't want to arrive too early. She needed to get there with just enough time to be called in to testify against Mike Stoker, at least that's what Hunley thought she was going to do.
Ron Crockett watched the young woman walk down the sidewalk. He didn't want to draw attention to her, but he wanted to make sure that no one bothered her while she walked the remainder of the way to headquarters. As soon as she got close to the end of his line of sight, he cranked up the van and pulled into traffic. He wanted to maintain a visual on her until she arrived at her destination. Suddenly, he heard Bri whispering to him through the microphone while she was digging through her purse. "Lieutenant, I need to listen to the tape again. I'm gonna play it while I walk the rest of the way. The angrier I am, the easier it will be to follow through with the plan." She knew there was no way for Lieutenant Crockett to respond to her, so she continued walking while listening to the recording.
Bri pulled out the small recorder and pressed the play button. She folded her arms over her chest as she walked, needing to keep the recorder near her ear so she could hear the conversation she had recorded with Hunley, the evidence the men on the personnel board needed to hear. She slowed down her steps as she listened to his gravelly voice, the threats he had made against her if she didn't comply with his plan to destroy Mike Stoker, and his outright confession that he had been her assailant because she was carrying his child, not Mike. By the time she walked into the parking lot, she was feeling rage boiling in her gut. She quickly rewound the edited tape. She needed to get it back to the beginning, the place where Lieutenant Crockett had recorded Mike's voice in his office earlier this morning, and then had added the segment Bri had recorded with Hunley. It was enough to satisfy Hunley's curiosity should he ask for a sample of the recording before the hearing.
Bri replaced the Dictaphone into her purse, blew out her breath then walked up the steps at the front of headquarters. She only had five minutes to spare, which was exactly what she wanted. Crockett parked the van in a shady location outside of the fire department headquarters building. He took a sip of his lukewarm coffee, needing to stay as alert as possible. He had been up all night securing the necessary paper work and warrants for the covert operation. He had never pulled off a caper like this in such a short time. He hoped that he hadn't missed anything in the rushed process. The last thing he wanted was for Hunley to get away with the terror he had been inflicting because of a technicality.
Inside the building, Alexia and Mike heard the sound of heels clicking down the hallway. Both of them looked up just as Bri rounded the corner. Her face was unreadable. Was she remorseful? Neither Alexia nor Mike could tell. She was obviously nervous, walking with her arms crossed in front of her body. When Bri's eyes met those of her former roommate, she dropped her gaze to her feet, halting her progress down the hallway. She leaned against the wall, unsure of what to do next. A couple of men in fire department dress uniforms walked past her, tipping their heads in acknowledgement. She offered them a smile in return, feeling out of place. She saw movement in the distance and lifted her eyes to see Alexia walking towards her.
Suddenly she felt a firm grip on her right elbow pulling her into a side room.
"It's about time you showed up," Hunley growled into her ear. "We're about to get started. Give it to me."
From somewhere deep inside her soul, Bri found courage she never knew she had. She stiffened her spine, held her chin high, and gripped her purse a little tighter. "No."
"WHAT?" The angry man whispered harshly. "Where the hell'd you get those clothes?"
Ignoring his comment about her attire, she stood her ground. "I said no. Give me my money and I'll give you the tape," Bri bargained, surprised by her own authoritative tone.
Inside the van, Lieutenant Crockett listened intently to what was happening. Bri was deviating from the plan, and she was endangering herself in the process. "No, Bri. Don't provoke him."
Bri watched the anger in Hunley's eyes reach the boiling point. Her anxiety squeezed her chest, cutting off her breathing. She could feel her heart straining to keep the blood rushing through her arteries, the steady thumping rhythm was pounding out the tempo of an SOS in Morse code at the base of her throat.
Hunley pointed his stubby finger in the young woman's face, aware of how quickly she could scream and draw unwanted attention. "Don't. Fuck with me, bitch!" He reached inside his pants pocket with his other hand, holding his pocket knife in his hand. He had used it to threaten her before, and knew he could easily do it again.
"Why not. You've been fucking me for years, Lennie. I'm tired of it. I'll testify, even though it'll be perjury, AND I'll play the damn tape, but I'm no fool. I won't do either without my money first," Bri responded, hoping she wasn't making the biggest mistake of her life.
After several long moments, Hunley reached into his back pocket withdrawing his wallet. He'd pay her enough to pacify her. It would be a small price to pay for what was going to happen in the hearing. "Alright…," he opened up the wallet, withdrawing a couple of bills and passing them over to Bri, unaware that she had caught a glimpse of how much money he had stored inside the brown leather billfold. "Here's $40. You'll get the rest afterwards."
"Sixty."
"Forty," he repeated more forcefully. When Bri didn't take the proffered bills, he begrudgingly acquiesced to her demand. "Fine… Sixty," he grunted through clenched teeth. "But you're gonna regret this. If it's the last thing I do, I'll make you regret this little act of extortion." Dropping the bills on the floor, he reached for her purse, snatching it off of her shoulder. He opened up the beige macramé hobo-style accessory digging inside until he found what he was after while Bri picked up the money from the floor. Holding the Dictaphone up in front of her face, he snorted then stomped off towards the conference room, already a couple of minutes late.
Bri walked slowly out of the empty room. She was met by an icy cold glare from Alexia, who didn't believe Bri was trying to help Mike, no matter what Marco and the others had told her. Bri looked at the faces who were all looking back at her, but two were missing. Mike Stoker and Barney Olsen. That could only mean one thing. The hearing had begun.
E!
Mike Stoker stood beside his attorney as the proceedings began. The allegations were read before the personnel board by Leonard Hunley while the transcriber clicked on the keys of her stenotype machine. As the chairman of the personnel board seated the two men, Mike tugged at his collar feeling as if he were wearing a noose instead of a necktie. His stomach rumbled and a wave of nausea passed over him as he looked at the faces of the men who held his fate in their hands. He quickly closed his eyes, swallowing back the bile that was burning the back of his throat.
"Mr. Stoker, while this is not a courtroom, I want you to understand that these allegations against you could result in an arrest. I also want you to understand that those presenting evidence, and all the witnesses who testify will be sworn in, and they will be guilty of perjury if their testimony is proven to be false, your own testimony included. Do you understand?" The Chairman asked.
"Ahem, yes sir," Mike croaked out hoarsely.
"Having heard the allegations made against you, do you have any questions?"
Mike shook his head, but was prodded for a verbal answer by his attorney.
"The stenographer needs to hear you," Barney whispered.
"Oh, um, no questions," Mike stated, ashamed to be in front of the personnel board, even though he knew he was innocent.
"Very well. Having heard the allegations against you by the Los Angeles County Fire Marshall, how do you plead?"
Mike listened to his attorney who was mumbling into his right ear. He nodded his head in understanding, then raised his voice to be heard by the stenographer. "Innocent of all allegations, sir."
"Alright. Assistant Chief Hunley, you may present your evidence," the chairman directed.
Over the next twenty minutes, Hunley presented the findings of the investigations of the fire at the gas station, the fire at the abandoned warehouse, and finally the fire at Alexia Lopez' apartment. He made it a point to emphasize that for each fire, Mike was the one who made the first call, and who was the first fireman on the scene to put out the blazes. He paced slowly in front of the men who made up the personnel board, stroking his chin as he presented his version of events. He called for Samford Bennett's testimony, trying his best to make the man say out loud that he believed in Mike Stoker's guilt. Yet, the arson investigator never said those exact words.
Mike listened as Barney chuckled under his breath at the antics of the fire marshall. The attorney scribbled a note on the yellow pad in front of him and pushed it into Mike's line of vision. Mike read the words and smiled with a sense of relief. 'He ain't no Perry Mason.' The anger that was raging in Mike's soul calmed down slightly after reading those words. He knew that Barney knew he was getting upset, but what man wouldn't? Everything that was presented was true, but the spin it was given made Mike sound like a monster, a rogue fireman who hadn't seen enough action since being promoted to engineer, and so he had resorted to creating his own. Mike's knee bounced uncontrollably as he sat with his hands clenching the arms of the chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Then he heard the words that made his heart leap upwards, straining against the tight collar of his shirt.
Leonard Hunley stared at Mike. "But the details of the worst thing he's done should be told by the victim herself. I want to call in Miss Brianna Olivier."
Outside the conference room, Brianna was leaning back in her seat beside Caroline. She was sitting across from Alexia, but the two hadn't spoken. She glanced at Maria, an older and heavier version of Alexia, as the woman sat, silently praying the Rosary. Again, a brief wave of jealousy covered her, then disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. No matter how much she wanted a family, she was never going to have one. She couldn't go back in time and choose different parents. All she could do was make the right choices now.
"Please don't do this, Bri," Alexia spoke up. "Don't go in there."
Marco leaned over, pulling his sister into a sideways hug. "She knows what she's doing, Lexi. Leave her alone."
"You don't understand. None of you understand!" She said, raising her voice as she looked around the room. "None of you know what he does to her. He has a way of controlling her and-"
The door of the conference room opened up, and Leonard Hunley stuck his head out calling for Bri. When she heard her name called, Bri looked up into the eyes of the man she hated with all her heart and soul.
"Brianna Olivier," Hunley called out, as if he didn't know who she was.
On shaky legs, Bri stood up and slowly walked across the hallway to the door Hunley was holding open for her. She tried to lick her lips, but her mouth and throat had gone completely dry. She knew that as soon as she walked through the open door, she could never go back. Her entire world was about to change, if she could muster up the courage to face down the man she so despised, and tell the personnel board the truth about what had happened to her and her baby all those months ago.
Alexia collapsed into tears, crying on her older brother's shoulder. "She won't be able to do it," the young woman sobbed. "She won't be able to tell them that it was really Lennie."
"Sshhh," Marco soothed, looking at his mother for help in comforting his frightened sister. "We've got to trust her."
Maria reached out, holding her daughter's hand. "Sweetheart, we need to pray that she'll have the courage to do this. It's the only thing we can do for her, now."
Inside the conference room, Bri was sworn in and given directions about speaking loud enough so that the stenographer would be able to hear her clearly. She felt exposed as she sat before some of the highest ranking men in the Los Angeles County Fire Department. They were important, she wasn't; they were upstanding citizens, smarter than her; and these men were all staring at her. She could feel the iciness in her veins, even while her face began to perspire.
She watched as Lennie stood in front of her as dominating as he had ever presented himself before. In her mind, she could see him standing over her as he played his awful fantasy games. She could see him laughing at her as he degraded and humiliated her, violating her over and over again. She could see him tossing her a few dollars for the despicable services she was providing him, a scene that had just been repeated in the side room when she had forced him to give her some of the money they had agreed upon. Her lower lip began to quiver as she cut a quick glance at Mike and Barney. They were anticipating that she would say one thing, but Hunley was expecting a completely different story. She was about to make the biggest decision of her life, one that would determine her entire future. But which version of events was she going to be able to tell now that she was before the personnel board?
Time ticked by slowly for those waiting outside the conference room. Johnny paced, running his hands through his hair, realizing he should have gotten it cut before coming to headquarters. Roy watched his antsy partner, wondering what was going on inside was going on inside the conference room as well as what was going on inside his partner's head. Apparently, Mike wasn't the only man at 51's who was going through something difficult at the moment. The only difference was that they all knew what Mike was struggling with, but no one knew what demons were tormenting their younger medic. Chet and Caroline held hands quietly, watching Hank's jaw muscles flexing as he clenched his teeth in anger. The three Lopezes and Beverly were holding hands, their eyes closed in silent prayer.
Inside the conference room, Leonard Hunley seated his star witness. Her lower lip was trembling, and she was struggling to look at his face. Her breathing was coming in short gasps, and her hands were twitching as she tried to hide them in her lap. He could see the effect he was having on her. She was terrified of him and he loved the power he felt standing over her.
"Miss Olivier, I want to make this as easy on you as possible. I won't ask you to tell us your story as I'm sure that would be too difficult for you emotionally. I'll just ask you a few questions. Please answer them as honestly as you can. You're safe here," he stated in a syrupy sweet voice.
Bri's eyes darted around the room, unable to look directly at anyone. She desperately wanted something to do with her hands, regretting not bringing a rubber band to play with while she answered his questions.
"Now, were you assaulted in your apartment on the morning of May 26, 1975?"
"Yes," she said, her voice only a whisper.
"Miss Olivier, I'm sorry, but you'll need to speak a little louder so the stenographer can hear you correctly," Hunley explained in a voice Bri barely recognized.
"Ahem, yes," she said a little louder.
"And did that assault result in a miscarriage?"
"Yes," she said again, wiping the tears from her cheeks. One of the men sitting in front of her carried a handkerchief to her, spilling politely as he handed it to her. "Thank you."
"And did this same man who assaulted you and killed your baby, did he also set your apartment on fire?"
"No," she commented, shaking her head.
Hunley ran his hand over his lower face, removing the sweat beads that had suddenly popped up on his upper lip. She was deviating from the orders he had given her earlier about her testimony. "Um, okay, now… Who set fire to you apartment?"
"My pimp… Ricardo Gomez… He was," she sniffled, sucking in a quick breath to continue. "Ricardo was w-working with him."
Hunley felt a sense of relief. She was implicating Ricardo in the arson fire that destroyed her apartment, which would at least give her story some element of truth. Pleased with her performance so far, he continued pushing her on. "And the 'him' you are referring to, the man who assaulted you and killed your baby because it was his child he was ashamed of… Is that man in this room now?"
Bri felt her heart thudding in anticipation, her nostrils flaring. "Y-yes."
"Is that man, Firefighter Specialist Michael Stoker?" Hunley asked, his joy difficult to contain. Her tears were an added bonus, tugging at the hearts of the men on the personnel board.
Bri gulped, swallowing back the bile that threatened to burn a hole in her throat. "Uh…," she squeezed her eyes shut, forcing out the tears that were lingering along the lower lids. "I-I'm… Gonna be… Sick."
"It's okay, Miss Olivier. I know this is difficult for you. Take a few deep breaths and just take your time," he stated, patting her on her forearm.
Hunley was silently growing impatient with her antics, anxious to move the proceedings along. "While she composes herself, I'd like to present a tape recording of a conversation Miss Olivier had with Mr. Stoker which, I believe, will answer the question that she is struggling to respond to." Hunley removed the Dictaphone from his briefcase. Having listened to the beginning of the tape, he felt confident that this would slam the door on Mike Stoker's career as a firefighter, perhaps even slam a jail door closed behind him. He fought hard to maintain his own composure, resisting the urge to cackle in a maniacal laugh as he pressed the play button.
Mike felt a lump forming in his throat as he listened to the beginnings of the tape, hearing his own voice talking about how sad it was that Bri had lost her baby. He knew that Hunley was going to try to spin his comments into a confession, but how was the fire marshall going to explain his own comments?
Hunley stared at Mike Stoker as the tape played, listening to the stenographer's keys clicking away as she recorded the statement. Suddenly, the tape seemed to hang up momentarily, then started back playing again, but the voices he heard were not the voices he had expected. He listened in horror as his own threats came rushing back at him. "Ga, uh," he stammered, snatching the cassette tape from the Dictaphone and flicking his pocket knife open, ripping the coffee-colored ribbon out of it. "Um, that, uh, must have been the wrong tape, uh."
"Mr. Hunley, what's going on here?" The chairman of the personnel board asked, his own face turning red in anger. He and the rest of the board had heard enough to know that Leonard Hunley had done something horrible, and by destroying the tape, they might never know exactly what that something was.
Summoning all the courage she could muster, Bri stood up, pointing a finger at Hunley. "It's not the wrong tape. It was YOU, not Mike who killed my baby, OUR baby!"
Hunley felt like a tiger backed into a corner, and instincts told him it was time to pounce. Everything was going wrong. She had lied to him. Double crossed him. And there was no way in hell he would allow her to get away with it. All sense of reasoning vaporized in the heat of the moment. Without thinking about the consequences, he lunged at Bri with his knife drawn. He heard her scream as his knife tore into the flesh of her face. She had managed to jerk away from him at the last possible moment, preventing the knife from slicing through her throat. "You'll pay for this you lying whore!"
The blood curdling scream tore through the silence in the waiting area just as Lieutenant Crockett barreled into the facility, his hand already poised on his sidearm.
"Stand back," he ordered, waving at those seated outside the conference room. "Get over in that corner. Backup is coming."
The men from 51's, accustomed to risking their own lives to save others, used their bodies to shelter the three women present.
"What's going on, Ron?" Hank asked, just as the detective charged into the conference room door, allowing no time for him to respond.
Hunley, staring down the barrel of a Smith and Wesson 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, caught Bri's head in the crook of his neck.
On the other end of the weapon stood Lieutenant Ronald Crockett. "Don't do it, man. Let 'er go."
Bri felt the stream of blood sliding warmly down her check. He had cut her from the side of her right ear to beneath her right eye. Whether he had intended to or not really didn't matter. In this moment, nothing mattered. She felt Hunley flex his arm muscles a little tighter around her neck, pulling her into a position between himself and the Lieutenant. Sensing that each breath might be her last, she began to struggle to speak. "De-destroyed tape… Over… It's… Over," she cried, knowing that what the personnel board had heard had been only the beginning. The real testament to the horrors Leonard Hunley had inflicted had been confessed farther along in the recording. She had only been able to accomplish part of her goal. She had helped exonerate Mike, but she had failed to tell the board about the monster who was their fire marshall.
She closed her eyes, feeling the blood dripping down beside her ear, running along her throat and mixing with Hunley's sweat before it stained the pretty new dress she had been given. She stopped fighting against him, choosing instead to die in a manner opposite of the way she had lived, with dignity. Then Bri closed her eyes, waiting for the piecing burn of the sharp instrument which she knew was about to tear through her throat, severing her jugular vein. Her only consolation was that death would be quick. She just hoped that her final act would find favor with whatever deity controlled her fate, and that she would be allowed to join, and perhaps even hold, her baby in the afterlife.