Wow its been a long time... Sorry about that! Its been crazy, but after finishing 2 exams and 2 essays I finally got time to work on this. Hope you guys haven't given up on me it may be slow going but I'm almost there! Just a few chapters (Lots of good stuff planed also!)

Hope you guys like what I've written, also just a heads up don't know much about the whole court system so the technicalities are probably all wrong but anyways haha :) Also this probably isn't that great but needs to happen! More angsty stuff will follow!

Thanks as always for those who let me know what they thought! Means the world and is always good motivation! Been lacking a bit of that as you can probably tell by how long this took :/

Onwards!

Chapter 21

…Intentions …

As Tom's alarm startled him from his half sleep and half daydream he shot up out of bed and swiftly started getting ready for the day. As he got dressed he outright refused to check himself over in the mirror. As he knew that what would stand before him would only contradict the confidence he felt and consequently ruin his composure for the day. He put on his suit and slid his tie under his collar before grabbing his keys and exiting his apartment swiftly. To an outsider it almost looked as if he was running late. But Tom Hanson was never late. And even though he hadn't been himself over the last few weeks he knew that there was no way he was going to be late today, no way he was going to mess up this case again.

As today was the day he would be facing Lawrence once again, this time in court. He sat in silence on his drive to the courthouse. The only noise he could hear was the buzzing of the million thoughts in the back of his mind. All of them mixed together, none of them able to pull away from the others and make itself heard.

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The court case was moving slowly with Tom only half being able to concentrate on the proceedings. However when he heard Lawrence being called to the stand the fogginess that had been following him all day finally cleared.

Lawrence's usual harsh appearance was softened by his neatly combed hair and smart suit. His words were spoken gently and his usual confidence was replaced by timidness. Tom saw straight through his act, he just desperately hoped everyone else did too. He surveyed the Jury and the room, disappointed to see the faces intently focused on Lawrence's words as if they were life sustaining.

He then turned to the very back of the room to see Mathew, who had a look of displeasure and disgust plastered across his face and displayed clearly in his body language. Tom had never seen him look so agitated. Feeling unsettled at the sight he moved his gaze slowly back around to the front of the room, pausing to check over his partner not surprised to see him looking completely bored.

As Lawrence's lawyer questioned him it quickly became evident that he would be accepting the drug charges, as he had probably realised they had too much evidence against him. "Is it true that you were heavily involved in this drug operation that Officer Hanson and Officer Penhall were investigating?," questioned his lawyer.

"As much as I hate to admit it, yes I was," he said. His look of distress not fooling Tom or Doug at all, both of the officers rolling their eyes in unison.

"But I am deeply regretful for the role I played in all of it, most of all the role I played in inducting so many young kids into this world," Tom and Doug couldn't help but roll their eyes at this comment.

"You say that now you regret it, that you're ashamed of the role you played. If this is the case can you tell us why you got involved in the first place?"

"I sacrificed everything for the Police force. For 20 long years I worked tirelessly trying to make the street a better place. But after a while you see that no matter how many dealers you bust or hookers you arrest, people are going to keep doing drugs and selling themselves if that's if that's what they want to do," Doug turned to Tom again with a look saying 'Would you get a load of this guy, what bullshit,'. Tom nodded and made the appropriate face even though honestly he almost agreed with what Lawrence was saying. It was like Lawrence had heard the conversations that had been playing out in Tom's head.

Lawrence looked over at the officers as he continued. "I became disillusioned with the job I suppose, sick of risking my life every day for scumbags that don't give a damn about theirs," Doug stared back, looking directly into his eyes while Tom stared a little lower down, settling on examining the knot in his tie. Terrified that if he looked up he would see too much of himself, that he would see the same bitter, broken down look in Lawrence's eyes he had seen in his own numerous times before.

Lawrence knew he had Hanson on the edge, something he said had made him look like that and made I unable to meet his eyes any longer, so he continued more confidently knowing his words were having the desired effect, "Soon it was only about bringing the pay checks home. So when one of my friends who was also on the force said he could cut me in on some action for a little extra cash it was very tempting to say the least. Then almost as quick as I accepted his offer it felt like I ended up here, almost running the operation. But I was ready to get out, I was done, I couldn't do it anymore. I realised that no amount of money in the world was worth it, especially after Jeffrey Benton was murdered. That was the final straw."

Tom knew this speech was too long and too well spoken to have not been rehearsed but at the same time he couldn't help but think it felt quite natural. Which was frustrating, as the last thing they needed was for everyone to believe his story.

His lawyer finally spoke again, "Prior to your arrest you admitted you killed Jeffrey Benton to the undercover officers, are saying that you didn't kill Jeffrey Benton?"

"I could never kill someone in cold blood like that, especially not a friend which is what he had become to me,"

"At the time you admitted to this murder is it true that Officer Hanson had threatened you, and had in fact aimed his gun at you?"

"Yes,"

"Do you believe this contributed to why you lied about killing Jeffrey Benton,"

"Of course it did, it was a precarious situation and I was scared. I needed to re-establish my dominance, re-instil fear into them. It was dangerous having them think they could overpower me so easily without consequences,"

"And this is a common thing that happens in the criminal world?"

"Happens all the time, people taking the rep for things they didn't do. It's the easy way to build your reputation. As without a reputation people begin to see you as an easy target,"

"Did you now he was a Police Officer at the time?"

"Of course not, otherwise I would never have admitted to something I didn't do, I thought I was talking to two crooked or washed up ex-cops who had got it in their heads that they could take me on and so I needed to knock them down a level,"

"But if you were innocent why did you run?"

"They had just finished convincing me they weren't cops, they didn't show me their badges, and they had just threatened my life. I ran because I was scared, simple as that,"

"If you didn't murder him then can you tell us who did?"

"Denny Cartwright, a dealer who worked for me. These officers actually dealt with him a few times, I believe he held a gun to officer Penhall's head," he finished, allowing a grin to cross his face. And even though it may have been only for a second it was still the first time he had let people see what was beyond his façade of remorse.

"Thankyou that is all," his lawyer concluded before sitting down exchanging glances with the other lawyer who was now taking his place on the floor. He began immediately and threw many trying questions at Lawrence who effortlessly answered them. Many questions later he was almost finished.

"Former Captain Lawrence, I only have two more issues with your story. You say you thought they were school kids when you ran away. But at this time they had restrained you in handcuffs, doesn't that indicate to you that they were in fact undercover officers?"

"As I said earlier they never actually showed me their badges and they had just finished convincing me that they were ex-cops. In a life and death situation like that you don't have a lot of time to consider your options, you rely on your instincts to keep you alive," He said confidently.

"Jeffrey Benton was running the whole operation and when he died you took over, seems like a good motive to me,"

"Again, as I already said I didn't want in any deeper, I was trying to get out of the bussiness," he said still managing to remain remarkably calm. Damn the guy had an answer for everything Tom thought in frustration, even if some were slightly questionable. Most men would at least stumble at this question.

"So you said," Finished the lawyer feeling satisfied he was able to make all his points and even though he had predicted this result he was frustrated at the fact Lawrence had managed to keep his cool.

Next Doug was called to the stand, much to Hanson's displeasure as this meant he was up next. He watched his partner who unlike himself didn't really have a problem with being the centre of attention as he casually stood up and sauntered to his place behind the stand. He looked comfortable as to him as much as he despised Lawrence he despised almost all the criminals they caught and so this was just like any other case that they had testified at.

His questioning was going rather smoothly until the defence lawyer, unfortunately for him triggered something in Doug's memory. "So it is in fact possible that Denny Cartwright could be responsible for the murder of Jeffrey Benton?"

"It is possible yes, but this is simply an accusation, a shift of blame and a distraction. We have no evidence supporting this claim," said Doug firmly obviously frustrated with the diversion tactics the defence lawyer was employing.

"Well if were talking lack of evidence then lets looks closer to home shall we, you two undercover officers spent almost a month trailing Mr. Lawrence and have found no evidence that he in fact is responsible for killing Jeffrey Benton. Nothing other than a revoked admission of guilt made in a life and death situation," Doug rolled his eyes and scoffed at the lawyers dramatic rendition,

"And motive," added Doug.

"Yes and motive, but I imagine many people would have had motive to kill Jeffrey Benton. one of those people being Denny Cartwright as he also had the opportunity to move up the ranks and as you know officer Penhall he was in no way shy to flash around his weaponry," A sudden smirk came over Doug's features.

"Yes you are right when you say he certainly wasn't afraid to whip his gun out at every possible occasion," The lawyer stared at him intently looking taken aback by his sudden rise in enthusiasm so Doug continued with glee, "I clearly remember him holding his gun against my temple. My left temple. That is if you believe my own as well as my partner's report recounting the event. And I believe in the court of law, a police report is held more highly than a defendant's wild accusation. Is it not?," he said directing his question at the lawyer, quite impressed that he had managed to flip their roles.

"Yes Officer," The lawyer answered slightly agitated.

"Now again only going of an official report, I recall that the man who killed Jeffrey Benton did so with his right hand." Doug finished quite pleased with himself.

Lawrence's Lawyer faltered but only for a moment. "You are aware Officer the majority of the population is right handed and this doesn't prove Lawrence guilty,"

"No need to get all defensive, that's was not what I was implying at all. I was simply making a point that is couldn't be Denny cartwright." He said beginning to sound cocky even by Doug's standards.

"Right, well that is all," finished the defence lawyer before he speedily took his seat. Doug then followed his lead and casually exited the stands.

Alrighty... hopefully it wasn't to drawn out... check back tomorrow for the end of the case and toms bit (yes I know im gong to be super quick!)

And as always let know know your thoughts! Or even just say hey!