Chapter 21

[Monday, August 26th, 1985]


"Sandra?" Kamili called out as she walked in through the front door of Sandra's house, Janet close on her heels. Not getting an answer they pulled up their guns, moving through the silent house with tense muscles, prepared for anything, waiting for some bad guys to be standing around the corner. It was confusing though, they had seen Sandra's car outside along with a police cruiser and they had instantly gotten worried that something had happened, but the police didn't seem to be answering either as they called out.

They had all decided to meet up at the office by 8, the client and everyone else coming in at 10 for a run through of the closed case. Around 8:30 and no Sandra, they had all gotten worried. What if they had missed something? Did Josie have a partner? Had Sandra been sicker than she let on? Both Kamili and Janet were beating themselves up, they should've checked on her during the weekend, but she had been fine when they split up on Friday evening.

But it was almost 9 now, and worried sick, Kamili and Janet had decided to let themselves into her house as she didn't answer the doorbell, trying to find their friend.

Moving through the house, as quietly as possible, they suddenly saw Sandra's dogs patiently sitting outside the closed bathroom door and coming closer they could hear that the shower was on. Janet and Kamili shared a look before Janet knocked the door.

"Sandra? You in there?"

Janet and Kamili shared a look of confusion as they heard the water quickly being turned off and weird sounds following. The next second, the door was pulled open and Sandra came out, still soaking wet and small towel wrapped around her, quickly shutting the door behind her. Her dogs were well excited to finally see her come out, acting as if she had been gone forever.

"Hello there." Janet laughed, looking at her friend who was out of breath, holding the towel with one hand and the door handle with the other. Janet couldn't help but to chuckle as she holstered her gun, looking over to Kamili who wasn't sure where to put her eyes, not really being as comfortable as Sandra when it came to nudity. Sandra was never shy, but her face was bright red with embarrassment at the moment, which made Janet grin widely. "You're not alone in there, right?"

Sandra sent her a gleaming smile, as she looked between Janet and Kamili, a hand going to wipe off her face, pulling her fingers through the wet hair. "No. What are you guys doing here?"

"You're an hour late, you didn't answer your phone. We got worried."

"Shit, I'm so sorry." Sandra chuckled, moving a hand to rub her face. "I didn't realize what time it was."

"No, you were certainly busy with something else." Kamili grinned. "Or sorry, someone else."

"Who is it?" Janet grinned, curious out of her head, Sandra hushing her.

The door was opened behind Sandra, almost making her fall backwards as she had been leaning against the door. Carl stood, straightening his t-shirt with the police logo on it, hair still wet, smiling towards Janet and Kamili.

"Angels."

"Carl." Both Janet and Kamili answered in unison.

"What time is it?"

"9 am." Janet smiled and watched how Carl's eyes went wide, leaning down to give Sandra a kiss before hurrying off, grabbing his things which appeared to be scattered around the house before heading outside. Sandra shook her head as she leaned against the doorframe, looking up to her two friends.

"I'm sorry guys."

"It's alright. We're glad you're okay, and happy." Janet smiled, a hand going up to brush Sandra's arm.

"Give me ten minutes to wash the conditioner out of my hair and get ready." Sandra smiled.

"I'll put on some coffee." Janet smiled, nodding as Sandra walked back into the bathroom, Kamili and Janet laughed as they moved to the kitchen, Kamili walking over to the phone to call Kelly as Janet put on some coffee, almost ready as they heard the hair dryer being turned on in the bathroom.

Sandra came out into the kitchen just as Janet pour coffee in three cups, Sandra smiling, still a bit embarrassed as she took the cup from her friend, looking over to Kamili who had just managed to get a hold of Kelly.

"No, we're at her place now, she's fine, just overslept. Yeah, we're having a cup of coffee and then we'll come in. Yeah, see you in a bit. Oh yes, I do think Sandra called Carl at some point during the weekend." Kamili grinned, looking up to Sandra who put her red face in her hands. Kamili hung up the phone, grinning widely to Sandra who looked up to her friend and sighed.

"Thanks for covering for me."

"You're welcome." Kamili said, still grinning. "But you owe me one."


"Good morning Angels."

"Good morning Charlie."

"I trust you all had some time to rest during the weekend?" Charlie asked, his voice coming out through the a speaker phone as always.

"I think it's safe to say that we all enjoyed doing absolutely nothing this weekend. I was on the couch or in the bath tub the whole time." Kamili smiled, leaning back relaxed in the couch.

"Well deserved my Angel. Now, who am I talking to?"

"Well, all of your Angels of course, including Janet and Kris." Kelly said. "Then we have Hank here from the CIA, we have Carl and Donny from the Washington Police Department, and we have our client of course, Miss Andrea Jonas."

"We are also accompanied by the parents of our four missing girls." Kamili said, smiling gently towards the different parents whom she and Kelly had met earlier.

"A big group of people." Charlie smiled. "I'm hoping the office is not too crammed for you all?"

"We're downstairs actually, trying to break the old habit of only spending time in the office." Sandra smiled, sitting in one of the couches leaning against Carl, him having an arm resting at the back of the couch behind her shoulders, Janet on Sandra's other side with Benjamin sleeping against her shoulder. "These couches are very nice to relax in."

"I'm glad the whole office building is being used. I have heard that there has been a lot of swimming in the pool."

"Yes, I have tried to squeeze in a few laps every day." Kamili smiled, looking around. "And I have been accompanied by all Angels at some point."

"Very good. Now let's move on to business. Tell me everything."

"It all started when Ava Miller was murdered." Kamili started, looking over towards the Millers. "She was happy and outgoing, believing herself to be a witch but there's no harm in that. She was murdered because she wanted to reveal secrets from the witches' community, something that Ellen Josephine Hart, let's call her by her nickname Josie, was not too fond off. Josie was addicted to hallucinogenic drugs, and she saw things that were not real nor true. She saw Ava as a threat to the society and decided to dispose of her."

Kelly picked up.

"Sophie Brown was the second victim. She saw Josie kill Ava, had photos whom she might've shared with Ellen, not knowing it was the same person. Or maybe she did, confronting her with them. No matter how it came out, Josie did find out at least, and killed her."

"We might add that Josie has two different sides to her – one being the outspoken, easily noticed witch, the other one being the shy and quiet secretary of Martin Howard, president of the magazine the Prospect. She read everything before it was published and therefore read things that she probably didn't want to read." Sandra added before Kelly continued.

"Then Anna Jackson probably picked up the same story, this time two missing women. Josie once again feeling threatened, disposed of her. Then Olivia and Alicia both met the same faith, nosing around the same story. This has been something that maybe Josie once regretted, but it got out of her hands, growing bigger with each killing until she didn't know how to stop. The more people dying the more people found out about it. She needed to be stopped. I'm just sorry that we didn't catch her earlier." Kelly said, her voice fading as she looked amongst the parents of the room.

"We're glad to finally have an answer to what happened to our daughter." Mr. Miller said, looking genuinely relieved. "It's been a pure hell not knowing what happened. Some said she just packed a bag and left, but we knew in our hearts that it wasn't true."

"I couldn't agree more." Mrs. Brown said. "I'm so grateful to have a closure."

"How did you find out that it was Josie?" Carl asked, looking around.

"It was Madison actually." Kamili said, Madison instantly blushing, looking down to the floor. "Well, Sandra of course realized it when she was drugged and kidnapped by her after deliberately leaving half-written drafts about these five women out and about in the office, but it's all thanks to Madison that Sandra didn't become the sixth victim. Madison is very good at reading people, seeing their quirks early and then comparing them to the different zodiac signs. And she noticed the same behavior between the witch Josie, and the shy secretary Ellen. Adding two and two together we realized that Josie was short for Josephine which is Ellen's middle name, and we also noted in Alicia's diary that her very last entry was with 5-10-8, which is EJH is you take the letters numbers in the alphabet. Ellen Josephine Hart."

"We headed out to the ceremonial ground where we know Alicia was killed, and where we believe all five women were killed, and we found Sandra there, and Josie, completely out of control." Kamili finished off.

"We have questioned Josie, already while high as a kite and when she had dropped down, and she told us everything, almost bragged about how she had saved the secrets of the witches, gotten rid of all the enemies. We have a full confession from her, for all five murders, so a conviction should be easy to get. We also searched her home and her locker at work, and there is more than enough evidence to put her away for life." Carl said, nodding around to the group of people while absentmindedly running his fingers gently through Sandra's hair. "We have also arrested another woman, named Annabelle. Apparently she had a lot of things growing in her garden that she shouldn't have, and it also appears that she knew of the murders as they were very close to her farm, but she has been keeping quiet about it as Josie threatened to expose her little garden, Annabelle supplying Josie with whatever she needed."

"Did you ask Josie about the bomb?" Kelly asked, looking over to Carl.

"Yes, Sandra asked me about that. Josie said she didn't like the fact that you two were snooping around at their parents and wanted to scare you off. She appeared to have plans to stop Kelly as well but never got around to do it."

They all sat silent for a moment before Andrea Jonas, the client, spoke up.

"I am so eternally grateful that you accepted this case. I can't even begin to explain how much this meant to me, to be able to know what happened."

"We are all very happy that we managed to find out the truth as well." Kelly said.

"We have all talked a bit with each other as well today before Mr. Townsend called, and we would all like to chip in and split the fee amongst us, to show our gratitude to Miss Jones for pushing on this case. By not accepting a no for an answer you have given all of us answers as well." Mr. Jackson said, looking around the group, stopping to meet Kelly's eyes who nodded with a gentle smile.

"Absolutely, we will sort all of that out. Money is not the most important to us, being able to take a killer off the streets is. But it is of course nice to have the funds to be able to continue on with the next case and save more innocent lives."

"And pay hospital bills." Sandra chuckled.


Leaving the office one by one, soon the only ones left in the living room were Angels. Kelly, Kris, Madison, Sandra, Janet and Kamili all moved around so they sat closer together, Charlie's voice still coming out from the the speaker box.

"A job very well done Angels."

"Thank you, Charlie." The all answered in unison, giggling.

"Especially you Madison. It's amazing to see how fast you pick up on the details and grow as a person and as a detective. You have a bright future in front of you and I am very happy to have you onboard."

"Wow, thank you Charlie." Madison said quietly, blushing immensely.

"We all agree." Kamili said, everyone else joining in. "Keep this up and no criminals will ever escape your claws."

"I am very excited to learn more very day." Madison smiled. "It's been a bit scary, but I did enjoy working, finding the pieces of a puzzle and putting it together."

"That's a great part of this job." Sandra smiled. "We're very glad to have you in the family."

"Angels, you deserve some rest and relaxation after this achievement." Charlie said, and Sandra instantly saw her chance.

"Oh, speaking of that."

Kamili put her head back to the backrest of the couch, giggling as she had been looking forward to seeing Sandra trying to explain this to Charlie and Kelly.

"What is it Angel?" Charlie asked through the phone, Kelly immediately being more suspicious as she tensed her eyes, staring towards Sandra.

"Well, Tara is recovering as you all know, and she and Mark are on their way down to Georgia right now for three weeks to rest and relax. Kamili and I were talking about maybe tagging along, thinking it could be fun to all go down there together, some team building vacation." Sandra said, her voice fast, nervous as to what the answer would be.

"I think that sounds like a beautiful idea Angel." Charlie said.

"There's also the small detail that Sandra promised my mother that we would all come and the person who objects to this-" Kamili said, turning to Kelly. "Has to call her and explain why we can't come, I ain't calling her."

Kelly laughed, a genuinely warm laughter. "I think it's a great idea Kamili."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Everything?" Janet asked, looking at Kelly with big eyes.

"Well everything always goes wrong, so it doesn't matter where we are really." Kelly said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well then." Sandra said. "I guess we'll head down to Georgia."

"Let's finish this week, making sure all paperwork and court date is sorted out. Sandra and Madison, you should both go to the Prospect and quit your jobs. I will talk to Aurore and Peggy and see if they can tag along down south. I know Aurore doesn't take a break with the restaurant doing so well but I know she's been dying for a break. She does have awesome people in the kitchen, it will survive a week or two without her. I don't even think she'll be difficult to convince."

"I will talk to Devin and see if he can take work off as well or bring some of the work with him down." Janet nodded, knowing her partner worked a lot from home. "He would love to go home for a while, and I want to come."

"Let's get to it. The sooner we finish the paperwork, the sooner we can go to Georgia."


"I'm sorry for deceiving you. I needed to find a way to Alicia's killer and I just knew I would find answers here. I'm sorry you lost your secretary and I hope I haven't caused you too much trouble." Sandra said, sitting in Martin Howards office together with him and Eva Willows.

"You have not." Eva smiled. "Did you actually write the stuff you handed in?"

"I didn't write the things I brought with me the first day, but everything that's been handed in since is written by me. Everything I gave you on the 16th was my stuff."

"We really did enjoy the columns you handed in and with your permission I would love to still publish your work. I understand that you might not want to continue to do this for a daytime job as you already have one but do me a favor and at least consider being our columnist. It's just one column per month. You are allowed to write about whatever you feel like, crime related, wicca related or anything else. You don't have to give me a yes right now, but please consider it. I would appreciate an answer as soon as possible though."

Sandra stood silent, a bit stunned. She had never been much of a writer even though she found it a fun challenge. She had really enjoyed writing the columns that she had handed in and she wouldn't mind writing more of it. But knowing herself and knowing her head she did know better than to just jump onto the train, and she smiled as she held out her hand to Eva.

"I will certainly consider it. You'll have an answer by the end of the week, I promise."

"Thank you. I hope it will be a positive one, and in the meantime, I wish you luck in your search for the bad guys."

Sandra chuckled and offered Eva a wide smile.

"Thanks, I'll do my best." Sandra smiled, turning to Martin Howard. He had been sitting quiet ever since Sandra told him and Eva the whole story. "I'm sorry about Ellen, I am."

"I just can't understand that I didn't see any of it, didn't see it coming. I am just completely surprised." Martin said, shrugging his shoulders.

"She lived a double life, and she was addicted to different kind of drugs. She just dug herself into a hole and couldn't find her way out of it."

Martin nodded, sighing. "I wish I could've helped her. She was a brilliant secretary, sweet girl, hardworking, yet so shy and timid. It's hard to imagine that someone like her could do something like that."

Sandra nodded, looking over to Martin, smiling gently.

"Sometimes it's the most silent people who hide the biggest secrets."


"Tell me if you need a break. Don't overexert yourself, please."

"I'm fine." Kamili wheezed, hands against her back as she stretched carefully.

"How's the back?"

"It barely hurts anymore. Come at me again."

Sandra prepared herself as she once again ran at her friend. Monday was almost over, and Sandra and Madison had returned from the Prospect to have a workout in their new gym. Having been so busy with the case they hadn't really had time to all go there together, challenging each other on the mat.

Kris and Kelly were sitting in the other end of the room, on a bench and leaning against the wall, dressed in their regular clothes, watching the two Angels fight it out, working their bodies in almost poetic movements trying to take the other one down without hurting the person. Kelly and Kris had decided to move aside a bit so they could talk without the others overhearing them and not to disturb the ones working out.

"How is Kam doing?" Kris asked.

"She's out of shape." Kelly said. "I think, at least. She hasn't really had a chance to get back into it, it seems like every time she starts healing something ruins it again. She was fairly good about a month, a month and a half ago, but she seems to have backlashed, having trouble again which worries me a little. You heard her explain it herself after that bomb. I'm just worried she can't take the heat anymore."

Kris could tell that Kelly was thinking about something, her friend seemed lost in thoughts as she watched Kamili once again fall on her butt as Sandra moved aside, a hand wiping the sweat from her neck.

"What are you thinking about?" Kris asked.

"Sandra never used to stand a chance against Kamili. First time the two met Kamili had Sandra on her knees. Sandra has just become such a strong fighter during the last years, while Kamili is slipping. I'm just worried about her, I'm worried that she will get seriously injured if she can't defend herself. I'm scared she's going to end up in a fight and have a cardiac arrest. I don't want to make that phone call to Morgan. And she's a distraction to the others if they have to worry about her all the time, which could potentially be very dangerous if they end up in the wrong situation."

"Are you taking her out of the field?"

"Not yet. She did knock Josie down by herself so it's not like she's helpless, she just needs to get her stamina back. But I am planning to groom her for my role, so she is ready the day she needs to be, and ready to step in the day I need her to. Madison, Sandra and Janet as a trio, with Kamili as their 'Bosley' would be unstoppable." Kelly smiled.

"Are you retiring already?" Kris asked with a surprised look on her face.

"At age 33? No, not really. But Charlie wants out. Not yet, and maybe not for a few years, but he is already grooming me for his job so I can take over when he needs me to step in."

"Woah, Charlie wants out?"

"He's thinking about it at least. You know he's almost 70 years old, Kris."

"Is he really? He looks, and sounds, younger."

"He's 67 this year."

"Jeez. Will you be an invisible boss as well?"

"I don't know. We'll see what happens, hopefully it's many years still. It would be too hectic moving around between all the different agencies, having a phone connection would be the most convenient way of communicating."

"Is this why Charlie made you his 'Chief Bosley' as he once put it?"

"Yes, he made me keep in touch with all the offices – Hawaii, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris and Beijing. Mostly so I know what's happening at all the offices, know all the girls and all the mentors."

"Maybe you should start writing a newsletter. It would be quite interesting to know what all the other Angels are up to."

"That's not a bad idea actually. I'll consider it. I'll have some free time now with Kamili doing my job. I just hope she doesn't have to take over too soon. She's so valuable out on the field, if we can get her back into the amazing shape she was in before that arrow hit, she will once again become unstoppable."

"I hope she can get back too. She's always been amazing to watch when she goes at it. When she first came into the agency, she was so hardcore, solid as a rock, face cut in stone, and took down everything in her path. A beast."

"She was for sure. I am glad she opened up though, that Sandra and Janet managed to tear down that tough exterior a bit and that she learned to trust them. But now we need to focus on making sure she gets back, so I can stay with my feet up on my desk for a few more years."

"You do a lot more than that at the office Kell. You're the glue who holds it all together, none of us would be here if it weren't for you."

"That's not true." Kelly smiled, cheeks turning a bit read. "But thanks kiddo."

"30+, a federal agent, mother of two, and still the kiddo?"

Kelly couldn't help but laugh before she wrapped her arm around Kris, pulling her tight. "You will always be our kiddo."

A crash down on the floor moved their attention back down, where Kamili once again fell hard on her back, and she closed her eyes for a second as she sighed. Sandra loomed over her, reaching down her left hand to once again pull her up. Kamili opened her eyes, grabbed Sandra's hand, and smiled wickedly as she pushed her feet against Sandra's legs while pulling her arm. Sandra, not prepared, landed on the mat next to her, giggling.

"That's just mean Kamili!"

Kamili leaned back again, laughing too. "I'm not Kamili, I am your enemy."

"If you were my enemy, I would've finished you off ages ago."

Kamili laughed, believing it. She took a few deep breaths as Sandra rolled onto her back next to her friend.

"How are you doing Kam?" Sandra asked, quietly, not wanting everyone around to hear them.

"I need us to do this, often. But I do think we are done for today, I'm rather sore around the edges still and the heart is beginning to let me know it's time for a break. But I desperately need to get back into shape."

"I'll help you out as often as you can take a beating."

Kamili laughed between the heavy breaths. "I am certainly getting my ass whopped."

"I of course think it's a nice change." Sandra laughed. "And if you don't want me to hit you every time we work out, there are more ways to exercise you know. We can run, bike, swim, ski-"

"Still not suicidal. But I can swim and run. Maybe bike."

"I thought you were supposed to fight here?"

Sandra and Kamili looked up at Madison who were suddenly looming over them, hands in the pockets of her sweatpants.

"I am defeated." Kamili said with a pout. "But Sandra wants a few more rounds, if you dare."

"If you think she can handle it." Madison grinned. "I don't want the old lady to get hurt."

"Hey, watch it." Sandra laughed, giving herself a second of preparations before jumping to her feet from lying position by just using core and leg muscles, only to show off of course. She stood straight, her hands on her hip, flexing her muscles with a big grin on her face.

"Lesson one..." Sandra said, as Madison leaned forwards, reaching down a hand to Kamili, which she happily accepted, instantly pulling Madison down on the mat just like she had done with Sandra. "Never trust Kamili."

Kamili and Madison laughed as the two of them got up on their feet, Kamili brushing herself off as she moved aside, sitting down as she grabbed a towel to dry some sweat off and popping the top of her water bottle.

"Lesson two..." Sandra said, coming at Madison as she was still getting ready, but she wasn't slow to catch up, blocking the blow Sandra was sending her direction, twisting, sending an elbow towards her fellow Angel which Sandra easily avoided. To Madison's defense, she held her own for quite a while before Sandra suddenly flipped her over onto her back.

"... never trust Sandra." Kamili laughed, happy that it wasn't her on the mat this time.

Back on the bench in the other end of the room, Kelly and Kris were still talking quietly.

"What about Madison?" Kris asked Kelly as the two of them now watched Madison and Sandra on the mat.

"What about her?"

"How is she doing?"

"She's proven herself so far, she's got a really brilliant mind and I'm sure she will be a huge asset to the team. She's such a fast learner. If Kamili and I teach her how to shoot, Sandra and Janet will teach her how to fight... That, along with her head, I think she could go miles."

"You really do like her. What is that about?"

"I don't know. It's almost like maternal feelings, or big sister feelings. It's not a crush or anything, it's… There's something about her that I can't really put my finger on, you know. I feel very protective of her and I think I unconsciously took her under my wing. She feels like a kid-sister." Kelly smiled, looking at Kris. "A little like you, actually. I've always felt protective of you, maybe because you're Jill's kid-sister and she wasn't around that much when you joined us. But Madison is… just slightly different. Both her parents died when she was a young teenager and she was raised by her grandparents, but I think she fared well enough. They live in New York though and she doesn't know anyone in Washington, I think that's also why I feel so protective of her, I don't want her to be lonely. She reminds me a lot of myself. Lost, just looking for that clear path."

"She seems to be doing alright." Kris laughed, pointing as Madison ducked Sandra's incoming tackle, rammed her shoulder into Sandra's lower abdomen, grabbed her right wrist and ankle and flipped her over her head, Sandra landing hard on her back.

"Ouch!"

Madison instantly twirled around to look at the Angel on the floor that was cradling her hand as she sat up.

"I'm sorry!" Madison immediately called out, moving to Sandra's side. Kamili motioned to move over as well but Sandra stopped her with a gesture.

"It's okay, it's okay. You just twisted it in the exact right spot."

"I'm really sorry. I didn't know you had a bad wrist; you hide that well when fighting."

"Injured it a few times too many. It's okay really. That was a nice throw. It's good to find the weakness in your opponent. We all have an Achilles heel, Kamili has her chest and heart, I have this hand and wrist. If I was your enemy, you could use it against me."

"If you were my enemy I would've held on tighter and broken that wrist as I threw you." Madison said, a wicked grin appearing on her face. "But I figured it would've ruined the mood a bit."

Sandra laughed. "I'm very happy to be pretend-fighting with you lot and not actually fighting. We could probably do a lot of harm to each other if we ever tried."

"Let's try to avoid that, Angels are not meant to fight each other. There's enough bad guys out there to go around." Kamili grinned. "You okay to go again?"

Sandra nodded and jumped to her feet, quickly followed by Madison, and the two of them were instantly at each other again, Madison being a bit more careful around Sandra's right arm to not cause unnecessary pain.

They kept it up for another 15 minutes before Sandra pulled Madison to her feet once more, Madison admitting defeat, the two of them walking over to their water bottles and towels.

"You're doing really good Mads." Sandra smiled.

"Thanks." Madison smiled. "I'm way out of my comfort zone here but I'm eager to learn. I'm happy to let you teach me everything you know."

"Don't worry, we'll make sure to practice a lot and often." Kamili smiled. "One day you might even kick Damien's behind."

"Yeah right." Sandra laughed, saluting with her water bottle. "That would be a sight."

"Damien?" Madison asked, wiping her neck with a towel.

"I think it's safe to say he's the best out of us. Janet is a really tough fighter as well and just like Kamili she doesn't fight fair, but Damien's got technique that is hard to beat. Both Damien and Janet have black belts in different martial arts and the two of them together are always an epic battle. If we could combine Damien's technique with Janet's street skills, we got ourselves someone undefeatable." Sandra smiled.

"All of us and the past Angels are good fighters, which you have to be to do the job, but Damien is the only one so far that has taken us all down during practices, even when going two against one."

"Then Damien will be my goal." Madison grinned. "One day I'll take him down."

"Yeah, best of luck with that." Kamili laughed. "I hope we are there to see it."