JD paused outside the door to the DA's office and took a deep breath. Reaching into his pocket, he removed several small tools. His time in the joint had not been without some side benefits, he thought to himself mirthlessly. Swiftly he picked the lock and walked in through the door, hesitating in the darkness. Switching on his flashlight he rapidly scanned the interior, searching.
Yes, he had found it. Skulking under the desk was the handkerchief he had leant her the prior day. Monogrammed "JDB". With a sigh, he switched off the flashlight and allowed the gloom to envelope him. The large leather chair behind the desk groaned softly as he sat down and leant backwards, pondering. How, he wondered, was she going to pull this off?
Several minutes later, he had his answer. "Are you in there, sweetheart?" came Charlie's voice through the door as he fumbled with the keys. As JD watched, the door swung open and Charlie stepped in, switching on the light. The overhead fluorescent fixture crackled in hesitation, then bathed the room in a harsh, unnatural glow.
"Jack?" Charlie asked in confusion, his eyes drawn to the man in the chair. JD watched as comprehension dawned and Charlie swiftly drew his revolver. "Where the hell's my wife, Bristow?" he spat in fury.
"Hello, Charlie," replied JD blandly. He eyed the revolver in Charlie's hand. "Might as well put that thing down."
"Like hell. I said, where's. my. wife?"
"She sent me with a message. She's tired of you, and wants out," said JD matter-of-factly.
Charlie's face reddened. "What did you say?" His hand squeezed tighter on the revolver.
"She sent me here to murder you."
"She told you to murder me?" Charlie asked, shaken.
"Not exactly. But that would have been the end result." JD looked at Charlie with a hint of compassion in his eyes. "Put that damned thing down, Charlie."
"No!" Charlie said through gritted teeth, trying to maintain control.
"Charlie," said JD pityingly. "She's probably filled it with blanks, just to make sure."
Charlie stared at him in disbelief.
JD opened his arms wide, presenting a clean target. "Go ahead, try to shoot me. If I'm wrong you can claim it was self-defense." JD opened his jacket so that Charlie could see his holstered gun. "And mine's loaded."
Charlie slowly raised the gun, aiming at JD's chest with trembling hands. He locked gazes with JD for a long moment, then dropped the gun with a shudder. "I can't, Jack. Not you," he said, not meeting JD's eyes. With an abrupt motion he raised the gun toward the ceiling and pulled the trigger. A roar echoed through the room. Both men looked up. The ceiling was unmarked.
JD watched Charlie stagger backwards into a chair and put his head into his hands. "Join the club," said JD cynically.
**
She waited in the silent shadows of the alley. The rain had stopped, and mist was slowly rising from the street, lying like a blanket over the sleeping city. Suddenly the quiet was shattered by the roar of a gunshot, its noise reverberating between the walls of the buildings. She watched with satisfaction as a foot patrol rounded the corner on the run and sprinted into the building's entrance, and sirens filled the air.