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Chapter 4.

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'One less'

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Five days later, Chapel

It was late evening. In the Chapel there was almost no a living soul. Doug and Ioki were sitting together on the only empty and tidy desktop in whole Chapel, which belonged to Hanson. They were watching with anxiety and intention as Fuller and Judy were talking in the office.

"Do you think she will quit the case, Ioki?"

"No idea. Frankly I won't be surprised if she does. The case was too hard for her, really. And after that… I only wonder what Fuller will say at that. He got weird about it. I think federals are pressing him."

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"I am so sorry Captain" Judy said quietly and lowered her eyes. "But I can't stand it any more. Those people are not normal… ill… They enjoy talking about hurting people! They torn skin from a cat! And after what happened this evening…"

She thought back about the situation she was talking about. She remembered clearly as she was pressing her back to the wall at rears of the school gym trying desperately to get as far as possible away from them. Three pitiful members of the Sect surrounded her intending, as they said to prove themselves how good and devoted Satanists they were. In fact they meant rape. Although they were drunk and high on drugs they could manage to do this. Luckily Doug and Ioki were looking for their missing partner around the University complex, so it didn't take them much time to hear Judy's shouts. They found her flourishing her heavy schoolbag around struggling desperately to keep the attackers away from her. Luckily they couldn't manage to touch her yet, but the very thought what could happen made her back thrill. She didn't want to be raped again.

"I understand why you want to quit, and really I don't mind. I am just glad that nothing happened to you."

"Thanks Coach, but I can see I made you problem with my decision. If you really need me… erm… maybe I could… somehow…"

"No Judy, you've got enough. And yes, I am not happy at all. But how could I be when one of my officers by a hairbreadth missed a rape? Not to mention the case is not moving forward and federals are still complaining there is no progress?" Fuller said that at once, with increasing anger, and then he calmed down and said with a weak smile "Sorry, I think I need some rest, I guess."

"No doubt, all of us I'd say" said Judy with smile, then she got serious and a bit angry "How they can complain anyway, federals didn't do anything for half a year! How nice of them to blame us for their faults!"

"Easy Judy" soothed Fuller. "You don't worry about this, it is my concern." He stood up, went to the door and shouted "Doug, Ioki, to the office, please!"

The two named officers were watching the speech between Fuller and Judy very intently, they were really worried and curious what was said there. That was why they stood up immediately as the door was opened and headed towards the office whilst Fuller was still calling their names.

"Ioki, I want you to take care of Judy. Can she spend this night in your flat?"

"No Coach, I am ok," Judy immediately objected with confidence she didn't feel. Somehow the idea of being alone for the shortest period was terrifying her. But she planned to go to Tom, and didn't want anybody to know about that. She needed to talk with him about what had happened, to share her again woken fears and memories. Tom was the only person she knew who was the closest to understand her or at least listen to her. She trusted him as nobody else.

"Of course she can." Ioki answered looking directly at Judy a bit worried with her absent gaze directed somewhere between Doug and Fuller. He could see how nervous and upset she was. Today incident had to really shatter her.

"I don't think it will be safe for you to be alone," Captain explained "at least this night."

"But Coach…"

"That's an order! And I expect the three of you at work tomorrow morning. As I remember you Doug and Ioki have day off in school" and then with malicious smile "you can catch up your paperwork."

"You are a monster Captain," Doug groaned.

"No Doug, I am the boss. Now, go home and have some rest."

"Let's go Judy" Ioki said reaching for her arm "we have a conversation to close."

She looked at him with puzzlement.

"Oh, you know, which monastery should my parents choose for me to prove your reasons" he said with lopsided smile.

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