Transition chaps are boring to read andland take along time to write. :(

Unfortunately they're necessary. Back to mary next chap.

*-a CIA agent? Incredible that Geese Howard would do that… I've been a judge in this district for twenty-eight years, and that man...he's as peaceable as the Gangs get, after he took power of course. Nothing compared to the bullshit the Yakuza are up to these days… did you hear what they did in Shanghai? Ridiculous. Imagine a foreign power's criminal organization invading your country to burn down buildings in your prized financial centre… Such violence in the streets… A mark of shame on China's justice system to be sure.*

Five days to bring down Geese Howard, and this judge was eating up his precious minutes over the phone. Blackwell had asked Mary to do some research for him, and found that this particular member of the justice panel was a bit flaky and didn't follow the news. He probably wouldn't have gotten news of Blackwell's dismissal yet, so the Sheriff had targeted him to sign their less-than-by-the-book search warrant. It wasn't going well.

*Of course, not to say SouthTown PD doesn't have it's blunders. The craziness three years ago was quite the battle… but anyone who knows anything realizes - that fiasco - was spearheaded by Geese Howard's nutcase brother-in-law. He even testified against him and sent that psychopath to some prison offshore. Hard to imagine he'd shoot himself in the foot after all that posturing. Geese hasn't wanted war… and neither do we...*

Sheriff Blackwell twirled his penknife about his fingers, listening carefully to what the Judge had to say - if only to find something to convince the judge to sign the damn form. Five days to bring down America's biggest Crime Organization. Blackwell knew he was good at his job… but now that he was in the midst of it, he was beginning to doubt he'd be able to pull this off.

"Yer Honor, I unda'stand... But the situation's changed. Geese Howard 'as gone and murdah'd a CIA agent. We've done through investigation'. Kain Heinlein's been seen back in town. Something big is comin' and SouthTown PD needs the 'bility tah move against 'em."

*Sheriff... You know storming Geese' Castle isn't something we should take lightly. If we're accusing him of doing something he didn't… well… the concequences would be dire, you understand?*

It was a hard sell. The Old Judge wasn't eager to let the brand new police sheriff raid Geese Tower and plunge SouthTown into a bloody war. Even where bribes weren't paid, it was clear that Geese Howard's grip over this city had filtered into the hearts and minds of the people. This city was eager to make peace with a criminal… which, for all intents and purposes, was surrender in itself. Blackwell sighed and shook his head. He knew that was corruption in this government, he just didn't expect it to be this bad. He made his sentiment known.

"Yer Honor… in all my years, I've ne'er heard a judge talk 'bout a criminal this way. Mah Officer, Mary Ryan, told me you were a straight shoota, an couldn't be bought… was she wrong?"

*... Blue Mary said that? Well… I'm flattered… and a bit surprised… but...*

Blackwell narrowed his eyes and twirled his moustache. He was sitting in his dusty western office with his boots propped up against his desk. On his tabletop sat the case for CIA agent Kevin Rian's murder. of course, black will had no idea if he'd been murdered or not… but it was convenient to pin the crime on Geese for the purpose of this search warrant - which would hopefully uncover some actual incriminting evidence. This operation was entirely illegal, but it was Blackwell's only play, and he was going to put his heart into it.

The old judge sighed.

*Sheriff… look. if Kain really is back, and he really is here to cause trouble under Howard's command, there'll be something flashy soon. But to show my integrity, I'm going to sign it first… but I won't sent it to you until then. How's that.*

Blackwell grimaced. From the judge's tone, this was the best he was going to get out of the old man. They were too many things at stake at the moment. What if Kain didn't pull anything? What if the judge heard through the grapevine that the sheriff had been dismissed? Blackwell was sitting at almost every disadvantage imaginable… but if these were the odds, he could do nothing but work with them.

"Well yer honor… in that case, keep yer eyes peeled. Ah expect tah get mail from ya soon"

*Very good Sheriff*

Kain gon come in clutch