As always, the characters here are the creation of their respective rights holders and the wonderful actors and actresses who bring them to life for us. Thanks for letting us play with them, if only for a little while.

A/N And with this chapter we bring the curtain down on this sidebar story, at 18 chapters and over 120,000 words you can see why this needed its own story to have the room to be properly told.

I hope you've enjoyed reading it, given it's been a very different story than my usual, with the battles fought with words, not weapons and a lot more 'dense' and wordy per chapter than I normally work with.

Now it's back to intersecting Lines Book 3, with a couple of digressions, given a few other, much smaller, sidebar stories will need to be told as we move through Book 3 and Book 4 before I can put this tale to bed.

There's probably at least one Castle story featuring Kate Beckett, another story with Mazikeen and Chloe Decker from Lucifer, maybe a short JAG/NCIS story featuring Sarah Mackenzie and Leroy Gibbs to come, on top of the usual Intersecting Lines: Possession and Passion and Intersecting Lines: Drabbles stories.

There's still a lot to come, I hope you will be joining me as I return to Intersecting Lines Book 3 and move on there.

Thanks for your time and the positive support and reviews

Intersecting Lines – The Trial

Part 18 End Games

In Court

Anastasia's viewpoint

It was the final day's summation and we were all here; Brenda and Sharon, Maura and Jane and Natalie and I were sitting together in the front row of the gallery, while Liv and Mikki were standing in their usual places at each end of the front row watching over everyone as Andrea hammered home everything that happened, how many were dead and that six people sitting in the public gallery today would be dead too if the actions of the defendants had succeeded. I was aware of Natalie's hand gripping mine tightly and glancing down the row I saw all the other couples were the same, we'd all gone through the mill on the stand, having to relive the attempts on our lives had been hard, the vicious character smears even worse but to finally have the chance for closure was too important to miss. I noticed the television camera's occasionally swinging round to take us in, no doubt looking for our reactions. Finally, after some 30 minutes of summary Andrea closed with a call for a guilty verdict on all counts then turned and waited as Alex stood and made her way over.

I'd noticed when they arrived in court this morning that both of them were wearing well-tailored pants suits, something that was a deliberate choice apparently, a metaphorical middle finger to that old fossil on the bench on the last day of the trial. Nat had conveyed Craven's dark-ages mentality about women's appearances and clothing and it was apparent in light of that info that both blondes had decided to go out with a bang. I hadn't missed Craven's dark scowl when he'd taken in what they were wearing, but frankly I didn't care, especially given both looked fabulous.

Andrea was wearing a tailored grey crimson-pinstripe jacket and pants combined with burgundy pumps and a matching blouse and wearing a gold chain and drop earrings, her colour's easily drawing the eye as she prowled the centre of the court during her summation.

Alex had gone for a tightly-tailored jet black pants and jacket combo, matched with a set of glossy black patent leather platform stiletto's that added at least five inches to her height, the effect was to make her legs seem endless and to make her look both slimmer and taller. She was wearing what to me looked like the same blouse she'd worn on the first day of the trial, all up she looked like a combination of extremely professional and extremely hot, all in one go, something that her choice of a high ponytail, diamond stud earrings and black-rimmed spectacles only reinforced.

When Alex made her way over and took her place by Andrea's side the other blonde smiled and nodded once then turned back to face the jury.

"I would like to thank the members of the jury for your time and your attention. Both Deputy District Attorney Cabot and I appreciate that this trial has been long and difficult, involving at times quite horrible evidence and testimony" She glanced at Alex then continued. "The City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office appreciate the time you have given to this trial" Alex nodded then spoke.

"On a more personal note both Andrea and I would like to thank you for your attention, your patience and your time during what has been at times, a very difficult and quite personal trial for our friends and ourselves…" I saw a number of the jury looking our way. "So from us both, and all of our friends, thank you" With that they both nodded and made their way back to their table where they exchanged their little fist-bump and a smile before they sat and turned to watch the Defence try the impossible, to convince the jury that their clients were innocent.

New York 1PP

Casey Novak smiled as she nodded slowly. Alex and Andrea had done everything humanly possible to ensure that the defendant's went to jail, to death row, permanently, it was nothing less than they all deserved. If she was being honest with herself, she doubted she could have done any better, and given the brutally personal slurs made by Peterson and the others against Alex and her friends, she admired both blondes for their cool and tenacity. Not to mention their style, both women had looked stylishly gorgeous right throughout the trial, unlike Humphries, who had looked, in her admittedly biased opinion, at times downright trashy.

She smiled to herself at that comparison and made a mental note to schedule a visit out to LA soon, she'd not been out there in more than a decade and this was a really good reason, after everything that had happened recently, plus this obviously gruelling trial, she wanted to catch up with Alex and Liv in person, to make sure they were both okay.

In Court

With the People's summation done everyone's attention turned to Peterson as he stood, he might be a slimy low life piece of pond scum that I wouldn't spit on if he was on fire but I had to give it to him, he gave it his best shot, the evidence against his clients was well-nigh overwhelming though and he knew it, as did everyone else. Osmond's testimony had been bad, Hernandez's damning beyond measure, but Humphries' dramatic melt down had been the final nails in the coffin, they were going to jail for life, the evidence was incontrovertible. He spoke for almost 35 minutes, doing everything he could to call into question the evidence, the testimony and the witnesses, to the point I saw Craven start to frown at what he was insinuating, before finally wrapping up and making his way back to his seat. Taking in the faces of the jury as an indication, he might as well have saved his breath, as Nat leaned in close and said as much, making me smile.

Craven then ran through the usual summing up of the case and reiterated the jury's responsibilities then sent them out to take as much time as required to deliberate on the evidence and come to their verdict, though I didn't expect there'd be too much time needed, before he stood and left the court as we all rose. We walked to the back of the public area and waited on Alex and Andrea who passed through the gate separating the court proper from the public area where they were met by Mikki and Liv. A number of people stopped them to ask for their autograph or a picture with them, even as I saw Ling and Cox scowling as they made their past towards us. I looked Ling straight in the eyes as she walked towards me, she stared back at me as I smiled coldly, gripping Nat's hand a little tighter as she went to say something. I caught her eye and shook my head gently; we didn't need to say anything, we'd won. Instead I turned back and gave Ling a shit-eating grin, a condescending one from the winners to the losers as she looked away and kept walking.

Andrea and Alex, having wrapped up signing autographs and posing for selfies, joined us and we turned and walked outside, heading out for lunch at a café in a building across the forecourt but still within the court complex. It was only just after 11, a little early for lunch but we had to kill some time somehow and none of us were going anywhere until the verdict was read out.

Unfortunately we'd messed up as the media outside wasn't in their usual position at the outer edge of the court complex, instead they'd moved onto the forecourt of the court building itself for what they'd obviously assumed was the last day of the trial and judging by their mood, they were in a feeding frenzy; there was a huge crowd of them there and before we could backtrack one of them saw us, his team starting moving our way with the reporter already yelling out for us to stop, setting off the rest who turned, spotted us and headed our way, looking for all the world like a pack of baying wolves. I realised we couldn't turn and run, it'd look terrible for the cameras; Nat had taught me that much, speaking of whom she turned to us as the pack approached and spoke quickly.

"Once I distract them, get everyone else the hell out of here" She turned and walked forward slowly, holding up her hand and demanding the media's attention in a loud voice. "I have a statement to deliver, if you will gather round"

For a moment I paused, seeing Nat in her element and on top of her game, her voice loud and clear above the baying chorus of questions as the pack bunched up in front of her, unblinking camera lenses staring at her as arms brandishing microphones with brightly coloured logos were thrust her way. She set herself, hands folded low in front of her, shoulders back and head held high before speaking up, her voice clear.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I will be making a single statement; as the trial has not yet concluded there will be neither further statements nor interview opportunities at this time. I will say this once and once only, so please remember to turn your cameras and recording devices on" She paused for a moment as the media focused in on her and the questions and shouts died down as she stood there confidently, taking them in and nodding then began.

New York NYPD Central Crime Lab

Mack Taylor looked up as the network cut across its usual programming with a 'Breaking Alert" banner, then cut to what was apparently Los Angeles, he recognised the woman there as one of the witnesses in the court case, the blonde who was the LAPD media person.

The ticker across the bottom of the page read "Witsec Trial Statement" as he settled back to watch.

Outside Court

"As you are all aware the jury is considering their verdict as we speak"

The rest of us could see the entire assembled press pack hanging on her words, Nat was cool, collected and obviously in charge, even as we started slowly backing away, disentangling ourselves out of the crowding media throng, taking advantage of Nat's distraction, her calm voice was clearly heard over the sudden quiet.

"The evidence has been presented to the jury who are now deliberating. It is expected that given the overwhelming evidence and the efforts of the prosecution, that a guilty verdict is almost a foregone conclusion and simply a matter of time. The Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are extremely grateful for the efforts of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office in prosecuting this case. Officers of the LAPD and the FBI worked closely together to gather the evidence required to bring this case to court, Deputy District Attorney's Hobbs and Cabot have then taken that compelling evidence and made it as clear as humanly possible to the jury that the accused are guilty on all charges" Natalie looked around at the staring camera lenses as we stopped, a little apart from the crowd but close enough that her voice easily carried to us.

New York Daily Mirror

In the busy Mirror newsroom Andrea Sachs nodded gently at the coverage from Los Angeles, one professional admiring the work of another.

The networks across the country had pretty uniformly cut into their programming for the live cross as Natalie caught and held the media's attention, looking across the bank of televisions tuned to different networks set up across one wall Andrea could see Fox, CNN, MSNBC and the various other networks were all running the same thing from slightly different camera angles.

Andrea had attended innumerable media events and obviously Natalie was a pro at this, her voice clear and easily heard, looking calm, professional and gorgeous in a sky blue jacket and white button down blouse with her hair spilling across her shoulders. Andrea couldn't help but smile a little at her friend even as she started taking notes to update the 'breaking news' section of the Mirror's website.

Outside Court

"A combined effort by these three agencies will see the accused found guilty and sentenced by the justice system appropriately. Their final sentence will be determined by the courts but as you are aware, the prosecution has requested the death penalty" There was a sudden clamor of questions but she patiently waited for it to die down as we watched, ignoring the shouted questions until they stopped before continuing. "While there have been some protests from certain sections of the community regarding that potential sentence, it is the view of the LAPD, the FBI and the District Attorney's Office that seeking this sentence is justified, as is laid out in the California Penal Code under the Special Circumstances provisions of that code, given the nature of the crimes committed or planned by the accused. In particular the number of victims of these rogue officers, not to mention their conspiracy to murder six LAPD and FBI members"

Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office

Kate Murphy had been working back on budget paperwork but sat back and watched as the blonde woman spoke, summing up what most people watching the trial knew, the suspects were guilty as sin and would spend the rest of their lives on death row, waiting to die one way or the other.

As she watched Kate slowly shook her head, to consider police officers doing such a thing…no, they could all, as that prosecutor Cabot had so brutally put it, burn in hell, the sooner the better.

Outside Court

Natalie looked around the huge throng of journalists and cameras then continued.

"Obviously California no longer carries out the death penalty, so if found guilty the accused will, instead of receiving a lethal injection, instead spend the rest of their natural lives behind bars with no likelihood of release of parole" She took a breath then continued. "While not the result envisioned by the framers of the Special Circumstances provisions of the Criminal code, it is the will of the people, the Government and the courts that capital punishment is no longer carried out in California and our law enforcement agencies are as always, servants of the people, their elected representatives and the judiciary" There were a few shouted questions but she ignored them as she waited for the crowd to calm again.

"Evidence has been tendered that suggests the Sinaloa Cartel planned to have the defendants uncover the identities of the entire LAPD Drug Squad, setting them up to be murdered by Sinaloa, as part of a plan to destroy the LAPD's ability to interfere with the Cartel's aim to flood the Los Angeles market with cocaine. A plan that would have seen the defendants also being tasked to kill police officers at Sinaloa's direction" Natalie paused. "This brings home the danger that the Sinaloa Cartel and others like it represents to our way of life here in America. Combine that threat with the actions of these corrupt and murderous individuals on trial and you can see why the Prosecution has asked for the maximum possible penalty to be imposed"

I could see her shoulders rise as she took a deep breath and looked straight forward at the largest knot of cameras, then spoke, her voice carrying to us over the sudden quiet, calm and clear and certain.

"The accused swore an oath to uphold the law and, in the words of the LAPD creed, to protect and to serve. Instead they turned their back on their oath and that creed, committing the premeditated murder of, in total amongst all the defendants, some 50 members of the public that we are conclusively aware of, and many more besides, as well as attempting the murder of their fellow officers and civilians. That breach of the public's trust, which they, and we, receive as members of the LAPD, plus the betrayal of their fellow officers, cannot and will not go unpunished"

She paused but the media was quiet, sensing she wasn't finished as I saw her there, outlined in a halo of light from the television cameras even as camera flashes flickered incessantly like heat lightning on a hot summer night in the tropics. To her credit Nat wasn't fazed at all, staying calm and composed when I would have been petrified in her place.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Brenda waving a group of uniformed officers this way as Nat started again.

New York The offices of Runway Magazine

Miranda Priestly sat back and watched Natalie as she spoke, her eyes narrowed as she took in the woman's poise and gravitas, then came to a decision. There would be another 'Women of Law Enforcement' article next year, given how well the last issue had sold that was without doubt, something that Andrea had teasingly taken credit for several times since, not that Miranda minded, a happily playful Andrea was a truly wonderful Andrea, in her admittedly biased opinion, and she had been very grateful to Miranda in turn, making that obvious repeatedly since...

Given the success of the article and the favourable media and social media coverage it had generated, Miranda had determined that Alex and the other women, their friends, who had eluded her grasp this time; Anastasia, Jane, Kate, Olivia and of course Natalie here, would not do so next time. No, all of them would make suitably photogenic subjects, and they would not escape her again.

Los Angeles

"Their actions bring into disrepute the professionalism, hard work, dedication and sacrifice of the more than 10,000 men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department and by association, every other law enforcement agency in the country. The trust the public bestows upon us is precious, hard-earned and fragile; the actions of the defendants are a stain on all our reputations, one that must be cleansed if the public is to continue to honour us with their trust"

Natalie looked around the camera's, undeterred by the continuous flash of the cameras, the click of shutters and the unblinking stare of the news cameras, beaming her words out live across the nation and around the world.

Washington DC Navy Yard

Standing with a coffee in his hand Leroy Gibbs nodded to himself. He'd wondered exactly what someone like Romanov had seen in her partner, besides the obvious good looks. He knew Romanov, given her own looks, could have had almost anyone, so there had to be something more besides the blonde's beauty at play here.

He was seeing it now, this woman, Dearing, had a fire and a presence he could feel even from the far side of the country, she was passionate about what she was saying and that passion made its way through the screen undiminished. He nodded to himself, already scheduling his work trip out to California and planning to take advantage of Romanov's invitation to visit.

He raised his cup in silent salute to them both and smiled, just for a second, that Romanov had found someone worthy of her.

Outside Court

"Every day countless brave men and women across this country don the uniform of their police force, sheriff's department or federal agency such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They willingly place themselves on the front line and in danger to protect us all" Natalie looked around the cameras once more, her expression as serious as I'd ever seen then returned to facing the largest grouping in front of her.

"They do so because they have sworn an oath to serve and protect their community, an obligation that is a grave burden, a shockingly heavy one that claims the lives of far too many officers every year".

Los Angeles LAPD Hollywood Division

"She speaks very well detective" Chloe Decker turned from the television set up in the squad room to take in her civilian consultant Lucifer Morningstar then responded succinctly, her voice harsh.

"She's speaking the truth" Seeing the fierceness in his partner's eyes, and remembering she had lost her father, a police officer himself, on the job, he just nodded, uncharacteristically silent.

Outside Court

I felt a little shiver at her words, so calmly delivered and all the more potent because of it as Nat took a breath then pressed on.

"In return these officers receive the trust and admiration of their community, given because it has been well and truly earned. When we are in trouble, what do we do? Instinctively we know to call 911, knowing that help will be soon at hand, no matter what the danger the police will come, because we need them to and they have sworn an oath to protect and to serve all of us, wherever we may be and whatever the danger"

New York NYPD 16th Precinct

The 16th SVU was silent as they watched the blonde woman on the screen speaking. Over her shoulder they could see both Liv and Alex standing in a knot of their friends as the woman laid out the case for sending those crooked cops to death row.

"Damn straight" Fin muttered at her comment about turning to cops for help, as others in the room nodded. Munch looked a little pensive before speaking.

"Listen to her kids, that one gets us, I mean really gets us" There were more nods as everyone's attention remained on the screen.

Outside Court

Nat carefully looked around the media once again then continued.

"What do we tell our children if they get lost or get into trouble? We tell them to seek out a police officer, trusting to those uniformed men and women to protect us and our families, even though it places their own lives at peril. That trust was earned…hard earned…with the blood and sacrifice of far too many policemen and women's lives across this nation"

Nat shook her head once, slowly, ignoring a few shouted questions before speaking again as the media quieted down.

New York NYPD 12th Precinct

They were getting ready to wrap up for the day when the cable news had crossed live to Natalie's speech, now everyone in the 12th's bullpen from Captain Gates on down was watching quietly.

"Natalie sure has a way with words" At Castle's comment Kate nodded and smiled

"It's her job and she's damned good at it" Ann Hastings turned and shushed them as Nat started speaking again, drawing a smile from them both.

Outside Court

"The six accused in this case not only abused that trust, they have stained the sterling reputations of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who proudly wear the badge of our law enforcement organisation's, right across the length and breadth of this country. They are the heroes who protect us from unspeakable evil and unexpected danger, something they do willingly and we as a society are immeasurably richer for their commitment and honour" Nat shook her head slowly then continued.

"These disgraced former officers have betrayed the public's trust and undermined the community's support for their local police officers, those men and women who place their lives on the line day in and day out, so that we may go about our lives safely" Her jaw firmed as her voice hardened. "The accused should be found guilty, convicted and sentenced soon, a small step on the path to undo the damage these soon-to-be-convicted criminals have done to the sterling reputation of law enforcement organisation's and officers across this country"

Miami MDPD Crime Lab

"Damn straight" At Cain's words Calleigh Duquesne turned to see her boss standing in the doorway, looking to the screen in the corner of the room. Raising an eyebrow she took in his intense stare at the screen and nodded. Horatio hated bent cops and those weren't just bent, they were irrevocably broken.

"They're going away forever Horatio" she said quietly, drawing a softer glance and a small nod as he replied.

"So they damn well should"

Outside Court

Nat shrugged slightly then spoke again, her voice slightly reflective.

"Speaking personally as one of their potential victims, I look forward to a verdict of guilty on every single charge, followed by the maximum sentence possible. Only in this way will justice be served and a small step be taken in regaining the public trust in law enforcement that these six have so callously and criminally endangered"

Las Vegas LVPD Central Crime Lab

Catherine Willows and Ray Langstrom exchanged a glance as they watched the breaking news segment on television, seeing the title underneath 'Verdict Imminent".

"Can't say I disagree" At Catherine's pithy summation Ray nodded as he replied.

"Anything other than a guilty on all counts verdict would be a travesty, something I can't see happening here" Catherine nodded once.

"Good"

Outside Court

She stopped and there was silence for a few seconds before the pack started baying questions, shouting over each other to be heard as Nat ignored them, finally holding up her hand, ignoring the questions and waiting until there was quiet before speaking again.

"A verdict from the jury is expected later this afternoon or, less likely, given the overwhelming evidence presented to the jury, early tomorrow morning, at which time there will be a further statement. Thank you for your time and good day" Ignoring their questions she turned to where I was waiting with a half dozen uniformed LAPD and court officers standing with me, behind the uniformed line the others were waiting for us.

As she walked towards me two of the cops standing there nodded in acknowledgement and quite possibly respect as she passed through them, getting a nod and a lovely smile in return even as the media started after her, before the officers stopped them. I reached out and linked my hand with Nat's.

"Wow" I said, trying to keep the wonder and admiration in my voice under control. "That speech…" She smiled a little shyly as we turned and headed towards the others.

"That was kind of everything you, Jane and Liv have ever told me about why you do what you do and what it means" I smiled and nodded, proud as hell of her all over again.

"You did good Blondie" The smile I got lit up my day, drawing smiles from the others as we joined them before Jane glanced at the media behind the police line and grimaced.

"Let's get the hell away from here"

Boston BPD Division 1 Homicide

"Damn" Frost looked around the quiet BRIC. "Kinda sums it all up really" Riley Cooper nodded once.

"That woman knows how to deliver a message" She glanced at Frost. "Wish we had her here" They exchanged a resigned look; the head of the Boston PD's media unit was there because he was skilled at saying no comment a dozen times without using the same words twice, but inspiring he wasn't.

"I'll bet that's not the only thing she's good at" They both rolled their eyes at the all-too-familiar voice of Detective Darren Crowe before Riley turned.

"Is there literally nothing else you think of Crowe?" she asked, getting a shrug in return.

"She's a shit hot piece of ass, what's not to like?" Riley shook her head.

"She's a fellow law enforcement professional, one whose job put her in the firing line, apparently engaged to a Bureau agent, she just delivered a hell of a speech about who we are, what we do and why it's important and all you can think of is your dick?" Cooper looked disgusted. "You're pathetic Crowe" The bald detective grinned at her, unrepentant.

"I calls em as I sees em Cooper" Frost stepped in.

"You're gonna have to excuse Crowe, it's been so long since he got any he didn't have to pay for that the sight of a pretty woman gets him overly excited" He threw Crowe a shit eating grin. "He probably needs to go take care of that problem" he turned his head and threw Riley a surreptitious wink before continuing. "Y'know, he just needs some…me…time"

"Fuck you Frost" Barry smiled a little wider, Crowe was just so predictable.

"Thanks for the offer Crowe, but I stick to humans, besides, I wouldn't want to come between you and your first love" At Crowe's confused look Frost and Cooper both held up a hand and curled their fingers and thumb over into a tube, bursting into laughter as Crowe's face reddened.

In Court

Olivia's viewpoint

"All Rise" At the call everyone stood as Craven entered before being told to resume their seats as we waited, though as far as I was concerned there wasn't a way in hell the jury wouldn't convict, the evidence was irrefutable. Besides, they'd deliberated for less than two hours, a pretty sure sign of a jury with its mind already made up. As stood there I saw Natalie's hand reaching for Ana's, as she took it I saw Nat was also holding Maura's hand who in turn was holding Jane's hand, they, we, were all just a little nervous. Their guilt should be irrefutable but even so…

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?" Craven asked. The middle-aged Asian forewoman of the jury rose and nodded gravely, obviously feeling the importance of her words as every eye, living and electronic, fell on her.

"We have Your Honour" She stood a little taller, maybe all of five foot two in her heels as I smiled to myself, all eyes in the court and, through the cameras, millions across the country and beyond waited, hanging off her words as Craven formally asked the question.

"Madame Forewoman, what is your verdict?" She fiddled with the papers in her hand and the glasses she was wearing before looking up and speaking in a clear voice.

"We find the defendant Gerry Kennedy guilty on each and all of the charges" Kennedy took a deep breath but otherwise appeared unmoved as the forewoman looked up and around then back to her list.

"We find the defendant Aiden Powell guilty on each and all of the charges" Powell closed his eyes, holding himself very still.

"We find the defendant Joan Hammond guilty on each and all of the charges" At the verdict Hammond's face crumpled as she started to cry quietly.

"We find the defendant Anthony Di Marco guilty on each and all of the charges" Di Marco's fists clenched but he didn't let himself react beyond that as she continued.

"We find the defendant Tony Osmond guilty on each and all of the charges" I saw Osmond's head drop and he mumbled something, a prayer maybe.

"We find the defendant Lucas Farrar guilty on each and all of the charges" Farrar just shook his head slowly as we waited.

I wasn't the only one to notice she'd left Humphries to the last, as the whispering started through the audience, surely they couldn't…they couldn't possibly…

"Finally, and after due deliberation, we find the defendant Julia Humphries…" The forewoman looked up and around the court; milking the attention and making us wait that little bit longer before looking down and continuing. "…guilty on each and all of the charges" I saw Humphries silently snarl at that, but the three court officers standing close, plus Mikki and I watching her closely kept her calm as the woman finished. "In summary we find all seven of the accused guilty on each and all of the charges"

The courtroom didn't start cheering, it was more like a sigh and a slight deflation as it relaxed, as if the verdict was an anti-climax, though honestly given the evidence I would have been stunned if they had been found anything other than guilty. Maybe some of the gallery were sad the show was over.

I saw Alex and Andrea shake hands before falling into a restrained hug even as I looked round the room, seeing our friends, Maura and Brenda, Ana and Sharon and Nat and Jane celebrating in a particularly restrained manner, painfully aware of the cameras on them waiting to see any sign of gloating. The no-longer accused, now the convicted, sat there deflated, they must have known the trial was only delaying the inevitable. Joan Hammond was still crying quietly, Osmond had his head down, praying, the others just sat there, though Humphries was now staring at Alex and Andrea with hatred in her eyes, enough so to make me a little alert but she was no risk, not now. The Defence team were silent and grim, though they must have expected the verdict as much as we had. Craven rapped his gavel and called us to order as he spoke.

"Thank you ladies and gentlemen of the jury for discharging your duties in accordance with the law and your conscience, the State of California and the City of Los Angeles thanks you for your time, your patience and your wisdom. You are released from your duty to this court" He rapped his gavel again and looked to the Defence tables.

"The accused, having been found guilty of a number of charges carrying mandatory sentencing under the Special Circumstances sections of the California Penal Code, are hereby sentenced to execution by lethal injection" There was a rising buzz in the court which he stopped with another rap of his gavel. "As the State of California has declared a moratorium on capital punishment at this time, you are hereby remanded into the custody of the California Department of Corrections to be held with no hope of parole until such time as the capital punishment moratorium is lifted or you die of natural causes in custody" He wrapped the gavel again as a number of the County Sheriff's Deputy's arrived in the court through a side door and stood waiting.

"This court is now closed"

"All rise!" It was the court officer; the court as one rose to its feet as Craven stood and turned, walking out of the court, though the defendants, no the convicted criminals now, didn't stand, maybe the result was finally hitting them. I saw the Deputy's walking over to take Kennedy and the others out of the court for the final time.

Looking up I locked eyes with Mikki and we exchanged a silent conversation that said it all; 'it's over'.

I saw Alex standing there and we exchanged a long look that conveyed the same message.

'It's finally over'.