Disclaimer: Mary and Marshall belong to David Maples. If they hadn't been misused by others I wouldn't be writing this.

Provoked Too– Chapter 13 – Marshall v. Abigail

"Marshall?" Abigail's voice carries from the living room. She's curled up on the recliner with a book she's pretending to read. "I thought you said you'd be home early. Are you hungry Sugarbear? I made a plate for you."

Is she actually going to pretend that nothing happened today? He hangs up his jacket and puts his gun in the safe. After what he learned from the police chief he might shoot her.

"How was your day?" he asks innocently, looking down on her, glaring. "Besides getting reamed out by the Chief of Police?"

Abigail slaps the book closed and glares at him. "Of course you'd hear about that."

"Of course I would." She expected him, to shout, instead his tone is flat. "You arrested one of my Inspectors risking her life and the lives of others." He raises his voice, "What in the hell were you thinking?"

Abigail jumps up, hands on hips. "I was thinking Mary was working with a terrorist to bring guns into Albuquerque!"

"And where in the hell did you get that idea?" Even after reading ABQPD's after action report and talking to the police chief he couldn't figure out how Abigail had reached that conclusion.

"An informant brought me proof. It's one of your own Inspectors." Arms crossed she raises her chin defiantly. "He showed me evidence that Mary was working with members of the Boss's gang," she spat at him.

"Caldwell?" He raises his voice. After talking to the Police Chief, Marshall knows it's him but he wants to hear it from her. "Did you check out that douchebag? Did you even think to talk to another Inspector, or me?" He raises his voice, "Did it ever occur to you that your informant had an axe to grind and was trying to frame her?"

She drops her arms. "I did check on him. He has a good reputation and his personnel record is clean."

"That's because he's a master manipulator and blackmailer. I checked too Abigail. There are things not in his record that you should have known and you would have if you had talked to me. What if Mary was working undercover? Huh?"

"But she wasn't," Abigail insists. "Besides, you kept on asking me about the Boss. I figured you knew who was leaking the Border Patrol schedules. I know your office has access. Caldwell said you could be the leak. As my fiancé you could just ask me about it. And you did. Every time we were together you'd ask about the investigation!"

Marshall throws his hands in the air. "Oh my God. I was making conversation, asking my fiancée about her day. You thought I was pumping you for information? Even if I was, I don't share work related information, yours or mine. Why would I?"

Abigail drops her eyes. "Because you were being blackmailed."

Marshall blinks. That's an answer he didn't expect. If he was talking to Mary he'd know just what she'd say, what she was thinking. But this is Abigail, an Abigail he doesn't know. "Who would blackmail me? With what?"

Abigail thumps down into the recliner. "Your affair with Mary. When Caldwell said he had proof, photos, I was sure they were of you and Mary."

"Abigail, I have told you repeatedly, Mary and I have never been intimate. Never! Why would you believe him and not me?" He's pacing now. "Did he ever show you any incriminating photos of Mary and I?"

Abigail drops her gaze. "No," she responds in a small voice.

"Because there aren't any!" he bends down till they are face to face.

She looks up sheepish, but determined. "If Mary was involved, you had to know. He showed me photos of Mary with those men, the Boss' men. I didn't want to believe it, but it all fit with what I knew about his gang."

"Why would I know if Mary was involved?" Marshall is looking for a shred of honesty, of concern for him, for them.

"Because she works for you!" He backs up when Abigail leans forward. "She's your Inspector and your lov- friend."

Marshall turns on his heel and puts his hands on his hips. "So I'm either a lousy fiancé or a lousy Chief? Is that it? You never detected that he was making it up? He stalked Mary. Those photos you saw? He staged them. Did you recognize any of the men? What did facial recognition show? Did you even check to see if the photos were manipulated?"

"I didn't send them to the lab, if that's what you mean, but I did examine them carefully. Besides, I didn't want the lab guys to know." She swallows.

"I've seen those photos. What did they show? Did you even try to run facial recognition? If you had you'd know that the resolution is too low. You can barely make out a blonde ponytail and some people in pants! It could be anyone. Some detecting Detective." He turns his back on her fuming. "Defective detective."

Abigail protests. "We were so close to getting the Boss, shutting down his whole operation. Then Mary and her boyfriends blunder into that warehouse like a bull in a china shop and everyone starts shooting."

"Were you even there?" Marshall snarks.

"Were you?" Score one for Abigail.

"That's not the point Abigail. You took the word of a stranger over mine. I thought you knew me, knew my character and Mary's. You accepted Caldwell's 'proof' and didn't even ask me!" he pauses, getting his anger under control. "If you think I'm a crook why are you still here? Why didn't you arrest me?"

"Because I was going to feed you some false intel," she confesses. "If it was acted on, then I'd know you were the leak. I didn't assume you were. I needed proof and I was going to get it. I didn't take his word."

Marshall sneers, "Did you think of that all by yourself? Or was it Caldwell's idea." Her downcast expression as she turns away from his piercing gaze tells him all he needs to know.

"Didn't it occur to you that if Caldwell gave you the information he could make your 'proof' happen? I thought you were smarter than that Abigail. Or did you think I was a really clever crook?"

"You're no criminal, Sugarbear," she concedes. "You were caught between a rock and a hard place, or maybe you had some sort of clever sting planned. Maybe something Mary cooked up. Everyone knows Mary has you wrapped around her finger. And if it wasn't a sting, it had to be blackmail."

"Caldwell said I was being blackmailed?"

Abigail nods.

"For the record Mary does not have me wrapped around her finger." How could Abigail believe that and accept his engagement ring?

"Everyone says she does," Abigail protests, unable to look him in the eyes.

"Who is everyone? Name one."

"Caldwell," she offers, knowing it's weak. "But I'd heard about you and Mary long before."

"Why would Caldwell know? He hasn't even been in Albuquerque six months. Why didn't you ask me?"

"I couldn't. Not if you were involved." Abigail rubs her clasped hands over and over. "When we first met, I checked you out. Several PD officers warned me about 'Mary and her one-man entourage.' But I gave you the benefit of the doubt and was pleased when you seemed interested. You were sweet, courteous and seemed honest. I didn't know what to make of the rumors. And then I met Mary." She shakes her head. "I can't understand why anyone could be attracted to that prickly cactus. How could anyone think you two were together? You argued constantly. I was told it was an act-to hide your relationship."

"Really? I told you about her when we met. I told you she was my partner and she would check you out. Because she has my back. Why did you buy all the crap Caldwell was peddling?" No wonder the other Inspectors believe it. "We were partners. She has never ever lied to me. I know her too well." He stalks away to keep from grabbing Abigail and shaking her.

Abigail smugly poses a question. "Since you know her so well, has she put in for a transfer?"

"No." The mere idea makes him wince.

"She told you?" Marshall said Mary doesn't talk to him.

"No." Monosyllabic answers keep him from shouting.

"There!" Abigail crows triumphantly. "If she could lie about that. . . . "

"She didn't lie, Abigail. I told you she should be looking. I told her she should be looking. She'll let me know when she decides."

"How would you know if she hasn't talked to you? Did Delia tell you?"

"No." Mary knows anything she shares could be broadcast by the office water cooler.

"Aha, Lucas." Abigail says grimly.

"Aha Lucas what?" he replies, exasperated.

"Lucas must have told you," Abigail contends. "She's been spending a lot of time with him. If she told anyone it would be him."

Yes it would be, it was, Marshall concedes but he isn't giving Abigail the satisfaction of verifying her conclusion. "What's going to happen next?"

"What do you mean?" Abigail asks fearfully. She's already suspended. Does he think they'll throw her off the force or demote her?

"At work, what's going to happen to you? I heard Chief Paradiso call you into his office."

Abigail turns her head unable to face him. "That's why I'm home. I'm suspended for two weeks without pay pending investigation."

Marshall thinks that's fairly light punishment. Abigail's lucky no lives were lost. If Mary had gotten hurt he'd never forgive her.

"Have you seen the ATF report?" he asks. "Don't you think it strange that it's so different from the one you submitted?"

"You mean the incident report written by Mary's biggest fan? God Marshall it reads as if she did exactly the right thing at the right time! What bullshit! She sticks her nose in where it doesn't belong, destroying months of planning and she gets rewarded? Why was she even there?"

Gritting his teeth Marshall's lips barely move. "She was doing her job!"

"And the two civilians with her?" Abigail's determined to lay the blame where it belongs.

Marshall's seething. "Did you even know ATF was there? Did you read their report? If you did you'd know they are not civilians."

She peers at him out of the corner of her eyes. "The version I got was redacted. It didn't say anything about the two men with her."

"Then you know I can't tell you much, but I can tell you that I know for a fact those men are not civilians. They had authorization to be there."

"From where? From who?" Abigail demands.

"That I can tell you but you won't believe me." His confident statement makes Abigail even angrier. She crosses her arms over her chest defiantly.

"Try me," she demands.

"They were authorized by the Attorney General of the United States, the Attorney General in Washington."

Abigail drops her arms in disgust. "You're right. I don't believe you. If Mary has that kind of backing she could write her own ticket out of Albuquerque. Why is she still here?"

"That's a good question. If she was talking to me, I'd ask her." Marshall shouts the last words.

Abigail turns quickly and walks away angry.

Marshall decides he is definitely sleeping on the couch. He doesn't even want to be in the same house, but he's too worn out to find a place tonight. Maybe tomorrow.