The next few hours were a blur. Later, Kelly would be able to say that she remembered none of it, and honestly, she didn't, except for waiting, and the police appearing out of nowhere, and Tara being taken away, shouting at the top of her voice that she'd regret what she had done. Anna and Danielle had come, as soon as it was over, and other than that, the last thing Kelly remembered was dissolving into tears.

Now she sat, listless, in front of a mug of coffee, in the middle of a crowded coffee shop, because she hadn't wanted to go home. Danielle was still with her. Anna had gone off to 'somewhere' or so she had said, but it was obvious where she'd gone off to, even though she hadn't given a definite location. It was quiet near the back, despite the amount of people there. They still hadn't heard from the police about anything.

"She'll give it up," said Danielle, her voice quietly breaking into Kelly's thoughts. "She doesn't have a choice anymore, if she wants to avoid the death penalty."
Four murders, and a kidnapping, all premeditated, and heaven only knew what else. Erin Fallon was serving as Tara's defense counsel now. She had no idea what was in store for her. Kelly offered up a bitter smile at this, and shook her head.

"I wish she'd been convicted," she said. "And I know that it's an awful thing to wish on someone, but under the circumstances…"

"Erin won't be able to get her out of this one," said Danielle, shaking her head. "I doubt she'll want to, either."
"Erin has no idea what she's getting into. If Tara's acquitted this time, it'll only get worse when she decides to reappear."

Silence fell between the two women, and was broken only by the sounds of the place around them. Kelly stirred her drink idly, but still hadn't taken a sip of it.

"Maybe he's right," she said, staring down at the table, "Maybe this really is all my fault. If she'd been convicted the first time…"

"This is probably going to come out wrong," said Danielle, "But you win some, and you lose some, and right now, I would say that for the moment, we've all won. Tara's in custody, sooner or later, she'll have to give up Rebecca, and when she does, it's over for her."

"What makes you so sure?" Kelly asked, skeptically, "The system's known for failure every now and then, Danielle, and to think that this could all happen again…"

"Don't think that it will happen again," Danielle told her. "Just think that it won't. Things like this…they're rare, and we both know it. People don't always go to these extremes just to get revenge."

"You should've seen her face," said Kelly, quietly. "When she realized I'd given her up to the police…she was furious."

"And she can't hurt you," said Danielle. "Don't think about it that way. Anything that happens now can only be good."
But Kelly wasn't too sure. They still had no idea what had been done to Rebecca within the past two weeks, and probably wouldn't know for a long while. The thought made her eyes fill with tears.

"I can't do this," she said. "I can't just sit here and know nothing about what happened, Danielle, and I can't just pretend that it doesn't bother me…"

Danielle took her hand, immediately. "No one expects you to," she said. "Believe me, Kelly, no one involved in this expects you to pretend that it doesn't bother you. And when the police get something, they'll contact us like they promised they would."

The thought brought little comfort. Kelly continued to stir her drink, idly, showing no desire to take a sip from it. "What happens next?" she asked, her voice almost inaudible. "What happens now that this is all over?"

Danielle looked at her for a long moment, and shook her head, squeezing her hand gently.

"I don't know, Kelly," she said, just as quietly. "I really don't."

"What do you mean, the police have arrested someone else in connection with these murders?" Holloway demanded, furiously. "Why weren't we informed of this as soon as the arrest was made?"

"Because certain things needed to be taken care of before the prosecution could be notified," Anna said, tartly, "All you need to know is that an arrest has been made, and the police have found the real person behind these murders."

"And I suppose you expect me to believe that," Holloway shot back. "Do I look like I was born yesterday?"
"As a matter of fact," Anna snapped, her patience gone. "You do. I'm warning you, Mr. Holloway, if you try to keep my client in prison any longer than he already has been, and if you proceed with a trial, I'll slam you with a lawsuit so fast you won't know what hit you!"
"It's the middle of the night! What the hell do you expect me to do? He's going to have to stay here until morning, Ms. Flynn, and you're damn well aware of it!"
"I know that! What I'm telling you is that if you try to proceed with this trial, you will regret it. If this isn't in front of Judge Ross first thing tomorrow morning, you'll regret it. Do you understand me, or do I need to speak in simpler terms?"

At this, Connie bit back the desire to laugh. Glancing briefly at Holloway, she took the opportunity to speak before he could say anything else.

"It'll be in front of Judge Ross in the morning," she said. "Believe me, neither of us would dream of dragging this on any longer than need be, Ms. Flynn. I'm sure you'll permit us until court reconvenes at nine o'clock?"
"Since you've asked me nicely," Anna said, sarcastically. "I suppose I can let it slide, but so help me, Holloway, if you try to cross me on this, you will rue the day you took this case."

Holloway rolled his eyes at her and left the conference room. Connie, on the other hand, remained behind, and waited until the door slammed behind him before speaking.

"They've really found someone else?" she asked, anxiously. "This isn't just a ploy to get out of the deal you made?"
"Do I look like someone who'd try to cross you?" Anna asked, now sounding more tired than annoyed. "I promise you, Ms. Rubirosa, this isn't a ploy to get out of anything. They've really found someone."
"How?" The relief in Connie's voice was evident. "I'm not supposed to know this, but rumor had it that the jury was going to convict if he hadn't made that deal…it was all set for tomorrow morning."

"I know," said Anna. "That's part of why we couldn't let the prosecution know what was going on from the beginning."

"What exactly is going on here?" Connie asked. "If you're at liberty to tell me, that is…?"
"I am," said Anna. "The police tied an old case of Jack's to all of this. There had only been one threat in all four cases in which someone involved."

"And the one person who threatened him, he was the one behind it?"
"She was. She's also the one behind the kidnapping. We're hoping that she'll tell us where Rebecca McCoy is before the night is over."

"And if she doesn't?"

"Then we're screwed, but either way, we've got her."

"The police…they haven't called over here yet…is there another ADA handling the case?"

"Not as far as I know, but then, I haven't heard anything. I'm headed over to the 27th Precinct now, if you'd like to come along with me."
"Let me grab my coat."

"Is my client actually under arrest, Detectives, or is this just your idea of a practical joke?"

The last thing Erin Fallon had really expected was to be pulled into this mess, especially this late at night, but she had been, and now, she didn't have a choice but to work with what she had. Both detectives glared at her.

"Your client is actually under arrest, for murder. And for kidnapping. The more she talks, the more she helps herself avoid a needle."

"You have no grounds for the death penalty, Detectives, and I suggest you watch your step. What evidence do you have supporting the fact that my client is behind all of this?" Erin shot back. "Or is this a ploy by the District Attorney's office to get one of their own out of trouble?"

Ed gave her an incredulous look. "Do you really think that's what's going on here?" he demanded. "District Attorney's office ain't got nothing to do with this. We arrested your client because of information we were given from a confidential informant."
Tara snorted. "Confidential, my foot," she snapped. "Kelly Monahan gave me up, and you know it."

Erin looked at both detectives with raised eyebrows. "The last I looked, Kelly Monahan was counsel on record for Ms. Galinet," she said. "What happened?"
"Ms. Galinet went and kidnapped Ms. Monahan's daughter, that's what happened," Nina retorted, unable to keep the anger out of her voice. "Besides that, Ms. Fallon, your client disappeared for six years after her original acquittal. There was no grounds for Ms. Monahan to believe that she was still acting as counsel to Ms. Galinet."

"Hardly," Erin scoffed. "Anything Ms. Monahan told you is subject to being looked at as attorney/client privilege as I'm sure you're both aware of."

"Not if Ms. Monahan wasn't acting as counsel at the moment when she was contacted by Ms. Galinet, who happens to be your client now," Ed pointed out. "Besides that, it ain't attorney/client privilege if there's a crime going on."
"Ms. Monahan had no knowledge that any crime was going on," Erin started, but Nina cut her off.

"How do you think we nailed your client, Ms. Fallon? Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me that Ms. Monahan knew nothing if she's the one who helped us?"
"She knew how to get a hold of my client, and that was it. Everything else is pure suspicion."

"Yes, the threats, Kelly Monahan's phone records, the text messages warning her not to speak to the police, all suspicion," said Ed, looking disgusted. "The only way your client's gonna come out of this without a needle in her arm is if she tells us everything."

"I will tell you nothing that I don't know, and I don't know anything," said Tara, flatly. "Honestly, I'm quite disturbed that the police could focus in on me so quickly."
"The fact remains, Ms. Galinet," said Nina, barely managing to control her temper, "That in all four cases in which someone involved was murdered, you were the only one that had the nerve to threaten the prosecution. And now this is happening. Tell me, what are the odds of that?"
"There's no need for sarcasm, Detective," Erin snapped. "Since my client has been charged with these crimes, I'll assume that she'll be arraigned in a timely manner?"
"As soon as we can get her on the docket," said Ed. "After that, there's nothing we can do to help her. You're on your own in front of the District Attorney's office."

Tara smirked. "The DA's office doesn't scare me," she said bluntly, "They can't prove a thing."
Outside the interrogation room, in the observation room, Connie shook her head, disgusted.

"Forgive my choice of words here, but that woman is truly a bitch," she said. "The detectives are right. As soon as I can manage it, I'll have her on the docket and arraigned."

"Please tell me that Branch isn't going to let Holloway pursue this one, too," said Anita, who had been watching the interrogation as well, and Connie shook her head.

"I doubt he will," she said. "He'll probably appoint one of the other EADA's to take this one on. I don't see why he didn't this time, but apparently, some lessons need to be learned the hard way."

The courts were busy a few hours later. In one, Tara Galinet was being arraigned. In the other, defense and prosecution were facing each other again, but this time, they were on the same side. Branch had sent Holloway to take care of the arraignment, leaving Connie to handle what was left of the trial.

"…and in light of these circumstances, your honor, the people see fit to clear Mr. McCoy of all charges and release him from the agreement he made with our office." It was a fight to keep the relief out of her voice. Most of the hard part was over. Jamie eyed her for a long moment before turning towards Anna.

"Does the defense have anything to say?" she asked. Anna rose to her feet.

"Only that we agree with the people's decision, your honor," she said. There was silence for another long moment, and then, Jamie spoke again.

"I hereby rule that the people's motion to dismiss all charges is granted," she said, not bothering to hide the relieved note in her own voice, even though she should have. "Mr. McCoy, you are free to go."

Words he'd been waiting for the past few months to hear, and now that they'd been spoken, he wondered why it had seemed so important to him in the first place. From all that Anna had told him, Tara still had not spoken. They had no idea where Rebecca was.

The courtroom started to empty, slowly. Anna sat with him, and waited for him to say something. After a moment, he did.

"I'm not sure what to tell you," he said. "It doesn't seem worth it now that we have her, and we still don't know where Becky is."

We'll find her," said Anna, "You know we will. The citywide search is still on; the police aren't just going to let this drop now that you've been cleared."

"Homicide is still handling it, though," Jack pointed out. "That doesn't bode well. Even if she…even if she is still alive, by the time they do find her…"

"Stop," said Anna, quietly, but firmly. "We are not going there. I don't want to hear that from you, all right? This part might be over, but we've still got a long way to go."
He offered up a faint, rueful smile and rose to his feet. "I know we do," he said, taking her hand and helping her to her feet. "That's the problem."

They left the courthouse together, in silence. The sun was just starting to come out through the clouds, where earlier on, when they'd first arrived, it had looked like rain. Anna gave Jack a sideways look, but he said nothing for a long moment, and when he did, she could barely hear him.

"I never thought I'd ever have to wonder what it was like to be a free man," he remarked. She shook her head, and slid her arm through his as they walked, tentatively, but he didn't push her away.

"You don't have to wonder anymore."