A/N: hope this chapter is up to my usual standards. R&R and let me know, please and thank you!!!

Chapter 26

"Miranda, thank you so much for coming," Maria Nashwood said, smiling gratefully at Randi.

"As I've said before, Maria, if there's anything I can do to help, just say so," Randi said, smiling back.

It had been twenty-four hours since Randi had spoken to Maria and given her the CD video. Maria and her husband, Collin, a distinguished gentleman in his late fifties, had shown up at the police station sans lawyer, their youngest son in tow, wanting to talk to the investigators in charge of Jack Dales' murder investigation. Randi had arrived shortly afterwards via a phone call request from Maria.

Now they waited for Mac, Sheldon, and Flack. Edward had been placed in an interrogation room and husband and wife stood behind a two-way mirror, watching their son. Edward had not seen nor met Randi and, for reasons of her own, she wanted to keep it that way for a bit longer.

"I just find it hard to believe that Edward would display such behavior," Maria said, shaking her head in disbelief.

Randi sighed heavily. "I'm sorry I had to show you that, but it was necessary. You saw what a lot of people saw and dealt with all the time in regards to Edward. I'm aware that he's you son, but this has gone on for far too long and it's got to stop. Bullying is against the law and it puts not only him in a bad light, but your family as well. It also opens you guys up to a lot of potential lawsuits as the victims decide to get even through your wallet."

"We're aware of that," Collin said.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Randi asked, deciding to play a little hardball.

Just then, Mac, Sheldon, and Flack joined them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Nashwood, sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Detective Mac Taylor," Mac said. Earlier, he and Randi had decided to downplay the fact that they knew each other for the sake of keeping the issue of conflict of interest out of the courts. Randi was wearing a nice, waist-length cream-colored cable turtleneck sweater and denim jeans with butterflies and flowers painted up one leg. She also wore her favorite heeled faux fur and leather boots and long winter coat, which she'd removed earlier. Her hair was pulled back in a crystal clip that matched her jeans for brightness. He thought she looked soft and adorable at the same time. "This is Dr. Sheldon Hawkes, CSI, and Detective Don Flack. I wish the circumstances were better but thank you for bringing your son. I'm hoping we can resolve this matter quickly."

"Before we do, there is one more thing that needs to be seen," Randi said.

"And that is?" Collin asked.

"I'm aware that you still find the video contents hard to believe, therefore, I offer proof," Randi said. "I'm going to go in to that room and pretend to be keeping Edward company. I'm placing bets on a cup of coffee that says within the space of twenty seconds Edward is going to be making a pass at me." She looked at the Nashwoods and said, "Edward hasn't met me and won't recognize me. He'll just think I'm another woman for him to play games with."

Husband and wife looked at each other and both nodded.

"Your usual?" Mac asked Randi.

"Bring it on," Randi said, straightening her sweater and preparing to enter the lion's den.

"What are you here for? Keeping me company?" Edward asked, grinning at Randi as she walked in to the room and stood beside him, keeping herself at an angle so that the people behind the mirror could see exactly what was going on, as he turned to face her, obviously stripping her clothes off with his eyes.

"Consider me a friend of the family," Randi said coldly, looking at the young man with polite disinterest. "I'm here to make sure you behave yourself while we wait for the investigators to show up."

"I'm all about behaving, baby," Edward leered. "Maybe after we finish this crapshoot, you and I can go somewhere and have some real fun."

"Sorry, but I'm taken by someone a little more… mature than you," Randi shot back.

But Edward wasn't to be deterred. "Really? Doesn't bother me," he said. "I'm not gonna say anything to him."

She just looked at him and folded her arms across her chest.

He grinned at her and suddenly his hand shot out, giving her butt a hard squeeze.

And, without blinking, Randi's booted foot shot out.

BAM!

Edward suddenly found himself flat on the floor, dazed and trying to decide which hurt the most, his head from where it had made contact with the concrete floor or his chest from where Randi had just kicked him with the force of a mule. The kick was going to leave a bruise, he knew.

"That was a classic," Flack said, grinning from the other side of the glass. He was referring to the scene where Jessica Simpson's character had planted her foot in a jerk's chest after he'd grabbed her ass in the 2005 Dukes of Hazzard movie remake.

"And it was deserved," Maria said coldly. Her husband nodded, his face set.

"Oh yeah," Josephine Nashwood said, having seen what had just happened as well.

Edward got up from the floor, cussing and holding his head. "You bitch. You're gonna pay for that. By the time my lawyer gets through with you, you'll be selling your pussy just to make ends me."

"Sure about that?" Randi asked coldly, standing her ground firmly, hands at her side, feet balanced and ready in case Edward decided to try something else.

Maria walked in, followed by Collin and Josephine, Edward's middle sister, who had joined them while this had been going on. She had been apprised of the situation and had seen the video. Needless to say, she was not happy. Edward's eyes went wide and he opened his mouth to say something but before he could, mother slapped son, snapping his head around viciously.

"I thought I taught you better than that," Maria hissed as Edward held his face in shock. "Obviously not."

Then, to add insult to injury, Josephine struck the other side of Edward's face. "That's for all the women who've you done that to. I'm ashamed of you, brother," she growled.

"As for a lawyer, you'll get one, but you'll be paying for it out of your own pocket," Collin said coldly, looking at his youngest son with contempt. "I'm cutting you off financially. You will submit a DNA sample and you will remain in the custody of the police until they have determined whether or not you're guilty or cleared."

"And if I'm cleared?" Edward demanded, not believing this was happening to him.

"Then I suggest you get a job, like the rest of the population," Collin replied coldly.

"And it won't be from any of us," came Peter's voice as he came in to the room and joined them, being the last to arrive. He too had been appraised of the situation. He was the eldest of the three Nashwood children and was working his way up through a successful business company. He looked at his younger brother with contempt and said, "You spoiled little brat. You had everything you could ever ask for and this is how you behave? Yeah, we might be wealthy but that doesn't give us the right to act like self-righteous pricks or to treat others the way you and your buddies have."

Edward stared at his family, his jaw flapping soundlessly like a fish out of water. Finally he said, "You can't do this to me! I'm family!"

"Precisely," Maria said. "You are expected to up-hold the family name and your behavior reflects upon the rest of us. You have brought a great deal of shame and humiliation to us with your actions, both towards your peers, the police, and Ms. Wilcox and, quite frankly, I have never been more so disgusted with you as I am now." Edward's face went pale. "You will apologize to both Ms. Wilcox and the investigators in charge of Mr. Dales murder investigation. You will also co-operate with the law to the fullest extent starting now."

"But I didn't do anything!" Edward protested angrily. "That jerk, Jack, he had it coming! He should've stuck with his own kind, not messing with a girl like Judy Melandros! He didn't belong with her!"

"That's not for you to decide. From all accounts, Ms. Melandros genuinely loved that young man and he loved her just as much and it sure as hell wasn't for her money," Josephine shot back angrily. "A love like that, for people like us, that's like a damn dream come true."

"And besides, if you didn't do anything, why did you protest at having a simple DNA sample taken?" Peter shot back. Edward had nothing to say to that. "Hmm? You're supposed to have all the answers, brother dear, so start talking, now."

While this had been going on, Randi had quietly slipped out of the room and joined Flack, Mac, and Sheldon behind the one-way glass as they watched and listened.

"Nice kick," Mac said quietly.

"Yay for yoga," Randi replied just as quietly. "Forget I ever said this, but I enjoyed that."

"We heard nothing," Sheldon said just as quietly, grinning alongside Flack.

"What will happen now?" Randi asked.

"Well, we still need to get to Markham and Raies," Flack said.

"I can call a meeting of the head of the families and lay down the law on 'em, if that will help," Randi offered.

"Nothing illegal," Mac warned.

"Nothing illegal about what I'm thinking. Just requires that you guys wear your best suit and that includes ties," Randi said.

"I hate ties," Sheldon gripped.

"Maybe, but appearances count just as much and make just as much a statement when it comes to these families. It's like court," Randi said, an idea forming in her mind.

"I hate court," Flack groused.

Everyone chuckled.

"What do you have in mind?" Mac said.

"We're going to need a sharp lawyer who's associated with the police and two of the biggest, meanest looking cops in the NYPD. Then I'm going to have a quiet word with my parents and borrow the Wilcox dinning room and turn it into a meeting room, complete with hidden camera in the chandelier. Oh, and I'd better tell Candy to get herself a dull but proper 'secretary' outfit," Randi said, mentally going through a list of things that would need to be done in order to pull the meeting off.

"I hear an 'and' in that sentence," Sheldon said.

"Yeah, and I've got hit Bloomingdales for a damn suit that's going to nearly break the frickin' bank," she groused. "These people recognize power by fashion and if we want to play hard-ball, we have to look the part."

"Ms. Wilcox?" Maria called.

Randi walked back in to the room, followed by the three men.

"Yes?" she asked politely.

"My most sincere apologizes in regards to my youngest son's outrageous behavior towards you," Maria said with dignity. "If there's anything I can do, please let me know."

"Got the yearly Bear-a-thon coming up in December," Randi said easily.

"I know of it," Josephine said, smiling. "What's your goal this year?"

"Well, we hit two hundred and fifty last year so this year we're going to try for three hundred or higher," Randi said.

"Let me know when it starts and expect a hefty donation from us," Maria said, smiling.

"Will do," Randi said, smiling pleasantly.

Then Collin turned towards the three men and said, "My son has consented to a DNA sample."

"Good," Mac said. He reached inside his coat, took out a pair of latex gloves, snapped them on, and took out a swab box from the inside of his jacket. "Open up," he said to Edward, who glared at him but opened his mouth.

"How long will this take?" Edward demanded once the sample had been taken.

"Depends on how busy the lab is. It could take anywhere between two to three, maybe even four days if the lab is backed up," Sheldon said easily.

"You can wait here or you can leave but word of advice, Eddy?" Flack said. "Don't go far."