Words – 11.2K
TRIGGER WARNING FOR VIOLENCE
A lot of things happening in this chapter!
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She should have expected that he wouldn't talk. Matthew had observed the interrogation through the glass at the police station and said that Thomas had remained smug throughout the whole process. His lawyer from the same firm that represented Vera, beside him. He denied everything, and voiced his surprise at the allegations levied against him. Anna wondered if his attitude might convince the police that he wasn't guilty, but Matthew assured her it wouldn't be possible. For all of his feigned innocence, the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Sarah's statement and Anna's invoice from PERENCO had been enough to arouse suspicion and with Matthew's insistence, a search warrant had been issued after Thomas' arrest. The inspectors uncovered exactly what Matthew suggested they would find. At first, they did not understand how all of the files were related and Matthew could not explicitly point out that they were looking at the vestiges of two separate and distinct frauds. He had to let them come to that conclusion on their own, lest they get suspicious about Matthew's knowledge. The Inspectors had called upon Anthony, as the Bates Airlift Controller, to make sense of the files. Anna and Matthew had filled him in on exactly what he would find and how he had to lead the investigative team towards the conclusions that were most beneficial to Mr. Bates and the company. They were worried about Anthony's acting skills and that he would come off as too knowledgeable and implicate himself or the others, but they shouldn't have been. He played his cards right, coming up with believable reactions to every bit of documentation that was presented to him. After several hours at the York police station, he and the team assigned to the case had been able to map out Thomas' deception. But all of Anthony's work helped to formally carve Thomas out as the mastermind of a brilliant fraud, but it did not implicate him in Mr. Bates' purported own embezzlement. As much as Anthony tried to guide the conversation to talk of IP addresses, he couldn't get the inspectors to focus on that part of the story and he knew he could not flat out point it out, since he wasn't supposed to be knowledgeable at all. It was an exercise in frustration to be so close to solving the puzzle, yet not being able to do so. It was no consolation to any of them that Thomas would not get out of jail in a long time.
What they needed was for Thomas to admit that he had had a part in framing Mr. Bates and most importantly, that Vera had been behind it all. If Thomas would not admit to any of it, they still couldn't get Mr. Bates out of prison. After so much work and accomplishments from their own investigation, they were no closer to a solution and Anna was distraught. Knowing that he was innocent and having the proof, but not being able to present the evidence was trying her patience. She understood what Matthew was saying, that the evidence had to present itself organically and be uncontestable, if not, she, her Godparents, Joe, and Matthew himself would be held liable for breaking the law. Her zeal to have him out had to come second to everybody else's wellbeing. There had to be another way. What was she missing?
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Vera had been fidgety since she found out about Thomas' arrest. Anna didn't know who had told her, but when she first encountered the woman, intent on explaining the situation, she was brushed away. Vera muttered something about how difficult it was to find employees with any integrity left in them and had promptly shut the door. She left Anna without a response either, the second time Anna tried to approach her. The police had confirmed that after a certain time of judicial process, Bates Airlift would be able to petition the bank and claim the funds as long as they could prove that the money would be returned to the defrauded clients. Anna wanted to give Vera an opportunity to provide an opinion on how they should go about that process, but Vera had not said anything at all. She distanced herself, and on the second day of Thomas' arrest and questioning, she did not come to the office.
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Bates Airlift was a mess. How could it not be? First Mr. Bates, then Richard and now Thomas. There was a feeling of despair among the remaining staff. Morale was low and productivity was sinking, even when the amount of work was on the rise for everybody.
"What will happen to him now?" asked Tony Gillingham at the meeting Anna had called to talk about what was happening to their company.
"I suspect that he will be arraigned soon and sent to Whetherby prison just like Richard and Mr. Bates," Anna answered to the employees that were present. "He'll be tried and have his day in court." When she scanned the room, it really did look sparse in comparison to the meetings they had when she had just joined the company. The room used to be full and now there were empty seats. Prison was thinning out their ranks.
At her response, there were sighs. It wasn't as much surprise in their tone, rather resignation. Their faces proved it. Sarah's bravado had disappeared since Anna had confronted her several days ago. She sat at the table, staring forward. Many of the other's eyes were on her and she could see the unposed questions in their eyes. Alfred's quizzical stare was the most obvious. He was prudent, and said nothing, but Anna knew that everybody wanted to know what Sarah knew and if she too was involved. What Anna saw was guilt and shame. She had been completely unaware of Thomas' extensive deception and she felt uncomfortable to be associated with him.
The other most affected party was James. He had a blank stare and Anna was the only person who knew the extent of his relationship with Thomas. Matthew explained that the arrest information described how Thomas' companion had been discovered hiding in the loo when Thomas was arrested. He'd been let go and he had been instrumental in contacting the family and letting them know what was going on with their son. None of that information was made public, so he was still very much in the closet, yet Anna could tell that he was bothered. He looked hollow and Anna wondered how much James might know about Thomas' life and the fraud. He was worth a conversation, she decided, and would need to find the right angle to pressure him into talking.
"So, who's next?" asked Gwen cheekily. She appeared more annoyed than anybody else there. "I mean, I work my arse off to keep this company running and that clown had the gall to defraud us in that way. If this gets out, we'll be ruined."
In a rare display of emotion, Phyllis stared at Gwen with daggers in her eyes. She understood the redhead's frustration, but was not amused at the assertion that the rest of them could be crooks too. "I don't think anybody's next," she answered, and then corrected herself, "Not anybody in this room, anyway."
Vera was not present and Anna had to imagine that Phyllis corrected herself so as not cover for the woman with her blanket statement.
"Alright, guys. Let's settle down. This is unfortunate, but there is no need for us to be at war with each other. There will be a lot of work for us now. I will be getting replacements of a more permanent sort, to help with the amount of work, but until that can happen, I am asking for everybody's help and cooperation."
Most of those in the room nodded or smiled, in acceptance of Anna's request.
"What do we do next?" asked a more serene Gwen.
"We return the money to our customers and we'll have to launch some sort of positive image campaign. I'll hire a PR company for that. I do believe this calls for a more professional approach."
They all seemed appeased with her answer.
"Is it possible that Thomas fabricated Mr. Bates' embezzlement?" Anna almost melted when she heard Tony ask. "Because…. I still can't fathom that Mr. Bates would steal his own money, and now …Thomas' actions, on the heels of that arrest, well, I find it entirely possible that Mr. Bates is not guilty at all." Tony Gillingham's face was dead serious.
God, she wished the police were as bright as her employees. Why couldn't that simple thought cross their minds? Her heart wanted her to scream in agreement, but her head forced her to be more practical. "Nothing is impossible to believe at this point, but Thomas has only been accused of one fraud. It is still early in the investigation, so, who knows what they will find."
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"Oh, my darling…. What did that beast do to you?" John's agitated voice was laced with concern, all while teetering on the edge of rage. The bluish-brown hue of the bruises was still evident on her face and it made him feel like such a failure for not having protected her. He instinctively reached out to touch her face.
"No touching, Bates party," the voice boomed on the microphone and John had no choice but to pull back his hand. He'd barely touched her cheek.
Although it was no more than a second, feeling his fingers on her made Anna shiver. She had been missing his touch and yearning to feel his warmth. The lingering pain went away, replaced by tingling. He was the perfect medicine and it was magic the way she already felt better.
Albeit the sensations that were coursing through her body, she was able to focus. "It's over, John. Let's not dwell on it." She didn't want him worrying. There was nothing he could have done.
"Anna, I should have been there to protect you. He would not have dared if I'd been around." His eyes were watering. Embarrassed of his public show of emotion, he looked down.
"No, I do believe he would have found a way, as upset as he was, so, please don't put that on yourself." She could tell that he wasn't taking in her words. "John, look at me." When he responded by looking up, she continued. "This is on him, not you. I love that you want to be there to protect me, but even if you weren't in here, you would not have been around me 24 hours to safeguard me at all times." Her voice was firm and she could see a small change in his demeanor.
He shifted his eyes upwards and observed a half-hearted smile form on his pasty lips. He was trying to make her feel better to ease her mind, but Anna could read him and there was something she felt he wasn't saying.
He pressed her for additional details. "I understand Phyllis and Tom came to your aid?"
"They did. I don't know yet what Phyllis was doing there and how it was that she arrived right on time. She's been evasive when I've asked. Tom, however, was finishing an inventory while he waited for an inbound flight and stayed on to complete it after James landed."
John didn't fathom what Phyllis was doing there on a Sunday either, even though he knew her to be loyal and hardworking.
"I heard you inflicted some damage of your own?"
Anna smiled. "I did…. I'm not entirely without fight, as small as I am." Trying to deter the conversation away from the attack, Anna giggled and added some additional comments. "I'll warn you now that I can get feisty if you wake me early and if you steal my covers. The next time we share a bed, I'd watch out if I were you."
He wasn't expecting that and he finally gave her a sincere smile.
It warmed his heart to know that Anna had confidence that he would get out and that they would be sharing a bed again. "I love you, you know," he offered as his heartfelt response.
The tingling in her body rippled again as she listened to his words. She would not tire of listening to it. "I love you too, John," she added, looking straight into his eyes. His eyes bore into hers, the expression in them overflowing. There was love mixed with melancholy. "I know your hearing is tomorrow, and we've not got all our ducks in a row yet, but, I will get you out, John, I promise…. And we will continue where we left off."
His half-hearted smile returned and her feeling that he was holding something back manifested themselves again. He had the guilty look about him. She thought she would have to pry it from him, but he spoke up soon after.
"I'm sorry for putting so much weight on your shoulders. On top of the attack, you have the office and the investigation….. You are overexerting yourself and I've been thinking we should hire somebody different to manage the office."
Hire somebody else? She was not expecting that turn of events. She shuddered to think that he was displeased with the way she was running everything. Things were bad, but she felt she had responded well. Matthew had been by to explain about Thomas and prep him for his hearing, scheduled to start tomorrow. He was aware of everything. The guilty feeling she had been trying to rid him of, had now taken root within her. She'd done all possible to keep the company running.
"I don't understand, John. Robert said he was pleased and has agreed with all of my actions. Anthony has also been on board with everything I've done. I've kept everything running." As she spoke, her voice was cracking with emotion. "We've found all the evidence that exonerates you, even if we can't lead the Inspector to understand the data yet…But, if you think somebody more qualified should do it, then I won't stand in your way." She didn't cry, and she would not. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel forced to keep her because she got emotional. Her insides, though, were mush.
His darling girl. She misunderstood. He was in awe of everything she could accomplish. He was sure there weren't many things that she couldn't do. How could she ever think he would be displeased? He wanted her to rest. He'd been a brute to suggest the additional work and it was the Carson's visit that had all but cemented that idea in his mind.
"My darling," he responded firmly so that he could command her attention. "There isn't anybody more qualified than you and you have done a magnificent job. I am in awe of you and of everything you do."
His statement contradicted what she had just heard him suggest.
"Then why hire outside management that would complicate things? When Robert is ready to turn over the management back to you, that person, wouldn't they be in the way?"
"Anna, I would willingly take on the complication if it meant you could have the rest. You need to take things easier, so that you can get better."
Anna rolled her eyes, a clear sign of her exasperation.
"Mr. Bates, I have bruises on my face. I don't need to rest for them to go away. They will disappear in due time, like your cheekbone wound did. I am not ill and I do not need to get better."
Convincing her would be difficult, he realized. But he owed this to her and to the Carson's.
"Anna, you are running yourself ragged. Your parents tell me you hardly sleep." Her head shot up at that comment.
"What do you mean my parents told you? Did they write to you?" Anna was shocked. She didn't think they would get the nerve to contact him.
John realized his mistake too late. He and the Carson's had not agreed to maintain the secret of their visit. It never came up in their parting, but a part of him realized that it would be prudent for him to not mention their having called on him.
"Not exactly." Once he started, he did not want to lie to her. He would have to explain how their visit transpired. "They came by a couple of days ago."
Oh Lord. He could see the color in her face rising.
"They what?"
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"Elsie," yelled Anna as she turned the key and opened the door to her Godparent's flat. "Pops," she yelled louder. They had better not be doing their lovey-dovey stuff right now, because she was determined to talk to them immediately, even if it meant interrupting their quality time. She'd march into the bedroom if she had to.
She was spared the need to interrupt awkwardly when Elsie came out of the kitchen and Pops peered from around the door of the home office.
"Oh, hello my dear," Elsie greeted her enthusiastically. Pops came out of the enclosure to get his hug from her as well.
Before they could come any closer, she added, with an irritated voice. "Don't dear me….I've just come back from visiting John at Whetherby."
Both of them stopped in their tracks. They'd feared her reaction when she found out.
"What, on God's earth, made you think that tormenting John was a good idea?" She flailed her hands in exasperation. "He's in jail for God's sake."
"I don't know what he said to make you get upset at us," added Pops. "I'm assuming he's wasted no time in turning you against us."
Elsie rolled her eyes. "Anna, love, can I explain?"
Anna responded to Pops first. "He did no such thing, Pops. I encountered a beaten man who blames himself for what happened to me and who wants to hire somebody else so that 'I can rest'." The last part, she intonated facetiously, indicating with her words that she did not agree. "I had to pry it out of him that you had been by."
"Darling, please take a seat and let me explain." She turned to her husband. "Don't you dare open your mouth further, Charles Carson."
He was going to protest Elsie's admonishment, but she beat him to it. "I mean it, Charles…NOT A WORD." She too trilled her last words loudly, indicating she was not to be contradicted.
He closed his mouth, protesting with a loud sigh, yet complied.
Anna stood in the same spot, crossing her arms across her chest in defiance.
"Anna, please. We meant no harm, and if you sit, I will pour us a cuppa I was just preparing and I will explain." Elsie swung her hand, indicating to Anna that she should move towards the dining room table.
Anna exhaled loudly, but walked through to the table and sat down. Pops positioned himself across from her and like a castigated schoolboy, said nothing. They were staring self-consciously at each other for the few minutes that Elsie was away and when she returned, she too kept quiet as she poured three cups of hot tea.
When the refreshments had been distributed, Anna finally lifted up her hands in a questioning stance. "So, explain to me, please, how making him feel guilty helps me?" She wanted to lash out at them, as irritated as she was, but the respect she had for them made her elevate her voice, instead.
"Sweetheart, Pops and I love you very much and we respect your choices." Anna was preparing to question her words, but Elsie put up her hand. "We do, whether you believe me or not…. And we do have your best interest at heart….. We were worried, after the attack, about the amount of work that you were taking on. ….and we were worried, after finding out that Carlisle's actions were not isolated. We required some questions be answered and you weren't doing much talking."
"You made him feel guilty. It took me a while to get him to change his perspective, and even now, I'm not convinced that I managed it." Anna's body language continued to question their motives.
"That was not our intention, although I will admit, some words that were spoken were unnecessary." She turned around to look at Pops when she said that. "Our visit helped put some things in perspective for us."
"Like what?" Anna asked defiantly.
"I can't speak for Pops, but I am now convinced that he does love you." Elsie noticed how Anna's demeanor changed with her confession. There was hope in her eyes. "You never told us you were planning to be his alibi."
Anna took a deep breath. "No, I didn't….because I didn't think either of you would approve or understand."
"I won't lie. We probably wouldn't have….and we now know that he rejected the idea."
"He did," added Anna in the smallest voice possible. "….because, he loves me."
"We can see that now, darling….. And we're sorry to have doubted him. Aren't we, Charles?" She stressed his name, so that he knew to agree with her.
Elsie's fierce eyes threatened to sensor his words, and Pops just nodded his agreement.
"Then, why torture him with guilt? He told me he wants to hire a new Manager to relieve me of the stress."
Deep down Elsie was relieved that John had suggested this, as that was her primary intent for the visit. Anna needed to slow down, or she would pay the consequences with her health. Bringing it up to her, though, wouldn't ever be an option, as determined as she was.
"We weren't torturing him. We were concerned about you. As the man you love, it is important for him to know what you are going through, and as your guardians - we've been worried about the amount of tasks you have been taking on."
Elsie reached out for Anna's hand tentatively. Anna did not pull back.
"I am not sure that you would have told him just how much work you are doing, darling." Elsie squeezed Anna's hands.
Anna's temperament had decreased considerably. "No, I would not have. He has many things to worry about, and I would not want to burden him further." Anna reflected internally, assimilating what Elsie had just explained. She understood them, but was not convinced. "As much as I understand your good intentions, you did overstep your bounds. How can he fix anything from jail?"
"Well, when you put it that way…" Elsie had no alternative but to relent. She always knew that going for this visit would be a bad idea.
"What, about you, Pops? What do you have to say for yourself?" Anna's eyebrow arched in anticipation of his answer and Elsie held her breath. This could go really bad if Pops blundered with his more often than not, rash answers.
Charles looked upon the expectant faces of his women. Elsie eyes feared the worst and he could almost guess that she had no confidence in what he would have to say. Anna, on the other hand, was defiant. She had almost taken Elsie's answers positively, but Elsie had held back the truth and she was expecting him to come clean.
What could he say? He didn't have much time to think.
"I..I…don't like John Bates."
Elsie's eyes grew 100% bigger if that were possible. He could see Anna tense up and ball her fists. That probably was not the best place to start.
"Before you say anything else, let me finish." When he saw the women back down from their tense poses, he continued. "You want the truth and that is the truth… And I say it knowing, that you, my darling girl, may not want to speak to me again." Anna was holding back tears behind her defiant stance and Elsie's mouth was open.
"Why don't I like him? ….. Because he's taken my little girl away from me and put her in harm's way. Because since she met him, she's done nothing but exert herself for his benefit. Because, as in love with him as my little girl is, he cannot reciprocate freely and her love has to hidden away from everyone. My little girl doesn't deserve that." His voice cracked, but he continued on.
"I am now convinced that he did not do the wretched things that he is accused of…..not any of them. And I understand he is not a bad man, and I realize that he does love you….a lesser man would have allowed you to sacrifice your public image for his benefit. That is the first good thing I have seen come from him."
Anna wanted so badly to speak, but Charles would not let her.
"Did I go harass him?" He didn't want them to answer, so, he answered himself. "Yes…..that was my intention, and I am sorry. I had questions that needed answering. Did he know about your attack?...and did he know just how much work you are putting into keeping everything together? I knew you wouldn't tell him and I needed to make sure he was aware."
Anna's defiant stance had started to erode with her Godfather's words. He had accepted that John was good, and that was a start.
"You are right that he cannot do much from jail, and our visit being so close to his hearing, was, perhaps, ill-timed. But, I am telling you now, that I will always speak up and stand up for my little girl, even if she won't talk to me again and even if she thinks that I am wrong. He, and anybody else that you love, has to see that you are not alone, and that you have a pair of old-timers that will always want the best for you and will defend you when needed."
Elsie felt her heart would burst. As rogue as Charles could be, his monologue had been heartfelt and true. Anna couldn't hold back any longer and she lunged from out of her chair and onto his lap. She landed on him without much warning, almost deflating the air from his lungs with the big hug she gave him.
Recovering from the sudden weight levied upon him, he managed to finish his thoughts. "We are your family, Anna, and that is what family does – watch out for one another." He stroked the blond locks that cascaded down her back. She was lightly sobbing on his shoulder, overcome with emotion. "When he gets out, and I know that he will, and when he can hold you on his arm, proudly and publicly, I will accept him into our little family."
Elsie was sniffling beside them. How she loved both of them.
With a runny nose, and blotchy eyes, Anna looked up from her perch on her Godfather's lap. "Thank you for wanting to defend me and thank you for realizing he is a good man. We've been caught up in this unfortunate circumstance, and I know that time will allow him to prove to you that he's the right man for me."
"I'm sure he will, darling," Elsie added.
Before Pops could protest her weight on him, Anna moved back into the chair beside him.
"Tomorrow is his trial, and I'm heartbroken that for all the work that's been done, I still can't get the Inspector to realize he's not the one who's done it."
Elsie took her hand again. "You've done your best, Anna. The truth will come out, somehow."
"But how? Short of writing it all down for the Inspectors, and incriminating ourselves, I don't know what else to do. Thomas is in custody and won't speak. Vera is going to get off, and that is not fair." She let out a frustrated sigh.
Out of the blue, Charles had a thought. He'd considered an option, then put it away when Anna had been attacked and forgotten it among all the pursuant commotion. If his little girl was harboring any reticent ill-will against him, this ought to redeem him in her eyes. "I've been thinking," he added, and he immediately garnered the attention of Anna and his wife.
"You do have one more key witness, another crony of Vera's….and one who knows what Vera has been up to, that you haven't thought to question or coerce…."
Anna racked her brain and then it started coming to her.
"Do you mean Edna?" Anna asked with some doubt.
"Yes. That day in the coffee shop, when they met and I was not able to overhear the totality of their conversation, Vera shared with her something about her plans. Perhaps….. There lies the key to incriminating Vera and finally bringing this charade to a close."
Anna couldn't breathe for all of the excitement she was suddenly overcome with. This was what she had overlooked. "Oh, God…Pops….. Do you know how much I love you?"
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TRIGGER WARNING FOR VIOLENCE AND TALK OF RAPE
John's blood pressure was rising. From the corner of his eyes, he saw a crop of sandy blond thinning hair at a distance. He had heard from his cell mate that there were two new inmates and John surmised, from what Matthew had told him regarding Richard's processing, that he must be one of the two men.
He was in the grassy lot they used for recreation. Some of the men were running around a track, but he tended to use this time to stretch and exercise his legs. His hip and knees would get sore if he didn't make the effort at least once a day. It was during his afternoon session that he saw a lonely figure, walking in a disjointed fashion, not really knowing what to do with himself. All new arrivals had that appearance about them.
John waited until their time outside was over. Confronting him in this open expanse would prove futile. John couldn't run and Richard was bound to dash off. No… John knew better and he remained patient for the remaining thirty minutes. How he managed it was a miracle, for he was seething inside. Just remembering the bruises and marks on Anna's beautiful face was enough to kill any thought of prudence.
When Richard least expected it, John pounced and grabbed him, throwing him against the wall in that little closed off area that John had observed was less patrolled by the guards and outside of the reach of the surveillance cameras. He'd have a good few minutes of uninterrupted time with the bastard.
"What the hell?" muttered Richard without really realizing who his aggressor was. When he finally was able to look at John's face, his surprise morphed into fear.
"You, filthy bastard," John muttered as he threw all his weight against Richard's body, pinning him to the wall. John's hand went up to cup his jaw and his fingers were clenched tightly, digging into the skin.
Showing a bit of courage, even when he was trapped, Richard answered back. "Yes, I fucked your wife and it felt good to do it." Thinking it would hurt his opponent, he added, "I would do it again."
John stared at him intensely and clenched his fingers tighter. "I don't care about that harlot. You can have her." Richard's eyes gave away a moment of confusion. If John did not care about his wife, he wondered why he was pressed up against the wall. "I actually have to thank you for that. Your treason will actually give me the divorce I've waited years to obtain."
"Then why this?" Richard growled back and attempted to move out of John's grip. "I am the wronged party here. You cheated me out of the partnership."
John slammed back against Richard, subduing him again. "I wouldn't give a partnership percentage to a man who would show such little loyalty and decency."
John felt the anger rising inside of him. This man had hurt the woman he loved. He stepped back as he gripped the fabric of the prison jumpsuit and swung Richard in the opposite direction. He reached back with his free left arm and connected his fist to Richard's face. Almost in slow motion, the injured man fell to the ground, surprised again at John's response.
John looked up and down the hall. At best he only had one or two more minutes before a guard, or other inmate walked by. He didn't want to get caught. "That was for Anna Smith, you mongrel….. For having the nerve to imagine you had any right to touch her."
"That woman has you like this?" he dared utter as he covered the eye that had just been hit. He attempted to scoot backwards when John started reaching for him again.
Richard put out his foot, hoping to trip his aggressor, but the ex-soldier in John anticipated the move, stepped over his leg, kicked his groin and grabbed him by the shirt again. Richard, doubled in pain, was no match for an angry John.
He brought his face in really close to talk to him. His hip and knee were now throbbing, the angle he was holding the cretin, bearing unfavorably on his body. It didn't matter. "Listen to me, you filth…," he whispered roughly through his pain. "NO WOMAN deserves to be treated in that manner….. and I am glad that this woman in particular will bring you down so that you cannot harm another. She has tapes, you know. She has your voice recorded spewing the proof of your lewd and lascivious manner against her."
Richard's eyes flinched with shock. John assumed that Richard would be aware, but it appeared not. John decided to go ahead with another revelation. If he were to spend his time in jail, in no time, Richard might encounter Anna in the visitor room and discover their association. He'd rather create his own definition on what Anna was to him. "Just so you are aware, although I would defend any woman, I am acting this way because you dared touch the woman I happen to love."
Richard's eyes opened wide, surprised to hear such words. John gritted his teeth, keeping his voice down to a gruff bark. "That's right, you arse. Anna and I are together and I will see to it that you pay dearly for the damage you did to her… and the way it works in here…..I won't even have to be the one to touch you. As soon as the others find out what you are in here for ….well….." John let go of the tight hold he had on Richard and the man fell back slightly.
He hadn't completed the sentence. For dramatic effect, John straightened his body and stood with proud shoulders, puffing out his chest. He reviled this man and could have killed him with his bare hands, but, as Matthew had warned him, it was best for him not to do anything that could get him in trouble. Anna had worked so hard to find the evidence to free him. It wouldn't be fair for her to see him exonerated from one accusation, yet stuck in jail for another.
Standing tall and proud, finishing his thought, John added, "Let's just say that you'll make a pretty bottom."
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"I am so scared Mary," Anna shared when her friend came upon her that night. Anna was curled up on the sofa, in her pajamas, going through her notes. The anxiety of seeing John trapped in the prison for a crime he did not commit, overwhelmed her. She'd tried so hard and they were at the end of the road. Tomorrow, Anthony would confront Edna and that was the last option available to them. If he couldn't achieve the desired result, John would likely be found guilty.
It was an early night for Mary. She wouldn't see Matthew that evening, as he needed to prepare for the hearing as well. The pub traffic was slow and her father wasn't in the mood to entertain an empty business. He was feeling anxious for his friend and decided to close early. She decided to come straight home.
"Oh, darling." Mary came and hugged her in response. The loose sheets of paper fell to the floor, as Anna held on to her friend.
Anna started sniffling, the weight of the world on her shoulders. "What if it doesn't work and he is convicted?...What if after everything I've done, he is kept in that dreadful place?"
"I've known you for many years, love, and you have the fighting spirit. I don't know of anybody else that's suffered what you have and still starts every day with a smile. You'll get through the bitter pill if it should come to it, and you'll push forward, continuing on."
Mary's words were having a positive effect on Anna. Anna disengaged herself to look into her friend's face. "I guess it doesn't end at the trial, does it?"
"No, it does not. New evidence can be introduced at any time, and Matthew can submit an appeal to have the case reexamined."
Anna was glad to have Mary's company that evening. She'd seen so little of her friend in recent months, what with Mary busy at the pub and the Castle and her budding relationship with Matthew, and not to mention Anna's interminable office and investigative workload. They rarely had a quiet evening, just the two of them.
"I believe," Mary started, "What you need is a break from all of this thinking. Why don't we have a proper girly night, where we do each other's nails and hair and talk about the most mundane things?"
Anna smiled. The proposal was appealing. She'd not kept up with her personal grooming in the last weeks and her cuticles looked appalling. Yet, she still had so many notes to review. She would feel so guilty. "I don't know Mary… I still have this pile of files to read."
"How many times have you gone through them already?" asked Mary with her hand on her hip. Her countenance spoke volumes of what was going through her mind. Anna needed a distraction and she wouldn't take no for an answer.
"Today or recently?" asked a sheepish Anna, knowing that in asking the question, she had already failed at defending her need to review them.
Mary rolled her eyes. "You have five minutes to get everything we need. I will put a kettle on."
Anna had no choice but to comply.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Joe often liked to hum while he worked. It kept him less lonely and it suited him fine. He didn't need annoying distraction, so, he didn't yearn for company. He just liked to listen to a little noise now and then to liven the mood.
As he attempted his own rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, his chosen track of the day, he noticed a blinking light on one of his servers. That's odd, he thought to himself. The pulsating LED light led him to switch to monitor-view on that machine. He had a message.
His initial reaction was to be upset. He would have started hyperventilating but he remembered to be calm. He'd get to the bottom of it sooner if he did not panic. Breathe he repeated loudly as he accessed the page. The message was a taunt–
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE. YOU CRACKED MY CODE, BUT I CRACKED YOURS TOO.
This again? He whinnied like a horse, mimicking the sounds to near perfection. This always helped him release anxiety. His hands came to rest over his ears in frustration.
He didn't appreciate his security systems being breeched, no matter how innocuous the message or how benevolent the person's intentions were. He looked at the log files and tried to track the IP address. They too were using a proxy server. This message was routing from Greece and this was the end of the information available to him. It wasn't fair. He was among the best hackers in the world. How was it that this person could get to him, but he couldn't get to that person? Of course he could get to that person, but it would take supreme effort to uncover their tracks. He needed the answers now.
In the meantime, he'd answer on his screen. Of course they'd be tracking it and if they were still online, would be able to answer back immediately.
WHO ARE YOU? He wrote with steadfast hands.
His screen came to life and a few letters materialized. 'I'm….' was all that appeared for a few seconds, followed by those words being erased and replaced with:
You did well finishing the tracking of the IP network. I wouldn't have thought of Iceland.
At least his harasser was aware of his skill, he thought briefly before reflecting that they'd almost written something about themselves before changing his or her mind. He would try again with different words.
WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?... He typed, and waited.
The answer came without much hesitance. I have a debt of gratitude to pay off.
Mmm, he thought. A debt of gratitude? Towards Anna…Or John?
As he thought of a follow-up question, the person, or nay, his opponent, wrote back.
Enough about me. Mr. Bates' trial starts tomorrow and the police are nowhere nearer in understanding the evidence that proves his innocence. What are we going to do about it?
Joe puckered his lips as his brow furrowed. What were they going to do about it? He'd already done everything Anna had asked. Getting the man out of jail didn't help him in the least. He wasn't as keen on doing anything else that could steal his Anna's attention away from him. Momentarily, while he thought of an answer, he pushed back from the table and swung his legs, trying to gain momentum. He often resorted to swinging around in his chair. He enjoyed the feeling of going in circles and it helped channel his creativeness. He stopped abruptly after a minute and went back to the desk. During his interlude, the entity had written to him again.
I've seen your folder on Anna. She won't appreciate it…. Not doing anything, when you could.
Joe's eyes bugged open to their fullest and he started snorting nervously. It was a cross of laughing and wheezing, with worry. It knew about his obsession for her? This was unfair, and he was highly embarrassed. What was stored on his servers were his private thoughts. Nobody knew how much he liked the blond.
His reaction was to turn off his screen, and as he reached for the on/off button, he stopped as he saw another missive come through. It was as if the person could see all his actions, and was writing in response to them. He stopped to read it.
You should do this for her. After a few seconds it added- We could do it together.
Not convinced, but intrigued, what was left of his fragile ego wrote back.
WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND?
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"So, you are Anna's parents?" asked a nervous Anthony as they stuck pieces of tape across his chest, holding the wire that would record his conversation firmly in place.
"Ay," responded Elsie as Charles looked on. They didn't need to go into the detail and explain that her real parents were dead.
"She's quite impressive, you know," offered the man sheepishly.
Ever the protective father, Charles' voice boomed with "How so?" in a resounding tone. Anthony cowered slightly.
Elsie stifled a laugh. Charles' protective father façade and its impact on others mostly made her chuckle. She was turned against them and neither could see the amusement in her face.
"She's managed everything ever so well, and to imagine that she was just the intern, not two months ago, well… it's amazing how well she's caught on." Anthony's comments appeared heartfelt.
Charles finished the connection. "Yes, our girl is impressive," and smiled at the man.
Elsie was less protective and more adoring of her girl. "We've always been very proud of her talents." She swung around to see him face to face. "So, Mr. Strallan… you know what to do, right?" Elsie poked at the small wire behind his ear. It was well hidden.
"Yes, I am to get her to confess, and make sure she says it loudly and clearly."
Elsie remembered how not three months ago, she was giving this same advice to Mr. Bates when he was about to confront his wife. "We will be in the van, recording everything. We have applied cameras around the area. They are attached on the trees, so, if you keep her in the vicinity of the park bench, we should get enough footage. If she gets violent, do not attempt to restrain her. Slowly walk away. Repeat everything she is doing as it is happening so that we have a record of the events."
They all knew that Edna was a mistress of manipulation, having engineered the sexual harassment case against Mr. Bates, and the paternity blackmail against Anthony. They did not want this interview to go wrong. She could turn it around easily, and it was important for Anthony to have control of the situation.
He looked nervous. "I'm sure I can do this." A second later, appearing more resolute, he added, "I know I can do this. I will prove to you all that I will not allow her to railroad me again." He looked very determined; no doubt his insecurities had resurfaced, giving him much to think about. "John does not deserve what's happened to him and I am happy to play my part in getting him out."
Elsie looked at him fondly. "We'll be here to support you and I am sure you'll do fine."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Anna was restless. She had wanted to accompany Anthony in the morning, but somebody had to go to the office. She had that responsibility now, as General Manager. There were many things that she needed to oversee that morning before she could head out and attend the trial.
Spending the evening with Mary had done her a world of good, and she felt refreshed, if not relaxed. Her skin was glowing and her nails were perfectly manicured. If only her inside could match her outside. She'd been going through Vera's investment documents when Mary came upon her, and she still had to go back and go through them again. She'd narrowed Vera's investment to three mutual funds and was close to finding out what her stock portfolio consisted of. Also, surprisingly so, or maybe not, she'd written to the tweeter troll and not gotten an answer back. If it was Phyllis, she'd gotten spooked when Anna confronted her, and thus, no response. Or maybe… the tweeter troll had nothing more to offer, and that's why she was being ignored. She wouldn't dwell on it. She had other things to worry about.
The first order of the day was conversing with James. She thought she would catch him closer to his chopper, and exchange a few words. She found him, chatting with Michael and Jack and the conversation turned to Thomas. He seemed angry and stated it so, that he wished Thomas would be found guilty. He was pontificating regarding ethics and he had a real passion in his voice. Michael and Jack could be none the wiser, but these were the words of a lover who'd been kept out of the dark and burned by the revelations that somebody they admired was caught up in something awful – something they wanted no part in. In that instant, Anna's gut could not see that James would have ever known. If he had, he'd keep to himself and avoid any conflict. Any further thought of interviewing him were thrown out.
Then, the next task was to welcome their newest team member. Anna had spoken to Daphne, on Mr. Bates' suggestion, and discussed the need for a new receptionist - somebody who could properly fill in for Gwen's open position. Edith had been helping, wonderfully, but Edith would have to go back to school, full-time, in the coming weeks, and a more permanent solution was necessary. A replacement for Thomas was also discussed, but Daphne did not have anybody that could be ready in a week. She had a candidate, but she still required to go through additional counseling and it would not help her any to be uprooted from the program so soon. Anna thought, in the meantime, that Edith could progress to helping Anthony and Phyllis while they determined a proper course of action.
Ethel Parks was introduced as their newest recruit. Daphne had not elaborated on her past, and Anna did not think it prudent or fair for her to know her new employee's background fully, but, she was aware that Ethel had come from a bad situation, as most of the women did, and that she had lost custody of a child to the authorities. At Bryant Landing, she had turned her life around and was now attempting to lead a model life and earn a solid living so that she could claim custody of her son again.
Anna recognized her as one of the women who had kissed Mr. Bates' cheek, in gratitude, when they visited a couple of months ago. That meant that Ethel had been a witness to her relationship with Mr. Bates. She hadn't thought of that implication when she readily accepted Mr. Bates' suggestion of hiring one of Daphne's girls. Daphne had dozens of residents, many whom they hadn't encountered, but she just happened to be sent one of the handfuls of women that they had.
"So, Ethel... Welcome," Anna reached out to shake the shy redhead's hand.
"Thank you ever so much for the opportunity. I promise you that I'll work very hard to deserve this help." Part of Ethel's employment package included a three month advance in salary so that she could get installed in a flat and secure some minor furnishings for her new abode. It truly was an extraordinary opportunity for a woman trying to start anew.
"I know you'll do fine. Daphne spoke of the hard work that you've done, getting your GCSE and that you've been working on online classes so that you can take your A levels in the future."
Ethel nodded, shyly.
"I have to ask one thing, though," added Anna. "Just like your entire background and where you came from is a secret that only I and Mr. Bates know, the fact that you've seen us together is a secret as well. Mr. Bates is currently in a bit of a jam."
Ethel nodded, as if she knew. "Yes, Daphne told me about his incarceration."
"Nobody here knows that Mr. Bates and I are together. Only Daphne, and now you…. and….. I would hope that you could keep that to yourself."
"Absolutely, Miss Smith. You can count on me." Ethel looked honest and Anna believed her.
"Thank you. Now call me Anna, and let's get you introduced."
Anna took her as far as Gwen, who promised to give Ethel the complete tour. As Ethel was handed off, Anna went to get some tea and overheard the new recruit talking about how ironic it was that she should work in a helicopter transport company when she was so panicked by them. Anna chuckled internally as she realized that Mr. Bates was right. He'd said that about the women after he'd extricated them from their situations. Once they'd ridden away from their harsh world in his million pound babies, they'd be panicked, remembering it as part of their past tormented existence. The only other person she was aware that had any panic for them was Phyllis, and thanks to Phyllis and her panic, she'd been able to accompany Mr. Bates on the day that Mr. Wiggleton's booking had been messed up. That was the glorious day that they'd finally gotten together. Phyllis didn't come from Bryant landing, though.
The moment she had that thought, Anna's eyed opened wide. She almost dropped the cup she had just served herself. She set the mug on the counter and held on to the edge of the sink while she continued with that idea. Phyllis was panicked by helicopters, in the same way that Ethel and the Bryant Landing women were. Could it be possible? Knowing that Phyllis had no cyber background made it feasible. Maybe she was one of Daphne's girls and that's why, in every conversation, she defended their boss vehemently. That had to be it. Anna was proud of herself. God, she was clever. She didn't know if it was relevant at all, but it was a good deduction, anyway. She was giddy as she walked back to her office with an added spring in her step. If her day was starting out this well, maybe by the time the day ended, John would be released and it would end up being glorious.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The day was hot and humid. It had rained during the night and Anthony could feel the damp sticking all over his skin. That was a bad feeling to have when he had all of the hidden wiring underneath his shirt. His hands were clammy too, and the manila envelope holding the official looking documents was showing signs of his perspiration. Of course, it wasn't all due to the weather. He was meeting the woman who had defrauded him out of thousands of pounds and who had played with his heart strings, alleging he had fathered that beautiful little boy. It was all a lie and that thought had angered him since the day Anna had confirmed the child was not his. He'd not done anything about it, and had avoided talking to Edna at all. Thus, when Anna called him to explain the situation and that he might be John's only way out, he agreed to help. Matthew had provided a lengthy consultation over the phone, explaining all correct wording to use and how to get around whatever she threw at him. The documents in the folder were also courtesy of Matthew, the written declaration of the purported crimes Edna had committed against him. He'd show them proudly, in an attempt to coerce Edna into the truth.
He sat at the bench, where they agreed to meet, as suggested by her. He focused his eyes on the trees and he was able to discern one or two hidden cameras among the branches. Those Carson's were good, he had to admit, disguising them so that they were only seen if you knew to look for them.
"Good day, Anthony." Edna strolled by, wheeling the pram beside her and setting the baby just beyond his visual reach. She sat down on the bench, as far as possible from him. It was just like her, bringing the child, but keeping it away from him. How he felt for the poor darling, growing up with a mother like this.
"Good day, Edna." He said curtly. She had no idea what awaited her.
"Have you come with the money? You know I won't let you see Michael if you ain't got it."
"He's such a lovely chap. I feel sorry for him."
Edna scrunched her face. She didn't understand what he was getting to. "Whatever do you mean by that?"
"No, I've not brought the money," he decided to address her question, "but I've brought something else." He unsheathed the documents from their folder.
He could tell Edna was gritting her teeth. He presented the first document and held it up so that she could see it.
"This is a lawsuit I intend to pursue against you. You owe me 20,000 pounds. All these documents have been drafted by my solicitor and after this conversation, I shall take them to the police station so that they can review them and on the basis of the evidence I am bringing forth, they will have you arrested for Conspiracy to Defraud."
Edna did not look scared. She was still seething. "You bloody idiot," she offered loudly as she stood up. "Do you really want to take me on in court? When it was you who raped me?"
"Let's see. That is addressed on page 2." He flipped the sheets until he had the paragraph that he wanted. "That night, at the bar, I don't remember at any point, having any interest in you. You drugged me, and moved me to your flat, then positioned me to where you would make me think that you and I had been together. If you had, at any point, thought that I had raped you, you would have immediately gone to the police. Instead, you waited three weeks, conveniently, until you could make me believe you were pregnant, to make your accusation. You were already pregnant and you were trying to con me. If you were to go to the police now, I would insist on a DNA paternity test, where, I believe, it would be no surprise to find out that the darling little chap is not really mine."
Feigning indignation, Edna swung round to grab the handles of the pram, attempting to get away. Anthony calmly stood up while she took off the pram's breaks, moved in front of the baby carriage.
"Accusing me of false rape is seen very wrongly by the Crown Prosecution Service. I suspect you know that I am talking the truth. Little Michael is not mine, and that would all but prove the false accusation. I believe that three years in jail is the minimum for what is legally called "Perverting the course of justice".
Still not admitting to anything Anthony was saying, Edna spout out, "If you didn't want to take on the responsibility of this child, you should have just said," Edna admonished as she struggled to move the pram into a different direction. "You didn't have to find a legal way of getting rid of us. I could have managed without you."
Anthony had to laugh. He was beginning to think she believed her own lies. As if she ever gave him the choice. She had pressured him and not given him a way out, ever. Edna maneuvered around him and was now moving out in the opposite direction. She wanted to get out of there quickly.
"Edna, you have played your last card. If you leave now, the police will come to you and arrest you. It will be immediate." He held up his phone. "My solicitor is waiting for my signal to make the call. Stop moving right now and I might give you a way out of this predicament."
Edna stopped. He could tell she was breathing in, psyching herself for the conversation. "What, do you mean, 'give me a way out of this predicament'." She turned slowly, still holding on to the pram's handlebar. She was ready to leave if she didn't like what she was hearing.
"I can make this lawsuit, and the police disappear. You can go on, with my darling boy, and never have to worry about me and what I could do to you for all the lies you've told me and the money you've extorted from me. We could pretend that none of this, between us, ever took place."
By Edna's pensive demeanor, Anthony could tell she was considering his offer.
"I am not saying that there's any truth to what you've said, but, just to humor you, pray tell me…. What would it take for you to go away and I never have to see you again?" Edna was blunt.
"Ah…. I'm glad you ask." He took out another sheet of paper from the manila folder. "This is a legal document that says that I will not accuse you, now, or ever, of the fraud you perpetrated against me, and in exchange, you will explain every deceitful thing that Vera Bates had done against her husband, and their company, Bates Airlift."
Edna's eyes rolled into a semi-confused state. She was trying to understand what Anthony had just said, but not quite understanding how simple of a request this was. Her diabolical mind was thinking of more sadistic or sexual acts he might have her do. "So, you want me to rat on Vera?"
"Exactly. I have reason to believe that she's the reason he is currently in jail." He took out a picture of Edna and Vera in the quaint, but ridiculously priced café that Elsie had snapped from the car. "….and don't lie to me and say that you don't know what I am talking about." He showed her the picture. "I want to know what she told you during this conversation and any others before or after. And…. After you explain it to me right now, you have to be willing to come with me to my solicitor's and write a declaration that can be used as testimony in court."
Edna looked shocked that he could procure a photograph of them, from so recent a time frame. "Have you been spying on me?" she asked with an inflection of righteous anger.
"Not you, particularly, but we were investigating Vera, right before this whole jail thing came about. You just happened to walk into the line of sight."
"And if I don't cooperate, and rat out Vera?" Edna asked sullenly, although she already knew the answer. She didn't really have a way out.
"The choice is yours, darling. You have been extorting me for money, and I can sue you to return every last penny, and have you jailed for fraud. Can you image Mikey under the care of his real father, Mr. Phillips?" Edna looked like she was finally breaking. She had a tear in her eye. Maybe she was a good mother after all, he thought. "Or you can come clean about every false thing Vera had done and that she has told you about. You have nothing to lose."
Without saying anything, Edna repositioned the pram to its original place, set the brakes and sat down. Sensing a breakthrough moment, Anthony sat down next to her.
"Fine. Let's do this."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
At a quarter to one, in the afternoon, the majority of the police staff was returning to their desks after having eaten lunch. It was no more than the usual afternoon, with the habitual amount of offenders being brought through for processing. The halls were full of people. Some just hanging out, others milling around with purpose. The mundanity of it all was suddenly shattered, and the common noises of the police headquarters were replaced with the loud and unified noise of printing machines and copiers all working in tandem. All of the machines of both floors were printing at the same time, and it was causing a ruckus. Sheets of paper were falling to the floor and being hurtled through the air, the amount of copies generated or printed, reaching into the hundreds. Those who were on their computers also realized that they were receiving spam email on their work accounts. Every three seconds, they received another missive with the same title, all from the same source.
FREE BATES read all of the headers, and it was also splashed across the pieces of paper that were coming from the copiers and printers. "Who is Bates?" yelled one of the Inspectors from homicide who was both intrigued and annoyed at the sudden onslaught against them. Many employees in the office started laughing, enjoying the craziness of it all, some started cursing at the machines to stop, and others just remained incredulous as to what was happening. Cyber security at Police Headquarters was being breached. The employees on that squad were scrambling. This was not an ordinary day.
While the majority of people on the two floors were clueless, and the employees in the cyber squad were panicking, one of the inspectors decided to open one of the emails. Sergeant Willis wondered if it was truly about one of their recent cases, that of one John Bates, or just a play on words of a sexual nature. Free Bates could be a metaphor for just about anything.
The majority of his colleagues, the Fraud team, were away, at court, pending the start of the case against this specific John Bates that he remembered. That trial was set to start soon. He sighed, having been chosen to stay behind for coverage reasons, and opened one of the emails. It was sure to be sexual, and he needed his kick for the day. He was floored to find not an advertisement for little blue pills, or one for the infamous pumps that could enlarge his penis. Instead, he found very specific instructions on how John Bates had been framed for embezzlement and exactly how it had been done. There were IP addresses, and diagrams, and explanations. This was amazing, and if it was proven to be true, then John Bates would be a free man.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
John looked around. Vera was not there, thank God, but Robert, Cora and all three of their daughters were. He felt comforted to know that he wasn't alone. His eyes wandered, continuously looking for Anna. He wondered if she'd come, and he'd asked her yesterday, when she came to see him early. She said she would be there, of course, but as determined as Matthew was to keep appearances, maybe he'd convinced her of the contrary. He couldn't argue with the logic, but his heart longed to see her, and in this moment, particularly, needed her in the courtroom with him, even if she was seated far away and playing coy indifference to him. Neither would say anything to give away their relationship, not when there was so still so much at stake.
The judge came in and sat down, with all his pomp and circumstance, as did the other members of the court. That's when he heard the unmistakable sound of high heels clacking against the wooden floors. It wasn't a large courtroom, and the sound reverberated through the room. Even the judge looked up and below his spectacles, trying to determine what the commotion was, and he could hear a shy "sorry" being uttered from behind him. It was her, of course, he could recognize her voice any day. He couldn't turn now, though, as much as he wanted to share a look with her. It would be too obvious and all eyes would be on them. Instead, he looked forward, buoyed by her presence, and feeling stronger now that she was here.
Matthew and his partner, Blake, were beside him, and they had detailed how the proceedings would be. It was just as they had explained with both Blake and the Crowne Prosecutor taking turns in arguing certain issues. They were discussing a particularly contentious topic, when Matthew's mobile, turned down out of respect for the court, started buzzing with insistence. He was receiving text messages. As he tried to read them, more came in. Matthew's face brightened and even Blake turned to look at his partner. Between eye signals, John could tell something was going on. Not a moment later, Anthony Strallan walked into the courtroom and made his way to the front, quietly, handing over a parcel to Matthew. It looked like a cassette recorder. John was pleased to see his friend, but did not understand what was happening. The interruption gave him the opportunity he so desired. It was at that moment that he turned his head and saw his beautiful Anna. She had tears in her eyes, and she was gripping Mary's hand.
His heart jolted at the sight of her, and through the haze of his thoughts, he could hear Matthew speak.
"Your honor, we'd like to introduce new evidence."
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A/N: FREE BATES! Everything seems to finally be working for him. Will that be the case? Turn in to the next chapter to find out what will happen. The story is almost finished! Very little left to go.
I owe the idea of using the FREE BATES slogan to Mischka67 and Alice's Abbey who mentioned it in their kind reviews. Thank you ladies for the unwitting inspiration, and thank all of you for supporting the story with your comments, PM's, favorites and follows. I'm humbled by the nice things you all have to say.