A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews!

Warning for another intense chapter: action, some violence, and catching human traffickers again.

Chapter 20: Ladies and their Exploits

Azelma's biggest secret, except to her nearest and dearest, is that she sometimes cannot bring herself to make small talk. 'Why is it that I can't just chat up anyone if it's not something like a parent-teacher conference?' she asks herself exasperatedly as she finishes braiding her long hair, if only to keep her neck cool on this hot summer day. She takes a deep breath as she checks her makeup and her pink dress once more in the rear view mirror, taking stock of everything that has changed in the past few months. "Is this how a mommy is supposed to look?" she wonders. The girlish yet drawn look to her face has all but disappeared, and she's pretty sure that the new curves of her chest and hips are here to stay. It's not what she's used to, but it's not such a bad thing after all.

A quick glance at her watch tells her it's only eleven-thirty, just half an hour since she left little Alex in Courfeyrac's care, just for the afternoon. The thought of her happy-go-lucky husband taking charge of their baby daughter worries her a little but she catches herself before she can start picturing all kinds of comic and hair-raising scenarios. 'Alex is supposed to be the one getting separation anxiety, not you,' she chides herself as she gets out of the car and strolls across the piazza to a diner overlooking the river.

"Cosette Pontmercy, table for seven," Azelma tells the maître, who immediately shows her to a table located on the diner's terrace. Azelma hesitates on seeing an unfamiliar blonde woman already sitting there, picking daintily at a plate of toast squares surrounding small dishes of different kinds of dip. Instead of bringing out her phone to send a message to her sister or one of their other friends, she takes a deep breath and walks over to take a chair. "Hello. Are you also here to meet up with Cosette?" she asks tentatively.

The woman nearly drops the toast she is dipping into a dish of cheese. "She invited me." For a moment she seems to be studying Azelma's face. "You're Eponine's sister. Nice to meet you."

"I go by Azelma."

"Nice name. I'm Karen Hooper."

'Bahorel has good taste,' Azelma can't help thinking as she shakes Karen's hand. She has never been able to guess Bahorel's type; in fact she and Courfeyrac have a joke that their friend probably has a revolving door into the bedroom. Karen is prim and polished, but there is something in her mien that is steely and does not suffer fools. "So have you been waiting long?" she asks.

"No. Your sister is already here; she just went to the washroom," Karen replies, gesturing to a door near the side of the terrace. She pushes the plate of toast forward. "Eponine told me you teach at an elementary school. That sounds pretty tough."

"Compared to being on the police force?" Azelma asks quizzically.

Karen grimaces at this query. "Evidence doesn't talk back. Kids though..."

'I wish people would stop talking about teaching kids as if it was riot control,' Azelma thinks, recognizing the tone in Karen's voice. "They can be really sweet," she points out.

"It takes a special kind of person to remember that every day," Karen remarks. She nods to Eponine, who has just returned to the terrace. "Was there a long line at the restroom?"

"No, some of the cubicles were closed for cleaning," Eponine replies as she sits down She smoothes down her loose fitting red dress and smiles at Azelma by way of greeting. "You're here early, Zel."

"It was that or I wouldn't be able to get myself to leave the house. It's the first time that Maurice is taking charge of Alex without me around," Azelma admits. "I hope they'll be okay."

Eponine nods understandingly as she takes a piece of toast and dips it in a small dish of hummus. "If they are up to it, they should meet up with Marius, Jehan, Grantaire, Elodie, and Darren. They're going to the park today."

Azelma grins at the mental image of all these fathers on a day out with their children. 'Ladies like the sight of that,' she notes even as she sees Karen begin to check her phone. "Is that Bahorel?"

Karen shrugs. "Work." She stirs the cheese dip with another piece of toast. "Like I was telling you earlier, Remy is a great guy," she says to Eponine. "If I'd met him at any other time and any other place, I could give him a shot."

"So you admitted it," Eponine says with a mischievous grin. "There's nothing wrong if you see each other after this case wraps up."

"I don't know if we can drag out that long," Karen replies. "I mean, did you?"

Eponine shrugs. "After I signed out of Auguste's case and he was discharged from the hospital, it took him only a week till he asked me out in person. Since he wasn't my patient anymore and we weren't working on any cases together then, I took the chance."

Azelma rolls her eyes at this prosaic retelling. "It took you two long enough." She smirks as she catches Karen's bemused smile. "You'd think that with all their arguments and just the way they'd look at each other, they'd at least be getting a room."

"I didn't think of that right away," Eponine says as she picks up another piece of bread.

Karen simply nods at all of this brash talk. "So you two weren't a casual sort of thing and then you decided to get serious?"

Eponine shakes her head. "It never seemed that way."

"So you always knew he was worth it?"

"It wasn't because he is worth it or because I am worth it. We decided that we wanted to make it work."

Karen is silent for a few moments and then nods slowly. "I'll talk to him. It's about time."

"How long have you two been going out?" Azelma asks.

"Less than three months," Karen laughs sheepishly. "It's not too soon to bring it up, isn't it?"

"No. You don't have time to waste," Azelma replies firmly. "If Bahorel isn't straight with you...well that would be a first."

"Does he have plans...I mean actual plans beyond next week?" Karen enquires. "You understand what I mean, I hope?"

"Every word," Azelma says, now toying with her own wedding ring. 'The truth is that marrying Maurice was anything but a whim,' she muses. She has never regretted that seemingly impulsive courthouse wedding just about a year ago, or any moment that has happened since. It's a happy train of thought that has her smiling to herself even as Cosette shows up a few minutes later with another woman in tow. "Hi Cosette, who's your new friend?" Azelma greets, even as she surreptitiously surveys this red-headed stranger.

"Ladies, meet Marguerite St-Just," Cosette says, letting Marguerite loop her arm around hers. She nods to Karen. "You're Karen. My name is Cosette."

"Thanks for inviting me," Karen says. She looks intently at Marguerite. "I've met you before."

Marguerite's curious look brightens up with a smile of recognition. "The airport case, last year. You were investigating the crime scene, Officer Hooper."

"What a small world," Cosette laughs. "Who would have thought?"

"Most certainly not me. I just met you out on the piazza. I'd recognize you anywhere, because of those articles about your father's foundation," Marguerite observes. "How have your cases been since then?" she asks Karen.

"Some good, some trickier than they ought to be," Karen says. "No promotion anytime soon."

In the meantime Cosette clasps Eponine's wrist. "How are you doing? I know you've had a lot to handle lately," she whispers concernedly.

"Things are starting to get better." Eponine sits up straighter. "Meaning that work is fine and my mother-in-law managed to find her own place so she doesn't have to get a hotel room or stay with us."

"So how is Enjolras doing?" Azelma asks.

"Good," Eponine says with a more relieved smile. "He's kind of shocked though since we just found out we're having a son."

Azelma bursts out laughing just from imagining her brother-in-law chasing after a curly-haired little boy. "Did he want a little girl?"

"He was fine with either, but he's really more nervous about parenting than I am," Eponine explains. "I don't think he's going to be completely assured till he gets to hold the baby for the first time."

"Indeed, that is very much how like Percy was when I was carrying our son," Marguerite chimes in. "That dear man, when he saw little Percy for the first time, when he placed him in my arms..." Her vivacious smile grows tender with the memory. "That was the only time I ever saw him cry."

Karen shakes her head incredulously. "I cannot imagine it."

'That's what all men say,' Azelma thinks even as she signals to a server to bring over some glasses of water. By this time the restaurant is filling up owing to the lunch crowd as well as people crowding around the corner bar to seek refuge from the noontime heat. One of the people seated at the near end of the bar is a gangly, sandy-haired boy dressed in a clean button down shirt and jeans. He is listening to a clean shaven, sharply dressed man who appears to be in his forties. The boy's right hand shakes as he picks up a glass and gulps down its contents, nodding at nearly every word his older companion says. It's all too clear to Azelma what this child is drinking. "He doesn't have an ID," she whispers.

Karen motions for Azelma to keep her voice down. By this time the voices at the bar become clearer. "It's a simple job-three grand if you get this right," the older man says. "All you need to do is be at the Peninsula Inn, wearing the denim jacket. The gentleman there will take care of the rest."

The boy nods shakily. "Is it safe?"

"Perfectly safe. I get kids like you all the time," the man drawls as he settles an arm around the boy's shoulders. "If you do well and this guy likes you, you're made."

Eponine, who is sitting nearest this pair, now sets down her glass of water. "You're starting a little early. It's not even noon," she says, looking straight at the older gentleman. "Does this kid work for you?"

The man scowls at her. "What's it to you, lady?"

"He doesn't look well. I'm a doctor," Eponine snaps as she gets to her feet. She walks up to the boy, who is resting his head on his elbows. "Hey, hey, are you okay?"

Karen clips something on her belt before also getting out of her seat. "Hello, where's the bartender?" she calls. "Does this kid have ID?"

"The tab is on me," the older man retorts. "It's no problem."

Karen shoots him a withering look. "How old is he?"

"Seventeen," the kid murmurs. "Just last week."

Azelma feels her gut twist at this information, even as she catches sight of Cosette signalling to the head waiter. In the meantime she quickly pours a glass of water and sets it down on the bar. "Ponine, I think he needs this," she whispers to her sister.

Eponine nods as she helps the boy take a sip of water. "He needs help. Zel, have you got your car?"

The man steps between the boy and Eponine. "I've got it covered. He's a friend; I'm taking care of him."

"You need to call his parents," Eponine argues. She chafes the boy's wrists. "What's your name? Where are your parents?"

The boy blinks blearily at her. "Macky. Haven't seen my mum..."

"Eponine, he's not from here," Marguerite points out as she goes to help Eponine pull this boy away from the bar. "Where are you from?" she asks Macky.

Karen watches this quietly, lips pursed with disapproval. "Sir, I will need to see both your IDs," she says in a slow, even tone to the gentleman. She shows the badge on her belt. "Please cooperate."

As Azelma looks around the restaurant she can see now that there are several other men now approaching the bar. All of them are tall and burly, and two of them are carrying pistols. She sees Marguerite go pale at this sight. "What-"

"Move!" Marguerite hisses as she tries to help Macky walk faster.

Suddenly a shout comes from the bar, where Karen has evaded the other man's attempt to grab her. The policewoman grapples with the man for a moment, but as soon as she pins him down she's immediately cornered by one of the gunmen. Before Azelma can do anything she feels the cold metal of a pistol at the small of her back, forcing her to freeze. In the meantime Eponine breaks away from another assailant and rushes to pull the fire alarm. Outraged shrieks and yells sound out over the din of the alarm ringing and the sprinklers drenching all the diners in the premises, catching most of the would-be-kidnappers off guard, including the gunman at Azelma's back. The would-be kidnapper who is still standing over Karen glares venomously at her and then to where Marguerite and Cosette are trying to help Macky out the door. It's only a second but it's enough for Karen to kick out, taking the man's legs out from under him and sending him to the floor.

"You're under arrest for assaulting an officer," Karen snarls as she pins down her assailant. She is breathing hard as she looks around. "Is everyone okay?"

"Not this one. He's still shaky," Cosette calls from where she and Marguerite are now easing Macky into a chair.

"What on earth happened?" Musichetta calls from where she and Florence have just arrived at the diner. The obstetrician's jaw drops as she takes in the sight of the Thenardier sisters and Karen with their assailant, as well as Cosette and Marguerite with Macky. "Do I want to know?"

"Do you want to complicate your life?" Marguerite asks. She pats Macky's shoulder, as if trying to assure herself that he is still there. "Did you see those men?"

Florence nods quickly. "I got a picture of their license plate."

"Good." Marguerite lets out a relieved sigh as she looks to where Karen is now calling for reinforcements on her phone. "I've been wondering for weeks what they've been doing."

'Who are they?' Azelma wonders worriedly as she glances at Marguerite. "Are you a detective too?"

"I do the part at times," Marguerite replies, stepping aside so that Eponine and Musichetta can start checking on Macky. She motions for Azelma to come close. "There are some men who are involved in the terrible business of snatching-not purses but people," she explains in an undertone.

Azelma nearly rolls her eyes at this dramatic statement, but the gravity is still clear in Marguerite's tone. 'This boy could be anyone,' she thinks as she looks at Macky. The tired look in his face suddenly changes and suddenly she sees Gavroche, much younger and far more wearied. 'Like he was before Ponine was able to take us away...'

"Azelma? Are you okay?" Cosette calls now from seemingly far off.

"Now I am," Azelma manages to say, shaking her head if only to better focus on Macky's pale face. She suppresses a shiver but the fact is still there; at any other time this boy could have been her, or either of her siblings. "So much for lunch," she mutters.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Florence quips a little ruefully. She taps Marguerite's arm "We should meet up, once we get everything sorted."

"I'd like that," Marguerite says gamely. "If you'd be so kind as to please share that picture, it would be of much help."

In the meantime Eponine looks up from where she is tending to Macky. "He's not poisoned on something but he's had more alcohol than he can handle," she pronounces.

Macky blinks blearily. "I can't go to a hospital, they'll kill me if they find me there," he croaks.

"I'll bring you to someplace safe in the meantime," Marguerite tells him. "You're welcome in my home."

Macky nods, clearly still trying to gather his wits about him. "Will they find me?"

"They won't. I've done this before," Marguerite insists.

"What about Percy? I mean both of them-your husband and your son?" Musichetta asks.

Marguerite merely shrugs. "They understand. We always do,"

All throughout this conversation and the ensuing discussion about investigations and authorities, Azelma remains silent. Somehow the afternoon seems darker for a reason she cannot quite put her finger on. "I think I have to go," she says after a few moments as she picks up her purse. "I have to check on Alex..."

"I'll drive you," Eponine chimes in. She bites her lip before looking at their friends. "So we'll catch up some other time?"

"Yes, and soon," Cosette concurs. "Stay safe you two," she adds, squeezing Azelma's arm.

'Do I look that shaken up?' Azelma wonders as she bids goodbye to the rest of the group and then follows her sister outside. She tosses the car keys to Eponine, but doesn't say anything till they are both inside the car. "Ponine, what are you doing?" she asks. "You're up to something again."

"It's the case, the one about the girl...the kids," Eponine replies as she turns the key in the ignition. Her knuckles are white as she grips the steering wheel. ""Someone is bringing them to this city and taking them in for prostitution, drugs, among other things."

Azelma squeezes her eyes shut, if only to stop the memories from welling up. "We were those kids, okay? You know how dangerous it is!" she seethes.

"I know, and that's why I have to do something.""

"Why does it have to be you?"

Eponine bites her lip as they arrive at a red light. "It's not just you, me, and Gav. When I was living at the halfway house, there were maybe twenty other girls with me. I thought I was brave then. These girls were something else."

Azelma falls silent; it's the first time that her sister has spoken about those years spent in the city while she and Gavroche had been put in one foster home after another. "In that part of town, there are plenty of gangs. Girls run with them too."

"There was that. Many of the girls were runaways. I'm pretty sure some of them came from overseas. One of them had this story about a boyfriend she'd met online but who ditched her. Another girl had been told she'd land a job as a dancer, but she ended up in a brothel. There was also another girl who'd been picked up after she called for help for her friend. They'd been smuggling drugs in balloons, and one of them burst in her friend's stomach..." Eponine trails off and shakes her head. "One night, Mother Asuncion woke me up. I'm not sure why me, and why not any of the other girls. A new kid had just been brought in. She was twelve. She'd been beaten badly, her knee was twisted and Mother Asuncion needed help to manage it. I had to basically pop that kneecap back in place. I don't know how I did it, but it worked. That got me thinking."

It now dawns on Azelma where her sister's story is going. "That was when you decided to be a doctor."

"At least to get out of there and do something different. Nursing school was a start and a fallback," Eponine adds more easily. "After that...I guess Cosette, Daniel, Chetta, and Joly can tell you the rest. Miss Fantine too."

Azelma nods, seeing now where this story finally also picks up with hers and Gavroche's, just a few years later. "I think someone might have told you this before, but you can't save everyone."

"The second part to that is it matters to those we do," Eponine counters.

"Ponine, you don't get it," Azelma protests, crossing her arms over her seatbelt. "You're in deep, and I guess Maurice is too since he works with Enjolras, Then there are Chetta, Cosette, and I don't know...everyone else? I can't lose you guys. Dad almost shot you and Enjolras last year. What if these guys come after you too?"

"That's not going to happen, Zel."

"How do you know that? What happened back there was pretty serious."

Eponine is quiet for a moment. "I don't know how we'll do it, but the only way to be safe is putting an end to the entire chain. I really want to do this before I have the baby," she says.

Azelma grits her teeth. "You'd better. He's going to be your number one priority from then on." She glances at her sister's belly. "So what are you calling him?"

A more mischievous smile spreads over Eponine's face. "Auguste and I are still debating about that." Suddenly she gasps and quickly brings her hand to her middle. "Oh my God..."

"Ponine? Is something wrong?" Azelma asks, sitting up straight.

Eponine shakes her head before breaking into delighted laughter. "Not at all! I just felt my baby move!"