"Get any word off the streets?" Aramis asked from his desk as Porthos walked in. The two have been helping Athos find d'Artagnan but sadly for three days they haven't found any clues. Porthos had asked the kids at the orphanage to keep an eye out when they go out to play or school and Flea had said she would keep an eye out as well.

"Not yet. Athos not shown up?" Porthos sat at his desk with a sigh and turned his computer on.

"Oh he's here. He hasn't left in two days. He thinks Labarge might be behind this but since he's been in jail this whole time, he's thinking someone might have been visiting and working for Labarge."

Porthos shook his head in sadness. This was hitting Athos harder than they all thought. Even Captain Treville noticed the change. Athos was now back to his quiet self, not talking to no one but them, not smiling or laughing anymore, and they were sure he went back to drinking more than usual when he did go home.

Athos walked into the room, nodding at his friends, before sitting at his desk. "She's been visiting him."

Aramis and Porthos looked at one another in confusion and back to their friend. "She who?" they asked in union.

"Milady. According to the log books, Milday de Winter has been visiting Labarge for a few weeks now."

"How does she know Labarge?" Porthos asked.

"That's a question we might soon find out," Treville said, walking into the room. "Athos, you are to appear in court. Labarge is trying to make bail."

"Bail?" Athos asked standing up with a glare.

"It seems someone had managed to convince Judge Louis to give Labarge another trial for chance at bail. If this goes through, Labarge will be free to walk until his next court date."

"There is no way in hell that bastard is getting free," Athos said, storming out of the room. First he would make sure this monster stayed behind bars, second he would find what Milady wanted with Labarge, and finally he would get all his answers from those two about where d'Artagnan is.

"Officer Athos, can you explain to the court why you believe my client, Labarge, is not allowed to make bail?" the lawyer asked, walking around the courtroom.

"Yes sir. About a month ago I was on duty. While on patrol I had heard a nose coming from an ally and upon inspecting that nose, I found it to be your client, Mr. Labarge, striking a black puppy with a stick. He had the puppy tied to a telephone pole with a rope that was too tight around his throat. I had ordered him to drop the stick and put his hands in their air. He had refused and had told me in his own words, and I quote, 'He's just a no good runt. Should've drowned him when I had the chance.'"

"I see. So is this the reason why you believe my client shouldn't get bail?"

"I believe that given the chance to be free, I'm afraid he would go out and find another animal to abuse. Animal abuse is often the first manifestation of serious emotional turmoil that may escalate into extreme violence, such as mass killing (1) and this alone is why I believe Mr. Labarge should not have bail. It starts off with animals and then pretty soon it'll be an innocent twelve year old walking home from school or a friends house."

"That is a very good claim," Richelieu said.

"Very good indeed. I do believe there is someone who is going to talk for Mr. Labarge?" Judge Louis asked, looking around the courtroom.

Athos got up and took his seat next to Aramis and Porthos, not knowing who this person was until he turned his head at the sound of the door opening and in walked Milady de Winter.

"You've got to be kidding me," Aramis said under his breath. "She's trying to get Labarge's bail?"

"Milady de Winter is going to tell us why she believes my client should get bail."

Milady smiled and took her seat, looking up at Judge Louis with big innocent eyes. "You're honor, I have been Labarge's girlfriend for nearly three years. Sure, he has a temper and can get somewhat violent, but it's not his fault. His parents were both abusive towards one another and towards him and he just picked up on their bad habits, believing this type of life style is how he should live. I had given him a puppy to help him feel better, to show him how to take care of himself and the puppy."

"Is this the same puppy Officer Athos was talking about?" Judge Louis asked.

"Yes. The puppies name is d'Artagnan. I had to leave town for a few weeks and had left d'Artagnan in Labarge's care."

"So you knew of his violent tendencies and left the puppy with him while you were away?"

Milady bowed her head in shame. "Yes. When I returned, I had found out he had moved and took d'Artagnan with him I was furious. Then I heard that he got arrested for animal abuse and was in jail."

"So how do you think my client being on bail will help him?"

"I have talked to Labarge for some time while he's been in here and we came to an agreement. If he could get bail, he would get the help he needs. He wants to be able to live like the rest of in a healthy life."

"What help will he be receiving?" Judge Louis asked.

"I promise he will be going to anger management classes and there is a really good therapist I was recommended and Larbarge will be seeing her at lest twice a week."

"If Labarge does make bail, he does know that he is to not have any pets of any kind while on bail?"

"I promise I will be with him at all times and no animals, not even a bird, will be in our apartment until he is better."

Judge Louis nodded and started to think about what he should do. Athos was practically squirming in his seat with anxiety, hoping the Judge would make the right decision. After a few minutes Judge Louis made his decision.

"Mr. Labarge, I do believe in giving someone a second chance to right their wrong. If you are going to be committed to getting help, I will set bail for $1,000." (sorry, not sure what a good bail is)

Labarge smiled as he looked over at Athos before standing up and giving Milady a hug. He grabbed her hand and they both walked out as she dug through her purse to get her checkbook out to pay the bail.

"I can't believe it," Porthos said, standing up. "How can Judge Louis set that man free?"

"Milady is very good at convincing people to believe her," Athos said. He glared as Richelieu walked up to them. "Can I help you?"

"I must say, I thought Judge Louis wouldn't give him bail. You made a very good case that you even convinced me to not let him free."

"Did you put him up to this?" Aramis asked.

"Heavens no. From one dog owner to another, I would not want that man out on the streets. Plus I can just image all the paper work if that man starts killing people." Richelieu started to walk away but stopped and turned around. "Athos, where is that little puppy of yours? I haven't heard him or seen him in three days."

"It would seem someone broke into my house and took him," Athos said.

"That's funny because four days ago Labarge had a late visitor come see him."

"Late visitor?" Aramis asked.

"Yes. I was about to send the cellmates back to their cells when a young man came running in and said he needed to speak with his cousin Labarge real fast. He said his mother wasn't doing very well and he wanted to let Labarge know what was going on."

"What was his name?" Athos asked.

"Lucas Sournois." Richelieu reached into his jacket and pulled out a folder and handed it to Athos. "As you know, everything is recorded during visiting hours, even late ones." Richelieu walked away, leaving the three men alone.

"I'm going to listen to this," Athos said, heading out the door. The drive back to the station, though only took five minutes, seemed to have taken an hour to him when he finally pulled in and practically ran inside. He admits he thought Richelieu was behind this, but now he knows at lest Milady is behind this as well as Labarge. Getting to his desk, he put the DVD in his computer and started to listen to the best evidence he's got.

"You're late?"

"Sue me. You know how uncomfortable I am around police."

"Well, get over it because I need you to do something for me."

"What's that?"

"I want you to go to this Officer Athos place. I heard word he had adopted my dog after putting me in jail and I want him back."

"What's so special about this dog?"

"It's my dog, that's why. Just find out where he lives and grab the dog while he's at work. I got a girl who's going to help me get bail in a couple of days. There's an abandon building at the end of my street that no one goes near. Take the runt there and wait for me."

"Breaking into a police officers house is going to cost you more."

"That's no problem."

"Very well."

"Well, I would say that's the best evidence we're found all day," Aramis said from behind Athos chair, having heard the whole recording, with Porthos standing behind him.

"Yes, and we even know where they are keeping d'Artagnan."

Porthos nodded and grabbed his jacket from his desk. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get our puppy back."

Athos watched as Porthos walked out the door and looked at Aramis. "Our puppy?"

"Athos, you should've known how Porthos has a soft spot for puppies. The moment he held d'Artagnan, that puppy was his."

"And you?"

"Of course d'Artagnan's my puppy too. How can you not love that little guy?"

Athos smiled and shook his head. "Then, let's go get our puppy back."

1. blog/why-the-wild-things-are/201302/do-mass-killers-start-out-harming-pets (for some reason the whole website for my citation is not showing up under the Edit Document so I'm going to put the website as a Comment for this chapter)