(Rank) (Name) was still in a black mood when they arrested Jane Pembroke's killer, a younger telegraph girl named Minnie Starr. The stupid girl took Lawson's speeches literally, and killed Jane to correct what she deemed the injustices in her own life. Stupid, self-entitled brat! Sure, Jane had a rich husband, but the man was old enough to be her father and wanted her to take care of him, only giving into her wanting to work when she nagged at him. As for William Grady, the manager? Of course he was attracted to Jane, the only telegraph girl to NOT flirt with him; to a man who was accosted on a regular basis, that would be refreshing and thus attractive. The promotion to head telegraph girl had to have something to do with the message from the state Jane transcribed. But does any of that occur to little Minnie, who whined throughout her trial that she was living up to Lawson's example? Of course it didn't, and all Minnie got for her troubles was having her actions described as "self-serving notions of justice and fairness", being considered immoral beyond redemption and a life sentence in prison.
"What have you done, you selfish little viper?" (Name) said as they left the courthouse. "You murdered a woman out of jealousy and ruined your own life in the process. Pathetic, self-absorbed bitch."
"(Rank) (Name), please watch your tongue!" Isaac said. "Such uncouth language is unbecoming a police officer."
"I know it is, Isaac. I'll let you know when I give a damn." They stayed silent as they walked back to the airship, and all (Name) could see was corruption in the streets. All sorts of louts taking advantage of the current administration while the innocent suffer.
"(Name)," Isaac said. "I know you're upset about what we learned—"
"Upset?" (Name) asked as they reached the airship. "Upset would be finding out all the soda fountains in Concordia have shut down and nobody can make a decent egg cream anymore. Upset would be watching the poor become poorer and knowing everything you do to help them is like trying to empty the ocean with a thimble while opprtunists take advantage to the point their ill-gotten gains are butter upon bacon! Upset would be copping a mouse while pursuing a suspect only for the suspect to get away! Learning that Lawson is plunging Concordia into a potential blood bath that makes the French Revolution look like a schoolyard scuffle not for justice as he claims, or even what he believes, but for revenge? That has me beyond upset, Isaac! This city is in a chokehold of podsnappery, where assholes bubble around against anyone they believe caused them an injustice, real or otherwise and taking actions that are skilamalink at best, all in the name of 'justice' as the dear Mayor preaches, while said Mayor remains fucking ignorant to how everyone interprets his ideals and speeches! He remains oblivious to the consequences of his actions and has no idea what anyone—least of all his inner circle—are doing with the example he gives!"
"(Name)..."
"Do you know the worst part of this, Isaac? He doesn't care! Lawson doesn't give a damn about this city, he never did, or he wouldn't have done this. God only knows how many in his administration are applying their own perspectives of his ideals and making the people suffer! How many murders have occured since he became Mayor? Overall, not just what we investigated. How many in this city are suffering because two gangsters murdered the woman he loved and he decided the punishment they earned didn't fit the crime?"
"We'll stop him, mon ami. I promise you, we will stop him."
"We have to." God only knows what would happen to this city if they didn't. They were interrupted by Chief Wright, who came into the main area in distress.
"(Rank) (Name)! I need to see you in my office, now!" Chief Wright said. "And when I say now, I mean NOW!" He returned to his office before (Name) could ask what the problem was. Charlie then came up with Maddie, who looked ready to burst any day now.
"Evie called up the resistance, Giulietta will be waiting for us in the sewers. Now that Lawson outlawed public gatherings, you can't be too careful!" Charlie said. "(Name), we live in truly exciting times! Now I can make history as part of the resistance!"
"Charles Dupont, the only place where you'll be making history is in your lab!" Maddie said. "I must see to it that my baby has a father when it's born! I'll go with (Name) to meet Giulietta! You stay put here!"
"But…YOU are carrying the baby, dear!" Charlie said.
"He's right. I have a better idea." (Name) said. "You're both staying here. Isaac will go meet with Giulietta; you better take this." (Name) went to their desk where they hid the document holder Diego gave them.
"What is that?" Maddie asked. "Where did you get it?"
"Intelligence I hope the resistance finds useful. Where we got it…let's say I have an informant who risked everything to get this, and for their safety—and ours—all details on them have to remain confidential."
"Of course." Isaac nodded and took the document holder.
"I'll see what the Chief wants while you speak with the resistance." Isaac nodded and left the airship.
"(Name), before you see Chief Wright, I have a message from a mutual friend." Charlie said, giving (Name) a piece of paper. "He was…insistent that you receive it."
"Thanks, Charlie. I hope this is good news." (Name) said as they moved past Charlie and Maddie and into Chief Wright's office.
"(Name), I need your help! I've received a telegram from Bernadine!" Chief Wright said, holding a telegram. "I hadn't heard from her in weeks! And now, look what she writes: "Arthur, I've made a decision, stop. We must part ways, stop. Don't look for me, stop"!" (Name) took the telegram from him and examined it.
"This looks like it was just sent." (Name) said. "Chief, not to be cruel, but this is not the time to mend broken hearts! Lawson's going to execute his political foes—"
"Political foes? And what do you think Bernadine Rochester is to Lawson?"
"You have a valid point, sir. Lawson did say "all Rochesters belonged in prison", even though Miss Bernadine had nothing to do with what her uncle did, unlike her brother, nephew and cousin. In fact, she risked herself to defy Horatio and not use her relationship with you to his advantage."
"(Name), this message doesn't sound like Bernadine! I went to her house, and she wasn't there! I worry that something's going on!"
"Sir, if Miss Bernadine sent this message from the telegraph office, maybe I can retrace her steps from there!"
"Great! Thank you so much, (Name), I'll wait for you at the Telegraph Office!"
"Chief, wait!" But Chief Wright raced out before (Name) could say more. "Damnit!" (Name) wasted no time following Chief Wright to the telegraph office. On the way, they read the message from Diego; no new intelligence, but he had taken steps to try and counter Umbright's orders regarding female prisoners. According to the message, "Lebold" had mentioned rumors of the Justice Corps to Inspector General Jaubert, who was not amused to hear that those under his command were "carousing" with female convicts, so he ordered several women prisoners—including Adelia Baldwin—to be placed in solitary confinement and that only female guards would oversee them, with strict orders that NO shenanigans were allowed.
"Not that those cock-sucking shit-sacks won't find ways around it," (Name) said as they reached the telegraph office. "But it has to be better than nothing." When they got there, they saw Bernadine with another figure that (Name) recognized.
"Please, Mister Lebold, you must let me go!" Bernadine said. "I must get away from here!"
"Miss Rochester, I beg you, fleeing to the forest isn't the answer." Lebold said. "You don't even like the countryside, and that's assuming you'd last a night in that forest!"
"I don't have much of a—Arthur!" (Name) could only watch as Chief Wright went to Bernadine.
"Bernadine, my poor darling! I can…barely recognize you!" Chief Wright cried. "You're pale and famished, and—"
"Arthur, I never wanted you to see me like this!" Bernadine said. "Why did you not heed my warning and stay away?"
"Because I knew you still loved me! Look, I'll take you home—"
"No, Arthur! I'm tired of hiding and living in fear! I'm going to surrender—perchance Lawson will show mercy if I give myself up voluntarily!"
"Surrender? No, darling, you can't!"
"I agree with Chief Wright." (Name) said. "Lawson's going to execute all of his political prisoners! You'll be walking into your death, if you're lucky!"
"But…what am I to do? The Justice Corps has already taken everything I had! If I don't give myself up, they'll find me!"
"Whether you surrender yourself or they find you, the end result will be the same! The only thing that's up for debate is whether or not the Justice Corps goons use you like a hedge-creeper!"
"What?!"
"(Name), what are you talking about?" Chief Wright asked.
"When we searched Albertina Thenard's bakery for important papers relating to the children, we found ledgers regarding her businesses, both the bakery and the prostitution she forced Adelia Baldwin into, without paying her!" (Name) said. "Some of the Justice Corps used her, and there's a standing order to use all female prisoners like such until their executions. Those ledgers are stored in the library, Chief, if you want a look at them."
"That…that's not…Lawson wouldn't—" Bernadine said, growing paler.
"He doesn't know, that order comes from his sadistic harpy of a deputy, Dora Umbright! He also, and this is more important, doesn't give a damn, seeing as he views criminals and those connected to them as less than nothing. The goons interpret that as they can do whatever the hell they want to anyone considered criminals, up to and including pinning them down and raping them before they're executed, before they're even arrested!"
"Oh God…" Bernadine looked like she was going to faint; Chief Wright held her so she didn't collapse.
"(Rank) (Name), that's enough, you're scaring her!" Chief Wright said.
"Good! That means she understands the extent of the danger she's in!" (Name) said.
"(Rank), if you have a suggestion to ensure Miss Rochester's safety," Lebold said. "Now would be the time to make it."
"The state's coming in two days to deal with Lawson." (Name) said, looking at Bernadine. "We need to hide you until then." (Name) paced, trying to think. Where the hell were they going to put Bernadine Rochester? Prospect Gardens was resistance headquarters, which left that out. They certainly couldn't keep her on the airship, and with freedom of assembly suspended…those buildings used as such would be shut down and locked away, including the church. The Justice Corps wouldn't think of looking for anyone in there.
"I reckon from the look on your face you have an idea." Chief Wright said.
"Yes, sir. I know where to hide Miss Bernadine, but you can't know about it. The less people who know where she is, the better. Plus the less likely they'll use her as leverage against you."
"Leverage?"
"Why else leave her alone while her cousin Rockley was one of the first arrests since Lawson became Mayor? Well, leave her alone to a point, as they illegally seized everything she had. Or maybe Lawson wants to wait until you two are engaged and take her life two days before the nuptials, because that was what happened to him!"
"Before the—good heavens! My dear Bernadine, I promise I'll do whatever it takes so that you won't come to any harm! So…so you must go with (Rank) (Name) to safety."
"Well, at least wherever I end up, I'll be by your side until the end, Arthur." Bernadine said. "(Rank) (Name), take the last of my money, and use it to make a brave stand against Lawson!"
"Actually, Mister Lebold could use those shillings for the telegraph office. I hear their till has come up rather short." (Name) said giving a look towards Lebold.
"Yes! (Rank) (Name) has a point!" Lebold said as he took the money. "I would hate for the manager to get into trouble, so I'll just do him this one favor and slip this into the till before the daily accounting!"
"We better get going, Miss Bernadine." (Name) said. Bernadine nodded as she took (Name)'s long coat. (Name) had already converted it into a cloak and had Bernadine put it on. (Name) led Bernadine to the nearest manhole and removed the cover.
"We're less likely to run into Justice Corps patrols here." (Name) said. They went into the sewers, and together (Name) and Bernadine walked under the city.
"You mentioned Adelia Baldwin." Bernadine said. "I heard she was arrested for murdering her employer."
"She was, and I hated to arrest her." (Name) said. "That shrew Umbright threw her in prison for fifteen years because she defended herself against a predatory employer, and nothing was done by the courts in regard to her son."
"Because he was illegitimate."
"Yes. We had to arrange for someone to adopt him, or at least care for him until we have this mess dealt with."
"Are you certain…about the Justice Corps having no regard for a woman's virtue?"
"I'm sorry to say I am. I had just gotten word that a source of mine has taken steps to counter those outrageous orders, but I don't know how effective those steps will be."
"I understand. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you, wondering if you haven't damned her to a worse fate than she had."
"This never would have happened, none of this would have happened, if Lawson hadn't become Mayor. Castletown should never have chosen him as his Deputy…hellfire, Lawson should've stayed in the court house, not gone into politics…goddamnit!"
"(Rank) (Name)?"
"I trusted that bastard! Concordia trusted that bastard, and he betrayed that trust as soon as he gained what he believed to be the power to get what he wants! God, your nephew Archie said Lawson had plenty in common with the Rochester family—most of them—and he was right! Lawson is just like them, only worse!"
"Worse than my family, (Rank) (Name)?" Bernadine asked. "I find that very hard to believe."
"I don't. The Rochesters, specifically Horatio, sought power due to their misplaced entitlement," (Name) said. "Lawson sought it to gain a greater ability to fight the injustice he railed against, and he let it corrupt him. Worse, he's careless with the power he has—while Horatio was planning to turn Concordia into his own personal kingdom, oh excuse me, city-state, Lawson's acting like the state doesn't even exist."
"You mean he's ignoring what the state has to say about how he is running Concordia?"
"Exactly." They kept walking in the sewers, and (Name) saw the sign that said they were at Crimson Banks.
"(Rank) (Name)? Not to sound impertinent, but where exactly are we going?" Bernadine asked.
"We're almost there," (Name) said. They walked a few more miles until (Name) went up a manhole. They checked that the coast was clear, and helped Bernadine up. They then walked another few blocks until they came to where (Name) intended; Bernadine stared up at the building they were in front of.
"Crimson River Parish Church?" Bernadine asked.
"I can't think of a better place to hide you." (Name) said as they worked on the chains barring the door. Diego had left his lockpicking set behind when he left…was thrown off the Squad by Lawson, and (Name) used that same set to work on the padlock holding the chains. The lock fell away in minutes, and (Name) gestured to Bernadine to enter the church. Bernadine went inside, and (Name) shut the doors behind them.
"I haven't been here in such a long time…" Bernadine said. "Not since my father died."
"I don't believe I ever heard a word about your father, Miss Bernadine."
"You wouldn't have. He died of illness years ago, and other than a dowry for me and token amounts to Malcolm and Monty, Father left his estate to the church. Needless to say, Uncle Horatio was displeased when he learned his middle brother chose to dispose of his estate outside of the family."
"I would consider "displeased" to be an understatement. Let me guess, not long after your father's death, Horatio had the entire family fortune entailed. This is one of the few states to allow entails and Horatio hated when the family lost resources, even if one member chose to bequeath it outside of the family."
"Precisely. I wasn't sure if you knew about the entail."
"I learned about it after we arrested Larry for Sandra Hwang's murder, when the court was unable to seize what little assets he had. Horatio was…through in keeping the family fortune inside the family. He truly wanted to turn Concordia into his own personal kingdom." A flash of light shone through the bottom of the door. Bernadine raced straight to the church basement, with (Name) following behind.
"Through here," Bernadine said as she went to a tapestry-covered wall. She pushed the tapestry aside and (Name) saw a mural of some kind, with what they could only describe as wooden figures adhered to the wall. One figure was a man, the other looked like the Earth. Bernadine took the Earth figure and moved it towards the man; another wooden figure, looking like the man only in white, moved from behind the man as the Earth rested in the man's hands. The wall then pulled away to reveal a passage, which Bernadine and (Name) went through; the figures were also on the back of the wall, and when Bernadine moved the white man back behind the other man, the wall returned to its previous spot.
"Nice trick," (Name) said as they looked at the wall. There was a small disc on it that blocked a peephole, which means upon their return they could check if the coast was clear.
"My father had that installed when he contributed to the church's renovation," Bernadine said. "This passage leads to his house, or what was his house. I don't know what the church has done with it since…well, since."
"We never found any indication of a secret passage in this church among Horatio's papers."
"He doesn't know. Other than myself, only the craftsmen who built this passage know of its existence and they have been gone for years." They walked down the passage, and (Name) couldn't help but notice the passage was musty but otherwise in good condition.
"So, I heard Veronica left Concordia after we arrested Malcolm." (Name) said.
"She did." Bernadine answered. "But not before giving me her entire business empire."
"What? Why did she do that?"
"The entail Uncle Horatio set up prevented her from transferring any assets she has outside of the family. That means when she divorces Malcolm, she forfeits everything she built, so she decided to give her business interests to me before starting divorce proceedings, partly out of pity and partly out of spite for Malcolm."
"That explains why Veronica wasn't in Concordia when this mess hit. How did those wooden figures move? I didn't see any notches."
"They roll on metal balls, and the grooves all but meld into the wall. The lock was inspired by my father's favorite verse in the bible. I don't remember its title, only the contents. 'For what profit is it to a man when he gains the world—'"
"'but loses his own soul?'. Matthew 16:26. I can't think of a bible verse more fitting." They kept walking, and they came up to the end of the passage, which also had a peephole. Bernadine looked through the hole.
"It looks like the coast is clear," Bernadine said as she lifted a lever that caused the passage's end to open.
"I know where we are," (Name) said, looking around the room the passage opened to. "I've been in this parlor before." Before they could explain, the door in the parlor opened and revealed Father Saccarelli.
"(Rank) (Name)! What are you doing here?" Father Saccarelli asked. "And Bernadine Rochester! My God, child, it has been years!"
"It's good to see you as well, Father," Bernadine said. "Even under these circumstances."
"Father, I'm sorry." (Name) said. "I was hoping to hide Miss Bernadine in the church, and then she showed me this secret passage her father had had built…I had no idea it led to the orphanage!"
"Shush, my child. If you need Signorina Bernadine hidden, then we will hide her."
"But the children! Won't this be putting them, and yourself, in danger?"
"Given the current state of affairs, we are already in danger. This passage, you say it leads to the church?"
"Right to the basement, the door is opened through these wooden figures depicting Matthew 16:26."
"Eccellente. I know what you speak of."
"It would only be for two days, Father. The state will be here then and they'll deal with Lawson."
"We will take care of her until then, (Name)." Father Saccarelli said. "The church, is it well?"
"The doors were chained shut. I picked the lock, but not long after we came in, we saw a light shine under the door." (Name) said. "That was when Miss Bernadine showed me the passage."
"Then you should go, before you are trapped inside." Father Saccarelli said. "We will be all right, Signorina Bernadine will be safe here."
"I'll come back in two days when this all over; if things go wrong…I want you to find a way to get out of the city, all of you."
"You've done all you can, my child. The rest is up to God." (Name) could do nothing but nod and made their way back through the passage, closing it behind them as they left.