Meanwhile, (Rank) (Name) was rushing through the streets with Dick and Mrs. O'Malley, who insisted on accompanying them. (Name) tried to talk Mrs. O'Malley into staying behind, they couldn't afford to have civilians in the line of fire, but Maddie's mother wouldn't budge, not even when (Name) suggested staying behind for defensive purposes.
"That's my grandson in there, (Name), and by God I'm going to get him!" Mrs. O'Malley said. "I dare you to stop me!"
"Now I see where Maddie gets her stubborn streak from." (Name) said. They decided the three of them would get to the Crimson River Parish, and take the secret passage to the orphanage.
"Are you sure this is the way to the orphanage?" Dick asked.
"We're taking an alternate route to the orphanage." (Name) said. "I'll explain when we get there." The three of them kept walking, hiding in alleys to avoid Justice Corps patrols. (Name) took note that the patrols were more frequent than before, and prayed that the others had managed to get free. They soon reached the church, and the first thing (Name) noticed were Giulietta and Enzo with a large group of children and nuns being loaded onto trucks; the second was smoke coming out of the church.
"What the hell…?" (Name) asked. "Giulietta, Enzo, what's going on?"
"(Rank) (Name)! Thank God you're here!" Giulietta said. "These children, they're—"
"From St. Gerolamo's." (Name) looked around and saw the trucks had soldiers helping the children board. (Name) saw Mister Johnson, the Assistant Attorney General, directing efforts. They were about to call out when a soldier burst from the church carrying something…no, someone.
"Medic!" The soldier cried. (Name) and Dick rushed over. They saw the soldier was carrying Bernadine Rochester, unconscious and covered with what looked to be the soldier's overcoat; in her arms was baby George, crying.
"I'm a doctor!" Dick said as the soldier laid Bernadine in one of the trucks. "What happened?"
"When the smoke came out of the church, I went in to check for stragglers. She came bursting out of nowhere carrying this little one. Her back was on fire, and I put it out as best as I could, but there's still injuries."
"(Rank) (Name)?" Bernadine whispered.
"I'm here." (Name) said. "You're both safe. Can you tell me what happened?"
"Umbright. Hid in…wardrobe…she brought…then…burning…Father…behind me…" Bernadine fell unconscious just as (Name) took hold of George, who began to settle down. Dick examined her while (Name) gave George to Mrs. O'Malley.
"Thank God…Thank God he's all right!" Mrs. O'Malley cried. "There there, lad, Granny Eileen's here. We'll get you to your mum soon."
"How bad is it, Dick?" (Name) asked.
"She's inhaled some smoke, but it hasn't compromised her windpipe. That's fortunate, I do not want to risk a tracheotomy." Dick said. "I can see some burning on her back, but hopefully it won't do more than leave some nasty scars. I'll examine George now."
"They're alive, we can be thankful for that." (Name) said as Dick looked over George. But what Bernadine said had them feeling dread. They waved down the matron as the last of the children were loaded.
"Sister! Where's Father Saccarelli?" The matron looked at (Name) and paled.
"He wasn't with Miss Rochester?" The matron asked. (Name) shook their head. "Oh God…he told us to use the passage Miss Rochester showed us to get out. He stayed behind in case anyone showed up and Miss Rochester stayed with him."
"Hellfire! Sorry. Get everyone to Prospect Gardens, you'll be safe there." (Name) then went to find Mister Johnson, who was speaking with a group from the Elm Street Precient.
"I don't care what that harpy Umbright ordered!" Johnson said. "The church is on fire!"
"It's not the church, it's the orphanage." (Name) said. "St. Gerolamo's is on fire, and Father Saccarelli's still inside!"
"What? (Rank) (Name), are you sure?"
"I just spoke with a witness who was with him, and the matron just said he stayed behind while sending everyone out through a passage connecting the orphanage to the church. We have to get there, now!"
"St. Gerolamo's is…good heavens!" One of the police officers cried. "Judge Umbright closed the fire brigade here and told us to keep away from the orphanage!"
"We have to get over there! Or are you going to support the 'justice' that Lawson and his cronies have brought? How many have to die before their version of justice is achieved?"
"We'll get to the orphanage now. God…perhaps Mayor Lawson doesn't know what his deputy's done…"
"It doesn't matter if he knew or not. Justin Lawson violated state law when he reinstated the death penalty. That's why Mister Johnson is here, to deal with that."
"(Rank) (Name). We got into the city without trouble, and met with Miss Capecchi here at the church." Mister Johnson said. "Then we saw the children come out of the church, and the smoke…what has he done to this city?"
"We're going to find out. Giulietta! You and your group escort these children to Prospect Gardens! They'll get the help they need." Giulietta nodded and gave orders to what resistance fighters she had left to get on the trucks with the children. Mister Johnson sent a handful of the troops with him to secure every district in Concordia. As the trucks left, with all of the children and their caretakers—as well as Dick, Mrs. O'Malley, Bernadine and baby George—(Name) turned to Mister Johnson and the group of police officers as well as the remaining troops.
"Let's go." (Name) said. They made their way to St. Gerolamo's, and when they got there the entire building was aflame. (Name) noted the dead Justice Corps on the ground, shot in the chest, and the fire brigade, who defied orders and were trying to put out the fire. (Name) also spotted Umbright, who was surrounded by an angry mob, but was unharmed—for now.
"Look out!" A fireman shouted as the building exploded. Debris flew all over the place, and something large flew as well, landing on the ground. (Name) saw that it was a body.
"Please God, don't let it be who I think it is." (Name) said. They examined the body and saw the body wore rosary beads and the medal of the orphanage's namesake, Saint Gerolamo Emiliani, the patron saint of orphans and abandoned children. One of the police officers with them looked at the body in horror.
"Saints preserve us!" The officer said, crossing himself. "It's Father Saccarelli!"
"No!" The crowd cried. "Not Father Saccarelli!" Umbright gave a chuckle which had the mob surrounding her glare at her.
"Good riddance to bleeding hearts!" Umbright said. "You best release me or I'll see you dead as I did him and his criminal spawn!"
"You did this…knowingly?! Butcher!" The mob began to descend on Umbright, vowing death to her and the same to Lawson. (Name) raised their gun into the air and fired, breaking up the mob.
"That's enough!" (Name) shouted as they made their way through the crowd to reach Umbright. The Deputy Mayor and judge looked at them with hatred as the troops and police officers held off the crowd.
"(Name)!" Umbright shouted. "You dare you show yourself here! Are you looking for the Dupont bastard? He's right inside, where he and those other mistakes belong!"
"Do not besmirch my godson's name, you twisted harridan." (Name) said. "How can you claim that killing children, killing Father Saccarelli, was justice?!"
"They were mistakes that should have been disposed of long ago—street brats out of whores, out of prisons! And Saccarelli was in my way, protecting them, sheltering them…wasting precious resources on them! Mayor Lawson tasked me to shut down this place and I did so!"
"I doubt he meant for you to burn it down with everyone inside!"
"He said I could get rid of the orphanage if I had some place to put the inhabitants, and I did. I made them ash to fly in the wind!"
"So it was his orders, and your interpretation of them. Let me take the pleasure of telling you that you failed to kill those children."
"What?! I sealed every exit in that place, I had the building coated to make sure it would burn! When the Justice Corps I brought with me protested, I executed them! Stupid bleeding hearts have no place in the new Concordia! I would purge this city of the mistakes of that orphanage!"
"Except Father Saccarelli got the children and the other caretakers out, including baby George Dupont, who you tried to kill with the others despite his legitimacy."
"That's impossible!"
"Father Saccarelli was more resourceful than you think, and died the way he lived—protecting the defenseless children of Concordia."
"He was a bleeding heart who sheltered criminal spawn when he should have thrown them away, like any decent person would! As far as I'm concerned, I did this city a favor by getting rid of him!"
"Bitch!" the crowd shouted trying to get through the human barricade. "Murderer! We want justice for Father Saccarelli and the children of St. Gerloamo's!"
"Then you'll get justice!" (Name) said, placing Umbright on her knees and cuffing her behind her back. "Dora Umbright, you're under arrest for arson, and the murder of Father Saccarelli. You are also charged with the attempted murder of George Dupont…" (Name) recited the names of every inhabitant of the orphanage when the crowd renewed their vigor, straining the police and state troops that held them back; if they heard Bernadine's name mentioned among those who were nearly killed, they didn't mention it.
"She has to pay!" The crowd screamed. "She and Lawson have to pay! Arresting her is not enough!"
"Then what will be? Lynching her in the streets?" (Name) asked. "Rampaging the city? Get the hell out of my way and let me take her in."
"Why should we let you save her?!"
"Save her? I'm trying to save you all! A wise man once told me that when you go for revenge, you have to dig two graves—one for your enemy, the other for yourself. Except revenge doesn't always kill the body, or even the mind. But revenge always kills the soul, piece by piece. I know you're angry, and God knows I share that anger, but I also know that Father Saccarelli would not want any of you to destroy your souls for him, and certainly not over her."
"What about Lawson?! He ordered this!"
"Justin Lawson will answer to the state, as will everyone in his administration. Mister Johnson, I believe you have other charges for this shrew."
"I do indeed." Mister Johnson said. Two of the soldiers took hold of Umbright. "Dora Umbright, you're under arrest for treason against the state—"
"You have no jurisdiction here, Johnson!" Umbright yelled. "Only Mayor Lawson has power here, and you are the one under arrest for aiding in the escape of a prisoner!"
"Escape? I didn't help anyone escape. Oh, you mean Florence Samuels, who was transferred into state custody due to her sentence being a violation of state law, as the state abolished the death penalty fifty years ago."
"Mayor Lawson will have your heads for this!"
"Get her out of here, Counselor." (Name) said. "Get her to a jail cell now, while I still remember my badge!" Johnson nodded and ordered the troops to escort her to the Elm Street Precinct, where she would be kept until they could try her.
"I didn't get the chance to inquire about the rest of your squad." Mister Johnson said as the crowd dispersed.
"Most of them were captured by Lawson after his executions were prevented due to the murder of his Inspector General." (Name) said. "They're being rescued as we speak."
"That's good to hear. The troops I brought are to secure all the districts, placing the city under martial law. When we arrest Lawson, the Governor is going to come personally to hear the treason charges and the state will launch an investigation into his administration."
"Easy to do once we arrest him and dismantle his Justice Corps."
"The fire brigade…there's nothing more we can do here."
"I'll oversee the scene, make sure…make sure it's thoroughly investigated. I know I should escort you to Prospect Gardens, but…"
"I'll make my way there, (Rank). You do what you have to do here." (Name) nodded and as Johnson left, they couldn't help but stare at the remains of St. Gerlolamo's. What Umbright had done here was another atrocity done on Lawson's watch, and it would all add up once he was brought in. (Rank) (Name) would make sure of it.
It took the remainder of the night before the fire was put out. The crowd that almost lynched Umbright, once their anger had cooled, helped clear away the damage. Father Saccarelli's body was covered and guarded by some of that crowd, freeing what police forces remained to investigate the crime. (Name) crossed themself as they approached the body to pay their respects.
"Oh, Father…I suppose it was too much to hope you would have survived." (Name) said, tears pooling in their eyes but were held back.
"(Rank)?" A voice asked. (Name) turned and saw it was another police officer. "My captain wanted me to let you know Umbright confessed to…to everything—sealing the orphanage's doors and windows to avoid escape, saturating the building in oil so that when she lit the fire it spread fast…"
"And no one suspected what she was up to?"
"There have been burnings of buildings before, belonging to people arrested by the Justice Corps, but those buildings were empty."
"Were they empty, Officer?"
"I…if you mean bodies, then I would have to say sometimes there were, but they were already dead. They were suicides, which are punished by destroying the property of those who killed themselves and left their families in the streets with nothing but the clothes on their backs."
"I see. So when someone kills themselves, the Justice Corps punishes their families."
"Like they do everything else, yes. The children…you said they got out?"
"There's a passage in the orphanage that connects to the Crimson River Parish Church. Father Saccarelli sent everyone through before her arrival, and stayed behind so she didn't suspect anything."
"Thank God he did, or there would have been more bodies according to the fire chief. When we saw…we were told the Mayor ordered it shut down, but this…this can't be what he wanted."
"I don't know what he wants anymore. From what I understood, Lawson did order the orphanage shut down, but left it up to Umbright how to do it."
"Bastard. Know the Elm Street Precinct—every precinct in Crimson Banks, if not Concordia—is with the Flying Squad, (Rank) (Name)!"
"Thank you, Officer. All precincts will need to aid the state in any way they can, and see if you can contact precincts in other districts. We need to know how many are on our side and not Justice Corps lackeys."
"More than you know, (Rank). The resistance has grown due to Lawson having priests arrested. He just doesn't know it because he's so focused on his center of power."
"In other words, Lawson's strongest hold is in Capitol Peak."
"Precisely." (Name) nodded and made their way to Prospect Gardens. They needed to inform the Flying Squad, if they've been rescued, of the new developments. They entered the manor through the servants entrance, and upon reaching the war room, they saw Evie and Katherine helping the children get settled.
"(Name)!" Evie cried when she saw them. "You're all right! Look! All these children…they're—"
"I know. Are you all right, Evie? Katherine?"
"We're fine, (Rank) (Name)." Katherine said. "We got out. The children, their caretakers said they were from St. Gerolamo's. I know that orphanage, what happened there?"
"I'll explain later, but right now, the state's arrived and are securing the other districts as we speak."
"Did you find Father Saccarelli, (Rank) (Name)?" One of the children asked. (Name) had to will themself not to choke into sobs.
"Where's the Matron?" (Name) asked. "I need to speak with her."
"In the hospital room. The new baby's all right, and Miss Rochester's awake! Her sweetheart's with her."
"I see. Evie, why don't you and Katherine tell this little one about some of the stories you've done?"
"(Name)? Is everything all right?" Evie asked.
"I'll tell you after I speak with the Matron." (Name) left them before Evie could inquire any further. They got to the hospital room and knocked on the door.
"Enter." They heard Dick's voice call out. They entered and saw Bernadine in a bed, dressed in what looked like a dressing gown borrowed from Lady Highmore, with the Matron on one side of the bed and Chief Wright on the other.
"Viola and her parents should be done preparing that balm, Miss Rochester." Dick said. "I'll just check on their progress." Dick then left the hospital room.
"(Rank) (Name)! You're back!" Bernadine said. "Thank goodness…"
"Are you all right, Miss Bernadine?" (Name) asked. "I understand you were injured during…during…"
"It was terrible! I was just telling Arthur what happened—Father Saccarelli had everyone, the children and the nuns who helped care for them, go through the passage to the church. He stayed behind, and I chose to stay with him despite any attempts to send me off with them. Not long after, Father Saccarelli hid me in the wardrobe and Umbright came, bringing a baby. I watched her give him the baby, and said…she saw awful things about Father Saccarelli, the children, even the baby—I won't repeat them! I won't give her vile words credence by repeating what she said about a good man who tried to aid children with no one else in the world, or a baby who had nothing to do with the circumstances of his birth!"
"Of course not, petal." Chief Wright said. "What happened after she gave baby George to Father Saccarelli?"
"She left, and then…the building was covered with something, the doors and windows barred…and there were gunshots, and…and the building was on fire! We ran as fast as we could, and Father Saccarelli, as we reached the passage, shoved the baby—George—into my arms and pushed me down the passage. I ran as fast as I could, even after hearing this dreadful crash, and I felt a burning on my back. When I emerged from the passage, I tried to walk…someone was there, hitting my back and carried me…us out. The next thing I remember was waking up here."
"One of the soldiers found you and put out the fire on your back. The crash you heard was the passage caving in. Father Saccarelli was trapped on the other side. He…he didn't make it."
"No! He was right behind me, I swear to you, (Rank) (Name)!"
"And he made sure you both got out, even if it meant he…he didn't. Miss Bernadine, I spoke with others who investigated the scene—if it wasn't for you and that secret passage, everyone in that orphanage would be dead, not just Father Saccarelli."
"You saved our lives, Miss Rochester." The matron said, quavering. "The children…Father Saccarelli loved them so, and you aided in saving them! It's what he would have wanted. I…I have to…excuse me." The matron left, and (Name) saw that Chief Wright looked pale.
"(Rank) (Name), a word." Chief Wright said. "Bernadine, you need your rest. I'll be back later." (Name) followed Chief Wright out of the hospital room and into the hallway. Dick and Viola were in the hall, Viola carrying a large jar.
"Viola, thank God you're all right!" (Name) said.
"Yes, Dick managed to heal my concussion." Viola said. "Excuse me, Bernadine is waiting on this." Viola and Dick entered the hospital room, leaving (Name) and Chief Wright alone in the hallway.
"Sir?" (Name) asked. "Did Mister Johnson get here okay? I met him and a contingent of soldiers he brought at the church. He said he was heading here while the soldiers secured the city, or try to."
"He's here, and taking statements from those here as we speak. He told me the soldiers he brought would secure the city, though there may be difficulty in Capitol Peak."
"Makes sense, as that's where Lawson's concentrated his power. Umbright was arrested for the arson, murder and attempted murders. The Elm Street Precient are on our side, along with most of the police force, and have her in custody."
"Did she confess to the charges?"
"The officer I spoke with said she did, though I would call it bragging. Lawson ordered her to shut down Saint Gerolamo's, but left it up to her how to do it. The Justice Corps she brought as an escort objected to her burning down a building with live bodies in it, and she executed them for their defiance."
"I suppose I should be grateful that Lawson's pack of brutes have some kernel of decency in them, yet I'm not. To think that what Lawson implemented led to this…the attempted murder of children…the murder of priests…" Chief Wright looked out the window; if he was sickened by the latest revelation of the depravities of Lawson's reign, he didn't show it.
"Chief? (Name) asked. "Are you okay?"
"No, (Name), I'm not." Chief Wright said. "But I will be once we apprehend Lawson."
"How?"
"Charles and Diego mentioned something, a contingency plan of some sort, that was left on the airship when we were arrested. They've gone over to retrieve it, and about a half hour after we arrived here, Madeline and Isaac went after them along with a Mister Tradewinds, who knew Diego from before. That was…God, that was hours ago!"
"Oh hell…I haven't seen Rose either, come to think of it."
"She's aiding in security, and is quite upset that we haven't been able to find Rasputin."
"Rasputin's a tough cat—he'll find his way back to her." They were interrupted by a commotion coming from the war room, formerly Lady Highmore's living room. Rose burst from the door leading to the war room.
"Chief, they're back!" Rose said. "And we've got injured! Better tell Dick!"
"I'll tell him." (Name) said. Chief Wright nodded and headed into the war room with Rose while (Name) went to the hospital room. "Dick, your medical services are needed!"
"An autopsy, already?" Dick asked. Viola was there tending to Miss Bernadine, applying the balm to her back.
"Your patients are alive, for now. Just be ready." Dick nodded and the door opened before he could respond. (Name) saw Mister Tradewinds—the shopkeeper and fence Diego directed them to—being carried by Isaac and Diego, with a serious wound to the belly.
"Lay him here." Dick ordered, pointing to the cot opposite of Miss Bernadine. "I'll do what I can for him, but it doesn't look good."
"That's all that can be done." Isaac said. "If you don't require assistance, we'll be in the war room if you need us."
"Stay strong, old chum." Diego said as he, Isaac and (Name) went to the war room. Mister Johnson was talking with Chief Wright about what has happened to Concordia since he left, while Maddie and Charlie were sitting with baby George. (Name) found themself grateful that the Dupont family had been reunited, and that the dark times are about to end.