UNDERCOVER BELLA

Chapter 10

The detectives gathered around Chloe as she stood before Lily and Jessica.

"Detectives," Lily said, addressing the group. "The lab has completed DNA and fingerprint testing on most of the items we retrieved from Chicago Walp's apartment." Lily picked up one report and read from it. "Three of the knives we collected are definitely murder weapons. We even found some DNA from-"

"Chicago Walp?" Chloe asked.

"Let me finish," Lily said. "And then you can ask questions."

"Sorry," Chloe said.

"So, Walp's our killer?" Beca said.

"Yes and no," Lily said. "Let me fin-"

"What?" Chloe asked. "Either he is, or he isn't."

Lily sighed and said, "He is, but he had help." She then looked from Chloe to Beca. "May I continue without interruption now?" They both nodded. "Good. Where was I? Oh, right. We found Chicago Walp and Luke Daniels' DNA under the handle of one of the knives and both their fingerprints on the handles of all three."

"Sheesh, did this guy ever wash his knives?" Stacie mumbled.

"Luke did say that Chicago was his best friend," Beca said. "Wouldn't it stand to reason that Luke's prints would be found around Chicgo's apartment?"

"It would," Lily said. "But finding his blood under the knife handle would be harder to explain away."

"Holy shit!" Jesse exclaimed. "Are you saying we have two serial killers? Working together?"

"I'm not saying that," Lily said, "the evidence is. And since Walp is dead, Luke Daniels' DNA and fingerprints on the knives, along with his prints we found on the box of blouses, should be enough for the DA to charge him with murder. But this." Jessica handed Lily a folder. Lily held it out to Chloe. "This will put the final nail in Luke Daniels' coffin. These are copies, but the originals have both Walp's and Daniels' fingerprints on them."

Chloe took the folder and opened it to find several photos of the murder victims; some showed them alive, working the streets, shopping, and even driving down the street. In others, they were deceased.

"They stalked them before killing them?" Chloe asked, somewhat stunned.

"Yes, I believe they did," Lily said. "Near the bottom of the stack, you'll find selfies of them; I believe they each took a photo with the women they themselves killed."

Chloe grabbed some photos from the back and looked at them.

"Chicago Walp is in this one," Chloe said, showing the photo to Beca. "Looks like he killed Lori Junk, Emily's sister."

"This is going to kill her," Beca said. "I'll have to tell her about this."

"Yeah, but this time you can tell her we got the guy who killed her sister," Stacie said. "That should give her some solace over Walp being dead."

"Who knew that not only would we find Barden's first ever serial killer," Jesse said. "But there would be two of them."

"Lily, could we get a copy of everything you have?" Chloe said. "Since we already have Luke in custody, we need to get the DA to amend the charges against him to include murder and keep him in jail."

"We need to do it quickly," Jesse said, checking his watch. "Luke has a bail hearing in about an hour."

"No problem," Lily said, handing Chloe several folders. "Take these. It is a copy of everything we just showed you. We'll courier over the originals so the DA will have them for trial."

"Thank you!" Chloe said. "Come on, guys, I have to brief the Captain so she can call the DA before Luke's bail hearing."

~~ Undercover Bella ~~

As soon as they exited the elevator, Chloe went to the Captain's office while the rest of the team went to the bullpen. Bumper and Denise looked up from their desks when the others entered.

"Hey, Swanson," Bumper called out. "What's with all the messages about a missing murder witness?"

"We were going over all the incident reports on the murders that resembled ours," Jesse said. "On the one you and Denise caught, we found a notation about a witness but nothing else about it. We were wondering if one of you made a note of the witness's name in your personal notes."

"I didn't," Bumper said, shrugging. "I didn't believe it was relevant."

"How is a witness to a murder not relevant?" Stacie asked.

"Don't worry, Stacie," Denise said. "I wrote the name down and interviewed him."

Bumper glared at Denise. "I told you we didn't need to talk to him because he was spouting off nonsense."

"I disagreed with your assessment and interviewed him anyway," Denise said. "I also had that info in my report I gave to you. Why would you leave it out?"

"Because it wasn't relevant," Bumper said, getting agitated.

"That really wasn't your call to make," Beca said. "Was it?"

"Denise, can you send me your notes?" Jesse asked. "We already know who the killer, or should I say killers are, and your notes will go into the case file."

"I still have a copy of the original report I wrote up," Denise said. "Wait! Did you say killers? As in plural?"

Jesse smiled and nodded. "Yep."

"Wow," Denise said, typing on her computer. "There. I sent my report to your email."

"Thanks," Jesse said.

Seconds later, Jesse received the notification that he had a new email. He opened the report and started reading.

"Oh, my god," Jesse said. "The description this guy gave Denise is spot on for Luke Daniels."

Benji looked at Jesse, saying, "If there was ever any doubt before-"

"We have a problem!" Chloe called out as she rushed into the bullpen. "Luke Daniels has already made bail and is out."

"I thought he wasn't scheduled for a bail hearing for another hour," Jesse said.

"Somebody had other plans, and he was taken early," Chloe said. "And, even though he's charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer, a low bail was set for him."

"Who bailed him out?" Benji asked.

"My money is on his mother, Sheila Mitchell," Beca said.

"Mitchell?" Denise said, looking at Beca. "Is she related to you?"

"Stepmother," Beca said. "Which makes Luke my stepbrother."

"Beca's right," Chloe said. "It was Sheila Mitchell. And, since we have probable cause, the DA got us an arrest warrant for Luke Daniels. She also got a judge to sign off on a search warrant. So, we need to have someone go to Luke's apartment to execute the search warrant and arrest him."

"Benji and I will do it," Stacie said.

"Beca, I'd like you and Jesse to go with them," Chloe said. Beca scoffed, and Chloe added, "It was the captain's idea, and she gave approval for you to go help with the search. We need to get him back behind bars quickly so he can't hurt anyone else."

"I don't know, Chloe," Beca said quietly so only Chloe could hear. "After what he did to you last night, I can't promise he won't fall down some stairs or run into a wall if I'm there. He was most likely looking for me when he took you. I couldn't live with myself if he had really hurt you last night."

Chloe pulled Beca to her and whispered, "I love you for that, but I really need your help on this."

"Chloe," Beca said as she pulled back from Chloe.

Beca started to say something more but stopped when she saw who was standing in the doorway.

"Sheila?" Beca said. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to turn myself in," Sheila said.

~~ Undercover Bella ~~

"I don't know, Dad," Beca said into the phone. "She showed up here and said she was turning herself in. We've been stalling as long as we can before someone starts interrogating her. You should get a lawyer and get down here as fast as you can before Sheila says anything."

Beca looked at Chloe and nodded.

"Okay, Dad," Beca said. "We'll see you in a bit."

Beca ended the call, and Chloe pulled her into her arms.

"My dad will be here with a lawyer as soon as he can," Beca whispered into Chloe's ear.

"Okay," Chloe said. "We have to start questioning Sheila soon, or the captain's going to take over. I'm going to have Stacie and Benji interrogate her."

"I understand," Beca said. "I'd rather she talk to you, but since Luke is charged with assault against you, that's not wise. Do you think I can have a minute to tell her my dad is on the way?"

"I think that will be fine," Chloe said. "Go do it now; I'll let Stacie know."

"Thank you," Beca said, pecking Chloe on the lips.

"Stacie," Chloe called out. "May I speak with you and Benji for a moment?"

Beca rushed off to where Sheila was waiting. She burst into the room, startling the older woman.

"Beca, you shouldn't be here," Sheila said.

"Neither should you," Beca said. "Detectives Conrad and Applebaum will be here in five minutes. I just wanted to tell you that Dad is on his way with a lawyer. Don't say anything until they get here, okay?"

"But I'm guilt-"

"No! Don't say anything to me about why you're here," Beca said forcefully. "I'll bring Dad to you when he gets here. Now, promise me you won't say anything until the lawyer gets here."

Sheila stares at Beca but doesn't say anything.

"Promise me!" Beca said.

"Okay," Sheila said as tears stung her eyes. "But first, I owe you an apology."

"For what?"

"I'm the one who told Luke about you shooting Chicago Walp," Sheila said. "I told him what Chicago did and why you shot him. He grew irate and started yelling about you murdering him. He continued yelling about getting you back for murdering his best friend. After a few minutes, I thought I had him calmed down, and he understood what had happened. He left shortly after."

"You told him I shot him in self-defense, right?"

"Of course I did," Sheila said, wiping a tear from her eye. She sighed and shook her head. "I should have warned you he was coming."

"What you did is not a reason to turn yourself in," Beca said, chuckling lightly. "It's okay, Sheila."

"That's not why I'm turning myself in," Sheila said. "I'm doing it because I-"

"Stop," Beca said quickly. "Don't tell me; wait for your lawyer and tell Stacie and Benji."

"Okay," Sheila said.

"I have to go now," Beca said, pulling Sheila into a quick hug. "I'll help you with whatever it is you think you've done."

"Thank you," Sheila said as Beca pulled away and left the room.

Chloe, Stacie, and Benji were coming down the hall as Beca was closing the door.

"Is Sheila okay?" Chloe asked.

"She's a bit upset right now," Beca said. "She told Luke about me shooting Walp, and he didn't take it well. He also didn't believe her when she told him I did it in self-defense. She tried to tell me more, but I wouldn't let her. And, I, um, told her not to say anything to you until my dad got here with a lawyer."

Chloe smiled. "I wouldn't expect you to tell her anything less," she said. "Stacie, you two should get in there. I'll be watching from the observation room. Beca will bring Dr. Mitchell and Mrs. Mitchell's lawyer back when they get here, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am," Stacie said, following Benji into the interrogation room.

"Beca, you should go wait out front for your dad," Chloe said before entering the observation room."

"Okay," Beca said and left Chloe.

~~ Undercover Bella ~~

Twenty minutes later, Beca was pacing in the lobby, waiting for her dad and Sheila's lawyer.

"Beca!" Warren Mitchell called out as soon as he saw her.

Beca rushed over to her father and hugged him.

"I told Sheila not to say anything until her lawyer got here," Beca mumbled into her father's chest.

"Excellent advice, Detective Mitchell," the woman standing off to her father's side said. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Gail McFadden, Sheila Mitchell's attorney. Would you know where we can find her?"

"Um, yeah," Beca said, pulling back from her father. "Follow me, and I'll take you to her."

"Lead the way," Warren said.

As the trio rounded the corner to the interrogation room, Stacie and Benji were leading Sheila out in handcuffs. Chloe exited the observation room and stopped.

"Chloe, what the hell?" Beca said.

"I'm sorry, Beca," Chloe said. "Sheila insisted we arrest her."

"She's right, Beca," Stacie said. "Despite us telling her to wait, Sheila insisted on confessing to helping Luke leave the country. I'm not sure what charges she'll face, but we had to do our due diligence and act on the confession."

Beca and her father were stunned.

"Sheila?" Warren said, pulling his wife into his arms.

Warren stood holding Sheila as she cried on his shoulder.

"Can I speak with Sheila and my dad before you take her for processing?" Beca asked. "Not as a detective, but as their daughter."

"If I may, I'd like to sit in on that," Miss McFadden said.

"I think that's a good idea," Chloe said, leading Sheila back toward the interrogation room. "You guys can talk in here. Stacie, you and Benji wait out here with me while Mrs. Mitchell is speaking with her lawyer."

The two detectives nodded and moved a few feet down the hall.

Warren and Gail entered the room behind Chloe and Sheila. As Beca moved to enter, Chloe grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the door; she hugged Beca and then pulled back to look her in the eye.

"I am sorry we had to arrest Sheila," Chloe said. "Stacie tried to tell her to wait for her lawyer, but Sheila insisted on telling them how she helped Luke leave the country to avoid going to jail for the assault. Sheila didn't tell them where he went. Stacie told her that additional charges were being brought against Luke, but not what they were. I think you should tell her about that."

"I will," Beca said. "I love you."

"I know," Chloe said, smiling. "I love you, too."

Beca quickly kissed Chloe and slipped into the room.

~~ Undercover Bella ~~

After Beca told Sheila about the evidence they found and lodging additional murder charges against Luke, Sheila started crying and dropped her head in her hands.

"Oh, my God, what have I done?" Sheila cried. "I believed Luke when he said the whole thing with Chloe was a misunderstanding. And now you tell me he's a murderer?"

"Sheila, we know you didn't know about the murder charges when you agreed to help Luke leave the country," Beca said. "That should also go in your favor, shouldn't it, Ms. McFadden?"

"That depends on what judge we get," Gail said. "The murder charges against Luke just kicked this up a notch. Sheila will probably get a slap on the wrist unless the judge decides to make an example of her. He may hold her in contempt and put her in jail until she tells them where Luke went."

"Sheila, for what it's worth, I'll speak on your behalf before the judge; I think Chloe will do the same."

"Thank you," Sheila said, sobbing loudly now.

Warren held Sheila as she cried.

"Detective, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak with my client privately," Gail said.

"Of course," Beca said, standing. "Sheila, I really am sorry about Luke."

Sheila nodded.

"Thank you, Beca," Warren said as Beca left the room.

"Okay," Gail said. "Let's talk about your defense."

Beca came out the door, and Stacie, Benji, and Chloe looked at her.

"Can you give them some time?" Beca asked. "Sheila's lawyer wanted to speak with her."

"I think we could all use some coffee," Chloe said, taking Beca's hand. "Come on, you guys, I'm buying."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Stacie said, following Beca and Chloe.

"Are you okay?" Chloe whispered to Beca as they walked out to the coffee cart.

"I'm okay," Beca said. "I just wish there was something I could do to help Sheila. She was devastated at hearing what we had against Luke on the murders. The lawyer said a judge could hold her in contempt and put her in jail if she didn't tell them where he went. I told her I would speak on her behalf if she needed me; I included you in that, too. I hope that wasn't out of line."

"It's fine," Chloe said. "I'll do whatever I can."

"I think I speak for all the Mitchells when I say we appreciate that," Beca said, smiling at Chloe.

~~ Undercover Bella ~~

Beca lightly knocked on the captain's door and entered when she heard, "Come in."

"You wanted to see me, captain?"

"Yes, Mitchell," Captain Adams said. "Release Mrs. Mitchell. The DA is not pressing charges."

"Seriously?" Beca asked.

"Seriously," Captain Adams said with a smile.

"May I tell her?" Beca asked, moving toward the door.

"Yes, but before you go," Captain Adams said. "Do you know where Luke Daniels flew off to?"

"No, ma'am," Beca said. "I guess Sheila knows, but she didn't tell me."

"Okay," Captain Adams said. "The DA is working with the Justice Department to put his name on a no-fly list. If he comes back to the U.S., he will be arrested. You should let his mother know that."

"I will," Beca said. "Thank you, ma'am."

"Dismissed, detective," Captain Adams said, smiling.

Beca nodded and rushed out the door. She ran into Chloe as she was hurrying to the interrogation room, where Sheila was speaking with her lawyer.

"Slow down, Beca," Chloe said, grabbing Beca's arm and chuckling. "What's going on?"

"Sheila is being released," Beca said, smiling. "The DA is not pressing charges against her."

Chloe pulled Beca to her and kissed her.

"That's great news, babe," Chloe said. "Would you mind if I went with you to tell her?"

"Let's go," Beca said, grabbing Chloe's hand.

Beca didn't bother knocking when they reached the room Sheila was in.

"Excuse me," Gail said when Beca burst through the door. "We're still-"

"You're free to go, Sheila," Beca blurted, smiling at Sheila. "The DA has declined to press charges against you."

"Seriously?" Warren asked.

"Yeah," Beca said, looking at her father and nodding.

Chloe moved past Beca and over to Sheila.

"I'll get those cuffs off you," Chloe said, holding up a key. "And then, as Beca said, you're free to go."

"Thank you," Sheila said, standing.

"Before you leave, I have to ask if you know where Luke went," Beca said.

"He said it would be best if I didn't know," Sheila said, shaking her head.

"You might want to let him know that if he returns to the U.S. for any reason, he will be arrested for murder," Beca said.

"I understand," Sheila said. "And I'm sorry for all the trouble he's caused."

~~ Undercover Bella ~~

A couple of hours later, everything had settled down at the station. Chloe and her team finished finalizing all the reports and made sure all their evidence had been logged in.

"I think we need to go out and celebrate solving our first-ever serial murder case," Stacie said to the group.

"That's a great idea," Jesse said. "Pizza and beers at Antonio's?"

"I'm in, " Stacie said.

"Me, too," Benji added.

"I'll buy the first round of beers," Chloe said. "How about you, Beca? You coming?"

"I'll meet you there in a bit," Beca said. "I want to talk to Emily Junk and her mother so I can tell them we know who killed Lori Junk."

"Did you want someone to go with you?" Chloe asked.

"No, I'm good," Beca said. "Save me a seat, and I'll join you in about forty minutes."

"Okay," Chloe said, quickly kissing Beca.

Beca left to go to the hospital. A few minutes later, the rest of the detectives left the station to go to Antonio's.

~~ Undercover Bella ~~

The team was sipping their beers and waiting for their pizzas when Beca came strolling in with Aubrey.

"Brey!" Chloe squealed as she jumped up and rushed over to greet her. "When did they let you out? Wait; the doctors released you, right? You didn't just leave on your own?"

"The doctor released me," Aubrey said, laughing. "Beca came in just as I was about to call you for a ride."

"Emily Junk had been released earlier today, so I went to see Posen," Beca said. "She said she had been given the okay to leave by the doctor, so I invited her to join us in celebrating."

Chloe took Beca and Aubrey's hands and led them to the table.

"Here, Sarge," Jesse called out. "This seat is empty. The pizzas should be here any minute."

"Thank you, Jesse," Aubrey said, sitting. "I hope someone ordered the Hawaiian."

"Chloe and I did," Stacie said.

"I hope someone ordered at least one pepperoni," Beca said, sitting next to Chloe.

"I made sure we did," Chloe said.

"Thank you," Beca said, kissing Chloe's cheek.

"So, Mitchell," Benji said, looking across the table at Beca. "What's your story?"

"My story?"

"Yeah," Benji said. "Why did you leave your old station? There are a number of rumors flying around about it, but I want to hear it from you."

"I've been waiting to hear your story, too," Chloe whispered to Beca. "But you don't have to say anything now if you don't want to."

"I know," Beca whispered, kissing Chloe's cheek again. She then cleared her throat and said, "I crossed the thin blue line and ratted out some officers for stealing money during a big drug bust. They wanted me to take a cut, and I wouldn't do it. When the guys whose money it was found out, they went after them. The bad cops figured no one could touch them because they had the support of everyone. I was called into IAD and accused of taking the money. They had no evidence to prove it, and they took the word of three of the officers who told them it happened. I insisted we watch the footage from all the body cams from that day, but they couldn't find any of the footage from me or anyone else. It had somehow been lost."

"Damn," Stacie said. "It sounds like they were really out to get you."

"That's not even the worst of it," Aubrey said. "The captain told me the official story, and Beca did exactly what any good cop should do; she helped get some bad cops off the streets."

"Yeah, but three of our guys died because of it," Beca said. "I should have just kept my mouth shut."

"No, you shouldn't have. You did the right thing, and none of what happened to any of them was your fault, Beca," Chloe said, rubbing Beca's back. "Those guys did that to themselves."

"Funny how nobody else sees it that way," Beca mumbled.

"Chloe's right, Beca," Aubrey said. "The captain also told me that when things quieted down a bit, most of those guys went back to their corrupt ways and became liabilities to the gang they were working for. Higher-ups at HQ had been investigating the cops and knew you were telling the truth. A secret operation was planned to catch them working with the gangs. When they went after them, there was a gunfight, and three of the bad cops were killed by the gang members. Afterward, one of the gang members told detectives that they had planned to get rid of the cops because they were afraid they were undercover and would tell everything about their operations. Nothing about that says those cops' deaths is on you."

"Sarge is right, Beca," Stacie said. "You did what others should have done. You should be proud of yourself."

Beca sighed and stood. "I need beer and lots of it."

Beca left the table in search of a waitress. Chloe jumped up and went after Beca. She caught up to her as Beca was telling their waitress, "Two more pitchers for our table, please."

"I'll bring those right over," the waitress said and walked away.

"Hey," Chloe said quietly, causing Beca to look at her.

"I know I shouldn't drink too much, but I feel-"

Beca sighed again; Chloe took Beca in her arms.

"Don't worry about it," Chloe said, pulling back and smiling at Beca. "I was just going to offer myself as your designated driver so you could drink however much you want."

"I love you," Beca said, kissing Chloe.

"I love you, too," Chloe mumbled against Beca's lips.

Chloe put her hand behind Beca's neck and held Beca to her as she deepened the kiss. Beca pulled back from the kiss, blushing as she heard their table yelling and cheering as they watched them. Chloe pulled Beca back into another kiss.

They pulled apart, smiling when Jesse called out, "Get over here, you two. Pizza's here."

Chloe gave Beca another quick peck on the lips. They walked hand-in-hand back to their table.

A/N: Okay, so this is it for the regular chapters; I am working on an Epilogue and hope to have that posted in a few days.