Even with the local courts and police supplementing them, it took another two weeks for the state to conclude its investigations and to begin trials. (Name) and Isaac were assigned to personally escort Lawson, along with at least four soldiers, to City Hall where the city council would arraign him and the Governor would decide whether or not he would be impeached upon hearing the charges against him.

"I thought this day would never come." (Name) said. They had just taken Lawson out of his cell, in shackles, and were ready to exit the airship. (Name) took the front while Isaac handled the rear, with the soldiers surrounding Lawson.

"This is an outrage!" Lawson shouted. "If you think these proceedings will prevent justice—"

"Will you shut your trap for once?" (Name) asked. "Be very glad we're not throwing you to the crowds out there eager to tear you to shreds, you asswiping prick."

"Your habitual use of coarse language, (Rank) (Name), is unbecoming a police officer of your standing!"

"And what you've done to this city is unbecoming the man you used to be! Let's move." The doors opened, where the streets were lined with civilians held back by barricades keeping the streets clear. (Name) could hear the crowds shout their displeasure and outrage, the only way they have to express themselves without crossing the line, as they marched Lawson from the airship all the way to City Hall.

"Murderer!"

"Traitor!"

"Usurper!"

"Heretic!"

The shouting became muted as they entered City Hall and the doors closed, but the looks on the faces of the city council, reinstated by the Governor, had the same sentiment. Especially the members who were arrested for questioning Lawson during his tenure as Mayor, as well as Mister Johnson, the Assistant Attorney General. (Name) led Lawson to one of the benches and he was unshackled, with the four soldiers still surrounding him. The Governor called for order and the proceedings began.

"Did they forget to give Lawson a lawyer?" Isaac asked as he and (Name) stood to the side of the council room. "Even the likes of him are entitled to a defense."

"They did, but he dismissed whoever they assigned to him." (Name) said. "He's going to handle his own defense."

"He's going to defend himself? Is it even wise to let him?"

"If he wants to represent himself and thus take on a fool for a client, we can't stop him. Let him hang himself, God knows he'll have enough rope given to him for it."

"Mister Lawson. I have received reports of the city of Concordia being in an oppressed state since your inauguration as Mayor." The Governor said. "It says here that you immediately placed the city in a state of emergency."

"Yes, sir." Lawson said. "After the Rochesters attempted to take over the city, I took steps to ensure we would never again experience such horrors; the state of emergency gave me extra powers I used to bring justice to Concordia."

"And what, exactly, was the emergency, Mister Lawson?"

"Pardon?"

"Horatio Rochester was arrested for the murder of his brother Leopold, which exposed Horatio's schemes to attempt a coup on Concordia. His nephew Malcolm, a disgraced former Senator, was also arrested for his collaboration on the coup, including that ridiculous bill he attempted to introduce; Horatio's grand-nephews, Lawrence and Archibald, also aided in the coup and are now dead, the former killed in prison. Every loose end, down to the madwoman they released who murdered your predecessor, has been dealt with…so what was the emergency that required the abuse of the civil rights of the citizens you were responsible for?"

"Justice, sir! I was restoring justice to Concordia!"

"And your restoration of justice includes reinstating the death penalty, which this city abolished fifty years ago along with the rest of the state." The Governor said. "Tell me, Mister Lawson, where it is said that your powers as Mayor, even in a 'state of emergency', supersedes state law."

"You have no idea the extent of corruption I have had to deal with in this city! Spoiled, self-entitled brats facilitating murders during the social season, a Chief Inspector taking bribes from criminals to look the other way, mental asylums committing healthy individuals against their will! Land being stolen by gangsters in an attempt to profit from ill-gotten gains! Then there is the idea that certain individuals think themselves above the law and attempt to take over Concordia to turn into their own personal kingdom, indeed the previous Deputy Mayor was in the pocket of such people until her own murder at their hands!"

"All of which had been dealt with, Mister Lawson. There was no emergency as everything you have described had already been dealt with, most of them before you became Mayor. As there was no emergency, I must rule that your state of emergency was irrelevant."

"No! Sir, you do not understand—"

"I understand plenty, Mister Lawson. Since your arrest and incarceration, we have reviewed your records and administration." The Governor said. "You created a militia with special powers, with the intent of using them to replace the local police force, and ultimately the entire judicial system."

"The Concordian Flying Squad is said to have had special powers, and they betrayed this city!" Lawson shouted. "They helped criminals escape, even having one on staff!"

"The Concordian Flying Squad, regardless of any special privileges, is still a part of the Concordian Police Department. Your Justice Corps, on the other hand, are a separate entity altogether and were made up of brutes who committed a variety of atrocities, all condoned by your office!"

"That is a lie!"

"Mister Lawson, the state has hard evidence of abuse by your Justice Corps—murders, assaults, robberies of all sorts…most of them targeting those in prison for frivolous charges at best and their families, who are innocent. That you claim to be unaware of these abuses says you are either a liar or ignorant. Neither of which bodes well for you."

"I would have known if any member of my Justice Corps was abusing their position!"

"Would you? Then explain this notice to the Justice Corps about the use of female convicts as prostitutes until the time of a 'Prison Purge'."

"What? The Prison Purge was to take place after Justice Day, when I would have everyone who defied the regime executed; the Purge was to rid Concordia of its current convict population, and within a year we wouldn't need prisons anymore." Lawson said, as he looked over the document in question. "But I never approved of the use of female convicts as whores. It must be del Lobo, he is a forger and created this false document to set me up!"

"I thought you would say that, despite hard evidence that Mister del Lobo, while he WAS a forger, is a gentleman and thus intolerant of assaults against women." Mister Johnson said. "Which was why I had the document, all the documents from your administration, reviewed by three different handwriting experts specializing in forgery. Every independent report says that the signature on it is yours, but the document itself was written up by a woman on your staff, specifically your deputy, Dora Umbright."

"That…that's not true!" Lawson cried. "Judge Umbright is a dedicated judicial officer and she would never condone such a thing!"

"For God's sake, Justin, you know she would! Dora Umbright has made no secret of her opinions of women and children not fitting the social standard! She has taken steps to make the women suffer for their ill choices and/or wicked relations and describes the children as 'mistakes to be erased'…Jesus Christ, she even tried to murder a baby when you marked his parents as criminals!"

"What? The only baby I can think of with that description is the Dupont baby, but he's in an orphanage. He was placed there when I ordered the arrest of his parents."

"Umbright did place baby George Dupont in Saint Gerolamo Eminali's Children's Home, and then she burned it down. She tried to kill that baby and every child residing at St. Gerolamo's because they were illegitimate or were born in prison, or any other reason. They would have died if not for Father Saccarelli, who ran St. Gerolamo's, the resistance and the Flying Squad; Father Saccarelli was killed in that fire, by the way, and his parish wants your head as much as Umbright's, maybe more because by your actions and words you gave her approval to do what she's wanted to do for years."

"You are lying!"

"I wish I was, and you were told this by (Rank) (Name) when they arrested you. But you don't need to hear the particulars from me." Johnson signaled to two soldiers standing guard at the door, who left. Five minutes later, the same soldiers were dragging in Umbright, who was struggling against their grips.

"Get your hands off of me!" Umbright shouted. "I will see you all dead for this outrage!"

"Judge Umbright, calm yourself." Lawson ordered. "The state is conducting an inquiry, and they are under the mistaken impression that you tried to murder the Dupont baby. Naturally, this is ridiculous!"

"Indeed it is, sir. I sought to execute that filthy little bastard, and every one of its kind."

"What!? Then…then you truly did burn down Saint Gerolamo's?!"

"Yes, sir, I did. Those things were supposed to be sent to hell, where they belong!"

"Miss Umbright!" The Governor cried. "I must remind you that you are speaking of children, and that your actions resulted in the death of a man of God!"

"They shouldn't even exist! They were bastards, criminal spawn, and trick babies! For years, our society has been burdened by these wretches, and the filthy whores who spawned them! Under Mayor Lawson's leadership, we are finally—finally!—able to do something about them! We only had to put up with them thanks to bleeding hearts like you and that idiot Saccarelli!"

"Judge Umbright…" Lawson said, shocked. "I ordered you to put that child in the orphanage, not to burn it down with him inside it! I had plans for those children! We were to school them into upstanding citizens, not light them up like Roman candles!"

"You can't teach decency to those things! Their blood is tainted, Mister Lawson! You said it yourself that such criminal spawn have no redeeming qualities! Even if that brat didn't have criminal parents, it was a bastard! The whore who bore it was pregnant when she married that fool Dupont!"

"I never said any such thing!"

"You did when you ordered Bernadine Rochester's arrest; you said it yourself that all Rochesters belonged in prison. Thus any spawn of criminals are only tainting our populace and must be eradicated!"

"That would be the same Bernadine Rochester who refused to take part in her uncle's plans for the coup, at great personal risk I might add?" The Governor asked. "I reviewed the reports of the Rochester investigation, as well as the fact that Miss Rochester was hidden in that orphanage and was the primary reason for the survival of those orphans." Lawson was stunned and turned to glare at Umbright, who was in shock.

"I assure you, sir, I knew nothing of this!" Umbright said. "If I had known, I would have ordered the Corps to use her like that Baldwin slut and burn her like the witch she is!"

"You…" Lawson said, unable to find the words. "This was not what I wanted!"

"It was, sir, and I have been your devoted employee! We eradicated the wretches as you wanted and brought the justice you desired!"

"You knew." Mister Johnson said. "You knew Adelia Baldwin was forced into prostitution and did nothing!"

"Of course I knew, you idiot!" Umbright snapped. "Some of the Corps made use of her services! What else was that spoiled little brat good for after giving birth to a bastard, who I would have thrown into the Crimson River if the damned Flying Squad—another set of bleeding hearts—hadn't intervened?! What were any of the whores related to criminals or gave away their virtues good for?! Even an idiot can see it was better to eradicate them at once rather than just ignoring them and denying their existence!" Mister Johnson marched up to Umbright and backhanded her.

"Buchannan, are you mad?!" Lawson asked. "You can't hit a lady!"

"In case you weren't listening, Justin, that…creature admitted to turning a blind eye to sexual slavery which your precious Justice Corps took part in, burned down an orphanage with the intent of murdering the inhabitants inside and killed a priest in the process, and expressed intent of killing another child just because he was born on the wrong side of the blanket." Mister Johnson said. "At this point, I wouldn't consider her a human being, let alone a woman—least of all a lady."

"Agreed. Never in my life have I seen such a disgrace to women as well as the profession of law." The Governor said. "Get her out of my sight." The soldiers nodded and dragged Umbright screaming from the room. Lawson was staring as the doors closed.

"This is why the State Attorney's office has spent weeks reviewing your administration." Mister Johnson said. "Every case held by her kangaroo court, every action taken…"

"You dare?!" Lawson shouted. "You dare question the sanctity of my administration?!"

"Seeing as such miscarriages of justice were allowed to occur under your administration, the least the state court could do is see the extent of it, especially the murders that were committed in your name."

"You can't—" Lawson said. "Every case was legitimate! The murders were thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators convicted on the evidence!"

"Were they, Mister Lawson?" The Governor asked. "Then explain Florence Samuels, convicted of the murder of Judge Satoshi Takakura, whom you sentenced to death, which was in violation of state law as the state had abolished the death penalty fifty years ago. Or the case of Adelia Baldwin, who was convicted of murdering her employer, who had coerced her into providing 'services', which included prostitution, on pain of having her child taken from her; considering the circumstances, she should have been acquitted on grounds of defense of others, as her child was held hostage against her. I also noticed no provision was made for Miss Baldwin's illegitimate child by the courts, not even to claim him as a ward, as should have been done."

"That particular matter was taken care of."

"Yes, by the Concordian Flying Squad, who arranged for his care on their own initiative. Given Miss Umbright just admitted her intent to murder this child due to the circumstances of his birth, they were in the right to intervene." Testimony was asked for, and (Name) watched as Lawson's face turned to shock as he heard testimony given by not just the Flying Squad, but by the Justice Corps members who admitted to atrocities committed because Lawson approved it as, by his standards, criminals were nothing. Some of the city council even gave testimony to their families being harassed and worse, and those convicted of crimes the Flying Squad didn't investigate.

"How the hell didn't Lawson know about any of what they did?" Isaac asked. "He made the Justice Corps, he should have known what they were doing under his rule."

"He knew, Isaac. He knew what they were doing, what he approved of them doing." (Name) said. "He just didn't know how they were doing what he wanted, nor did he give a damn. He preached retribution as an entitlement and of taking matters into one's own hands without thinking what that meant, how some of these people would carry out his edicts."

"In other words, his administration applied their own definitions of the justice he sought to bring, which only made things worse, and he had no idea."

"I doubt any one who supported his notions knew exactly what his edicts would cause, least of all him." They watched Lawson argue against the testimony, claiming that his actions were valid as he acted for justice, and that he can't possibly be responsible for what individual people did even if they were claiming to act on his behalf.

"As Mayor, Mister Lawson, you were responsible for setting an example for the city. So far, the example you have provided to the citizens under your care has been lacking, given your obliviousness to the abuses under your authority." The Governor said. "You claim to be targeting criminals, real or otherwise, yet among the documents the state has collected is a stay of execution for two individuals currently serving a prison sentence for murder—a Bart McMullen and a Tommy Fletcher. Were you planning to pardon them for some reason?"

"I am not pardoning those creatures!" Lawson snapped. "The document you hold is to make them exempt from the Prison Purge, yes, but that was for the sole purpose of saving their executions for last. The murder they committed was most heinous, I wanted them to see what was coming to them…as you can see, the document has their executions scheduled for June 18, year to be determined. Of course, it relies on whether or not we've gotten rid of the other criminals, but that day they will be the last and Concordia will be free of crime once and for all!"

"You monster." Mister Johnson said, disgusted. "This was never about justice! You tried to make death the only answer to dealing with crime, tried to flood the city's streets with blood, and allowed atrocities to be committed…all to get revenge!"

"I'm simply making sure those animals receive the sentence they should have earned when they killed Abigail! I am correcting the mistake you made six years ago, Buchannan!"

"Abby never would have wanted this, Justin, least of all in her name!"

"Gentlemen," The Governor said. "I take it the two of you knew the victim, Miss Abigail Baines?"

"We did, sir." Mister Johnson said. "In fact, Mister Lawson was engaged to marry Miss Baines; her murder occurred on June 16, just two days before what would've been their wedding day. I took the case, as Mister Lawson's personal connection to the victim was seen as a liability and I managed to get a conviction."

"And a light sentence!" Lawson protested. "Sir, it was a mockery of justice!"

"They're still in prison, and will stay in prison for a long time." Mister Johnson said. "For six years, you've spoken of the punishment they earned for their crime as though they were acquitted on a technicality! You want to talk about mocking justice, Lawson? What you've done to this city, what you allowed to be done, is a mockery of justice and I doubt there's a sentence on earth heavy enough to satisfy the people you've harmed pursuing your ambitions for revenge!" The entire room erupted in agreement and called for Lawson's head, forcing the Governor to bang his gavel to call for order.

"Enough!" The Governor bellowed as the room fell silent. "I confess I never held much regard for the late Cornelius Castletown. He was a lazy, weasley sort of man who cared more for the privileges of his office than of the responsibilities. He made many poor decisions throughout his political career. But out of all of his poor decisions, Lawson, making you his deputy had to be the poorest of them all!"

"Sir, I was chosen as Mayor Castletown's deputy because of the death of his previous deputy, who had been on the Rochesters' payroll." Lawson said. "She was serving a family that sought to turn Concordia into their own personal kingdom and I—I was bringing justice back to our city!"

"You call this justice?! Censorship, public executions, the latter being a gross violation of state law?! Your Justice Corps working on replacing the entire police force and judicial system as judge, jury and executioner?! Need I mention the burning down of orphanages with the inhabitants inside, which include children and men of God, or the condoning of rape if the victim had wicked relations or made poor choices of her own?! Perhaps I should mention your choice in administrators, which includes that wretched creature you call a judge and deputy who presumes that she has the right to murder children and priests and to condemn women to sexual slavery!"

"Umbright acted with impatience when she burned that orphanage down, when I merely ordered her to shut it down, and while I will admit her zeal needs tempering, in the end I did what must be done for the good of this city! I acted for justice!"

"I've reviewed your administration, Lawson, all your doings and plans for Concordia beyond your 'Justice Day', as well as your underlings and their actions, including that militia of brutes you set up. Between that and this hearing, where it is clear that you did not act for justice as you claim and that you encouraged others by example to seek revenge which led to numerous atrocities, I can say beyond any reasonable doubt that you shouldn't be trusted with a houseplant, let alone a city! Fortunately, that is one mistake that can and will be rectified. Justin Lawson, upon hearing of the charges of treason against the state, which includes abuse of power, constitutional violations, and murder, I hereby remove you from the office of Mayor of Concordia, effective immediately. You will be remanded to the dungeon known as the Grotto, in solitary and under heavy guard, until the city council establishes an interim Mayor. Afterwards, you will stand trial for the charges mentioned and answer to the law and city you have betrayed."

"No…" Lawson said as the soldiers took him and reshackled him. He struggled against their grip and was dragged out with the crowds roaring even more. Somewhere in the throngs of angry citizens, (Name) saw Maddie standing with Diego, no doubt to shout her own outrage.

"It's too bad that hag Halsted missed when she shot you!' Maddie shouted. "We'd have all been better off!"

"Keep moving." (Name) said. They marched Lawson all the way to the Grotto, which was under the state's authority.

"Are you satisfied with yourselves?!" Lawson asked as they marched down the Grotto's halls. "You have destroyed this city!"

"That's what you almost did." Isaac said. "I remember when Halsted tried to kill you, back when you were Deputy Mayor. Seeing what you've done since then, I'm beginning to wish she hadn't missed. It would've better if you had died a hero than lived on to become a monster."

"Is that what you want, Detective Bontemps? The world Halsted wanted? A world without law and order, where gangsters rule?"

"Funny you should mention that, seeing as you made the world she wanted; you merely went in the opposite direction." Isaac said as they reached the farthest cell. "Congratulations, Counselor. Your "New Concordia" was the most corrupt incarnation of the city since the Rochesters' planned vision, and you, sir, have become a worse criminal than them and all the gangs combined!" (Name) just looked at him, at this bitter excuse of a man who traded the justice he once championed for revenge as he was unshackled and shoved into the cell.

"I hope you fry in court, you bastard son of a bitch." (Name) said. "And after that? I hope you burn in hell!" The door to the cell slammed shut and (Name) nodded to the two guards at each side of the door. As they walked back, they heard sobbing coming from down the hall. (Name) looked to see Smythe being dragged by two soldiers. Smythe looked up, stopped sobbing and glared at (Name); the soldiers paused at (Name)'s gesture, but held Smythe firm.

"You can't do this!" Smythe cried. "We did nothing wrong! We acted in the name of justice!"

"You committed treason against the state and harmed innocent people." Isaac said. "I reckon that was made clear to you at your arraignment. (Name) gave Smythe a cool look, but it was enough to make Smythe flinch.

"Do you remember, Smythe, what I said I would do to you if anything happened to baby George or the residents of Saint Gerolamo's?" (Name) asked. "I said I would show you how lucky Jaubert was to be dead."

"I…I remember! But what happened to Father Saccarelli was not my fault! If he had just let Umbright take the children, he'd still be alive! They were mistakes, she said, and they would have burdened the city!"

"You knew. You knew she was going to kill them."

"I didn't know about the fire! I thought she would just shoot them!"

"Such a pity for you that Father Saccarelli died in that fire, and that you're stupid enough to think he would ever sacrifice the children in his care to save his own skin or that Umbright would spare him at all. You'll have your trial, Smythe, and when you've earned a prison sentence, I plan to speak to the warden of whatever prison you land in and use every ounce of influence I have to see that you're put in the wing where they keep the sodomites and deviants."

"You…you…" Smythe stuttered, paling. "You'd put me with those monsters?!"

"Why not? The last I checked, you're one of them." (Name) said. "Or did you think I wouldn't find out about your involvement in the rapes in prisons?"

"They were whores and criminals! Mayor Lawson gave us the right to use them as we pleased until we purged them!"

"No, his shrew of a deputy gave you permission—without his knowledge—but neither of them had any right to do that. None of you understood, did you? Law enforcement means more than just punishing criminals. It means making sure public trust is maintained, that the people and their rights are protected, and the law is upheld by everyone…all while not sinking to the level of the crooks we fight. You may want to prepare yourself, Smythe. Those sodomites and deviants would love to get their hands on a callous little weasel like you."

"You…you can't do this! What happened to not sinking to the level of criminals?!"

"You crossed that line when you abused your power to hurt innocents and to gain at their expense. No worries, Smythe, I'm sure you'll be well cared for. Just like you and your fellow goons took care of those women, and maybe some of the men, in prisons." (Name) gave a nod to the soldiers to resume putting Smythe, who broke out into renewed sobs, into a cell. They breathed in the air as they and Isaac left the Grotto.

"Are you really going to see that he's put in that wing, (Name)?" Isaac asked.

"Given that Smythe is facing charges of rape and other acts of carnal deviance, I won't have to." (Name) said. "I just thought Smythe would appreciate being on the receiving end of what he and the rest of the Justice Corps have done to others."

"So you were just giving him a taste of own medicine in other words?"

"More like letting him choke on it. He'll end up in that wing no matter what I say or do."

"If they convict him." They kept walking, passing the charred remains of the guillotine, left in the square and not yet cleared out.

"Do you remember, Isaac, when you questioned if criminals could be reformed?" (Name) asked.

"I remember." Isaac said. "I also questioned how the current prison practices would help a criminal to mend their ways."

"With Lawson, it wasn't about mending their ways and all about punishment for its own sake, not even as a consequence or an example of what happens when you break the law. "Redemption" and "rehabilitation" don't exist in his vocabulary. But to answer your question, I think it's up to the individual to decide whether or not he or she would reform. Look at Diego—we gave him a chance, and despite a slight bump he mended his ways."

"True…but Diego was a thief and forger, not a murderer. Thank God."

"Yes, he could've killed Charlie on the airship when Lawson confronted them, but he didn't, and I don't think it was just common sense that kept him from pulling the trigger."

"No, not just common sense, but decency and loyalty to us. He proved he wouldn't betray us, even during that dreadful time when we investigated his old protégée's murder."

"I knew he didn't kill her, but I still had to go through the steps to clear him. He didn't betray us then, he just made the error of trying to deal with her himself, without involving us. Given their connection, it made sense, but it was still poor judgment on his part."

"Yes, if memory serves, you damn near broke his nose over that."

"I was angry with him for not trusting us, but I understand that he's not a man who trusts easily. My point is we gave him a chance and he took it, and he's redeemed himself. We were skeptical about his reformation, but then there's no absolution without atonement. Most of the criminals we face won't take the opportunity to reform, but we have to give them a chance to mend their ways if we can. Some will never redeem themselves, or have gone so far that they're beyond redemption."

"Lawson never understood that, he just wanted to hit criminals in a strong way and try to purge crime from Concordia, no matter the cost. I can't say his methods worked, because in the end he was no better than the very criminals we fight."

"Prison locks them away, to keep them from harming others and themselves, and gives them the chance to reflect on their poor choices. But you were right, they need more than just walking on a treadmill for hours on end." (Name) looked pensive and they continued walking around the square, the crowds having dispersed after Lawson was locked away in the Grotto, which was under more security than he had placed when he was Mayor.

"Have you any plans once this is all over?" Isaac asked. "Marla mentioned taking Colette to the country after this. Maybe I shall accompany them, see how things go…"

"Going to try and rekindle things between you?" (Name) asked. "Personally, I think Marla's too young for you—you're at least twice her age—but if it works for you two, why not?"

"Evelyn mentioned setting up her own newspaper with Katherine, and Viola's started rehearsals for a new play by an up-and-coming playwright. I'm afraid I don't recollect the name she gave."

"Richard plans to go to England to visit a friend of his conducting experiments on human corpses, and Rose is going to Switzerland. All that cheese…Rasputin will enjoy himself feasting on the mice that come for that cheese."

"And what about you, (Name)? Have you any plans?"

"None at the moment, but I agree we all deserve a holiday after this."

"Yes. Things seem to be returning to normal in Concordia. Our city is a beacon of hope once again!"

"It is. The state may stick around for a bit to make sure nothing else goes haywire, but I doubt we'll be under their oversight forever. The people are referring to this as the REAL Justice Day. I can't say the irony's not lost on me."

The next morning, every paper in Concordia announced the results of Lawson's arraignment and impeachment, and the city council announced the decision to install Lady Minerva Highmore as the interim Mayor. She would help lead the city until the next official elections, after which the state would finish its oversight; the trials themselves took some days later. Many of the Justice Corps were given long prison sentences for various acts, and for every true believer there were ten others who simply used the administration's policies for their own gains. Lawson still insisted on defending himself, and the more he saw exactly what his policies led to, the more he heard testimony of those who committed crimes in his name and those who suffered in his regime, the angrier he became. (Name) wondered what exactly Lawson expected when he started all of this. By the time he, Umbright and Smythe were found guilty of treason against the state, and all related charges, it was clear to even a village idiot that what was done in Concordia was wrong. Lawson wasn't considered the worst tyrant in history, just the most blatant.

"Finally, I thought we'd never reach sentencing." (Name) said to Maddie, who was sitting with Diego and the others. "If I had to hear one more syllable of Smythe's whining or Umbright's vitriol or Lawson's outrage, I'd have throttled them."

"You and everyone else in Concordia." Maddie said. "I can't believe the amount of people who committed crimes simply because Lawson said they could."

"Worse, they didn't even see their actions as crimes, but actions of justice. They still don't." They quieted down as order came to the courtroom. Lawson, Umbright and Smythe were made to rise and face the judge who presided over them.

"This marks the end of a nightmare in Concordia." the judge said. "Regardless, it is a dark day for the city as those who were once sworn to uphold the law end up abusing it for their own ends, and in the process harmed the very people they were sworn to protect! Gideon Smythe, on the charges of treason against the state, several counts of rape, theft, and assault as well as accessory to attempted murder and murder before and after the fact, I hereby sentence you to fifty years for every person you have violated and abused, to be served consecutively, in Stonewall Prison!"

"NO!" Smythe cried, sobbing. "Please, not prison! Not Stonewall!"

"Dora Umbright, on the charges of treason against the state, abuse of judicial power and related charges thereof, abduction of a child, arson, attempted murder of children, and the murder of Father Saccarelli, I hereby sentence you to seventy-five years for every person victimized by your unfair rulings and of the attempted murder by arson as well as Father Saccarelli, to be served consecutively, in a state penitentary!"

"I have no regrets, except that those mistakes still live!" Umbright shouted. "I was doing this city a favor being rid of them!"

"Justin Lawson, on the charges of treason against the state, abuse of mayoral power and related charges thereof, the countless charges of facilitation to murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to murder before and after the fact, attempted murder of the Concordian Flying Squad, and the murder of Charles Armand Dupont…I hereby sentence you to a hundred years for every citizen of Concordia who was present in the city during your reign and those murdered during your term as Mayor, to be served consecutively, in a state penitentiary!"

"You will not stop justice!" Lawson shouted. "I will bring justice to this city, one way or another!"

"All you brought was pain and misery." (Name) said. "If you'd actually done your job as Mayor, we wouldn't be here."

"And if you had done your job, (Rank), my Abigail would still be alive!"

"What? You've completely lost your mind. She was dead long before I got here, you know that!" But Lawson wasn't listening, he looked deranged and was glaring around the courtroom.

"Abigail Baines was the one good thing in this damned city, and she died because no one took the hunt for her killers seriously! You…all of you…you all killed her! The police who didn't deal with those brutes properly before they accosted her! The courts who gave them a light sentence instead of the death they deserved! The priests who hid their crime by not revealing their confession…why should any of you have happiness and love, while mine rots in the ground?! I SHOULD HAVE SHOT THAT BITCH WHO THOUGHT SHE COULD REPLACE MY ABIGAIL! I SHOULD HAVE MADE SURE THIS ENTIRE DAMNED CITY DIED WITH HER! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU ALL—" Lawson started to scream then, and his face began to change. The entire courtroom was staring in shock at his rant; (Name) noticed Diego had a small smirk as he watched Lawson break.

"I should have…killed you all…" Lawson then collapsed into a heap. The judge banged his gavel and ordered the bailiffs to remove Lawson from the courtroom. Two burly bailiffs carried him out, and two more dragged out Umbright, who was so stunned at the display that she didn't even move, let alone try to fight them. Smythe, on the other hand, managed to grab a gun from one of the bailiffs about to escort him.

"I'm not going!" Smythe shouted. "You're not putting me in prison!"

"Put the gun down, Smythe." (Name) said. "If you don't, you're not getting out of this alive." Smythe gave a smile full of desperation that had (Name) concerned.

"For once, (Rank) (Name), we're in agreement. I won't get out of this alive, which is better than being locked away with sodomites and deviants!" Before anyone could stop him, Smythe turned the gun on his head and pulled the trigger. The courtroom was in an uproar as people panicked, and as the chaos died down, (Name) looked down at Smythe's body.

"You just sent yourself to Final Judgement, you idiot." (Name) said. "Prison would've been more merciful, even in the wing you were heading for."

"My God…" Maddie said.

"Come on, they're clearing the courtroom." (Name) personally escorted Diego and Maddie out of the courtroom, and they ultimately left the courthouse. "Are you all right, Maddie? Diego?"

"I'm fine." Maddie said. "A tad shaken at Smythe taking his own life, but fine."

"I'm doing a lot better than Smythe is right now." Diego said. "Poor, desperate fool. He didn't realize what he had done to himself, but he will where he's going."

"Straight to hell to answer for everything he's done on Earth." (Name) said. "I have to admit, I didn't expect Lawson to admit his true motives and intentions, certainly not in that manner. You seemed pleased at the display, Diego."

"It was only a matter of time before the reality of his actions collided with the ideals he held, and he could no longer delude himself into thinking he acted for justice." Diego said. "The question is, will it be enough for you, Maddie?"

"I beg your pardon?" Maddie asked.

"Lawson just saw his 'New Concordia' revealed to be a font of corruption and death, and has finally—finally—saw the monster he became because he decided the two brutes who murdered the love of his life weren't punished enough for what they did. He lashed out and harmed innocents in the name of a woman who by all accounts would have been disgusted by what he did, has disgraced her memory so that anyone who does remember Abigail Baines will only remember her death and its role in Lawson's fall, and he has to live with it all while he's in prison where he will serve so many life sentences that he's not getting out until Judgement Day. So, I ask you, Madeline, in light of these events, is it enough for you?"

"Enough for…" Maddie fell quiet as she realized what he was asking. Was Lawson punished enough for what he did to Concordia? To Charlie? "I'm sorry, I have to be honest. No, it's not enough, but for George's sake it has to be. We did all we could to bring him down, to make him answer for what he's done. The rest is up to God."

"Fair enough. As for me, I'm content to see him rot in prison with the rest of the criminals."

"That makes three of us." (Name) said. "I don't know about the two of you, but I could use a drink."

"No bars for me," Maddie said. "I lost my taste for booze when I was pregnant."

"Thankfully, (Name)'s idea of a drink is an egg cream." Diego said. "I wouldn't mind a trip to the soda fountain myself."

"Then let's go, and the treats are on me." (Name) said as the three of them headed to the soda fountain. They sat at the first table available, and ordered their drinks.

"So…how have things been with you, Maddie?" (Name) asked as their drinks arrived. "How have you found running the Concordia Telephone Company?"

"It's a lot of work, I'll admit, but I'm getting through it." Maddie said. "Running the company is an interesting experience, and we didn't have to untangle the paperwork as much as I feared."

"Which is a relief for me." Diego said. "With Maddie taking on the administrative tasks, as much as she can given she has George to raise, I can focus fully on the financial aspects. Our only real concern is the lack of someone tending to the engineering aspects of the company—the maintenance of the telephone lines and such, but I think Miss Takakura will be a viable candidate once she finishes her studies."

"That's good to hear." (Name) said. "Speaking of financial aspects, I heard you've been helping Miss Rochester with her own assets."

"I have. She asked me to aid her in regard to the new business empire she was given by her soon-to-be ex-sister-in-law. Miss Rochester has also gained full ownership of the Douphol Mansion and has donated it to the church, relocating Saint Gerolamo's and the orphans they care for."

"Which you've no doubt helped her to do. Chief Wright mentioned her becoming a patron for the orphanage. I've also heard from Enzo Jonas, who's given restitution to everyone his mother exploited, the bulk of it having gone to Adelia Baldwin and her son."

"Has she truly left Concordia then?" Maddie asked. "I heard she planned to, and given her circumstances, I can't blame her."

"She left as soon as the verdicts were announced; as of now, she and young Paris are on a ship heading to the city he was named for. The money she received was more than enough to ensure the two of them lived in comfort, and apparently someone gifted her a gold ring." (Name) gave a glance at Diego.

"I may have supplied her with a simple gold band, for the sole purpose of ensuring her new life was bereft of complications." Diego said. "People look at that ring and a baby, they will see a young widow and mother who has been through hard times looking for a fresh start."

"Was there anything else you supplied her with, or do I not want to know?"

"I have lines I don't cross, (Name). Forging a marriage license—whether secular or religious—is one of them. All she needs is the ring, and a tale of her beloved being killed and the marriage license lost during the mad times she found herself victim of."

"Well, it doesn't sound too far from the truth. I wish her and baby Paris well in their new life. So, how have things been with you, Diego? Any luck with the house search?"

"As a matter of fact, I've managed to find a lovely townhouse in Capitol Peak, only fifteen minutes away from the phone company's offices."

"So does this mean I'll be getting my house back?" Maddie asked.

"At the season's end, my dear." Diego answered. "I still have to close on it, then furnish and decorate…tell me, do you think the Mona Lisa in the parlor would be too overwhelming?"

"Maybe a little." (Name) said. "Perhaps you could…replicate another of da Vinci's works if you're inclined in that direction."

"I have an idea of what I want. It's ironic that my forgery skills are reduced to decorating."

"It's better than what you were using them for in the first place." They talked some more, and then (Name) had to get back to the airship. When they got there, Isaac was waiting and they headed to the Chief's office, where Chief Wright was waiting.

"Sir? Is everything all right?" (Name) asked. Chief Wright looked serious.

"I've just met with the city council," Chief Wright said. "Now that Lawson's been dealt with, the Flying Squad may be able to return to its regular state. I must admit, as good as it feels to be back behind my desk, those days are as of now over."

"What?! Chief, they can't just remove you from the Flying Squad!"

"They can and they have. I'll be out of the Flying Squad…and into police headquarters. (Rank) (Name), you are officially looking at the new Commissioner of the Concordian Police Department!"

"That…congratulations, sir! If anyone deserves the position, it's you! I know the Concordian Police Department will flourish under your guiding hand as Commissioner."

"I most certainly hope so, and my first act as Commissioner is to appoint a new Chief for the Flying Squad. I'm assigning YOU to that position, (Name)."

"Me?" (Name) sank to the chair as they processed the words Chief—Commissioner Wright just said. "Sir, I…I'm honored you would think me worthy, but…but I'm the most junior officer on this squad! Isaac is more senior, hell Ramirez is more senior! Either of them should have the position!"

"Isaac's coming with me to police headquarters as my Deputy Commissioner, and as for Constable Ramirez, I'm promoting him to Division Chief for Capitol Peak. There will be one for each district of the city, answering directly to headquarters. But we still need the Flying Squad to hold them—to hold us all accountable."

"If we're making sure the police do their jobs and not abusing their badges for their personal gain…then we need to make that mission public." (Name) said. "I remember when you said that other officers mustn't know the CPD is being investigated, but in light of recent events, we can't afford to be clandestine in this any longer."

"You bring up a very valid point, (Name)." Commissioner Wright said. "Very well—the Flying Squad shall be officially in charge of our internal affairs. Like the other Division Chiefs, you'll answer directly to headquarters and will be assigned as ordered. I wish you luck in your endeavors, Chief (Name)."

"Thank you, sir." (Name) said. "I won't let you or the CPD down." (Name) couldn't believe the changes that were happening—Wright was Commissioner, they themself was Chief of the Flying Squad…whatever they chose to do next, it was with the hope that good things await in the future.