"Don't say a word. I'll do all the talking," Graves muttered to Gunn as they stood in front of the judge. "Not one word."

Gunn silently nodded.

"Docket number CP-41-WG-0844. Six counts of statutory rape, six counts of possession of child pornography." The bailiff handed the file to the judge.

"I see we're graced by the presence of the District Attorney himself." Judge Carlyle peered over his glasses. "We don't normally see you at arraignment hearings, Mr. Cole."

"This is a special case, Your Honor," Cole smiled.

Judge Carlyle grunted. "Mr. Graves, how does your client plead?"

"Not guilty on all counts, Your Honor."

"Bail, Mr. Cole?"

"Remand, Your Honor. The defendant has access to assets which could easily be converted into cash. In addition, Mr. Gunn has contacts in both South America and the Far East, and the charges themselves make him a potential flight risk."

"Mr. Graves?"

"Your Honor, my client has absolutely no criminal record. He is a highly respected member of the community with strong ties to the community," Graves answered. "We request a release on recognizance."

"Your Honor, we are still tracking Mr. Gunn's finances to be sure there are no foreign bank accounts due to his foreign contacts," Cole retorted. "Our investigation is ongoing, and we're confident additional charges will be forthcoming. All these factors make Mr. Gunn a potential flight risk."

"Your Honor, the DA can use the excuse of an ongoing investigation to request my client be held indefinitely," Graves pointed out. "It's unfair to my client to hold him while the DA continues to try and make something out of nothing."

"Nothing!" Cole snapped. "His…"

"Enough! You've both made your positions clear," Carlyle firmly ordered. "Mr. Graves has a point, Mr. Cole. I will not have a defendant held for an indefinite period of time. You've got six months to file all charges. Mr. Graves, your client is remanded away from the general population until we meet back in my Court in six months. Both parties will be notified by the end of the week for the next Court appearance." He banged his gavel. "Next case."

Graves followed his client out of the courtroom. "I need to consult with my client," he advised the bailiff.

The older man opened a conference room door. "You've only got until all the defendants have seen the judge," he warned.

Graves nodded and followed Gunn into the room.

"They can actually keep me in that cell for six months?" Gunn angrily asked.

"They can and have." Graves sat down at the table and motioned for Gunn to do the same. He stared into Gunn's blue eyes. "And by then, who knows how many additional charges they'll be able to bring? Especially when they start talking to those girls?"

"I swear they never told me they were underaged," Gunn protested.

"I doubt that's what they'll tell the DA and law enforcement," Graves pointed out. "Those recordings were found on your computer. Now, unless we can prove with reliable certainty that they were planted on your computer by someone we'd have to name, we don't have a defense."

"You want me to plead guilty?"

Graves leaned back in his chair. "We can wait this out then try to cut a deal closer to the trial date. The DA, however, will be less inclined to agree to a deal at that point. He's more inclined to agree to a deal the sooner we try to make one."

"What kind of a deal?" Gunn quietly asked.

Graves shrugged. "That depends on how much Cole has found and can prove in Court. Again, the sooner the better."

"I'm not pleading guilty," Gunn firmly said.

"We can try to get him to agree to an Alford plea," Graves pointed out. "Basically, you don't admit to guilt but agree that a jury would find you guilty based upon the evidence the DA has."

Gunn groaned. "That's the best we can get?"

Graves nodded. "Most likely. In addition, a quick resolution will help you in the Court of public opinion." When Gunn gave him a skeptical look, he continued, "Six counts versus ten? Or twenty?"

"I need to think," Gunn muttered. "How long would I be in jail if the DA accepts an Alford plea?"

"For statutory rape, at least 12 years per count. For child pornography, 5 to 40 years per count. You currently have 6 counts on each. You do the math."

Gunn's face paled as he did the math.

"If the DA and Judge accept the Alford plea, we're likely to get a little better. But I don't expect much leniency. That's why I think we should try for the plea now before they add more counts to the charges. I need you to understand the consequences of whatever decision you make. I'll provide the best defense I can mount. But I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you we don't have many, if any, options." Graves got to his feet. "I'll start working on the bail issue. Maybe we can get it in front of the judge before the six months are up." He knocked on the door. "Let me know when you've come to a decision."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cole had a lot on his plate. Besides the regular duties of the District Attorney, he was also responsible for the duties of City Attorney. He was working with Robert Roode on the bidding contract for equipment for the DPD and DFD, researching data for different cities in an effort to convince those cities to join forces with Davenport to get a larger slice of the Federal funding pie, helping to investigate adding charges to Gunn's indictment, and working on the deal for Shawn Spears.

Cole's investigators knew all this and knew that Cole had a tendency to work long late hours when his plate was full. Which is why they had set up a rotating schedule to make sure he was brought dinner and then marched out of the office to go home and get some sleep.

Bobby Fish smiled at the security guard who let him into the building. "Thanks, Alan."

"No problem. Smells like Italian?"

Fish grinned. "Let O'Reilly bring sushi and Strong bring burgers. I bring the good stuff."

Alan laughed and relocked the door and reset the alarm as Fish took the elevator to the third floor. He sat back down behind the desk and muttered, "Hope he gets Cole outta here before long. I wanna go home myself."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cole looked up as the door to his office was opened. "Bobby?"

"Close the files and clear a space. You're eating dinner."

Cole hurriedly obeyed as Fish began pulling containers from the two bags he was carrying. "I can work while eating," he grumbled.

"You could. But you won't," Fish calmly replied. "You'll be so focused on working that your dinner will get cold."

Cole tried to glare at his friend but couldn't keep from smiling. He took a deep breath and happily sighed. "Spaghetti or lasagna?"

"Both. Take your pick."

"Lasagna." Cole reached for the container and opened it. "You want coffee or water or something else?"

"Water." Fish set a container of salad next to each of their plates as Cole stood and walked to the small mini-fridge sitting in the corner. Cole returned with an unopened bottle of water and set it in front of Fish who was sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the desk.

Fish noted the bottle of Sprite that Cole opened for himself. 'Yep. Between the pasta and sugared drink, he'll be yawning before long. I'll drive him home.' He winced as Cole tore open a packet of vinaigrette dressing and poured it over his salad. "Heathen," he muttered.

Cole grinned as he shoveled two large bites of salad into his mouth. He watched as Fish dribbled a small amount of Italian dressing on his own salad. "Predictable," he finally retorted.

Fish shrugged but smiled.

"Seriously, Bobby, you guys don't have to do this. I appreciate it, but it's above and beyond."

Fish shrugged again. "You'd do the same for us."

"Yeah…well…" Cole turned his attention to his lasagna.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alan was startled to hear someone pounding on the front door. He saw an elderly man leaning heavily on a cane, a look of fear on his face. As he stood to go to the door, he saw the man mouthing 'Help. Please help me.'

Alan opened the recessed panel and deactivated the alarm system then carefully opened the door.

"Please…they're chasing me…knives…" The man leaned heavily on the cane and nearly stumbled.

Alan opened the door wider and helped the man into the foyer. He glanced out but saw no one. "No one's there."

The old man breathed heavily. "Are you sure? They chased me around the corner."

Alan carefully looked into the darkness then shook his head. "They might have circled the block," he muttered more to himself as he closed the door.

"Thank you."

Alan turned around and was shot twice with a silenced gun. He was dead before his body slumped to the floor.

The old man straightened from his stooped stance and casually glanced at one of the security cameras before walking to the stairwell.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Sorry I haven't been much help on Gunn's investigation," Cole mumbled around a mouthful of lasagna.

"Judge gave us six months to put together the final charges." Bobby took a drink of water then continued, "That's time for us to track down some of these girls and interview them. If we can't get them to cooperate, we've still got the recordings and their criminal records to prove the son of a bitch is guilty as hell."

Cole chuckled. "Why do I think you're going to enjoy that trial? Assuming it goes to trial?" When Bobby glared at him, he shrugged. "I'm pretty sure his attorney is going to want him to make a deal. He, at least, knows Gunn's got no defense."

"You'll make a deal?"

Cole sipped from his bottle of Sprite. "I'm not inclined to give him much of anything. Especially if he goes for an Alford plea. I want him admitting to the charges in open Court."

"Do you…did you hear that?" Fish looked over his shoulder as he sat upright.

"No."

Both men stared out the open door of Cole's office to the open door of the receptionist's office. A door that Fish had forgotten to close.

Fish stood and pulled his gun from his shoulder holster. "That was the stairwell door," Fish muttered. "Is anyone else supposed to be here?"

"Not that I know of," Cole admitted. "Except for Alan downstairs."

"Get your gun out. Call 911. And stay here."

"Wait and I'll…"

Fish glared over his shoulder. "Stay here," he ordered.

Cole and his investigators had been together for several years. They were friends as well as co-workers. It had long been acknowledged among them that the investigators were also Cole's protection detail. In a situation such as this, they gave the orders; and Cole obeyed.

As Fish quietly walked to the outer door, Cole grabbed his phone and dialed 911. He watched Fish deftly slip out of the office and quietly close the door behind him.

"911. What is your emergency?"

"This is DA Adam Cole. I'm in my office at City Hall…third floor and someone is moving around on the floor. Only myself, my investigator and the security guard are supposed to be in the building. My investigator has gone to see…"

Cole nearly dropped the phone when he heard gunshots.

"Shots fired! Get the PD here immediately and call Chief Malenko!"

"Sir…"

Cole muted the phone and shoved it into his pants pocket. He opened his desk drawer to get his gun. Releasing the safety, he quickly walked to the closed door. Taking two quick breaths, he slightly opened the door and looked around.

Seeing no one, he slipped out of the office and turned left towards the stairwell. When he reached the hallway intersection, he cautiously glanced around the corner.

"BOBBY!" Cole screamed as he ran towards his fallen friend. An old man lay a few feet away, staring up at the ceiling, a gun by his side.

Cole kicked the gun back behind him. One look told him the old man was dead. He turned and knelt next to Fish who lay on his back, eyes closed, gun still in his hand.

"Bobby?" Cole reached into his pocked and unmuted his phone. "Get an ambulance here!" he barked. "My investigator is down as well as another man. And I don't know where the security guard is!" He disconnected the call and checked Fish's pulse.

"Nonono…you're not dead…you're not going to die on me, Bobby!" Cole sent a quick text to O'Reilly and Strong. 'Get to my office. Bobby's down.'

Cole then pulled Fish into his arms. "You can't die on me, Bobby. I forbid it! You hear me! You're not gonna die!'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Malenko wasn't really surprised to see the crowd of cops, ambulances, and even the press when he arrived at City Hall. Once again, he silently damned whoever invented police scanners. He'd contacted Brodie Lee and figured the Mayor was on his way. As he walked towards the front door, he saw two men arguing with the cops guarding the door…and recognized them.

"They're with me," Malenko said as he stopped by the door. "Mayor Lee should be here shortly. Let me know when he arrives. Explain he can't come into the building as there are two different crime scenes. And keep the press away from him." He looked through the glass door. "The guard?"

"Alan Foster. Found dead of two gunshot wounds," one of the officers explained. "Ambulance just took him away to the Coroner's office. The front door was unlocked when we arrived."

Malenko silently nodded and motioned for Strong and O'Reilly to accompany him.

As they entered the building, Malenko asked, "How did the two of you know to get here?"

"Cole texted us. He said Bobby was down." Strong angrily said.

Two more cops were standing at the elevator as CSI units processed the scene by the door. "Chief Malenko, everyone is to use the elevator until we've secured the entire building."

Malenko nodded. "Understood." The three men entered the elevator. "Did Cole say anything else?" he asked as O'Reilly pressed the button for the third flood.

Strong shook his head.

Malenko was surprised to see Cena standing in front of the elevator doors.

"Unit on the door radioed you were coming up." Cena respectfully nodded at Strong and O'Reilly. "From what the CSI unit thinks at this point is that the two men shot each other. Both shots were fatal."

O'Reilly briefly leaned against Strong.

"Cole won't allow anyone to touch Fish much less take him away," Cena softly continued. "We did manage to get Cole's gun away from him. Two guns were found on the scene. Cole said one was Fish's. The assumption is that the second gun belonged to the unknown shooter. CSI has them both."

Malenko saw Styles and motioned him to join them. "Styles, escort these two to where DA Cole is." He glanced at the two other men. "I'm hoping they can get through to him."

Styles silently nodded and led them down the hallway, skirting the CSI units.

"Any ID on the other shooter?"

Cena shook his head. "We've determined he's wearing a disguise. A CSI unit is reviewing the security footage so we should have a good idea of what happened. They also took a picture of the man without the disguise and is running it through the database. Hopefully, we'll get a hit."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Styles stopped halfway down the hallway. "Nobody will interrupt. The CSI and EMTs will ignore you until you can get Cole to let him go."

Strong silently nodded as O'Reilly walked towards Cole.

Cole sat with his back to the wall with his eyes closed, cradling Fish in his arms. "You're not taking him away from me," he furiously hissed, holding Bobby tightly.

"Adam. Look at me," O'Reilly gently spoke as he sat on the floor next to Cole.

Cole slowly turned his head and opened his eyes. "Kyle?"

Kyle nodded. "And Roddy."

Cole saw Roddy lowering himself to the floor, facing Cole.

"They want to take him away," Cole muttered. "He's not going to die on me. They take him, and he dies. Not going to happen."

"Adam." Roddy gently tapped on Cole's shoe to get his attention. "We'll make sure that doesn't happen until you're ready to let him go."

Kyle wrapped an arm around Cole's shoulders and leaned against him. Roddy gently rubbed Cole's leg as they quietly waited.

Almost ten minutes passed when Cole took a deep breath. "We love you, Bobby. Save us seats at the table…we'll have a real Italian feast." He gently kissed Bobby's forehead. "I'm sorry, Bobby. So fucking damned sorry."

Kyle wiped tears from his face as Roddy looked away.

"Tell them I'll let him go."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Chief, we've identified the second man," Styles quietly spoke. "Christopher Daniels. AKA, The Fallen Angel."

"I want his full file on my desk first thing tomorrow morning," Malenko ordered. "Any mob affiliations?"

"Allegedly, few hits in Japan that might have been ordered by one or more of their gangs," Styles shrugged. "Allegedly, a few in Mexico possibly by the cartels. As for here in the States, allegedly some hits possibly for the Authority. No known hits that could've been ordered by the Bloodline. At least, none that we know of at this point."

Malenko silently nodded as Cena joined them. "Anything from the security footage?"

"On its way to the CSI lab," Cena reported. "However, it shows the shooter, Daniels, at the front door apparently in some distress. The security guard killed the alarm system and let him in. Daniels played the old man gimmick to the hilt. The guard never thought he was a threat. Daniels shot the guard twice and then went up the stairwell. He next appears up here and is confronted by Mr. Fish. Shots were exchanged, and both men went down."

They looked up as Roddy joined them. "He's ready," Roddy quietly spoke.

Malenko motioned to the EMTs who rolled a stretcher down the hall after Roddy.

Cole looked up as the EMTs approached. "Be…be gentle with him…please."

"He'll be treated as gently as if he were our own fathers," the young African-American EMT promised.

Cole silently nodded as Fish was gently put on the stretcher. As a sheet was pulled over his face, Kyle and Roddy helped Cole to his feet. "We're taking him to his office," Roddy advised.

Malenko glanced at Cena who nodded. "CSI ruled the office out as part of the crime scene."

As they walked through the receptionist's office, Cole abruptly stopped in the middle of the room. "Not in there," he weakly spoke. "The food Bobby brought is still in there. Get it out, please. I don't want to smell it." He hesitated then quietly added, "I don't think I'll ever eat Italian again."

"I'll take care of it," Roddy promised and walked into Cole's office followed by Styles. The detective silently helped put the opened food into the bag in the trash can sitting by the mini-fridge. As he tied it up, Roddy opened a desk drawer and pulled out a folded shirt. Then he opened the mini-fridge and pulled out a couple of bottles of water.

"Word of advice," Styles quietly spoke as he picked up the bag. "You and O'Reilly take turns stepping away from Cole." He stared into Roddy's eyes. "You both lost a good friend…brother…just like Cole did. Take a little time for yourselves." He carried the bag out of the office.

"Huh…and he's supposed to be the asshole cop," Roddy muttered. He walked into the outer office and handed Cole a bottle of water. "Change your shirt and drink some water." He handed Kyle a bottle and opened his.

Cole changed his shirt, never noticing that Cena put the shirt in an evidence bag then drank half the bottle then recapped it.

Kyle noticed the bloodstains on the shirt Cena in the evidence bag as the detective was writing on the outside of the evidence bag and shuddered.

"It's my fault. All of it."

Cena exchanged a glance with Malenko, then asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Sometimes I stay late…working," Cole's voice was dull. "I forget to eat…sometimes to even go home. So, the guys take turns bringing me dinner and making me go home." He took a deep shuddering breath. "If I would've left when everyone else did, Bobby wouldn't have been killed. Alan either."

"In that case, it's entirely possible the shooter would've just gone to your house," Cena gently pointed out.

"But Bobby would still be alive," Cole muttered. "Alan too."

Styles walked back into the office as Kyle asked, "Any idea how the shooter got in?"

Malenko barely nodded at Styles.

"He was wearing a disguise," Styles explained. "We're speculating at this point, but he probably pounded on the door. The guard saw an elderly man with a cane, probably in some sort of distress. So, he opened the door."

'No good deed goes unpunished,' Roddy bitterly thought to himself.

"He came up the stairs." Cole closed his eyes. "We were eating and talking when Bobby…Bobby heard something. He said it was the stairwell door. Alan wouldn't have come up here and left his post downstairs. I knew no one else was in the building. Bobby took out his gun. Told me to get mine from the desk drawer and call 911. I was on the phone with the dispatcher when I heard two gunshots. I told 911 shots were fired. Then I went after Bobby."

"Excuse me, sir, but you're sure you only heard two shots?"

Cole nodded to Cena. "Just two. Why?"

Malenko again briefly nodded.

"We've confirmed two bullets were missing from Mr. Fish's gun. The shots you heard must've come from him," Cena explained. "The intruder must have used a silenced gun."

"Where is the gun?" Malenko asked.

"CSI bagged it for evidence." Cena looked at Styles who nodded. "We never saw it."

"Any ID on the shooter?" Roddy asked, keeping an eye on Cole whose head had dropped to his chest as he sat on the receptionist's desk.

This time both Cena and Styles looked at Malenko.

"This goes no further," Malenko cautioned. "His disguise was removed and his picture taken. It was uploaded to a database to see if we could get a hit. His name is Christopher Daniels aka The Fallen Angel. Allegedly a contract killer because there's never been any direct evidence to charge him." He saw Cole's head snap up and the fire raging in the DA's tear-filled blue eyes.

"Bloodline or Authority?" Cole snapped.

"The investigation has barely begun," Malenko calmly pointed out. "But there are a couple of alleged hits that could be tied to the Authority."

"Shawn Spears," Cole muttered. "One of the things I'm working on is a deal with him. He allegedly had ties with Randy Orton."

"Who was a known associate of Hunter Helmsley and the Authority," Styles concluded.

"I'm also in the loop about Rousey and Bayzler regarding the assassinations of Paul Heyman and Lacey Evans," Cole added.

"Do they have any ties to either the Authority or the Bloodline?" Cena asked.

Cole shrugged. "Not that I've been told by the Feds," he admitted. "But the Feds are playing their cards really close to their vest about them." He wearily rubbed his face.

"Can we take him home now?" Kyle asked.

"A safe house would be better," Cena pointed out.

"No!" Cole caught his breath. "I want to go home."

Malenko hesitated, then nodded. "Where are you parked?"

"The parking lot in the back," Roddy answered. "We can go out the back. Hopefully we can avoid the press that way."

"Detective Styles and Cena will escort you out," Malenko decided. "I'll also have a visible police presence at your residence, Cole. As soon as the building is released from investigation, we'll make arrangements for transportation to and from your house. Guards will be placed on your office. No one will be allowed in without either my or your permission."

Cole started to speak but just waved his hand in silent acknowledgement.

"C'mon. Let's go." Kyle gently helped Cole to stand.

"I'll have a detail at your house by the time you arrive," Malenko explained. "They'll need to clear the house."

Cole nodded. "The garage door opener is in my car so we'll take it."

"I'll make sure you have a clear path out of the parking lot, and a unit will follow you to make sure you arrive safely," Malenko advised.

They slowly left the office, Roddy turning out all the lights, and Cole securely locking the door. As they walked down the hall to the elevators, Cena handed the evidence bag to the CSI unit.

As they waited on the elevator, Malenko casually asked. "Cole, who is your senior ADA?"

"Q. T. Marshall." Coles' eyes widened. "You think he's in danger?"

Malenko slowly shrugged. "From what we know, the hit was on you. Daniels works alone so if there was any danger to him, it doesn't exist now. But we'll check on him anyway."

As they reached the elevators, Malenko's cell phone rang.

"Malenko."

"Sir, the Mayor is here."

"I'll be right down. Allow him to enter the foyer. Detail two officers to escort the DA and associates to their car. They're leaving by the back entrance," Malenko ordered. "Detectives Cena and Styles are also accompanying them. Make sure they have a clear path away to the street. And get two officers to follow them as a security precaution. On my orders, detach two officers to meet them at Mr. Cole's residence to make sure it's safe for him to enter. All officers are to remain at the DA's house on protection detail until they're relieved."

"Yes, sir."

When they exited the elevator, Malenko pulled Kyle aside. "Who is Fish's next of kin? His wife?"

Kyle shook his head. "Bobby was divorced. A really bad divorce. There weren't any kids. His parents died in a car accident when he was in his mid-twenties. He didn't have any other family that I know of."

"Let me know if Cole wants me to notify his ex-wife." When Kyle nodded and hurried to catch up to the others, he then turned to walk to the Mayor who was observing the remaining CSI units as they collected evidence and took photographs.

"Thank you for coming, Mayor Lee," Malenko politely spoke. He indicated they should step back towards the elevators.

"One of the guards on the door told me that Mr. Cole wasn't injured," Brodie quietly spoke. "I apologize if that broke some sort of confidentiality, but I pressured him. That's on me, not him."

'No, it's also on him. But I'll deal with that later.' Malenko silently nodded. "Mr. Cole wasn't injured, but one of his investigators was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the shooter…who is also dead."

"I don't imagine Mr. Cole is taking that very well," Brodie sadly sighed. "What can my office do to assist you?"

"Right now, I'd appreciate it if you can help me come up with a short public statement for the press," Malenko requested.

Brodie nodded and pulled a notebook from his jacket pocket. "What do you want me to say?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"We interrupt this broadcast for a breaking news story." Charly Caruso seriously spoke into the camera. "Approximately a little over an hour ago, an assassination attempt was made against District Attorney Adam Cole at his office in City Hall."

Startled, Hunter leaned forward in his chair. "Attempted?" he muttered.

"In a brief statement to the press at the scene, Mayor Brodie Lee stated that the assassin gained entrance to City Hall by posing as an elderly man needing immediate help. The assassin was killed during the attempted assassination of DA Cole. Mayor Lee confirmed there are casualties. However, he declined to provide names citing confidentiality plus the need to notify family members. Members of the press, who were on the scene shortly afterward the 911, call confirmed three bodies were removed from City Hall. Chief of Police Malenko declined comment only citing that the investigation was just beginning. He then ordered that the press remove their vehicles from where they were parked in the driving lanes in front of City Hall so that any needed emergency vehicles would be able to gain immediate access to the building. We'll report as we have more details. We now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcast."

Hunter's fist slammed down on the arm of the sofa. "Goddammit," he angrily muttered. He knew the cops would be laser focused on both the Authority and Bloodline. But at least Reigns was in the same boat with him.