(Name) found themself able to breathe again when Maddie surrendered her gun. For a moment, they were afraid she would kill Lawson right there and then, and they couldn't blame her. Part of them wanted to toss the lout off the tower for killing Charlie, and for Father Saccarelli, but it wouldn't bring either of them back. Thank God Diego managed to talk her down. They looked towards Chief Wright, who sighed in relief.
"Thank heavens." Chief Wright said. "(Name), get Madeline out of here, now."
"Yes, sir." (Name) said as they handed the gun to Chief Wright. "Maddie?" Madeline was still sobbing while Diego held her. "Maddie, we have to go." They started to pull Maddie away.
"But…but what about…" Maddie started, then broke into sobs again. They held her until she calmed, assuring her Charlie would be taken care of.
"Couldn't have said it better myself, Wright. Now where was I? Ah, yes, Justin Lawson, you're under arrest for treason against the state…" Johnson said. They could hear Mister Johnson reading the charges to Lawson, who was held by the two soldiers; many of them were the same as (Name) read, only this would be on the state level. Next to the treason, Lawson was being held for murder in all its forms—the actual murder of Charlie, the attempted murder on all of them, conspiracy to commit murder, accesssory to murder both before and after the fact and Lord only knew how many murders he had facilitated through his example and speeches.
"You can't do this!" Lawson snapped. "I am still the Mayor of this city!"
"That remains to be seen; your position does not put you above the law you once swore to uphold, and it certainly doesn't put you above the state. You've gone mad with power, and people have suffered for it; under the authority of the Attorney General's office, I am recalling the city council, and when the Governor arrives, you will be brought before them as the Governor hears the charges against you. Chief Wright, as the highest ranking member of the Concordian Police Department, you'll need to represent them as we deal with this mess."
"Of course, sir." Chief Wright said. "If you'll permit me to inform the rest of the Flying Squad…"
"Make what arrangements you need to, Wright, but we'll need del Lobo to stay with us for now. Since he infiltrated Lawson's administration, we're going to need his statement; I also need at least one of your detectives to help secure him. I don't know what we're going to do about the police force once we take down the Justice Corps…"
"I may have a solution, if the state is willing. When the Flying Squad was formed, the late Commissioner Baldwin had placed a clause in our charter in the event the police force ends up without leadership of some kind."
"I'll have to review the Flying Squad's charter before I make any decision there. I'll contact the Governor once Lawson's secured; we'll debrief the Flying Squad tomorrow morning."
"Of course. Bontemps, assist Mister Johnson with securing the prisoner; (Name), Dupont…inform the others what happened. We'll reconvene on the airship for debriefing tomorrow morning, is this understood?"
"Yes, sir." (Name) said. As (Name) took Maddie down from Concordian Tower, they couldn't help but glance back at Lawson, who was smirking. That smirk, and the glee in his eyes…they haunted (Name).
"Ramirez, walk with me unless you're needed up here." (Name) said. Ramirez helped them escort Maddie downstairs. "What the hell happened down there?"
"I had just gathered enough uniforms for the perimeter when I saw a group of Justice Corps go inside." Ramirez said. "I ordered the perimeter established and I followed them up myself. I tried to stop them, but there were too many, even with Detective Dupont giving cover fire. Mister Johnson and the soldiers came along soon after and we…Mrs. Dupont, I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thank you, Ramirez." Maddie said, and she sounded wooden. They reached the bottom of the tower, and (Name) saw the MadMobile parked nearby; the soldiers had taken control of the square and the guillotine had been reduced to smoldering cinders.
"Go back up and offer your assistance, Ramirez." (Name) said. "We'll be at Prospect Gardens." Ramirez nodded and headed back upstairs while (Name) and Maddie climbed into the MadMobile.
"Would you drive, (Name)?" Maddie asked. "I don't think I can…"
"Of course. Hold tight." (Name) took the wheel and drove them both back to Prospect Gardens, where Rose was waiting at the back.
"You're back! Tell me you got Lawson!" Rose cried as she saw them. (Name) helped Maddie out of the car.
"We got him, Rose." (Name) said. "Listen, can you get Viola, Richard and Evie into a room? I have something to tell you all and I'd rather only say it once."
"Of course." Rose said. Maddie and (Name) went to the war room as Rose left them, where they saw Lady Highmore and Mrs. O'Malley, who was holding George.
"George!" Maddie cried as she ran to her son, taking him from her mother and cradling him. "Thank God…Mummy's right here…the city's safe…"
"He's a good boy, didn't give me any trouble at all." Mrs. O'Malley said. "Clearly he takes after his father there. Lawson's been pinched, so you and Charles can—" Maddie's face crumbled at the mention of Charlie's name. "Charles."
"Dear Lord…" Lady Highmore said. "That monstrous Lawson had him killed, didn't he?"
"No, Your Ladyship, that monstrous Lawson killed Charlie personally." (Name) said. "When it came down to it, he wasn't above doing his own dirty work. Excuse me, I need to inform the others." They left the war room and ran into Rose inside the hall.
"I got everyone in the study." Rose said. "Is everything okay?"
"I'll explain." (Name) said, following Rose into the study where Richard, Evie and Viola were waiting. "We got Lawson. He's been arrested and turned over to the state and is facing treason charges, both for the state and the city, but we…we lost Charlie."
"What?" Evie asked. "Lost him? You…you could find him, right? You're good at finding people!"
"Evie…Charlie's dead. Lawson killed him."
"Oh God…" Viola said, crying.
"Charles…Charles is dead?" Dick whispered, shocked. "How?"
"We confronted Lawson on top of Concordian Tower, and a group of Justice Corps were coming up behind us. I took on Lawson while the others held those goons off. We fought, and he got in some hits; one disabled me long enough for him to…to shoot Charlie. I managed to tackle and restrain him just as he started to gloat. Mister Johnson and some of the soldiers from the National Guard arrived not long after."
"But…but a gun shot doesn't necessarily mean that…" Evie said.
"It was a heart shot, Evie. Charlie was dead as soon as the bullet hit him." Evie burst into sobs, with Viola holding her in comfort. Even Rose was shedding tears; Dick was still sitting in shock.
"What about the others?" Rose asked. "I saw Maddie with you, and could hear her sobbing in the war room."
"Chief Wright and Isaac are with Mister Johnson helping to secure Lawson and to get the city under some semblance of control; Diego's giving a statement, a through one given he infiltrated the administration and so had knowledge of most of its activities and plans." (Name) said. "Speaking of Diego, if he mentions being responsible for Charlie's death, don't listen to him."
"Why…why would he do that?" Evie asked, tears still running down his face.
"Because Lawson was aiming at Diego when he fired the gun. I don't know how, but Charlie realized Lawson's intentions and pushed Diego out of the way moments before the shot was taken."
"It makes sense. Charles and Diego were the same height, it would have been a heart shot no matter what." Dick said. "Charles also has—had—impeccable hearing. I don't know if he came by it naturally, or if he developed it from years of working with machinery, but he could hear a pin drop in the middle of a room, that was how good it was. He must have heard the gun cock and looked up, saw where Lawson was aiming and…well, needless to say that Charles would have taken a bullet for any of us."
"He would do that, and Diego…he blames himself because Charlie saved his life at the expense of his own." Viola said. "But it's not his fault! If anyone's responsible, it's Lawson. He was the one who fired the gun, who tried to kill Diego and instead…instead he killed Charlie."
"We all know given the chance, Lawson would see this whole city dead." (Name) said. "Some he would enjoy killing more than others. We're to return to the airship for debriefing tomorrow morning."
"Of course. Excuse me, I…I think I'll head there regardless." Dick said. "There has been a murder, and they will need an official autopsy for the records." Dick left the room then.
"He's taking this harder than he wants to admit." Rose said. "But not as hard as Maddie is. I can't even imagine what she's going through…I mean, I can to a point, but I didn't have a baby to raise on my own. That's the part I can't imagine."
"We should get some rest." (Name) said. "We're going to need it." The ladies nodded and dispersed to their respective rooms. (Name) just stared at the fireplace in the study, trying to not drown in the grief they were feeling. Yes, they managed to arrest Lawson and he would answer for what he did, but Charlie's death made the victory a pyrrhic one. Truth be told, all of those harmed by Lawson's administration would make this a pyrrhic victory, but Charlie was one of them, of the Flying Squad. His death hit closer than the others…poor Maddie, not married for even a year and already a widow, and poor baby George, who would grow up without ever knowing his father. Darkness embraced them as (Name) mourned Charlie and those lost to Lawson's monstrous regime, only to be jolted to attention by a tap on the shoulder. (Name) looked up and saw Diego standing above them.
"(Name)? I apologize for waking you." Diego said.
"Wake me?" (Name) asked. "What time is it? When did you get back?"
"Last night, and it's almost seven."
"In the morning?" (Name) pulled back the curtains and saw through the window the sun was barely up. "Damn, I must've fallen asleep in here. I suppose we should head back to the airship…"
"We will, after breakfast. Chief Wright and Isaac are back as well, and are waiting for us all in the dining room."
"Is Dick with you as well? He said something about conducting an autopsy…"
"He's still on the airship conducting the autopsy on Charlie, though I can't understand why…it's clear what killed him, after all."
"We have to be through. How bad was it?"
"If you're referring to the airship, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Someone managed to shut the boiler off before it could explode. The state's using the airship to imprison Lawson and any Justice Corps while they clear the Grotto of corpses."
"What corpses, and what were they doing in the Grotto?"
"The corpses of the Justice Corps we took on when we rescued the Flying Squad, and they were resting in a temporary tomb until a proper burial could be conducted. It seemed like a good idea at the time."
"Those cells will reek of the dead for days on end, if not weeks. I can't think of a more appropriate place for Lawson. Did you see the look on his face when I took Maddie away?"
"I did. He wanted all of us dead, but was glad it was Charlie. I imagine he would have the same jubilation if he shot Maddie instead, or Chief Wright. They both have significant others, which means the other half of those couples would…"
"Suffer the same pain he did when he lost his precious Abigail. How the hell did we miss this, Diego? How the hell did we miss what was inside him?"
"No one could've seen what was in him. Even he couldn't, still can't see what he let fester in him and to let loose when he assumed he could. I'll meet you in the dining room, (Name)." Diego left them, and (Name) went to the dining room where everyone was having breakfast. They saw Isaac there, but not Chief Wright…or Maddie.
"Isaac? Where's Chief Wright?" (Name) asked. "And where's Maddie?"
"Chief Wright and Madeline are in the parlor." Isaac said. "There are…things that must be dealt with."
"What things?" Rose asked. "(Name) told us about Charlie, how Lawson killed him trying to kill Diego."
"Did they also tell you Madeline attempted to kill Lawson, and would have done so had Diego not stood between them and talked her down?"
"No, they didn't." Evie and Viola looked at them, stunned.
"I didn't get to that part, because it was bad enough Charlie died." (Name) said. "I didn't want to lay that on top of everything else."
"Normally, I would agree with you, (Rank) (Name), except Madeline tried to commit murder of a criminal in our custody." Isaac said. "That has to be dealt with, one way or another."
"How much trouble is she, Isaac?"
"The state is willing to accept whatever disciplinary action Chief Wright takes with her as punishment enough; they don't want to have to prosecute a grieving widow who went after her husband's killer, but they will if they have to. Truth be told, they have their hands full with Lawson without having to deal with the repercussions of his actions. But one way or another, it's safe to say Madeline is finished with the Flying Squad, and the Concordian Police Department."
"She'll be sacked?!"
"Or made to resign. (Name), that Madeline didn't kill Lawson is why she's only being fired."
"She acted against the badge regardless of not killing him, so that had to be dealt with. But what the hell is she supposed to do now? She has a baby to raise, for Christ's sake!"
"We'll support Maddie and George however we can," Diego said. "But it won't be as necessary as you think." He had a paper in his hand, (Name) recognized Charlie's handwriting on it even if they didn't see exactly what it was.
"What is this?" (Name) asked.
"Charlie's will. Yes, he made one—it's not formal and I had to nag at him endless, but he made one. He wrote it himself while the wedding was planned, then had it notarized by Takakura with Isaac and Dick as witnesses."
"Where did you find this?"
"After I gave my statement, Mister Johnson gave me permission to enter Charlie's lab; I found it among the chaos he called a desk. Maddie may be done with the Flying Squad, but she and George won't be destitute."
"I should hope not, and I'm glad you nagged him. Charlie…he wasn't the best with paperwork."
"You might not think so when you read it." Diego gave them the will, and they read it. It was fairly straightforward—Charlie left almost everything he owned to Maddie and the baby, except for the telephone company; that he left to Maddie and Diego, in equal shares, and he named Diego as executor of the will.
"Charlie was very trusting with people," (Name) said. "But in this case, he's put his trust and his family in good hands."
"Did he?" Diego asked. "I doubt he would have thought so if he knew I would get him killed…"
"Don't you say that, Diego Alejandro Montoya Estaban del Lobo!" (Name) cried. "Charlie would have taken that bullet for any one of us, and what happened last night…you have some acts on your conscience, and rightfully so. Charlie's death isn't one of them, and you're NOT going to let it be one of them. If you do, I swear to God I'll thrash you into a bloody pulp!"
"(Name) is right, Diego." Isaac said. "Lawson would have killed us all given the chance. Charles did trust easily, but you have earned that trust. You've earned all of our trust."
"…I…you're right…I suppose." Diego said. "My head knows all of this, of course, it…it'll take time for the rest of me to realize it as well."
"Fair enough," (Name) said. "Charlie's murder has hit us all hard. Do you want me to tell Maddie about the will?"
"If you don't mind, (Name), I'd like to tell her. It is part of my responsibility as executor after all."
"Of course." (Name) gave Diego back the will.
After a quick breakfast from the buffet set up, Diego headed to the parlor. He hoped that Maddie was up to hearing about how Charlie's affairs would be settled. By all accounts, it was too soon to even think about it, but circumstances didn't leave waiting an option. He had just reached the parlor when Maddie came out, pale and resigned.
"Maddie?" Diego asked. "Are…are you all right? Considering?"
"I'm about as all right as I'll be." Maddie answered. "I just spoke with Chief Wright. I…I've resigned from the Flying Squad, effective immediately."
"I'm so sorry…"
"Don't. It's my own fault, Diego. I'm the one who tried to kill Lawson, I chose to go against the badge and all it represented. Besides, I would've had to leave anyway if Charlie had lived—regulations, you see. When a woman on the police force marries, it means mandatory retirement to her. I never liked that rule, but it was…God, how do I put this delicately?"
"It was why Charlie went along with the two of you being together without vows, and it worked as long as you were both discreet. Then one day, it wasn't just the two of you anymore."
"Precisely. I know how it looks, that Charlie was with me without vows and married me when I got pregnant—"
"No one who knew you both could doubt the love between you. I certainly couldn't. Maddie, I apologize if I come off as insensitive, but we need to talk about Charlie's estate."
"I remember how he complained about you nagging at him to write up a will." Maddie said, a small smile forming. "In a way, I couldn't blame you—Charlie could put an engine together with his eyes closed, but heaven help us all if he has to put the details of it in writing."
"I just wanted to make sure he took the time to make sure you and George were taken care of, rather than leave everything to chance with intestacy. I didn't care if he took a piece of paper and wrote, "give everything to the baby", as long as he had something in place." Diego said. "I've seen too many widows and orphans become destitute because their husbands and fathers/guardians didn't take the time to put their affairs in order. I have the will right here, if you want to look it over, and if you disagree with anything in it…"
"I'll let you know," Maddie said as she took the will from Diego. "I'll look it over after I nurse George. Can…can we discuss it tomorrow? I'll be home by then, my…my home…or Mother's…"
"I'll call on you first thing in the morning, wherever you are." Maddie nodded and left to see George. Chief Wright came out of the parlor right after.
"Ah, Diego, I had hoped to run into you." Chief Wright said. "We need to talk, and I'd rather have this discussion before we leave for the airship."
"What do we need to talk about?" Diego asked as he entered the parlor. Chief Wright had some papers on the desk.
"It's about your…friend, Mister Tradewinds. When he first came, he was curious about our association with you, then he wrote these out and asked me to give them to you in case the worst happened."
"Tradewinds liked being prepared. 'Have to keep things in order, dearie, because you never know when a storm in life will put everything to sixes and sevens!', he would say." Diego looked over the papers. "This seems to be a day for settling affairs. His will—'I, Elias Tradewinds, being of sound mind and body do hereby make my last will and testament. For the disposal of my mortal body, I would like it cremated and the ashes spread out in the countryside as it may be my only chance of seeing such. As to my worldly possessions, however I've gotten them, I leave them all to my favorite customer, who I have ever known as Mister Wolf.' The rest of the papers are part of his ledger, he liked keeping a record on paper as well as in his head."
"I see. Diego, I understand that Mister Tradewinds was also your fence, who you sold stolen goods to. I…I'm not sure if I can guarantee that his estate will be viable considering the circumstances."
"I can't promise if any stolen goods in his possession—now mine—could be returned, or even what's left of them as far as the jewelry's considered."
"What's left of them?! You mean he destroyed jewelry?"
"Dismantled them, and sold off the pieces. Gems are removed from their settings, metal parts are melted into ingots…we'd need to find his ledger to determine what's stolen and what he gained legitimately, if the Justice Corps hasn't found it first."
"Fair enough. Will tomorrow morning be a suitable time to look over things?"
"The afternoon would be better—I promised Maddie I would discuss Charlie's will tomorrow morning."
"Very well. We best get to the airship and see how we have to proceed…with everything."
"Very true." Diego and Chief Wright left Prospect Gardens, and ended up meeting the others on their airship, with (Name) being the last to arrive. It was strange to think of the Flying Squad and not include Maddie, but in the long run it may be for the best. Maddie had a child to raise now, and neither of them would want for anything thanks to the will, and two generous godparents to baby George. Richard looked exhausted, and explained he had completed the autopsy. The poor doctor was still in shock, but then as far as Diego knew, Richard didn't perform an autopsy on someone he knew in life before.
"Ah, Wright, you and your people are just in time." Mister Johnson said. "The matter regarding Mrs. Dupont…"
"Mrs. Dupont has elected to leave the Flying Squad, and the Concordian Police Department." Chief Wright said. "She cited the recent circumstances of her life as the reason, and I accepted her resignation, effective immediately."
"That's settled at least, thank God. I've looked over the charter, and spoke with the Governor—he'll be here in three days to inquire personally into the administration, and he agrees with my recommendation to respect the Flying Squad's charter in regards to the clause you told me about."
"What clause?" (Name) asked.
"It was something the late Commissioner Baldwin put into place when he created the Flying Squad, in the event the police force is without leadership and there isn't a proper successor." Chief Wright said. "In such an event, the Flying Squad is put into an administrative capacity and…keeps things running until the city council assigns someone."
"So…we're going to be running the entire Concordian Police Department?"
"In a sense, yes. As Chief of the Flying Squad, I'll be serving as Acting Commissioner with you, Isaac and Ramirez acting as my administrators."
"Why wasn't this clause used before?" Diego asked. "And why are only Isaac, Ramirez and (Name) acting as administrators?"
"The clause wasn't used before because there wasn't a need before." Isaac said. "Lawson placed the Justice Corps in charge of the Concordian Police Department when he became Mayor, and Mulroney was Baldwin's deputy when the latter was murdered."
"What about the period between when Mulroney was sacked and Lawson was inaugurated?"
"Mulroney's own deputy was serving as Acting Commissioner, and was removed when Lawson became Mayor; I suspect the poor soul was one of the first arrests made, given that Lawson didn't trust anyone connected to the Rochesters or their associates."
"As for why only Isaac, (Name) and Ramirez are working, the clause also states that all civilian personnel on the Flying Squad are to be put on leave while we're in an administrative capacity." Chief Wright said. "So, Viola, Evelyn, Rose, Richard…Diego…until the city council appoints a new Commissioner, I'm afraid you'll all be on leave."
"On leave? Well, at least I'm reinstated." Diego said. "I am reinstated…aren't I?"
"You are, Diego. I'll see that you receive the back pay you deserve from your time away from us. After that, you'll all be on half-pay while on leave."
"It…it won't be so bad." Evie said. "It's only a leave. It's not like we're getting sacked. Personally, I'm looking forward to spending more time with Katherine. We'll both be busy setting up our own newspaper!"
"Speaking of newspapers…" (Name) said. "What about the policies Lawson put into place? The abolishment of free press and such?"
"All policies made by Lawson's regime are repealed, and the city will revert to the laws it had before Lawson became Mayor." Mister Johnson said. "That means there will be freedom of the press."
"Right, our first task is to help get the city in order." Chief Wright said. "Bontemps, I need you to take reports from every district so we can establish where and what is needed."
"I'll do all I can there, sir." Isaac said. "Would we be able to assign a Chief to each district of the city? It'll help if all the reports were consolidated into one for every district."
"Do so, after you review all remaining officers in the areas. (Name), I need files from police headquarters transferred to the airship, where we'll be overseeing things during the interim. Take everything you can, and have them placed in the library. Ramirez, you're to assist (Name) in whatever they need, and have uniforms assigned to City Hall to support the National Guard assigned."
"Yes, sir." (Name) said. "Before I do so, I'd like to…permission to empty Charlie's lab, sir. I can have Diego bring what belongings Charlie had to Maddie."
"Very well. Dismissed." They left, and Diego followed (Name) to Charlie's lab. That was another change that would be hard to adjust—this chaotic lab, without Charlie in it. (Name) took a box and started packing things. There were mostly scraps of machinery and even a film projector, but the two most notable items were a large book and a roll of film.
"Thank you for this, Diego." (Name) said. "I can't describe how much I appreciate you bringing this to Maddie while we start to clean up this mess Lawson made."
"No thanks are necessary, (Name). I'll bring it." Diego said as he took the box. "I take it Maddie told you she went home?"
"She and George are staying with her mother for now." (Name) gave him the address, and Diego headed there. It was the middle of the afternoon when he arrived, and when he knocked on the door, Mrs. O'Malley answered.
"Mister del Lobo, what a surprise!" Mrs. O'Malley said. "What brings you here?"
"Hello, Mrs. O'Malley. I've just come from the airship…is Madeline here?" Diego asked. "I…(Name) emptied Charles' lab, and tasked me with bringing his things."
"We're just sitting down to luncheon, if you don't mind joining us."
"I wouldn't want to impose, madam…"
"Nonsense! I insist you join us, if only to prevent the wasting of food. I may have gotten a bit overboard in preparing luncheon."
"Well, when you put it that way, how can I resist?" Diego followed Mrs. O'Malley to the parlor, where he placed the box on the table. He then escorted Mrs. O'Malley into the dining room, and saw the table was piled high with sandwiches and pastries. Maddie looked in surprise when they came in.
"Diego. What are you doing here?" Maddie asked. "I thought we weren't going to discuss Charlie's estate until tomorrow."
"We're not. I just came to drop off Charlie's belongings from the lab, and your mother insisted I join you all for luncheon." Diego said. "Where's George?"
"He's napping right now, after having his own luncheon. We'd be grateful if you joined us." Diego joined them, and there was talk of what was going on in Concordia, with the National Guard keeping things in order in cooperation with the Concordian Police Department, now run by the Flying Squad in an administrative capacity.
"So, let me see if I understand this." Maddie said. "Chief Wright's now the Acting Commissioner for the Concordian Police Department, with Issac, Ramirez and (Name) serving as administrators and you're on leave not long after being reinstated."
"It's not just me, all of the civilian personnel are on leave until the city council chooses a new Police Commissioner." Diego said. "I should be grateful for the time, as I'll need it to address…recent responsibilities."
"In other words, financial responsibilities."
"Madeline. We don't discuss money matters at the table." Mrs. O'Malley said. "It's vulgar for a lady to do so, wouldn't you agree Mister del Lobo?"
"With all due respect, Mrs. O'Malley, I can hardly blame Madeline for being concerned about her and George's future." Diego said. "However, things in Concordia have calmed down enough that such a discussion can wait until after luncheon, if Madeline is so inclined."
"I would be." Maddie said. "There would be…a lot to discuss after luncheon."
"I imagine there would be." Diego said. Of course…there was more to discuss than Charlie's estate—the funeral, and George's chirstening…not to mention seeing that the telephone company stayed viable, and he did have to see about getting his assets back, as they had been taken by the Justice Corps after he was sacked…well, what they found was taken anyway, like his apartment and what bank accounts he had. He wasn't even thinking about the legacy Tradewinds left him. They had just finished luncheon when they heard the baby cry upstairs.
"Oh dear…" Maddie said. "I should see to him."
"I'll go up, if you let me." Diego said. "I am George's godfather, after all. I think your mother could use your help clearing up; let me bond with George for a bit."
"All right." Maddie and her mother started clearing the table while Diego headed upstairs. He found George in a crib next to a bed—Maddie was keeping him close in what appeared to be her childhood room. Diego picked George up, and the baby quieted down.
"You just wanted attention, didn't you little one?" Diego asked as he held George close. "Your mother and grandmother are clearing up right now, but I'm here. I'm your Tío—your uncle Diego…okay, not your actual uncle, but I am your godfather, and you have (Name) as your other godparent. That means we help your mother support and protect you, however we can. Right now, (Name) is busy trying to make Concordia safe and great again. You came into it at its worst, but it won't stay that way. Your father made sure of that…he died to make sure of it. I can never replace him, George, no one can replace your father. But I will do my best to stand in for him.
"I wish I could tell you that the world is all sunshine and rainbows, but it's not. It can be good, and it can be dark and cold…and there will be those who harm for power, for pleasure. But we don't let them win, we can't let them win. There is plenty of evil in the world, but there's even more good. But we have to choose to do good, to be good, and we'll help you with that, however it takes."
"You're good with him." Maddie said from behind him. Diego turned holding George.
"We're just bonding as men, aren't we George?" George only giggled as Diego handed him back to Maddie.
"Diego, before we head down and discuss things, I need a favor from you." Maddie said. "George and I are staying with Mother for a time, but we won't stay forever. Sooner or later, I'll have to go back to my own house, face life without Charlie…but until I do, I could use someone to keep an eye on it. Would you be able to do it?"
"You…you want me to stay at your house? Move into it?" Diego asked.
"Not while we're in it, just until we're ready to come back. You'd be doing me a favor."
"Of course I'll keep an eye on your house, at least until I get my apartment back." It would be a mutual benefit—Maddie could stay with her mother without worrying about her property, and Diego had some place to stay until he regained his assets. He didn't want to impose on Lady Highmore's hospitality, especially with her housing the orphans of St. Gerolamo's and returning to that awful tenement was out of the question. But seeing it as doing a favor for Maddie made it seem less like charity.
"Thank you, Diego. Shall we head downstairs?"
"We shall."