Happily Ever After

"So tell me about this new evidence, guys," Rachel says, plopping her stuff down on her desk.

"Janet's nanny cam shows it wasn't her, see." Jerry turns his computer towards her and then hits play. Rachel silently watches the scene unfold, then turns and asks,

"How did you find this, Jerr?"

"Janet's friend told us about it. She said they were documenting Bill's abuse to use against him in court."

Hearing a commotion, Rachel looks over to find an officer escorting an angry Latino woman through the door.

"Sergeant, Detectives, we found our killer."

"I didn't do it. I didn't kill Bobby, " she cries.

"Take her to room one. I'll be right there."

"Yes, Sergeant."

Rachel points to Jerry's computer.  "She doesn't match the picture on Janet's cam."

Joe shrugs. We might have two killers in our town."

"That would explain the inconsistent MO," Rachel says.

"Tell forensics to check the cameras in the area, and "I'll find out what our suspect has to say."

"She might be more forthcoming with a sympathetic female."

Joe considers this for a second. "Tell you what; give me a few minutes to scare her. Then, Jerry, I want you to knock on the door and say you've found some evidence. I'll step out, and you'll take over from there."

***

Ben turns off the car and says, "We're here."

Janet eyes the structure and then nervously shifts around. "I. I don't know if I can do this, Ben."

"Would you rather run the rest of your life?"

"No, but…"

"Ok then, let's go."

"A tall older gentleman opens the door when Janet and Bill step onto the porch. 

"This is my friend, Phil. He's one of the best lawyers in the state."

The man chuckles. "I wouldn't say I was the best, Ben."

"With your track record, I'd say you're pretty darn close.

"Thank you for saying so. Please, follow me." He leads them down the hall. 

His office is a small room off of the main house. The furnishings include an oak desk, two matching floral chairs, and several large bookcases overflowing with books. I donate money to organizations where it will be best served rather than waste it on frivolous things. Phil says, hoping to explain his modest decor. Motioning them to the overstuffed chairs, he takes his place behind his desk. 

"I called the police station after I hung up with you, Ben. They said you're clear of all the charges but need you to come down and make a formal statement so they can close the case." 

Janet springs out of her seat. "Oh my God, I can't believe it. It's over, it's finally over. Thank you, Ben; thank you so much." She kisses him. And thank you, Phil."

He smiles. "I'm glad I could help."

  "I think this calls for a celebration, don't you?" Pulling Ben out of his chair, she drags him toward the door. 

"Don't forget about the statement."

"We'll go right now, and I can pick up Timmy on our way back." 

"About that ..." Phil begins.

Janet tearfully runs towards his desk ."Is he alright? Please tell me he's okay. Please."

"Timmy is fine, but ..."

"What is it, Phil?" Ben asks. 

"The courts granted Bill's parents temporary guardianship while you were away."

"How can they do that to me, Ben? How?" Janet cries, falling to her chair.

"They did it as a precaution in case something should happen while you were away." Phil quickly explains.

"I can't lose Timmy. I just can't." Janet sobs, covering her face with her hands. 

"I'm sure we can petition the courts to re-establish your guardianship."

"How long will that take?" Ben asks.

"That depends on several things. So, Let me make a few calls to see what we're up against. In the meantime, you need to close your case so they can't hold that against you when we go to court.

"We'll do that right now. Come on, Janet, let's go."

____

The detectives are sitting around their desks in complete dismay. They thought they'd finally captured their killer until Kirk found a security cam that proved she was nowhere near the vicinity when the crime occurred.

"That was a waste of time," Jerry says, watching their suspect leave.

Jeff hangs up the phone. "Sergeant, patrol just called and said they are searching Buffalo River for a person they believe to be our killer. They said they were in pursuit when she took a nose dive off the bridge. 

I want you out there, see what you can find, and have forensics process the vehicle ASAP."

"I'm on my way, Boss. Oh, and Sergeant Janet is waiting for you in room two." He hands him her report. "Our evidence supports her story."

Two years later

It's a bright summer's day. Birds are chirping in the distance as the smell of sweet lilac drifts through the air.

"This is so wonderful, Ben; you, me, Timmy, and Emily," Janet says, glancing down at their beautiful daughter sleeping in her arms.

"I told you we'd get through it together." He starts to reach for her hand when he feels ice water run down his back. He turns to see Timmy laughing, an empty bucket in hand. "You're going to get it now, squirt," Ben yells, springing out of his seat.

"Come and get me, old man," Timmy shouts

"I'll show you old, you little turd."

"Run, Timmy, run." Janet laughs.

Ben darts for him and misses.

"You can't get me. You can't get me." Timmy taunts, sticking out his tongue.

"That's what you think." Ben plows towards him and tackles him to the ground. "No kid throws ice water on me and gets away with it. Not even you." Ben tickles Timmy. He squeals.

"Ok. Ok enough," Timmy breathlessly says.

"You promise to be good?"

"I promise, I promise," he says,  trying to suppress the smile threatening to escape.

"I don't believe you." Ben tickles him again.

I never thought my life would turn out this good. Janet sighs, watching her two favorite guys wrestle on the ground.

***

"We did good." Emma smiles, eyeing the bloody corpse in front of her. 

"So  where to next?" Penny asks, happy to continue her killing spree. 

  Realizing she was sinking fast, Penny cuts a hole in the cloth top and swims away. She reaches the other side to find the serial killer she'd been hunting the last three years of her career waiting on the shore. 

"Why are you, Emma?" Penny asks. 

"We've been watching you since you rolled into town and think you'd make a good asset to our team." 

"We, who?" Penny asks, plopping down in the sand. 

"Mom and I. We love what you did to Willie, by the way." Pulling a stack of photos from her purse, Emma hands it to her. "We thought you might enjoy mementos of your kills."

"Where did you get these?" Penny asks, quickly flipping through the stack.

"Like I said, we've been following you for months."

"So I either join your team or what, you're going to turn me in?"

"No, no. It's nothing like that. You work for us, or you don't. The choice is yours, but I believe we could do more good as a team."

We have done a lot of good these past two years, Penny thinks, eyeing the lifeless predators in front of her. They've taken down child porn rings and dozens of perps in numerous states.

  Emma tosses her a large notebook. "You choose this time, Penny." 

Flipping through the pages, she asks, "We still have all these to go?"

Smiling, Emma chirps, "Yep."

"We're going to be busy for a long ass time."

"That's our plan." 

Coming soon No Where to Hide

Escaping the law, Abby settles down in a quiet southern town under a fictitious name. Everything works out beautifully for a while until she uncovers evidence on one of the largest crime rings in the state. 

Receiving death threats on her life, not being able to turn to the law for help, Abby's only choice is to run. Where will she go now she has nowhere to hide.