Chapter 6 - The Dark is not always alone...

As Bianca scrolled down the contact section of her Cellular smart phone, she was comforted at the thought of Dana and herself meeting with Judge Holder tomorrow, he was in her eyes, a wise man who by assisting them in pin pointing what the cause for the chaos in their lives suddenly was, would shed light on all the strange happenings. Dana sat next to Bianca watching the late evening news; they had just arrived home and were preparing a late supper after another exhausting day. Bianca got up and was dialing the judge's personal residential landline, a number he had given her in confidence and had instructed her to only use to call him, if it was truly an emergency. As Bianca moved to the kitchen, Dana turned up the volume to listen to the news anchor character assassinate the F.O.D indirectly for taking so long to solve the mystery murder of Mayor Cato. Dana just shook her head in disbelief and said aloud vultures. Bianca was struggling to get a reply from the judge's residence, she kept redialing as the phone just rang and rang with no one picking it up. Finally in giving up, she left a voicemail as it switched to an answering voice message service. Suddenly Dana screamed at Bianca:"Bia come here! Oh my word! Oh hell no tell me this is not happening!", Bianca running into the lounge shouted at Dana:"What?! What's wrong hun, and looked at the TV as Dana just pointed at it and with the other hand signaled for her to sit down. Both of them staring at the news heard in complete shock and disbelief, as the news anchor read out the report as follows:" News just in, Respected and well loved Federal circuit Judge Ian Holder, has been found dead in his chambers, the Judge was last seen alive this morning when a bailiff of the court watched him make tea in the staff room. No foul play is suspected and it appears from current speculation, that the Judge suffered a stroke in his chambers. We will keep you posted on any other developments regarding this sad and tragic story. Now back to Kevin with your sport headlines." As the news anchor read out the last line, Both Dana and Bianca sat in complete shock in silence, at what they just heard. So many thoughts were rushing through Bianca's mind as she dropped the tv remote control on the floor and leaned back into the chair, what on earth was going on?, this was a man, who was not only extremely healthy for his age, but ran marathons and was a past Tri Athlon winner and the mere fact that he was no presumed dead by a supposed stroke left Bianca cold and with the feeling that the poor Judge, who was like a father figure, may just have fallen victim to foul play as the poor Mayor Cato did.

She realized, that it would be up to them to q quietly prove this.

The mysterious man with the bowler hat was waiting at a public payphone this evening. He was in the most jovial of moods, following the successful campaign of terrorizing the ever lovely Dana and Bianca and off course now soon to have to deal with them swiftly and as per instruction of them who hired him. The evening air tonight in Inmdomnia was perfectly warm and kissed with the scent of jasmine and lilac flowers growing all over the city and in the parks, Indomnia was in his opinion, one of the most beautiful places, he had ever been sent to, to complete an assignment. He continued to trail off in thought, when the public phone rang in the phone booth rang aloud suddenly. He checked his watch and grinned, he ran to answer it and said:"Hello, I'm listening", a voice over the phone said:"We have problems! One of them who dealt with the poor Judge lost a cufflink during that assignment, you need to locate that cufflink before the authorities do, not that it could be traced to them, but it would best to tie up all loose ends, and while on that topic, they have moved up the time schedule to deal with the two detectives, all this must take place in two nights time". Frowning to himself he said:"I will make sure the cufflink is found and returned to them, I have everything in place Sir. I hope two nights will be all the time needed to deal with this matter Sir. We were hoping a third night could be added as an option by them, what type of cufflink is it." The voice over the phone said:" You have only have two nights! Do not try their patience, you know very well what happened with the one you replaced, so do as you're instructed, they have pleased with you so far, let's keep it that way, we are all about to be richly rewarded, so let's just stick to their demands and do what is necessary. Good night", the phone was clicked off and the man with the bowler hat grinned again, this indeed was one of the best and most rewarding assignments he had been given by them, they are truly generous. As he replaced the handset receiver, he walked off to a limousine waiting and was whisked away quietly. He did not however see the shadow that was lurking nearby the entire time, this was the same shadow that was in the Judge's chambers and caused his death, the shadow was instructed by them to follow the man with the bowler hat, to ensure that he carried out his duties as they discussed, and if he became too greedy, to deal with him immediately. Into the night, the shadow disappeared and soon it was anyone's guess where it would reappear. The shadow was to ensure absolutely could be traced back to them at any cost, any cost whatsoever.

Bianca stepped out of the elevator and proceeded towards to the

chambers of Judge Holder alone, she had told Dana that she wanted to be alone for a while and was upset by what happened and in the meantime, she had lied and went back to Judge Holder's chambers to search for any other clues that might not have been found by the Crime Scene Investigators, she knew that the CSI crew were very meticulous and there for, she hoped that they had missed any key item, that could help her in the search for the truth about what happened to Judge Holder. As she opened the side entrance door to the chambers of the now deceased Judge, she checked around her to see if the coast was clear and she proceeded to enter his chambers. All appeared normal. It saddened her to think that she would no longer be visiting the Judge in this place, where so many people like herself were assisted, brought her almost to the brink of tears. Bianca admitted to herself that she always had abandonment issues, as a child everyone in her life had abandoned her. Her mother and father who as young school teens, felt that it would not work to raise a child so young, gave her up for adoption. The social workers who just took her from foster home to foster home, and left her with people that did unspeakable things to her and threatened her as a child, with so many different types of violent acts, if she ever revealed her truth to the authorities, that she let them do just what they wanted with her and told herself that one day she would be free. That one day she would be an adult and would be able to protect herself and others, from such monsters. Now coming full circle in the office or chambers of the one man she knew was on her side, and having him leave her alone on this planet, re-awakened all the pain and tribulation she had buried so very deep within her past. Shuddering and thinking of what would happen to her future at the F.O.D, if they ever learnt that she falsified the information she provided to the academy regarding her past, and the legal ramifications regarding this. She knew that this part of Bianca Carmichael would have to be buried even deeper, for a very long time to time, perhaps even unto death. Forcing herself to return to the current situation that laid in front of her, she became scanning and searching through the chambers for any form of proof or evidence, that could contradict the autopsy finding, that the Judge an extremely healthy and active senior man, had just hours ago, passed away from a supposed natural stroke. She found not a shred of any type of paper trial, any threatening emails on his computer, any letters or any other audio recordings or any sort of thing that point to the Judge being the target of an angry convict he might have sent to jail, and in his workplace, the Federal Courts, his peers not only respected him, but also turned to him for advice and other litigation matters, that even they as fellow Judges, were not absolutely sure on dealing with. Two hours later into her search, she collapsed frustrated and tired into one of the chairs in the chamber. Wondering and realizing that he might just really have died of a stroke.

She accidentally knocked over the pen holder on the table and as she bended on her knees to pick up the pens and other items that were in the pen holder, she noticed a small shiny item on the carpet under the table. On closer inspection, she picked it up and saw that it was a silver cuff link; it had a very unique design of a black griffon on it. This made her realize that the death of the Judge, was not an stroke but orchestrated to be one, and as she thanked Heaven for the proof she now had in her own hand, she jumped up from the floor and returned the pens and clips to the pen holder on the desk and made sure that everything was in place, she was about to switch off the light, when the courthouse security stormed into the office, with guns pointed at her, accompanied by police and the command for her to raise her hands up in the air and drop the item she was holding into an evidentiary bag, one of the cops was extending to her. She was so thrown by what just transpired that as she was given commands by the cops, her body automatically responded, but her mind took in the entire disaster as a delayed reaction. She was then handcuffed and escorted out of the Judge's chambers and to an awaiting police car outside the Federal Courts building. All through this entire matter, all she kept on thinking was, what will Dana say, what will I tell the Captain when she asks me what I was doing here, and she finally realized, that her hopes of keeping her imperfect past a secret, were now completely gone, and so would be her F.D.O career. As the police car sped off with accompanying squad vehicles tailing it, in the distance, stood the mysterious man with the bowler hat, pretending to be a visitor at the Federal court building, and smiling a strange smile, he reached into his pocket in his rain coat and made a phone call on his cellular phone, the voice on the other end said"|Hello. What is it?|. He responded by saying:" It's me Sir, it is done, Detective Carmichael has been neutralized, and she will no longer be a problem for them." The voice on the other side sounded ecstatic and said:"Well done! Now for the next phase….See to it!" and put the phone down. Pleased with himself, he headed towards the exit area of the Federal Court building and thought how much more fun he would have, ensuring the ultimate demise of the very lovely and sensual Dana.

The minute Dana received the shocking phone call from the union attorney regarding her partner; she ran from the F.O.D Headquarters and jumping into her own car, sped off to the local police precinct, to demand the release of her friend, sister and partner. She never even realized how dangerously she was speeding through traffic, passing red robots on the way and narrowly missing some cars in the process, as all she could think of, was getting to Bianca and finding out what the hell was going on, and the why the hell she was arrested in the chambers of Judge Holder, when she was supposed to off at another place. As she finally reached the 16th Police Precinct, she almost slammed into a wall as she hurriedly parked the car in the visitor's parking and taking her F.O.D badge and identification card with her, rushed inside to the charge office. She had barely made it into the charge office area, when she was stopped dead in her tracks, by the vision in front of her. There stood in front of her stood Captain Ndluzi, General Ndlovu and Senators Griffiths and Cavalle. She could not believe what she was seeing, and worst of all, was when the Captain pulled her to the side and through gritted teeth hissed:"Dana what the hell is going on??!! What the hell have you and Carmichael been up to huh?! Thanks to you both, the Senate has now overstepped the City Hall and Mayoral Committee, and demanded that Carmichael be refused bail, that both of you are removed from the Mayor Cato's murder case and that the F.D.O be prevented from interfering with Carmichael being charged with alleged murder of Judge Holder!!! You had better disappear now before the vulture press finds you here and blows this way out of proportion, quickly!!The Senators are so busy fighting with the General that they didn't see you coming in; I will come and see you at home. Now move dammit! Instinctively Dana obeyed her Superior and holding her head very low and looking to the ground, quickly exited the precinct through a side door and headed for a bus station, knowing she could not go back to her car now, as by this time standing at the bus stop not far from the precinct, she saw the press run inside, no doubt to worsen an already horrible situation for everyone involved, but especially for her Bianca!!! She called Richard on her cellular and told him to please meet her urgently at his place, she could not explained to him over the phone, but told him that if he ever hoped to in her life in the future he would meet at his place and be naked and waiting when she got there with no time to ask her questions but to take into his arms and do what a man does to show his love for his girl. Hearing this Richard told her that as she was speaking to him, he was telling his P.A. to cancel all his meetings and heading to his car to meet her there. She felt relief and as the bus pulled away from the bus stop, could only think of Bianca, and repeat one word over and over in her mind….Why? Why?Why?|

The Jail cell in which Bianca was being held was so cold, she mused even though they were in the heart of summer. She felt the chill and wondered whether it was due to her not being used to being on the other side of the bars, or if it was due to her finding herself in some very very deep troubled waters. She instinctively knew that Dana must have tried to come and see her and being told by the arrogant cops that her superior and the senators were in attendance this day, served to remind Bianca that the friendship lines between the everyday police and the F.O.D always remained strained, even though they cooperated on field busts and worked together closely the last few weeks. She laughed aloud to herself, that this would no longer be her problem, if the federal prosecutor had his way. Daniel Kingsley, was not known for taking kind to members of the law enforcement agencies, going rogue on his watch, and it was a fact as past cases had proven, that he always threw the full power of the Federal Prosecutor's Office, into gear, to try and persuade the Courts to throw the full book at such rogue law enforcers. Things were not looking too good for Bianca at the moment, as her union attorney explained to her earlier, during their brief encounter, that the Federal State, would oppose bail, and that Kingsley had already formalized the charges against her, in an attempt to be seen by his voters and the public, to be coming down hard on of their own, who for unknown reasons as he stated earlier during a news interview at the precinct, decided to allegedly end the life of one of the most inspiring judges in the Federation's history, with whom it was alleged, she shared a personal father-daughter relationship and then attempt to defeat the ends of justice, by making it look like a natural death. Kingsley further pointed out that in due course, they and the public would come to learn the true reason, as to why she would do this and that he would not rest until justice was done, for he pointed out that absolutely no one was above the law. This left Bianca with a very uneasy feeling that Kingsley and the Federal State, were going to use her to make another example, of what they did to rogue law enforcement officers, which did not respect the law. She told herself that it was fine, as she would not be first person to be sacrificed to the masses baying for blood, after having worked hard to protect those very masses. She oddly remembered the story of Saint Joan of Arc, who after her might campaign to protect France, was one such amazing heroine, which was delivered to her very enemy, by the very people she fought to protect from that enemy. Yes, Bianca mused further to herself, that no good in the entire world and in history, went unpunished and that only the naïve would think that it did. She further reflected that she would not allow them to let Dana take the fall for her actions, she swore to herself, that she would protect Dana as best as she could and when it was possible to see her, would explain everything and why she did what she did. It was going to be one helluva ride for Dana she thought, but she intended to make sure that it was not going to finish off Dana or her career. Thinking back to the day they met at the F.D.O Training Academy, Bianca remembered how they came to be friends. She was new and it was her second day, it was Orientation day and their Facilitators were introducing themselves to all of them, and who they were and what they would be teaching all of them in the months to come. She was right at back and more excited than anyone seemed to be, to be there. As she looked to the right, she noticed a talkative girl, skinny and a bit noisy, who was having her won little conversation with another guy and girl. Bianca looked over at them and bending down low so the facilitator could not see her, she whistled softly across to them, the young skinny chick shot a look of annoyance and Bianca put her index finger to her mouth and made the sound shhhhhhhh! To remind her to be quiet and pay attention to what was happening at the front. The young skinny chick blushed, smiled a little uncomfortable smile and nodded. She then looked ahead and smiling, paid attention to all that was happening. When the Orientation speeches and introductions were done, lunch was served in the mess hall, at lunch the skinny young chick came over to the table Bianca was sitting at and said hi to her, looking shy she again apologized for yesterday, and asked Bianca if she could join her for lunch, Bianca trying not to look to friendly, said why not as it was a free country, as lunchtime continued they starting chatting and Bianca eased up on her show of bravado and actually found the skinny chick's company to be pleasant, they introduced themselves to each other and from that day, decided to stick it out together and even participated in the various curricular activities and duties together, they came to be very good friends and swore to each other that if they graduated and were given the opportunity to work in the same division, they would even move in together and share accommodation. This is how things turned out and this is how Bianca came to be the best friend of Dana her friend and

It was mid afternoon when Dana reached Richard's place, her frantic knocking on his door let him to run and open it hurriedly, Shocked was Richard as stood looking at the woman in front of him, disheveled hair, runny make up, clothes untidy, and before he could ask what was going on, she pushed him inside and started kissing him hungrily, she did not even give him a chance to close the door as she threw him on the floor, and tore her blouse and skirt off, he tried to calm her, but Dana would have none of it, she kissed him passionately almost crushing his lips and when eventually she pulled back to catch her breath, she said to him in a desperate and sad voice with tears running down her face:"Please….please….please…" this was all she could get out has she tore off her bra and kissed him hungrily again, Richard was so confused and yet turned on by all that was taking place that he gathered up in his arms and threw her on the couch, she made a tiny squeak noise as he threw himself on top of her and made love to her, it was fast, it was slow, it was torturous in its passion and intense in its happening, and when they both reached their ultimate point of climaxing, they both screamed out in joyous liberating sounds and just lay there still, sweaty, hot, bodies mingled. After a few minutes Richard finally asked Dana:" Babe…..what was that", Dana still almost of out breathe replied:" you not only liberating me, but comforting me as no one has, thank you, " and as she pulled him close to her again, the proceeded to continue the passionate dance of lovemaking one more time.

A while later, Dana explained everything to him regarding what transpired earlier in the day and why she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown until she came to him in love and desperation. Holding her close to him Richard felt a surge of love and gratitude pass through him as he realized that Dana turned to him before she went to anyone else. He kissed her and told her that he was there for anytime she needed him and asked if she wanted to stay with him for the day, he offered to make them lunch and they could order take out for supper. She thanked him and hugged him tightly, but gently declined the offer, explaining to him that she had a meeting to attend to later with her Captain and asked him if he could go to Bianca and check if she was fine and if she needed anything. Richard agreed and felt as if this was an absolutely new phase taking place in their relationship and though it saddened him, that it had to occur during a time when her friend and partner was in serious trouble, he was none the less grateful that it did. She kissed him and asked to refresh herself and insisted that he did not have to driver her home, as she was feeling much better now and would be able to drive. Before leaving, she again pulled him close to her, and kissing long and passionately, she smiled and told him she loved him and that she would see him soon and thanked him for being there for her. As Dana pulled out of his driveway, Richard closed his door, and standing there for a while in delighted shock, thanked God that he finally knew that Dana loved him, and that this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with no matter what.

As Dana drove into the basement parking bay area, of their apartment building, she used the basement elevator to go up directly to their apartment. She had no strength or inclination to face the hounding press, which was parked out front of their apartment building and just wanted to kick off her shoes and take a quick shower, before she faced the music, when El Capitan came around just now. As she locked her apartment door, she kicked off her shoes, went over to the refrigerator, and opened up a cold bottle of water and drank it down hurriedly and made herself a sandwich. She went to sit down in the lounge and was too afraid to switch on the TV and decided to rather have a quick shower and prepare for her meeting with the Cap. When she was done dressing and refreshed she went into the lounge area and sat waiting. About 20 minutes later there was knock on the front door, she peeped through the peephole and saw it was the Captain, smoothing her clothes over, and feeling the pins in her hair taken up and she sigh a relief, hoping she look appropriate and that the apartment was tidy enough. She opened the door and greeted the Captain who greeted back and she invited her in. The Captain asked her to close the curtains, and she never even tried to ask why. They sat down and the captain opened up a packet she had with, in it was a bottle of whisky, a tub of Ale's bury Ice cream and a small box full of finger bites, Dana was about to get up and get them plates and knives, when the Captain said she can sit down and relax as they are just going to "do it as it as". The Captain opened the bottle of whisky and went to the dish drying tray and got them two glasses and two spoons, and then she poured them each a very strong or double shot of whisky, She opened up the tub of ice cream and as they sat there in the kitchen at the breakfast table, she began:" Dana honey, now look you know that I am honestly not the friendliest of people and yes at times I dare say that I come across as bitchy, but even a cold old hound like me can break from tradition when I need to, and be there for her pack, so let me ask you then Dana, what on earth is going on??, but before you answer, down that ole glass of whisky there first and dammit don't make me sit here and eat alone here, dig in with me, I'm too old to be the only well rounded hound round the F.O.D, Dana was so shocked at the honesty and sincerity with which the Captain spoke to her, that she immediately let her guard down a little, and relaxed. She admitted to herself that she was feeling hungry, and was thankful that the Captain brought some eats with as well. As they both drank their liquor and ate, Dana started explaining to the Captain what had taken place so far. How the leads to the Mayor Cato case had gone awry, the strangeness of the missing video footage in the passage area in front of the Mayor's office, the night guard and security and janitor not noticing anything strange and seeing no one, even after the security did their regular sweep, floor by floor, an hour before the Mayor was found murdered and that no shot guns were heard. She could only conclude that the murderer must have somehow entered the building from the roof access area, that he used a silencer when he shot the mayor and that it was him, who removed all the video cameras' footage. This she concluded, was a very professional job, a hitman that carried out a hit. Once she was done explaining this, she then continued with the even more strange information she relayed to the Captain, about the mysterious stranger with his bowler hat, stalking them, appearing and disappearing at will and then the incomplete ballistics report with no fingerprints on the gun, no gunshot residue either and no silencer, and the question of why the murderer would leave the alleged murder weapon at the crime scene, if not to taunt the law.

After her 3rd glass of whisky she felt much calmer as she told the Captain, that she had absolutely no idea what Bianca was doing at the Judge's chambers and why she lied about having another meeting elsewhere, but that the Captain should trust and know that Bianca was not the murderer, and must have suspected Dana thought, that something else took place the night of the Judge Holder's death. After listening intently and nodding here and there, the Captain then replied:"Wow! Dana, I had no idea all this crap was happening hun, I was so caught up in all the bull dust anger management going on with the General being stressed to the max to give Senators Griffiths and Cavalle , those blood sucking vampires from the Senate answers, that in truth I have been putting out fires left and right and I must apologize for the way I've been treating all of you, the poor staff are so scared of me now, that the Secretary leaves messages on my desk instead of coming to speak to me or calling me, out of fear that I might bite her head off again. Yes I admit even I have been feeling the heat all the way down to my ass, and the way it looks now we are all in for one helluva fall if Bianca is not able to explain to the Judge, in the pre-trial and bail application hearing, what the hell she was doing getting caught in ole Judge Holder's Chambers. The Senate has now according to the General demanded that F.O.D be shut down and our offices moved to the 16th precinct, for the time being, so the "normal" cops, could keep an eye on us. I had to go guns blazing in there myself and crap ole Griffiths out so bad that he lost his temper to the max, and I used that as a reason to accuse him of always having been biased towards myself, and the F.O.D, I tell you that man will be the death of me. He got so pissed off that he told me to shove my bullhsit where the sun don't shine, and although this pissed me off so much I wanted to sock that puppet a leftie, I had to remember the general was watching me and had to think of F.O.D's future, so I just sat down and let the General take over. Suffice to say for now we are all safe, but there will be a motion by that asshole Griffiths, to be presented in the Senate plenary this weekend, to ask for the F.O.D, all of us as its staff and the General to be investigated. He apparently wants every single case we worked on, including your Mayo Cato murder case, to be reviewed by a Senate Review Board and the findings made public under the Federal Freedom of Information act to the public and Congress. So you see we are on one helluva shithole at the moment hun, and I need for you to promise me woman to woman, right here and now, as I hope we are being as forthright with each other as can be, that you are keep to keep that cute little ass of yours in your apartment, and not go playing vigilante Jane, on a mission to save the world and her friend. This one could bend us over the table and screw us deep in the ass, if we don't go about defending her and ourselves the right way Dana. This is why I came to you today not as your Superior, but as a fellow member of a law enforcement agency, that believes in protecting the innocent. Fighting the battle for the downtrodden and doing everything the right way and in terms of the very same laws we as its enforcers made oaths too. It's just not worth it hun to screw everyone including your friend over, by causing even more problems and breaking even more laws. Let us and the attorney deal with helping Bianca and you deal with finding out who the hell killed the mayor okay?!", Dana nodded as she realized that the woman sitting before her facing her now, was a Captain she could rely on, a no nonsense bullshit ending woman who genuinely cared for her, Bianca and their colleagues and Dana agreed then in her mind that she would do as the Captain suggested, and rather focus on finding the Cato murderer. She then replied to the Captain:"Thank you Captain, for all you did for me today and are saying, I will do as you ask. But please Cap try your best to help Bianca make bail. Thank you for the lunch and drinks it means a lot, thanks Cap."As she got up and gave the Captain a somewhat reserved hug, the Captain said:" Now now pleasure hun, don't you dare go getting soft assed on me now and this better stay between us two or ill hand you ass over to Griffiths to screw till the birds come home ha ha." Dana agreed and as she walked the Captain to the door and said goodbye, she closed the door and smiled feeling for the first time in a long time that things were going to go end okay. She felt a bit woozy though and thought it best not to have another drink as that Whisky packed a punch of note. She then smiled and took the rest of the ice cream and finger bites and went to the lounge room and sat down and put on a dvd, it was a comedy, one of her favorites, Beverly Hills Ninja, she needed that laughter now, she also called Richard while the movie played, and thanked him for everything and told him again she loved him, he was over the moon and wished her a good night. After she finished eating, she still felt very drowsy and passed out on the couch while the movie credits rolled. She managed to switch of the TV and slept right there, going deep into dream sleep. She was snoring heavily as the alcohol worked its magic.

Downstairs in the basement parking bay area of Dana's apartment building, the Captain was on the phone to someone. :" Evening Sir I just came from visiting her. Yes..well she doesn't suspect a thing…she had three full doubles of the liquor, I put in enough to made sure she would sleep for at least a few hours. Yes…that's right sir. All will be taken care of. The General and Cavalle are becoming a problem. Yes Sir I understand, have you spoken to them about the next phase? Yes Sir I understand, and are we sure we can trust him to implement it? I could always take him out and do it for you myself. Forgive me Sir I'm not undermining your orders, Understood Sir, thank you goodnight." As she closed her cellular phone and put it in her pocket she was startled by a voice from behind her.:"Look at you Linda!, still trying to outdo me while stabbing me in the back at the same time!, wow! It was Cavalle, seething with rage.

"This is not the last of this! I will get what's due to me Linda,one way or another!". She stormed off leaving Linda to think how to deal with her.