Chapter Thirty Five

Stephen

My phone rings, and I scramble to answer it. It’s Lachie. I quickly ask the question we’ve all been waiting for: Did he take the deal?

Lachie - (Phone call) He agreed. We’ve sent it to the Prosecution’s office for approval. Once that’s done, we’re ready to move.

Stephen - (Phone call) Hold on! Which Prosecution’s office? There’s history with DA Elizabeth Carson.

Lachie - (Phone call) Shit, I’ll have to check. I didn’t personally submit the paperwork. How did I not know this?

Stephen - (Phone call) I guess we both assumed the other one knew.

I take a moment to fill Lachie in on the past two trials and the failed attempts by the DA to follow the CPD’s lead. I also tell him about the third hearing when she suddenly recused herself.

Lachie - (Phone call) Damn! Okay, I need to look into this. Is everyone there so I can explain the deal?

Stephen - (Phone call) It’s just us, mate.

Lachie - (Phone call) Alright, I’ll fill you in and then you can call back when they’re on the line. Hopefully, I’ll know about the DA by then.

Lachie takes his time explaining everything that happened. I can’t deny it, I’m grateful to Benji for bringing this guy on board. It’s clear he’s working hard to protect us. We’re no saints, but he never questions why we’re so protective of each other and our family. What happened, while not excusable, was a result of the situation we found ourselves in.

Stephen - (Phone call) Thanks for the update, Lachie.

Lachie - (Phone call) Talk soon.

We hang up, and I turn to see my wife, Trinity, waiting for an update.

Trinity - Well?

Stephen - Grounds accepted the deal. It’s been sent to the Prosecutor for approval. The problem is, Lachie isn’t sure if that Prosecutor is...

Trinity - Elizabeth Carson. I heard you mention her name.

Stephen - Shit! Does this ever get easier?

Trinity - It will, baby. We just need to keep the faith, right?

Stephen - Have I mentioned that I’m going to need a long vacation when this is over?

Trinity - Many times, baby. And like I keep telling you, when this is over, you can have whatever you want.

Stephen - I’m holding you to that. Let’s grab a bottle of wine, and I’ll fill you in on the deal.

Trinity - Okay, let me check on the kids and get dressed. I’ll be right back.

Stephen - Can you bring me a pair of sweatpants?

Trinity - Sure, babe.

She dashes upstairs while I grab a bottle of wine and two glasses, taking them outside. She returns shortly, handing me my pants and wearing a sundress. As I bend over to pull on my sweatpants, she playfully smacks my butt.

Stephen - Don’t start. You want to hear about this deal first, right?

Trinity - Sorry, I’ll behave.

Stephen - Good girl.

I wink at her as I pull up my sweatpants, and we sit down.

Stephen - So, as I said, Grounds accepted the deal. But the FBI added some stipulations.

Trinity - That’s a good thing, right?

Stephen - It is, babe. This time, we’re definitely protected. Unlike last time when the Chief and Captain screwed us over, the deal states that Grounds will go back undercover for the next six weeks. He has six weeks to gather solid evidence that this operation is run from the top, enough to lead to a successful prosecution. The FBI told him that as a cop, he should be able to handle this task without any issues. If he comes up empty-handed after six weeks, the deal is off, and he’s on his own.

Trinity - Wow, that’s huge. And he agreed to this?

I nod in confirmation.

Stephen - He signed off on it. Now we’re just waiting for the Prosecution’s office to sign their part. The deal also states that if the FBI suspects he’s tipping them off or not fully cooperating, they can revoke the deal and arrest him.

Trinity - Well, let’s hope it isn’t Elizabeth Carson.

Stephen - I hope so, baby. I don’t trust her.

Trinity - Me neither.

Stephen - And he has to get the Chief and Captain. If he can’t, there’s no deal. It’s a clause of the immunity. He also has to testify. If he tries to plead the Fifth since he’s already exempt from prosecution, the deal is off.

Trinity - Let’s hope Benji is okay with this.

Stephen - I know he wasn’t happy about them dropping the murder charge for Maddie, but Lachie might have still gotten him a good deal.

Trinity - How, baby?

Stephen - The deal says he’s immune from prosecution for Maddie’s murder, and even when they find out she’s still here, they can’t charge him for any other related crime.

Trinity - Benji will be mad.

Stephen - But the deal doesn’t exempt him from prosecution for the attempted murder of Benji. Remember, he already told them Benji was the intended target. So after this is all over and they deal with the corruption charges, they’re going to charge him with the attempted murder of Benji. Lachie believes he’ll cut a plea deal and implicate the Chief and Captain as the ones who orchestrated that too.

Trinity - Hopefully that makes Benji feel a bit better. We know how it felt when we thought we lost each other.

Stephen - I know, baby. Lachie wants to call in the morning, so why don’t we go to bed so we can get the others up and ready to call Lachie?

Trinity - Okay, babe. And the kids will still be up early.

We head upstairs and get into bed. It doesn’t take long for us to fall asleep, our minds finally at ease. I’m woken up in the morning by Jay’s cries. I pick up my little boy, trying not to wake Trinity, and head downstairs to make some coffee.

Trinity - Are you trying to sneak out on me, daddy?

Stephen - Never. I was just letting you sleep.

Trinity - Mmm, I’m awake now.

Stephen - Coffee?

Trinity - Yes, I’ll come down.

Trinity rises, planting a soft kiss on Jay before doing the same to me. We head downstairs to grab a cup of coffee, waiting for the rest of the house to stir. We chat in the kitchen while Trinity feeds Jay his bottle, just enough to keep him content until the twins and the rest of the crew wake up.

“Morning, guys,” Clint greets us, entering the kitchen with the twins, Willie, and baby Maddie in tow. “I found these two on the way. I believe they belong to you.”

The twins toddle over to me and I scoop them up, their small bodies snuggling into my shoulders. Trinity leans over to plant a kiss on each of their heads.

“Is Mia still asleep?” Trinity asks.

“She’s just taking a shower. She’ll be down soon,” Clint replies.

We brew another pot of coffee, and before long, the rest of the house begins to trickle in. We fill them in on Lachie’s late-night call and the details we’ve gathered so far. Benji doesn’t say much, but we figure he’s just processing everything before he shares his thoughts.

“Well,” Benji finally speaks up, “let’s make the call. We should get the full story before we pass judgment, right?”

“Are you sure, babe? Are you okay?” Maddie asks, concern etching her features.

“I’m okay for now,” Benji assures her. He wraps an arm around her, pulling her close. “Besides, I get to marry you any day now. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

I dial Lachie’s number, leaving a message for him to call back on a secure line. Thankfully, we only have to wait about half an hour before my phone rings.

“Hey, Lachie,” I answer. “How did it go? Everyone’s here.”

“You let everyone know the details?” Lachie asks.

“I did, so you don’t need to rehash them. How did it go with the prosecution?”

“The case was delivered to Elizabeth Carson’s office,” Lachie reveals.

“Fuck!” Clint exclaims.

“Wait until you hear what I have to say next, Clint, before you start swearing...” Lachie warns.