Chapter 8: Verdicts
ADA Robin Wood sent a scathing look in Faith Vlore’s direction. The defense attorney, not put off in the slightest, gave him a saucy smile and a little pat on the shoulder for his troubles. Not for the first time, Robin missed having Elizabeth in the chair beside him. Then, he could make some comment about juries never believing ballistic evidence again, and she would retort that everyone was too busy staring at Faith’s ass to actually listen to the questions. It was the little things Elizabeth did to cheer him that he missed most. Plus, such a comment would undoubtedly guilt-trip him enough that he’d stop staring at Faith’s ass himself. She gave him a coy wink as she sat down, and he gulped in response, refusing to fall for her usual bait.
“The prosecution calls Detective Forrest Gates,” Wood announced, rising from his chair.
However, at that moment, the doors at the back of the courtroom slipped open. It was done in a quiet and polite manner, but Faith had been waiting for just such an event. She turned to see that Elizabeth had just entered, and the two exchanged a quick nod.
“The defense requests a moment of consultation before the next witness is called,” Faith hastily announced.
Judge Greenberg raised an eyebrow at that. “Any objections?” he inquired of Wood.
Wood sighed. “Let them take all the time in the world,” he shrugged, curiously watching the defense table now.
Faith turned to where a very sullen looking Spike was sitting in the chair beside her. “Cheer up, gorgeous,” she encouraged him with a playful ruffle of his hair, “your sweetie’s back. And if we’re in luck, she brought evidence to clear up these charges.” Faith leaned eagerly over the wooden barrier than separated the audience seats from the defense at Elizabeth’s approach.
Despite his determination to sulk, Spike found himself rising as well, curious as to what Elizabeth had uncovered.
Elizabeth managed a shy, apologetic smile for leaving Spike to wake up alone that morning and inwardly promised to make it up to him later. Right now, lamentably, there were more important matters to take care of. “Object to the witness,” Elizabeth instructed Faith.
“On what grounds?”
“Suborning perjury,” Elizabeth instructed. “Try to get a counsel in chambers. We’ve got new evidence that makes this entire case moot.”
“That wanker talked, did he?” Spike commented with feigned disinterest.
“Robin’s reasonable,” Elizabeth agreed. “He’ll have to drop charges after he hears this.”
Faith nodded and turned back to the judge. “The defense objects to the next witness,” she announced bluntly.
Wood gave her a disbelieving look. “You want to try that with all the prosecution witnesses?” he countered. “Because that’s one hell of a good way to make any case.”
“Language, counselor,” Judge Greenberg chided Wood. “And sarcasm.”
“Apologies,” Wood agreed hastily, “but the defense isn’t allowed to object to witnesses-“
“-Unless we have good reason to believe that they will commit perjury,” Faith finished.
“The defense doesn’t even know-” Wood began.
Faith cut him off again. “We have evidence that-“
“Stop,” Greenberg instructed, giving them both the evil eye, “before the jury’s completely corrupted, if you please.”
Wood and Faith both cut off their arguments.
“Now, how about we approach and discuss this in a civilized manner?” Greenberg suggested, gesturing for them both to come in.
“What’s this all about?” Wood demanded in a soft voice, once the three of them were conferring together.
“Officer Graham Miller has a statement to make,” Faith reported. “He will state that Detective Gates intentionally manufactured evidence against my client. In addition, he’s willing to swear that Detective Gates lied on the official police reports.”
Judge Greenberg sighed wearily. “I would hope the prosecution didn’t have foreknowledge of these allegations,” he said pointedly.
“Of course not-” Wood began in protest.
“Officer Miller’s testimony was only secured this morning,” Faith quickly intervened. “We didn’t have time to notify the prosecution until now.”
“Your Honor, I need to hear this new testimony before I can call Detective Gates,” Wood insisted. “I’d like to request a recess.”
“And I’d like it taken to chambers,” Faith countered.
Judge Greenberg gave her a curious look. “Any particular reason you think this won’t be a waste of the jury’s time?” he inquired.
“Given the allegations in this witness’ testimony, the defense cannot imagine that the prosecution will continue to pursue this case,” Faith clarified.
“It’s that good?” Wood asked skeptically.
“I don’t know,” Faith countered. “Elizabeth says so.”
Judge Greenberg looked to where Elizabeth was still waiting just in front of the audience. “Fine, chambers,” he agreed. “And get all the other players in there, too. I don’t want people hanging in from the sidelines.”
“Thank you,” Faith agreed with a bright smile before turning back to Elizabeth to make arrangements.
She quickly ducked out to fetch Graham, while Faith led Spike – and the bailiff who necessarily accompanied him – back to Judge Greenberg’s chambers. She quickly gestured for Spike to sit in one of the available chairs and smiled slyly at Wood when he pulled out a chair for her.
“This had better be good,” was all he said in response, taking his own seat.
Elizabeth entered the chambers through the office door only a few seconds later, Graham Miller firmly in tow. “Sorry, I’m late,” she said hastily, “but we had to come around back to avoid the crowds, and.” She took the seat next to Spike gratefully, venturing a small smile in her lover’s direction. Graham took the remaining seat.
“All right, Officer,” Judge Greenberg turned his attention to Graham, “you’ve got me curious. What’s this about an error in the police report?”
Graham’s emotions from earlier had vanished from his façade now, leaving the impression of a disciplined police officer. “Detective Gates and I lied in that report, Your Honor,” he answered in a firm voice. “Mister Albrook never had possession of the gun and arrived fifteen minutes after Mister Worth’s death.”
Spike raised an eyebrow at that, even though he had known it was the case all along. Whatever Elizabeth had said to make this bloke change his mind had obviously been quite effective.
“I see,” Judge Greenberg said matter-of-factly. “Then, why don’t you explain what did happen that night?”
Graham responded with a curt nod. “Detective Finn, Detective Gates, and myself were watching Mister Worth’s apartment in anticipation of his testimony against mob hitman, Mister Trick, which he was supposed to give the following morning. Around 8:30, we were starting to get hungry and bored. Detective Finn offered to go grab us some food and coffee. After he left, Detective Gates and I decided we couldn’t wait and headed off for the gas station just around the corner. We weren’t gone more than five minutes.”
“You left your post?” Faith demanded.
Graham’s face reddened, but he answered nonetheless. “Yes, ma’am,” he confessed. “Just as we were getting back.” He sighed. “We saw a car speeding away. It hadn’t been there before. Detective Gates was concerned so we went up to check on Mister Worth. He’d been shot dead, and the gun had been left beside him. Sometimes the hitmen do that, you know. Just to make sure that the gun is traced back to the Wilkins mob – sort of a warning to anyone else who might think about snitching.”
Judge Greenberg fixed Graham with a solemn frown. “This was before Mister Albrook even arrived?” he demanded pointedly, obviously none too pleased with this story.
Graham nodded. “I’m getting there,” he agreed. “Well, Forrest – that is, Detective Gates – and I both knew we’d blown it. We checked the gun for prints, and there were none. We guessed that the hitman silenced the gun because none of the neighbors had responded. So we’re sitting there, and I’m talking about how our careers are dead after a mistake like this. I mean, we even let the guy get away. And Detective Gates mentions that since no one heard the shots, no one even knows Worth is dead yet except us. And I say, yeah, but the body’s here and the murderer’s gone. And Detective Gates, real casual, asks what if we call someone else in to take the fall and catch them in the act. We can’t do anything about Worth, but if we at least catch this guy.” He trailed off, embarrassed.
Up until this point, Wood had been listening to Officer Miller’s story quietly. Now, however, he couldn’t hold his disgust in any longer. “So you decided to make up some silly story?” he demanded harshly. “Jeopardize our entire investigation of the Wilkins mob and give every member we’ve convicted grounds for immediate appeal?”
“Forrest said this could never come out,” Graham insisted hastily. “He said.” A long sigh. “He said that Mister Albrook was as good as in Wilkins’ pocket the way he’d testified in the Trick case. And it didn’t really matter which of Wilkins’ lackeys we got, as long as we got one of them, right?”
“I don’t work for them!” Spike exclaimed in outrage.
Elizabeth quickly put a comforting hand on his arm, pulling him back down into his chair.
He calmed a bit at her touch, but kept his narrowed eyes focused on Graham, venom practically dripping from his gaze.
“Gates said it’d be like killing two birds with one stone. Albrook’s testimony in the Trick case would be gone, and we’d get off the hook for blowing it with Worth. I. I wasn’t sure, but Forrest said it was either him or us. He said he’d been trying to nail Trick for too long now to let that bastard get away. And I was scared and he was a superior officer, so. Yeah, he told me to call Albrook’s office and get him down there. Say it was an emergency so we could do this quick, before Finn got back.”
“You lured him there?” Faith repeated incredulously.
Graham intentionally stared at the surface of the desk, avoiding the accusing stares that surrounded him. “It wasn’t my idea,” he insisted. “Gates. He made it sound like it was the only option.”
“What about the prints on the gun, then?” Wood demanded.
“Detective Gates rigged them while he was cuffing Albrook,” Graham squirmed uncomfortably. “He dumped the gun in Albrook’s car when he went out to call back up.”
“And why exactly didn’t you report all this before?” Judge Greenberg asked sourly.
Graham merely shrugged at that. The answer was obvious enough to everyone else, however. Police officers had often been known to defend their own over outsiders in the past.
Wood swore and covered his eyes with a weary hand.
“You’re dropping the charges, right?” Elizabeth demanded, speaking up for the first time. After all, she’d heard all these revelations earlier this morning. Her left hand continued to grip Spike’s forearm tightly, feeling the repressed rage shaking through his body and trying to quell its explosion long enough to get this all taken care of.
“This is going to have to go through IAB and.” Wood sighed. “We’re going to have to charge Gates with obstruction, lying to the police, dereliction of duty, not to mention.” He trailed off again. “You’re not coming out of this too well, either,” he informed Graham pointedly.
“I suggested that maybe the DA’s office would be willing to settle for taking his badge,” Elizabeth informed Wood somewhat apologetically. “Given that he did eventually come forward and all.”
Wood nodded. “And you’re testifying against Gates, right?” he demanded.
Graham nodded reluctantly.
“Make sure you get yourself a good lawyer,” Wood concluded before turning back to Elizabeth. “You do realize that I could pit Gates and Miller here against each other on the stand and let the jury sort it out.”
“Only if you believed in good faith that Gates wouldn’t perjure himself,” Elizabeth countered pointedly.
Wood sighed. “Double jeopardy means that if I drop this I can’t come back,” he reminded her.
Elizabeth merely raised one eyebrow.
“All right, fine, you’ve got your dismissal,” Wood informed her, “and I hope you’re ready to deal with all the hassles of trying a police detective compounded with keeping the Trick case from being thrown out.”
A small smile curved the edges of Elizabeth’s lips. “Gladly,” she assured him.
“We’re getting the rest of the day off?” Judge Greenberg inquired. “Good. It’s so nice to see attorneys behaving in a remotely reasonable manner.” He rose from his desk with a bit of a grunt. “Any objections to making this all formal right now?”
Head shakes all around.
“Then let’s get this mess over with,” Judge Greenberg concluded, “and,” he turned his attention to Graham, “I have never heard of any officer of the court doing anything so reprehensible. You should be ashamed of yourself, and you’re just lucky I’m not the one sentencing you.” With an angry twirl of his robes, he returned to the courtroom. Three attorneys, an exceptionally pissed off defendant, and a penitent police officer followed.
Elizabeth took up the additional defense chair and sat down beside Spike, her hand never leaving his arm the entire time.
“I believe we have a motion?” Judge Greenberg inquired once seated in his chair once more.
“We have, Your Honor,” Wood agreed, rising from his own seat. “Due to recent evidence uncovered in the course of the investigation into Howard Worth’s death, the prosecution at this time is dropping all charges against William Albrook.”
“Defense?” Judge Greenberg asked.
“No objections whatsoever,” Elizabeth announced, taking the job that technically should have been Faith’s for the day. No one minded, of course.
“Then, I am hereby dismissing all charges against the defendant, William Albrook, and releasing him from the custody of this court,” Judge Greenberg announced, turning back to the jury. “The jury is dismissed from this case, and court is adjourned.”
Elizabeth let out an audible sigh of relief as she and Spike rose from their seats. “Congrats,” she informed him softly.
“You said you’d get me off,” he replied matter-of-factly, jaw still ticking with anger. His eyes immediately set upon where Detective Gates was demanding Wood to explain what was going on. “‘Scuse me a second, pet.” He headed off pointedly in the direction of the detective.
Elizabeth quickly chased after him. The last thing she needed was to have to defend him from assaulting a police officer.
“You, ponce,” Spike growled, coming to an angry stop only a few feet away from Detective Forrest Gates.
Gates turned to look at him in surprise.
“Next time wanna be more careful who your frame?” Spike added snidely. “Make sure they can’t defend themselves, am I right?”
“What are you-?” Forrest demanded.
Wood put a cold hand on his shoulder. “Your little plot is out,” he informed the detective tersely.
Forrest’s eyes widened for a second before narrowing on Graham. “You little snitch,” he accused. “You ratted out your own to protect this filth?” He gestured to Spike with a look of disgust in his eyes.
A low growl escaped Spike’s throat at that.
“If he hadn’t been boffing the DA, we would’ve had him,” Forrest continued, giving Elizabeth a look that made her feel downright dirty.
At that last insult, Spike finally exploded and dove for Forrest. Elizabeth had been anticipating such a move, fortunately, and managed to grab him from behind, her arms wrapped around him and pinning his own arms at his sides.
“We’ll get him,” she whispered against his back. “We’ll make him pay for what he did to you.”
Wood, meanwhile, had restrained Forrest. Two of the bailiffs swiftly approached. “Arrest this man,” Wood instructed them, “for obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence, to start.”
Forrest shot him a nasty look. “So, you let the punk go, huh?” he spat nastily as the two bailiffs restrained him. “Botch the investigation of the Wilkins syndicate more? No wonder none of my collars ever held with DAs like the two of you.” He saved an especially venomous look for Elizabeth. “You’re worse than the criminals,” were his parting words before he was dragged from the courtroom.
“There’s one cop who’s let his work drive him to the brink of insanity,” Faith commented dryly, slinging her purse over her shoulder. “Thanks for dragging me into this,” she commented to Elizabeth with a wry smile.
Elizabeth managed a tight one back from where she was still holding Spike back. “C’mon, let’s get out of here,” she encouraged him softly.
Some of the fight seemed to go out of him at that, and Elizabeth let him go. She almost regretted it when he abruptly turned on Graham, though. “‘d be too ashamed to live with myself if I were you,” he hissed angrily before storming out of the courtroom.
Elizabeth gave the rest of her colleagues an apologetic smile. “His bark’s really worse than his bite,” she assured them, glancing off to where her lover had gone.
“Go, chase down your man,” Wood instructed with a little knowing smile. “I’m sure Faith can take care of the rest of this.”
Elizabeth cast him a grateful – albeit embarrassed smile – and departed as well.
Wood let out a weary sigh. “We’ve just quadrupled the amount of work that needs to be done,” he groaned.
Faith gave him a little pat on the small of his back, letting her hand linger there longer than was absolutely necessary. “How about I treat you to dinner, and we work out the final paperwork together?” she suggested, just a hint of seduction in her tones.
Wood managed a sly smile. “If you’re buying, I know a great French place down on fifteenth.”
“It’s a date,” Faith agreed, looping her arm through his as they left the courtroom together.
* * *
“Are you mad at me?” Elizabeth bit her lip as Spike shut the back door behind them. The entire drive back home he’d remained silent, never speaking a word to her.
He looked down at her curiously at that. “Why would I be mad at you, luv?” he asked softly, fixing her with a quizzical look.
She blushed slightly but felt a wave of relief rush through her nonetheless. “Because I left you alone this morning?” she suggested cautiously.
A soft smile lit up his face, and he caught her up in a loose embrace, brushing his lips against her forehead. “Not mad about that,” he assured her. “I get that you’ve got important stuff to do. Although if you make a habit of it.”
“I won’t,” she promised him, placing a short, sweet kiss on his lips.
“And just so long as you don’t leave me in Faith’s care again,” he countered, twirling his fingers lazily in her hair. “Missed havin’ you by my side today, y’know.”
She graced him with a radiant smile. “A small sacrifice to keep you out of prison permanently,” she assured him.
“Did a good job gettin’ that cop to talk,” he complimented her. “Care to share your secret?”
“No chance in hell,” she countered. “Can’t have you using my own tricks against me, now can I?”
He laughed at that. “Love you,” he whispered, giving her a heartfelt squeeze.
“Love you, too,” she agreed, one finger trailing up and down the strong lines of his chest. “You know, technically you probably don’t have to live here anymore. I mean, now that you’re no longer a suspect, the press are bound to leave you alone.” She trailed off pointedly.
“Want me to move out?” he asked with a knowing smile.
“Want you to stay,” she assured him.
“So you’re askin’ me to move in with you?” he demanded.
“Yup,” she agreed with a bright smile.
“Can I have an affidavit signed to that fact, so that when you randomly claim that it was my idea to move in together, I can wave it in your face?” he teased.
Her eyes widened. “What are you talking about?” she joked back. “You just asked to move in with me!”
“God, you’re infuriating,” he informed her fondly, brushing an errant strand of blond hair back from her face.
“I know,” she assured him. “So.you’re moving in, right? Because, frankly, this house is way too big for just me and Angel.”
“Surprised DAs get high enough salaries for a place like this,” Spike glanced around the high rafters of the living room.
“We don’t,” she assured him. “Mom left it to me after she.”
“‘m sorry, pet,” he immediately laid a gentle kiss on her hair. Buffy’s mother had been the only other member of her family that he’d ever really liked, and vice-versa.
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “It’s just. I wanted to keep the house. A little piece of her, and maybe a place I could start my own family some day.” She kept her eyes lowered at that part.
A cocky smile spread across his lips at that, and one hand came to rest possessively on her stomach as if claiming his place within her. “Just going to hafta stick around then and help you with that,” he concluded. His lips brushed her ear seductively. “Wanna work on it right now?”
She felt an excited little tingle run down her spine. “You gonna carry me up to bed again?” she teased lightly.
“And break my back?” He let her go long enough to take her hand and guide her upstairs.
She mock-pouted. “I’m not that heavy,” she retorted.
“No,” he assured her, “you’re perfect.”
Their lips met for a deep, sensual kiss right outside the door to Elizabeth’s room. Elizabeth’s fingers found their way into his dark locks, and she briefly fantasized that they were the platinum he favored now. “Get your hair back to normal, and you’ll be perfect, too,” she concluded.
An evil smirk curled his lips. “Want me to go off and bleach it now?” he teased.
She pulled him back into her room. “Need you now,” she insisted, falling back onto the bed. “Need to show you how much I love you.”
He kicked off his shoes and joined her on the mattress, lying on his side so that they could share kisses and caresses as they moved together beneath the sheets.
With a contented sigh, Elizabeth nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck, squeezing her eyes shut tight and breathing in his distinctive scent. One hand lazily trailed up and down his spine, and she pressed herself to him, enjoying the feeling of his strong arm around her waist and his gentle fingers in her hair.
“Buffy?” Spike ventured to ask softly when she hadn’t altered her strokes for some time.
He got a soft snore in response.
“Poor little angel’s been wearing herself out takin’ care of me,” he whispered against her hair. “Don’t worry, pet. ‘S time I returned the favor.” With a contented smile of his own, he hugged her closer and prepared to enjoy an afternoon napping in her arms.
And then one eye cracked open.
“I know you’re there, and you’re not interruptin’ anything, so you might as well show your ugly face,” Spike announced.
Angel leapt up onto the bed, tail twitching at being called ‘ugly’.
“Yeah, yeah,” Spike rolled his eyes, waiting for Angel’s approach. “Well, don’t just sit there brooding,” he finally exclaimed in annoyance.
Angel paused for a moment, debating the joys of sinking all twenty-eight claws into the aggravating human. However, that would undoubtedly disturb the warm, comfy bed. Giving in to the foolish creature this time, he stalked haughtily up the bed until he’d found a comfortable, warm place between the humans’ bodies and settled himself down for a good nap.
Spike, in a moment of uncharacteristic affection, patted the great beast on the head. His family. The thought wasn’t at all unappealing. And, with a yawn as wide as Angel’s, he too settled down to sleep contentedly.
* * *
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
The happy couple met in an enthusiastic kiss, and the audience cheered as the marriage vows were completed.
In the first row, Elizabeth gave Spike a shy smile, and he returned it with a squeeze to her hand. They both knew how big this was. Now that Anya was finally happily married, she would no longer oppose their own wedding on grounds that they were “trying to steal my spotlight.” A small, private ceremony had already been scheduled that Saturday. Elizabeth and Spike were both counting the days.
Soft musical strains filled the lodge, and Elizabeth leaned over to rest her head on Spike’s shoulder, savoring the moment. Her contented introspections were almost immediately interrupted by the loud sobbing behind her.
“It’s so sad!” Harmony wailed into her tissues, watching Xander and Anya dancing. “An agency with two attractive, single men, and now they’re both going to be married! To someone other than me!” She burst out bawling again and collapsed onto the nearest male body in tears.
Unfortunately, said body happened to belong to Giles, and the older man fumbled nervously with the young secretary, sending a pleading look Spike and Elizabeth’s way.
The pair exchanged a look and a snicker. “Next dance is comin’ up, luv,” Spike informed Elizabeth, giving Giles a shameless wave as he led her off.
Elizabeth managed to laugh into her hand as she followed her fiancé’s lead over to the dance floor.
Left alone, Giles looked at the crying blond beside him in despair. “There, there?” he ventured hesitantly.
Harmony’s sniffles abated slightly. “You have a law firm, right?” she asked, voice still ragged.
“Um.yes,” Giles agreed, gratefully returning her fully to her seat.
“So, I bet you’ve got all sorts of attractive lawyer bachelors working for you.” Harmony added thoughtfully.
Giles scanned around frantically for an escape route.
“I don’t suppose you need a secretary?” Harmony inquired, batting her eyelashes now.
Spike chuckled into Elizabeth’s hair as he watched Giles flee faster than he ever would had thought the older man capable of running. “Looks like we’re gonna need to find a new secretary.if all the bad press doesn’t completely put me out of business, that is,” he added ruefully.
“Are you kidding?” Elizabeth countered. “You’re famous now. I’m willing to bet you double your fees.”
He sighed. “Great, just what I need: morbid clients.”
“Aren’t they all?” Elizabeth countered.
“Nasty business sometimes,” he conceded, “though I can’t imagine yours is much better.”
“I get the baddies at the end of the day,” she countered. “Or, I will as soon as I go back to work.”
“And you’re sure that ponce of a boss isn’t gonna put you on shit detail once you go back?” Spike countered teasingly.
“Robin’s been too busy drooling over Faith of late to hold a vendetta,” she assured him. “Besides, I can take anything he’ll throw at me. I have a feeling two weeks of honeymoon will have me nice and.relaxed.” She practically purred into his ear.
“Get me all nervous goin’ on like that,” he teased. “Already about as giddy as I was when you first asked me out.”
Elizabeth scowled at him. “I’m quite sure we finally established that you first asked me out,” she countered.
“We did establish it,” he retorted, “only the other way around.”
“No, we didn’t,” she countered, wide-eyed at the gratuitous lie.
“Yes, we did,” Spike retorted.
“Didn’t.”
“Did.”
“Didn’t.”
Their bodies had inched closer with each denial until they stood nose to nose, both their faces flushed with enjoyment at the argument.
Spike shifted uncomfortably in his suit. “Wanna get out of here?” he inquired pointedly. “Head back home and-“
“It’s your best friend’s wedding,” she chided him lightly.
He sighed. “Right. So, Saturday, right?” he asked eagerly.
“Saturday,” she agreed with a soft smile, resting her head on his shoulder as she watched Xander and Anya dance across the floor. For one instant, the crazy notion to have a big wedding of her own flashed through her mind, but then she wisely remembered Anya’s five-hour description of the necessary planning and shook the notion off. All she wanted was William as quickly as she could have him, with no fuss.
“Can hardly believe ‘s finally going to happen,” he whispered softly against her hair, watching the newlyweds as well. “Seems like ‘ve been waiting forever.”
“No, I’ve been waiting forever,” Elizabeth teased.
He laughed at that. “God, I love you, Buffy,” he said with a wistful sigh.
She smiled as the music changed. “Love you, too,” she agreed. “Now, c’mon, they’re playing our song.”
“We have a song?” he demanded skeptically.
She rolled her eyes. “Just c’mon,” she instructed him, a seductive smile on her lips. “You know you wanna dance with me.”
He took her offered hand and pulled her body up tight against his. “Always,” he agreed in a husky whisper.