"The Inspector's testimony alone should see this man locked away for life," one of the jurymen firmly stated as he poked his index finger onto the large table top.

"How can we be sure that it wasn't Constable Reese that was the mastermind? Or that other constable?" another asked.

"Valid question," stated one man. "After all, they would have had ten years to plan, while waiting for Charles to be released," he added. This caused a rather lively discussion in the room where the men where gathered to go over the evidence and to come up with a conviction to all three men; Reese, Dobbin and Charles.

"Don't forget what Charles said after his last appearance in court," a tall man at the back of the room spoke. "He said he would seek revenge on Inspector Brackenreid when he got out. It was too bad that Detective Murdoch believed Mr. Charles changed when they first met a few weeks ago. Clearly a leopard can not change its spots," he snorted as if he would have known that Marcel was lying.

"There's no doubt in my mind that the two Constables are guilty of the attacks on the Inspector, but I doubt that they acted alone, otherwise they could have attacked him long before Marcel Charles was released from prison. And don't forget the Bible with the newspaper clippings. Clearly they were working with Charles, even though he was in jail," a stout man stated. Again the comment created a round-table discussion.

"Don't forget what the constables did in the morgue and Miss...Miss," the older gentleman was trying to remember the name. "James," the man beside him offered. "Right," he clicked his fingers, "Miss James," he smiled.

"She was brave to have pulled off that document switch," the man at the back of the room stated. Everyone nodded. "Plus there was Constable Reeses' station house pin found at the scene," someone added.

"My mind rests on the attempt again on the Inspector's life while he was in the hospital. He's a lucky man to have such a brave wife," a meek man over by the window spoke. "Even with Doctor Ogden's testimony of what was in the syringe...well that just makes me shudder," he added. "I know what you mean!" the man next to him exclaimed.

"What about that Darby O'Farrell fellow," one of the jurors asked. "He died at the hands of the Inspector," he stated.

"Doctor Ogden proved that it was the amount of narcotics in O'Farrell that led to his death," another man answered. "Weren't you playing attention?" he then snapped. "And," he continued, "O'Farrell was also in the hands of Marcel Charles. The Detective found that syringe Charles' carpet bag. It's crystal clear that Charles had this all planned out, so can we just get on with this?" Another murmur swirled through the room. The men were getting tired of talking about the case, plus the windows of the room couldn't open very wide, making the jury-room rather unbearable.

"So, it would seem to be, that we're all in agreement that they are all guilty," the man at the head of the table spoke. Everyone nodded again. "Excellent. It will now be up to the Judge to hand down the sentence," he noted. "And I hope they are lengthy." The man stood and walked to the door, opening it. Outside were two uniformed Constables, "We have a verdict," the man announced.

"I'll get the Judge," the tallest of the two constables said as he briskly walked down the hall of the courthouse, to the Judge's chamber. The constable stopped at the door and rapped on it with his knuckles.

"Enter," the voice came from inside.

The constable pocked his head through the opening, "The jury has a verdict, Sir," the policeman stated.

"That didn't seem to take very long," the old Judge mused to himself as he adjusted his black robe.

"Bloody hell," Thomas Brackenreid muttered. "What's taking them so long?" he asked no one in particular.

"There's a lot of evidence to go through, Sir. I'm sure they will come to a verdict very soon," Murdoch spoke calmly, noting that his boss looked rather anxious about the whole affair. "I hope you're right, Murdoch. I can't take this much longer," the Inspector replied as he began to paced along the sidewalk outside of the courthouse.

Julia, Murdoch and Margaret all exchanged glances. "This has been terribly hard on Thomas," Margaret spoke as she watched her husband.

"I can well imagine," Julia spoke. "You've been his rock," she smiled kindly.

"Do you think so?" Margaret asked. Julia nodded, "I most certainly do," she smiled again. Margaret flushed slightly at the compliment. "He's a good man," Margaret stated. "Yes he is," Julia replied. "I pray that the jurors give those men the sentences that they deserve and what Thomas is hoping for," Margaret added with concern in her voice.

"With all that evidence, how could they not?" William asked. "The question is how long will each of them receive," he added. And as if on cue, a constable stuck his head out of the courthouse front doors, "The trial is commencing," he announced as he held the door open for those where had taken a break out in the fresh air.

Brackenreid's eyebrows lifted in surprise and delight as he and his wife entered the courthouse and found their chairs in the gallery above. No sooner were they seated, when the bailiff entered the courtroom, "All rise," he announced loud and clear. The room was silent other than the odd cough and sound of the wooden chairs on the hardwood floor.

The jury entered the room next entering the jury box, each taking their place, followed by the Judge. "Please be seated," the bailiff again stated. And again the same rumbling sounds filled the chamber before everyone took their places.

The old Judge looked around the room, before his eyes settled on the foreman of the jury, "Foreman. Please stand," the asked of the tall man, and he did. "I understand you have come to an agreement on a verdict," he said. The man nodded. "Please present your verdict to the court," the Judge requested.

The foreman held out the piece of paper and the bailiff took it, handing it to the Judge. "What is your verdict?" he then asked of the foreman.

Marcel Charles' eyes were practically boring holes through the man's skull.

"Guilty, your Honour on all cases," the foreman said loud and clear.

Brackenreid nudged Murdoch, "Look at Charles squirm," he said as he starred down at Marcel who was now on his feet. "That's wrong! These two me up to it!" he shouted at the jury and Judge while pointing at Dobbin and Reese.

"Order! Order in the court," the bailiff firmly stated, to no avail. Now the Judge was in on trying to control the order, "Order in this court, or I will have you removed without you hearing your sentence," the Judge said sternly as two constables attempted to hold Marcel, keeping him away from Dobbin and Reese.

"We told you he was deranged," Dobbin half laughed.

"Order!" the Judge yelled again. By now the whole room was a buzz due to the indecent and for the second time the Judge pounded down his gavel down on the block on his bench, "Order!" finally the room settled. With a visible huff, Marcel took his seat at the table next to his defence attorney.

"Now," the Judge firmly began, "This has been an interesting and complicated case. Give so, I have come up with various scenarios based on what the verdict might be. However, this," he waved the paper in the air, "has guided me to the only possible conclusion. Joshua Dobbin and Brian Reese, will you please stand."

Slowly the two constable stood, glancing back and forth at each other. Dobbin audibly swallowed.

"Your involvement in this case is very disturbing for two men who were trained and hired as Toronto police officers. Your lack of respect for your peers is shocking. You will both be sentenced to five years in prison," the Judge said. Both men stood numb. "You will be stripped of your jobs, never to be employed in the Toronto constabulary. To ensure this, you will be sent to Australia to serve your sentences. You will be placed on a train at 11:00 am tomorrow morning. Be seated," the Judge stated as he rapped his gavel down. Both men sat down, starring forward.

"Now, Marcel Charles. Stand before the court," the Judge ordered. "You have made a laughing stock out of the penal system, with your blatant lie of becoming a changed man under the system's willingness to help those who wish to truly change. We will now have to study cases much closer to assure another one of you doesn't get through and back into society," the Judge scolded. Marcel's jowl muscles flexed at the words. "You are sentenced to twenty-five years in prison, and not the Don Jail. You will board an east-bound train and spend your next twenty-five years in the Kingston Penitentiary," the Judge hammered down his gavel. "Thank you jurors for your services. Removed the prisoners. This court is adjourned," the Judge wrapped his gavel down.

Brackenreid sat back in his chair; a look of relief washed over his face, "With any luck that toe-rag will died before he's released again," he sighed.

Murdoch smiled, "This is a cause for celebration," he nudge nudged his boss.

"Damn right, Murdoch!" Brackenreid smiled broadly and looked at his wife, "Something special," he noted as they cleared the gallery and began to leave the courthouse.

"Not those horrible chicken wings!" Margaret stated, as he watched her husband.

"But, Margaret," the Inspector tried to plead his case, but to no avail. William and Julia found it rather amusing. "What then?" Brackenreid sighed as they reached the sidewalk in front of the courthouse.

"The ladies have been talking about a new restaurant," Margaret started, Thomas rolled his eyes, "it's Italian," she added.

"Italian?" Brackenreid questioned.

"Is that the one on Adeline?" Julia questioned. "I've heard it's awfully good," she smiled. Both Murdoch and Brackenreid exchanged looked. "It appears, me ol' mucker, we're going to an Italian restaurant," he shrugged. Murdoch didn't know what to say as he watched the two women walk away with the Inspector tagging along behind. "I really was hoping to have chicken wings," he muttered, which caused Murdoch to laugh as he too followed behind.

The End.