Protectors of the Innocent - Chapter 17

Wow, thank you for everyone who took the time to comment. This is the second last chapter of Matt and June's story. Please tell me what you didn't like - maybe you could suggest what should happen to Simon?

On Thursday afternoon, June washed the clothes she bought for the babies and cleaned a closet to store the items. When she saw the size of the clothes her heart constricted. Were babies really that small when born? Some of the vests fit into her hand and she had quite a small hand.

She had just finished her nap when the phone rang. Rachel invited her to have dinner with her and the kids at Michaela's restaurant. Although June lived in Cintsa for months now, she never took the time to visit the famous restaurant on top of the hill and she accepted eagerly. After arranging to meet them there at five thirty, June started to get ready. The leisurely bath took a little longer than she anticipated and she arrived at the restaurant with barely minutes to spare.

Michaela's restaurant sat on top of the tallest hill in the area and offered their patrons a three hundred and sixty view of the ocean and surrounding country. For once the wind played along and June, Rachel and the kids sat on the patio outside. They watched in awe as the sun descended and the stars came out to play. After a hearty meal and wonderful conversation June felt quite drunk on orange juice as she scaled the steps down to her car. Man, she thought, if one really got intoxicated in the restaurant, navigating these stairs at night would be an absolute disaster.

The babies liked the exercise and June was still giggling when she stopped in front of the gate. She opened the padlock and made sure she locked it behind her. She couldn't help but think how different life was here. There was just so much less worries about criminals lurking around every bush. Oh, Rachel told her they had their share of break ins at the businesses, but it rarely happened in the residential neighborhoods.

June hummed softly as she unlocked the front door. She should go out more often before the babies were born. The babies. June's chest swelled with emotion. She didn't know them and yet it felt as if she's known them all her life. The kettle whistled and June poured a cup of coffee, took the latest romance novel and curled up on the sofa. After such a wonderful night, she didn't need the television or radio to spoil her solitude. With only the reading lamp providing light, the intimate atmosphere made her nostalgic .

If only Matt were here. He would have lit the fireplace and they could have swayed to music only heard by themselves. She smiled. Girl, that's what caused your swollen tummy in the first place, remember? Oh, but what sweet music it was. June put the book down and hugged her knees. Once in a while the memories of Matt were so strong, it almost felt as if he was near. Her coffee cooled down and as she stood up to put the kettle on again, a knock sounded on the door.

Apprehension chilled her bones. Who would visit after eight at night and moreover, how the hell did they get in? June put the mug down on the counter and walked to the door.

"Who is it?"

"June, dear, open up, I'm freezing out here."

"Simon?" How did he find her? What was he doing here?

June unlocked the door and Simon brushed past her rubbing his arms. Frowning, June closed the door and turned around. Simon stood in the middle of the room with a strange grin on his face.

"Hi, Simon. What brings you here and how did you find me?"

Simon shrugged. "Well Commissioner White, aren't you going to offer me some tea? It's been a long drive."

June nodded. "Have a seat, I'll be right back." Once in the kitchen she willed her pounding heart to calm down. Over her shoulder she saw Simon sink down into one of the chairs.

"How did you know where I was?" she asked again over her shoulder.

"Oh, your parents told me." June frowned. Her mother would never give that information to anyone.

"My mom?"

"Actually it was your dad. Turned out he knew about this place all along and was just too glad to get rid of your mom that he never worried about it."

June swallowed the fear constricting her throat. Why would her father tell Simon where she was?

"Simon, I don't understand why they told you where I was. They knew I didn't want to be found."

"Your mom put up a brave fight." Simon pointed towards June's stomach. "And I can certainly see why, but it seems like your father didn't really care what happened to you. Not that it helped him in the end." June froze. He couldn't mean what she thought he did. It almost sounded like he had hurt her parents.

"What are you talking about?" Her voice sounded husky in the sudden laden silence.

"June, come on, we can do this all night, but I don't have the time."

June inhaled sharply. It was Simon's voice while she was in the container. That's why it sounded so familiar. She put the mug of tea down next to him on the table and turned around with her heart pounding in her mouth. Panic quickly followed the disbelief pulsing through her. She needed to protect her babies. She must get away, now.

"I'm just going to the bathroom. Be right back." June walked down the passage, but when she heard Simon's footsteps behind her, she ran. She managed to close the door before he could grab her. Turning the key in the lock, she backed off and pressed herself against the opposite wall. Tears stung her eyes and she rubbed them away angrily. No time for pity or tears now, girl. You need to think.

"Why are you doing this?" Her voice echoed shrill in the tiled cubicle. She shrieked when the door rattled in its frame.

"June, dear. You have nowhere to go. We could do this easy or hard. It's your choice." June eyed the window. There was no way she was going to get out of there without help. It was an easy climb onto the window and she would certainly fit through the opening , but outside was a hefty drop to the ground. It was the only way out. If she could just get outside she might have a chance. Her brain struggled to compute the horrendous deeds of the network with Simon's lovable personality. Get a grip, think, the voice in her head screamed. She must distract him. She needed time.

"Why the children, Simon? We were there to protect them."

Simon's laugh filled the bathroom and June shivered. "And who would miss them? None of the children had any family and all of them were abused before we intervened. I didn't expose them to anything they hadn't experienced before. You know that, June. Why should they live and suffer as I had done? I'm doing them a favor, can't you see? If I didn't provide the perverts with the service, someone else would. At least I could control it so that the innocents don't suffer."

"You're crazy, Simon. You need help." June whispered through the door.

Simon banged on the door and June cringed. "Don't tell me I'm crazy. I'm the one with the money and the power," he shouted.

June struggled to release the clip on the window. Another bang and a piece of wood splintered off the door. June's hands shook too much to open the clip and she closed her eyes to force her breathing to slow down. The window slid open just as Simon hit the door behind her again. She'd done it! Exhilarated she opened her eyes ... and screamed.

********

Matt eyed the chopper with suspicion. Did Kevin really expect them to fly in that thing? Hell, it was not like he hadn't flown in a helicopter before, he had. And he didn't like it. If the engine cut out you're in deep shit. You might be lucky and fly high enough to trade altitude for R.P.M., but mostly, police choppers flew too low for that to help. He's been to enough helicopter accident scenes to last him a lifetime.

Wiping his damp hands on his pants he glanced at Kevin, but Kevin seemed unfazed and strode confidently towards the helicopter. If he wasn't so pressed for time, he would have insisted they drove down. A clap of thunder overhead made him lengthen his stride. They better get out of here before those clouds caused further delays.

Matt climbed into the back of the helicopter and pointed Kevin towards the seat next to the pilot. The rotors picked up speed and the ground disappeared beneath them. He put the headset over his ears to drown out the deafening noise.

"Control, Zulu Sierra - Hotel November Zulu, Airborne for a flight to East London as per flight plan. One plus two on board, three and a half hours endurance. Take-off time one- two- zero- zero."

Matt's head flew up. He could've sworn it was a woman's voice. "Buckle up gentlemen, it's going to be a little bumpy ahead." Matt's mouth went dry as the pilot fiddled with the controls against the roof. The pink, painted nails would be a dead giveaway even if the voice hadn't alerted him before. He glanced out the window and saw the ground fall away faster. The helicopter tilted and Matt grabbed the seat. If he got out of this alive, he will make sure he killed Kevin very slowly.

Matt clamped his eyes shut and tried to ignore the sweat pearling on his forehead. June, think about June. Her face floated instantly into his mind and his heartbeat calmed down. Excitement stirred in his veins at the thought of seeing her again. Over the past three months, he realized that she meant more to him than anyone else he had ever known. If love was never wanting to be apart from another person and wanting to always protect that person, then he guessed he loved June. He knew he never wanted to be away from her again.

The helicopter tilted suddenly and Matt's hands flew all over the backseat trying to grab hold. "Boys, we need to set down for a while. The weather ahead turned nasty. " Damn, he hated choppers.

While the wind plucked the helicopter to and fro, the pilot lowered the altitude and soon they were safely on the ground. Rain pounded the windshield and lightning streaked the sky. He sure as hell hoped the chopper had rubber under the landing skids. Matt listened in silence as Kevin and the pilot argued about the benefits of being a pilot in the police and that of the pilots in the defense force.

"How far from our destination are we? We do have a limited window to get there, you know?" Matt interrupted the jovial conversation up front.

"Hi, big boy, I thought you swallowed your tongue back there."

"Fu... whatever."

"Don't like flying do you?"

"Does it matter? How long till we get there?" The pilot laughed and Matt relaxed a little. It still amazed him that such a small woman could command a machine and keep it in the air.

"Wow, we are grumpy. Relax big boy, we're about two hours out. Should get there well before dark." She turned back to Kevin after Matt mumbled a thank you as they continued their conversation.

An hour later, the rain had subsided enough for them to take off again and Matt closed his eyes beforehand. He didn't care how they did it, but he was not flying back. He'll rent his own vehicle if he had to. Matt glanced at his watch. It would be nearly four 'o clock when they landed. He just prayed all these delays wouldn't cost June dearly.

Safely on the ground again and with the keys to the rental car in hand, Matt and Kevin drove the scenic route to Cintsa. Kevin located the property and they had no problems finding the place. They hid the car in a side street and walked up the steep incline. With no-one around scaling the gate was easy.

Although June's car was parked in the driveway, nothing moved inside. When the phone rang, Matt and Kevin plastered themselves against the back wall. Someone answered the phone and half an hour later, a car started. Kevin peeked around the corner and confirmed June had left.

With the lack of burglar proofing, breaking into the house was a piece of cake. Kevin placed his backpack in the middle of the lounge and they proceeded to plant listening devices.

"I don't know how you managed to book these out, but I'm sure glad you did, Pommie."

"Who says I booked them out? Do you know the amount of red tape I would have had to go through if I wanted this through the official channels?"

Matt stared at Kevin. "Don't tell me you stole this?"

"Ok, I won't." Matt couldn't suppress the grin spreading over his face.

"Pommie, you're one slick bastard."

"No, I'm not. This happens to be my private property." Matt straightened and stared at his friend in disbelief.

"What? Since when did you need listening devices?"

"Since I needed to know how the network operated now."

"So that's how you found out about the e-mails. Clever."

"Now shut up and plant the stuff so we can get out of here before she comes back."

Matt grinned at Kevin. "Yes boss." With a mock salute he secured the devices to the underside of the coffee table and in the kitchen. Sure they wouldn't miss a word said inside the house, the two men walked through the house.

"The only door with some sort of a lock is the bathroom. The rest doesn't provide any protection whatsoever." Matt grumbled.

"Let us hope June would've noticed that as well should there be trouble."

"Pommie, if she's in trouble the bastard better pray she kills him before I get my hands on him. If he hurts her in any way..."

"Put a sock in it, will you and have a look at this." Kevin motioned for Matt to follow him to the bedroom. Matt swallowed at the sight of the unmade bed. His imagination had June on the bed with her hair fanned over the pillow in two seconds flat. He cleared his throat and turned away before his thoughts became too apparent.

Kevin picked up a small babygrow and held it out to Matt. "Looks like she made some friends over here. I just hope she doesn't bring that friend home. It would really complicate matters if we had to deal with a pregnant fairy as well."

Matt stared at the clothes neatly packed in the closet. His heart hammered in his chest. You didn't pack away baby clothes you want to give as a present... and the closet had two shelves filled with them.

"Kevin, I don't think these are meant as presents. Unless someone else is living here with her, I believe my June is pregnant." He couldn't stop the silly grin spreading over his face. She would be a wonderful mother, but why didn't she tell him?

"Wipe that grin off your face and let's get out of here before she comes back. We need to plan for the eventuality that she might be pregnant. At least she can't be that big yet."

They slipped out of the bedroom window again and after pulling the dustbin to under the bathroom window, they sat down in the bush a short distance away bare moments before headlights filled the driveway. Matt watched in awe as June alighted from the car. Her protruding stomach left him in no doubt that his June was pregnant - very pregnant. He suppressed the overwhelming need to rush to her and wrap her in his arms. No wonder she ran. He just can't figure out why she didn't tell him. She meant the world to him and having their own little ones will only strengthen his feelings.

June hummed softly while she unlocked the door and the two men watched as a soft light glowed through the lounge window.

"You think she'll fit through the bathroom window?" Kevin voiced the concern at the back of Matt's mind.

"Yeah, with help I think she will."

They settled down to wait. If nothing happened tonight, he was going to talk to her tomorrow come hell or high water. Her mother hid her secret well. Matt sobered at the thought of June's parents. She obviously didn't know yet or she wouldn't be humming along so contently. At least the doctors said her mother would pull through with little permanent damage. Anger raged through Matt. He would make sure the same couldn't be said about the bastard who did that to them.

Matt jumped as a knock sounded over their earpieces. Where did the visitor come from? No headlights illuminated the driveway and they didn't see anyone approach the house. They listened to the conversation until they identified Simon's voice. Matt and Kevin ran towards the house and slithered along the walls, careful to avoid the windows. When it became clear that June locked herself in the bathroom, both men waited outside the window.

Just as Matt contemplated breaking the window from the outside, the frame slid upwards. He watched June push the frame to its full extent before opening her eyes. Her scream pierced the air around them and he quickly covered her mouth with his hand.

"It's ok, let's get you out of here," he whispered in her ear. Behind her the door already started to splinter under the vigorous attack and Matt helped June through the window and handed her to Kevin.

"Matt, don't do anything stupid now."

"I want to Pommie, so bad it hurts, but you're right. We need him alive to find the other children. Just take care of her will you?"

Kevin nodded and Matt squeezed through the window. With his weapon in hand, he shook out a cigarette from the packet and tried to calm the rage that threatened to blind him. The constant swearing on the other side of the door went silent and Matt extinguished the half-smoked cigarette.

A loud bang followed and the door swung open. " You fucking bitch, time for you to ..."

Simon swallowed the rest of his words as his eyes fell on Matt seated on the toilet.

"You were saying?" Instinct screamed at Matt to shoot the bastard and put everyone out of their misery. His finger squeezed the trigger. Just a little more and this excuse for a human being would be no more.

"What are you going to do? Shoot me? You don't have the guts."

"Don't tempt me Simon. It would be all too easy to help you to the other side where I'm sure old Nick is already stoking the fire on your behalf. Turn around."

Matt stood up and watched Simon slowly turn around. His eyes caught the movement of Simon's hand just in time and he fired. A red stain spread over Simons' shoulder and the firearm fell to the ground.

"Are you fucking crazy?" Simon screamed in pain.

"The next one will be through your knee if you try anything else. Now walk."

Simon stared at Matt with cold gray eyes. "Do you know who you are dealing with?"

"Yes, sir. Now fucking walk."

"You've got nothing. No one will believe her, not with her history. I'll have your badge for this." Simon slowly walked to the lounge with Matt a couple of steps behind.

"Yeah, I'm sure you'll try." Matt retrieved handcuffs from his back pocket and threw them towards Simon. "Put these on."

"No. I will not be lead from the house like a criminal. I am the director of the Children's Court and deserve more respect."

"You deserve jack-shit. Put them on, mister director."

Simon shook his head and his eyes darted around the room. Anger boiled and toiled inside Matt. He really didn't want to use violence to subdue him, he might just kill him, but that's the risk he had to take.

Matt shoved the pistol back in the holster and strode towards Simon.

Satisfaction gleamed in Simon's eyes and almost too late, Matt realized the trap he set for him. Simon had room to maneuver while Matt's large structure made it difficult to navigate in the small space.

When Simon rose to his toes and lifted his hands, Matt stormed. The mutilated bodies of the children drifted in front of his eyes. The momentum took Simon off his feet and the men fell to the ground. Simon's head hit the tiled floor with a thud. Matt rose to his knees and punched. Simon's eyes glazed over, but Matt kept punching. With every child that drifted before his eyes, he punched harder. Someone grabbed his arm and Matt struggled to get it free.

"Let go, Matt. You're going to kill him. We need him remember?"

Matt's chest heaved and he closed his eyes, willing himself to return from the dark place he was. "Let's go, Pommie, I'm all right." Kevin released Matt's arm and Matt rolled off Simon's still body.

Kevin pressed his fingers to Simon's throat. "He's alive. The paramedics are on the way. I'll ride with him while you take care of June. You two have a lot to talk about."

Matt nodded and slowly rose to his feet. He stumbled to the bathroom and watched as the water diluted the blood from his hands. After he splashed some water over his face, he returned to the lounge. Paramedics loaded Simon on a stretcher and Kevin handcuffed Simon to the base. He watched the ambulance drive off and turned to the woman seated on the sofa.

Opening his arms, he waited for her to get up and walk towards him. In his whole life, Matt hadn't seen anything more beautiful. He cradled June's face in his hands and lowered his lips to hers. He was home.

A long while later, Matt sat down on the sofa and pulled June into his lap. "Honey, why didn't you tell me about the baby? I love you and want to be part of your life, whatever you do."

June shook her head. "Matt, you said you didn't want kids. I didn't want you to be with me because of the baby. I needed you to be with me for me, not out of obligation."

Matt started to shake his head, but the memory of why he didn't want to get involved pushed forward. Braam's death devastated his wife. Will he be able to run the risk of June being hurt the same way? Will he be able to leave his work, the work he had loved more than anything in the world, until now?

The baby moved under his arm and Matt's eyes flew to June's. She nodded at his unspoken question. Matt flattened his hand over her stomach. How can he walk away from her? From them? He rubbed gently over her belly. It was his kid inside there, his and June's. No way in hell was he going to be able to walk away from them.

"I love you. We'll work it out. Just promise me to never run out on me again. I nearly went out of my mind."

"I promise." June wiggled out of his arms and stood up. "Let's get some sleep. We'll sort it out in the morning." She pulled him towards the bedroom and Matt eyed the bed. His body started to react.

"I think I'd better sleep on the sofa tonight. You're in no condition to entertain the thoughts running through my mind at the moment."

"Matt, I need you to hold me tonight."

Matt swallowed. "It's not the holding I'm worried about sweetheart. You have no idea how sexy you look right now."

June giggled, but the giggle turned into sobs. Matt picked her up and walked to the bed. "It's over sweetheart, it's over."

June fell asleep while Matt rocked her to and fro. He rested his chin on her hair. "I'm never going to let you go," he whispered.

********

Thirty kilometers away, Kevin stared into the arrogant gray eyes while listening to the director's voice over the phone. With their illegal trap and June's mother not being able to give a statement yet, they had nothing but the e-mail evidence and the prosecution ordered the director to let Simon go after seventy-two hours, unless they had more evidence before then. Pure white rage filled Kevin and he assured the director he would have enough evidence by morning.

"You guys are pathetic. You can't even affect an arrest properly without fucking it up."

Kevin stared at Simon for a while longer and turned around. He pulled the doctor into an empty office and briefed him on the reason Simon was arrested. With the doctor's blessing, Kevin arranged for Simon to be transported to Johannesburg on a flight leaving in an hour. He had to get the bastard into prison, before the seventy two hours was up.

At three o' clock on Friday morning, the awaiting trail prisoners welcomed their new arrival. The guard pushed Simon into a prepared cell hosting four other prisoners, each with a task to accomplish. Kevin walked to the warden's office, switched on the tape recorder and sat down to listen while the warden poured them a stiff brandy. It might be a long night.