Leona sat on the bench and called court back in session. There were three cases on the docket for the evening session. The VJS had all cases decided by the presiding judge. Leona sat stiff and formal, as she scanned the courtroom. Molly with Raven, her lawyer, sat on the left side wall of the bench. Sebastian and Carlo waited in a holding cell behind a closed door to the right of the bench. In front of the bench were two...

As the sun set, Leona awoke from her sleep, ready to take on the role of judge and jury in the cases of Carlo and Molly. It was a position her brother usually held, but he was in Europe on vampire business with Andrei. Leona went to the other casket and woke her consort and creation, who was formerly Slade's police partner. The women entered the VJS squad room looking for Slade and Eran to gather news of the day. Leona sp...

Carlo drove around the city, thinking of where to go and what to do. He knew he was alone now and any fae who helped him would face the same punishment that he would get. He needed a place to hide and gather his thoughts for the future. Carlo thought, "All my things are in my special area at the tavern. If I can get there, I can plan my departure from this city. I can take a few faes with me to have support as we travel....

Carlo went silent after bragging about his exploits. Sebastian sat quietly as he surveyed the fae carefully. In Sebastian's mind, he saw Carlo as someone not to be taken lightly. He was as deadly, as he was meek. It was a good thing Carlo did not recognize Sebastian. The men sat quietly looking at each other waiting for each to speak. Neither one did. Sebastian stood signaling the guard to take him to talk to Slade. He al...

Raven looked up at Slade, "Can I help you with some information that may seal the case for you?" Molly looked at Raven wondering what her lawyer meant."That would work for us, but what do you want in return? Molly will have to plead guilty to some crimes. I will not have her walk." Slade weakened but held back his thought."Give me some time with my client, please?""Okay, but be quick about it. We only have until sundown,...

Raven followed Molly into her office and quickly closed the door firmly. Curiosity appeared on Raven's face as she looked at Molly. Before Molly could speak, Raven asked, "What will they find in the rest of the estate, Molly?"Molly turned and stared at Raven. “You will just have to see for yourself. I did not build what is there. It came that way with the estate when I purchased it. And, yes I use it. I enjoy using it and...

All activity in the estate ceased as they waited for Raven. Slade and Leona returned to the main floor outside Molly's office. Eran and Kevin joined them.“What do we do now?” asked Eran.  A search and seizure warrant never involved her presence before.Bitterly, Slade answered, “We wait until Raven arrives and show her the warrant. She reads the warrant and explains to Molly what we are looking for and makes sure we do not...

Carlo sat smiling in the back of the limousine driving back to the city after the VJS stopped him. The knowledge that Molly spirited away the kidnapped men safely to the estate made his heart flutter and relax. Molly called Carlo earlier and told him the property was safe. Carlo's limousine drove through the city toward the estate and Molly. Carlo anticipated that his victim was ready to submit to Carlo's desires and will...

It was just after midnight on January 1, 2008. The sound of revelers and slow moving traffic going around the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile down the Champs-Élysées drifted up to our room. Carol and I stood on the balcony of our hotel room in Paris, France watching and listening to the fireworks over the city skyline. It was our last time together as friends and lovers. In two days, we would part never to be together again.M...

The two VJS cars formed a V shape across the entrance with the car's front ends pointed together facing the estate. Any attempt by a vehicle to leave the property would not happen. Eran and Kevin watched the grounds. The building lit up as the men moved into the upstairs area. Molly moved them to one of the spacious spare bedrooms.As Molly walked through the estate, she sensed that she was not alone. She felt a presence t...

Everyone gathered in the large conference room for the night briefing. The wall of monitors showed the outside areas surrounding Molly's tavern front and rear. There was no activity, and reports from VJS security officers confirmed the same. Quinn brought Gwen with him to tell what she told Raven about the potential raid on the tavern. When she finished, Gwen slouched in her chair moving closer to Quinn.It was Quinn's tur...

After an easy ten-minute run, Quinn and Gwen broke out of the forest onto a large grassy plain. One edge had a small stream running through it with some large rock outcroppings, which Quinn climbed. Gwen followed and lay down in front of him. She switched back to her human form, while Quinn surveyed the area looking for predators and other animals. Seeing none, he switched back to human form and sat behind Gwen, drawing h...

Gwen sat quietly, deep in thought as the room emptied. Slade sat beside her and leaned down to get on her level. He knew how she felt. It was a big step and a difficult task to deceive someone who is a friend and superior. Her face held the look of concern and fear. "Don't concern yourself with Raven. She is a smart lawyer and knows how to protect herself. She knows that giving information about police activity before it...

The door opened with a loud bang as Connie and Leona entered the conference room. There was rage on the faces of the women and the group in the room looked up in fear and shock. Slade rose immediately approaching the vampires. He took Leona's hand pressing it to his lips trying to console and calm her. She tore her hand from his, glaring at the group around the table. She glided to the head of the table and stood there co...

Anna tightly hugged the unicorn's neck, as Gwen and Quinn descended the slight rise before they shifted. The fact they held hands gave Anna hope that Quinn finally found someone to love and accompany. He was alone since his steady girlfriend died at the hands of a vampire. Her death sparked the trip to observe the VJS in action in solving preternatural crimes. He hoped to learn as much as he could to set up a VJS in Kiev....