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Pandora's Children - Part 12

"No way," Eric and Judge said in unison.

"Don't I get a say in this?" She asked.

"No!"

She scowled at the men. "I was put on Earth for a #purpose. I became a cop to help people. You don't get to tell me what I can and can't do."

"It's too dangerous," Eric told her.

***

Stevie stared the men down. "Too dangerous? Do you say that to a female #Soldier? Or firefighter? Or astronaut? You're not going to say that to me."

I let myself smile a little. She would be the perfect person to join the cult and help us turn the women from the inside.

***

I called the captain while they continued to argue.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" He asked.

"I have the bones and thousands of dollars in cash. I also think I have a #solution to a problem we didn't know we had."

"Which is?"

"How to get someone inside."

***

"Inside the cult?" He asked. "Who'd be insane enough to do it?"

"A rookie named Stevie Wonder. She's got big cojones, sir. She can help us."

"Bring her in and I'll talk to her," he said and hung up.

"My Pa always said make #peace, not war. Let's go see the captain."

***

"Thibs, you're going to get her killed," Eric said as we headed back to the cars.

"She always was a #royal pain in your ass," Judge added.

I glared at him and he chuckled. "I was not."

"He always said you'd go places, though."

"I can speak for myself," Eric replied.
 
***

"So tell her I'm right," Judge said.

"You did always get yourself--and me--into trouble, but your instincts were dead on. She's just like you," he added, referring to Stevie.

"Definitely no #belle of the ball," Judge added.

Eric sighed. "Judge, get back on the road."

***

Eric and Judge went back on patrol and Stevie joined me for the ride back to the precinct. I heard over the scanner that the excavations of the mass graves had been passed to the ME's direct control, freeing the captain to work the cult case, leaving me in high #spirits.

***

"I don't care which judge you have to interrupt, just do it. I want those #vermin taken care of."

Jaci sidled over to us and I asked, "What's going on?"

"The DEA is trying to get a warrant to take down the gang that was supplying drugs to Darius Jackson."

"Finally."

***

"Who's this?" Jaci asked.

Stevie introduced herself.

"Why is she here exactly?"

"I want her to go undercover in the cult."

"The captain'll never go for it."

"Maybe not, but to get to any #destination, you have to start somewhere."

"It's a bad idea, but you can ask."

***

We all walked over to the captain after Agent Rice strode off and he turned to face us, his face turning #deathly pale.

"I thought you were dead," he said, looking at Stevie.

Stevie's eyes began to water. "You knew my mother?"

"You're Allyson's daughter?" He asked.

***

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