Costa Crew 2: They Walk Among Us

Prologue - 4th December, 2034

Guilty. On all charges.

Fifty years in prison.

Amelia Murphy shook her head furiously. Over. All over.

She could have punched herself. To be so stupid as to allow emotions to cloud her judgement. She had to get involved. She had to be the one to shoot Rebecca Hidgens dead. If she had only kept her distance, had someone else kill Hidgens, then none of this would have happened. The Godfather would strike again, then vanish into the wind, forever a mystery.

What was more, she shouldn't have involved Courtney Beckett - or Hannah Perkins, to use her real name. What was she thinking, to place even a degree of trust in a complete stranger, knowing that law enforcement would no doubt be sending an undercover agent into her ranks? To make matters worse, Amelia should have known Perkins' voice - an old classmate and one of Hidgens' "Costa Crew".

She looked around, desperate for support but finding none. A few metres away the head of MI5, Deputy Chief Constable and city prosecutor were congratulating each other on a job well done, while Paul Houston and Hannah Perkins were exchanging relieved glances as they watched Amelia. As if there wasn't enough insult added to this injury, Lisa Kleinman, Amelia's best friend whom she had trusted to represent her, was thanking Rebecca Hidgens, who stood there soaking up the whole thing with an arrogant smirk on that smug little face. Even Anthony, her fiancée, couldn't bear to meet her eye after Lisa had revealed their plan to manipulate him.

All her life Amelia had been able to take control of any situation. Even throughout the trial she had held onto hope. Even after Lisa had betrayed her and testified for the prosecution, she had still believed that she would be able to turn the trial around. But standing there, hearing Judge McAfferty announce the closing of the case and a fifty year jail sentence….it was over. Hidgens had won.

No.

Hidgens couldn't win. Maybe Amelia couldn't either. But she couldn't stand by and watch as life passed her by while Hidgens flourished. Amelia was ruined. And someone had to suffer.

"Guards, take the defendants into custody," ordered McAfferty. "Once they have left the room this court is dismissed."

As two police officers approached her Amelia jerked back. "This isn't over!" she screamed. "You'll regret this, Hidgens!"

As Amelia and Anthony were handcuffed, Hidgens raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, really regretting not being dead," she muttered sarcastically.

As Amelia was ushered forwards, she looked back and met Hidgens' eye. Her expression was unreadable. Glee? Relief? Pity? No, any pity Hidgens had for Amelia was gone. This was satisfaction. Her happy ending.

Amelia scowled and followed the guards out of the courthouse and into a prison transport van, glaring at the reporters who were poised ready and waiting for Richard Lestrade and Paul Houston to give a statement. But that was all blurred in her mind by one powerful thought that would sustain her for years to come.

Hidgens must pay.