Costa Crew 3: Make or Break

Chapter 4 - Defiance

Becky was still processing Lestrade's announcement as the prison officers handcuffed her and led her out of the courtroom, Lisa beside her. "I'll come back tomorrow once I hear more news about the next trial," she said once they reached the prison transport van.

Becky nodded and stepped into the back of the van, giving Lisa a grateful smile as the doors were slammed shut, leaving her completely alone.

At first Becky had no idea of where they were on the route back to prison, until she felt more and more bumps on the road. She frowned. They must have taken a back road for some reason. But they had no reason to, unless…

Becky's worst fears were confirmed when the van screeched to a halt. She heard doors slam and vague shouting, but thankfully no gunshots.

Becky gasped as the back doors of the van were unlocked and sunlight came streaming in. A masked figure stepped into view and aimed a gun at her. "Move," they snarled.

Becky stepped out of the prison van and followed the figure to an unmarked white van, which had blocked the way of the prison van. The prison officers sat unconscious in the front, but there were no signs of blood. Becky racked her brains trying to figure out who these people were and what they wanted with her. Associates of Amelia's? Or a rival OCG?

The figure with the gun opened the back doors of the van and motioned for Becky to step inside, where two others were waiting, both wearing masks. The same figure stepped in after Becky and another masked figure came and closed the doors, then they all removed their masks. "What?" asked Becky.

"Don't worry, this isn't even loaded," Hannah said, placing the gun to one side. "This is just a cover for you."

Paul pulled out a small key and unlocked Becky's handcuffs. "Sorry we didn't tell you about this, but Goodman wouldn't let us. Called it a need to know basis."

Becky shook her head, trying to comprehend what was going on. "I- what?"

"Someone's been tampering with evidence," Charlotte explained. "We need your help to get to the bottom of this. Ideally we'd have cleared your name the legal way, but we need our cyber security whiz. Plus, figured you could use a break from prison."

"Remember our old phones?" asked Hannah. "They're back. Ted's staying in the city to work undercover against Drake and Miller."

"Samantha and Ben are keeping things going at AC-9, and they'll keep me updated," added Paul. "Lisa's staying in London with Ted to look into whatever's going on at the Prosecution office, while also covering up her involvement in you breaking out. I mean, she wasn't really directly involved, but she's agreed to help any way she can. Alex's in Australia looking after Lisa's fiancée."

"Alex?" asked Becky. Then, "Lisa's engaged?"

Hannah nodded. "Curt recommended them to Goodman, and yeah, her name's Maya. Bruce, Clark, Linda and Matthew are all waiting at the safehouse. After Maya was threatened we can't risk leaving them behind."

"I can't let you all do this," Becky said. "It's bad enough that I'm facing prison, but if you're caught helping me you'll all be arrested too."

"You're worth it," replied Charlotte.

Becky shook her head. "Seriously, I can't let you. Hannah, you're the star of one of today's most popular cartoons, playing a young spy, imagine what kids would say if you got arrested, 'cause you can bet it'll be in the news. Paul, you're a senior police officer. I know our justice system is flawed, but you're in a place where you stand a chance of making some sort of large scale change, if you get arrested you're powerless. And Charlotte, you've got two kids to think of. They look up to you, I can see it. You risk your life for the safety of the city every day, and you led the raid that brought down the Godfather, but more importantly you're a kind, loving person. They're great kids, but I don't know what would happen to them if you were arrested. I can't let any of you throw that away for me."

Paul, Charlotte and Hannah nodded silently, taking this in. "Okay," Charlotte said at last. "Now can I give you all the reasons why we should absolutely be doing this?"

Becky sighed, but gestured for Charlotte to continue. "First of all, we've already started so there's really no turning back. Second, I am thinking of my kids. If this is some sort of final plan that Amelia had, then they're not safe until we put an end to it, and we can't do it without you. But also because you don't deserve to go to prison. You give so much of yourself to all of us. You confronted Lisa Kleinman UNARMED and talked things through with her so that she let Hannah go, risking your life in the process. Every week you give up your time to help my kids with homework and teach them piano, which you've been doing since high school."

"Like the night before our Higher Maths exam," added Hannah. "You made so many videos explaining how to do the harder questions when you didn't have to."

"Exactly," said Charlotte. "Becky, you're not a perfect person, none of us are. But you've got to stop beating yourself up about your flaws and realise all the good you do for people. So in the most affectionate way possible, the idea that we should just let you go to prison might just be the biggest pile of bullcrap I've ever heard."

Becky grinned. "Well, no turning back now. So how's the Erica lead?"

"We need your help for that," replied Paul. "I have a feeling Erica's been tampering with evidence for a long time, but we've had no luck tracing any of that. Also, if Erica works for Amelia she's small fry. If we arrest her then we might miss out on the big fish."

Becky nodded, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Part of me genuinely thought you weren't coming to the trial because you'd abandoned me," she said hoarsely. "But how did you know we'd be coming this way at this time?"

Paul smiled. "Having a superior on your side has its benefits. Your route was changed because of a handy little roadblock, and a little birdie told Lestrade that you were innocent and there was more evidence to be gathered. I couldn't have done this without Fleming."

"You're not as alone as you might think," added Hannah. "Drake and Hunt think you're guilty, but there's people here on your side. We can't do this without you, and you can't do it without us."