The law is the law. Maybe...

Chapter 1 - The law is the law

Magnus Bane is a detective in the New York Police Department. No partner, working alone. No one could stand to be around him for long. After countless attempts, even the captain gave up on putting anyone alongside him as a partner. Some of his former colleagues could not accept Magnus' open and obvious bisexuality, the way he behaves and the way he dresses. Those of his peers who did accept it could not accept his morale of the job and asked to be transferred away from him. Magnus was obsessed with work. He would not rest until he had solved it. He had no one but his cat, so it was easy for him, but it was frustrating for his partners and their wives. Magnus had been working alone for about six months, and that was just fine for him. He had a privileged position in the police department. Both his captain and his superiors turned a blind eye to his actions, because there wasn't a case Magnus couldn't solve. They preferred not to question his methods because his results spoke for themselves. Everybody knew that Magnus had an extensive informer network, that he had "contacts" but the captain was interested in the results and that Magnus' results had always made the 469 police station one of the most successful. Magnus had the privilege of not being forced to work to fix hours. If he had a case, he worked 24/7. If he solved it, he wouldn't go to work for a few days. And he hated paperwork.

He had just finished his last case a week ago when his phone rang.

"Magnus Bane! Time to get that glittery ass of yours into work, I've got something for you."

"Ragnor, it's nice to hear your tingling voice, but I'm sunbathing with my glittery ass off in Bali. Can't you wait three more days?"

"You have 1 day, change your flight ticket. I want to see you in my office at 8 a.m. on the morning of the 23rd."

"8 am? You want to kill me?"

"All right, make it 10 am."

"Okay, but just for you, and you owe me a dinner for two at Novelle restaurant, which of course I'm not going to go to with you."

"If you're here at 10 am, not a minute later, you'll get it"

They hung up the phone. Magnus made a few phone calls, because of course he wasn't traveling economy class, but by private jet. He made the arrangements and then continued to sunbathe his glittery ass under the cloudless skies of Bali.

Meanwhile, Ragnor was on the phone in New York

"Robert, Alec can come here. Be in my office at 10:15 on the 23rd. Don't worry, away from home he'll learn that the law is the law. I've known him since he was a kid. He's a good kid. A little unruly, but I know he's got a big heart. With Bane around, he won't have time for anything. They'll be working day and night. It's different here from LA. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."

LA:

"Dad, I don't want to go to New York. I have my friends here, I have my job here, I have Camille here. NY is almost 2500 miles away by plane."

"First of all, you don't have a job here at the moment, because if I remember correctly, you were suspended a week ago and almost fired. I've managed to get so far through my contacts that if you transfer, they'll drop the case. I don't even know what you were thinking. Did you think no one would find out? Or that they'd overlook it because you're the captain's son? "

"Dad, you know I was right. I couldn't let that happen. It was the only way to do the right thing."

"Yes, I know, son. But that's not the way, there are rules, and there are laws that must be obeyed. You have to. You understand?"

"You old people, you always say. "the law is the law" but if the law is wrong, I don't give a shit and do the right thing."

"I ask you: do you want to stay a policeman?"

"Stupid question. Of course, this is my life."

"So pack your bags, you're leaving tomorrow. One year. Understand? You have to stay there for a year. That's the deal."

"And what do I tell Camille? Sorry, I'll leave for a year or I'll get fired? I don't know if the long-distance thing works with her."

"You know what my point is... She's only with you for our family's reputation. She' s a manipulative snake."

"But Dad, I love her and she loves me."

"When true love comes your way, you'll see that I was right. It's not love, believe me."

"Dad, you're so old-fashioned. It's not like it used to be. Flowers, politeness, there's no need for all that frills in today's world. We're just hanging out and enjoying ourselves."

"It doesn't matter, because it's not up for discussion. Here's your plane ticket. I rented you a small apartment near the police station. I paid six months' rent in advance. You'll have to pay from the second period. Until then, you learn to live on the money you earn. You can't take money from the family account."

"But Dad, I can't live on such a small salary"

"No buts. One day you and your siblings will inherit all the property, the estate, your mother's companies. I don't want you to ruin it with your unbridled partying and who knows what else. You must learn to appreciate money."