The Solider Husband

1 August, Military Jail, City K

Having been surprised at the call from Lawyer Chi, Steven rushed into the military jail foyer to find Bronwyn standing there waiting for his, and asked "Have you any idea what is going on?"

"No, but I suspect that it relates to the applications for conditional release pending the trial being rejected on the papers."

"It shocked me that they made the decision just on the papers.  My preliminary through was that they would at least hear oral submissions, but as I read the written reasons for their decision I could see their point.  There was the failure to provide anything to upset the presumption in cases where the terrorism is alleged that a conditional release is to be refused provided the prosecution can satisfy that it is more likely than not, based on the allegations, that terrorism could be proven."

"The guards indicated, other that Mr Zhu all our defendants were in utter shock at the result, ad when they individually spoke to their lawyers, while their words could not be heard, their anger could be heard in the yelling sounds…"

Steven nodded, and calmly said "Let us get this over.  I seriously do not have the time for their games now…"

"Busy with your other job?"

Steven nodded before saying "Absolutely, but I am seriously considering what I do.  What the last month has shown me is that I cannot keep living the multiple lives that I have been living.  I want simplicity that has been missing for years.  But that means making a few decisions on what I want to do."

Bronwyn smiled before saying "And none of it, with all the secrets that you have been living with over the last few years are easy?"

Steven nodded.  "In some respects, yes, and other's no.  Paul, has gotten on my nerves…"

"Because Abigail is undertaking her initial intensive training placement.  I remember that."

"surprisingly he misses her and he is taking that out on everyone else, despite it being reinforced that it will only be a couple more weeks, and then for a few months she basically becomes a university student."

"Other than her twice weekly PT sessions and monthly training weekend, but that is reasonable straightforward."

"I thought with the program it was simply two weeks each study block?"

"When I went through it was plus two one-week blocks but four years ago they shifted to adopting the trimester model, so they went to one a month and one week long block."  Bronwyn looked at Steven and added "Paul and work is not the only thing that you are considering, is it?"

"Yes.  The difficult thing is that there are rumours that my last big secret is about to be exposed.  That will have significant impacts on the Gu group, but the right people are attempting to supress that, but…"

"You p*ssed off the wrong people at some time, and they have connected the dots and are about to expose you."

"Correct, but that is for me to deal with.  I just hope I do not have to make decisions before this case is ended, as…"

"You worry what is likely to happen."

"Yeah.  Now, let us get this show on the road.  I suspect that Lawyer Chi will be leading the discussion that we are about to have."

"He has been, but the sėxist man refused to deal with me…" .

Steven smiled before saying "You want to deal with him?"

"Absolutely."  Bronwyn paused and said, "You have something in mind?"

"Sort of.  I just want to see what is going on with them before I make the decision because I am hopeful now that they are ready to end this?"

Nodding Bronwyn, added "I do to, but you never know.  The boss is the terrorism expert and what he explained to me, there are two types when they are caught.  Those who will fold, if the right pressure is placed on them and those who will never admit that they have done a thing wrong and fight to the end."

"Let me just try something, and if we get a bite, I will leave it to you to get the confessions on what happened."

After being let through security, they soon entered the meeting room, where surprisingly Lawyer Chi was the only one waiting for them.  Steven quickly hit his surprise at this, and said "Lawyer Chi, when this meeting was requested, it was my understanding that all legal teams would be represented."

"The other's asked to be shown to another meeting room after we arrived.  Do not ask me why."

Steven turned and slightly nodded to Bronwyn before saying "In that case you can talk to the Lieutenant, while I go and speak to the others…"

"No!  you will talk to me, not that woman…"

Steven took a pace in front of Bronwyn and snapped "That woman as you called her, is a lawyer like you and is entitled to the respect that that gives her, let alone the respect that is due to an officer in the military.  Or…"

Steven paused for about ten second before adding "If that is not enough reason, she should also be given respect by virtue of her being the niece-in-law of the King of Country M, and a princess…"

Seeing the shocked response on Lawyer Chi's face, Steven turned and with his back towards Lawyer Chi stepped beside Bronwyn and whispered to her "See what he wants, and I will deal with the others."

"Got it," whispered Bronwyn in reply.  "I will not allow him to get to me, and I know someone will be monitoring the CCTV from the room."

As Steven exited the door, he heard Bronwyn say "Well Lawyer Chi, you have the opportunity to have your say to me, but let me tell you, your client's have two options..  Agree to plead guilty, and admit their behaviour and not only will I recommend life imprisonment for the penalty on the basis of there being enough cooperation to remove the death penalty as the sentence to be imposed, I could be convinced to recommend that there be the possibility of your client's being able to get out of jail before their death.