"I'm so sorry Maggie," Jill cried as the two women sat in the club while the police took the reports and evidence.
Magita was in no mood for talk, and said so.
"I understand. I'm so sorry you got caught up in this. And that they..."
Magita had already come to terms with her rapes – she knew there was nothing she could do to change what had happened, and as she had counseled victims so many times, that she had to go on with her life. And the memories.
A week later she finally answered one of Jill's daily phone calls.
"Hi, Maggie," the voice said weakly from the other end.
"Hi, Jill," Magita replied. "How are you."
"Sad," Jill responded. "Sad I was responsible for what happened to you."
"It's okay," Magita lied.
"Can we talk sometime? No pressure, I just want to talk to you."
"That would be nice," Magita found herself saying when what she wanted to say was for Jill to just leave her alone. But she knew there was some unfinished business. At the top of the list was to finally get honesty from Jill about her role in the drug dealing at the club.
"I destroyed the DVD, Maggie," Jill said softly.
"I forgot all about that," Magita said to herself. "Thank you Jill," she said aloud. "But that doesn't change the fact you two set me up."
"I know. And I'm so sorry."
"How's Gregory?" Magita asked. She had heard the bouncer was still in the hospital from the beating he had received from the bikers.
"He's back to work, actually," Jill answered with a giggle. "I guess he really needs the money."
"That's good," Magita replied, then turned silent.
"Brian is sorry too. He told me to tell you." Then Jill spoke again. "He wants you to know it was real, Maggie," Jill continued. "He really cares about you and he wanted to go after those bastards himself!"
Magita laughed despite her anger.
"I don't know if I can ever believe that, Jill. That it was real for him."
"It was, Maggie," Jill replied, then took her turn being silent.
"You'll have to tell me the truth," Magita spoke after a few moments. "All of it."
"I know," Jill replied in a tiny voice. "And I will. All of it."
"When would you like to meet?" Magita asked.
"As soon as you are up to it." She knew Magita would not want to go to the club ever again – she had not been back – and asked where they could meet.
"I can be over there tomorrow night," Magita answered after thinking a few moments. "Jill," she continued, "one word of bullshit and I'm calling you in."
"I understand," Jill responded. "I do."
The next evening Jill opened the door to Magita in a sweatshirt and jeans as she always dressed. For her part Jill was in white shorts and a soft short-sleeve pink sweater. She wanted to look nice for her guest because she owed her that – and so much more.
"I'm so sorry, Maggie," Jill cried as the police detective stepped inside.
"I don't even want to think about it tonight," Magita replied sternly. She was still partly angry at herself for being in that situation.
Jill wanted desperately to hug the detective, but she knew better.
Then she could not hold back the tears. And, needing even just a tiny bit of closeness, she stepped up on her toes and gave Magita's cheek a quick kiss of shared hurt. It was meant as nothing more than a woman's emotions seeking forgiveness.
Magita suddenly became angry as her own truth welled up inside her.
She glared at Jill – then her hands flew out and held the sides of Jill's face. Jill was startled and thought the policeman was going to slap her. Instead she felt the detective's lips press against hers firmly in a needed kiss. Jill felt Magita's lips crush against hers as Magita kissed her hard.
"Is this what you wanted?" Magita asked angrily when she finally pulled away.
"No," Jill responded with a small voice.
"Can we go outside? It's stuffy in here."
Jill understood how uncomfortable the detective must be around her after her rapes. She made a pitcher of margaritas and followed Magita outside. They sat on the grass and began to talk about nothing much.
Then Magita, the policeman, asked.
"Was I wrong to stand up for you, Jill?"
Brown eyes bored deep into her eyes of blue.
"No Maggie. I have never dealt in the club. I know better."
Magita understood what Jill was saying – that she had been involved in dealing, just not in the club. But busting the club was the point of her investigation, and not something that Jill might have done in the past. And now that they had rounded up all the Avengers and charged them with the rape of a police officer and another woman they were out of the picture.