Everyone was at the Avonlea town hall council meeting.

For weeks now there had been rumours and robberies, trouble and gossip and everybody was desperate for it all to be cleared up and come to a finish. Many people showed up early, filtering into the town hall as the morning dawned. There was a loud hubbub of nervous chatter and anxious whispers, flitting eyes and tapping feet. The anticipation was bubbling for possibly hearing the truth of the matters and bring an end to all of the chaos, uncertainty and worry that had plagued their town for so long.

The reasonably small town hall which was usually only used for school shows and fairs, small group sessions and the annual council meetings was packed to the edges, with extra seats brought in from nearby houses and those stored in the hall's attics. The incessant scraping of chairs being moved as people entered the hall and joined the rows of seats had frightened away all of the birds nesting in the usually peaceful roof. The hall was easily the most packed it had been in years.

The Barrys were there naturally, as were the rest of the council such as the formidable Rachel Lynde - who despite her voiced concern was secretly revelling in all of the drama and gossip. She'd heard every rumour although surprisingly Marilla had not mentioned a word of any of it to her, considering the majority of the rumours concerned Anne. Rachel definately didn't believe that Anne had robbed anyone but she highly enjoyed the tales of a highway hiest upon Mr Barry's wagon by masked bandits which had been circulating Avonlea the past week. That particular rumour was most thrilling.

Also settled in the seats were the Gillis family, the Pyes, Mr and Mrs Sturgeon, Gilbert's friend Charlie Sloane and his family, along with the families from Orchard Way who were victims of the robberies. Other victims from houses scattered across Avonlea were waiting impatiently for the meeting to begin.

At the back was a very humiliated Mr and Mrs Andrews. Mrs Andrews sat beside her daughters Prissy and Jane, with a smug-faced Billy stowed next to his father. Billy had bragged to his parents about what he'd done to Anne and they had been furious. If it came out he had basically kidnapped Anne in a barn it would be a scandal. Mrs Andrews thought it was a wicked thing to do and was unbearably ashamed of her son. Billy as a child had held a sensitive side which had slowly been drained from him as he got older. Mrs Andrews resented her husband Mr Andrews for turning their son into a bully and blamed him entirely for his behaviour.

"I hear Mrs Andrews didn't want to come along to our meeting today," Rachel Lynde said conspirationally to the man sitting beside her.

The man tended to always find out the latest gossip in Avonlea due to being seated next to her and he didn't mind one bit. Rachel didn't care who's ear she was talking off as long as they didn't interrupt when she was telling all she knew, which usually tended to be a lot.

"There was a great shouting match just yesterday, I was told by their neighbour... both of them yelling at their son as though he'd gone off and done them quite the shame - they're not at all happy with young Billy. Although he looks very pleased with himself if you ask me. Now, I don't know all the details as to why they're angry," Rachel continued. "Well, I don't doubt it'll all come out... Everything does, eventually. That's what this meeting is about. Geting the truth of things out there for all. There's been some mighty worrying rumours of course but what are we to believe? Mr Barry wants to set things straight."

The meeting was called in order and the people settled, a tangible hush falling upon the room. The council members turned to Mr Barry who stood and cleared his throat. He felt unusually nervous, so he turned to look at his wife in the audience and she nodded slightly.

Mrs Barry was not happy about the arrest of Anne and meant to stop it if she could but she knew her husband had not intended for this to happen. She had told him it would be best to organise the recovery of the missing items and a team to go up to Wolfsden Prison in Caipsetown where poor Anne had been taken. What Mr Barry decided to do with her advice was his responsibility and the consequences of them were on his head.

"I've called this meeting today to address the understandable concerns you all feel about the recent loss of possesions and invasion of property, as well as the troublesome rumours circulating about the Barry Wagon Robbery." Mr Barry spoke loud and clear, but all those who knew him well could see the nervousness in his eyes.

Almost at once there was a wave of hands rising into the air, urging to be answered. Mr Barry hesitated, watching the crowd. It seemed to surge with an energy of desperation for knowledge and he felt like a corpse being descended upon by ravenous crows. Mr Barry turned and gestured to Detective Ellwyn who had been stationed by the council cabinet. He stepped forward.

"Before we start with the discussion," Said Mr Barry. "I'd like to introduce you all to Detective Obediah Ellwyn, who was sent for not long ago. He was commissioned with solving the case of who indeed robbed my wagon and took my property, along with the many robbery cases scattered across our town as well. Detective Ellwyn has apprehended a culprit for the robberies and has substantial evidence to support his case."

Detective Ellwyn had arrived late by ten minutes due to the new evidence and testimonies which had come to light by the word of a young man named James Riley. James had shone a light on Joseph Bines' previously mysterious and patchy history. James had spoken to the detective long into the night, telling him everything that happened in New York, including a famously-unsolved case, the murder of a rich tailor's daughter named Jasmine Grace Lorella. James then suggested a review of the case with the new evidence and a release for Anne.

Detective Ellwyn believed James and he was decided. He knew he had made a terrible mistake and he had to make this right. Anne was framed by Joseph Bines and he finally saw it. After all this time, all this doubt, he finally realised. All of the evidence he'd recovered was easily placed, as Joseph had been doing jobs for the families who reported things missing and he had been at all of the sights where they found evidence. He could even sneak into Green Gables and the Barry Manor to take Diana's things and plant them. He had history of house robberies, he had experience. It all made sense.

Just as the detective began to speak, Marilla Cuthbert entered the hall. She had a face of determination and fury and she was ready to tear the whole hall down if she did not get justice for Anne's imprisonment. Marilla paused at the doorway, surveying the scene. The audience with their backs to her were captivated by the speaker up at the council cabinet, who happened to be the detective she had come to see. Marilla was unprepared for what he was about to say.

"I think it is only fair that you all know the truth," The detective began. The audience hung on his words. "After all of the deep worries you've been through, you need to know what has happened. I have made a mistake."

Mr Barry looked at the detective in shock. A mistake? What was he talking about? The case had finally been solved, Anne had been sent away... Mr Barry wasn't the only one shocked, Marilla frowned in disbelief. The detective did not seem the type to admit a mistake. He had made one, that was for sure. Marilla listened, wondering where this was going.

At the same time, unnoticed by anyone, Diana slipped into the town hall via the back door. She'd ridden all the way to Blythe farm but couldn't find Gilbert so she'd made her way to the town hall. She quietly snuck up into the eaves where she watched the events unfold.

"A boy recently arrived in Avonlea named Joseph Bines. Many of you have met him, he may have done jobs for you or you may know him from his time in school. He is known to be charming, bright and helpful." The detective paused. "This is an act. Joseph Bines is really a boy from New York named Scott. He is a theif, a murderer and a con-artist. He has attacked Mr Barry's wagon and stolen the contents, stolen from many of your houses and hidden these valuables somewhere when the moment calls for a quick getaway. But never fear we will find them, I promise you that--"

There was uproar. It seemed that everybody was talking all at once, people were standing up and shouting out concerns and disbelief, exclamations of shock and worry. Ruby Gillis began to cry. Diana looked down from the rafters, she could barely believe what she was seeing - the detective was finally admitting the truth. Nobody besides Marilla and Diana saw it coming, Joseph Bines had always seemed so innocent and charming. But it made sense, the more they all thought about it. Everything made sense finally.

Detective Ellwyn raised his hands to silence the audience. "I need to tell you something else. While Joseph has been hard at work robbing this town of its hard-earned, precious possessions, he was also hard at work framing an innocent girl for his crimes."

Marilla had not expected to hear him say any of this. Detective Ellwyn knew Anne was innocent? And he still imprisoned her? Just at that moment, Gilbert Blythe arrived, pushing open the doors and walking in beside Marilla. He had made his way to the hall as quickly as he could but he was exhausted and had arrived late due to his slow riding. Marilla and Gilbert looked at each other, a wordless understanding passing between them. They both knew about Anne being taken and they'd both come here to make it right. Gilbert was breathless from riding and he tried to catch his breath as he looked up to see the detective speaking.

"I am ashamed to tell you that I myself fell for Joseph's trick." Detective Ellwyn admitted. "The considerable damning evidence lead me to unfortunately arrest and imprison Anne Shirley Cuthbert of Green Gables. She has been sent to Wolfsden Prison in Caipestown."

The crowd was wild, shaking their heads and crying out in shock and distain. This felt wrong.

"But she's just a child! An innocent child."

"Anne Shirley? She may be an orphan but she's no robber!"

"That sweet girl couldn't hurt a fly!"

The people were horrified. Anne Shirley Cuthbert was the picture of youth and joy, kindness and hard work. She was more special to more people than she knew, than indeed anyone knew. Nobody quite realised how fond they were of their strange, kind and energetic orphan from Nova Scotia. They nearly all scorned her when she arrived but she had unwittingly wormed her way under their skin. There was barely a handful of families left who still looked down on her.

"Unfortunately?" Gilbert felt anger rise up in his chest as he shouted across the hall. "Like it was some accident. I watched as you tore her from safety and drove her away to that hell hole."

People turned to look. He was windswept, his dark curls a mess on his head. His eyes were visibly red, his face tired and pale, his lips chapped. Ruby Gillis stopped crying for a moment to look back at Gilbert, and she thought he looked very brave and handsome standing up for Anne.

"Silence, please. I am here today to tell you I'm going to bring her back." Detective Ellwyn spoke loud and clear above the crowds.

His eyes met with Gilbert's across the hall. Gilbert looked fierce.

"I am also going to send Joseph Bines to prison for his crimes," The detective continued. "Those committed both here in Avonlea and in New York which had previously escaped consequence. I know I have failed you all by making this mistake but I am making it right. You deserved the truth, so there it is."

Marilla and Gilbert looked at each other in frustration. Gilbert felt so angry. The detective was useless, it was all words, no deeds. Gilbert could see there would be no resolution, nobody would go to Anne and bring her home. The only brightside was at least he knew where she had been sent, so he could go to her and bring her home himself.

"How about the truth that you wrongly sentenced an innocent girl to prison?" Gilbert called out.

All eyes turned to him.

"What will come of that? You say you're going to bring Anne back but she should never have been sent in the first place. I say you revoke your police badge for failing your duties." Gilbert said, his chest rising as he clenched his jaw.

"Well, there will be an enquiry into how these failings came to pass of course," Mr Barry began, trying to rectify the situation. "At the time being there's no--"

Gilbert wasn't finished. Not by half. "What about Joseph? What are you actually going to do about that vicious criminal who attacked me and Anne too? She was framed and he gets to go free? What is your plan to fix that?"

People were nodding, a murmur of agreement spreading through the room. Gilbert was talking sense, they could all relate to his feeling of injustice, his desire for things to be done to fix the problems. Detective Ellwyn felt under pressure, as he opened his mouth to speak, more people began to call out.

"What about Joseph's guardian - Redmond Bines? Who is he really? Where is he? Somebody needs to find him." Mr Sturgeon called from the audience.

"We need a search party for Joseph too, we must arrest this thief!" Called out Mr Frailles.

"Our children aren't safe with that boy on the loose!" Agreed Mr Gillis, his hand protectively on Ruby's shoulder.

"I order a search party to apprehend this criminal," Rachel Lynde piped up, revelling in the drama. "Of course the police can help us but this is our town and we will execute our right to protect it and uphold it's laws."

There was a riotous cheer.

"We will find this boy, this devil of a boy and we will bring him to justice." Rachel said as though she were gathering an army.

Then there was a gust of wind as the hall doors were burst open for a third time. In staggered James Riley, a grim expression on his face, blood seeping from a wound in his left shoulder. He threw down a gun which skidded across the aisle between the chairs, countless eyes following it before turning back to the newcomer. James' words echoed in the hall, his accent tinging the words unforgettably.

"No need. Joseph Bines is dead." James said breathlessly.

...

Early hours of that morning, the woods.

Joseph Bines had heard there was a town hall meeting that morning which would discuss the robberies and shed some light on the previously private incidents which had occurred all across Avonlea. Joseph knew his time was up, he couldn't risk staying any longer. Anne Shirley was in prison, so there was no way they could work out it all lead back to him and there was so much evidence on Anne, the meeting was only a formality he was sure but he didn't want to risk it and he siezed the chance to leave.

Joseph rose early before dawn and headed for the woods. Redmond Bines was still sleeping, he had been preparing to leave later that day but Joseph was determined to go before he woke. He wouldn't be tied down by Redmond any longer.

Joseph rode all the way through the misty woods and fields until he came to the concealed cart and gold. He had visited not long ago and fixed the cart up, ensuring it was up for a long ride. Joseph felt a surging thrill in his heart. He was excited to finally be free of Redmond and make his own way in the world.

Joseph hooked up the horse to the wagon and rode down the main road, the wind in his golden hair and satisfaction in his twisted heart. He had won.

Redmond Bines awoke as the front door of Guardinia Cottage slammed shut. The man knew instantly that Joseph had gone and he had gone for good. He rose, threw clothes on and ran from the house. Redmond pulled their horse from the small barn and leapt onto it, anger fuelling his actions. He was furious that Joseph had put their cover in Avonlea in jeopardy then abandoned him to the fallout.

Redmond rode closely behind Joseph, his anger heightening as he saw Joseph's haul of valuables in the cart. Several chests marked W.B. were half-covered in a tarpaulin. Idiot, thought Redmond. If Joseph was stopped by anyone they'd instantly know the chests belonged to Mr Barry. Redmond drew out his gun from the holster under his jacket, aimed at the cart wheel and fired. The crack of the bullet splintering a wagon wheel spike echoed through the woods and Joseph cried out in shock, cursing. The cart swerved and Joseph looked over his shoulder.

"Thought you could run away from me, did you?" Redmond yelled, spurring on his horse.

"This is the end, Redmond. You're not holding me back any longer!"

Joseph steered the cart to the side of the road and Redmond skidded his horse to a stop as he passed. A bullet whizzed past his ear. He turned to glare at Joseph, indignation fuming inside him. Joseph had shot to kill. Redmond held up his pistol, his hand shaking with rage. He was furious and his anger blinded him. This boy used to be useful but as he'd gotten older he'd become a thorn in his side, a troublesome liability.

"Hold you back? I protected you from yourself, you ignorant child." Redmond spat.

Joseph held up his pistol, his hand steady and his eyes glinting gold. He was strangely calm, now he was faced with it. He had imagined this moment for so long, it felt like he already knew what was going to happen. He'd dreamed of finally being free of Redmond and here he was with the chance.

"I'm not a child, I haven't been for a long time. My childhood was stolen from me by you." Joseph said. "You made me into this, everything bad about me is you."

"Tell that to yourself if it helps you sleep, sunny. The truth is you can't make somebody evil, they're born that way." Redmond laughed cruelly. "I just saw an asset and used your skills for my own gain. But you're not an asset anymore, you're a problem. You remember what I do with problems?"

"You kill them." Joseph finished for him. "Yet, you never killed Scarlet in New York. That's funny, isn't it?"

Redmond's eyes widened. "Don't you dare speak of her, you dirty little street rat."

Scarlet was Redmond's daughter, who he had always been very protective over. When she started doing jobs with Joseph he had begun to resent and despise Joseph. When Scarlet ended up in prison because of Joseph, Redmond began to hate the boy. Although not as much as Scarlet hated her father.

Joseph chuckled lightly. "She doesn't matter anymore, neither do you. I'm leaving Avonlea. You're gonna die in the dust."

Joseph clicked back the pistol and Redmond heard a bullet slide into the barrel. Their guns were aimed at each other's hearts. The forest was oddly quiet, the birds silent, even the wind paused for breath as the tension grew. Joseph let out a soft breath which clouded in the air. He blinked at Redmond through his golden curls. Redmond was turning red with anger, his hand trembling as the feeling surged in his veins. His horse neighed impatiently.

Then a finger pressed down on the trigger and a single bullet was fired. The sound sent birds flurrying into the dawn sky. That bullet ended a lot of things, it changed the course of events which had been laid out. It ended a life. A body fell off of their horse, landing hard and heavy onto the forest floor. Blood slowly began to leak from the wound onto the moist soil.

Joseph sighed and pushed his gun back into his holster before turning his horse and continuing on down the road. He felt a weight fall off his shoulders. He was free. Redmond Bines was finally dead.

...

James Riley left the detective's office in the early hours of the morning as the sun was coming up. He borrowed a horse and rode to tell Gilbert about the town hall meeting before making his own way there through the woods following the main road. He wasn't far when he heard a gunshot echo through the woods. Freezing, he peered around him into the trees. His horse reared up in fright.

"It's alright, girl." James patted the horse to calm her.

James rode on cautiously, following the sound of the gunshot. Through the trees ahead where the road bent James saw two figures yards apart, arms outstretched. One had a cart, both sat astride a nervous horse. One had golden hair, he was a boy. The other was a tall, broad man with a black beard who was visibly angry. It was Joseph and Redmond Bines.

James stayed where he was, holding his breath as the scene unfolded. The two spoke, just below the level James could hear before suddenly Joseph pulled the trigger and shot Redmond. James inhaled sharply, shock widening his eyes. Joseph was ruthless. Redmond was knocked off his horse by the force of the close-range bullet, his heavy body tumbling down onto the ground where it slumped hard. There was a pause, as Joseph put his gun away, then he patted his horse and rode away down the road.

James rode up to Redmond's body. It was obvious he was dead, his chest was still, his eyes staring unblinkingly into the sky and blood seeped from a hole in his chest where his heart was. James felt sick looking at it. James slipped off his horse and picked up Redmond's gun from the ground. It was loaded. James felt an anxiety spread from his heart. This was it. James mounted his horse and followed Joseph. This was his chance to bring justice to Jasmine's murderer.

James didn't like killing, he'd never done it and didn't respect anyone who had. He'd met many unsavoury folks in New York and many of them had killed. James didn't want to kill Joseph, but how else would this end? Joseph had murdered the love of his life, he deserved to die surely? So why did it feel so wrong? James' heart thundered alongside his horse's hooves.

Joseph appeared up ahead on the road, unaware of his impending doom. James' hand shook as he lifted the loaded pistol. Was this what he wanted? It was what he'd thought about for so long, he didn't know why he couldn't do it. Joseph rode on, getting further away. James felt sick again, he pictured Joseph sprawled on the floor with a hole in his heart. He deserved it. Of course he did. He murdered Jasmine.

James felt his heart break all over again, he felt a rush of drowning grief as he thought about Jasmine. Tears came to his eyes as he saw her body on the New York pavement, blood splattered on the stones. Joseph had done that, mercilessly killed the girl he loved. In an impulsive urge, James raised his shaking hand and pulled the trigger.

The bullet flew into Joseph's shoulder, missing his heart. Joseph yelled in pain and swerved his horse to a stop. He turned, clutching at his injury. He saw James and recognition flickered in his eyes. James pulled his horse to a stop, keeping his gun raised as his heart pounded. He was face to face with the murderer who had ruined his life.

"You." Joseph hissed. "What on earth are you doing here, paddy?"

"I came here for you. It's time you finally got brought to justice for murdering Jasmine Grace Lorella." James' voice shook as he spoke.

"Jasmine Grace?" Joseph's eyes widened. "I remember her. That rich girl who thought she was too good for me."

"She was too good for you, for any of us. But any good she would have given to this terrible world you stole, you took her away from me and stolen her future." James was shaking, tears in his eyes as he spoke.

Joseph remembered the bitter resentment, the anger upon being turned down again for the final time right before he pushed Jasmine off of the balcony. To that day he wasn't entirely sure it was on purpose. He had harboured feelings for the tailor's daughter for a year, watching her from afar before finally speaking to her to find her heart belonged to somebody else. Joseph was so furious, he felt cheated out of love and he didn't want anyone else to have her. But had he really wanted her dead? He still didn't know.

"It may surprise you that I don't relish that moment," Joseph spoke quietly. For the first time in years, his words were genuine as was his vulnerability. "I actually regret her death."

"You should regret more than that, all the pain you've caused in your lifetime-- you're a monster." James bit his lip. "You ruined that Anne girl's life, you attacked my friend Gilbert Blythe. All of the other people in New York who you hurt and killed, hell even Scarlet you left to rot in prison. You infest people's lives with misery."

"Scarlet deserved it, she was a witch." Joseph said, getting angry. "And I only regret Jasmine's death because it was a waste of beauty."

"I hate you." James seethed.

"As for Anne Shirley, I thought she'd make a decent partner but instead she was a weak, pathetic girl who got cold feet and ruined my plan. I had to be rid of her and I found the perfect way."

Joseph was almost enjoying this. He could finally confess all of it, it didn't matter because he was about to shoot James anyway so he'd never live to tell anybody these things. Yet he couldn't rid himself of the slight ache in his heart as he thought about Jasmine Grace lying broken on the pavement surrounded by blood. It was truly regret. He pushed through it, trying to squash down the uncomfortable feeling he was not familiar with as he talked.

"Framing Anne was the most fun I've had in a long time. Everybody fell for it so easily. Gilbert Blythe on the other hand was a pain in my arse. That lovesick loser didn't know when to quit."

"Gilbert Blythe is a good man, unlike you." James snarled.

"When I attacked him I only wished I'd finished the job and killed him, framing Anne for that too so she'd have gotten life sentence. Far more final. Almost like death, in fact." Joseph's eyes gleamed. "Remind you of your little play-wife, Jasmine Grace Lorella?"

"Don't you dare speak her name," James snarled. "How dare you speak of death when you were her cause. You don't deserve to be here, living while she's rotting in a grave in New York."

Joseph's abdomen lurched uncomfortably. He felt a great shift as he watched James trembling, grief shining in his eyes and the burn of injustice spilling from his mouth. Joseph hadn't felt something real for so long and now he felt regret. In that moment it all seemed to slip away, none of it mattered as he saw in his mind's eye Jasmine's smile. It was a jewel and he'd stolen it from the world forever. The regret had torn a hole in his heart the moment she hit the pavement, but he'd buried it beneath anger ever since. He'd channelled his restless energy, bitterness and regret into leaving New York and into all of the robberies in Avonlea.

"Not everybody fell for your tricks," James told him, clutching his reins in one hand tightly. "It's too late for you, I told the Detective everything about New York. He knows who you really are, he knows what you've done. You've got nowhere to run, nowhere to hide,

"It's the end."

Joseph suddenly felt brash. If it was true then it really was the end. Him or James, who would shoot first? It was a pivotal moment, he felt the importance in the air tingling like fire. It was quiet in the woods, that or the tension was deafening upon their ears.

A thought was suddenly thrust upon Joseph, of where he'd be or what his life would be like if Redmond had never taken him under his wing. Would he still have wound up in trouble with the law, would he still be ruining lives? Was evil really born? He'd always blamed others for his wicked actions but if Redmond was right then he was a sociopath. And if that was true then why did he regret Jasmine's death?

"Go ahead," Joseph said suddenly, his voice higher than normal. "If I deserve it so much, do the job. The perfect revenge for murdering Jasmine."

James blinked, shocked. Joseph was actually telling him to shoot? What was going on? Doubt crept up and James hesiated. His finger paused on the trigger, the weapon felt strange in his hand and out of place. James hesitated, just like that day he saw Jasmine at the top of the balcony struggling for her life.

Joseph felt a strange urge which he couldn't stop. He wanted to see how much James had really loved Jasmine, to see if he'd cross his obvious distaste for killing just to avenge his love. Lacking sensitivities and moral obligations, Joseph had always been fascinated by human nature. Joseph wanted to see how far he could go. He pushed on, baiting James.

"Go on, you coward. Can't you even pull the trigger? What's stopping you?" Joseph pressed further. "You couldn't save her that day, you can't avenge her either."

James felt the emotions well up rapidly, rising in his chest and clouding his mind. His heart hammered and his breath came quick. James felt dizzy and sick. His gaze was locked on Joseph's, the doubt clear in his eyes. Joseph could see the fear in James' eyes. Joseph felt confident. Joseph was anticipating, waiting and watching. His finger twitched on the trigger as he held the gun, pointing at Joseph's heart.

"You failed her. You failed Jasmine again. You're a coward and you'll die a coward." Joseph pulled out his own gun in the blink of an eye. James flinched, panic jolting his heart at the sight of the weapon. He reacted instinctively.

James pulled the trigger of his gun seconds before Joseph did.

Both bullets hit home, one missed by inches and hit a shoulder, breaking into several bones and the other hit a chest, puncturing into a heart. There was a scream of pain as James was knocked off his horse, but Joseph never uttered a word after that.

Joseph Bines was dead.