Taylor crouched over, panting in the alleyway behind the hotel the party was being held in, allowing the tears to fall down her face. In the past months, it had never occurred to her that one day, the next time a ghost appeared, it could be a child.
“Here you are,” cried Maddy as she came over and joined her friend. “What was that about?”
Taylor looked up and faced her friend. “It was a child, Maddy. A little girl. She was standing next to Mac, all soaking wet,” Taylor blurted out.
“Hablad más lentamente, por favour.”
Taylor took a breath. “There was a little girl in there,” she repeated, much slower.
“What on earth are you talking about?” Maddy asked again, still confused.
“There was a little girl in there, Maddy.”
“Creo que no.”
“There was. A ghost. Of a little girl,” Taylor insisted.
Maddy looked down at her friend with a look of pity. “Taylor, there are no such things as ghosts.”
“Yes there are!” Taylor cried, adamantly, standing upright. “They come to me for help. And this one was a child.”
Maddy sighed. “How much have you had to drink?”
Taylor’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t about alcohol, Maddy.”
“Is everything all right?” Lindsay came out and joined the two women.
“Lindsay, there was a child,” Taylor told her, squeezing her hands into fists to try to stop the shaking. Lindsay glanced behind her at Maddy, who was miming drinking. “I am not drunk,” objected Taylor. She sighed and leant back against the wall. “You think I’m crazy. I know you do,” she muttered. “But this isn’t about me. This is about a little girl.”
“Taylor, are you okay? What happened in there?” Danny and Marty came outside and joined them. Taylor hitched up her skirt and dashed over to them. “Taylor, what happened?” Marty asked her again, wiping away the tears that were streaking down her cheeks.
“It’s a child, Marty. A child,” Taylor told him, desperate for him to believe her.
Marty looked at her, and then wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed into his shoulder.
“Did the ghost tell you anything?” Danny asked her softly.
Taylor shook her head. “She didn’t look any older than five, Danny. Who kills a five year old?”
Danny sighed and looked down at his feet. “Alright, I’m going to the precinct – hang around and see if anything gets called in.”
Taylor nodded, gratefully.
“And I’m going to take you home,” Marty told her.
“But-” she started to object.
“No buts,” said Marty. “You’re doing nothing in that frock, and you can’t do anything until we find the… the girl.”
“Here you are,” cried Maddy as she came over and joined her friend. “What was that about?”
Taylor looked up and faced her friend. “It was a child, Maddy. A little girl. She was standing next to Mac, all soaking wet,” Taylor blurted out.
“Hablad más lentamente, por favour.”
Taylor took a breath. “There was a little girl in there,” she repeated, much slower.
“What on earth are you talking about?” Maddy asked again, still confused.
“There was a little girl in there, Maddy.”
“Creo que no.”
“There was. A ghost. Of a little girl,” Taylor insisted.
Maddy looked down at her friend with a look of pity. “Taylor, there are no such things as ghosts.”
“Yes there are!” Taylor cried, adamantly, standing upright. “They come to me for help. And this one was a child.”
Maddy sighed. “How much have you had to drink?”
Taylor’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t about alcohol, Maddy.”
“Is everything all right?” Lindsay came out and joined the two women.
“Lindsay, there was a child,” Taylor told her, squeezing her hands into fists to try to stop the shaking. Lindsay glanced behind her at Maddy, who was miming drinking. “I am not drunk,” objected Taylor. She sighed and leant back against the wall. “You think I’m crazy. I know you do,” she muttered. “But this isn’t about me. This is about a little girl.”
“Taylor, are you okay? What happened in there?” Danny and Marty came outside and joined them. Taylor hitched up her skirt and dashed over to them. “Taylor, what happened?” Marty asked her again, wiping away the tears that were streaking down her cheeks.
“It’s a child, Marty. A child,” Taylor told him, desperate for him to believe her.
Marty looked at her, and then wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed into his shoulder.
“Did the ghost tell you anything?” Danny asked her softly.
Taylor shook her head. “She didn’t look any older than five, Danny. Who kills a five year old?”
Danny sighed and looked down at his feet. “Alright, I’m going to the precinct – hang around and see if anything gets called in.”
Taylor nodded, gratefully.
“And I’m going to take you home,” Marty told her.
“But-” she started to object.
“No buts,” said Marty. “You’re doing nothing in that frock, and you can’t do anything until we find the… the girl.”
* * *
“Will you stop pacing.” It wasn’t a request.
Taylor had changed out of her dress and into some black combats and a grey camisole sat down heavily on the couch next to Marty. Within minutes, she was back on her feet. “I can’t just sit here.”
Marty sighed and pulled her down next to him. “Danny said he would call if anything came up.” As if on cue, Marty’s cell rang.
“Danny?” she asked him as he answered it.
He shook his head and mouthed Sid at her. He listened to what Sid was saying, and then hung up. “They need me to go in.” He rubbed his face. “Do you want me to call someone and get them to come around?”
“I don’t need a babysitter, Marty,” Taylor told him, grumpily.
“I know, I just…” he sighed. “Never mind.” He leant over, gave her a kiss on the cheek and got to his feet. “I’ll call you later.” Taylor sat staring at the door, long after he had gone.
Taylor had changed out of her dress and into some black combats and a grey camisole sat down heavily on the couch next to Marty. Within minutes, she was back on her feet. “I can’t just sit here.”
Marty sighed and pulled her down next to him. “Danny said he would call if anything came up.” As if on cue, Marty’s cell rang.
“Danny?” she asked him as he answered it.
He shook his head and mouthed Sid at her. He listened to what Sid was saying, and then hung up. “They need me to go in.” He rubbed his face. “Do you want me to call someone and get them to come around?”
“I don’t need a babysitter, Marty,” Taylor told him, grumpily.
“I know, I just…” he sighed. “Never mind.” He leant over, gave her a kiss on the cheek and got to his feet. “I’ll call you later.” Taylor sat staring at the door, long after he had gone.
* * *
It was just after 4am when Taylor awoke with the strangest feeling that she was being watched. She leant over and switched a lamp on and checked her cell phone. Seeing no missed calls, she sighed and dropped the phone down on the couch.
“Stop me.”
Taylor’s head shot up and found herself staring at a tall, African American male, with slightly greying hair – probably in his late forties. “Stop you?”
“Stop me,” the ghost repeated.
Taylor stared at him. He didn’t seem like a normal ghost – there didn’t seem to be any… wounds to him. He disappeared and she got to her feet, running her fingers through her hair. She grabbed her keys and was about to leave when the same ghost appeared in the doorway.
“Stay away!” it shouted venomously at her, before raising its arm and swiping her across the face, sending her flying.
Taylor looked up at the empty doorway, from her position on the floor, fear washing over her. Since when could a ghost hurt her? She got to her feet and ran out of the building all the way to the crime lab, checking over her shoulder the entire way.
“What the hell happened to you?” asked Flack as she dashed off the elevator. Taylor looked up at him and shook her head. “Taylor? Who hit you?” he repeated, walking after her.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she told him, dismissing his question with a shake of her head as she tried to walk past him.
He grabbed her arm and led her to the break room, before sitting her down, and pulling out an icepack out of the freezer to press against her cheek. “Try me.”
“A ghost,” she offered quietly.
Flack was silent for a very long time before he eventually spoke, “Taylor, ghosts can’t hit people.”
Taylor shrugged, refusing to meet his gaze. “That’s what I thought.”
Flack sighed. “Look, I can’t stay. Dispatched just called. They’ve found a body in the Hudson.”
Taylor’s head shot up. “A little girl?”
“I don’t know, but Danny and Stella are already there.”
“I’m coming with you,” Taylor informed him, dropping the ice pack on the coffee table and getting to her feet.
Flack got up next to her. “I don’t have the authority to-”
“Since when has that ever been an issue?” Taylor asked him, cutting him off.
Flack frowned. “You should be in bed.”
“Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing, Flack.”
“Well maybe somebody should,” Flack finally snapped.
“Don’t even go there,” she growled at him, getting to her feet. She was a good four inches shorter than him, but that didn’t put her off.
Flack glared back at her, then his glare softened. “You looked nice tonight.”
Well, that completely threw her. “And you… huh?” she asked, staring blankly at him.
“It’s a shame your evening was ruined.” He turned and left, leaving her stood gaping after him. And then it hit her. She dashed after him. “Nice try,” she told him. “But I’m still coming.”
Flack looked at her, as if he was wrestling with himself to say something, but instead sighed and nodded.
“Stop me.”
Taylor’s head shot up and found herself staring at a tall, African American male, with slightly greying hair – probably in his late forties. “Stop you?”
“Stop me,” the ghost repeated.
Taylor stared at him. He didn’t seem like a normal ghost – there didn’t seem to be any… wounds to him. He disappeared and she got to her feet, running her fingers through her hair. She grabbed her keys and was about to leave when the same ghost appeared in the doorway.
“Stay away!” it shouted venomously at her, before raising its arm and swiping her across the face, sending her flying.
Taylor looked up at the empty doorway, from her position on the floor, fear washing over her. Since when could a ghost hurt her? She got to her feet and ran out of the building all the way to the crime lab, checking over her shoulder the entire way.
“What the hell happened to you?” asked Flack as she dashed off the elevator. Taylor looked up at him and shook her head. “Taylor? Who hit you?” he repeated, walking after her.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she told him, dismissing his question with a shake of her head as she tried to walk past him.
He grabbed her arm and led her to the break room, before sitting her down, and pulling out an icepack out of the freezer to press against her cheek. “Try me.”
“A ghost,” she offered quietly.
Flack was silent for a very long time before he eventually spoke, “Taylor, ghosts can’t hit people.”
Taylor shrugged, refusing to meet his gaze. “That’s what I thought.”
Flack sighed. “Look, I can’t stay. Dispatched just called. They’ve found a body in the Hudson.”
Taylor’s head shot up. “A little girl?”
“I don’t know, but Danny and Stella are already there.”
“I’m coming with you,” Taylor informed him, dropping the ice pack on the coffee table and getting to her feet.
Flack got up next to her. “I don’t have the authority to-”
“Since when has that ever been an issue?” Taylor asked him, cutting him off.
Flack frowned. “You should be in bed.”
“Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing, Flack.”
“Well maybe somebody should,” Flack finally snapped.
“Don’t even go there,” she growled at him, getting to her feet. She was a good four inches shorter than him, but that didn’t put her off.
Flack glared back at her, then his glare softened. “You looked nice tonight.”
Well, that completely threw her. “And you… huh?” she asked, staring blankly at him.
“It’s a shame your evening was ruined.” He turned and left, leaving her stood gaping after him. And then it hit her. She dashed after him. “Nice try,” she told him. “But I’m still coming.”
Flack looked at her, as if he was wrestling with himself to say something, but instead sighed and nodded.
* * *
By the time they arrived at the scene, the sun was beginning to rise, and Danny was already in the water, shouting directions to the men in charge of the cranes. Flack disappeared, going to talk to the witness and collect his statements, leaving Taylor with Stella.
“It was a nice party,” Stella told her, as they waited for the body to be hoisted out of the water. “But what happened during your speech?” Taylor pointed at the body of the little girl which was slowly being winched down onto dry land. “Oh,” said Stella softly, wincing as she saw the body.
Taylor turned away, only to be greeted by the ghost of the little girl again. She had never seen a ghost look so scared and lost before – it made her heart break. “We have to find him, Stelle,” she whispered. The sooner they did, the sooner the little girl’s spirit could move on.
“It was a nice party,” Stella told her, as they waited for the body to be hoisted out of the water. “But what happened during your speech?” Taylor pointed at the body of the little girl which was slowly being winched down onto dry land. “Oh,” said Stella softly, wincing as she saw the body.
Taylor turned away, only to be greeted by the ghost of the little girl again. She had never seen a ghost look so scared and lost before – it made her heart break. “We have to find him, Stelle,” she whispered. The sooner they did, the sooner the little girl’s spirit could move on.
* * *
Taylor was sat in a meeting room at the Crime Lab waiting for Stella and Danny to return from the morgue. She had decided that she couldn’t face seeing that little girl on the autopsy table, and both of the CSIs had agreed it was probably for the best.
Except she wasn’t alone. The little girl was sat on the chair next to her, clutching tightly to her teddy bear and sucking her thumb.
“How are you holding up? Stella asked her, as she, Danny and Lindsay entered the room, causing the ghost to disappear.
Taylor managed a small smile. “I’ll be fine.”
Stella sighed sympathetically. “Look, Taylor, this report isn’t pretty. You don’t have to be here.”
Taylor shook her head. “I’m staying,” she told her quietly.
“Alright, well, Lindsay is joining us on this case, so I’m going to have to fill her in. If you don’t want to stay, you don’t have to,” Stella assured her, taking the seat next to her. Taylor gave her a grateful nod. “So far we don’t know who the girl is. According to Marty, she wasn’t in the water for much more than an hour. TOD was-”
“Midnight,” said Taylor – that was when she had started her speech.
“Around midnight,” agreed Stella. “COD was strangulation, by hand.” She sighed, “Marty did a rape test. It came back positive.” Lindsay gasped, whilst Taylor fought with the wave of nausea which was washing over her. “He found some fluids, which were sent to DNA – I’m going to see Adam now, and get the results.”
Taylor shut her eyes and listened to the scrape of Stella’s chair as she got up and left. She opened her eyes when she felt someone place their hand on her arm – it was Lindsay. “Look, how about later we go for those stiff drinks we were supposed to have a while back?”
“Sounds like a plan,” agreed Danny.
Lindsay rolled her eyes. “It’s a girly thing, again, Danny.”
“Didn’t bother me last time. It’s not going to bother me this time, Montana.”
“The. Name. Is. Lindsay. Messer,” she said very slowly, through gritted teeth.
Taylor bit back a smile as Danny smirked. She’d heard this exchange many a time, and it still amused her. “Sounds like a plan,” Taylor repeated.
“Great. 9 o’clock, again? Same place?” Danny suggested.
Before Lindsay could object to Danny’s presence at the bar later, Stella re-entered the room looking very sombre, yet her eyes were full of anger. She flung a folder down on the table.
“What’s up, Stelle?” Danny asked.
“The DNA came back. Seven alleles in common with the vic.”
Danny was angry, Lindsay was upset, and Taylor – she was confused. “What does that mean?” she asked, her eyes on Stella.
“It means that the bastard that killed her was related – her own father.” Taylor gaped at her. “The good news,” continued Stella. “If you can call it good news, is that the father is in the system for a sexual assault charge – we have an address.”
Taylor felt sick – a whole new level of sick, that she’d yet to have experienced from seeing blood and gore.
Except she wasn’t alone. The little girl was sat on the chair next to her, clutching tightly to her teddy bear and sucking her thumb.
“How are you holding up? Stella asked her, as she, Danny and Lindsay entered the room, causing the ghost to disappear.
Taylor managed a small smile. “I’ll be fine.”
Stella sighed sympathetically. “Look, Taylor, this report isn’t pretty. You don’t have to be here.”
Taylor shook her head. “I’m staying,” she told her quietly.
“Alright, well, Lindsay is joining us on this case, so I’m going to have to fill her in. If you don’t want to stay, you don’t have to,” Stella assured her, taking the seat next to her. Taylor gave her a grateful nod. “So far we don’t know who the girl is. According to Marty, she wasn’t in the water for much more than an hour. TOD was-”
“Midnight,” said Taylor – that was when she had started her speech.
“Around midnight,” agreed Stella. “COD was strangulation, by hand.” She sighed, “Marty did a rape test. It came back positive.” Lindsay gasped, whilst Taylor fought with the wave of nausea which was washing over her. “He found some fluids, which were sent to DNA – I’m going to see Adam now, and get the results.”
Taylor shut her eyes and listened to the scrape of Stella’s chair as she got up and left. She opened her eyes when she felt someone place their hand on her arm – it was Lindsay. “Look, how about later we go for those stiff drinks we were supposed to have a while back?”
“Sounds like a plan,” agreed Danny.
Lindsay rolled her eyes. “It’s a girly thing, again, Danny.”
“Didn’t bother me last time. It’s not going to bother me this time, Montana.”
“The. Name. Is. Lindsay. Messer,” she said very slowly, through gritted teeth.
Taylor bit back a smile as Danny smirked. She’d heard this exchange many a time, and it still amused her. “Sounds like a plan,” Taylor repeated.
“Great. 9 o’clock, again? Same place?” Danny suggested.
Before Lindsay could object to Danny’s presence at the bar later, Stella re-entered the room looking very sombre, yet her eyes were full of anger. She flung a folder down on the table.
“What’s up, Stelle?” Danny asked.
“The DNA came back. Seven alleles in common with the vic.”
Danny was angry, Lindsay was upset, and Taylor – she was confused. “What does that mean?” she asked, her eyes on Stella.
“It means that the bastard that killed her was related – her own father.” Taylor gaped at her. “The good news,” continued Stella. “If you can call it good news, is that the father is in the system for a sexual assault charge – we have an address.”
Taylor felt sick – a whole new level of sick, that she’d yet to have experienced from seeing blood and gore.
Originally posted: 04/06/2006