While Danny and Lindsay went to process the clothes the little girl had been wearing, Taylor joined Flack and Stella on a trip to Harlem and the last known address of their suspect Pierre Leveau. Taylor followed the two detectives into a dark building and waited with them for someone to answer the door the sixth floor apartment they were standing outside of. The door opened and they were greeted by clouds of heavily scented smoke, and an anxious black woman. “Hello?”
Flack raised his badge. “Mrs Leveau?”
The woman nodded.
“Could we come in for a moment?” Stella asked her gently.
Taylor could see the fear grip the woman as she stood back and allowed the three of them into the room. It was dark. The curtains were still drawn and the only light was coming from the few candles which littered the room. In a corner, by the window, sat rocking in a chair, was a much older woman. She looked to be about seventy, at least, but there was something about her which convinced Taylor that she was actually a lot older than that.
“Mrs Leveau,” started Stella. “We found a little girl today. Do you recognise her?” Stella held up a picture of the child and with one look, the woman let out a scream of anguish and collapsed on the floor, sobbing.
Taylor dashed to the kitchen to grab a glass of water while Stella helped the woman onto the couch. After handing Mrs Leveau the water, she perched on the end of a chair, next to the old woman, watching Stella comfort the woman. She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the intense stare from the old woman, but didn’t turn.
“Mrs Leveau, I’m really sorry about your loss,” Stella told the distraught woman.
“My baby,” she wailed at them.
Stella sighed. “Mrs Leveau, we really need to ask you some questions.”
Mrs Leveau sniffed, but nodded.
“How old was your daughter?” Flack asked her.
“Five.”
Stella cleared her throat, clearly agitated, but trying desperately to keep her cool. “Mrs Leveau, she was pulled out of the Hudson a few hours ago. How come you didn’t call the police?”
“Because it had to be done,”Mrs Leveau responded.
“Excuse me?” said Flack in disbelief. Taylor was certain the expression on his face was virtually identical to her own.
Mrs Leveau stared up at him. “She was a devil-child. She needed to be cleansed.”
Taylor felt her stomach lurch.
“Devil-child?” Stella repeated, clearly struggling to keep her temper.
“She was the devil-child. She had Satan inside her and she needed to redeem her sins. God didn’t want her to walk this earth no more,” she continued to wail.
“Sins? She was five years old!” Taylor cried incredulously.
Stella shot her a warning look, then turned her attention back to Mrs Leveau. “What do you mean, she had to redeem her sins?”
“The holy men – they did try, but she was too evil. They tried to wash her sins away, but she sank, like a witch that she was.”
“Mrs Leveau,” Flack started, very slowly. “Are you admitting to killing your daughter?”
“No,” she sobbed, “God did take her. She was unholy.”
“I’ve heard enough,” said Stella in disgust. “We’re going to continue this back at the precinct.”
Flack read the woman her rights and led her from the room with Stella. Taylor was about to follow when the old woman grabbed her wrist. “You see them, Child.”
Taylor turned around, snatching her arm back. “I beg your pardon?”
“The spirits. You see them.”
Taylor stared at her in disbelief. “How do you…?”
“Your aura tells me a lot.” The woman patted the chair next to her. “Your aura is like a rainbow – it’s telling me a multitude of things, Child.”
“Who are you?” Taylorasked suspiciously, sitting down where the woman had indicated.
“I am many things. The term you’d be most familiar with, is Witch Doctor. But you may call me Mama Severina,” she smiled.
“A witch doctor?” Taylor repeated, sceptically.
Mama Severina nodded. “Yes, Child. I can see the scepticism in your aura, and yet you are a seer.”
“Come again?” Taylor said, staring blankly.
“You speak with the spirits, Child. Few are blessed with that gift. Your aura speaks volumes. There are flames around your heart, indicating a great personal power, that you are an avatar of some kind – red for determination and strength, orange for courage, and yellow for an early spiritual development. Around you, your aura is a strong clear blue – that’s good,” she assured Taylor, seeing her startled expression. “It represents spiritual devotion, seeking truth. It’s the colour of communication, and most importantly, the shade tells me that you are a person who is close to finding their purpose in life. And your blue is speckled with purple – you have found something in life that is greater than you.”
Taylor sighed, “I’m not sure you’d call it a gift.”
“You help the spirits during their most troublesome times. There are few in the world that have your gift. There are few in the world who have an aura as colourful as yours.” She reached into her pocket and pulled something out, handing it to Taylor.
Taylor took the item. It was a silver dime with a hole in the middle, attached to a red ribbon. “What’s this?” she asked, turning it over in her hand.
“Good gris-gris. It is no longer the good spirits who know about you now, Child.” Taylor’s hand flew up to her cheek – it was still quite tender. “That’s right Child,” Mama Severina nodded. “And as you’ve already noticed, the evil spirits don’t need to be from the dead to hurt you. But I sense a change a-coming. Remember, everything happens for a reason.”
Taylor frowned. “So I keep getting told. What change?”
“I’m sorry, Child, but I do not know. I can only feel the winds of change.” She shut her eyes and lifted her head, as though she was feeling a breeze against her face. “Change is a-coming,” she repeated. “As is danger. Not just for you, but those you are close to. Your aura tells me of a conflict – love.”
Taylor let out a long, drawn out sigh. “Mama Severina, with all due respect, I’m haunted by the dead – love gets a second seat when you’re interrupted by the bloody image of a person.”
With her eyes still shut, Mama Severina smiled. “Take care, Child. Don’t fight your feelings – love only makes you stronger.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Love makes you stronger?” she repeated. But she didn’t get an answer – Mama Severina was asleep.
Flack raised his badge. “Mrs Leveau?”
The woman nodded.
“Could we come in for a moment?” Stella asked her gently.
Taylor could see the fear grip the woman as she stood back and allowed the three of them into the room. It was dark. The curtains were still drawn and the only light was coming from the few candles which littered the room. In a corner, by the window, sat rocking in a chair, was a much older woman. She looked to be about seventy, at least, but there was something about her which convinced Taylor that she was actually a lot older than that.
“Mrs Leveau,” started Stella. “We found a little girl today. Do you recognise her?” Stella held up a picture of the child and with one look, the woman let out a scream of anguish and collapsed on the floor, sobbing.
Taylor dashed to the kitchen to grab a glass of water while Stella helped the woman onto the couch. After handing Mrs Leveau the water, she perched on the end of a chair, next to the old woman, watching Stella comfort the woman. She shifted uncomfortably, feeling the intense stare from the old woman, but didn’t turn.
“Mrs Leveau, I’m really sorry about your loss,” Stella told the distraught woman.
“My baby,” she wailed at them.
Stella sighed. “Mrs Leveau, we really need to ask you some questions.”
Mrs Leveau sniffed, but nodded.
“How old was your daughter?” Flack asked her.
“Five.”
Stella cleared her throat, clearly agitated, but trying desperately to keep her cool. “Mrs Leveau, she was pulled out of the Hudson a few hours ago. How come you didn’t call the police?”
“Because it had to be done,”Mrs Leveau responded.
“Excuse me?” said Flack in disbelief. Taylor was certain the expression on his face was virtually identical to her own.
Mrs Leveau stared up at him. “She was a devil-child. She needed to be cleansed.”
Taylor felt her stomach lurch.
“Devil-child?” Stella repeated, clearly struggling to keep her temper.
“She was the devil-child. She had Satan inside her and she needed to redeem her sins. God didn’t want her to walk this earth no more,” she continued to wail.
“Sins? She was five years old!” Taylor cried incredulously.
Stella shot her a warning look, then turned her attention back to Mrs Leveau. “What do you mean, she had to redeem her sins?”
“The holy men – they did try, but she was too evil. They tried to wash her sins away, but she sank, like a witch that she was.”
“Mrs Leveau,” Flack started, very slowly. “Are you admitting to killing your daughter?”
“No,” she sobbed, “God did take her. She was unholy.”
“I’ve heard enough,” said Stella in disgust. “We’re going to continue this back at the precinct.”
Flack read the woman her rights and led her from the room with Stella. Taylor was about to follow when the old woman grabbed her wrist. “You see them, Child.”
Taylor turned around, snatching her arm back. “I beg your pardon?”
“The spirits. You see them.”
Taylor stared at her in disbelief. “How do you…?”
“Your aura tells me a lot.” The woman patted the chair next to her. “Your aura is like a rainbow – it’s telling me a multitude of things, Child.”
“Who are you?” Taylorasked suspiciously, sitting down where the woman had indicated.
“I am many things. The term you’d be most familiar with, is Witch Doctor. But you may call me Mama Severina,” she smiled.
“A witch doctor?” Taylor repeated, sceptically.
Mama Severina nodded. “Yes, Child. I can see the scepticism in your aura, and yet you are a seer.”
“Come again?” Taylor said, staring blankly.
“You speak with the spirits, Child. Few are blessed with that gift. Your aura speaks volumes. There are flames around your heart, indicating a great personal power, that you are an avatar of some kind – red for determination and strength, orange for courage, and yellow for an early spiritual development. Around you, your aura is a strong clear blue – that’s good,” she assured Taylor, seeing her startled expression. “It represents spiritual devotion, seeking truth. It’s the colour of communication, and most importantly, the shade tells me that you are a person who is close to finding their purpose in life. And your blue is speckled with purple – you have found something in life that is greater than you.”
Taylor sighed, “I’m not sure you’d call it a gift.”
“You help the spirits during their most troublesome times. There are few in the world that have your gift. There are few in the world who have an aura as colourful as yours.” She reached into her pocket and pulled something out, handing it to Taylor.
Taylor took the item. It was a silver dime with a hole in the middle, attached to a red ribbon. “What’s this?” she asked, turning it over in her hand.
“Good gris-gris. It is no longer the good spirits who know about you now, Child.” Taylor’s hand flew up to her cheek – it was still quite tender. “That’s right Child,” Mama Severina nodded. “And as you’ve already noticed, the evil spirits don’t need to be from the dead to hurt you. But I sense a change a-coming. Remember, everything happens for a reason.”
Taylor frowned. “So I keep getting told. What change?”
“I’m sorry, Child, but I do not know. I can only feel the winds of change.” She shut her eyes and lifted her head, as though she was feeling a breeze against her face. “Change is a-coming,” she repeated. “As is danger. Not just for you, but those you are close to. Your aura tells me of a conflict – love.”
Taylor let out a long, drawn out sigh. “Mama Severina, with all due respect, I’m haunted by the dead – love gets a second seat when you’re interrupted by the bloody image of a person.”
With her eyes still shut, Mama Severina smiled. “Take care, Child. Don’t fight your feelings – love only makes you stronger.”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “Love makes you stronger?” she repeated. But she didn’t get an answer – Mama Severina was asleep.
* * *
Taylor was back at the lab. She was sat a computer, whilst Danny was analysing the trace he and Lindsay had found on Marie’s (the little girl) clothes. Since she had been back, she had been visited again by Marie, and she assumed she would until her father had been brought to justice. As the girl didn’t tell her anything, or give her any clues, she had decided to research cults, sacrifices, and anything else Google could match.
Stella and Flack were busy interviewing Mrs Leveau, and from the looks of things, it was going to take a while. They had called in a psychologist to observe her, and so far, the verdict was that she was too crazy to stand trial.
“Come on, let’s call it a night,” said Danny suddenly, ripping his gloves off.
“I’m fine,” Taylor told him, stubbornly.
“So am I, but if we don’t finish now, we won’t be able to go out for those drinks,” Danny pointed out.
Taylor rolled her eyes. “I thought we told you it was a girly night.”
“And I told you I was fine with that.”
“Fine,” she agreed, even though she had every intention of not going.
Danny smirked at her. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
Taylor pulled off her gloves and walked out of the room. “See you later,” she told him. As she left the Crime Lab her bag started ringing. She pulled out her cell phone – it was Lindsay.
“You still on for that drink?”
“I don’t know,” Taylor responded as she made her way down the steps. “I’m pretty beat.”
“Please?” Lindsay begged. “I’ll even get the first few rounds.”
“I’m not sure, Lindsay. All I can think about is this case.”
“Ah, come on, just a few. You need something to take you mind off it. Besides, otherwise I’m stuck with Danny and his smirking all evening.”
“Wow, that’s all the convincing I need,” Taylor moaned.
“Is that a yes?”
“I guess,” she agreed. “But I don’t want a late night.”
“Deal. Can you be ready for 8?”
“That’d be fine. Where?”
“Squares. Danny said 9, so we get an hour to drink a suitable amount to make him a little less painful.”
Taylor laughed. “This is going to be a big night, isn’t it?”
“See you in an hour!” Lindsay responded.
Stella and Flack were busy interviewing Mrs Leveau, and from the looks of things, it was going to take a while. They had called in a psychologist to observe her, and so far, the verdict was that she was too crazy to stand trial.
“Come on, let’s call it a night,” said Danny suddenly, ripping his gloves off.
“I’m fine,” Taylor told him, stubbornly.
“So am I, but if we don’t finish now, we won’t be able to go out for those drinks,” Danny pointed out.
Taylor rolled her eyes. “I thought we told you it was a girly night.”
“And I told you I was fine with that.”
“Fine,” she agreed, even though she had every intention of not going.
Danny smirked at her. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
Taylor pulled off her gloves and walked out of the room. “See you later,” she told him. As she left the Crime Lab her bag started ringing. She pulled out her cell phone – it was Lindsay.
“You still on for that drink?”
“I don’t know,” Taylor responded as she made her way down the steps. “I’m pretty beat.”
“Please?” Lindsay begged. “I’ll even get the first few rounds.”
“I’m not sure, Lindsay. All I can think about is this case.”
“Ah, come on, just a few. You need something to take you mind off it. Besides, otherwise I’m stuck with Danny and his smirking all evening.”
“Wow, that’s all the convincing I need,” Taylor moaned.
“Is that a yes?”
“I guess,” she agreed. “But I don’t want a late night.”
“Deal. Can you be ready for 8?”
“That’d be fine. Where?”
“Squares. Danny said 9, so we get an hour to drink a suitable amount to make him a little less painful.”
Taylor laughed. “This is going to be a big night, isn’t it?”
“See you in an hour!” Lindsay responded.
Originally posted: 04/06/2006