Spoilers for 2x23: Heroes
It had taken quite a while for Danny to calm down and stop pacing the layout room. Several people had been in to offer their condolences, but when one of the office gossips had come in, Taylor had turfed her out and slammed the door shut behind her.
Currently, Taylor was standing in from of the doorway, guarding over Danny, who was processing Corporal Price’s clothing. There was a quiet rap at the door, and Taylor whipped around ready to bite the head off the next lab tech who walked through the door. She stopped suddenly when she realized it was Flack, before jumping out of the way to allow him to enter the room. “Hey,” he greeted them both.
Taylor smiled sadly at him.
“You hear anything on your end? Regarding Aiden’s case?” Danny asked, looking up from his work.
Flack shook his head. “Nothing new. Just, rumours.”
Danny managed a grin as Taylor and Flack walked over. “We were supposed to have dinner this weekend. Actually, I was hoping she would offer to cook.”
“She know her way around the kitchen?” Flack asked in surprise.
“She made a phenomenal chicken parm.”
Taylor sighed sadly, wishing there was something she could do. Realizing there wasn’t, she just sat down opposite Danny.
“Alright, listen to me,” said Flack, quickly changing the subject. “I reached out to Corporal Price’s family. He had an older brother. Now, as far as his brother knew, our vic didn’t know anyone in the city.”
Danny gave him a grateful look and got to his feet, “I found this in his pocket,” he told him, pulling out an evidence bag with a watch in.
“Why wasn’t he wearing it?” Taylor asked.
Danny shrugged, “I don’t know. But check out the back.”
Flack, who was closest, turned the watch over and read out the inscription which had been engraved onto the back, “’I’m your girl, Ellie’. I spoke to every marine in Price’s platoon. No one mentioned a girlfriend.”
“That’s just one of the many mysteries, Flack. Check this out,” he picked up one of the trouser legs and held it up to show them a stain. “Exhibit A – stain on his pants.”
Flack leant over and peered at it. “It’s not blood.”
Danny shook his head. “Nah, it’s not biological, but I don’t know what it is. Same as this,” he put the leg down and picked up a shoe.
“Shoes are immaculately polished, so the scuff mark is out of place,” noted Flack, pointing to the incriminating mark.
Danny smiled. “Yeah. But not as out of place as this.” He held up another evidence bag.
“A lima bean?” asked Taylor, completely baffled.
“Yeah, a lima bean. Dried. One of them. Found it in his pocket. What the hell’s that about?” Danny asked them.
Flack took it off him. “Depends. Could be nothing. Could be a major break in the case. Find any cash in his pockets?”
“Nothing. Pockets weren’t turned out, so I don’t think this was a robbery.”
“No,” Flack shook his head, “I don’t think it was a robbery, either. I think it was a fleecing.”
As it dawned on Taylor just what Flack was talking about, Danny marched straight out of the door muttering something about heading straight onto the streets to look for the guy.
Taylor sighed and started to follow him, but was stopped by Flack who had gently grabbed hand. Taylor looked from hand to him questioningly. Flack gently shook his head. “He’ll be fine. I think he just needs some time alone.”
Taylor frowned. “You didn’t just see the way he reacted when Mac brought a suspect in.”
“No, but I know Danny. If he’d have wanted us to come with him, he’d have waited.”
Taylor nodded. “You’re right, she sighed, glancing behind him.
“Look, Taylor,” Flack started. But Taylor’s attention was caught by the flaming ghost of Aiden.
When the burning stopped, she held out her hand, showing her a key. “You have to help them get him for me.”
Ignoring the churning sensation in her stomach, Taylor frowned, and also ignoring Flack, took a step around him towards Aiden. Only just as she worked out it was a house key, Aiden disappeared.
“Taylor? Are you listening?”
“Huh?” Taylor turned back to him and blinked. Flack started to open his mouth to repeat what he had said, but Taylor shook her head, “I… I, uh, need to go,” she said slowly, before turning and leaving.
She managed to keep her stomach under control in order to make it to Mac’s office, where he and Stella were looking at photographs. She tapped softly on the glass door as she walked in. “Hey,” she said, just as softly as the knock had been.
“Come in, Taylor. What’s the matter?” Mac asked, almost wearily.
“Have you been around to Aiden’s apartment yet?” Taylor asked carefully.
Both Mac and Stella gave her a piercing look. “Taylor, I’m not sure you going with us would be such a good idea,” Mac informed her.
Taylor bit her lip, “Well, all things considered, next to Lindsay, I’m probably the most impartial person you have here.”
“You’re also the one most likely to compromise the case, Taylor. You’re not a CSI. I’ve not put Danny on this because I’m concerned he’ll compromise it,” Mac sighed. “We need to get him, Taylor. I can’t risk even the slightest slip-up.”
It was Stella who came to her defence. “But Mac, surely we need all the help we can get. He’s escaped us too many times before.”
Mac nodded. “That may be the case, but I’m not risking it, Stella. And that’s final.
Taylor was slightly stunned. Sure, she was certain that that was the first time she’d witnessed Mac have the final word when it came to Stella. Sure, she wasn’t daft enough to think that the first time, though. But much as she was reluctant to admit it, Mac was right. And the last thing she wanted to do was cause any further upset. So, she just nodded.
Stella seemed to realise this too and changed the subject. “When was the last time you saw her?” she asked Mac.
“We spoke on the phone about a month ago. You?”
“Just last week, by chance. She never called. I never called her either. All I had to do was pick up the phone. We have no idea what was going on in her life.”
“Let's go find out,” Mac turned to Taylor, “Taylor, I think the best thing you can do now is keep an eye on Danny.”
Taylor nodded and watched as the two left together.
Currently, Taylor was standing in from of the doorway, guarding over Danny, who was processing Corporal Price’s clothing. There was a quiet rap at the door, and Taylor whipped around ready to bite the head off the next lab tech who walked through the door. She stopped suddenly when she realized it was Flack, before jumping out of the way to allow him to enter the room. “Hey,” he greeted them both.
Taylor smiled sadly at him.
“You hear anything on your end? Regarding Aiden’s case?” Danny asked, looking up from his work.
Flack shook his head. “Nothing new. Just, rumours.”
Danny managed a grin as Taylor and Flack walked over. “We were supposed to have dinner this weekend. Actually, I was hoping she would offer to cook.”
“She know her way around the kitchen?” Flack asked in surprise.
“She made a phenomenal chicken parm.”
Taylor sighed sadly, wishing there was something she could do. Realizing there wasn’t, she just sat down opposite Danny.
“Alright, listen to me,” said Flack, quickly changing the subject. “I reached out to Corporal Price’s family. He had an older brother. Now, as far as his brother knew, our vic didn’t know anyone in the city.”
Danny gave him a grateful look and got to his feet, “I found this in his pocket,” he told him, pulling out an evidence bag with a watch in.
“Why wasn’t he wearing it?” Taylor asked.
Danny shrugged, “I don’t know. But check out the back.”
Flack, who was closest, turned the watch over and read out the inscription which had been engraved onto the back, “’I’m your girl, Ellie’. I spoke to every marine in Price’s platoon. No one mentioned a girlfriend.”
“That’s just one of the many mysteries, Flack. Check this out,” he picked up one of the trouser legs and held it up to show them a stain. “Exhibit A – stain on his pants.”
Flack leant over and peered at it. “It’s not blood.”
Danny shook his head. “Nah, it’s not biological, but I don’t know what it is. Same as this,” he put the leg down and picked up a shoe.
“Shoes are immaculately polished, so the scuff mark is out of place,” noted Flack, pointing to the incriminating mark.
Danny smiled. “Yeah. But not as out of place as this.” He held up another evidence bag.
“A lima bean?” asked Taylor, completely baffled.
“Yeah, a lima bean. Dried. One of them. Found it in his pocket. What the hell’s that about?” Danny asked them.
Flack took it off him. “Depends. Could be nothing. Could be a major break in the case. Find any cash in his pockets?”
“Nothing. Pockets weren’t turned out, so I don’t think this was a robbery.”
“No,” Flack shook his head, “I don’t think it was a robbery, either. I think it was a fleecing.”
As it dawned on Taylor just what Flack was talking about, Danny marched straight out of the door muttering something about heading straight onto the streets to look for the guy.
Taylor sighed and started to follow him, but was stopped by Flack who had gently grabbed hand. Taylor looked from hand to him questioningly. Flack gently shook his head. “He’ll be fine. I think he just needs some time alone.”
Taylor frowned. “You didn’t just see the way he reacted when Mac brought a suspect in.”
“No, but I know Danny. If he’d have wanted us to come with him, he’d have waited.”
Taylor nodded. “You’re right, she sighed, glancing behind him.
“Look, Taylor,” Flack started. But Taylor’s attention was caught by the flaming ghost of Aiden.
When the burning stopped, she held out her hand, showing her a key. “You have to help them get him for me.”
Ignoring the churning sensation in her stomach, Taylor frowned, and also ignoring Flack, took a step around him towards Aiden. Only just as she worked out it was a house key, Aiden disappeared.
“Taylor? Are you listening?”
“Huh?” Taylor turned back to him and blinked. Flack started to open his mouth to repeat what he had said, but Taylor shook her head, “I… I, uh, need to go,” she said slowly, before turning and leaving.
She managed to keep her stomach under control in order to make it to Mac’s office, where he and Stella were looking at photographs. She tapped softly on the glass door as she walked in. “Hey,” she said, just as softly as the knock had been.
“Come in, Taylor. What’s the matter?” Mac asked, almost wearily.
“Have you been around to Aiden’s apartment yet?” Taylor asked carefully.
Both Mac and Stella gave her a piercing look. “Taylor, I’m not sure you going with us would be such a good idea,” Mac informed her.
Taylor bit her lip, “Well, all things considered, next to Lindsay, I’m probably the most impartial person you have here.”
“You’re also the one most likely to compromise the case, Taylor. You’re not a CSI. I’ve not put Danny on this because I’m concerned he’ll compromise it,” Mac sighed. “We need to get him, Taylor. I can’t risk even the slightest slip-up.”
It was Stella who came to her defence. “But Mac, surely we need all the help we can get. He’s escaped us too many times before.”
Mac nodded. “That may be the case, but I’m not risking it, Stella. And that’s final.
Taylor was slightly stunned. Sure, she was certain that that was the first time she’d witnessed Mac have the final word when it came to Stella. Sure, she wasn’t daft enough to think that the first time, though. But much as she was reluctant to admit it, Mac was right. And the last thing she wanted to do was cause any further upset. So, she just nodded.
Stella seemed to realise this too and changed the subject. “When was the last time you saw her?” she asked Mac.
“We spoke on the phone about a month ago. You?”
“Just last week, by chance. She never called. I never called her either. All I had to do was pick up the phone. We have no idea what was going on in her life.”
“Let's go find out,” Mac turned to Taylor, “Taylor, I think the best thing you can do now is keep an eye on Danny.”
Taylor nodded and watched as the two left together.
* * *
Taylor sent Danny a text, asking him to come and find her once he got back, and headed straight to the break room, grabbing herself a glass of water. Somewhat unsurprisingly, she wasn’t feeling all that hungry, despite the fact it was getting towards late afternoon. She sank onto the couch, head in her hands and sighed.
“You alright?”
Taylor looked up and found Lindsay in the doorway. She gave her a weak smile, “Yeah, I’ll be fine. How are you doing?”
Lindsay shrugged, “I’m fine. I’m not one who knew her. I just feel so helpless. It was Pratt, and there was nothing I can do about it.”
Taylor nodded, “I know the feeling.
“How’s Danny?” Lindsay asked as she came and sat down next to her.
Taylor let out a long breath. “Not as good as he’s making out. All this with Louie, and now Aiden…”
“He was close to her.”
Taylor looked at her. “We crossed paths at the hospital, but Danny never even mentioned her to me.”
“You weren’t her replacement,” Lindsay informed her, glumly.
Taylor shook her head. “Stop that. You’re not seen as a replacement.
“I know that. It’s just… oh, I don’t know. I think this case is getting to me.”
“Linds, it’s getting to everyone. Just, do your best.”
“You sound like my mother,” Lindsay told her with a small grin. She got to her feet. “But, you’re right. There’s got to be something we missed.”
Taylor smiled up at her. “Go get 'em, cowgirl.”
Lindsay gave her a funny look. “’Cowgirl’?”
Taylor smiled innocently. “Yeah, why?”
“Nothing,” she said, slowly. She gave her one last look before leaving Taylor alone.
“You alright?”
Taylor looked up and found Lindsay in the doorway. She gave her a weak smile, “Yeah, I’ll be fine. How are you doing?”
Lindsay shrugged, “I’m fine. I’m not one who knew her. I just feel so helpless. It was Pratt, and there was nothing I can do about it.”
Taylor nodded, “I know the feeling.
“How’s Danny?” Lindsay asked as she came and sat down next to her.
Taylor let out a long breath. “Not as good as he’s making out. All this with Louie, and now Aiden…”
“He was close to her.”
Taylor looked at her. “We crossed paths at the hospital, but Danny never even mentioned her to me.”
“You weren’t her replacement,” Lindsay informed her, glumly.
Taylor shook her head. “Stop that. You’re not seen as a replacement.
“I know that. It’s just… oh, I don’t know. I think this case is getting to me.”
“Linds, it’s getting to everyone. Just, do your best.”
“You sound like my mother,” Lindsay told her with a small grin. She got to her feet. “But, you’re right. There’s got to be something we missed.”
Taylor smiled up at her. “Go get 'em, cowgirl.”
Lindsay gave her a funny look. “’Cowgirl’?”
Taylor smiled innocently. “Yeah, why?”
“Nothing,” she said, slowly. She gave her one last look before leaving Taylor alone.
* * *
She didn’t have to wait too long for Danny to return. “Hey Drew,” he said, wearily, sitting down next to her.
“Any luck?”
Danny nodded, “it wasn’t our guy. He was helpful, however. I called in at trace on the way up, got some more information. Flack’s following up on a new lead. What about this end? Anything new on Aiden?”
“Actually, yeah,” she sighed. Lindsay had only just been in with the update, and whilst Taylor didn’t exactly want to tell Danny, she couldn’t hide it from him. “They have a new suspect.”
Danny came to life. “Who?” he demanded.
“DJ Pratt.”
Danny was on his feet in a shot, dashing out of the door. Taylor got up and followed him, close on his heels. Instead of heading for the elevator, however, he went straight to Mac, who was leaving his office. “Hey!” Danny called, “Pratt! For real?”
Mac nodded grimly. “It looks that way.”
“Are we going to lock him up? He’s dirty!” Danny was disgusted. “We’re letting him walk around the city like he owns the place.”
“I know you’re upset and I am too. But my hands are tied right now. His lawyers watching every move we make right now. I don’t want to make a mistake and let him get off on a technicality.” Mac walked back into his office, heading for his desk. Danny and Taylor followed him in.
“So until we have the evidence to charge Pratt, the law’s going to protect him,” Danny muttered angrily. Taylor placed a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off.
Mac, noting this, changed the subject. “Where are we at with Randal?”
“He scammed Corporal Price: took his money, but not his life. Randal’s DNA doesn’t match the sample from the vic’s shirt and sleeve.”
“What about Corporal Price’s foot locker. Where is it?”
"I can answer that one,” said Taylor. “I called my dad. It’s in transit, but it will be here soon.”
Mac nodded. “You get anything else?” he asked Danny.
“Actually, I do have a lead. The vic was playing a shell game in Time Square at nine pm. He was found dead in central park at midnight.”
“So where was he in between?” Mac asked.
“Exactly,” Danny nodded.
Taylor stopped paying attention when Maddy and Aiden turned up again. She took a deep breath and watched, transfixed in almost grim fascination as Aiden was beaten up and spontaneously combusted. “You have to help them get him for me,” she told her, the eerie grin on her face.
Taylor was desperate to ask her to give her more clues when she didn’t, but Taylor refrained herself. Mac would think she was crazy, and Danny would just… not take it very well. She shut her eyes as the two ghosts disappeared.
“Flack’s already there,” Danny was saying. “I’m going to head down to DNA and see what Jane’s got for us.”
“Keep me posted,” Mac told him.
“Any luck?”
Danny nodded, “it wasn’t our guy. He was helpful, however. I called in at trace on the way up, got some more information. Flack’s following up on a new lead. What about this end? Anything new on Aiden?”
“Actually, yeah,” she sighed. Lindsay had only just been in with the update, and whilst Taylor didn’t exactly want to tell Danny, she couldn’t hide it from him. “They have a new suspect.”
Danny came to life. “Who?” he demanded.
“DJ Pratt.”
Danny was on his feet in a shot, dashing out of the door. Taylor got up and followed him, close on his heels. Instead of heading for the elevator, however, he went straight to Mac, who was leaving his office. “Hey!” Danny called, “Pratt! For real?”
Mac nodded grimly. “It looks that way.”
“Are we going to lock him up? He’s dirty!” Danny was disgusted. “We’re letting him walk around the city like he owns the place.”
“I know you’re upset and I am too. But my hands are tied right now. His lawyers watching every move we make right now. I don’t want to make a mistake and let him get off on a technicality.” Mac walked back into his office, heading for his desk. Danny and Taylor followed him in.
“So until we have the evidence to charge Pratt, the law’s going to protect him,” Danny muttered angrily. Taylor placed a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off.
Mac, noting this, changed the subject. “Where are we at with Randal?”
“He scammed Corporal Price: took his money, but not his life. Randal’s DNA doesn’t match the sample from the vic’s shirt and sleeve.”
“What about Corporal Price’s foot locker. Where is it?”
"I can answer that one,” said Taylor. “I called my dad. It’s in transit, but it will be here soon.”
Mac nodded. “You get anything else?” he asked Danny.
“Actually, I do have a lead. The vic was playing a shell game in Time Square at nine pm. He was found dead in central park at midnight.”
“So where was he in between?” Mac asked.
“Exactly,” Danny nodded.
Taylor stopped paying attention when Maddy and Aiden turned up again. She took a deep breath and watched, transfixed in almost grim fascination as Aiden was beaten up and spontaneously combusted. “You have to help them get him for me,” she told her, the eerie grin on her face.
Taylor was desperate to ask her to give her more clues when she didn’t, but Taylor refrained herself. Mac would think she was crazy, and Danny would just… not take it very well. She shut her eyes as the two ghosts disappeared.
“Flack’s already there,” Danny was saying. “I’m going to head down to DNA and see what Jane’s got for us.”
“Keep me posted,” Mac told him.
* * *
By the time she had had a brief conversation with her father, they had agreed to meet at six for dinner, Danny had returned from DNA and picked Taylor up on his way back to Mac, who was in one of the labs.
“Mac, Flack checked in. It seems the vic went down to the yard bar to meet a chick named Ellie. I think it had something to do with the watch we found in his pocket. The problem is Ellie wasn’t there,” Danny told him.
“So he left to look for her.”
“That was at 11.30. Half hour later, he’s dead,” Danny frowned.
“Any leads on Ellie?”
“Flack’s following up. Right now, she’s a ghost.”
Taylor frowned. “Well, she hasn’t been to visit me.”
Danny gave her a shove. “It was a metaphor!”
Taylor shook her head, “Sorry,” she sighed. “I’m away with the faeries.” Truth be told, Taylor was still distracted by the image of Aiden. It wasn’t something that was going to leave her mind for a long time. She realized that Mac and Danny had continued with the conversation and tuned back in, not that she really understood what they were talking about.
“Amelayze test came back on the blood on the shirt – it’s positive for mucus,” Danny was saying. “The killer’s nose bled on Corporal Price’s sleeve.”
“So how does that get us closer to knowing who the killer is?” Taylor asked.
Mac looked at her. “Price had been through the bull ring. He knew how to fight. He knew how to defend himself.” he told her.
That helps, Taylor thought.
Mac turned to Danny, “I’m glad you’re here. I want to try something. You be the killer. I’ll be Corporal Price.” He took of his jacket and hung it up. “I want you to come at me like you were going to stab me in the chest, overhand.”
Danny picked up a rubber knife, “Okay.”
With a quick, fluid movement, the knife had been dropped on the floor by Mac cracking Danny on the elbow, elbowing him in the nose (both without actual physical contact, of course) and was now holding him from behind in a chokehold. “Okay, I disarmed you with the weapon and made sure you couldn’t pick it back up.”
Danny shifted uncomfortably, “Yes you did. With a blow to my elbow.”
She knew she shouldn’t, but Taylor couldn’t keep herself from sniggering. Danny just glared at her, straightening his glasses which had become slightly skewed, which, of course, led to her sniggering even more.
“Alright,” said Mac, before starting to talk them through what he had done. “Come down on the joint, most likely causing a dislocation. Followed by an elbow to the nose, breaking it. And finishing with a figure four rear choke.”
“And Danny’s busted nose is going to cause it to bleed. Which would explain the mucus in the blood on the sleeve,” Taylor said slowly.
Mac nodded. “Corporal Price was an experienced marine. He would have no problem overpowering a civilian attacker.”
“Which is why there was no evidence of a struggle,” said Danny.
“He also would have held that choke hold for at least thirteen seconds. Cutting off blood flow until the attacker passed out.” He let go of Danny, who pulled at his collar.
“Well how does that work? If he was out cold, how’s he going to stab the victim in the chest?” Taylor asked. Things had very quickly stopped making sense.
“It means there was a second attacker. One Corporal Price never saw coming,” Mac explained.
Taylor frowned. That was actually the logical explanation.
Mac continued. “One of the attackers has a severely damaged right elbow and a broken nose.”
Danny smiled. “Two injuries that do not heal on their own.”
“No,” Mac agreed. “So one of our suspects is in the hospital. Find him.”
Danny nodded and left, Taylor right behind him. “I’m going to get Flack on it.” Taylor nodded, still quite distracted. “Why don’t you go get yourself a coffee,” Danny suggested. “Stay here.” He paused. “This case is getting to you, isn’t it?” Taylor shook her head. A case was getting to her, but it wasn’t this one. “Is it seeing a marine dead? You worry about your dad?”
Taylor stared at him and sighed, “Yeah,” she lied. She couldn’t tell him that she kept seeing Aiden and the brutal way she died.
“Stay here, have a break,” Danny said, giving her arm a squeeze.
Taylor nodded and left him, heading for the break room. Danny would be alright with Flack.
She took a step through the door and stopped. Standing in front of her was Maddy and Aiden. Taylor shut her eyes. She couldn’t watch her burn, again. “Maddy, why do I keep seeing this?” she whimpered.
Maddy sighed. “It’s not my choice, believe me.”
Taylor opened her eyes and looked at the charred body, “Aiden, I want to help you, I really do. But Mac’s not letting me near this case. You’ve got to give me something else to go on,” she pleaded.
Aiden nodded and held out a few photographs and a camera. Before Taylor could actually look at was on them, Aiden disappeared. But that didn’t deter Taylor. She turned abruptly and headed to Mac’s office, where inside, she found both him and Stella, discussing the case.
“How could this have happened, Mac? Aiden was smart. She was a great cop,” said Stella. “She knew Pratt was dangerous. Why would she get so close following him with all these photos?”
Photos? Taylor headed over to them.
“This case haunted her. Aiden sacrificed her career trying to get DJ Pratt,” Mac explained, watching Taylor.
“This is Pratt?” asked Taylor in both horror and surprise.
“Yes,” Mac confirmed. “Why?”
“Where did you find these photographs?” Taylor asked, having to force the words out as she suddenly found her throat dry.
“In Aiden’s apartment. She’s been running her own investigation on him. Why?” Stella asked.
“Because I know him,” Taylor muttered. “He’s been decorating the corridors in my building.”
“Wait a minute. She didn’t make a mistake. She made a choice,” said Stella, a look of horror on her face. “Look at this photo. This woman lived in the building Pratt was painting.” The picture in question was one of Pratt in a van, looking in his side mirrors at Taylor as she crossed the road behind him.
Mac looked closely, “Taylor?” He spared a glance at Taylor’s drained face, before focusing on Stella. “Aiden would know she fits Pratt’s MO.”
“Pratt used Taylor to lure Aiden into his trap. What she didn’t know was that he set the whole thing up,” said Stella.
Taylor felt sick. “He was targeting Aiden by going through me?” she whispered.
“He stole Charles Wright’s car with the intention of killing her in it,” Mac continued.
Taylor sank onto one of Mac’s chairs. “She saved me, and she grins at me.”
“Grins at you? What are you talking about?” Stella asked her.
Taylor’s head sunk into her hands. “Aiden’s ghost came to see me… comes to see me. She keeps asking me to help them to get him for me. She’s talking about Pratt. And I see her die, again and again – burning to a…” Taylor swallowed. “And as she burns, she stares at me with this big, wide grin.”
“Mac,” interrupted Hawkes, entering the room. “The indentation on the arm rest in the burnt out car – bite mark.”
Mac looked over. “Pratt’s?”
“That’s what I hoped for, but no go. The bite belongs to Aiden. I cast the maxillary dentition. A perfect match. She bit down on the arm rest during the attack.”
Mac looked from Hawkes to Taylor. “Aiden left us everything we need to nail DJ Pratt for good.”
“Mac, Flack checked in. It seems the vic went down to the yard bar to meet a chick named Ellie. I think it had something to do with the watch we found in his pocket. The problem is Ellie wasn’t there,” Danny told him.
“So he left to look for her.”
“That was at 11.30. Half hour later, he’s dead,” Danny frowned.
“Any leads on Ellie?”
“Flack’s following up. Right now, she’s a ghost.”
Taylor frowned. “Well, she hasn’t been to visit me.”
Danny gave her a shove. “It was a metaphor!”
Taylor shook her head, “Sorry,” she sighed. “I’m away with the faeries.” Truth be told, Taylor was still distracted by the image of Aiden. It wasn’t something that was going to leave her mind for a long time. She realized that Mac and Danny had continued with the conversation and tuned back in, not that she really understood what they were talking about.
“Amelayze test came back on the blood on the shirt – it’s positive for mucus,” Danny was saying. “The killer’s nose bled on Corporal Price’s sleeve.”
“So how does that get us closer to knowing who the killer is?” Taylor asked.
Mac looked at her. “Price had been through the bull ring. He knew how to fight. He knew how to defend himself.” he told her.
That helps, Taylor thought.
Mac turned to Danny, “I’m glad you’re here. I want to try something. You be the killer. I’ll be Corporal Price.” He took of his jacket and hung it up. “I want you to come at me like you were going to stab me in the chest, overhand.”
Danny picked up a rubber knife, “Okay.”
With a quick, fluid movement, the knife had been dropped on the floor by Mac cracking Danny on the elbow, elbowing him in the nose (both without actual physical contact, of course) and was now holding him from behind in a chokehold. “Okay, I disarmed you with the weapon and made sure you couldn’t pick it back up.”
Danny shifted uncomfortably, “Yes you did. With a blow to my elbow.”
She knew she shouldn’t, but Taylor couldn’t keep herself from sniggering. Danny just glared at her, straightening his glasses which had become slightly skewed, which, of course, led to her sniggering even more.
“Alright,” said Mac, before starting to talk them through what he had done. “Come down on the joint, most likely causing a dislocation. Followed by an elbow to the nose, breaking it. And finishing with a figure four rear choke.”
“And Danny’s busted nose is going to cause it to bleed. Which would explain the mucus in the blood on the sleeve,” Taylor said slowly.
Mac nodded. “Corporal Price was an experienced marine. He would have no problem overpowering a civilian attacker.”
“Which is why there was no evidence of a struggle,” said Danny.
“He also would have held that choke hold for at least thirteen seconds. Cutting off blood flow until the attacker passed out.” He let go of Danny, who pulled at his collar.
“Well how does that work? If he was out cold, how’s he going to stab the victim in the chest?” Taylor asked. Things had very quickly stopped making sense.
“It means there was a second attacker. One Corporal Price never saw coming,” Mac explained.
Taylor frowned. That was actually the logical explanation.
Mac continued. “One of the attackers has a severely damaged right elbow and a broken nose.”
Danny smiled. “Two injuries that do not heal on their own.”
“No,” Mac agreed. “So one of our suspects is in the hospital. Find him.”
Danny nodded and left, Taylor right behind him. “I’m going to get Flack on it.” Taylor nodded, still quite distracted. “Why don’t you go get yourself a coffee,” Danny suggested. “Stay here.” He paused. “This case is getting to you, isn’t it?” Taylor shook her head. A case was getting to her, but it wasn’t this one. “Is it seeing a marine dead? You worry about your dad?”
Taylor stared at him and sighed, “Yeah,” she lied. She couldn’t tell him that she kept seeing Aiden and the brutal way she died.
“Stay here, have a break,” Danny said, giving her arm a squeeze.
Taylor nodded and left him, heading for the break room. Danny would be alright with Flack.
She took a step through the door and stopped. Standing in front of her was Maddy and Aiden. Taylor shut her eyes. She couldn’t watch her burn, again. “Maddy, why do I keep seeing this?” she whimpered.
Maddy sighed. “It’s not my choice, believe me.”
Taylor opened her eyes and looked at the charred body, “Aiden, I want to help you, I really do. But Mac’s not letting me near this case. You’ve got to give me something else to go on,” she pleaded.
Aiden nodded and held out a few photographs and a camera. Before Taylor could actually look at was on them, Aiden disappeared. But that didn’t deter Taylor. She turned abruptly and headed to Mac’s office, where inside, she found both him and Stella, discussing the case.
“How could this have happened, Mac? Aiden was smart. She was a great cop,” said Stella. “She knew Pratt was dangerous. Why would she get so close following him with all these photos?”
Photos? Taylor headed over to them.
“This case haunted her. Aiden sacrificed her career trying to get DJ Pratt,” Mac explained, watching Taylor.
“This is Pratt?” asked Taylor in both horror and surprise.
“Yes,” Mac confirmed. “Why?”
“Where did you find these photographs?” Taylor asked, having to force the words out as she suddenly found her throat dry.
“In Aiden’s apartment. She’s been running her own investigation on him. Why?” Stella asked.
“Because I know him,” Taylor muttered. “He’s been decorating the corridors in my building.”
“Wait a minute. She didn’t make a mistake. She made a choice,” said Stella, a look of horror on her face. “Look at this photo. This woman lived in the building Pratt was painting.” The picture in question was one of Pratt in a van, looking in his side mirrors at Taylor as she crossed the road behind him.
Mac looked closely, “Taylor?” He spared a glance at Taylor’s drained face, before focusing on Stella. “Aiden would know she fits Pratt’s MO.”
“Pratt used Taylor to lure Aiden into his trap. What she didn’t know was that he set the whole thing up,” said Stella.
Taylor felt sick. “He was targeting Aiden by going through me?” she whispered.
“He stole Charles Wright’s car with the intention of killing her in it,” Mac continued.
Taylor sank onto one of Mac’s chairs. “She saved me, and she grins at me.”
“Grins at you? What are you talking about?” Stella asked her.
Taylor’s head sunk into her hands. “Aiden’s ghost came to see me… comes to see me. She keeps asking me to help them to get him for me. She’s talking about Pratt. And I see her die, again and again – burning to a…” Taylor swallowed. “And as she burns, she stares at me with this big, wide grin.”
“Mac,” interrupted Hawkes, entering the room. “The indentation on the arm rest in the burnt out car – bite mark.”
Mac looked over. “Pratt’s?”
“That’s what I hoped for, but no go. The bite belongs to Aiden. I cast the maxillary dentition. A perfect match. She bit down on the arm rest during the attack.”
Mac looked from Hawkes to Taylor. “Aiden left us everything we need to nail DJ Pratt for good.”
Originally posted 20/07/2006