Spoilers for 2x07: Manhattan Manhunt
Taylor awoke the following morning to find another six ghosts in her bedroom. She shuddered feeling a chill go through her. This Henry Darius was a monster. He had already killed seven people, and now there were another six standing in front of her. What was worse, was they were getting younger. These six – a mixture of both boys and girls – were all wearing a school uniform she recognised (Hathaway Prep School), and like the other seven, had all been shot.
“Save her,” the female ghosts said.
Taylor nodded. She was not about to let this guy kill another person. Before she could get anything more from them, they disappeared. Hoping they knew what they were doing, she threw on yesterday’s combats and camisole and dashed out of the door, barely stopping to clip her hair up.
She ran all the way to the precinct – the route becoming far too familiar for her liking – pulling out her phone and trying to get Mac. After she kept getting through to his voicemail, she gave up and carried on running, up into the crime lab door, not stopping to say hi to the ME, Marty, who she nearly sent flying. She ignored his shouts and carried on, into to the building until she came across the first face she recognised that she knew would be able to help her.
“Flack!” she cried, coming to a stop, panting as she tried to get her breath, “He’s here. Darius is here in New York.”
“I know. Mac is about to get off the plane now.”
“No, you don’t understand. He’s already killed again,” she gasped, “Six kids – they were all wearing Hathaway Prep uniforms.”
Flack swore, “Darius kidnapped a girl from Miami – Alexa Endecott. Her sister goes to Hathaway.” Somehow forgetting she wasn’t anything other than a detective, he grabbed her arm and pulled her, “Come on. We need to get to the Endecott residence before it’s too late.”
It already was too late – they were dead – but maybe they could save the “her.” Taylor took off after him.
“Save her,” the female ghosts said.
Taylor nodded. She was not about to let this guy kill another person. Before she could get anything more from them, they disappeared. Hoping they knew what they were doing, she threw on yesterday’s combats and camisole and dashed out of the door, barely stopping to clip her hair up.
She ran all the way to the precinct – the route becoming far too familiar for her liking – pulling out her phone and trying to get Mac. After she kept getting through to his voicemail, she gave up and carried on running, up into the crime lab door, not stopping to say hi to the ME, Marty, who she nearly sent flying. She ignored his shouts and carried on, into to the building until she came across the first face she recognised that she knew would be able to help her.
“Flack!” she cried, coming to a stop, panting as she tried to get her breath, “He’s here. Darius is here in New York.”
“I know. Mac is about to get off the plane now.”
“No, you don’t understand. He’s already killed again,” she gasped, “Six kids – they were all wearing Hathaway Prep uniforms.”
Flack swore, “Darius kidnapped a girl from Miami – Alexa Endecott. Her sister goes to Hathaway.” Somehow forgetting she wasn’t anything other than a detective, he grabbed her arm and pulled her, “Come on. We need to get to the Endecott residence before it’s too late.”
It already was too late – they were dead – but maybe they could save the “her.” Taylor took off after him.
* * *
“Oh my God!” gasped Taylor. She was standing in the middle of the Endecott’s once elegant apartment at the Kensington Arms, staring in horror at the six dead bodies in front of her. They were all lined neatly with their hands behind their backs, and their blood had been smeared over the wall. In front of her, just as horrified by the scene were Flack and Stella, as well as Mac – who had come directly from the airport – and a red haired man she had never seen before.
“How did this happen? There were security guards at every one of the Endecott’s Manhattan properties,” Flack pointed out.
“Alexa’s got to be here somewhere,” the new detective said softly. Taylor frowned; perhaps he had come from Miami to help. He certainly dressed like he had come from somewhere other than New York.
Stella sighed, “Are we sure this is Darius?”
Mac frowned. “Take a good look at the position of these kids,” he said, indicating to the bodies, “Look familiar?”
Stella nodded. “Yeah. The nurses in mid-town. And he played in their blood.” Taylor glanced at the blood smeared on the walls, extremely thankful that she hadn’t eaten that morning – she could feel her stomach churning already. “Any one of these kids Alexa Endecott?” Stella continued.
Looking at the bodies, Taylor held her breath. All the ones that had visited her were lay on the floor in front of her. Which meant that Alexa stood a chance. And then she noticed them all staring upwards. She followed their stares, instantly wishing she hadn’t – there was blood dripping from the ceiling. Beside her, the others made a move, leaving the room. Taylor took one final glance at the bodies, and then followed.
She caught them up at in one of the bedrooms – a huge vault open in front of them, and a dead girl lying half in, half out.
“She never saw it coming,” Mac was saying, as he pulled up his trouser legs and crouched down besides her.
The Miami detective shook his head in agreement. “No. The safe is open and empty.”
“It’s a biometric lock,” said Stella
Mac nodded. “It explains why he brought her to New York. Needed her hand. Her blood vessels.”
Stella frowned, “Why would he bring Alexa all the way to New York for money? I thought he got money from the groupie in Florida.”
Taylor didn’t have a clue what Stella meant by the groupie, but she wasn’t bothered. The dead girl was Alexa. The one she had been trying to save was lying dead on the floor, eyes open and staring straight at her. She stifled a sob with her hand.
The Miami detective gave her a strange look. “It’s not Endecott money. And as we know, money is only half of it,” he said to Mac and Stella.
Mac nodded. “The last thing Darius said, down in Miami, he was coming to New York to make things right.”
“Think he has?” Stella asked.
“Not even close,” Mac replied.
The Miami detective watched Taylor – never having taken his eyes off her to start with, “Detective, are you alright?”
Taylor nodded as Mac spoke up, “Horatio, she’s not a detective. This is Taylor Turner from the New York Daily.”
“She comes and kinda helps us on some cases,” explained Stella, as she gave the journalist a pat on the shoulder.
“Excuse me,” whispered Taylor as she walked away. She didn’t want to look at the bodies any longer.
“How did this happen? There were security guards at every one of the Endecott’s Manhattan properties,” Flack pointed out.
“Alexa’s got to be here somewhere,” the new detective said softly. Taylor frowned; perhaps he had come from Miami to help. He certainly dressed like he had come from somewhere other than New York.
Stella sighed, “Are we sure this is Darius?”
Mac frowned. “Take a good look at the position of these kids,” he said, indicating to the bodies, “Look familiar?”
Stella nodded. “Yeah. The nurses in mid-town. And he played in their blood.” Taylor glanced at the blood smeared on the walls, extremely thankful that she hadn’t eaten that morning – she could feel her stomach churning already. “Any one of these kids Alexa Endecott?” Stella continued.
Looking at the bodies, Taylor held her breath. All the ones that had visited her were lay on the floor in front of her. Which meant that Alexa stood a chance. And then she noticed them all staring upwards. She followed their stares, instantly wishing she hadn’t – there was blood dripping from the ceiling. Beside her, the others made a move, leaving the room. Taylor took one final glance at the bodies, and then followed.
She caught them up at in one of the bedrooms – a huge vault open in front of them, and a dead girl lying half in, half out.
“She never saw it coming,” Mac was saying, as he pulled up his trouser legs and crouched down besides her.
The Miami detective shook his head in agreement. “No. The safe is open and empty.”
“It’s a biometric lock,” said Stella
Mac nodded. “It explains why he brought her to New York. Needed her hand. Her blood vessels.”
Stella frowned, “Why would he bring Alexa all the way to New York for money? I thought he got money from the groupie in Florida.”
Taylor didn’t have a clue what Stella meant by the groupie, but she wasn’t bothered. The dead girl was Alexa. The one she had been trying to save was lying dead on the floor, eyes open and staring straight at her. She stifled a sob with her hand.
The Miami detective gave her a strange look. “It’s not Endecott money. And as we know, money is only half of it,” he said to Mac and Stella.
Mac nodded. “The last thing Darius said, down in Miami, he was coming to New York to make things right.”
“Think he has?” Stella asked.
“Not even close,” Mac replied.
The Miami detective watched Taylor – never having taken his eyes off her to start with, “Detective, are you alright?”
Taylor nodded as Mac spoke up, “Horatio, she’s not a detective. This is Taylor Turner from the New York Daily.”
“She comes and kinda helps us on some cases,” explained Stella, as she gave the journalist a pat on the shoulder.
“Excuse me,” whispered Taylor as she walked away. She didn’t want to look at the bodies any longer.
* * *
Taylor was leaning against a wall when the rest of the team walked in. She barely acknowledged them as they walked past her to survey the carnage before them. Not long after, Stella appeared.
Danny turned around from looking at the bodies when he noticed her, “Got your call. Teams all here,” he told her, indicating with his head to Hawkes and Lindsay.
“Right,” said Stella, “Thanks.”
“We came as soon as we could,” said Hawkes, as he eyed up the oversized glass of pills on the coffee table.
Lindsay noticed him looking at them, “What’s with all the pills?”
“It’s a pharm party,” Stella explained.
Taylor frowned – she’d recently done an article on the growing popularity of these things, despite the fact they were pretty much death traps.
“What’s a pharm party?” Lindsay asked.
“Pharmaceuticals,” said Taylor quietly, her eyes on the floor. The others looked at her in surprise. “Empty your parent’s medicine cabinet and pop until you drop. It’s the rich kid’s idea of fun.”
Stella nodded, “At first glance we’ve got lithium, certaline philoxatine. Most of these drugs don’t even get you high.”
Taylor sensed movement behind her – it was Mac.
“Stella and I are going to run with this one,” he told them, “Danny, check the service entryway – there’s an elevator there – secondary exit.” He turned to Hawkes, “Sheldon, bag up these bottles, get them over to Lindsay. She’ll be in trace.”
Taylor glanced up at Lindsay and she did not look impressed.
“Sir, I’ve worked big crimes scenes before,” she protested, “I’ve got two hands, I’m ready to work.”
Taylor had forgotten that Lindsay hadn’t been there very long, but in Taylor’s opinion, going to the lab wasn’t a bad thing – she wanted to get out of there and away from all the blood and bodies as soon as possible.
“This is a high profile case, Lindsay,” explained Mac, “I want you in the lab.” He turned to the others, “I need your full attention. Remember, anything you can find here could take us to Darius so be careful. Be thorough.” He turned his attention to Taylor, “Go back to the lab with Lindsay, Taylor. You don’t have to stay for this.”
Taylor nodded and walked out, not catching anyone’s eye, nor seeing the concern on their faces – for someone who didn’t have to be there, she had just witnessed a massacre.
Lindsay made to follow, but Mac stopped her, “Just keep an eye on her, okay?” Lindsay nodded and left, still not very happy about being sent away.
Danny turned around from looking at the bodies when he noticed her, “Got your call. Teams all here,” he told her, indicating with his head to Hawkes and Lindsay.
“Right,” said Stella, “Thanks.”
“We came as soon as we could,” said Hawkes, as he eyed up the oversized glass of pills on the coffee table.
Lindsay noticed him looking at them, “What’s with all the pills?”
“It’s a pharm party,” Stella explained.
Taylor frowned – she’d recently done an article on the growing popularity of these things, despite the fact they were pretty much death traps.
“What’s a pharm party?” Lindsay asked.
“Pharmaceuticals,” said Taylor quietly, her eyes on the floor. The others looked at her in surprise. “Empty your parent’s medicine cabinet and pop until you drop. It’s the rich kid’s idea of fun.”
Stella nodded, “At first glance we’ve got lithium, certaline philoxatine. Most of these drugs don’t even get you high.”
Taylor sensed movement behind her – it was Mac.
“Stella and I are going to run with this one,” he told them, “Danny, check the service entryway – there’s an elevator there – secondary exit.” He turned to Hawkes, “Sheldon, bag up these bottles, get them over to Lindsay. She’ll be in trace.”
Taylor glanced up at Lindsay and she did not look impressed.
“Sir, I’ve worked big crimes scenes before,” she protested, “I’ve got two hands, I’m ready to work.”
Taylor had forgotten that Lindsay hadn’t been there very long, but in Taylor’s opinion, going to the lab wasn’t a bad thing – she wanted to get out of there and away from all the blood and bodies as soon as possible.
“This is a high profile case, Lindsay,” explained Mac, “I want you in the lab.” He turned to the others, “I need your full attention. Remember, anything you can find here could take us to Darius so be careful. Be thorough.” He turned his attention to Taylor, “Go back to the lab with Lindsay, Taylor. You don’t have to stay for this.”
Taylor nodded and walked out, not catching anyone’s eye, nor seeing the concern on their faces – for someone who didn’t have to be there, she had just witnessed a massacre.
Lindsay made to follow, but Mac stopped her, “Just keep an eye on her, okay?” Lindsay nodded and left, still not very happy about being sent away.
* * *
Taylor was sat in the break room feeling very miserable, nursing a cup of coffee which had since gone cold. Lindsay had been in to see her – it was her who had brought her the coffee – and tried give her some supportive words, but they hadn’t even registered in Taylor’s brain as she nodded numbly. Her cell phone had gone off a few times – Maddy, and her mother – but she’d ignored them. The only thing she could think about was how she had failed.
And was where the Miami detective found her. He crouched down next to her, looking up into her eyes. “You don’t,” he started, “You don’t strike me as someone who went to that crime scene because your editor sent you.”
Taylor slowly shook her head, “I don’t really have a choice, anymore.”
“We’ll get him you know. Henry Darius.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Taylor agreed quietly. “I’ve seen this team work before. They’re good.”
Horatio sighed, “I used to work here, in New York, before I transferred to Miami. I have a friend, here, if you want to go talk to her.”
Taylor arched her eyebrows. He was recommending she see a shrink.
“Back home, whenever one of my team witness something like that, I make it mandatory for them to see someone. It’s a hard thing to deal with, especially for someone who doesn’t deal with death. It helps.”
Taylor swallowed the urge to laugh – what exactly could she possibly tell a shrink. Flack was right. She would be locked up. Instead, she nodded her head.
“I promise,” he continued, “I promise that this will work out, and Darius will get given the death penalty for what he has done.”
There was something about his clear blue eyes that she believed him. She smiled, “You make a lot of promises, don’t you?”
He smiled back, “Yes. I do.”
“Do you always keep them?”
He continued to smile. “Yes.” He got to his feet and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It will get easier,” he told her.
For a second, Taylor was almost convinced he knew her secret – but that was impossible. Right?
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a promise to a little boy to keep.” He turned and left, leaving Taylor feeling a little confused.
She screwed up her face in determination – she may not have save Alexa, but damnit, she was going to make sure that Darius didn’t send anymore ghosts her way. She turned around, only to find she wasn’t alone – Alexa Endecott, complete with bullet wound and blood stain, was standing in front of her.
“Save her.”
Taylor’s heart nearly stopped. “Her?” she asked urgently, “Is this the same her, or a different her?”
The ghost’s clothes changed – she was wearing a Hathaway Prep school uniform.
As Alexa faded away, Taylor smiled. Maybe it wasn’t too late. She charged off to find Mac.
Taylor ran through the maze of corridors, peering in through the various doors, until she finally found Mac. He was in trace with Danny and Lindsay looking at something under a microscope. To Taylor, on the monitor, it looked nothing more than various coloured lines – but that wasn’t important.
“Any suggestions on a lead?” Danny was asking Mac.
“There was someone else there,” Taylor blurted out from the doorway. “Someone in a Hathaway Prep uniform.”
Mac looked from Taylor to Danny, “I think I know where to start,” he told them.
And was where the Miami detective found her. He crouched down next to her, looking up into her eyes. “You don’t,” he started, “You don’t strike me as someone who went to that crime scene because your editor sent you.”
Taylor slowly shook her head, “I don’t really have a choice, anymore.”
“We’ll get him you know. Henry Darius.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Taylor agreed quietly. “I’ve seen this team work before. They’re good.”
Horatio sighed, “I used to work here, in New York, before I transferred to Miami. I have a friend, here, if you want to go talk to her.”
Taylor arched her eyebrows. He was recommending she see a shrink.
“Back home, whenever one of my team witness something like that, I make it mandatory for them to see someone. It’s a hard thing to deal with, especially for someone who doesn’t deal with death. It helps.”
Taylor swallowed the urge to laugh – what exactly could she possibly tell a shrink. Flack was right. She would be locked up. Instead, she nodded her head.
“I promise,” he continued, “I promise that this will work out, and Darius will get given the death penalty for what he has done.”
There was something about his clear blue eyes that she believed him. She smiled, “You make a lot of promises, don’t you?”
He smiled back, “Yes. I do.”
“Do you always keep them?”
He continued to smile. “Yes.” He got to his feet and placed a hand on her shoulder. “It will get easier,” he told her.
For a second, Taylor was almost convinced he knew her secret – but that was impossible. Right?
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a promise to a little boy to keep.” He turned and left, leaving Taylor feeling a little confused.
She screwed up her face in determination – she may not have save Alexa, but damnit, she was going to make sure that Darius didn’t send anymore ghosts her way. She turned around, only to find she wasn’t alone – Alexa Endecott, complete with bullet wound and blood stain, was standing in front of her.
“Save her.”
Taylor’s heart nearly stopped. “Her?” she asked urgently, “Is this the same her, or a different her?”
The ghost’s clothes changed – she was wearing a Hathaway Prep school uniform.
As Alexa faded away, Taylor smiled. Maybe it wasn’t too late. She charged off to find Mac.
Taylor ran through the maze of corridors, peering in through the various doors, until she finally found Mac. He was in trace with Danny and Lindsay looking at something under a microscope. To Taylor, on the monitor, it looked nothing more than various coloured lines – but that wasn’t important.
“Any suggestions on a lead?” Danny was asking Mac.
“There was someone else there,” Taylor blurted out from the doorway. “Someone in a Hathaway Prep uniform.”
Mac looked from Taylor to Danny, “I think I know where to start,” he told them.
Originally posted: 17/05/2006