Prelude
Author's Note: This is my first Cold Case fan fiction, so please be considerate. I don't mind constructive criticism, but please no FLAMES. My feelings do get hurt easily. Thanks for reviewing.
January 15, 1980 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
It had been a long, grueling day, and the dancers of the Pennsylvania Ballet had been put through their rigorous workouts, and rehearsals for the upcoming production of 'The Sleeping Beauty'. The ballet was long and arduous for most dancers, but for 20 year old Patricia Pearson it was a dream come true. For she had won the coveted role of 'Princess Aurora', a role any ballerina would dream of having.
It was a well known fact, in the world of ballet however, that competition could be extremely fierce and in some cases, downright murderous.
January 15, 1980 - 4:00 P.M.
"Patty, it's not fair that you got that role. You know damned well I worked just as hard for it as you did. Keith isn't being fair about it at all."
Patty Pearson sat down, and began to stretch her limber body and as she did, she said quietly, "Nic, Keith's doing what is best for this company."
Nicole Miller sighed, and sat down next to her best friend Patty and said, "Yeah I suppose, but you're extremely lucky Patty." Patty said quietly, "And you're to be the Bluebird Fairy, Nic." Nic grinned and said, "Yeah I am aren't I? You're right Patty, we're both extremely blessed."
January 15, 1980 7:00 P.M.
It was dark and cold by the time Patty left the theater, headed for home. Her body and muscles were sore from the long rehearsals. The role of Princess Aurora was one of the most demanding in the classical ballet repertoire. She was looking forward to getting home and sinking into a hot bubble bath and relaxing her muscles. An ugly sore had erupted on her right big toe during Pointe class earlier today and Jody, the ballet mistress had really put them through their paces.
She was walking along at a steady pace when she heard footsteps approaching. Patty knew that she should have called for a taxi, or even taken the ride that Tony had offered. Tony, who was her dance partner and was scheduled to premiere 'The Sleeping Beauty' with Patty as his 'Princess Aurora', had been gallant enough to offer her a ride home, but she had declined saying that she would walk home tonight. After a long day of rehearsals, she craved some solitude. Now it looked as if she might get more than solitude, if the footsteps behind her were any indication.
Quickening her pace, Patty moved silently through the darkened Philadelphia streets, wishing that she lived closer to the studio and theater than she actually did. Dancers however, she knew, didn't make a lot of money and so they had to live in cheap apartments that were usually further away from the ritzy downtown area.
Nicole had watched silently as Patty walked away into the night, and followed behind, hoping to catch up. Deep in her heart, Nicole was resentful that she wouldn't get the chance to dance Princess Aurora, for she knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, as most ballet companies couldn't afford to put on more than one, possibly two performances of this grand ballet, at least once every two or three decades. Nic also knew that it had been 30 years since the last performance of 'The Sleeping Beauty', back in September of 1950. If she didn't get this part now, then she never would. So she followed Patty into the Philadelphia dark.
Patty turned a corner quickly, hoping to lose whoever it was that was following her. She hoped that they weren't, but her imagination was working overtime, and she moved her lithe and nimble dancer's body as fast as she could, but she couldn't move fast enough, for the next thing she knew, she felt a hand clamp down on her mouth and she was being dragged into an alleyway.
Then she was shoved up against a brick wall, where she hit her head. Standing there, her heart racing violently in her chest, she stared up into the face of her attacker. As the light from a nearby building flickered on and off, she gasped as she looked up into the face of her friend... and then whimpered..."No, please... please..." and then she felt blood flowing from her head as she sank downwards and the world became black.
