All My Secrets
By MElsieR
Disclaimer: I do not own Without A Trace, nor do I own any of it's characters. I borrowed them for the purpose, of this story.
Spoilers: No Spoilers
Warnings: Non-consensual/rape, and child abuse is discussed. Also some homosexual content.
Authors Note: This story is a Danny Taylor/Martin Fitzgerald Slash. In this story, D/M have been officially together, for a year. Set about fourth season. So, maybe a little over a year. I like the idea, of those two getting together, after the Dornvald Ambush.
"Edward Elmhurst, ten years old. Was first noticed missing Friday night when he didn't return home from school." Jack said, adding Edward's picture to the white board.
"Who called it in?" Sam asked, moving from her desk to join the others at the conference table.
Jack turned to face his team, "The mother."
"Why did she wait until just this morning to make the call?" Viv asked, with confusion showing in her voice.
"That's what we're going to find out. Danny and Martin, head over to the residence and find out what you can there. Viv, you and I will go to the school. Sam, I want you here. Get everything you can on the family. Phone records, other residence, whatever.
"You got it, Jack" Sam said, as she pushed herself away from the table and headed to her desk.
With their tasks laid out everyone headed to the parking garage to head out on yet another case.
When Danny and Martin arrived at the Elmhurst residence, they were greeted at the door by a little boy.
"Hi." The little boy, greeted in a very low shy voice.
"Hi there. Is your mother home?" Martin asked, with a smile. Danny stood to the side with his head cocked to the side. It never failed to amaze Danny how good Martin was with kids. The thought hit him just then how good Martin would be as a father. He often thought about his future with Martin. One day they could have kids. Adopt them from the hell he knows all to well. He stopped himself there. There was a kid to find.
A woman's voice could be herd from behind the door. "Who is it, Daniel? I told you not to open the door when someone is knocking." She says, as she pulls the door open more. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, Mrs. Elmhurst, I'm Special Agent Martin Fitzgerald and this is Special Agent Danny Taylor. We're here to ask you a few questions about Edward?"
"Oh yes, come in. I'm Marlene. I'm Eddy's mother." After closing the door behind them she hugs Daniel from behind. "And this is Daniel, my youngest son."
"It's nice to meet you Daniel." Martin says, extending his hand.
Daniel takes it with a hyper grin, happy to be apart of the grown up situation.
"Come into the kitchen, I'll get you some coffee." Marlene said, as she walked past the two agents.
Danny shared his thoughts, as they followed. "She seems to be taking this a little too well. Her oldest son goes missing and she almost seems happy."
"I was just thinking the same thing."
As they reached the kitchen, Marlene gave them a smile and an offering hand to have a seat at the table. Both agents took the offer, sitting on the far end of the table. They were joined by Daniel, which whom sat next to Martin with a large grin.
Marlene soon had three coffee cups on the table, and a plastic cup of orange juice for Daniel. "So, what do you need to know?" She asked, as she sat at the opposite end of the table.
Danny was a little thrown off by how well, Marlene was taking this whole situation. She didn't seem the least bit worried about her son. She wasn't showing it anyway. "When was the last time you saw Edward, Mrs. Elmhurst?"
"Um, he left here Friday morning with Daniel. They were going to the bus stop."
"And when did you first notice he was missing?"
"Uh, that afternoon. Daniel came home by himself. Eddy usually always brings Daniel home and asks before he goes anywhere." Marlene answered, then taking a sip of her coffee.
Danny knew something was off. She was being way too calm. She had to know where her son was. Or she didn't care. He shared a knowing look with Martin, who turned to Daniel, "Hey, Daniel I bet you have some pretty cool toys, huh?"
Daniels only response was a speedy nod, with a big smile.
"Yeah, You wanna go play? Show me your favorite toy?"
Daniel didn't wait for Martin to change his mind. He jumped out of his seat, took Martin by the hand and led him to his bedroom where all his toys are.
Danny, now starring at Marlene with an annoyed look. "Mrs. Elmhurst, what was your relationship like with you and your son?"
While Danny continued to squeeze answers from Marlene, Martin was doing the same with Daniel. Who was to happy to answer all of Martins questions. They both sat on the floor, playing with a little green plastic army of GI Joe's. They were Daniel's favorite.
"Do you miss your brother, Daniel?"
"Yeah, but he never want's to play with me anymore."
"No? Who does he play with now?"
"Kid's he goes to school with. They play basketball. I'm too little to play. Then, when he comes home from school he plays with Daddy."
"Your daddy?" Martin couldn't recall anyone mentioning a husband, or father in this case. "What's your daddies name?"
"Roger. I don't know his other name. It's not like my other name."
Now Martin was becoming a little confused. He didn't think he was all that good with kids. He wasn't really good with cryptic messages either.
"Other name? What's your other name, Daniel?"
"My other name is Elmhurst. Roger's isn't. It starts with a B. He always says, 'Just like the car, but with more class'. What does that mean?"
"B? As in Bentley?"
"Yeah! You're really good at guessing games."
Martin could tell that Daniel doesn't get a lot of attention. He was a lot like him, when he was a kid. Overjoyed, when someone, anyone would pay attention. Being a Fitzgerald child, he didn't get much attention. Not from those who mattered the most. His parents.
He never really had any friends. But, there was one person. That one person that paid a little too much attention to the young Fitzgerald. Martin, had spent most of his life trying to forget that man. He had to stop himself before he started to make assumptions.
" Your daddy and Edward don't let you play with them?"
"No, Eddy says that I'm not big enough. I'm never big enough."
"What do they play, Daniel?"
"They wrestle, and yell at each other. Eddy, says it's a grown up game."
"What…what do they say, when they're yelling?"
"My daddy says a lot of bad words. Then, they wrestle. Then when Eddy loses, he cries. Daddy, tells him not to cry, then they wrestle more. Mommy plays sometimes. She cries, when she loses too."
"Has your daddy ever lost?"
"No, he's really good."
The reality of this game was starting to make Martin mad. This was no game. This man was beating his wife and son. He instantly thought of Danny. Danny had told him what his father had done to his mother and his older brother, Rafi. Daniel's story was oddly, yet extremely similar. The older brother protecting his younger brother and his mother.
"Ok, thank you for showing me your toys. I have to get me some of these GI Joe's. They're a lot of fun."
"Are you leaving?" The disappointment in his voice was evident, and Martin could help but notice the hint of fear.
"Yeah, buddy. I have to go back to work so I can find Edward, ok?"
"Ok." Daniel said, with a sad pout.
Martin got up off the floor and mad his way to the door when he herd, "Wait!" He quickly turned around to find a hyper Daniel, jumping to his feet with a GI Joe in his hand.
"Here, you can have one of my GI Joe's. I have a lot more."
"Thank you, Daniel. I'll put him on my desk at work. So, every time I see him, I'll think of you."
Daniel gave Martin a contagious smile, that stretched from one ear to the other.
Martin and Danny returned to the office and waited for Jack and Viv to return. Danny joined Sam at the conference table, while Martin stopped by his desk.
"Hey, did you find anything?" Danny asked, sitting across from her.
"Did the mother mention anyone by the name of Robert Bentley?" Sam asked, searching for a particular file.
"No, who is he?"
"I don't know. He's called the Elmhurst's pretty regularly for the past couple weeks. Then, last Wednesday he stopped. I've got a background running on him."
"On who?" Martin asked, as he took a seat next to Danny.
"Robert Bentley?"
"Yeah, Daniel mentioned him. Said he was his father."
"Nobody mentioned a father." Danny said, clearly confused.
"I know, that's exactly what I thought when he mentioned it. He claims Edward and his mother play a wrestling game with Bentley. Involves a lot of yelling, crying, and bruising."
"He's beating them." Danny said, he didn't expect this.
"Yeah." Was all Martin could say.