"Burning the Candle at Both Ends"
Another late June night, another murder. Danny got up and answered the phone.
"Yeah Mac …where….okay we'll be right there."
"Linds…Linds…" Danny was trying to shake Lindsay awake. "We got get up….murder on East 84th Steet in Central Park., Mac needs all hands on deck."
She couldn't believe that she had been called in again. It seemed like she just got home. She looked at the clock and realized she has only had 3 hours sleep again.
"Danny….stop I'm up! I'm up!"
"Montana you go shower & I'll start the coffee. I know you need it."
As Lindsay got out of bed & started for the shower Danny grabbed her by the waist…
"Come here baby." Danny was sitting on the bed and pulled Lindsay down to sit on his lap. She gently laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm so tired Danny!" "I know. You've been working a lot of hours. Maybe you should put in for a few days off." "I can't Danny I used up all of my personal and vaction days when I went home. Let me go, I have to shower and I need coffee so get on it."
Danny did as she said and got the coffee ready and when Lindsay was finished in the shower he had her coffee ready for her and then he went and took a quick shower himself. They both were ready to go the same time. The ride to the crime scene was quite. Danny kept looking over to Lindsay to make sure that she was okay. He was worried about her but didn't say anything. When they arrived Lindsay and Danny crossed the yellow tape. Mac & Flack immediately noticed how tired Lindsay looked. Mac made a mental note to talk to Lindsay before the end of their shift."
Hawkes was already on the scene and examing the body, he got up and walked over to Danny. "Hey man. She looks wiped out. Is she feeling okay?" "I know man. She's been working 60 to 70 hours this week." "She needs a break Dan. You need to talk to her." "I tried. She said she doesn't have any time left. I'm gonna talk to Mac later. She's gonna be pissed." "Yeah she is!"
"Linds…you okay?" Flack asked. She smiled at him weakly and nodded at him. "Just tired is all." "What do we got?" Danny asked. "23 year old male, 21 year old female – no identities yet. Looks like a possible murder sucicide." Flack said.
Lindsay walked over to the female victim. She got her camera focused and just stood over the body in a daze. This sent a shiver up her spine and Mac noticed this and walked over to Lindsay and gently put his hand on her shoulder "Lindsay…" she had no response "Lindsay? " She looked up at Mac with tears in her eyes "I'm sorry Mac; its just she looks a little like..." "You" Mac said."
Danny casually walked over hearing the conversation. "Everything okay here?"
"Lindsay if you feel…." Mac began to say before she interrupted him. "Mac I'm fine; I'm just tired I won't let this case affect me. I promise." Danny shook his head and smiled a little. He knew Lindsay didn't want anyone to think she was weak, especially Mac."
Flack walked over to where Lindsay and Danny were with the female victim. "Just had a call I think we may have an identity for both victims. Some guy was just picked up for trying to use a credit card and when asked for ID he bolted. He was picked up about a mile from here. I'll meet you guys back at the preceint."
Mac was combing the area for other evidence when he got a call from Stella. "Taylor…yeah…another one…this is strange….yeah I will meet you and Hawkes there in about 10 minutes." Mac hung up the phone and walked over to Danny. "Danny…just got a call from Stella…another apparent murder, suicide on 7th Street I'm gonna go over there and check it out. You and Lindsay got this one?" Danny looked over at Lindsay who was taking pictures of the crime scene "yeah, yeah we got it." "I'll see you back at the lab. We'll compare notes. I have a feeling these cases are connected." "You got it."
Danny said.
Lindsay walked over to Danny. "We done here?." Danny agreed and they packed up their kits and headed back to the lab.
Upon arrival at the lab Danny and Lindsay split up. Danny walked into Mac's office and saw Flack, Hawkes, Stella and Mac in deep conversation. "What's up?" Danny said.
"Danny where's Lindsay?" "She went to get some coffee. Why?" Stella walked over to him and handed him the pictures from her crime scene and their crime scene. "Look at the female victim in both of these pictures." Danny couldn't believe it. They both had a striking resemblance to Lindsay." "What's going on man" Do you think its just a coincidence that they look like her?" Flack said. "What??" Danny said. "I don't know man what the hell going on here?" Just as Stella was about to speak up an older gentleman in a black suit knocked on Mac's door.
"Mac Taylor?" Mac shook his head "Can I help you?" "Yes you can I'm Jack Monroe. Lindsay's father." "Mr. Monroe how can I help you?" "Please call me Jack. I received a disturbing anonomys phone regarding my daughter and I had to come to New York to make sure that she is okay."
Everyone was still in Mac's office when Jack Monroe had arrived. Danny walked over to Jack, extending his hand "Danny" "Messer I remember. You were the one that came to Montana during the trial." "Yes sir. Is Lindsay is in danger?"
"Yes Danny I believe that she is." Just as Jack was about to begin explaining the situation two more men walked in. "Detectives these two gentlemen are my sons, Lindee's older brothers. Nick & Chris. Nick and I are Federal Agents and Chris is an undercover cop for the Montana State Police."
As the introductions were being made Lindsay appeared in the doorway. "Daddy?"
Jack Monroe walked over and gave his Lindee a hug. "Daddy what's wrong? Why are you, Nick and Chris here?" Nick walked over and gave his sister a hug and looked her straight in the eye. " Lindee…Daniel Cadence escaped from prison." Flack and Danny just looked at each other, then to Lindsay. Danny walked over to her and stood right by her side. Lindsay glanced around to each person in the room with tears in her eyes and started to laugh… "No…no that's not possible." She walked over to her brother Chris and tapped him in the chest "Chris..you said that he would never get out. You said that he..You know what…" She started to walk away. " I am not listening to this. I'm leaving this office. Mac…I'm going to take a break. Daddy please be gone when I get back."
Nick and Chris went to go after her. "Nick, Chris..." Stella said. Stella walked over to the Monroes. "Mr. Monroe, Lindsay's been working a lot of hours and she's exhausted. I'm sure she doesn't want you gone." "Jack grabbed Stella's hand. "Stella right?" Stella smiled at him. "You are a good friend to my daughter." Jack sighed. "Guys, lets give Lindee a little breathing room." Nick was a little upset. "Dad…she could be in trouble."
Hawkes walked over and introduced himself and explained to them that she is very stressed right now. "I assure you all that we are doing our best to take care of your sister. We are all concerned about her. She's been overdoing it lately. This only adds to her stress."
Mac looked to Stella. "Stella, go with her. I don't want her to go anywhere by herself until we figure out what is going on here." "Got it Mac." "Mac, I should be the one to go." "Danny not right now. Lets get a game plan together here with Lindsay's Father and brothers." Danny shook his head.
"Jack, Nick, Chris…Det. Don Flack. What do we know about Cadence?" Chris shook Flack's hand first. "Well Cadence threatened Lindee on numerous occasions." Flack looked Chris straight in the eye… "None of you took his threats seriously." Chris looked at his brother and father. "In this line of work we deal with threats all of the time." Flack shook his head. "I know."
Nick noticed Danny looking out the window in deep thought and he walked over to him. "Hey man." "Hey…" Nick patted Danny on the back. "I hear you're a stand up guy. I know that you will help my sister in anyway possible." Danny smiled.
As the gentlemen came up with a game plan to keep Lindsay safe, Stella found her changing her clothes in the locker room. "Lindsay…what are you doing?" "I need to distress. I'm gonna go for a run in Central Park. Wanna go? "Ummmmm, yeah. Give me a minute to change my clothes."
Lindsay and Stella were about to exit the building when the heard someone calling for them. "Linds, Stell….Where are you going?" Flack said. Stella yelled back. "We're going for a run in Central Park." Flack ran to catch them at the door grabbing Lindsay by the arm. "Linds what the hell are you thinking…do you think this is a wise idea." "Let go of me Don. I need to clear my head. Running helps me think. Besides, Stel's going with me." "Stel?" "She'll be fine Don. We'll be fine." Stella said. "Why don't you ladies hang down here for a minute and I'll go running with you. I just need to change."
"I'm not waiting Flack. Come on Stel." Lindsay grabbed Stella's hand and started pulling her out the door. "We'll be fine Don." Stella said as she was being pulled out the door.
TBC