Going to New York
Rating: PG-13
Not mine ~ they're just messing with my head. All of them!
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District Attorney Renee Walcott looked at the phone in her hand. She couldn't believe it. It had been over a month since the Michaelson kidnapping ended up as a homicide. Brutal case. No arrest. And now she'd just spoken with a Lieutenant Anita VanBuren in New York who was requesting a Medical Examiner from Boston. Someone familiar with the details of the Michaelson case. It looked like the kidnapping and murder with the same M.O. in NYC. They had a suspect in custody, but they needed Boston's help to conclusively pin the murder of the new girl to him. The DA had already said that if it's the same guy, he'll give Boston first crack at him. She needed to send the best.
"Damn it! Why?" Renee knew exactly who Garret would send. And yet she had to ask him. If Elaine was still alive. . . No, even then she'd have to ask Garret. And she already knew what he was going to say. . .
"Renee, she's the single most gifted medical examiner I've ever worked with. She cares more, she gives more, and I think she even enjoys it more than anyone I've ever seen." Garret was looking across his desk at Renee.
"But are you sure she's stable enough? I mean after all the Malden mess."
"Renee, I trust Jordan with my life." He saw Renee shift uncomfortably in her seat. "What the hell do you have against her?" Realizing what this must be about, Garret almost burst out laughing. "Oh my God! Renee, she's like a kid sister to me ~ that's all."
"I see." Renee was horrified to feel the blood rush to her cheeks. She hadn't even wanted to admit to herself that she was in fact jealous of Jordan Cavanaugh, in spite of all the problems the girl had. And Garret calling her on it only made it worse. "Well, I suppose if you're sure."
"If it would make you feel better, I can send someone along with her. Perhaps Nigel Townsend? He is the best at the trace stuff ~ and if they're working with computers. . ."
"Fine Garret, send whoever you feel is best."
"That's Jordan and Nigel."
"Fine. I'll get their tickets and work things out with Lieutenant VanBuren." Renee got up, smoothed her skirt and left the office. Garret reached over to buzz Jordan's phone but only got as far as picking up the receiver.
"What was the Wicked Witch of the West doing here? Complaining about me as usual? I don't know what I ever did to her."
"I like you."
"What?"
"Never mind. Renee was here to. . ."
"She's jealous of me?!?!?" Jordan was incredulous.
"Let it go, Jordan? Please?"
"Sweet. Ok, ok. I'm focused," she said as Garret started to draw in a sharp breath.
"As it happens, I was just getting ready to page you."
"Me? Why? What'd I do now?"
"Earned yourself a trip to New York."
"New York? Why?"
"Remember the Michaelson case?"
"Yeah." Jordan shivered as she remembered the way they'd found the girl's body, the things they knew the monster had done to her.
"They think they have the guy in New York City."
"Huh?"
"Apparently there was a girl's body found in a similar condition in the city. They have a guy in custody that they're pretty sure they can pin to that one. As a professional courtesy, they're going to let us look at the body and evidence they've got to see if we can link it to Lauren. If we can, we get first crack at convicting him."
"And Renee wants me to go?"
"She wants the best. I made the decision. She's having the DA's office make your travel arrangements and she'll send two tickets over in a bit."
"Two?"
"I'm sending Nigel with you."
"Garret, I don't need a babysitter!"
"Jordan, that's not it. I don't know what kind of equipment you're going to find there. Nigel can help out with that ~ and he knows the Michaelson stuff as well as you do."
"Ok. Does he know yet?"
"I'm just getting ready to buzz him. Hold on." Garret punched a button on the phone. "Nigel, could you come into my office for a minute, please?"
"Yes, sir. I'll be right there." In less than 15 seconds, he strolled into Garret's office. "What's up boss?"
"Field trip, Nige! Garret's sending us to New York." Jordan looked at him, a big smile on her face, trying to convince him they weren't in trouble.
"The Big Apple? What's the occasion?"
"There's been a kidnapping and murder there. Real similar to the Michaelson case you and Jordan just worked. They have a suspect in custody and want to give us the opportunity to examine the body and see if we can tie it to ours. Renee wants me to send the best I've got. And I'm looking at them."
"Alright, Garret. What should I take with me?" Nigel was eager for an opportunity to scout the equipment other departments were using.
"I'll have Peter and Bug put some things from here together. In the meantime, the two of you have a couple of hours to get packed. Be back here at noon. Renee should have your tickets here by then.
Jordan and Nigel left for their separate apartments to throw some clothes and stuff into a bag. They returned to Garret's office at noon and found two Amtrak tickets waiting for them, along with Renee Walcott.
"Here you go. You're on the 3:15 Acela Express. Someone from the NYPD will meet you at Penn Station at 6:42. You've got tickets to come back in a week, but they can be changed if necessary. Someone from New York is handling your hotel arrangements."
"Alright. Garret, I'll keep my phone on in case you need to reach me. And we'll let you know info once we get there."
"Here's some money for your meals. Anything else, save the receipts and I'll see what I can do. Now, I want a daily email report of your progress every evening. I'll save you from having to do it today, but beginning tomorrow evening. And anything urgent. . ."
"We'll call you. Renee, I can do this." Jordan looked at her, still highly amused that Renee though there was something between her and Garret. Totally not!
"Very well. I have a car waiting to take you to the Boston South Station. We'll see you in a week."
"You two be careful and stay safe." Garret looked at Jordan and Nigel as Renee walked out the door and turned towards the elevator bay. "And try to have a little fun while you're there too."
"Thanks Garret. You can trust us!"
"I know, Jordan. That's why you're going. Now, you'd better get out of here."
The train ride was uneventful, but it gave Jordan and Nigel some time to catch up with the goings on in each other's lives. Before long, they were pulling into New York's Penn Station.
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Lieutenant Anita VanBuren was waiting in the lobby of Penn station, holding a sign with the names Jordan Cavanaugh and Nigel Townsend on it. She'd decided it was easier for her to pick the two guys up from the station. As the announcement came that the train was arriving, Anita moved towards the escalator for their track. She saw a tall, lanky man approaching her. There were supposed to be two of them, but he did seem to have a lot of baggage with him.
"Hello. I'm Nigel. It's a pleasure to meet you." Nigel set the bags down and extended his hand. Anita took it.
"Dr. Townsend. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"Oh, we're happy to help out. And if this can give Lauren's family some closure, that'll make it all worth it."
"Weren't there supposed to be two of you?"
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Jordan needed to stop off at the restroom. She should be right here."
"Oh. Jordan's female."
"Definitely. Is that going to be a problem?"
"No, no. I'll call the hotel and see if there's another room available."
"We'll be fine. I mean, we're not. . . But as long as there are two beds in the room we'll be fine."
"Alright. I'll just go and pull the car around. Go out this door and I'll meet the two of you there."
In less than a minute, Jordan joined Nigel. "What, they're not here yet?"
"No, no. Lieutenant VanBuren went to pull the car up. We're to meet her out this door."
"Ok. Let's go!"
They walked towards the door. Nigel looked around for Anita and quickly began moving towards her car with Jordan trailing. He set his bags in the trunk and reached for Jordan's bags. He started to introduce Jordan when they both saw Anita standing dead still, looking like she was seeing a ghost.
"It can't be. No, I was at the hospital. I went to her funeral. It just can't be," Anita's internal dialogue was going crazy. She was looking at a woman who looked exactly like Claire Kincaid. Longer hair and dressed slightly, alright, a lot differently, but still ~ a dead ringer for Claire. "But it can't be! It just can't. . . Unless everything was staged and she just wanted to get away. But. . . No! Claire would never have taken part in anything like that!" She saw the M.E.'s from Boston looking at her quizzically. She knew she should say something, but only three words came out of her mouth.
"Oh my God."
. . .to be continued. . .
