Title: Unexpected
author: Cindy Ryan
category: Two shot
series: Take Two
summary: Sam and Eddie discover something unexpected at a crime scene
The sound was so foreign to the rooftop they stood on that actress Samantha Swift thought she was mistaken. Tuning out her PI partner Eddie Valetik the brown haired woman cocked her head and listened. No, there it was again. Faint, but there to the left….and down?
Eddie continued to talk about the murder victim they'd stumbled upon as Sam backed away and towards the sound. He was crouched over the twenty-something blonde stabbing victim. The amount of blood had nearly driven Sam back to the stairs but she'd determinedly held her ground; barely. They'd called the police and were waiting for them to arrive.
Reaching the edge of the roof Sam looked down trying to find the source of the sound. She'd been praying she was wrong; but no there it was. Two stories down balanced precariously on an all too slim ledge; a baby carrier. The infant inside appeared unharmed but was crying.
The fifteen story brick building was old and the fire escape was on the other side of the wall. Too far and Sam knew from the looks of it the thing wouldn't hold her weight. She glanced back at Eddie who was back on his cell phone. Sam looked down again and estimated she could reach the child if she lowered herself down to the ledge above. Sam just wished she'd worn tennis shoes.
"….no….no cameras that I can see."Eddie Valentik said into his cell phone to a male detective. "Not much up here to keep an eye on."
Later Eddie wouldn't be able to recall what made him turn around. When he did the PI thought he was going to have a heart attack. His partner had just stepped off the roof! Without thinking Eddie ended the call and raced forward.
"Sam!"Eddie shouted in alarm.
"Ledge!"The actress replied back.
Eddie looked down and saw Sam inching her way along a very tiny ledge.
"What the hell are you doing?!"Eddie asked worry and anger creeping into his voice.
"I can reach it."Sam insisted.
Eddie looked around for what she might have seen and then he saw it. Not having his binoculars Eddie pulled out his cell phone and activated the camera. He zoomed in on the object and felt his blood freeze. It really was a baby carrier; with a baby inside. There was no window near it. Eddie wondered if it was the victims and it had fallen during the struggle.
Muttering a curse Eddie dialed 911 once again and asked for LAFD. He gave the dispatcher an estimate on the baby's age. He also told the dispatcher there seemed to be no visible sign of injury. The operator informed Eddie the fire department was three minutes out. He ended the call.
"Fire department's three minutes away!"Eddie yelled to Sam.
"She'll fall; it's windy!"Sam called back.
Then it started to rain. The sky had been dark and threatening all night. The forecast had been for scattered showers. This was a full fledged gully-washer thunderstorm. Eddie cursed once more straining against the dark and rain to see Sam. The scream he heard next tore at his heart and for the second time in fifteen minutes Eddie thought it'd stopped.
"Sam!"Eddie called.
"I-I'm okay."Sam responded.
She sounded far from okay. Eddie pulled out his phone again and clicked on the flashlight ap and shown it down. Sam was almost to the baby carrier and was now flat on her stomach straining to reach down to the next floor where it was perched. Eddie didn't realize he was holding his breath until he saw her small hand grasp the main handle of the baby carrier. He released it and forced himself to breathe normally. Sam had now pulled the carrier up to her ledge She sat there for a moment holding the carrier in her lap her feet dangling over the edge.
"Stay there!"Eddie yelled. "Let LAFD get you down!"
Of course she didn't listen to him. Eddie's right fist hit the top of the short wall he was leaning against. Sam was on her feet now inching back the way she'd come. She was halfway back to him when the storm intensified if possible. The wind picked up with a fury. Eddie put his phone away and began to lower himself down to the ledge which was a normal human sized length from the roof. The wind was so intense that he had to scramble for a hand hold as it tried to pull him off.
Sam swallowed a scream as she saw Eddie nearly lose his footing and fall. The rain was pelting them now and both were soaked. The baby was crying full force though it couldn't be heard over the wind. Sam scooted towards her partner holding out the baby carrier. They were close enough now that he could reach it. Just as his hand closed around the handle Sam slipped.
Suddenly there was nothing solid beneath her feet and Sam screamed. As soon as the fall began it stopped. It took Sam a full second to realize Eddie had hold of her left wrist. Squinting against the rain which was thankfully letting up Sam could also see he had the baby carrier awkwardly over his right shoulder so his right hand could hold onto the wall. Sam kept herself as still as she could so she didn't over balance her partner. From below sirens could be heard and looking down Sam saw two firetrucks pull to a stop. She let out a sigh of relief.