Title: Nevermore
Author: Evidence
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Thanks to D and Maple Street for the encouragement. The first paragraph starts in the future and then we go a little back in time. The story will hopefully make more sense as it goes for you. The title was the only thing I could think of- a rip-off of Edgar Allen Poe.
There was a flash. A flash of bright white light. Or was it yellow. Maybe red. But it was something that suddenly appeared. Now there was no light. Darkness drank her in. It wouldn't last, temporary, the doctors had said. Temporary. Like a relationship. Like being with someone. Temporary.
"Hey, what's up, you look like hell."
"I'm fine, Danny. Thanks anyways." There was a hint of bitterness to Samantha's voice.
"Well you don't look fine."
She tossed him a look.
"Hey, I care okay. We're friends, right? I'm here if you need me." He gave her a small smile and turned to leave.
She felt that she had a knack for screwing everything up. "I'm sorry Danny. I didn't mean it bite your head off."
"It's okay, I forgive you." He left the area of her office.
She sat down at her desk. Everything was in order. Papers were placed in nice piles or in a folder. The stapler had it's own position next to a container of pens. She wished her life were full of more order than the inanimate desk in front of her.
"Sam, we need to talk," She heard Jack's voice behind her and sighed.
"I just got in."
"It's important."
She got up and turned to see him. Her hand clasped her mouth and terror struck at her core. "Jack, what the hell?"
"I'm fine, really," He tried to assure her, "there was a problem last night."
His face was scratched up- large cuts cascading down it. Blood still dried. She noticed then that his clothes were rumpled and bloody, the same clothes that he had worn the day before.
"Who did this to you?" She took his arm and looked into his eyes, tears forming.
"I stayed late. We received a call. I went to it. The guy...I'm okay, it will heal."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"You were busy."
Her eyes left his and traced the outside edge of the linoleum floor. She had had a date the night before. A date with Martin which she had purposely thrown in his face to hurt him, to make him feel a little of her pain. "You should've called, I would have came."
"There was nothing you could do. The guy threw his cat on my face as a way to escape the long arm of justice." Jack wrinkled his brows sending a painful expression through his face.
"What was the call about?"
"That's what I need to talk to you about." He motioned his head towards his office and she headed to the glass door, opening it and taking a seat.
"You should get those cuts looked at." She was sincerely worried.
"They'll heal. I have a few scars to boast about." He took a seat at his desk.
"It might be noticeable scars."
"It's just my face."
"Jack..."
"Sam, I didn't ask you in here to talk about my injured face. This case involves you."
"What? How?"
He sighed. "Last night I received a phone call that a Thomas Spade had been picked up by the police. He was ranting and raving about the end of the world."
"He was drunk, Jack." Sam sighed deeply.
"I'm sure he was but he gave us a tip which led us to the door of one Franklin Podena."
"And who is Franklin Podena?"
"A potential kidnapper and killer."
"How does my cousin know him?" Sam frowned.
"We are not sure but he told a police officer that Podena had murdered Susan Shepard."
Sam nodded. Susan Shepard had been a NYU student who never made it back to her dorm one night. The case was three years old. No substantial leads were ever found.
"So Podena's cat scratched you."
"Yes. He threw him at me as he made his escape."
"You mean Podena is free?"
"I'm afraid so. He vanished just like one of his victims." He pulled out a folder and laid it in front of her.
"We took all these pictures from his house."
Samantha opened the file, leafing through the many shots. She recognized all of them. College students like Susan Shepard that never returned home again, children who would never see their eighth birthday, grown men and women who had suddenly left their wonderful lives.
"God, Jack..." She felt like her breath had been taken away.
"He might be responsible for 34 missing persons' cases." His voice caught. "We have to find him. I need you to question Thomas with me, see how he discovered this information and what else he may know."
Sam closed her eyes. As Jack, and only Jack knew, she had no contact with her cousin. He lived a few blocks from her but she never visited him or called him up. He was an alcoholic that believed the world was after him and that the government could not be trusted. He was out here to say the least. Sam feared him in a way, because of his manic actions so she broke off all ties to him long ago. Now he was thrust back into her life, whether she liked it or not.
"Sure, Jack. If it helps bring closure to families and put a piece of shit in jail, I'll be glad to talk to him."
"Thank you." He smiled at her and for a moment their eyes locked. He looked away and then his voice changed- became gruffer- "How was your date?"
"It was a date," was her only response.
"Sounds like you had a blast." He couldn't contain his grin.
"At least I've been on dates with Martin."
His grin faded.
"Please don't act like your jealous when you can never be with me again- you made that perfectly clear."
He had no response.
"Now where is Thomas?"
To be continued...