Episode One: Kidnapped


Sara Pezzini grabbed her jacket off the back of her chair. "You know I was thinking about Maria's murder. Maybe it was a favor for a city official."

"You're starting to sound like Jake," Danny Woo said.

"Seriously, Maria was known to...entertain powerful people," she'd had another vision about Maria's murder, all she had to do was come up with a way to prove it. To bad she couldn't figure out who the guy her best friend had been with was.

Just then Jake McCartey popped his head into the office, "Captain wants to see you, Pez."

"Ok. Danny, I'll see you after lunch."

Sara left the office she shared with her partner and headed to Joe Siri's office. Knocking once she went inside. Joe sat at his desk. Bruno Dante sat in the chair across from him.

"Ah, Sara," Joe said standing. "Captain Dante has some questions he'd like to ask you about the Red Cloth Murders."

Sara nodded weakly. Bruno Dante ranked right up with Kenneth Irons on her least favorite people list. Looking at her watch, she shut the door. Hopefully this wouldn't take long otherwise she'd be late meeting Cianna and her friend Gabriel.


"Is she always so punctual?" Gabriel Bowman asked.

Cianna Templar rolled her eyes at him. "She's a cop, I'm sure she'll call soon."

"Whatever, Ci," Gabe replied. "You always did have funny tastes in friends."

"Must explain why I'm friends with you." Cianna replied taking a sip of her soda.

"Now that hurts," Gabe said. "Anyway, why don't I go ahead and tell you what I found."

"Ok, you might trigger my memory," Cianna said glancing out the window in the direction of Sara's precinct.

"Hey guys," Sara plopped down in the booth next to Cianna. "Sorry I'm late."

"Actually you're just in time," Cianna replied. "Gabe was just about to divulge his latest findings in the Witchblade."

"I'm still trying to figure out what I could find out that you wouldn't know, Ci," Gabe said. "You know everything about the thing, though I'm not sure how."

"We rich people have to our hobbies." Cianna laughed, as the waiter appeared to take their order.


Kenneth Irons turned to face Ian Nottingham. "You have to do something about Sara's access to information. Should she find out too much at once it will put her in even more danger then she already is in. Has the Gallo problem struck again?"

"Not to Sara's knowledge," Ian replied remembering the few attempts on Sara's life he'd thwarted. "Though if he sees Sara with Cianna he might go after Cianna just to hurt Sara."

"That would be an interesting way to solve the other problem," Irons turned his chair back around away from Ian. "If Gallo goes after Ms. Templar do not help save her."

Ian turned and exited the room. Gallo would go after Cianna, of that he was positive. But Irons didn't give the raven-haired girl enough credit. Cianna could take care of herself. And making sure no one else interfered hardly counted as helping save her.


Cianna threw her jacket down on her couch that evening. She was starving but had just decided to come home and cook something. Now the real question was what to have. A noise made her turn towards the window. Ian stood on her fire escape holding a plastic bag up. Cianna laughed as she walked over to let him in.

"You know I was just trying to decide what I wanted to eat," Cianna hugged him lightly as she took the bag. "You're an angel."

Ian looked at her for a moment apparently unsure what to say. Cianna laughed again, putting the bag on the counter and pulling out the take-out containers. She opened one container to find sweet and sour pork. Grabbing a plate, she spooned out some rice then covered it with the pork.

"Hungry?" she asked over her shoulder.

"It is for you," came the reply.

Turning, she blinked at him. "Are you hungry?" she repeated.

Ian didn't reply but he walked towards her. She got a plate down from the cabinet and handed it to him. She walked back to the couch leaving him to fill his plate.

He sat in a chair when he was finished. "You are in danger."

"Tell me something new," Cianna replied.

"Someone trying to hurt Sara may come after you instead."

"Really, who?"

"Tommy Gallo."

"Who?" Cianna looked up from her plate.

"Mobster," Ian kept his head down.

Cianna shock her head. They finished the meal in silence. Ian took both of the plates and put them in the sink. Then he put the leftovers in the fridge. She sighed. He walked back to her.

"If you need me," he handed her a piece of paper. "This is the number of my cell phone."

"Thank you," Cianna smiled. "But I'm sure I'll be fine."


Tommy Gallo's limo pulled up outside the apartment his people had found belonged to Sara Pezzini's new friend. He nodded to the two men seating across from him. Both got out and headed towards the building. Gallo smiled to himself, wondering how long it would take Sara to find her friend. Hopefully she wouldn't take too long. When Sara came, he would finally be able to kill her.

His train of thought was broken when the two men shoved a girl into the seat across from him. Tommy shivered slightly as the girl locked her gray eyes with his.

"Tommy Gallo I presume?"

"You are correct Ms. Templar."

"What do you want?"

"Bait," Gallo replied touching the girl's black hair. "And you shall do nicely."


Gabriel knocked on the door to Cianna's apartment. She hadn't showed up at the shop like she'd said she would. It was unusual for her to not keep her word. He knocked again. Maybe she had over slept.

"Cianna?" he called.

Now he was really worried. He looked around checking that the hall was empty. He found where Cianna had said she'd hidden the spare key. Unlocking the door, he went inside. There had obviously been a struggle. He checked all the rooms. Lamps and tables were knocked over. However nothing appeared to be missing. Cianna's laptop sat on the desk. Her TV was still in the cabinet. He turned to find Cianna's jacket on the couch.

Gabe grabbed the jacket. Reaching into the pocket he found her cell phone and her wallet. Playing on a hunch, he turned the phone on and checked the speed dial list. Number one was Sara's home, and number two was Sara's office. He decided to try the office first.

"Woo," A man said.

"Is Sara Pezzini there?"

"Yep, one sec."

"Pez."

"Sara, it's Gabriel. I think Cianna's been kidnapped. I'm at her apartment and she's not here but her jacket, wallet, and cell phone are. And it looks like there was a struggle."

"Alright, I'm on my way."


"Come on," Sara said hanging up the phone.

"Where are we going?" Danny said standing.

"Friend of mine missing," Sara replied grabbing her jacket. "Person who called said there might have been a struggle."

"Pez, we're homicide not missing persons."

"I know that," she said. "Just humor me."

"I seem to be doing a lot of that lately."

"Danny!"

"I'm coming."

Ten minutes later they pulled up to Cianna's building. Getting out, Sara looked around.

"So who exactly is this friend?"

"Her name is Cianna Templar," Sara walked up the stairs to the door. "I meet her a couple of weeks ago."

Gabriel meet them at the door to the building. Following him up the stairs, Sara noticed smudge marks on the wall. Turning slightly, she pointed them out to Danny. They went into Cianna's apartment. There had defiantly been a struggle.

"Any idea who would have kidnapped her?" Danny asked.

"She's new in town," Gabriel said. "I knew her before she moved here."

"Gallo," Sara said picking a card up off the floor. It was for a club Gallo hung out in. She handed it to Danny. "And I know why too. Me."

"Well, this is just great," her partner replied.

"Who's Gallo?"

"You don't want to know," Sara said. "We'll go check this out. I'll call you when we find something."

"Ok," Gabriel followed them towards the door.

"By the way," Sara said. "How did you get in?"

He held up a key. "Spare key, Cianna told me where she hide it."

"Just checking," Sara said. "Don't worry we'll find her.


Cianna sat tied to a chair. Tommy Gallo sat across from her eating lunch.

"Comfortable?" Gallo asked.

"Not really, but what do you care?"

"You know," Gallo stood. "I could kill you whenever I wanted."

"A live worm is more tempting then a dead one."

"Oh, smart girl," Gallo stroked her hair again. "I like you."

Cianna rolled her eyes, wishing she could get one of her arms free. She'd love to ring his neck. Sara, please hurry.


Sara and Danny entered the club that evening. Together they searched for the contact Jake had within Gallo's group. He was standing off to one side by himself. Sara smiled at Danny as she headed towards him.

"Hello Drexler," Sara said.

"Detective Pezzini," the man replied looking around.

"I'm looking for a friend of mine. Black hair, gray eyes. Have you seen her?"

"Don't think so, but then I see so many people."

"Let me refresh you memory," Sara stepped closer. "Her name is Cianna Templar."

"Oh," Drexler replied. "Her! I don't know where she is." He dashed away from her.

However Danny stopped him.

"Sure you don't" Sara said when she reached them. "Where is she?"

"Ok, ok," Drexler obviously didn't like the idea of confronting the two of them. "In the basement of a safe house in the Bronx. 433 Bennett Avenue. It's good."

"Now that wasn't so hard," Sara said.

She followed Danny out of the club.

"Think he'll warn Gallo?" Danny asked.

"No, that would expose his mistake."

They got into the car. Danny started it up and drove off. "Shouldn't we call for backup?"

"I don't want to put Cianna in danger. We'll just confirm she's there and then call for help."

"OK," Danny replied.


Ian followed the car Sara and her partner were in. He'd discovered Cianna's disappearance that afternoon when he'd seen Sara with her partner and the boy at her apartment. He would do as Irons had instructed, not help rescue her. However if he took out a few of Gallo's men he would be protecting Sara, and that was part of his job after all.


Cianna had been moved from the table to an office. Gallo had untied her and then locked the door when he left. Cianna turned slowing looking for a way out. There was no windows and the only exit appeared to be the door. Breaking it down wouldn't be any trouble. Fighting her way out would however. She decided to wait. She could sense that Sara was on her way.


Danny stopped the car a few blocks away from the address. Sara got out and crossed the street slowly. Danny followed a few seconds later. They walked in silence all to soon reaching the alley of the block with the building.

"You wearing the vest?" Danny asked.

"Of course, you?"

"Always."

Sara noticed movement near the door. Nottingham turned towards her.

"Sara," he said walking towards them. "Cianna is inside. I've taken care of most of the outside guards." With that he climbed up a fire escape.

"You're going to have to start introducing me to your friends," Danny said.

"He isn't a friend," Sara replied. "More like a nuisance. However he and Cianna seem to get along. I trust him."

"Well, now that we know she's here want me to go back to the car and call for backup."

"Sure."

"You'll stay put."

"Yes."

Danny turned and went back down the alley. Sara watched him leave before turning back to the door. She couldn't use the Witchblade with him around; she'd have to go in alone.

*SARA!* Cianna's voice rang through her head.

Sara kicked in the door. Cianna needed her. She pulled out her gun and quickly walked down the hall. She took out the first person she came to. Then crept down a set of stairs. She found herself standing in dark room.

"Hello, Sara."

"Gallo," Sara replied trying to figure out where his voice was coming from. She didn't have to search long as the lights came on.

He was standing near a closed door. "So nice of you to come, I know of someone who just can't wait to see you."

"Where is Cianna?"

"Nearby."

There was a noise behind Sara. What happened next was all a blur. Danny stood on the stairs. A gunshot filled the room. Danny fell done the stairs hitting the wall. Sara turned and shot Gallo in the chest just as the door he was standing near was kicked out. Cianna stepped out into the room. Sara ran to Danny's side, but it was to late, her partner was already dead.


Days later, Cianna stood with Sara at Danny Woo's funeral. The investigation Sara had told her always took place when an officer was killed had already started. Cianna had talked to multiple people about what had happened. Sara wasn't doing very well. Cianna had been staying with her to keep an eye on her.

When the funeral was over, Cianna followed her to the car, ignore the look Mrs. Woo gave them. Sara got in behind Jake McCarty. Cianna walked around the car with Captain Siri. The older man opened the door for her. Cianna smiled at him weakly in thanks, then got inside. She glanced over at Sara, who was staring out the window. Cianna leaned forward to see what had caught Sara's attention. Standing there near his grave was Danny Woo.



Preview of next week's installment: Karen Bronte is killed. Boucher has one hand kidnap Cianna. Sara's attempt rescue her goes a little ascrew. Who's going to end up rescueing who?