"Officer Traynor, she's back again," the uniform announced from his post in front of the officer's desk. "This time she brought you a present."
Officer Traynor sighed as he pushed away from his desk and walked to the lobby of the precinct. There was only one woman who would repeatedly return to the precinct and seek his help. His suspicions were confirmed when he rounded the corner and saw Wanda Skibinski sitting on one of the benches that lined the wall. It had been an on going battle for years that started when he had first found Wanda sitting on a curb in the middle of the night sporting a few fresh bruises. She claimed she had fallen. After investigating around town, Officer Traynor learned Wanda was married to a marine with a horrible temper but with no witnesses around, Officer Traynor was forced to take her word.
"Wanda," Officer Traynor called out feeling a bit of remorse when he saw the woman wince at her own name. He walked over and sat down next to her. "Is he back on leave?" Wanda just nodded slowly.
Officer Traynor let out a sigh. She wasn't talking. That meant either she was scared or the bastard broke her jaw again. "The uniform said you had something for me?" Wanda nodded again. "May I see what you have?"
Wanda turned to plastic basket she had placed on the bench opposite of Officer Traynor. Removing the top towel from the pile she revealed a small bundle.
"Jesus Wanda," Officer Traynor swore as he saw the baby boy. "Is he your's?" Wanda nodded. Officer Traynor lowered his voice to a whisper. "And Earl's?" Wanda nodded again. "What do you want me to do?"
"Save him," Wanda whispered hoarsely. "Give him a better life. He deserves more."
"So do you," Officer Traynor stated. "We can get you and him out of here. Give you both a better life. That restraining order you filed again Earl isn't working."
"He'd find us," Wanda shook her head. "Or at least me. I don't think he knows about the baby."
Officer Traynor got up and walked over to the basket. "How old is he?"
"A week?" Wanda shrugged. "I gave birth to him at home and have been breast feeding him since he was born. I don't want Earl to find out. He said he never wants kids and I don't know how much longer I can keep hiding him. He deserves better."
Officer Traynor looked down at the little boy again and weighed his options. "You should leave. I'll write up the report that someone anonymously dropped off a baby boy. We'll say he is six days old so he falls within our safe haven guidelines. I'll oversee his every move from now until he is adopted into a new family."
Wanda had tears in her eyes as she whispered, "Thank you Matt," before standing and leaving the police station.
Almost a year had gone by since Officer Traynor had seen Wanda. He assumed no news was good news. Maybe she had finally move away and never had to worry about her husband again. No sooner than he finished that thought did his desk phone start ringing.
"Traynor," he gave his abrupt greeting. The voice on the other end of the phone send chills down his spine. "I'll be right there." He hung up the phone and grabbed his keys. "Cover for me," he called out to his partner before running from the precinct. Fifteen minutes later he was pulling up in front of the hospital and rushing inside.
"Officer Matthew Traynor for Dr. Edwards," he hurried stated when he reached the nurses station.
"Over here Mr. Traynor," and older gentleman announced from the set of double doors leading further into the hospital.
"How is she? What happened?"
"She's stable for now. She was very badly bruised possibly from a beating. Unfortunately she won't speak with any one of our staff. We called you because you are listed as her emergency contact. We were hoping maybe seeing you would get her to talk," Dr. Edwards explained.
"May I see her now?"
"Yes, right this way," Dr. Edwards led Officer Traynor through a series of hallways to the intensive care unit. It was there he saw Wanda bruised but struggling to stay alert. Tears filled her her eyes when they landed on his.
"Wanda what happened?" Officer Traynor whispered as he gently grasped her hand.
"He got out early for leave," Wanda struggled to keep her emotions in check. "He wasn't supposed to know. He wasn't supposed to know."
"What wasn't he supposed to know?" Officer Traynor asked. Wanda continued to repeat he wasn't supposed to know to herself as her monitors began to beep frantically.
"What wasn't he supposed to know?" Officer Traynor urged. He could sense she was slipping away. Dr. Edwards and a handful of nurses poured into the room taking their places by Wanda's bedside and shout commands to each other. The crash cart was wheeled in but in a few short minutes, the monitors went stoic. Dr. Edwards turn to the officer. "I'm sorry but she's gone."
Officer Traynor closed his eyes and let out a deep breath as the door opened and a nurse in bright colored scrubs walked in. "Look who's finally awake and ready for some bonding time with Mommy."
Officer Traynor looked from Wanda's lifeless form to the baby the nurse had just wheeled in to Dr. Edwards. Jumping to his feet he pointed at the baby as he advanced on the doctor. "That baby is Wanda's?" He demanded.
Dr. Edwards nodded as he took a step backwards. "Yes when Mrs. Skibinski had arrived tonight she was pregnant but due to deliver in a few days. We induced her so the baby wouldn't be affected by the drugs we were going to administer to the mother-"
"Son of a bitch!" Officer Traynor yelled. "If I ever see that man so help me- where's the phone?"
"Um on the bedside table," Dr. Edwards pointed behind Officer Traynor to where the nurses were removing the IV drip from Wanda's arm.
"Stop touching her. She's now evidence." Officer Traynor picked up the phone and dialed the operator. "Connect me to NCIS."