So I wanted to write a case in. This is why I ended the way I did on the last chapter. Lindsey left a comment asking me to carry on with this case and I took that as a go ahead, to my half completed chapter I was already writing. Thank you Lindsey for all your comments, to everyone who comments and reads. I hope to hear what you all think!
"It's been twelve hours since she was last seen and we have no idea where her Father or Stepfather is?" Sharon's voice ringing with frustration.
"Captain, we found the biological father and sister." Sykes comes in running.
"Sister? I thought the mother said they were on vacation with the grandparents. Have we not looked into this?" A confusion in her whole body.
Sykes continues. "Another sister, she was...six."
"Another sister? Do we have the Father in custody?
Sykes looks down at her feet. Sanchez answers as he sees her struggle.
"Both the girl and the father were found dead, Captain."
"Dead?" She looks at him as if this were all a nightmare.
They were standing outside the home, under a white tent. Provenza sighs in frustration and throws papers across the floor. The heat rising above them and is making them all lose patience even faster.
He continues. "Captain, They've been dead for over 24 hours. He was in his car, driver seat parked in the garage. Key in the ignition. Six bullets fired at him, four hit him and he bleed to death." Sanchez knows everyone wants him to stop talking and he can't continue himself.
"And the girl?" Flynn's voice comes in from behind them. Sharon turns around wanting to hold him just for support to stand up but looks at Sykes and Sanchez.
"In the kitchen shot to the head once and the chest once. Died instantly. Sanchez ends not knowing if he should say anymore.
They all groan in disbelief. Sharon waits a second to calm herself and think clearly.
"The Stepfather any update on him?" Sykes shakes her head but Flynn begins to talk.
"He is in Las Vegas, has been for two weeks we are still sending some people out there checking in and bringing him back out here."
"The grandparents with the other children?" Sharon asks.
"We haven't been able to locate her, Captain." Tao answers from a distance.
"Okay." She doesn't know what else to say, the suspects are both found. One dead and the other with a solid alibi.
They all look at her. "Let's ask the mother about her other children. Lets she what she has to say. I want to see if she brings up.." She looks at Sanchez.
"Lucia." He says calmly.
"I want to see if she brings up Lucia. Lieutenant Provenza I'd like the mother to feel comfortable since you were the first to talk to her, I'd like you to continue to be the one..."
"On it captain. Sykes come with me." Provenza moves towards the house, Sykes at his side.
"Wait Lieutenant, you are in charge until I come back from the crime scene. Anything that comes through these phones, I mean anything is reported to me." Provenza looks at her and nods she returns the gesture.
"Lieutenant Tao, I need phone lists. For the Mothers home and cell phone and any number she called and for any number that called her. As extensive as you can be."
"Yes Captain, right away." He runs away.
"Detective Sanchez, I need you to lead an air search. Let's broaden the area on the ground. Take Buzz up with you I want to see the footage, it will help me, it will help all of us see all of this more clearly. She looks at the grid search on the board.
"Had already made the call Captain was on my way out."
She turns back at him. "Thanks Detective."
"Lieutenant Flynn. I need you to come with me to the crime scene. Her voice sounding fragile now but she starts moving.
"I think I should do this alone." He walks behind her.
"No, I need to see what kind of monster we are after." She stops in her tracks and lets him catch up.
"I came with Provenza. Can we go in your car?" He can tell she is keeping something to herself.
"Yeah, no problem." They reach his car, he opens the door and closes it quickly going to the drivers seat.
He sits, buckles and starts the car. And turns to see her in deep thought. "What are you thinking?"
"That this mother has something to do with all of this." Her words sound bitter and in pain.
They drive in silence for a few minutes.
"Oh no!" She shouts a bit. Scaring him.
"What happened? Are you alright?" His words full of concern and worry.
"Rusty. He has been out of school for thirty minutes now." She shakes her head pulling out her phone.
"Look, the crime scene is two minutes from here, I'll stay. You take the car pick him up." She looks at him and then starts dialing a number.
"You won't be gone more then ten minutes and then come back for me. And don't say you'll call a patrol car, the poor kid has been waiting he doesn't need an officer to be the first thing he sees. I know it will do you good to see him." He gives her a small grin. She puts down her phone.
His right hand lands on her hand. He gently hers with his thumb. She keeps hold of it when he tries to move away. She needs something to keep her mind away from the case only for a moment.
Rusty is pleased to be picked up by Sharon and isn't dazed by her being late but is when he sees who's car she is driving. She explains her day, the case and asks him about his day. He simply gives her a shrug of no big deal.
"Sharon, I know you have a really big case on your hands. And had a great explanation as to why you are driving his car but are you and Lieutenant Flynn in a...in a relationship?" Sharon breaks hard at the red light, making them both lug forward. Rusty gets a big smirk.
She clears her throat. And says nothing.
"He was really worried about you when you got hurt, you spend a lot of time together, outside of work and I know it's not any of my business..." She stops him.
"You're right it's not any if your business but don't worry about asking me questions." The light turns green and she begins to move.
"You can ask me anything you want. I may not always be able to answer but that doesn't mean I don't want to tell you or that you can't ask."
"So you are?" He intersects in her long speech.
They arrive at the crime scene and Flynn is walking across the front yard. He smiles at her and she blushes knowing that Rusty is watching them. She looks back at Rusty.
"Only if that's ok with you? I don't want you to feel like anything is going to change?" She looks at him nervous.
"Sharon, I think the only thing that may not make this work out..." She looks at him, her eyebrows frowned questioning what it is.
"...him finding out you just slammed his breaks over me calling it a relationship." He laughs and Sharon jumps as Flynn opens the car door.
Rusty is already getting out of the car to move into the back seat. Flynn extends his hand and she accepts.
"I don't think you should go in. It's not pretty. You can tell the little girl tried running or hiding when she heard the gunshots in the garage or saw someone shoot her father."
They are at the front of his car and stop. They drop each others hands.
"There was no forced entry, so the person was probably someone they knew." Something flipped in her stomach when she heard him say this. She didn't know why.
"They said the door was forced open when we sent out to look for him and only heard whimpering from inside. The dog was shot too, ironic that the only survivor can't tell us a damn thing." His voice completely angry and affected.
She looks at him. "You alright?" Her voice quiet. He raises a hand and runs it along her arm. She is about to say something but her phone rings.
"Captain Sharon Raydor." They walk to the car door he opens it and waits until she in and closes the door.
"We will be there in two minutes. Oh and Lieutenant please have a patrol car ready to accompany Rusty home." She hangs up, Rusty sighs and Flynn smiles.
"Two minutes?" Flynn questioning her.
"We need the lights and sirens."
"You got it." He blares the sirens on his car and pulls out the light and places it on the roof of his car.
Rusty is quiet. It won't be his first police car ride with sirens but it will be without him being arrested.
They find the rest of the team but Sanchez and Buzz gathered together.
"What's going on?" She asks rushing up to them, they are all talking over each other in frustration.
"The mother has stopped cooperating." Provenza answers her annoyed.
She frowns and lets out a deep breath. "Where are the other siblings have we located the grandmother?
"The whole vacation was a damn lie. They were at school. They're on their way home now by patrol." Provenza infuriated.
"At school? You mean to tell me that this Mother wakes up to a missing child and still sends off the other kids. Something is definitely not right." She stays calm.
"You go that right." Provenza drops into a chair grunting.
"Oh and the Mother, is a lunatic." Provenza adds.
Sykes answers Sharon and Andy's questioning looks. "Mrs. Hernandez does not seem to be mentally stable.
"Maybe because her child is missing." Tao calmly adds.
"Or because she killed her husband and two youngest daughters." Provenza huffing air of anger.
Sharon tries to remain calm. "What explanation does she have about her youngest, why was she with the father?"
"She didn't bring her up." Sykes the only one who seems remain neutral.
Frustration runs through Sharon, they can all see it. She meets Provenza's eyes. She knows they are on the same page.
"I need to talk to her." Everyone turns and looks at her.
"I'll come with you, Captain." Flynn chimes in.
"No, alone. A one on one, mother to mother conversation might get her to say more then she thinks." She looks back at Rusty.
"But we need camera and mics attached to me quickly, our time is running out." She removes her jacket. Tao understands and starts preparing her.
"Detective Sykes we need a warrant for this, call a judge, get it faxed immediately and another to search every possession and property of Mrs. Hernandez."
"Right away Captain."
"Hey Rusty," he moves closer to her.
She signals an officer that's off in the corner.
"This gentleman," she looks at his name tag. "Officer Jackson is going to take you home. This may be run late so don't wait up for me." She has her arms out for Tao as he wires her.
She looks at the officer. "Exact orders are to be followed. You do not lose sight of him, you understand?" Her voice more motherly then Captain.
"Yes Captain."
"When he has made it inside, you can leave but only till then."
"Yes Captain."
"Thank you." She nods at the officer dismissing him.
Rusty always feels a little uncomfortable when she demonstrates so much care and worry for him. But he always appreciates it.
Tao has everything ready to go by the time the conversation is over. He helps her put her jacket back on.
"Can I stay for a few more minutes?" Rusty's words sounding so careful, she nods.
"Not too late." She smiles at him.
A few minutes later Sykes comes in giving them an ok.
"Ready?" Andy comes up to her and smiles, concern in his eyes.
"Yes," She lets out a sigh only he can hear. She remains by his side but looks at the rest of the team. "If any number, names, addresses, come up in the conversation I want it checked out immediately." They all agree.
She turns back to Andy. "Andy can you promise me you won't leave?"
Andy frowns. "What do you mean. You want me to go in with you?" He looks at her carefully.
"No, no when the interview is over please be here." He looks at her shocked that she isn't worried about being over heard.
"Let me get wired too, I'll go in with you." His voice with concern but starting to move away.
"No I think this is the only way we can get her to talk." She starts walking away, leaving him behind not asking him again.
"Hey, Captain," she turns around.
"I promise." He smiles at her.
Everyone watches this last part of their interaction but Sharon and Andy's eyes only remain on each other not noticing anyone else.
She smiles weakly at him and goes towards the house, Andy moves towards the TV screen showing Sharon's camera. Andy gestures Rusty over.
"Hello Mrs. Hernandez."
"I said no more police, please just go away." She starts sobbing.
"Mrs. Hernandez I am not here as a officer but as a Mother. I have two wonderful children who have grown up and are on their own. Now I have another who is living with me. If anything were to happen to them I'd be very upset too."
Rusty turns a little red.
The woman lets her in and turns around crying. She lets herself fall to the floor sobbing into her hands.
"Ma'am we cannot help you find Luisa if you do not help us." Sharon is on her knees rubbing the woman's back.
"Mi hija, mi hija, Luisa. My ex husband wanted to take her too, just like he took my Lucia." The woman is now sitting on the floor, shaking uncontrollably her knees tucked into her.
"You told us only of another three, that are on vacation with their grandmother. Lucia lived with her father and you." She tries not to question her.
The woman's hands raise to her ears. Shaking. "He had more money and time, he was always home. My Lucia loved him. But my other children hate their father. Luisa had started to love him too." The woman is crying hysterically and shaking.
"Mrs. Hernandez. You have full custody of your children, a judge granted you that right. Still no questions.
"He was a drunk, he was a drunk and was a terrible husband. I left him after I had Lucia. It took me leaving him for him to stop drinking.
He sobered up." The woman stands leaving Sharon hunched down. She slowly stands up too not wanting to make any sudden movements. The woman continues talking.
"He had a school degree and found a good job. That made him a lot of money. He wanted my children." Her sadness turns to rage but she continues sobbing.
"Mrs. Hernandez you speak of your husband in the past." Sharon takes a deep breath hoping this wasn't the wrong thing to say.
The woman turns around and faces her directly. There is only anger in her eyes. The woman from a moment ago was gone. She understood now what Provenza and Sykes were talking about.
Rage only remains in her voice and turns to Sharon. "Tell me, your husband was he a drunk? Was he at the bar every night sleeping with every woman that would take him? Did he leave you alone to watch over your children? Then when your life was getting better, did he come back and take it down again? Did he leave you in shreds while he conquered the dreams you had chosen for a life together? She is shouting at this point.
Sharon's stares quietly at her. Her husband did in fact have an alcohol problem and they had infidelity problems but she felt sorry for this woman because she was able to move on and be strong this woman crumbled and never found herself again.
Everyone is watching this conversation outside. Sanchez and Buzz have also returned. Everyone looks concerned. But no one says a word.
"You aren't going to answer? I should have known. That's ok, I will answer for you. He was at home helping your children with homework, he brought home money to feed them. He couldn't wait for his day to be over so he could go home to his beautiful, educated wife and sit down and eat dinner as a family. Right? I got it right?" The woman laughs and then cries.
Sharon stays quiet. Taking a deep breathe. Hoping that she can remain still and calm.
Taylor speaks no one realizing he had come in. "This is not helping us in anyway we have a eight year old missing and we are interviewing the mother." They all remain quiet and turn back to the screen.
The woman grins and sarcastically says, "Oh wait I forgot. Now that your children are so well off, he spends all his time pampering you." She's laughs. "Is that how you can afford those expensive clothes?" The woman signals Sharon up an down with her hand.
Everyone that is watching moves uncomfortably. Rusty looks at Provenza who is carefully watching Flynn.
"Mrs. Hernandez.." Sharon begins.
"No, I am not finished. My children mean the world to me." She begins to sob again.
"Mrs. Hernandez let me help you. I can protect your children."
"No, no." She gets a big grin on her face. "My children are safe now. My Luisa and Lucia!" The grin fades and she starts crying. "I wanted to protect them."
Everyone is silent as they watch.
"I understand. You needed to protect Luisa. You took her to a safe place. I would have done the same." Sharon says this in all the sincerity she can muster.
"She was so sad that I took her there again without her sisters and brothers." The woman's head tilts to the side, looking into the distance.
"Why hasn't she questioned her? She would have broken already?" Taylor grunts.
Flynn answers, "She never read her, her rights. Wanted to make it feel like a mother to mother conversation." Taylor scoffs and rubs his forehead.
Andy looks at Rusty. Rusty immediately understands and slowly sneaks away. Andy moves with him and walks to the officer.
"Captains orders. You understand?" He growls at the officer. "When you drop him off you are to stay parked at the entrance until you see the Captain walks through that door. Understood?"
Rusty looks at him like it's not necessary especially since he knows they are not Sharon's orders but decides not to say anything. "Yes Lieutenant." The officer walks slowly behind Rusty.
He turns to look at the team and sees them all standing. The only one still sitting is Buzz.
He moves quickly towards them. The woman is face to face with Sharon, no fear in her eyes, the woman isn't hurting her but her rage is high.
Provenza shouts. "We need to get her out of there." And signals Sanchez.
"No. Wait." Taylor chimes in. "We need to get this confession and the Captain will be more upset for us barging in then anything else."
"Then anything else?" Flynn shoots out frustrated.
"Like getting injured again, Chief?" Sanchez finishes Andy's thoughts.
Provenza stops them and says, "If this woman killed her husband and daughters it is possible she still has the murder weapon in there with her."
"No one interrupts the Captain." Taylor's voice angry.
Flynn moves towards the house.
"Lieutenant Flynn, you stand down until necessary you understand?" Taylor screams at him. "Lieutenant Flynn it's an order."
Provenza gives Sanchez and Sykes a look and they follow Flynn. Flynn halts at the house door listening, with Sanchez and Sykes at his side. All of them with their guns drown out.
"I took the gun from the closet where we always leave it and I went to his house. My daughter, my beautiful daughter Lucia answered the door." Sharon wants to shake the confession out of her but knew she needed to be patient.
"She told me her Daddy was in the car so I went to the garage and she followed me. I pulled out the gun and shot him. The woman uses her hands as a gun and points at Sharon, "Bam, BAM!" Sharon doesn't flinch.
"I don't know how many times I shot him. When I turned around my daughter was gone." Her hands come to her face, running them over her cheeks, in desperation. "I knew she would hate me even more. So I found her and told her to sleep. She's safe now." She's talking peacefully and calmly.
Sharon stays put. And doesn't say a word and waits. She is repulsed and is shaking if rage but wants to control herself.. Minutes pass in silence.
"My Lucia didn't deserve it but she would tell my other children and they would hate her even more. I was trying to protect her."
When she speaks again she can hear her voice croak a little.
"Mrs. Hernandez, the three of your children are on vacation, when they get back they will want to see Luisa and Lucia." Sharon speaks calmly.
The woman turns to her. "No, they won't. I will tell them that Luisa is now with there father and they will not want to go see her. They hated their Father. They hated Lucia." She giggles a little.
"This woman is insane." Taylor chimes in. Provenza is carefully watching the screens and the three that are guarding the door.
She begins to hum. And begins to sing. "Su casita azul, su casita azul. Esta dormida en su casita azul." Buzz starts to translate but Sharon speaks.
"Her little blue house, her little blue house. She is asleep in her little blue house. That is beautiful." She compliments her and then silences herself.
"Yes, I take my children to the our getaway house that their Dad bought them, every month and she has a little blue house in the back yard. I put her to sleep there. She was so peaceful." Her hands together like if she were praying.
Provenza, signals Sykes and she comes running. "I heard Lieutenant. I'm on my way."
"Take Flynn with you." She nods and starts running back.
Provenza frowns at himself and shouts. "Sykes leave Flynn take Sanchez." She nods.
"Buzz I need you with a camera, ready to go with them. Tao can sit in here." He gets up and Tao sits down.
"We have enough to arrest her. Why isn't she?" Taylor comments annoyed.
"The murder weapon, Chief." Tao chimes in.
Provenza signals more officers to surround the house.
"Mrs. Hernandez I want to hear the rest of the story, maybe I can tell it. After you put her to sleep," she tops and swallows "you put the gun back away where you hide it and call the police."
"No, no. My children called the police they didn't want their father to come for them too, so they reported their sister missing." She looks annoyed.
"I can show you what helped me put my babies to sleep." The woman bites her lip.
"Okay." Sharon musters to say.
The woman leaves, Sharon draws her gun. Wiping a tear that comes down her face. She takes a deep breath.
"Why isn't she arresting her? Where did she go?" Taylor is screaming.
"She's waiting for Flynn." Provenza says quietly.
Taylor and Tao both look at him.
"Her back-up," he points to Flynn who is standing at the house door.
Sharon breathes walks towards the door only slightly, while the woman comes back. Holding in her hands the gun almost cradling it. Not looking at Sharon. She was talking to her gun about her plans with her other children and vacations they are going to take to put them all to sleep.
"Mrs. Hernandez," Sharon's words cause her to look up at her. "Put the gun down." The woman frowns at her. "Put the gun on the floor and step away from it." Sharon's voice is shouting.
Flynn moves in almost breaking down the door and stands in front of Sharon holding up his gun. It was as if he knew where she'd be. The woman drops to gun by the shock and drops to her knees to grab it.
The other officers come rushing in picking her up. Hand cuffing her.
Flynn puts his gun away and in anger says, "You are under arrest for the murder of Lucia Hernandez and Roberto Hernandez," the woman screams loudly rushing towards him, fishing for Sharon. Sharon puts her gun away and moves back in sight.
She begins to tell the woman her rights. "You said you would protect my children. You lied to me. You will pay for this! Now who will protect them! Who will help them sleep!" The woman is kicking and screaming.
"What are you waiting for? Take her away." Flynn shouts.
"Tao turn off the camera feed, now." Provenza chimes in. Taylor frowns at him and Tao obeys.
"Our job is not done, we need to find Luisa still." Provenza says annoyed answering Taylor's expression.
Flynn turns around and looks at Sharon. "Are you alright?"
She isn't looking at him, it is as if the woman's expression had caught onto her. She was not responding her fingers lay on her lips.
"Sharon," his voice concerned, he gently touches a shoulder.
This makes her react immediately. "No, I am not fine. Nothing about this is fine. This woman, she killed her daughters because they loved her father more then her. They were little, of course they adore their father." She moves her hand down from her face and it is shaking.
He grabs it. They are frozen. "We need to find Luisa." She finally lets the words out.
"Sykes, Sanchez and Buzz are already on it." He reaches out and combs back her hair from her face.
"We need to go too." She finally starts processing properly. "Before you ask again, I am fine." She finally looks at him in the eye.
"Okay. Let's go." He smiles
She gives the remaining few orders and they all head out.
Her phone rings as they make their way to the car.
"Captain Sharon Raydor," she answers.
"Captain, we found Luisa, She's alive." She hears Sykes voice at the other end.
She stops in her tracks and bends at her waist giving her weight to her knees with her free hand. She lets out a sigh almost a sob of relief that Sykes can here.
"You alright Captain." Sykes asks her. She feels a hand on her back.
"How is she?" She stays bent for a few more seconds then straightens up. Flynn is still moving his hand up and down her back.
"She is scared. She was beat, beaten very badly. But she's alive and will be okay." Sykes tells her.
"Thank you, great work, Detective." Sharon tells her with a tremble in her voice. She's about to hang up and continues, "Detective, please finish up there and let Sanchez and Buzz know that the day is over. We'll see each other in couple of hours, we all need to go home and rest. I will let the others know. And thank you again."
She hangs up her phone. She lightly pulls away from Flynn.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"She's alive and she's going to be ok and I need to get out of this clothes." Looking at her clothes repulsed and her voice almost breaking.
"No, I mean why did you move away?" He takes a step closer to her.
"Because if you keep touching me I will start crying." She doesn't look at him and her voice is cracking.
"Sharon?" He holds out a hand. She doesn't take it. He puts it down. He understands they are still surrounded by many people and she needs her space. He takes her to pick her car and their is little said between each other.
She arrives home. Taking off her shoes.
"Rusty?"
"In the kitchen."
She finds him making breakfast. "Rusty why is the officer still downstairs?"
"That was Lieutenant Flynn's doing, he told him to stay put until you got home, used your name to give the order." He shrugs his shoulders.
Sharon rolls her eyes, smiling.
"Alright well now he's waiting to take you to school."
Rusty laughs. "Did you guys finish the case?"
"We made an arrest. Found Luisa alive." She sounds defeated.
"It was the mother wasn't it?" He doesn't look at her as he continues cooking.
"Yes."
"I already ate. This is for you." He tells her. She smiles and thanks him.
"I am going to jump in the shower. I will be out quickly, just leave it out for me please." She leaves him cooking.
She turns on the shower and undresses. She steps into the hot water. Letting it run down her skin. She wants the heat to kill the pain, the water to drown the hurt and then tears begin to run down her face, letting all the frustration go.
She comes out. And finds Rusty grabbing his things ready to go. He notices she's been crying but says nothing.
"Do I tell the officer to wait for me at school all day too?" He grins.
She laughs. "Have a great day Rusty."
She walks towards the kitchen. And sees her plate served on the stove. She smiles as she sees everything's been cleaned too. She doesn't have much of an appetite and leans into the counter giving it all her weight.
"Hey Lieutenant." She hears Rusty's voice. It couldn't be, she thought to herself.
"Hey Kid, off to school?" It was Andy. She shook her head and smiled in disbelief and thought of a way to sneak past to change. But there was no way.