Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Crossing Jordan.

Unforeseen

Chapter 21 – The Package

Sydney put his head down on the desk. Lily reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I wasn't ready to lose her."

"You are never ready to lose someone Sydney, but unfortunately life doesn't wait for everyone to be prepared before it ends."

"I thought that I'd have her for a few more weeks but the cancer just picked up and rapidly spread through her lungs."

"How long have you known?"

"2 months."

"Why didn't you tell us? Garret would have given you time off and we could have been there for you."

"I needed the money and I thought if I told everyone they would always be watching me, always breathing down my neck. I wasn't ready to accept it." He lifted his hand and brushed the tears from his eyes.

Lily held onto his arm. "Don't you have any family that could have helped you?"

"My sister was really good at first but she couldn't afford to keep missing work and my brother was paying for the nurse that stayed with us."

"How long were you married?"

"Five years. I thought we would grow old together. We never even had children. She was so young."

"How old was she?"

"34."

"I'm sorry Sydney."Lily stood up and poked her head out the door. She motioned for Zoe to come in.

Zoe entered seconds later. "Dr. Trumaine, I'm Dr. Zoe Fisher, I'm filling in for Dr. Stiles and if you want to talk to me please feel free." He didn't respond but he looked up at her. She gave him a soft smile. "I'm very sorry for your loss."

"I wasn't ready to lose her."

"You never are, no matter how much you prepare yourself for that moment."

"I don't think I'll ever get over it."

"Grief is like a backpack and with each loss we add something new to that backpack. That backpack remains on our shoulders for the rest of our lives but we eventually accept that it is there. No one is ever expected to get over the loss of a loved one but in time they can accept it and move past it."

"What if I can't?"

"I think youcan someday. I can't tell you how long that will be because it is different for everybody, but with time you will accept her passing."

"We had so many plans for the future."

"Like what?"

"We were looking for a house before we started a family. We were going to try getting pregnant before her doctor found the cancer. It was only 2 months ago we thought we had our whole lives ahead of us and now she's gone. I thought we would be dancing at our child's wedding but now I have to plan her funeral."

"I understand that everything feels chaotic now but once the funeral is over you can truly start the healing process. Do you have family that can help you with planning?"

"I have a sister and a brother. I know they'll be there for me but I feel so alone."

"It is very common to feel alone in times of grief because you feel like no one could possibly understand what it is like for you. However, no matter how much someone doesn't understand your pain does not mean you are alone. You have people to hold you up and to help you make it through this painful time."

"But they can't help me, what can they do?"

"Hold you, let you cry, let you talk or let you express yourself. They can relieve some burdens by doing tasks for you."

"But they can't relieve what I feel mentally."

"No one can. Only you can do that and with time you should be able to process your grief and accept it. It isn't an easy task but life isn't an easy task. You can get through this and with people to lean on you will find it easier."

"I feel so guilty for not staying home with her longer. We should have had more time."

"Would you feel any less guilty with more time?"

"I don't know I wasn't given the chance."

"Why do you feel guilty, you didn't kill her?"

"I just feel like I should have been there more."

"You are finding ways to blame yourself, there is no reason to blame yourself, she died of natural causes and you stuck by her until the end. Would she blame you?"

"No, she was very understanding about work. She was always so happy every night when I got home. I miss her so much."

Jordan and Woody entered the bar. It was a dingy little brick building, filled with alcoholics. "Excuse me sir?" Woody said to the man behind the bar.

"What can I do for you lad?" The man asked with a thick scottish accent.

"I was wondering if you've seen this man?" Woody said as he handed him the picture.

"You know son, even if I had I probably wouldn't remember. So many people come in here that I forget what they look like. Faces become a jumble at my age."

"So you don't recognize him?"

"Sorry lad, you can ask some of the men, they might, but I don't."

"Thank you sir."

Jordan and Woody turned around and were faced with a elderly man. The scent of alcohol was thick on his breath, coupled with the scent of sweat and lack of hygiene. Woody put his arm around Jordan protectively. "Can we help you sir?"

"You have a pretty little lady here. Not many pretty little ladies come in here." He reached out for Jordan.

"This pretty little lady is with me," Woody said as he flashed his badge.

"Sorry Detective. I don't want no trouble."

Woody walked past him still holding onto Jordan. They wandered over to a table where a young man was sitting with a coffee reading. "Excuse me sir," Woody said. "Sir." The man didn't respond. "Sir, excuse me sir." The man finally lifted his head. As soon as he saw Woody he jumped.

"What?"

"Do you recognize this man?"

The man looked down at the picture and then with a grin looked back up at Woody. "Yes, I know him."

"That's great," Woody said with enthusiasm. "Where can we find him?"

"I'm sorry who are you?"

"Detective Hoyt, Boston PD and this is Dr. Cavanaugh a medical examiner for the State of Massachussets." Woody informed him. "So where can we find him?"

"I don't know. He was my brother in law. He wasmarried to my sister."

"Your sister, the one who died?"

"Yeah, that would be the one. He came to see me late last night, said he needed a place to stay."

"So he stayed with you last night?"

"Yeah, but he was gone when I got up this morning."

"Did he have anything with him?"

"A few bags. Why? Is he in some kind of trouble?"

"Quite a bit of trouble actually."

"What did he do?"

"He killed eleven women." Jordan responded fiercely. "One of which was a friend of mine's daughter."

"What are youtalking about?"

"He has been killing woman, 4 per state. This is the third state."

"I don't understand how Mark could do such a thing. He was devastated when Jenny died."

"Did he seek counselling?"

"Not that I know of. He moved to Canada that was all I knew. He showed up last night and asked for a place to stay. He said he was travelling through town. Why would Mark do this?"

"He seems to be killing women in the image of your sister."

"What?"

"He finds blonde women with blue eyes and strangles them with a scarf he ties around their neck. They look like your sister."

"Why would he do that?"

"Some believe he is honouring your sister by making her death seem less sordid."

"Did he kill my sister?"

"I thought she was killed by her photographer."

"I never believed it was Dan. I knew Dan before he was her photographer. He was a friend of mine from college. I got him the job with my sister and he loved it."

"Was your sister having an affair?"

"I don't know. How the hell would I know? If they were no one ever told me about it."

"How close were you with Mark?"

"We were never really that close, I accepted him for what he was, my sister's husband." Woody nodded and Jordan frowned.

"I don't think we are getting any closer Woods," she said quietly.

"Thank you for your time," Woody said, " If you hear from him please let us know."

He put his head down. "Detective…" Woody turned around. "He left a package at my house, do you want it?"

"Yes that would be very helpful," Woody admitted graciously.

Jordan and Woody then followed him in Woody's car back to his house.

He lived in a small white house with a wrap around porch and a white picket fence. The yard was covered in littered toys. Jordan followed Woody up the steps and into the house. A woman was standing over the sink doing dishes. She set down a plate and came over to the door. "Honey, this is Detective…"

"Detective Hoyt, Boston PD," Woody said extending his hand. "and this is Dr. Cavanaugh, Medical Examiner for the state of Massachussets."

"Are you in some kind of trouble?" she asked the man in confusion.

"No, Mark is, I'm giving them that package he left."

"What package?"

"He left a package in the guest room, I'm going to give it to them."

"Okay, it was nice to meet you detective," she said smiling at him. He smiled back and shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"Do I look that bad?" he whispered to Jordan.

"No you look that good," she whispered back. A smile was present on her face.

Woody took the package from the man's hands and thanked him. "This is very helpful thank you."

"No problem, if you have any questions don't be afraid to call," the man said with a smile.

Jordan followed Woody back out of the house and out to the car. "Want to open it?" he asked with enthusiasm like it was a Christmas gift.

"Are you kidding, we don't know what's in here. I think it should be analyzed first." They drove back to the morgue in a comfortable silence.

As soon as they arrived they raced inside with the package. The morgue was still chaotic. Nigel was still examining everything from the motel room, Bug was helping him, Garret was locked in his office, Lily was speaking with a strange couple and Sydney and Zoe were still locked inside Lily's office. Jordan dragged Woody with her to trace. "We need this analyzed immediately. We found out where he was last night."

Nigel took the package from her hands. He examined everything, held a stethescope too it and then fingerprinted it. The only match was the brother – in – laws. However, then they opened it and they all gasped.