Deep in the Night

An ITHOTN fan Fic

Disclaimer: I own no names of ITHOTN. Only the story is mine

Chapter One

Sparta's Nightmare

It was a beautiful Spring day in Sparta, Mississippi. A day that brought Bubba Skinner to the new bakery.

To tell the truth, It wasn't the donuts that brought him. It was the owner.

He opened the door of Dixieland Delights. The smell of baked goods hit him.

A drop dead gorgeous brunette looked from the cake she was decorating.

"Hey Bubba Skinner! How's it going?"

"Kate Sawyer. Where's Little Bit? I got her birthday present."

"She's in an after school activity. She wanted to take ballet."

"Well then, this will be perfect."

Bubba opened a small box. A small silver bracelet with a pink ballet shoe charm on it.

"Bubba. You shouldn't have."

"Hey, now when was the last time I spoiled my god daughter?"

Kate smiled. "Last month when you took her to back to school shopping and returned with her ears pierced."

Bubba had to grin. Katherine Sawyer, or as she preferred to be called, Kate, was his best friend's widow.

Connor Sawyer had played football with Bubba at the University of Alabama. When Connor and Kate married, Bubba was the best man. When their daughter Sophia was born, Connor named Bubba her godfather. It was also Bubba who promised Connor he'd look after Kate and Sophia.

Connor had died of prostate cancer when Sophia was two. Kate had started baking as a way to make ends meet. It grew into a thriving business.

"I'm also here to get Parker's donuts and give you one of these flyers."

Kate looked down at the piece of paper she was just handed. She frowned.

"Another little girl went missing?"

"Oh, they found her. Dead."

"Where?"

"Kinard."

"Bubba. This thing is hitting a little too close to home. It makes me want to put Sophia in a plastic bubble and never let her out if my sight."

Before Bubba could respond, the door opened and a voice yelled, "Hey Uncle Bubba!"

Bubba turned and saw a small girl about eight with blonde hair, blue eyes, and wearing a pink tutu. She had a bright smile on her face.

"Well, hey Little Bit! Happy birthday!"

He handed her the small box. Sophia opened it and gasped.

"Thank you, Uncle Bubba! Look Momma! It's a ballet slipper! Can you put it on me, Uncle Bubba?"

Bubba bent down and fastened the bracelet on Sophia's small arm. She hugged him.

"Sophia? Do you have homework?"

"Yes, Momma."

"My office. Make sure you get it done."

"So I can be a good police officer like Uncle Bubba someday?"

Bubba spoke up. "Little Bit, with an education, you can do anything you set your mind to."

Sophia whirled around and headed to Kate's back office.

Bubba chuckled. "She's looking like Connor everyday."

Kate smiled. "Yeah. I carried her for nine months only for her to look like her father."

Kate walked around the counter and grabbed a box.

"Two dozen original glazed donuts for Parker."

"Hey, real quick question before I go back to the station. Does Sophia want to go to the Father/Daughter dance next week?"

"She hasn't mentioned it."

"I'll ask her tomorrow at her party." He placed a bill in Kate's hand. "To help with Little Bit's party."

"Bubba Skinner. You've already done too much."

"Remember, Kate. She's my goddaughter. I get to spoil her. I got to get back or else the Chief is going to have my head."

Kate hugged him. "Thank you, Bubba."

Bubba smiled, tipped his hat, and walked out the door.

Kate chuckled. There was a man who would rope the moon for his goddaughter.

~•~

The next morning, Kate awoke and began her normal breakfast routine.

It began with the coffee pot being started and her waking Sophia for school.

She walked into Sophia's room.

"Sophia, Sweetie. Time to get up."

She pulled back the pink comforter and gasped. Sophia wasn't in her bed.

Kate began to panic. She began to run from room to room calling Sophia's name.

In a panicked hurry, Kate dressed and made her way to the police station.

Sparta's long nightmare had begun.