Daisy
Bobbi walked back in the interrogation room followed by Mack. Daisy kept her head down and ignored them both.
"I looked through your backpack. A couple changes of clothes, two fake ID's, your phone, and laptop, along with some personal care items."
Daisy looked up and smiled. "Always be prepared."
"You do know it's just a matter of time till the FBI cyber task force gets into your computer files? Then we will know who you are working for. All cyber criminals have specific tells."
"Do they?"
Mack walked over to the table and threw the folder he was carrying on the table. "Yes, they do. The FBI is lending us their best guy... Daisy."
Bobbi watched as Daisy flinched. She sat down across from her. "Daisy Johnson. Age fifteen. Runaway. Ward of the State of Illinois. Last foster home in Naperville. Arrested four times. Three times in family court and sentenced twice to a juvenile facility. First arrest for shoplifting at age eleven. Suspended sentence – sent back to a group home. Second arrest for petty theft. Plead guilty and given a ninety- day stint in juvie plus community service. Third arrest, victim recanted. Forth arrest for breaking and entering at age thirteen. Three- month sentence back in juvie and six months on probation. Chronic runaway."
Daisy stayed quiet.
"You don't like authority much do you?" Mack asked the question.
Bobbi continued. "Your latest foster family says you stole a large amount of cash and other items from them and trashed their place before you ran away. They want to press charges. Looks like you are in a whole lot of trouble back there and here. Oh and at fifteen, the crimes we are going to charge you with are felonies and you will go to court. Not family court. You are in deep Daisy and your only chance now is to cooperate with us."
Daisy sighed. She looked across at Bobbi. "Fuck off."
Mack took a step toward her. "Hey!" He shouted in his deep voice and slammed his fist on the table. Daisy's reaction was not what either expected. She moved quickly trying to back off the chair and ended up falling backwards with the chair. Mack went to pull her up and she kicked him and scrambled away to the corner of the room. Daisy was breathing hard and trying to gasp for air as she knelt on the ground.
Mack gave Bobbi a pained look, this was not what he was going for. Bobbi nodded to him and he left the room. She slowly moved to the girl watching her. Daisy was clenching and unclenching her fists, her breathing was haggard, and her eyes were closed. Bobbi knew a panic attack when she saw one. She approached cautiously and started talking in low tones to the girl assuring her no one would hurt her. Daisy started rocking back and forth.
The door opened and Izzy entered. "I called for an ambulance. Should be here soon. You go with her. I'll send Elena with a car."
Outside at the viewing window, Hunter asked the question. "Is she faking that now that she knows we know who she is?"
Mack shook his head. "No. There's something really wrong here. That was definitely real."
Elena spoke up. "You didn't know Mack. Up till now there was no indication she would react that way. Up till now she's been a smart ass and in control."
"She's just a kid."
"Yeah. A kid that committed a bunch of crimes. One against Phil. Let's not forget that she stole twelve-grand from him. Why does a fifteen-year old need twelve-grand?
"I'm pretty sure she is being used by some group, Hunter. Fits the profile of the type they recruit. Loner. No family."
Elena spoke up. "How did she end up in the system Mack?"
"Parents were killed in car accident when she was nine. No other family. Been in the foster care system ever since."
"Still doesn't give her a pass to steal. Especially from our family."
The ENT had given Daisy a shot of diazepam to calm her down so they could transport her to the hospital. Bobbi was pacing in the hallway, when Elena arrived.
"How is she?"
"Still being examined. They called a shrink too."
"So what's the next step? After the psychiatrist examines her?"
I guess either psyche ward or juvie to be held till arraignment."
"All that bluster and inside she's just a scared kid huh?"
Bobbi nodded. Just then the exam door opened, and the doctor stepped out.
"How is she?"
"Right now, drugged and fairly cooperative. At least she's not fighting us. But once the diazepam wears off, I don't know."
"So was it a true panic attack?"
"Yes. Your precinct called the FBI to send a psychiatrist to examine her. She's on her way."
"So we just wait."
"I'd like to exam her more, but she won't allow it."
"More?"
"That girl was abused. She has bruises that are still healing and scars all over her body. Her actions during the exam screamed abuse. She fought the nurse who tried to remove her clothes and she fought me when I went to touch her. As a professional who has seen far too much of it, I'd bet my license that she was repeatedly physically and sexually abused. Probably for years." She paused as she let the words sink in. "I would like to do a pelvic exam and check to be sure. I ordered blood work to rule out venereal diseases and HIV. Was she living on the streets?
"No. She had a room in a hostel. She's a runaway. She was arrested for cyber crime offenses," Elena answered.
"Well, she was physically assaulted or abused within the last few weeks. From the bruising, and healing of the bruising I'd say less than three. I also ordered full x-rays. She might have a few bones that were broken that did not heal properly from lack of medical care. It's a normal thing we see in cases like this."
"Can I see her?"
"I guess. But I don't think she's going to talk to anyone right now. Might be a good idea to give her some space and time. Soon enough the psychiatrist will be here."
"Yeah I guess." Bobbi moved to the room door and looked in. The girl was in a hospital gown, curled on the bed under a sheet, facing away from the door. She whispered to herself, "I'm sorry kid."
Bobbi and Elena were in the waiting room drinking coffee when they saw someone arrive at the front desk. She was pointed in the direction of the girl's room. Bobbi watched as a young woman first knocked on the door, opened the door and walked in.
Elena was also watching. "She looks rather young, doesn't she?"
Bobbi simply nodded.
Daisy heard the knock and door opening. Great another person to prod at her and ask questions. The panic attack was long gone, and the only effect still present of the drug they'd given her was being overly tired. She was angry at not only being caught, not being on her guard and being stupid enough to stay in Chicago this long. She should have left days ago. She was also angry that she allowed herself to be affected by the officer who had yelled and slammed his fist on the desk. Well he was big. Huge actually. The men who had hurt her in the past always started out screaming and slamming shit around before they got around to her. She hadn't had a panic attack in a while though. It had taken her by surprise that she hadn't been able to use her go-to coping mechanisms. The person who had entered her room pulled up and chair and Daisy heard them sit down. Her curiosity getting the better of her made her shuffle on the bed to turn around to see who it was. She expected maybe it would be that woman police officer, Bobbi. It wasn't.
"Hello. I'm Dr. Jemma Simmons. How are you feeling Daisy?"
Phil
Phil hung up the phone and sat back in his chair. He was still at school, grading papers. His last class had ended over an hour ago.
"Huh. A fifteen- year old girl."
"What?"
He looked up and saw Jane standing in the doorway. "Oh I was just talking to myself."
She gave him a knowing look. "Answering?"
"Funny. That was Bobbi. She said their sting operation worked, and they arrested a fifteen-year old girl. Said she's the one who stole my twelve-thousand dollars from my account."
"Kids these days huh?"
He laughed. "She doesn't think the kids acted alone. Pretty sure she was recruited by some hacking group. Bobbi said what the girl appeared to do was too sophisticated for one person, especially a kid."
"Did Bobbi say anything about getting the money back?"
"No, not yet. She's worried about the girl."
"Why is that?"
"Apparently the girl is a runaway from Naperville. In the foster system. Bobbi said she's been abused and had a panic attack at the station, and they took her to the hospital."
"Yeah. She still stole your money."
"I know. But Bobbi thinks she's just a pawn. Got caught up in something cause she didn't think she had anywhere else to turn."
"Bobbi always has a soft spot. She's like you in that way."
"Hey."
"Oh come on Phil. If it were up to you, you'd get Bobbi to drop the charges and try to help the kid. It's who you are."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Oh no. Just stupid. You are far too trusting and always ready to forgive. Well, except maybe your ex-wife. Or is it she that won't forgive you?"
He shook his head. "I can't believe she's here. In Chicago. That's she's been here for nearly seven years."
"It's a big place Phil. Not surprising that you never ran into her."
"I'm surprised I never heard she moved here. I still stay in contact with some of the people we both were friends with."
"Maybe she doesn't?"
"I guess. She looked good though."
"She looked as shocked to see you as you were to see her. Like she had seen a ghost. At least for a minute then I couldn't tell what she was thinking, at all."
"She's a trained spy. She can mask her emotions well. She was always good undercover."
"Spy?"
"We served together on special forces. I was communications and support. She was a specialist. Sometimes that meant undercover. She has five black belts in five separate martial arts disciplines. She's also a trained weapons specialist. We met when she was training my group in self-defense."
"Let me guess she threw you to the ground and fell in love with you?"
"Something like that. She laughed at my jokes on our first date. Everyone around me kept telling me she was out of my league."
"What happened Phil? Unless you don't want to tell me cause, yeah, that was kind of personal."
"One night...we... lost... we lost our child. Neither of us could recover enough to care about keeping out marriage from falling apart. We lost each other too."
"I'm so sorry Phil.
"She was only eighteen months old. Skye. She was beautiful. So inquisitive. Happy."
"Was it an accident or illness?"
"Huh? Oh no. She didn't die. She was kidnapped. We lost her."
Melinda
Melinda was working late again. She was in her cubicle and the only other person present this late was Fitz. He was working a case for the local police. He came into her area when he wanted a quiet place to work. Melinda had met Leopold Fitz (no one calls me Leopold, call me Fitz) when she had first joined the Chicago office. Back then he was just an intern, still attending college, but also very good at his job. He could hack into anything was what everyone said. He had somehow been drawn to the new and quiet women working in administration. Mostly because she tolerated his presence which was more than many other agents did. He'd graduated from Quantico just a year ago and had returned to Chicago working as the head of the Cyber Terrorism and Security task force in the Chicago office. As he usually did when he was working a more difficult case, he was mumbling and swearing while he worked.
Melinda laughed as he started trying to sweet talk the computer. "I don't think it cares about feelings Fitz."
He looked over at her and grinned. "Nah I know. But the damn thing isn't cooperating in the least. I'd rather throw it and smash it to bits, but that would be counterproductive, yeah? I can't find a way in yet."
"Ah someone who can beat you? Never thought I'd see the day."
"Ha. I'm not beaten yet. I'll figure it out. Not gonna let some kid best me."
"Kid?"
"Yeah. Fifteen-year old. Owner of this here computer. Of course, the police don't think she did this herself. Gotta be a cyber crime group running this op. I just can't figure out who yet."
"So you think it's a subversive group. One on the list?"
"Seems it's gotta be yeah. The encryptions are deep. I can't make heads or tails of what I'm even looking for. I haven't broken a code yet. I can't find a signature style. They always have a signature."
"It's getting late. You hungry?"
"Ah crap. It's nearly seven. I am feeling a bit peckish."
"Well I have a few more files I want to get through. I'm gonna order some Chinese takeout. You want something."
"Sure. I'll have whatever you're having. You haven't steered me wrong yet."
Melinda smiled and picked up her phone to place the order.
Daisy
"You're a shrink? Aren't you kinda young?"
"I assure you I am old enough and very qualified. How are you feeling Daisy?"
"You mean after my panic attack and the crap drugs they stuck in me to calm me down?"
"Do you get them often?"
"Crap drugs? Nah I can get hold of much better ones on the street."
"Panic Attacks. Do you get them often?"
"Maybe you should ask the giant police officer who slammed his fist on the table if he has violent tendencies. Seemed a bit over the top to me."
"So he scared you. Have people scared you before? Threatened you?"
Daisy backed up on to the bed and pulled her knees up wrapping her arms around her legs. "I'm hungry. Don't they serve any food in this hospital?"
"When the doctor examined, you she found some injuries. Bruising on your shoulders, chest, arms and back. She also found scars from previous injuries. Has someone been hurting you Daisy?"
"Seriously. I'm starving. I have a high metabolism. I know my rights. They have to feed me."
"What are you so afraid of?"
"I'm not gonna talk to you. I hate shrinks. They always twist everything around and it comes back to bite me in the ass. So take your psychobabble and shove it."
Dr. Simmons stood up. "Stop me if I get anything wrong. According to your extensive files which I've read and the report of the doctor exam, plus what the officers have told me, you are a runaway from Naperville. You were living with a foster family, Gary and Diane Wilson. They are claiming you stole money, jewelry, and electronics from their home, trashed their home and physically assaulted them. That happened on October 8th. The police said you rented the room at the hospice on October 13. You opened a bank account at First Commonwealth bank on October 19 in the name of Mary Sue Martin. You set up fake bank accounts in the names of Charles and Heidi Martin and transferred money from stolen accounts to yours. The police found almost one thousand dollars on you. They are positive that you are working with a hacker group and say that being cooperative would go a long way with them."
Daisy lifted her head and stared at the woman.
Dr, Simmons continued. "Based on your history and physical exam, if I were to make an educated guess, I'd say you ran away from your foster home because you were being abused. Your injuries are fairly fresh, and the bruising indicates you were beaten severely by someone. Odds are that someone is from your most recent foster placement. You probably didn't trash their place and most likely did not steal as much as they claim from them. Although, you might have taken cash on hand to buy the bus ticket so you could get away."
Daisy raised her eyebrows.
"I think you set all this up to make money so you could get away somewhere. The evidence is that you didn't rent the hostel room right away, so you probably had little or no money once you got here. You picked Chicago because you could get lost in it rather easily. Naperville is only around thirty- five- miles from Chicago. You most likely hitched to get here or used the cash you stole and came by bus. You probably stayed on the street at first, but quickly found a shelter to stay at. You are street smart so you would know how dangerous being on the streets would be for a girl your age. Most likely you know the right spots to go to stay anonymous. But you probably didn't feel too safe at the shelter either, being a teenage girl, so somehow you came up with enough money to get a room at the hostel. Since you are a runaway, getting a job is out of the question, so somehow you stole the money. Or stole something to turn into money. Most likely you shoplifted items or stole a wallet or purse. You did it before, in your record. Petty theft. Also breaking and entering. Felony theft. Since you have become a ward of the state – you have been placed in eleven foster homes, three group homes, and a lock down juvenile facility.
"Got it all figured out, have you?"
"How many times did he hit you before you took off? Reporting it to your case worker might have been easier. Your case worker would have taken you out of the home and put you somewhere safe."
Daisy laughed. "Yeah sure. You don't get it. At all."
"Then explain it to me. How is running a better answer? I mean look where you are now. Did you really think stealing that much money would not draw attention?"
"Only thing I did wrong was not bailing on this shit town quicker. Won't happen again."
"No, it won't, because you will be in jail."
"Juvie. I'm only fifteen."
"Not if the FBI charges you with a federal crime or two. You're over age fourteen so they could charge you as an adult."
"Unless I help them. Give them information. Yeah I got it."
Dr. Simmons watched the girl. Her body language gave away nervousness, but her words continued to be defiant and defensive. "Or you have nothing to give them and are just stalling. You did this on your own. The hacking, the plan, the money was limited. It was just for you. So you could get away from here. Where were you planning to go? I bet you wanted to go out west or south where the weather is warmer all year long."
Daisy bit her lip and looked away. She continued tapping her crossed feet. She looked back at the woman and folded her arms. "Whatever you say. You're the shrink. I'm just a kid. A very hungry kid. Guess I have to find my own food around here" She got up and walked out the door before Jemma could react. She started walking down the hall, getting a few feet, before an officer grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled hard.
"Don't touch me, you fucking asshole." Daisy pulled away which caused the officer to grab her tighter around both shoulders. Daisy winced and tried to get away and in the process, her hospital gown opened more. "Let me go, you fucking pervert!"
Bobbi heard the commotion and made it to them in seconds flat. "Let her go officer." He let Daisy go.
"Hey look the perv wanted to cop a feel. Bastard." She pushed her loosened gown back over her front which had come down in the scuffle. "All I wanted was a fucking sandwich."
Elena came on the other side of Daisy. "You need to stay in the room. You're a suspect in a crime. The officer was just doing his job. Ny the way that's some mouth you have."
"Fuck you too."
Nurses, doctors and visitors were staring. Bobbi wanted to defuse this quickly. She stood in front of Daisy. "Get back to your room now. I'll make sure you get something to eat."
Jemma had come out of the room and had watched the entire exchange. "Officer. You should join us. Daisy and I haven't finished our little chat just yet."
Bobbi guided Daisy back into the room. Daisy walked to the bed and jumped on it.
Bobbie turned to Elena who stood in the doorway. "Could you ask someone to bring Daisy dinner. It is getting pretty late now."
Elena nodded to her. She glanced at Daisy and gave her a dirty look.
Jemma turned to Bobbi and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Dr. Jemma Simmons. I consult with the FBI and occasionally with the Chicago Police. Daisy and I have figured a few things out."
Bobbi introduced herself as well. Daisy smirked and sat back on the bed.
Bobbi turned to Jemma. "Such as?"
"Here we should both sit." Jemma pulled up a chair and Bobbi did the same. "I was called in to access Daisy's mental status. And try to learn information from her. Your department thinks she is working for a criminal hacker group. I don't think she is. You think she can provide you with names and contacts of a criminal group she works for. I don't think she can because one doesn't exist. At least not one she is involved with."
Bobbi scratched her head." She told you that?"
"Oh no. She wants me to believe what you believe. That she is just a pawn and is being used by some big bad organization. She's not."
"How do you know that?"
"A hunch. And deductive reasoning. Tell me Officer Morse, how much money did this girl steal online?"
"Twelve- thousand dollars from one victim."
"How much from other victims?"
"Small amounts. Four hundred dollars form one and six hundred from another account."
"So three accounts? Is that all"
"It's all we found so far."
"Also, can you tell me how much money she didn't take from the larger account?"
"What?"
"Did she wipe the account clean?"
"No actually there was a lot more in the account in total."
"Has Fitz been able to break into her computer yet? Cause once he does, that's what you will find. That she worked alone."
"Not yet. You know him. He's an FBI computer expert, supposed to be the best in the area."
Daisy smiled.
"Yes I know him. Fitz. It's just a matter of time till he gets in."
"Good luck with that." Daisy crossed her arms and smirked at them.
"Of course the point being that young Daisy here is not working with any group, and never was. She stole the money cause she's a good hacker."
"No way could she pull that off by herself. Set up all those fake ID's. Run the bank scam. Hack into random online accounts."
"Sure she did. Didn't you Daisy?"
The room door was pushed open and a worker rolled in a cart with a tray and drinks on it. "Oh um, I was told to deliver this here.
Daisy waved. "Over here. That's mine."
He took it to her and looked at the women. Bobbi waved him away. He walked out.
Bobbi watched as the girl checked out her food. If what the psychiatrist was telling her was true, they'd been completely wrong about this case. If true, it meant that the girl she was watching shove food in her mouth, was a genius at computers, and they'd spent a ton on resources to capture a teenage runaway thief. A runaway who had bruises on her arms and shoulders. Bobbi had seen them for herself out in the hallway, when Daisy had made that scene. Even now, Bobbi could see the green and bluish marks on her upper arms as she ate. She walked over to the bed and checked out the food Daisy was heartily eating. A grilled cheese, tomato soup, a fruit cup, and a bag of chips, along with a pudding cup. Bobbi turned to look closer at Daisy. They were definitely old bruises healing. Bobbi also noticed a tattoo. No wait that wasn't a tattoo. It was a birthmark. It was wine colored and resembled the shape of a heart that was placed on the inside above her left wrist.
Daisy noticed Bobbi checking her out. "You want to see all of them. I know the doctor took pictures. They always take pictures. Nothing ever happens though."
"Tell me who hurt you Daisy?"
"Why?"
"So I can arrest him."
"It doesn't matter."
"It does if they send another kid there."
"So? That's life. They'll have to deal. I did."
"So you want another kid to go though what you have?"
"Why should I care? No one cared about me. Ain't no one looking out for me. Except me." She opened the pudding and spooned some in her mouth.
"You need to let the doctor examine you."
"Already did."
Jemma interjected changing the subject, "Where did you learn to hack computers so well?"
Daisy waved her spoon around. "You know, here and there. Hey can I get another pudding cup?"
Bobbi looked at Jemma who just shook her head. She then turned to speak to Daisy. "You are staying here tonight. You should get some rest."
"Why. Why am I staying in the hospital?"
"Observation. I'll be back to speak to you again tomorrow Daisy."
"There will be a guard posted outside."
"Not the pervy one I hope."
"Elena has volunteered."
"Oh great. The overly sensitive moralistic one."
"Just rest and get some sleep."
"How about that pudding?"
"I'll make sure the staff offers you snacks. You have a TV. I'll be back in the morning as well. Goodnight."
Daisy waved them both away as she flipped on the TV remote.
Phil
Bobbi had stopped by Phil's apartment to give him details on the young girl who had stolen his money.
"She's been abused?"
"Yeah. It's why she ran off from her foster home. Foster parents are claiming she was the violent one who trashed the place, hit them and stole their money and jewelry."
"You don't believe them, do you?"
"Of course not. The girl has bruises. Proving it though is something else. Especially since the girl is not interested in pressing charges."
"Does she have to? Can't you just investigate."
"Well Naperville can investigate. Happened in their jurisdiction. But without corroboration form Daisy, it's simply hearsay."
"Her name is Daisy?"
"Yeah, but she is anything but a lovely and sweet flower. She's fifteen, smart as a whip, has a trucker's mouth, and is a huge smart ass."
"You like her."
"She's had a rough life. If what Jemma says is true, and she worked alone and really planned all of this herself, stealing the money – we can forgo federal charges, and put her through family court. We have your money, and the thousand she had on her can go back to the other two teachers. Most likely she'll have to do some time at juvie because of her previous convictions."
"How much time?"
"Depends. We can run her through family court here and she'll probably get less than a year if she gets lucky and has a more lenient judge. It wasn't a violent crime so that will work in her favor. You okay with that?"
"Oh yeah. She's just a kid. No need to ruin her future because of one mistake."
"Speaking of mistakes, why did you and your first wife divorce again? You still love her."
"You got that from a five-minute meeting?"
"I'm a cop Phil. It's what I do. You were giving away many signs. The first tragedy of course was dropping my mac and cheese. After that, anyone who was paying attention could see the chemistry you two had, even after all these years. What harm could it do to talk to her?"
"I tried calling a couple times and chickened out. It's in the past. We are in the past. We have moved on. Melinda will always have a piece of my heart. But we aren't good together. Not anymore. Not after what happened."
"It was over thirteen years ago Phil. Wait are those photo albums?"
"Yeah."
"You never showed me pictures Phil. Not of your ex or daughter."
"Well that's cause I thought I'd packed the past away with the albums. I guess I was wrong."
"Do you mind?"
He shook his head. "Knock yourself out. The blue one is first, it has pictures of Mel and me before we were married. The white one has our wedding. The other two are full of pics of Skye and us as a family. I'm gonna grab a beer. You want one?"
"Yeah." Bobbi took an album and began paging through it.
Phil returned and sat down next his sister. He watched as she paged through his past, smiling, and asking a few questions from time to time. After over a half hour had passed, she was on the last album. The one that had Skye's first birthday, her first Christmas, her first time at the beach, her first hair. Lots of firsts in that one.
"Oh my gosh Phil, She's so cute." Bobbi looked up seeing his pained face. "Oh I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have..."
"It's fine. She was cute. Adorable. Beautiful. All those things. Curious. Sassy. Smart."
Bobbi nodded looking back at the album. Something has caught her eye. That was weird."
"What's this? On her arm?"
Phil leaned over to look. "What's what?"
"There on her lower arm right above her wrist."
"Oh that's just a birthmark. Melinda said she came out already marked by us, with two sides of a heart. Looks just like a heart. Doctor said it was not a problem. Just a port wine stain birthmark."
"That looks like a heart. Here. On her left arm. The underside of her left arm. Above the wrist."
"Yeah. I think we've established that Bobbi. It wasn't large enough to be an issue."
"How old would Skye be? Today?"
"It's been over thirteen years. She was taken in January 2006. January 12th."
"She was two when she was kidnapped?"
"No. Not two. Eighteen months. Her birthday is July 2."
"She'd be fifteen. Dark brown hair. Brown eyes. Half Chinese. With a wine-colored, heart-
shaped birthmark on the underside of her left arm just above her wrist."
"Bobbi?"
Bobbi stared at the picture of the laughing girl. Oh my god, it could be her. Just then Bobbi's phone went off. She absentmindedly picked it up. "Yeah, Morse speaking."
Elena's frantic voice responded. "She's gone."
