Chapter Two - Connections
Sara arrived at the crime scene a half-hour later. She had seen many neighborhoods like this one, narrow streets, filled with older model cars, people living their lives in silent hopelessness. The brick apartment buildings that lined the streets were run down. They were not bad enough to be condemned, which would have been an act of mercy perhaps. Graffiti marked the walls in a futile effort to say 'I Exist', giving voice to the quiet desperation within.
A young police officer standing guard at the top of the front stoop stood in Sara's way as she tried to enter the building. She flashed her credentials as he directed her up one flight of stairs to her left. Reaching the upper landing of the stairway, she overheard an older woman's eyewitness account of her babysitting a child. Sara immediately took pity on the woman who was now rambling. She was visibly shaken.
Sara knew what lay beyond the door ahead. The yellow crime scene tape was not necessary for her to determine the location of the murder. She could smell death as she had many times before. Her partner Danny had arrived just ten minutes before she had, dressed in faded, blue jeans and a black, long-sleeved, v-necked sweater. His shoulder-length, straight black hair cast an almost blue black sheen in contrast to the color of his sweater. He had a slight slant to his intelligent, dark brown eyes, attributable to his half-Asian heritage. He nodded to Sara as she drew closer.
"Talk to me, Danny."
"Knifed to death…like the other two. The vic is Sandra Kensington. She was twenty-nine years old. Seems she may have brought someone home…like the others." Danny's expression could not hide his growing abhorrence for this indiscriminate killer. Being a parent himself, he found it hard to keep the judgment from his voice. Why had she brought this man to her home, to the home she had made for herself and her child?
Sara nodded to the medical examiner across the room as he closely continued his scrutiny of the corpse. "Can place the time of death sometime between midnight and two in the morning. I'll know more after the autopsy." He offered.
Squatting down closer to the body, Sara felt like an interloper into this woman's final minutes. The horrified expression on her face was frozen in time, immortalized as evidence by the camera that flashed overhead. Sara was very familiar with the metallic smell of drying blood and other bodily fluids that now invaded her senses. In a lifetime, she could not forget it.
From the blood splatter, it was clear Sandra had lost her battle for life in this very spot. The frenzied actions of the killer were reflected in the pattern of blood sprayed onto the nearby walls and even the ceiling. She bled out in no time with one or two major arteries being severed. The pool of blood on the floor was testament to that. It must have been a brutal attack. The murder weapon was still protruding from her chest. From a minor amount of blood evidence near the front door, Sara deduced the struggle was initiated there. A man strong enough to do so must have thrown Sandra's body across the room. She had landed atop a cheap glass coffee table that lay shattered beneath her. The room had been sparsely furnished to start, looking as if the young woman had selectively acquired her possessions from Good Will and local dumpsters. She had tried to make due with what life had handed her, until now.
"Mrs. Margaret Stanley, her neighbor, had thought someone down the hall had their TV up too loud. She went back to sleep. No one else in this building has come forward with any information. We have a bloody footprint that indicates a big guy. There's also an irregularity on the heel of his left shoe…a cut or gouge near the outer edge. " Danny continued.
Through the flurry of activity across the room, Sara could see a very small child sitting on a worn green sofa. Her long brown hair was mussed. Her pale, blue eyes stared vacantly into space, not seeing the apartment full of people. Danny followed as Sara walked slowly toward the child.
"Is this our witness?" She asked quietly.
"Annie Kensington. She's eight years old. Mrs. Stanley was supposed to be babysitting but fell asleep. Annie must have left the neighbor's and gone back home. Mrs. Stanley went looking for her around one thirty this morning. She called 9-1-1 after she saw what had happened. The killer must have left the apartment door open."
The look of compassion on Danny's face for the little girl warmed Sara's heart, reaffirming the love she felt for her longtime partner. As a young father, Sara could only imagine what this must be like for Danny to witness a child going through this kind of torture.
"The officers first on the scene found Annie still hiding in the closet…in the dark. She must have seen the whole thing through the slats in the door. She has not moved or said anything since we got here. Poor kid."
Danny sat next to Annie, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. His own daughter was nearly Annie's age. The thought of her witnessing her own mother's death, robbing her of her childhood forever, brought a lump to his throat and rage to his heart. The solitary tear that now streaked his face did not escape Sara's scrutiny. Danny looked up in time for Sara to return his gaze with a sympathetic smile. Most men would have been embarrassed by this display of emotion, but most men weren't as strong as Danny Woo.
Sara now turned her attention to the small figure slumped on the old sofa.
"Annie? Can you hear me, honey?"
There was no response. What else could Sara say? She couldn't promise her safety. This was not a safe world for Annie anymore. Her mother was never going to be all right. She could offer no solace. Nothing would comfort this child. What Sara could do for Annie was check her vitals. She noticed Annie's skin was cold and moist to the touch. Her pupils were dilated, eyes glazed over. Her pulse was barely discernible.
"She's in shock, Danny. We need to get her to a hospital."
"St. Elizabeth's is the closest. I'll drive."
Danny grabbed a comforter from a linen closet, gently wrapping the pale, thin child. Sara could hear her partner whispering quietly to the little girl, words only shared between them. He cradled her in his arms; his warm cheek snuggled next to the young girl's, as if Annie were his. They rushed from the crime scene with their precious cargo; Sara opening the rear car door as Danny carefully placed the girl in a prone position using Sara's lap to elevate her feet.
They checked Annie into a private room of the children's ward at the hospital. Danny made a quick call to Social Services to make a report and be assigned a caseworker. With Annie being a material witness to a crime, special handling would be required. Sara offered to stay with the child knowing her partner well. He had been feeling the need to do something for Annie. Sara suggested he make the arrangements for round the clock police protection through the 11th Precinct to start the next day.
He was a man with a mission.
*****
The Vorschlag jet touched down in New York by late afternoon. Nottingham's meetings in Paris had gone better than expected. Irons would be pleased with the results, if pleased was a word to be used in connection with Kenneth Irons. He would not be expected until tomorrow. He chose to rent a locker to stow his luggage for now. Nottingham knew it was a risk to try and deceive Irons but seeing her was worth the risk. He supposed he should be more concerned with the change in his behavior and in his judgement, but he quickly dismissed the thought. Only one thing was on his mind right now.
He must find Sara.
This time of day, his first instinct was to try the 11th Precinct. As he had arrived by cab, he found her partner, Danny Woo, leaving the parking lot in a rush. He had the cab driver follow hoping he would lead him to Sara. He was not disappointed. Much to his concern, Danny had led him to the St. Elizabeth Hospital. Had Sara been injured while he was away? With Sara's partner so preoccupied, he had not noticed Nottingham as he kept Danny in sight. He entered a hospital room on the third floor. Sara was sitting near the bedside of a small young girl.
Once he laid eyes on the small child hooked to an IV, Nottingham was drawn to her. He was no longer concerned that Sara or her partner may spot him. Something deep within him wanted to reach out to this forsaken young girl. No life was present in eyes that should have been carefree. He recognized the look of something stolen or broken in her eyes. It reminded him of his own childhood, taken from him so indiscriminately by Irons. He could not change his past, but he might be able to change her future. He must know more. Still, he kept his distance, waiting for the right moment to approach.
Danny handed his partner a cup of java and a blueberry scone he had bought along the way to the hospital. He knew she would be hungry and caffeine deprived.
"You, I love…" She thanked him as he handed over her much needed fix. Ian quietly watched this exchange between Sara and Danny, envying her partner of his relationship with her.
"Don't let my wife hear you say that." He teased. "Any change?" His mood quickly darkened as he was reminded of Annie's frail condition.
"No. They had a psychiatric consult here a few minutes ago…nothing much to offer. It's gonna take a lot of therapy, my friend." Sara responded.
"Any reaction from Annie to the therapist?" Danny hoped.
"None. Let's step out of the room for a minute." Sara and Danny walked down the hall to a small waiting area to talk in private.
"I don't know how much she hears." She shook her head, redoing the barrette in her long brown hair.
"Danny, we have not released to the press that there was a witness. We could use that to nail this guy. We could make sure Annie is safe, then set him up when he comes for our witness."
"That's a good idea, Pez. Where are we going to do this? It's too dangerous here at the hospital." Danny asked.
"Maybe not. There's an older wing that is not used except in cases of emergency. We can make it look like the rest of the hospital, except we'll fill it with our guys in blue posing as patients and medical staff. Maybe we release to the press that our witness suffered a mild coronary and is undergoing treatment in this new wing. What do you think?"
"Not bad. It could work." He nodded. "We have to do something to stop this bastard."
As they wandered back to Annie's room, they were surprised to see Nottingham holding Annie's hand. Like a parent defending a child, Danny instinctively rushed past Sara to protect Annie, but Sara reached out to stop him with her left arm.
"Wait, Danny." Danny flashed his partner a perturbed look, wanting an explanation.
The blade had flashed images of Nottingham trying to help Annie as he fought his way to her in the dark chasm of her troubled mind. Danny had reacted instinctively as any father would do. Sara herself had only recently started to change her perceptions of Irons' henchman. Trusting Nottingham with Annie was a stretch even for her. She could not blame Danny for his strong reaction.
"Just trust me, partner. Give him a minute." Sara pleaded with Danny.
Nottingham and Annie were breathing ragged, shallow breaths in unison. They were both shaking visibly, staring into each other's glazed eyes. It was the strongest reaction she had seen from the child since the murder. Sara knew she should grab a nurse and ask for the psychiatric consult again, but she could not leave the room. Something was happening. Maybe Nottingham could reach down into this child and touch her. Sara was spellbound as she witnessed their obvious connection.
"Safe here in the dark…Monsters can't come in here."
"I can keep you safe. The monsters will not hurt you. I will protect you."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Ian. I am a knight. I protect people."
"Why couldn't you save my Momma?"
"I am sorry about your mother. I was…in a foreign land on a quest. What is your name, little one?"
"My name is Annie. I tried to help my Momma, but she couldn't hear me. I told her the closet was safe."
"If you help me, Annie…I can punish the monster that hurt your Momma. Can you help me?"
"I'm scared, Ian."
"You must be brave, Annie…Help me find who hurt your mother. Who did it, Annie?"
After a long pause, "A big man. I never saw him before."
"What was he wearing? Did you notice anything different about him?"
"It was dark…could not see a lot. He had dark pants…brown jacket. Big…really big."
"Anything else, Annie? His hair…what did his hair look like?"
"Short…brown, I think."
"Any tattoos or scars?"
"Yes…He had a scar near his left ear…went across his cheek. I think it was a scar. It was dark."
"Annie? Do you want to come with me? I can protect you. No monsters will come."
"NOOOOO! Not ready. Monsters are big."
"Fair Lady Sara is just outside the closet. She has great powers. She will help me protect you, Annie. No more monsters. No more."
Nottingham held the child close as he began to pull away from her subconscious. He gasped with the effort he had to exert. Her will to cleave to him was strong. He shook uncontrollably as his vision adjusted for the light and sounds of the hospital. Nottingham found himself reaching across the hospital bed; the small child pulled closely to his chest. He had tried to absorb her palpable fear, drawing it into himself to destroy, but the intimate contact with another human being had taken him by surprise. Turning suddenly, he had been unaware Sara and Danny had witnessed his connection to Annie. He held onto the little girl as she slowly released him from her grip, slipping back into her catatonic state.
"What just happened here?" Sara was the first to open her mouth.
"I had to talk to Annie." Visibly weakened by his connection to Annie, it took Nottingham a while to answer. He could no more explain this than Sara.
"How do you know her name? And what do you mean you had to talk to her? She hasn't said a word." Sara questioned.
"He could have gotten her name off her chart, Sara." Danny stepped in, still a little uneasy with Nottingham's interference.
Nottingham was reluctant to leave Annie's side but did not want to continue this conversation with Danny present. It would be hard enough to explain to Sara. He looked into her eyes without response. Whether by cop's instincts or a growing connection to Nottingham through the Witchblade, Sara knew what he was thinking as if the thought were hers. Not taking her eyes from him, Sara directed her next comment to her partner.
"Danny, could you find a psychiatric consult for Annie? Maybe we could get her checked out again. Tell them what happened."
"I'm not sure I can explain what happened but I'll give it a shot." Danny protectively looked toward Sara, not wanting to leave her alone with Irons' assassin. He gave her that non-verbal look that partners develop over the years, the look that spoke volumes. Trusting Sara's judgment, he reluctantly left the room when his partner gave no indication of changing her mind.
"Talk to me." There was no pleading in Sara's voice. She demanded to know what just happened.
"It was difficult, but we connected. She told me some things about that night." Nottingham continued to hold Annie's hand.
"What things?"
"Big man. He wore dark pants, brown jacket. Had short brown hair. She thinks he had a scar near his left ear, across his cheek."
Sara stared at Nottingham in disbelief. How was this going to look on her report? Would she issue an APB based on an eyewitness account obtained telepathically? She could hear Dante now. Though, after the experience she had shared with him last night, she had no doubt he had connected to the withdrawn little girl. Danny had brought a woman doctor to examine the child. While this was being accomplished, Nottingham slipped away into the hospital corridor with Sara soon following. Danny remained with Annie. Staring after Sara as she pursued Nottingham down the hall, he reminded himself how much he trusted his long time partner. This connection to Irons' lethal weapon confused and troubled him. He made himself a promise to talk to her later.
"Not so fast, Nottingham."
She caught up with him just after he had entered a small chapel down the hall. Votive candles burned near the simple, unadorned altar. Something smelling of incense was in the air. He had slid into a pew to the rear of the tiny room, sat with his head bowed as if in prayer.
"I would not have thought you the religious type." That got his attention as she sat one row behind him to his right.
"I have long since given up hope of anyone listening to my prayers, Sara. I just thought I could speak up for Annie since she is unable to do so on her own."
The image of this assassin praying for little Annie tugged at her heart. Sara did not want to get emotional here. She had to understand what had happened by asking the question for which she already knew the answer. She had to hear his response.
"Did you really connect with her? How?" It took him a while to answer, as if he were trying to understand it himself.
"It was difficult at first. She stayed hidden from me. She eventually began to talk to me." It was a simple answer, yet so complicated.
She understood. Of all people, she would understand.
"You have an interesting way of reaching out and touching someone, Nottingham…Last night was a real Hallmark moment."
He turned to her with a questioning look. She returned a wicked grin. He did not know what she was talking about at first. Tilting his head to one side, he continued to question her with his large, dark eyes. Finally, the light bulb shed some light on the subject. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes and let out an exasperated gasp of embarrassment.
Looking as if he were about to speak, he turned to her but found he could not look her in the eye. The hurt look on his face made her regret she had been so flippant. Not knowing how to respond, he quickly departed without another word, leaving her sitting alone in the chapel in total confusion.
"Well, I'll be damned." Suddenly remembering where she was, she knew it was too late to retract her last statement.
Thinking back, it all now made sense. She had sensed his hesitancy and his innocent exploration. He had not intended to share his fantasies with her. It should have been a private moment for him alone. Putting herself in his place, she knew her response must have appeared mocking and cruel. She knew she owed him a major apology.
That would have to come later.
Right now, her concern was for Annie. Although Sara did not know how Nottingham would respond, she now had her answer. Ian had a gift. A gift that could help Annie make her way back...but back to what, she wondered.
