Title: Haunted Memories
Chapter:1
Author: Evidence
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: RC had given a challenge after I started this tale but it was a good challenge to think of. This story takes place a little in the future. Special thanks to D for the encouragement and the Maple Street gang.
The breeze blew swiftly. The sky was dark and gray. Thunder echoed out from the clouds above as lightening played a fencing game with it's cousins. It was chilly out- the temperature had dropped down to 35 degrees but kids still paraded around in their plastic get-ups refusing their parents' pleas to where a coat.
Michelle Marsh had been estatic to go trick or treating with her best friend Rachel. It wasn't that she didn't want her parents around but Rachel had a fun night planned for them. They had already eaten pizza and were out trick or treating. Afterwards they were going to make monsters masks, stay up late (for it wasn't a school night) and sleep until noon the next day. Michelle had been thinking about this all day long and now the night was finally happening.
Rachel's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donovan, had even dressed up to bring the girls around- they both were clowns and Michelle couldn't help but laugh. Rachel was a princess this year complete with a tiara and Michelle, after much thought, decided to be a witch. She had her face painted green with fake warts attached, a large broom borrowed from her mom (and a little awkward to carry), and was decked out in black.
The first few neighborhood houses begot them oodles of candy, from MilkyWays to Starburst. The girls were having great fun. Out of the corner of her eye, Michelle saw him, Tommy Larabee. He was running in his karate uniform which was also his trick or treat outfit. "Rachel...." she started to say but Tommy had already proceeded to grab the tiara and run off with it.
Rachel ran after him, her parents following and yelling her name. Michelle was there all alone on the corner. The hordes of kids had seemingly disappeared. No one was around, no one except...
Danny slammed the car door behind him. "Can you believe this. Poor kids now they always be scared of Halloween."
Vivian shook her head. "I know. I've already called Reggie three times to make sure he's fine. He says everyone is going to think his dad is that Verizon cell phone guy."
They walked over to the group of kids and parents that had formed on the street corner. "Please back up!" Danny yelled knowing that forensics had not had a chance to process the scene. The crowd sway backed opening up to reveal a man and a woman clutching a small girl. Two patrol cops stood talking to them.
The cops nodded their heads and moved on to interview the crowd.
"I'm Vivian Johnson, this is Danny Taylor," she showed them her badge, "Did you make the call?"
"Yes," the man said, wiping back a tear on his painted face. "My name is Frank Donovan and this is my wife Carol. We were out trick or treating with our daughter Rachel," his arm clutched the child tighter, "and her friend Michelle. We ran after Rachel...she was chasing a kid and when we got back Michelle was gone."
"Did you see any vechiles?" Vivian asked.
"No," he said, "We saw no one."
"Was there anyone around you walking that you didn't know?" Danny asked scanning the faces in the crowd.
"If there was we didn't know it."
"Her name is Michelle Marsh?" Danny looked at his notes from the original phone call.
"Yes."
"Have her parents been called?"
One of the cops, a young fresh-faced man turned and answered the question, "No. I thought you guys would tell them." His cheeks blushed.
"We will," Danny said with a nod.
The tears washed down Mr. Donovan's face as he picked up his daughter in his arms. "Who would do such a thing?"
"I don't know Mr. Donovan but we'll do all we can." Vivian said. "Where do Michelle's parents live?"
"A few blocks over," Carol Donovan answered her voice tinged with tears, "123 Freemont Street. Their names are Brent and Debbie Marsh."
"Thank you." Vivian said touching the woman's shoulder.
"Don't thank us...we lost her," Mr. Donovan pushed his daughter closer to his chest.
Danny and Vivian exchanged looks. "These things happen no matter how careful people are. we see it everyday." Danny sighed.
A car pulled up, Martin exiting the vechile, followed by the forensic team and more cops. Flashing lights now penetrated the dark night, making the street seem like some haunted house full of lights and ghouls.
"Hi." He walked up to his colleges. "What do you want me to handle?"
"Martin, why don't you try to piece together the route the Donovans took with the girls. Maybe you'll pick up on something. Danny and I will go talk to the Marshs." Vivian looked at the masked faces of scared children.
"Okay." He paused fumbling for the words, "Don't you think someone should call Jack?"
"I hate to disturb him..." Vivian started.
"But if we don't..." Martin began.
"He'll be pissed. And no one wants to see Jack mad," Danny finished off for them.
"I'll call," Vivian took out her cell and dialed.
"Enjoy. Happy Halloween!" Sam yelled from the doorway as two ninjas and a large blue M&M made their way to the next house. The phone rang in the distance. "Damn," she turned and closed the door, hoping not to disappoint too many kids coming by.
"Hello" she said, grabbing the phone and nearly dropping it.
"Samantha, it's Vivian, is Jack back?"
"Oh, hey, Viv, no Jack's still out with the girls. What's the matter?"
"We have a missing eight year old."
"Damn."
"Picked off a street corner with adults less than four feet away."
"Any idea how it happened? Any suspects or witnesses?" Sam paced as she talked.
"No not yet. We thought Jack needed to know but I'm sorry to disturb your first Halloween together," Vivian said.
Sam smiled. "That's okay, this is important and we've had a good night so far."
"I'm glad to hear that. Tell Jack when he gets back."
"Will do, bye Viv, I think I'll be seeing you soon." Sam placed the phone back in it's cradle.
She walked back to the door, opening it up. No kids where around. The wind was still blowing and lightening could be heard but not seen. Jack wouldn't be far, she thought. Going back in and grabbing a purple wind breaker and her keys, she started out. A few streets over there were a crowd of kids but no Jack nor two sugar plum fairies- the girl's costumes for this year. She passed down another street where hardly any kids where. She walked on farther realizing that Jack and the girls were probably back at the house while she was scouring New York City for them. Sam had decided to turn around and go home when she saw another street. Empty- no houses lit up. Nothing there except one lone dark van, humming softly.
Sam walked closer- license plate number 514KOL. She repeated it to herself seeing she had no pencil and paper. Her feet hitting the road and the humming of the van was the only sounds she could hear. There was an errie quietness as if she was a character in a horror movie waiting for the moment the music rized and the scary part happened.
She was two feet from the van when she reached for her gun, which was absent from her waist at the moment. Swallowing hard, wondering if Jack would pause in the same situation, she moved around to the driver side of the van. No one was sitting there although the vechile was on. She peered inside, darkness obscuring her view. It was then that she heard a muffled cry.
Forgetting her fear, not worrying that she was unarmed, Samantha threw open the door and pushed down the seat to get into the back. Her feet landed on something soft and she heard another muffled cry. Reaching down she felt hair and then a head.
"It's okay," Sam said, still not seeing the girl but knowing she was there. "I'm an FBI agent, I won't hurt you." She reached down, and pushed the girl into a sitting position. Sam could fell rope tied around her. "Crawl over the seat," Sam instructed.
The girl did as she was told and as both victim and rescuer made it out of the van, lightening bolted near them. Sam saw clearly in that instance that the girl who was in the back of the van was not eight years old.
The black door knob of 123 Freemont Street had a gargoyle on it, very fitting for such a day. Danny used his fist instead. The door opened to reveal a late 50 year old woman with graying blond hair.
"Yes?" she asked clearly not expecting such old trick or treaters.
"Mrs. Marsh?" Vivian asked.
"Yes..."
"I'm Vivian Johnson and this is Danny Taylor. We are from the FBI. May we come in?"
They both showed their badges.
"Um...yes. Brent!" She yelled moving away from the door so that Danny and Vivian could enter.
"What's the matter?" A man, totally gray with glasses and a round face, came up to the new two inhabitants of his house.
Vivian relayed who they were and asked them if there was somewhere they could sit. They were led to a large room with a couch, three plush chairs, and a large entertainment center. Danny's eyes scanned the family photos littering bookcases in the living room. Mom, dad, and their blond little girl- Michelle.
"Mr and Mrs. Marsh, I'm sorry to tell you this..."
"Michelle's missing." Mrs. Marsh said it as almost a statement.
"Yes." Vivian replied.
Neither parent shed any tears.
"Do you understand? You're daughter's missing!" Danny's voice raised.
"Danny.'" Vivian said slowly.
"Yes, we do realize that. We have been through it before." Mr. Marsh put his arm around his wife.
Her tears began to flow. "How can this happen again to us?"
"This happened before. You had another child go missing?" Vivian asked.
"Yes, our daughter Victoria. When she was ten."
"Sir, I've been working for a few years...how long ago was this? Or was it in another city?" Danny's hands were sweating. Something was amiss, he could sense it.
"It was in this city, 11 years ago."
"Michelle was our miracle, born to us when we thought we couldn't have anymore kids." Mrs. Marsh was sobbing now, the full of weight of what was happening hitting her.
Danny looked at the photos again- one face was absent. "Where are your pictures of your daughter Victoria?"
"We removed them. They were too painful." Mr. Marsh kissed his wife's forehead. Danny and Vivian exchanged a look.
No one had approached them. They were nearly to Sam's house. Sam had the young woman leaning on her, the ropes the had removed quickly. She looked to be in her early twenties, a mass of hair that once was probably light blonde but now was just a dull light brown color. Sam had waited to ask any questions for fear they wouldn't get away from whomever put her in the van. But now they were around trick or treaters.
"What's your name?"
The girl swallowed. "Victoria...Victoria Marsh."
"Okay, don't worry Victoria, I'm going to take care of everything, okay?"
"Sam!" a voice came from the crowds, she recognized it as Kate's.
The sugar plum fairy ran up clutching her bag. "I got lots of candy!" Kate held out a stuffed orange bag of goodies. She then noticed that Sam was not alone, "Who's this?"
"Hey," Jack and Hanna approached and Sam felt her heart skip a beat. Three months living together and she still was excited to see him.
"Jack, we've got a case..." Sam started but never finished.
Jack was staring at the young woman. "My God."
To be continued...