Danny nods and glances towards me. "I just don't want to see you
disappointed again, Samantha."
"I know," I nod softly, "don't worry about me." I tell him as we pull in front of my apartment.
******
We knock on the door, knowing it's locked and assuming both Jack and Eva are inside.
Eva pulls back the door and eyes me, "I thought you had to work."
"We found your father," I tell her.
"You did?" Her eyes watch mine and I realize she truly has no idea. "Did you tell him about me?"
"That will be your decision," I answer. "We need you to come to the office with us."
"What about Jack?" She eyes me and then her gaze moves down the hall where Jack is sleeping.
"He'll be there later," I offer, opening the front door and escorting her to my car. Danny follows behind us, helping her into the car while we exchange quick glances.
"Can I drive us back?" he asks.
"Why?" I question, but hand over the keys, giving in without any real hesitation.
"I want to make a quick stop on the way back to the office. Since Jack's not there, he won't be too grumpy that we're running five minutes late."
Danny's intention to stop was good, but it took us an extra twenty minutes. Thankfully, Vivian and Martin were busy when we came in and didn't notice the freshly brewed cups of coffee we brought with us.
Danny and I escort Eva to the interrogation room and I pull out the chair for her to sit down.
I take a sip of the hot drink, feeling it numb my mouth as I place it on the table. "Eva, you were there the night your aunt died." I eye her seriously, taking a seat on the table. My legs dangle off as my eyes watch hers.
"No," she shakes her head, "I didn't know she died until you told me."
"Your blood matches the DNA we found at the scene. It was a perfect match," Danny tells her.
"What happened that night, Eva? If you don't tell us the truth, you'll likely go down for murder."
"I didn't kill her," her voice shakes as her eyes water. "Please, Samantha, you have to believe me."
"You need to start telling me the truth, damn it!" My voice grows with intensity as Eva shivers from the sound.
"I was there," she nods, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I witnessed some of what happened."
"You better start explaining," I stare down at her angrily.
"My mother sent me to see Aunt Carol that weekend. Supposedly, Uncle Jim was going to be out of town. Well," she pauses letting out a soft sigh, "he came home early and was upset to see me there and my mom wasn't."
"Then what happened?"
"Uncle Jim took a tire iron he had in the drawer and pulled it out. He smacked Aunt Carol across the face with it."
"And then?" Danny questions, creeping closer to have Eva divulge more.
"He came after me," she whispers. "He smacked me hard and threw me into the railing on the stairs." She shows me the scar above her left eye. "He did that."
"Did you go to the hospital for stitches?"
"No," she shakes her head with a sigh. "I ran," she whispers. "I was so scared. My mother never raised a hand to me in my entire life. I didn't know what to do. I freaked out and caught a bus ride home."
"Did you tell your mother?"
"No," Eva shakes her head. "I was worried she'd blame me for upsetting Uncle Jim. She always warned me to stay away from him, and it was my own fault I didn't."
I let out a soft sigh. "Was Carol unconscious when you left?"
"She was mumbling for me to get out before he laid a hand on me. I was lying on the floor, bunched up trying to protect myself and stop the bleeding. He was about to hit me again but, instead, Carol stopped him. He attacked her, and that's when I left."
"You didn't think to call the police?" Danny stares at her as Eva's eyes watch the table.
"No," she whispers, hardly above a soft breath. "I didn't think they could do anything to help her. They're married, you know?" She lets out a sigh and finally her eyes glance up to meet mine. I see tears surfacing but she's trying to hold them back. She's quiet for a moment, and Danny and I exchange glances before she speaks up again. "You said you knew who my father was." Her voice sounds shaky and uncertain of whether she really wants to know. I'm not sure I want to tell her, as the information will likely only upset her more.
"Yes, we found him," I answer. "The thing is, Eva," I pause and eye Danny, "for you to keep out of prison, you'll have to testify against him."
"What?" Her eyes hold confusion as it sinks in. "Jim?" She shakes her head no and finally lowers her head in her hands onto the desk. With a sigh of dread she glances up towards me. "Do I have to?"
"Technically, no," I answer, "but I'm letting you stay in my home and I don't have to do that either, Eva. I know this is an awful decision to make, but you owe it to your Aunt Carol. She deserves to have justice brought to her. Besides," I whisper, "don't you have cousins that live with your Uncle Jim? Would you really want them to live any longer with someone who's so awful?"
"What will happen to them?"
"If they don't have any other family, they'll likely be sent to a group home or a foster family. In a few months, if you can manage on your own with a decent income, you might be able to support them." I offer her a small glimpse of hope. "It won't be an easy process, Eva, but it's the right thing to do."
She nods her head and lets out a soft breath. "Are you sure he's my father?"
"Yes," I nod, taking her hand softly.
"Does that mean Carol was my mother? Or that Andrea was my mother and was-- -" she pauses, realizing the revelation of why her mother wanted to keep her daughter from him. "Oh, God," she whispers, tears welling in her eyes. Danny grabs a tissue, handing it to her as he slips out of the room and waits for me to join him.
"I'll be right back," I tell her, giving her shoulder a soft squeeze before exiting the interrogation room.
"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Danny eyes me.
"Where was the blood found? Wasn't it on the murder weapon? It would explain the blood found and," I eye the report Danny's holding, "it says here it was on the banister, the railing, and the stairs. They just never found a body to go with it, which is why Jim got off the last time. He claimed it was a break-in."
"You're taking her word that she didn't kill her aunt."
"What motive would she have had?" I eye him seriously. "Besides, her prints were never found on the murder weapon, so it proves she couldn't have killed Carol."
Vivian comes over, having heard the interrogation. "It's going to be an incredibly messy trial. This girl only agrees to testify once you give her a place to live," she lets out a sigh and eyes me.
"What do you suggest?"
"You said it yourself about it being the right thing to do. I did some research on Jim Hunter, and it appears he has a series of assault and battery charges, so you wouldn't think it'd be too hard to convince the jury." Vivian hands me Jim's record as I eye the long list of prior arrests.
"Let's add one more to it," I chime.
Martin makes his way over towards us. "Eva doesn't have a record, but we found out her mother did." He hands me the file and I flip through it. "Apparently the charges were dropped, but they were filed by Jim Hunter."
I read through the report and see two assault charges from 1994 and one from 1998, which were all dropped. I glance up towards Danny, "You want to come with me to bring him in?"
"Shouldn't we inform the local PD?" My eyes meet his.
"You want to call Kellar, or should I?" Danny grins playfully towards me.
"All right, you win. We apprehend the suspect. Vivian, would you mind working on the arrest warrant? Call us as soon as you've got the papers drawn up." I follow Danny towards the office to grab his things before taking the car. "I was hoping to get out early today."
"You just might," Danny answers with a smile as I take a seat in the passenger side, allowing him to drive this time.
Danny's eyes glance my way. "What?" I question with a hint of annoyance in my voice.
"You spent New Year's Eve alone," he points out.
"No, Eva was home." I eye him curiously.
"I meant you didn't spend it with Martin."
"I didn't spend it with Jack either, so what's your point?"
"I just thought you and Martin might actually have something that would progress."
"Are you trying to play matchmaker?"
Danny lets out a soft laugh and glances my way. "Hardly, I'm just trying to look out for what's best for you, Sam."
"I did okay," I remind him. "I had a girls' night; haven't had one of those in ages."
"I can't imagine you ever having one," he teases as I glare at him.
"Yeah, well it's hard, especially after being around testosterone all day."
"You don't mind it," he grins, turning into a parking space.
"You have no idea," I whisper, as we sit on the car, surveying the scene and waiting for Vivian to call. Once she does, we head for the front door.
"I know," I nod softly, "don't worry about me." I tell him as we pull in front of my apartment.
******
We knock on the door, knowing it's locked and assuming both Jack and Eva are inside.
Eva pulls back the door and eyes me, "I thought you had to work."
"We found your father," I tell her.
"You did?" Her eyes watch mine and I realize she truly has no idea. "Did you tell him about me?"
"That will be your decision," I answer. "We need you to come to the office with us."
"What about Jack?" She eyes me and then her gaze moves down the hall where Jack is sleeping.
"He'll be there later," I offer, opening the front door and escorting her to my car. Danny follows behind us, helping her into the car while we exchange quick glances.
"Can I drive us back?" he asks.
"Why?" I question, but hand over the keys, giving in without any real hesitation.
"I want to make a quick stop on the way back to the office. Since Jack's not there, he won't be too grumpy that we're running five minutes late."
Danny's intention to stop was good, but it took us an extra twenty minutes. Thankfully, Vivian and Martin were busy when we came in and didn't notice the freshly brewed cups of coffee we brought with us.
Danny and I escort Eva to the interrogation room and I pull out the chair for her to sit down.
I take a sip of the hot drink, feeling it numb my mouth as I place it on the table. "Eva, you were there the night your aunt died." I eye her seriously, taking a seat on the table. My legs dangle off as my eyes watch hers.
"No," she shakes her head, "I didn't know she died until you told me."
"Your blood matches the DNA we found at the scene. It was a perfect match," Danny tells her.
"What happened that night, Eva? If you don't tell us the truth, you'll likely go down for murder."
"I didn't kill her," her voice shakes as her eyes water. "Please, Samantha, you have to believe me."
"You need to start telling me the truth, damn it!" My voice grows with intensity as Eva shivers from the sound.
"I was there," she nods, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I witnessed some of what happened."
"You better start explaining," I stare down at her angrily.
"My mother sent me to see Aunt Carol that weekend. Supposedly, Uncle Jim was going to be out of town. Well," she pauses letting out a soft sigh, "he came home early and was upset to see me there and my mom wasn't."
"Then what happened?"
"Uncle Jim took a tire iron he had in the drawer and pulled it out. He smacked Aunt Carol across the face with it."
"And then?" Danny questions, creeping closer to have Eva divulge more.
"He came after me," she whispers. "He smacked me hard and threw me into the railing on the stairs." She shows me the scar above her left eye. "He did that."
"Did you go to the hospital for stitches?"
"No," she shakes her head with a sigh. "I ran," she whispers. "I was so scared. My mother never raised a hand to me in my entire life. I didn't know what to do. I freaked out and caught a bus ride home."
"Did you tell your mother?"
"No," Eva shakes her head. "I was worried she'd blame me for upsetting Uncle Jim. She always warned me to stay away from him, and it was my own fault I didn't."
I let out a soft sigh. "Was Carol unconscious when you left?"
"She was mumbling for me to get out before he laid a hand on me. I was lying on the floor, bunched up trying to protect myself and stop the bleeding. He was about to hit me again but, instead, Carol stopped him. He attacked her, and that's when I left."
"You didn't think to call the police?" Danny stares at her as Eva's eyes watch the table.
"No," she whispers, hardly above a soft breath. "I didn't think they could do anything to help her. They're married, you know?" She lets out a sigh and finally her eyes glance up to meet mine. I see tears surfacing but she's trying to hold them back. She's quiet for a moment, and Danny and I exchange glances before she speaks up again. "You said you knew who my father was." Her voice sounds shaky and uncertain of whether she really wants to know. I'm not sure I want to tell her, as the information will likely only upset her more.
"Yes, we found him," I answer. "The thing is, Eva," I pause and eye Danny, "for you to keep out of prison, you'll have to testify against him."
"What?" Her eyes hold confusion as it sinks in. "Jim?" She shakes her head no and finally lowers her head in her hands onto the desk. With a sigh of dread she glances up towards me. "Do I have to?"
"Technically, no," I answer, "but I'm letting you stay in my home and I don't have to do that either, Eva. I know this is an awful decision to make, but you owe it to your Aunt Carol. She deserves to have justice brought to her. Besides," I whisper, "don't you have cousins that live with your Uncle Jim? Would you really want them to live any longer with someone who's so awful?"
"What will happen to them?"
"If they don't have any other family, they'll likely be sent to a group home or a foster family. In a few months, if you can manage on your own with a decent income, you might be able to support them." I offer her a small glimpse of hope. "It won't be an easy process, Eva, but it's the right thing to do."
She nods her head and lets out a soft breath. "Are you sure he's my father?"
"Yes," I nod, taking her hand softly.
"Does that mean Carol was my mother? Or that Andrea was my mother and was-- -" she pauses, realizing the revelation of why her mother wanted to keep her daughter from him. "Oh, God," she whispers, tears welling in her eyes. Danny grabs a tissue, handing it to her as he slips out of the room and waits for me to join him.
"I'll be right back," I tell her, giving her shoulder a soft squeeze before exiting the interrogation room.
"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Danny eyes me.
"Where was the blood found? Wasn't it on the murder weapon? It would explain the blood found and," I eye the report Danny's holding, "it says here it was on the banister, the railing, and the stairs. They just never found a body to go with it, which is why Jim got off the last time. He claimed it was a break-in."
"You're taking her word that she didn't kill her aunt."
"What motive would she have had?" I eye him seriously. "Besides, her prints were never found on the murder weapon, so it proves she couldn't have killed Carol."
Vivian comes over, having heard the interrogation. "It's going to be an incredibly messy trial. This girl only agrees to testify once you give her a place to live," she lets out a sigh and eyes me.
"What do you suggest?"
"You said it yourself about it being the right thing to do. I did some research on Jim Hunter, and it appears he has a series of assault and battery charges, so you wouldn't think it'd be too hard to convince the jury." Vivian hands me Jim's record as I eye the long list of prior arrests.
"Let's add one more to it," I chime.
Martin makes his way over towards us. "Eva doesn't have a record, but we found out her mother did." He hands me the file and I flip through it. "Apparently the charges were dropped, but they were filed by Jim Hunter."
I read through the report and see two assault charges from 1994 and one from 1998, which were all dropped. I glance up towards Danny, "You want to come with me to bring him in?"
"Shouldn't we inform the local PD?" My eyes meet his.
"You want to call Kellar, or should I?" Danny grins playfully towards me.
"All right, you win. We apprehend the suspect. Vivian, would you mind working on the arrest warrant? Call us as soon as you've got the papers drawn up." I follow Danny towards the office to grab his things before taking the car. "I was hoping to get out early today."
"You just might," Danny answers with a smile as I take a seat in the passenger side, allowing him to drive this time.
Danny's eyes glance my way. "What?" I question with a hint of annoyance in my voice.
"You spent New Year's Eve alone," he points out.
"No, Eva was home." I eye him curiously.
"I meant you didn't spend it with Martin."
"I didn't spend it with Jack either, so what's your point?"
"I just thought you and Martin might actually have something that would progress."
"Are you trying to play matchmaker?"
Danny lets out a soft laugh and glances my way. "Hardly, I'm just trying to look out for what's best for you, Sam."
"I did okay," I remind him. "I had a girls' night; haven't had one of those in ages."
"I can't imagine you ever having one," he teases as I glare at him.
"Yeah, well it's hard, especially after being around testosterone all day."
"You don't mind it," he grins, turning into a parking space.
"You have no idea," I whisper, as we sit on the car, surveying the scene and waiting for Vivian to call. Once she does, we head for the front door.
