Chapter Four

"What do we have, Woody?" Jordan asked him as she stepped out of her SUV into the driveway of the crime scene.

"Suicide/murder. Husband shot the wife, then turned the gun on himself…or so it appears. It's your job to tell me," he replied, giving her a grin. Jordan nodded and took the liver temperatures of the male victim.

"Estimated TOD is from six to eight hours ago. Who found them?" she asked.

"A neighbor. She came over to borrow some eggs or something and saw the husband through the window. She went home and called 911."

Jordan nodded and continued to process the crime scene. This was only the fourth or fifth time she had been on a homicide with Woody. In a way, it was comfortingly familiar. In another way, it was painfully bittersweet. She moved upstairs to work with the wife, when a soft whimpering caught her ear.

At first, it sounded like a puppy. Jordan began looking around for the animal. "What are you doing?" asked Woody.

"It sounds like there's an animal in here…somewhere…" she said, pushing aside the door of a closet. It was no dog. Inside the closet, in a bassinet basket, was a baby. "Oh God!" Jordan exclaimed, reaching down for the infant and holding it close. The baby began crying in earnest. "Sh…sh….it's going to be okay….I promise…." She began to sway a little with the baby, to try to get it to quiet down.

Woody inwardly groaned. A baby vastly complicated his simple murder/suicide scene. Obviously the mother had been in fear that the child would be hurt, and hid it as best she could from the father's anger. But it was Saturday. That meant that Child Services was closed. He could call a hospital and have their social worker come and get the baby, but that might take a while. Thankfully, Jordan had at least gotten it to quiet down. "Why don't you give it to one of the female police officers and let her take care of it while you finish your work here?" he asked.

Jordan looked at the tiny infant. She guessed it was a girl…it was dressed in pink, lacy pajamas. She had blue eyes and just a touch of blonde peach fuzzy hair. "No…." she said to Woody. "I'm radioing in Nigel. He's at the morgue. He can finish up here. I'm going to take care of this little one." And with that, she cuddled the baby to her and walked down the stairs, radioing Nigel en route to her SUV. She sat in the passenger seat and looked the infant over. She appeared fine, wiggling and trying to turn over.

Nigel soon appeared and stopped by Jordan's SUV. "What do you have there, love?" he asked, watching her play with the infant to keep her quiet."

"It's a baby girl…I'm not sure of her name…I'm just keeping her quiet until Woody can quit having conniptions."

Nigel grinned. A foundling baby on the weekend could definitely put a kink in a detective's schedule, but Jordan was obviously enjoying the baby… "Maybe you need one of those," he teased. Jordan made a face at the Englishman.

"Nigel…we need you in here," Woody said, coming out to Jordan's SUV. "How's she holding up?" he asked Jordan.

"She's getting a little fussy…" Jordan picked the child up and the baby began to root around Jordan's blouse. "Hang on…I don't think I can help you in that department," she chuckled. The baby was hungry…and obviously had been breast fed. Woody grinned and walked to the trunk of his car, pulling out a first aid kit…complete with ready mixed formula in bottles. "Damn…you're as good as the boy scouts," Jordan teased, pulling the cover off the nipple of the bottle.

"We never know what we're getting into," he replied, watching her feed the infant. "How do you know what to do?"

"Hey. I've babysat kids before."

"As best we can tell, her name is Joy. I'm having some of the officers get together some of her diapers and clothing. I've called the hospital and the social worker should be here in a few minutes. Got it under control until then?"

Jordan nodded. Joy had her complete attention. Joy. What a great name for a baby, she thought. I'm just not so sure how much joy your life is going to have in it now, sweetheart, with both your parents gone. Woody watched the look of concern pass over Jordan's face. "She'll be fine, Jordan," he assured her.

"Yeah. I know."

Twenty minutes later, the social worker, Marci, arrived and examined Joy. "What a shame," she said, looking the infant over.

"It's going to be tough on her…is there any next of kin or someone close she can go to?" Jordan asked, continuing to hold the little girl's hand.

"We're looking right now. As best we can tell, the parents had recently moved to this area. So there's no close friends or relatives here. We have a search going on for anybody they may be related to, but it could take a week or more to find someone."

"Where's Joy going now?"

"Well, there are no foster homes available. I guess she will either go to the foundling home or a group home."

Jordan shook her head. "Can I keep her?"

"You…Dr. Cavanaugh?"

"Yes. Me. I have the room. I'm a doctor. I know of someone that can help me watch her during the day…until her relatives can be found." Jordan had a neighbor she thought would be perfect. The woman had a three year-old son and the patience of a saint. She felt sure that Laurie would help her out for a week or so.

Marci really didn't want to place the baby in either of the homes…the child would suffer. Whatever had been going on between the parents, it was obvious the baby had been loved, well-taken care of, and used to being the center of attention. Jordan was a state employee. A quick check on the computer should clear her. "Let me make a few calls," Marci said, finally.

Fifteen minutes later Jordan had been cleared by the computer. "Do you have a crib or anything?" Marci asked.

"No…I can get one."

"No need. I have a portable one in the back of my van. I'll loan you that and a car seat. Plus there are some diapers…and wipes." Marci soon had Jordan loaded down with baby supplies. "We will need you to bring her in Monday for a check up. Just for paperwork purposes." Jordan nodded. Good thing she had bought an SUV. Her El Camino had given out nearly as soon as she returned from Atlanta. It would have never held all the baby supplies…and the baby. She loaded her hatch up and fastened the baby seat in the back seat of the car. Then, with Joy in her arms, she went to see if Nigel had the scene under control.

"You still have her?" the Englishman asked, slightly amused at this new side of Jordan.

"I'm keeping her."

"Are you daft?" Nigel asked.

"Are you crazy?" Woody echoed behind him.

"No, to neither. This is something I want to do." And with a look straight at Nigel, she said, "This is my just and noble cause."