Chapter 7:
Brooklyn Bridge
38.5 hours missing
When they arrived on the middle of the bridge, they saw a young teenage girl, sitting on the side of the bridge, looking at the city, with the hair flying in the air. Then they got out of the cars and walked towards the policemen who were there and were waiting for them.
-Agent Malone? a policeman asked.
-Yeah, since when is she here?
-About an hour.
-Okay.
Then he turned to face his team.
-Huh... Jack... Danny said hesitantly.
-Do you think you can go there?
-Yeah, I'd like.
Jack nodded, and then Danny walked towards the young girl, they were all looking at him. Danny approached slowly the girl, not wanting to afraid the girl and sat near her.
-Wow, nice view... Danny said while looking at the lights of the city.
-Leave me alone... Celia said with a loud voice, still looking at the city.
-I... I'm just here to talk with you, okay? Not like an FBI agent, like a... a friend, you see, Danny said while taking off his jacket where there was written FBI. My name's Danny Taylor.
Celia looked at him and then looked at the city once again. During this time the rest of the team was observing them attentively.
-What is he doing? Samantha asked while looking at Danny taking off his jacket.
-I don't know..., Martin answered, looking at them too.
Danny looked at Celia, and saw that her arms were strewn with cuts and burns, on her left leg was blood, she had a big cut, and a cut on the head too. He saw how much she had suffered during these two days. She was very pale, certainly because of the winter.
-Celia, you know I understand you—
-Don't try the mister "I understand everything".
-I lost my parents when I was 11, I know how hard it is.
-Do you see them dying? I saw my father hanging himself, but I didn't manage to save him...
-My father was yelling after my mother, I was in the car. I hated when they were fighting, so I said something. But my father turned over and started to yell after me. Then the car left the road, I heard my mother shouted, they both died in the accident, my mother died outright but not my father, I saw him dying, not knowing what to do, Danny said while trying to retain his tears.
-I'm sorry...
Then a great silent settled.
-You know, it's not your fault if they died, you're only a teenager—
-But I wasn't enough strong to save him... I didn't see that he wasn't fine...
Then she started to cried, Danny wanted to hug her but he wasn't sure she will be okay with that and if she wasn't going to jump if he approached her.
-You know, you've only 14, you've got all your life.
-But I mustn't live, I didn't deserve to live, I let my parents die, everybody ran away from me, all this suffering was only the prologue, Celia said while looking at her wounds. I can't sleep without see the face of my parents, see the fears in my father's eyes! I heard their voice... the last word my father said to me...
-I've lost my parents but I've done the right choice, and now you have to make the right choice, I'm certain you're a very stubborn girl. To die is like to give up, you must show to your parents that they didn't give their whole life for you, to see you giving up! Danny said while approaching more and more her.
She restarted to cry, and behind them, the rest of the team was still looking at them. They heard the cry of the young teenage girl, knowing that Danny had found the right things to tell her.
Danny took her in his arms, and gave her a big hug. He felt some sympathy for her, they had the same experience, the same feeling... He knows that his parents' death wasn't his fault, like it wasn't Celia's fault, but can't fight against this feeling...
-It's okay... I will be here for you, okay? Wherever you will be, just call me and I will be here for you, at any time... Danny said with a soft voice.
Then Celia looked at him, tears running down her face, and tried a little smile.
-Like a friend? Celia asked.
-Yeah, like a friend, Danny said with a grin, a tear sliding on his cheek. Now I'm gonna take you out of here okay?
Celia nodded, and Danny carried her in his arms, to the ambulance. Then he put her on the stretcher, but Celia didn't want to let him go.
-Hey, I will be there okay? I must just see my boss.
Celia nodded and let him go. Danny ran towards the rest of the team.
-Hey good work! Jack said with a smile.
Everybody was smiling at him.
-Can I – Danny said.
-Agent Taylor! We're going to go! the ambulance man shouted.
-I'm coming! he said to the ambulance man.
Then he turned to look at Jack.
-Go ahead, Jack said while showing the ambulance with the head.
Danny nodded, ran towards the ambulance and got in it.
Saint Vincent's Hospital
Danny was sitting in the waiting room, when the rest of the team arrived.
-Where is she? Samantha asked while sitting next to him.
-With the doctor, they said me to stay here.
-You've done a great job, Martin said while putting his hand on Danny's shoulder.
They waited an hour, Vivian went home, Jack too. Then a doctor came to see them.
-Are you here for Celia Wilson? the doctor asked.
-Yeah, Danny answered while standing up.
-Are you her family?
-No, but—
-So I can't tell you how she is, the doctor said while turned over.
Then Danny took his arm to detain him.
-She's orphan, she didn't have any family, Danny said with a determinate look. Please... We just wanna see her.
The doctor looked at him, and then nodded.
-She will be okay, we made some stitches, managed to heat her, and she had several ribs break.
-Can we see her?
-Of course, follow me.
The doctor led them to a room in a long corridor. Celia was lying on the bed, half asleep.
-Hey, Danny said while sitting on a chair next to the bed.
-Hey.
-So how are you?
-I felt better...
-She will be able to go in two days, the doctor said.
Celia nodded, Danny smiled at her and saw her fighting to keep her eyes open.
-You need some rest okay? Danny said while gave her a grin. I will be here when you wake up, I promise.
Celia smiled and let her eyes closed. Danny stayed there looking at her.
-We're going to go, and you? Martin asked to Danny.
-No, I'm going to stay here. I promised that I was going to stay.
-Okay, see you tomorrow then.
-Bye, Samantha said with a smile to Danny.
-Bye, Danny said.
Then they got out of the room. Danny stayed there in the silence, and half an hour later fell asleep.
The next morning
A woman arrived in the room, Danny was still asleep, but the steps woke up Danny.
-You must be Agent Taylor? she asked.
-Huh... Yeah, who are you?
-I'm Celia's caseworker. You can go now, I'm here.
-But I promised Celia that I will be here when she wake up.
-Okay...
Then Celia woke up, the voices around her woke her.
-Hey, Celia, the caseworker said with a soft voice.
But fears appeared in Celia's eyes, she got out of the bed and went towards the window.
-Get away of me... Celia said, tears appearing in her eyes.
-What's the matter? the case worker asked.
Then Celia crossed the room and got out of the room. Danny ran after her.
-Celia! Celia! Danny shouted to her.
She left the hospital while running and went to rest against one of the walls, tears running down her face. Danny who was running after her arrived and saw her crying against the wall. Then she sat down, her legs against her chest.
-Celia, tell me, what's the matter? Danny asked her.
-I... I can't...
-Can't what? Speak with me?
-No... I... I can't go on like that... Celia said in a tearful voice.
-But go on what?
-I... I can't...
Danny sat in front of her, and looked at her in the eyes.
-It's okay... Just calm down...
-I... I can't...
Then Danny's cell phone rang.
-Wait a minute, I'm coming back, you don't move okay?
But Celia didn't give a response. But Danny's phone rang a second time, so Danny took his phone.
-Taylor.
-Where are you? Jack asked at the end of the line. It's 10 o'clock.
-Oh I'm sorry, I've just woke up, I'm in the hospital.
-We need you okay?
-Yeah, I'm coming. See you later.
Then he hung up, and turned to look at Celia.
-Celia, I must go okay? I will come back just after work.
But Celia stayed quiet.
-Come with me, you're going in you're room okay?
Celia stood up and followed Danny till the room. She went back in her bed and laid on it not saying a word. The caseworker was still here looked at them with a puzzled look.
-I think I will come back later..., the caseworker said to Danny.
Danny nodded and then turned to look at Celia. The caseworker got out of the room and let them alone.
-This is my card, where is written my cell phone number, my phone number and my address, okay? Danny said while tending the card.
Celia took it and looked at it. Then Danny took his coat and walked towards the door. He looked a last time at Celia, with a worried glance, and finally decided to go.
FBI, missing persons unit
Danny walked out of the elevator. The rest of the team was around the table.
-Morning guys, Danny said while walking towards them.
-Morning, so, how is she? Martin asked.
-Physically fine but... Danny answered with a worried look.
-Forget all this, you will speak with her later, we have a new case, Jack said while showing a photo of a man, who was about 40. This is Andrew Curtin, he's 43, he is a lawyer—
Then Danny's cell phone rang.
-Excuse me, Danny said while taking his phone.
He stood up and went towards his desk.
-Taylor... yeah..., Danny answered.
-So as I told you— Jack tried to continue.
-WHAT?
Then everybody turned to look at Danny.
-I'm coming... Danny said to the person at the end of the line.
Then he hung up and returned to the table.
-Jack I must go...