By Your Side
Chapter 15
Tim stepped into the lobby , turning to look for Sascha before walking to the terminal. It had been almost a year since they had been in New York, and the memories hit him like a brick. Sascha walked slowly up to him and saw the sadness in her father's eyes and grabbed his hand, squeezing it to let him know that he was not alone. He squeezed it back and flashed a smile in hopes of showing that he was going to be alright, but inside, he was dying a slow death. The woman that he was going to marry was no longer ,and he felt lost without her. Sighing heavily , he started to walk towards the entrance, he didn't want to be here.
They walked to the cab deliberately, neither of them wanting to speak. Before they could get in, Tim heard his name being called.
" Tim!" Danny called out as he walked towards them.
" Danny, you didn't have to meet us. We could've hailed a cab," Tim said as he stuck his hand out for a shake. Danny brushed it aside and took him in a brotherly embrace.
" I wouldn't hear of it," Danny replied as he pulled away. He then glanced over to Sascha who was waiting patiently beside them. " and is this Sascha?"
" Danny,..." Sascha whined slightly as she felt her cheeks get red.
" You have gotten more beautiful since I last saw you, and you're walking!" Danny said as he hugged her.
" Yeah, I gave myself a goal to walk before Sa-..." Sascha replied before looking at Tim. " Oh daddy, I'm sorry."
" No honey, there's nothing to be sorry for," Tim said as he cleared his throat.
" Daddy,..."
" Sash, it's okay really. Danny, has Hawkes started yet?" Tim asked quickly. He didn't want to dwell on Sam's absence.
" Yeah, Mac started putting the screws to him. The feds wanted it, but it was in our jurisdiction," Danny replied.
" I bet they did. Have you talked to them yet?"
" Yeah, but they aren't givin' much up. All they would say was that Sam was on a stakeout . I can't get a date , a target, nothing."
" Leave it to the feds to screw themselves out of some help," Tim said as his temper rose. " But enough about them. Danny what can you tell me?"
" I wasn't there when Hawkes started," Danny offered. " You got a place to stay while you're here?"
" I got a room for tonight. Tomorrow, I want to be back on a plane to Miami. No offense," Tim said as he picked up his bag.
" None taken. What's this I hear about you making Lieutenant?"
" It's a long story,"Tim said slightly.
" It's a long ride to the lab," Danny replied.
"So , he was killed by an assailant that was waiting in the upstairs room? How's Calleigh taking it?" Danny asked as they made their way down to the morgue. They had left Sascha up in the lab with Stella, who was surprised to see them.
" She's doing as well as she can, I suppose. Now I know how she feels," Tim said as he stopped at the door to the morgue. Inside those doors, laid the woman who had his heart for so long. He placed a hesitant hand on the door and took in a deep breath. After all he had gone through, it was down to this. This was the last way he would see and remember Samantha Spade.
"Speed, maybe you can wait for the report," Danny said as he noticed the hesitation.
" No, I need to do this," Tim returned as he pushed the doors open. He walked in the morgue and exhaled. He saw Hawkes as he leaned over her body and tears threatened to overcome him. He walked with steady determination to the slab and stood silently for several seconds before Hawkes looked up .
" Speedle, maybe you should wait. I'm almost done here," Hawkes said as he stitched the Y incision.
Tim glanced at the stillness of her face and felt a tear drop. She shouldn't be here, he thought. He turned away for a moment to gather himself, then turned back around.
Hawkes finished the last stitch and put down his tools. He then pulled off the gloves and face shield that he had been wearing. Clearing his throat, Hawkes began his report of the findings.
" First, there was extensive bruising to her limbs that I noticed immediately, which tells me that she fought her killer."
" Defensive wounds?" Tim choked out.
" Yes. I seems that the suspects used a bat or something to beat her with. She also suffered a severe blow to the head, although, that wasn't the cause of death."
" Well?"
" She was shot at close range," Hawkes said as he turned her head to the left. On the temple was a muzzle stamp. " It shattered the skull coming to rest parallel to the frontal lobe, resulting in immediate death."
" Where you able to get the bullet out?" Tim asked. What he would give to have Calleigh there now.
" Yes, and I also got some trace, fine dusting that is only found in the subway. Break dust. We also got a hit on CODIS from the semen found inside of her. A Johnny Barker. Mac is bringing him in as we speak. I hear the feds are going to be here as well."
" Barker, where have I heard that name ?" Danny asked as he glanced at Tim. His color had changed at the mention of traces of semen found.
" He's a low level hood, runs around with the Marconi family," a voice said from behind them, "and he's getting ready to walk all over this murder."
The three men turned to see Mac Taylor as he stood at the door. His suit was immaculate and he wore a saddened expression around his eyes.
" What, do you mean walk? His DNA was found in her," Tim said getting angrier. There was nothing more he hated than seeing a guilty suspect walk.
" He turned states evidence against the Marconi family . Instead of the death penalty, he gets a plush house somewhere in Utah. I'm sorry, Tim."
" This isn't right, A federal agent is murdered and her killer gets a 'get out of jail free' card. What the hell is that?" Tim asked furiously.
" Speed, calm down. There's nothing we can do about this," Taylor replied adroitly. He too was disgusted.
Tim paced the autopsy room incessantly, trying to calm himself. The more he thought about it the angrier he got. The tears that flooded out were of hate and despair. He couldn't protect her when she was alive and now, he could do nothing as she lain on the slab. He stopped to look into her face that was decimated by time. He remembered her beauty and her love. He wanted nothing more than to hear her voice again, feel her touch. He reached out to touch her face then drew his hand back. Then in a swift move, he bolted out of the morgue. Taylor looked to Danny then nodded. Danny left the room, trailing behind Tim , hoping that he wasn't going to do something rash.
" Sascha, you have grown so much," Stella said as she saw her walk through the door. Sascha smiled brightly as she continued to walk toward her. " and walking too."
" You know , Danny said the same thing," Sascha returned giving her a hug. " I miss you guys so much."
" I miss you too. I'm glad you are walking. You got some determination."
" I got that from my dad," Sascha said as she pulled her hair behind her ear. She thought of him down in the morgue.
" Hey, I'm sorry to hear about Sam. I know your father is having a hard time," Stella said as she returned back to the scopes.
" Yeah, he loved her so much. You know ,they were finally going to get married."
" Married? Tim Speedle was going to marry again?"
" Yeah, kinda hard to believe right? But she was the one. I never thought that he would find someone after my mother, but she was there. She helped him love again," Sascha said as a tear escaped down her cheek.
" Oh Sascha..." Stella said as she heard a commotion outside the doors of the lab. Aiden , who was busy at her own scope ,looked to Stella and Sascha as she got up and crossed the room. Opening the door, the yelling became louder and instantly they knew who it was.
" How can this happen? How can a murderer go free?" Tim was yelling as they walked Johnny Barker out of the holding area. Several officers were holding him back and were not having a easy time about it.
A burly man with a close cropped haircut, moved in front of Tim as Johnny passed. His temples had been graying and his features told the stories of many nights lain awake, either from work or personal. He was all business.
" Mr. Speedle. I have tried to explain to you that Mr. Barker is an important part of our investigation into the mafia. His testimony can put away up to fifteen members of the Marconi crime family," the man said.
" So it doesn't matter that he killed one of your own agents, Malone? Was she worth nothing?" Tim said as the officers continued to struggle with him ,losing their battle.
" Agent Spade knew the danger, she knew what she was getting into when she accepted the assignment. It's unfortunate that she was killed , but it was for the greater good. I think she would be proud to know that she had inadvertently aided us in collaring the biggest family in organized crime," Malone said as he glanced back to assure that Barker was out of harms way. He turned back in time enough to see Tim's fist connect with his cheek.
" Greater good, my ass," Tim said as he stood above Malone. As the officers quickly grabbed him by his arms, he was seething at the man as they shuffled him away. Sascha followed tearfully behind them. Danny helped Malone off of the floor and offered an apology.
" He's grieving, Jack. You as well as I know how much he loved her."
" I'll let it slide Messner, but keep him away from Barker. Agent Fitzgerald will be here in the morning to retrieve him." Malone said rubbing his cheek.
" Done," Danny said as he walked in the direction of the holding cells.
" He says he'll let it slide if you stay away from Barker," Danny said to Tim as he unlocked the cell. Sascha stood on the other side of the cell waiting for her father. When he walked out of the cell, she threw her arms around his shoulders.
" Daddy, I want to go home."
" I know, Sash. Danny, thanks," Tim said as he pulled away from Sascha gently. He was weary now and he wanted some rest.
" Don't mention it. Sheldon says that you can sign the release on the way out and they will fly the body down to Miami."
Tim nodded silently and shook his hand. This would be the last time that he would see Danny Messner or New York. He was going home.
TBC...
A/N: the epilogue is next...