Author: AthenaIceGoddess

Title:Jumping In

Author: AthenaIceGoddess

Spoilers: Jump Push Fall

Angst/Romance/Drama

Summary: Just my take on what might happen post Jump Push Fall. Lots of WJ angst, so if you aren't a shipper... probably shouldn't read this one

Disclaimer: I own no part of Crossing Jordan. If I did, do you think I would be writing fanfiction?

Chapter 7

Woody called the precinct on his way to PanTech to question Mary Richards' coworkers and informed Chief Jefferson where he would be going. The chief muttered 'About time.' and hung up. The detective pulled up to the wrought iron gates that guarded the entrance to the wealthy testing facility, and flashed his badge to the burly security guard. The guard nodded and spoke curtly into his walkie- talkie. The gates slowly inched open as Woody waited impatiently.

The parking lot was packed with employee's cars, and Woody had to cruise around for five minutes before he finally found a spot to park his car.

The building was a large, glass five story monster, with huge glass doors surrounded by blinding green-ness. Woody whistled as he scanned the immaculate grounds. Not one weed dared to peek through the pristine green grass, and all the shrubbery was perfectly groomed.

He entered the building and was immediately lost amoungst all the hustle and bustle. "Um, are you lost?" A small, feminine voice asked from behind him. Woody turned around to see a petite blonde with thin lensed glasses covering pretty bright blue eyes, and wearing a lab coat. Her I.D. card read 'Dr. Carole Benning'.

He smiled and flashed her his badge. "Hi, I'm Detective Woody Hoyt. I'm here to talk to Mary Richards' coworkers." He told her, and her blue eyes filled with tears at the murdered woman's name.

"She worked with me up on the fifth level. Botanical pharmacology." She said, walking over to an elevator. Woody followed her, and stepped onto the elevator behind her. Dr. Benning was a good a place as any to start his investigation, he supposed.

"So, you knew Ms. Richards?" He asked gently, and she nodded. "Like I said, we worked together up the fifth floor. She was one of the five people hired right out of university by the company bigwigs a couple of years ago." She looked up at the detective, a hint of pride warring with the grief he saw there.

"I was one of the five too. Anyway, we hung out together on weekends, hit the bars, you know? At least, until a few weeks ago. She suddenly started going straight home after work, which was strange, since she used to be the life of the party, drinking everyone under the table, and became really reclusive." The tears were back, and she quickly wiped them away on her sleeve.

"I tried to get her to tell me what was wrong, but she wouldn't. She just said that it was nothing, she was going to the police in a few days if it didn't stop. That was three days ago." She looked at the ground.

Woody tried to hide his excitement. That was a start! "Was she close to anyone else here, maybe someone that she might have told about her... troubles?" He asked, and Dr.Benning chewed her lip thoughtfully.

"The only person who comes to mind would be her priest, Father Mark Worthy. He preaches at St.Catherines downtown, I suggest you try him. Spending any more time here would be a waste of your time."She gazed into Woody's eyes with a burning hate.

"Get this bastard, detective. He deserves to rot. In jail or in a coffin, I don't care. Just catch him." The elevator doors opened, and the doctor left him with his thoughts. Woody stepped out of the elevator on the first floor.

"Well, I guess I'm going to church."

St.Catherines was a wealthy, large, cathedral type of church, with soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, and pews made of cherry wood. There wasn't a lot of natural light to begin with, but the overcast sky made the church seem dark and dangerous- well, mysterious, anyway.

Woody cleared his throat as he walked up the aisle to the grand crucifix at the front of the room. "Father Worthy?" He called, voice echoeing eerily.

"Yes?" A smooth, somewhat snakelike whispered as a tall, thin man in priests robes marerialized out of the shadows. "Sermon is not until eight o'clock tonight."

Woody showed the priest his badge. "Detective Hoyt, Boston PD. I'm here to ask you some questions about Mary Richards. She was a member of your congregation." He looked impassively into the priest's eyes, gauging his reaction to his next comment. "At least, she was until she was found murdered in the park a few days ago."

Father Worthy's eyes slid to the wood floor. "Yes, I had heard. I was going to extend my deepest sympathies to her family, but I couldn't fin them. She was a victim of the Cross Killer, right?" Woody sighed in annoyance at hearing the foolish name the press vultures had tagged the killer with.

"Yes, she was. I was wondering if maybe she had said anything to you about anything out of the ordinary?" He asked, but the priest shook his head no.

"The only time I ever spoke to Miss Richards was when she would come to the confessional. She was at the confessional at least once a week, repenting her sins. She was certainly a sinner. Always the same things..." He broke off, sighing deeply. "I tried to help her, steer her life onto the right track, the Christian track, but she just couldn't seem to get it right. I will pray that her soul finds the peace she was deprived of in life."

Woody tried not to bash his head off of the pew in front of him. Either this priest was a great liar, or he wasn't the killer. He was seeing a pattern in the killings, though. All of the women killed were viewed as sinners in the way they led their lives. The two prostitutes who were killed had premarital sex with men they weren't involved with. So far, no boyfriends or husbands had come forward to c;aim Mary Richards' remains, and Woody would bet his badge that Mary Richards had frequented the bars around town. That made things a tad easier to deal with.

"...religious?" Woody returned to reality just as Father Worthy was finishing a question and looking at him expectantly. "Sorry, could you repeat that?" He asked the priest, who looked annoyed that he wasn't listening. "I asked if you were religious."

Woody shook his head. "I went to a Catholic church with my family when I was younger, but I don't know what I believe anymore." He gazed at his watch. "Thank you for your time, father. I have to get going."

The priest nodded. "I'm sure you have a busy schedule, detective. I hope you find the killer. Those women didn't deserve to die." Woody's head snapped up, and he narrowed his eyes. "That wasn't released to the public, father. Now, how would you know about the first two murders?"

Worthy suddenly looked nervous, like a mouse caught in a trap. " I...Um... can't talk about that. Good bye, detective." He turned to hurry off, but Woody grabbed his arm and held him still.

"Oh, yes you can. My lips are sealed." Woody said. The priest shook his head. "No, detective, I can't. Let me go." Woody held on a moment longer, but had to let go. He sat down on the bench and dragged his hand down his face. He had to get this guy. It was bad enough he was killing people, but now that he was after Jordan... If something happened to her, he didn't know what he would do.

A/N: I have no idea if there is actually a type of science called 'Botanical Pharmacology', but it sounded good. sorry I took so lonh to update, but now that school is back in, I have less time to write. i hope it was worth the wait! you know the drill, read and review! come on, you know the pretty little button calls to you. ;)