Doors
1:47 p.m.
She sat in her car, not one of the Forensic Department's SUVs. It blended in nicely with the band mix of Sedans. Daniels lived in a conservative neighborhood that reeked of old understated money. It was the kind of neighborhood where everyone pretended to mind their own business, but everything was really gossip fodder. All that meant was she only had a few minutes before day-nannies and gardeners started noticing her presence. She didn't have time to wait for SWAT. She didn't even know if SWAT was coming. She had sent the text to Catherine. She still wasn't sure why, but she had. She had just felt compelled. She owed Catherine; it was her fault that Lindsey had been taken anyway. It was her duty to return her to her mother. With that thought, Sara got out of her car. She started across the street and went to the Daniel's home.
From her previous visit, she knew that the locks on the door were laughable, a single bolt and a knob lock. The inside, however, was very well secured, as in Fort Knox secure. If she had taken the time, she would have gotten a slightly illegal toy from Archie. The tech always seemed to know where to acquire electronic no-nos. She had not had the time or the support, however. Knowing that she would set off the alarm anyway, she didn't even bother to pick the locks. Oh, she knew how, it was one of the less then exemplary skills she had picked up from one of her many foster-siblings. Sara reared back and kicked the door hard. Hours of working out paid off and after three solid kicks, the door gave way under her assault. Sara clucked her tongue as she shouldered her way through the wrecked door. Daniels should have really put a reinforced door up.
She drew her weapon and looked around, carefully, ready for any sign of danger. There was only the shrill scream of the alarm. She had five minutes, tops, to find Lindsey. Sara cleared each room with a quick efficiency that would have left academy green rookies in awe. She worked through the rooms, first and second floor. Every time she opened a door, she tensed. Each room was empty, but every time she looked, she was struck by a powerful mix of hope and fear. Hope that she would find Lindsey, and fear that she would find her...dead. The last room was empty and Sara stood there, gun held tightly in her right hand. Her left hand dragged down her face.
She didn't understand. She had been so sure that Lindsey would be here. Where else could Madison keep her? Sara scowled and bit her lower lip, concentrating, trying to put herself in Daniels head. Of course, walking around in the psycho's mind was Cami's deal, but Sara understood criminals. She understood the trails they made, the clues they left. She had to rely on what she did the best; she needed to follow the evidence.
She looked around the hall with a new perspective. If this were a scene, where would start? She started back down the stairs, her mind leaping ahead of her legs. Her eyes, dark brown and lively, took in every nook and cranny, they searched for anything and everything that could be out of place. She found it on the floor. Standing out like a beacon on the highly polished hard wood floor was a faint dusting of white powder. Powder, just like she'd found on each girl's clothes and shoes. She opened up the closest door and was met with a set of steps. She almost hit herself for being so thick. The basement, it was probably soundproof and there would be no windows. The perfect place to hide kidnapped little girls. She started down the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Lindsey looked up, her heart jumped up in her throat. She was coming back. Daniels was coming back. She could hear her coming down the stairs. Lindsey pushed her hair out of her face and dried her tears. This could be her chance. She looked around, searching for a weapon or something. There were fluffy pillows and stuffed animals. She could cuddle Daniels to death... great. Her eyes fell on the bowl of soup and crackers that Madison had brought earlier. More importantly, she was looking at the tray that held the food she hadn't dared to eat. It was a plastic fast-food style tray, but it was the best she had. It was either the tray or teddy bear. She wouldn't hurt the woman, but if she could stun her, maybe she could escape...and maybe she'd been watching too many superhero movies. Either way, she picked up the tray and gave it a practice swing.
Sara worked around the boxes and crates. It was dim in the basement, the entire area was lit by two bare bulbs. Sara squinted into the darkness and on the far wall, she could see the outline of a door, she went to it, like a moth to the flame. She reached the door and stared at it for just a minute. She didn't know if she wanted to look. She may find Lindsey alive and well or there was a good chance she would have to take her bloody body back to her mother...or there would be nothing. She took a deep breathe and began to take off the chains and unlock the bolts that held the door shut.
Lindsey stood right beside the door, her heart jackhammering against her rib cage. She wished her mom was here. Her mother had been in all sorts of dangerous situations, she had been the one who had pulled her out of the car when it had been in the water. She took a deep breathe and hated the fact that her hands shook. She heard the bolt being thrown and the chain being moved. Her muscles tensed and she readied for the attack.
Sara turned the knob, every second slowed to an eternity. She wanted to know, she wanted to know where Lindsey was and if she was alive and her last clue, the most important clue of her life was hidden behind the door. It swung open
The door swung opened and Lindsey lunged, swinging the tray as hard as she could. It hit something solid and she reared back again, but stopped when her eyes fell on the gun pointed at her. Her blue eyes darted up. "SARA!"
2:05 p.m.
The first thing Sara saw when she opened the door was a red tray coming at her, it connected with her chest and she winced. Her gun moved up automatically and then she saw her attacker. Lindsey was standing there, brandishing a plastic tray like her last shield in a violent joust. She was alive, she was okay. She recognized her. "SARA!"
Sara fell to one knee, dropped her knee to the concrete floor and pulled Lindsey into a hug. "Lindsey. Oh God, Lindsey. You're okay. You're okay." She ran a hand through the girl's blonde hair. "Your mom is going to be so happy to see you." Lindsey leaned against her, sniffling tears. "I miss my mom." Sara nodded and leaned back on her heels, "I know. Listen, I've got a car outside and I am taking you home." She wiped a tear away from Lindsey's cheek and then, one from her own. "It's going to be okay now, I promise." She smiled at Lindsey, "C'mon." She held out a hand, "Lets go."
Lindsey didn't take Sara's hand though, she stood there, frozen, her eyes wide. Almost inaudibly, Lindsey whispered her name. In the reflection of the girl's terrified blue eyes, she saw a glint, a glamor, a shadow. Then the world exploded and Sara was thrown forward against Lindsey. She couldn't think or even breathe. In all of her life, one full of disappointment and violence, she had never felt such an intense and debilitating pain. Her mouth twisted and she tried to scream, she could not, but Lindsey's soul piercing shriek echoed through the basement.
Author's Note: Now THAT is a cliffhanger...Did I mention that I'm going on vacation after this?