Thank you to Jen who helped me make this into a great chapter!
The shift is going by so slowly. There have been absolutely no calls and it was now nearing 9 PM.
"Alright, so now what do we do?" Taylor asks
"Obviously not shooting the potato gun." Walsh says
"That was an accident." Lombardo looks up from the game of cards they were playing.
"There is NOTHING to do." DK says
"Yeah, and there will be no hanging me off the coat hook either." Taylor smiles
Walsh gets a disappointed look on his face.
"I'm impressed that it could hold your weight." Jimmy teased
Everyone got a good laugh at that. Bobby was staring at the speaker.
"Bobby quit staring at it." Kim said
"But…" Bobby mumbled, "This is boring."
"There has got to be something to do." Taylor gets up from the table
"Rent a movie and get pizzas?" Carlos asks
"Ah yes, the bachelor's idea of life." Taylor cracked
"Nothing wrong with that idea." Walsh defended Carlos
"Which is why you're still bachelors." Taylor laughed
She headed downstairs to the engine bay and searched for something to do. The guys sat upstairs and kept playing cards until they heard a blood-curdling scream.
"Taylor!" Walsh yelled as they all jumped up from the table and ran downstairs.
They rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs, the back door was open and so they ran to it.
"Taylor?" Walsh called out
"Back here." Taylor said trying to catch her breath
"Oh my!" DK yelled
"Someone go get the cops." Jimmy ordered.
Walsh pulled Taylor towards him; she buried her head in his chest. All the years of being a medic and firefighter hadn't prepared her for finding a body behind their station. Kim turned away. Carlos and Bobby stood just looking at the body laying in their yard.
Lieutenant Johnson had heard the commotion and came out to check.
"Everyone okay?" He asked before seeing the body.
Lombardo came back with Lieutenant Swersky, Davis, and Sully.
"Anyone have any idea when the body appeared?" Lt. Swersky asked
"No, Taylor just found it." Jimmy answered
The Crime Scene Unit was arriving and beginning to take pictures and look for other clues as to what happened. The firefighters made their way back into the house. Davis and Sully sat down with Taylor on the back of the Squad.
"Okay so tell us what happened." Davis said
"I came out back, trying to see if there was anything for us to do out back. I saw it laying on the ground." Taylor said, "I walked over to it and screamed."
"I think I'd probably scream too if I found a charred body in the yard." Sully said
Taylor didn't see the humor in his comment.
"I've seen people die in fires but nothing can prepare you for that." Taylor said
"Hopefully the Crime Lab will find something to figure out what happened out there." Davis said
"When was the last time anyone was in the yard?" Lt. Swersky asked Lt. Johnson
"None of my guys went out there today, till Taylor did." Lt. Johnson replied,
"I can call the other shifts, see if anyone saw anything or something like that."
Lt. Swersky nodded, appreciative of the assistance Lt. Johnson offered. The Squad wasn't used to the red and white flashing lights surrounding the building. It was odd for them to know that something had happened right under their noses.
The guys sat upstairs in the kitchen again.
"That's really scary." Kim said
"Yeah." Doc replied
"Who would dump a burned body behind a firehouse?" Walsh asked
"Some sick bastard." Taylor said as she walked back into the kitchen
"Everything go okay with the cops?" Walsh asked
"Yeah, I just had to tell them how I found it and that sort of thing." Taylor said
Everyone just tried to make sure that Taylor was okay. It was like a scene from a horror movie to them. You never expect to find someone's body in your backyard. Lieutenant Johnson returned upstairs.
"Taylor, can I see you a minute?" He asked
"Sure Lieu." Taylor replied as she followed him into his office
He shut the door after she entered.
"You gonna be okay?" He asked
"Yeah." She replied
"I can call and get you an appointment with the psychiatrist if you need to…" He offered
"I'll be fine Lieu." Taylor replied, though she doubted that she would be able to sleep.
"I didn't mean…" He responded
"No, I know. You're looking out for me like you should be doing." Taylor said
"Okay, if you need to let me know." Lt. Johnson said
Taylor opened the door, "Thanks Lieu."
Taylor walked back into the Squad room. She went upstairs to take a shower. Hoping that the warm water would calm her down a bit. She let the water flow over her face and body. It did feel good.
After she got out of the shower she walked to her locker. She put her towel on the hook she kept it on. She noticed a piece of folded paper on the shelf. Carefully, she picked it up and unfolded it.
I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHERE YOU WORKThe words were cut pieces of magazine and newspaper print. She looked around quickly and shut her locker, hurrying downstairs. She wondered who could have done it. There were cops all over the place, surely someone would have seen somebody slip into the house and then go upstairs. She was shaking now. It was getting to her now. Suddenly, she felt nauseous.
The crime scene investigators arrived out back to look at their victim.
"What do you think this is? Somebody knew how to light a fire." Danny Messer said
"When we go inside I don't think that comment will be very amusing Messer so keep that to yourself. Let's go see what they know and who found our vic or what's left of them some sick bastard doesn't have women in much regard that's for sure." Aiden said
Danny nodded. "Yeah tell me about it this is a piece of work no question."
They went inside and when the guys saw Aiden they whistled and nudged each other.
"Very nice boys but I'm with the crime lab and I'm here to ask a few questions." Aiden said "Anyone want to tell me about that body out back? Pretty interesting place to dispose of someone that way."
She waited and casually leaned against the wall for answers.
"Well don't be bashful or does she have you all tongue tied gentlemen?" Danny said
Lieutenant Johnson walked out to greet Messner and Burn.
"Lieutenant Johnson." He introduced himself
"Detectives Burn and Messner." Aiden introduced the team
The guys let out a little chuckle.
"Something you find humorous about a dead body in your backyard?" Aiden asked
"Who knows, some people have a strange way of looking at life." Messner said.
It was clear that he wasn't a big fan of firefighters. They were a necessary part of life though.
"Did anyone here actually find the vic or were you inside all day playing scrabble?" he asked
"Taylor found the body." Lt. Johnson said
"And where is he at?" Aiden asked
"SHE went upstairs to take a shower." Lt. Johnson said as he motioned for Kim to go get her.
It took a few moments before Kim returned with Taylor who was noticeably shaken.
"Is there some place private we can talk?" Aiden asked
Lieutenant Johnson gave them his office to use. The two detectives and Taylor went in and closed the door.
"Detectives Burn and Messner." Aiden introduced as Taylor sat in a chair
"Alex Taylor." She introduced herself
"Well Ms. Taylor… hell of a day huh?" Messner said. His voice was calm though a strong New York accent.
"Yeah, and to think I was bored for most of it." Taylor replied
"Yeah nobody should see that kind of a sight. Do you have any idea who would have done this?" Aiden asked
"No, not really. I mean, what kind of sick person burns someone else and then puts them behind a firehouse?" Taylor asks
"I don't know but we will surely find the answer. It is one twisted individual." Aiden returns. "Has anything else happened that was unusual today?"
"I found this in my locker." Taylor handed over the folded note
"Hmm… might give us some prints or something thank you." Messner said as he sealed it in a plastic bag as evidence.
"Any idea on who it was that I found?" Taylor asked
"We know they were female. other than that our lab will tell us more. I'm sorry." Aiden said
Taylor was clearly curious as to what had happened, "How long does that normally take?"
"Well depending on when we get dental records we may know something in a week, finger prints if she has any, that's sooner, in a few hours." Messner said "depends on the uh… damage to the body."
Danny stopped knowing she didn't need to know all that right now. She had someone potentially stalking her and it wasn't making her comfortable.
Taylor wanted this whole experience to be over with... "What about the note?" Taylor was worried that someone may be after her.
"Well we will analyze that and if need be get you protection. Hopefully though we can nail them before they bother you anymore" Messner assured her
Taylor was nervous about the thought of needing protection.
"Okay, thank you." She said
"You're welcome and I'm sorry. I know this shook you pretty badly but we will find whoever it is." Danny smiled slightly at her.
Aiden smacked him on the shoulder. "Messer stop flirting there are guys outside this office who could tear you in half you know." She smirked.
The guys were waiting anxiously outside of the office. They were all very concerned about Taylor. As the door opened they all pretended to not notice.
"Okay, it's painfully clear that you all think my partner's hot." Messner said, "Just remember, she carries a gun." He smiled
"Do you need anything else from us?" Lt. Johnson asked
"We're going to go back to the lab and process what they found. We'll let you know." Aiden said as she handed her card to him
"Thank you." Lt. Johnson said
The two detectives left and the guys wanted to ask Taylor so many questions. But they were stopped by the alarm.
"Squad 55, Ladder 100, Adam 55-3, Boyd 55-3 respond for an MVC 123 and Lex reported with fire." The box called out
"Finally!" Bobby called out and Kim nudged him
"Taylor you up to it?" Lt. Johnson asked
She nodded; she definitely did not want to be alone right now. Not after finding the note in her locker.
She was quiet in the cab on the way to the call. They all were. Everyone resisted the temptation to ask her how the interview went, or if she was okay. They knew she would probably hit them if they worried about her.
"Oh yeah, we got fire." Walsh said as the approached the scene.
They all got prepared to do their jobs when the Squad rolled to a stop. The Federal siren wound down as Walsh slowed the engine. Soon they were stopped and Jimmy jumped out to pull the hose-line from the truck. Taylor grabbed a haligan bar. Lombardo, DK, and Walsh followed Lt. Johnson.
The medics first went to the car that wasn't on fire. They checked over the family that was inside of it.
Jimmy immediately set to work on putting out the fire from the vehicle, as the flames died down, Taylor popped the hood with the haligan bar to fight the flames from the engine compartment. It took about 5 minutes before the fire was knocked down and they could reach the occupants.
Taylor swallowed hard as she worked to help free them.
"We're gonna need burn sheets over here!" She called out
Her mind flashed back to the body found behind the firehouse.
"Taylor, what do you need?" Walsh asked without being acknowledged. "TAYLOR!" He yelled to get her attention
She shook her head and backed away.
"I can't." She repeated over and over again as she backed away
Lt. Johnson and everyone else diverted their attention for a moment. Taylor was strong, but they had never seen her shaken like this.
She began to hyperventilate. Her eyes were frantically searching the scene. Looking for who it could possibly be. She backed away and ended up tripping over the curb. She hit the ground hard and backed up against the building. She was panting for air and shaking.
Lt. Johnson rushed to her side. Kim ran over quickly as well.
"Taylor, Taylor are you okay?" Lt. Johnson asked as he reached down to reassure her.