Chapter Three

Much later that morning, Natalie walked back into the police station carrying two large cups of coffee and a bag carrying two bagels. After all the drama that had occurred in the woman's washroom, John had driven Natalie back to Llanfair insisting that she get some sleep. The drive had been silent, both of them taking the time to absorb everything that had occurred. Although it had been a shock to Natalie to find out she had witnessed the shooting of John's father, it was equally just as shocking to John. Both of them had lost sleep over the news, as similar questions kept them awake all night.

John had arrived at the station before Natalie, and wasted no time in heading straight for Bo's office. Not wanting to find himself in anymore trouble, he filled Bo in on the picture, threatening note and gently broke the news that his niece was the young girl. Despite it all, Bo took it well. Although he tried not to let it show, Natalie was Bo's favorite out of all his nieces and nephews, and once again he found himself beating himself up over the fact that it was over twenty-years before anyone knew she existed. After listening to John explain how Natalie needed field hours, and how he could use any information she had, Bo agreed to assign Natalie to this case, only after making John assure that he would keep his niece safe – not only physically but also mentally.

John was just getting settled into his office when he heard a soft knock on his door. Instantly knowing it was Natalie, John called her in and was pleasantly surprised when she set down a large coffee and bagel in front of him.

"A peace offering." She explained as she shrugged off her coat and took a seat across from him. Seeing his puzzled expression, she continued, but busied herself with unwrapping her own bagel as to avoid looking at him. "I'm sorry I feel apart on you last night, I don't really do that."

John managed a small smile. "It's fine. I um… I also owe you an apology. The things I said yesterday were uncalled for, I'm sorry."

Natalie shook her head. "Forget it," she said, trying not to let him see how much his words yesterday had hurt her. Once they were finished eating, John handed her the picture that he had been sent. "One of the main things about being a forensic technician is being able to pick up on things. What do you see?" He asked, leaning back in his chair interested in what she would pick up on.

Natalie studied the picture for a few minutes, trying hard to avoid the image of herself. Finally she looked across at him. "The first thing that struck me yesterday is the date stamp. This isn't the usual stamp from a camera – it's the type made by a video camera, I am guessing a surveillance camera."

Intrigued, John raised an eyebrow. "Why would you say that? This shot was taken in an alley, why would there be a surveillance camera?"

Natalie shrugged her shoulders. "It's rare, but not impossible. Both Rodi's and the bar I worked back in AC had surveillance outside in the alley's. Not only is it a method of protecting the employees that have to take the trash out or something, but most burglars and vandals break in through the back entrance holding the assumption that there will be no cameras."

"You sound like you're speaking from personal experience," John remarked.

"I worked in a lot of seedy bars before coming here…" Natalie managed a small smile. "And well, when I was in high school I hung around with a rough crowd… I picked up a few things from them." Turning her attention back to the picture, Natalie got down to business. "So based on that, my guess is that this picture is a screen capture of the surveillance footage. The other thing I noticed is the expression on the girls face."

Although he noticed that Natalie was detaching herself from her involvement, John remained quiet.

"She's terrified, and I don't think it's just because of what she saw."

"What do you mean?" John asked gently, not sure where she was going with this.

"Well, if she was just a five year old child that had just stumbled onto this scene, she would probably have bolted. Freaked out and ran. At five, a child not only knows how to run, but also how to hide. She's not hiding; she's standing there, looking down at him. She saw what happened, she was there watching it all. Plus there's blood spatter on the dress. So she was close."

John grabbed the photo from where Natalie had discarded it. "I don't see any blood," he said as he studied the photo.

"Left hand side of the dress, right under the collar, there are three small drops of blood." Sensing John's confusion, Natalie explained. "In black and white it just blends in with the sequins, but I vividly remember that dress, I was able to spot it."

Now seeing what she meant, John nodded. He was impressed. When he had first heard Natalie was trying for this position, he had thought it was a disaster waiting to happen. But, he had just been proven wrong. She had a great eye.

"That was great Natalie… really great." John said sincerely.

Natalie smiled slightly embarrassed. "Thanks."

"Okay, I know I asked you this last night, but I have to ask again. You have no memory of that night? No idea of why you would have been there? No memory of my father?"

Natalie shook her head. "I laid awake thinking about it for hours John, I have no memory of that night. In fact, most of my memory of that entire time of my life is just a blur."

Knowing that it was common for both children that had been abused, and/or witnesses to trauma to lose their memories, John didn't push it. Instead he took another angle. "Okay, I know Roxy wasn't the world's greatest mother but wouldn't she know if her five year old was sneaking out or running away in the middle of the night?"

Once again Natalie shook her head. "I didn't start sneaking out until I was eight or nine, plus when this picture was taken, Rex was still at home. I hardly ever left him at night because he got scared of the dark and Walter used to go off on him about it."

John made a few more notes and examined the picture again. "If I could just find out what my father had been working on, I think everything would fall into place."

"Was his former partner any help?" Natalie asked, having known that John met with that man last week.

Not even wanting to know how she knew that detail John didn't ask. "Not really. He just told me my dad was secretly working on something. Apparently whatever it was, was big, and he had wanted to gather enough evidence and facts before bringing it to his superiors. You know, the way I knew my dad, he was always by the book. Whatever this was it had to be huge."

"Have you asked your mom if she was aware of anything?"

John slightly flushed, and looked away. Natalie's eyes widened in shock. "Please tell me you at least told her you were re-opening his case." John just remained silent.

"John you have to tell her. She could maybe even be some help."

John sighed. "I know. I know. I was actually thinking about heading down to AC today… do you want to tag along?" John suddenly asked. "While we are down there we can visit that alley, maybe see if you can remember anything about that night."

Natalie nodded. "I am not sure how much help I will be, but I will try." Mustering up enough courage, Natalie finally voiced something that had been worrying her all night. "John…" she began hesitantly, "Obviously the guy who sent you this had something to do with the shooting, and still has access to the surveillance footage. Well why send you a capture that has me in it…"

"Unless he knows it's you." John finished for her, the same thought having been on his mind all night. "The same thing has been bothering me too. Natalie, he had to know you're that child, and he had to know that we'd figure it out. Personally, I think he was counting on me giving it up."

"Well obviously this guy doesn't know either one of us."

Despite the circumstances, John managed a small smile. "I guess not."