It was like any other day at Runway for staff and Editor-In-Chief, Miranda Priestly. They were in a meeting, going over fresh ideas for the upcoming photoshoot when it happened. Emily ran into the office, breaking one of her very own unspoken rules.
Miranda stopped mid-sentence to give the brit one of her infamous scowls, lips pursed in displeasure.
"Miranda," The redhead began. "I'm sorry but this is urgent."
The silver-haired woman stood from her spot at the head of the table and walked over to her assistant. "What is so urgent…" Her words spewed out like venom, digging into the redhead.
"This," Emily offered a piece of paper to the older woman. "Came this morning."
Miranda snatched the paper from her hands, looking it over. Her blood ran cold at the sight of the words etched in red ink. She exited the office with a wave of her hand and a simple, "That's all." with Emily in tow. "Get NYPD on the phone." The editor ordered Emily.
~
"It's your big day, Sachs," Chief Miller said with a firm pat on her back. "You'll be going with Officer Lawrence on a 10-79 call."
"A bomb threat?" The brunette found a lump in her throat forming, nervousness taking over her.
"No bomb but a threat of sorts," He sighed. "Some editor received a concerning letter this morning. I just need you two to go down there and take a statement from her, see if y'all can get any information on who the assailant could be."
"Yes, sir."
~
"What is this place?" Officer Lawrence ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair.
Andy hit the button for the top floor once they entered the elevator. "I don't know," She shrugged.
When they got to the top floor, the metal doors opened to reveal their destination. They stepped out and made their way down the hallway. "Oh shit," He pointed to the magazines that lined the walls. "I know what this place is. My wife," He looked at Andy. "She reads every one of those damn things. We are at Runway, Sachs."
Andrea laughed nervously, "I don't read that stuff, Lawrence."
"Maybe we shouldn't have come in uniform," Lawrence said, the two officers now aware of all the concerned stares they were receiving from the staff.
Emily spotted the two and rushed over to them. "My name is Emily Charlton, is waiting for you in her office." They followed the young woman till they reached two large glass doors. The redhead pushed one open and Andy found herself breathless. The woman, who she assumed was Miranda, stood from her desk and as if she was floating strode over to them. She reached out her hand to the brunette first, "Miranda Priestly," Andy shook herself out of her reverie just in time to grab the other woman's hand, shaking it firmly.
"Officer Sachs," She said with a nod. Miranda looked the young officer over before moving to her partner.
They both take a seat in front of the Editor's desk and Miranda sits down as well. " , we were given word that you received a letter?" Officer Lawrence inquires. Andrea finds her eyes averting to the older woman's toned legs under the desk. The silky porcelain skin she found there giving her chills.
Snap out of it, Andy. She chastised herself. This woman is being threatened and all you can do is oogle her?
"Yes," Miranda exhaled slowly, grabbing the letter in question and handing it over to the blonde.
Lawrence read the red words aloud, "You will pay for humiliating me you frigid bitch. I'm going to kill you and everything you love." He cleared his throat, pulling out an evidence bag and placing the letter inside. "Do you have any idea who would send this to you, ma'am?"
Miranda shrugged, leaning back in her white office chair. "To be frank, no, I am aware I'm not very well liked. I have gone through over a dozen second assistants in the last year- I have fired models, designers, photographers and the like- On the spot for incompetency more times than I can count.. I don't have a clue." Andrea watched as the editor fiddled with her necklace. "I'm worried about my girls."
"Well, I can assure you that New York PD is on this case and we wo-" Miranda cut off the man with a simple hand gesture.
"I need someone to stay at my home and here while I'm working. My girls are in private school and they have officers on campus, but when we are all home…" She trailed off. "I just want to make sure they are safe."
Officer Lawrence looked to his partner. "Officer Sachs, you will."
"What?" Andy, surprised, looked over at the man.
"I'll get it cleared by the chief first," He stood from his seat, pointing to Andy. "But Officer Sachs here, she's fresh out of the academy and is one of our best officers."
"Fresh out of the academy?" Miranda rolled her eyes. "I don't want a rookie protecting my children and I…"
The brunette found herself offended by this and stood. "Listen, , although I'm a rookie, I'm a damn good officer. I graduated at the top of my class above a hundred other men and women. I am here to protect and serve, I wouldn't allow anything… or anyone to hurt you or your children." She stunned herself with her own words.
What the hell are you doing, Sachs?
The corner of Miranda's lips curved into a smirk. "Alright," Miranda walked past the officers and to the glass door. "Let me see you out."
On their way to the elevator, they discussed their plans moving forward. "So, officer Sachs will be back after retrieving some of her things. I will radio one of our other officers to station outside the building 'til she returns."
The elevator opens and the officers step inside, turning to see the editor already heading back to her office. The doors shut and Andy turns to face her partner. "Are you crazy?"
Lawrence chuckles, "You are the one with the big speech. 'I'm here to protect and serve.' You got gall, Sachs. I'll give you that." He pat the latter's shoulder.
"Chief," Andy pleaded with her boss. "I really think we should have another officer stationed with that editor and her kids…" Chief Miller shook his head.
"Officer Sachs, she called the station after you two left…" He chuckled a bit, throwing his hands in the air. "She wants you, only you. Apparently, you gave her quite the first impression." He sat down at his desk, crossing his arms behind his head, leaning back in the process. " She offered to pay the department and you for your time. We both know the departments and yourself could use the extra funds."
Andy exhaled, defeated. "Yes, sir,"
"Besides," He began. "I highly doubt this letter holds much weight. It'll be the easiest case you'll ever have, kid."
Somehow this statement didn't make Andy feel any better; She dismissed herself from the chief's office then headed out of the station and to her apartment to grab her things.
~
The young officer walked up to the patrol car parked outside the Elias-Clark building, the window rolled down to reveal two of her coworkers. "Sachs," Officer Lewis gave the young woman a small smile and nod. The woman in the passenger seat pulled her sunglasses down to look at Andy. "Miranda has called for you three times already."
"I don't even know how she got our personal cell numbers." Officer Lewis finished.
The brunette was taken back by this, "She called your cells?" They both nodded in unison, answering the woman silently. 'Well, I guess I need to get in there then."
"Radio us if you need anything," Officer Lewis said before he rolled up his window and merged into new york's busy traffic.
The young officer made her way into the building and saw the redhead from before waiting for her there. "Officer Sachs," She greeted. "If you'll follow me.." Andy did and they entered the elevator. As they ascended, Emily turned to the brunette. "Miranda has instructed me to give you this.." She handed over a folded piece of paper to her. "This is a layout of the Elise-Clark building. It depicts every exit, staircase...Just in case…" She trailed off, afraid to speak the words.
"Thank you, ," Andy replied, giving the woman a reassuring smile. Placing the blueprint into her pocket.
They rode the rest of the way up in eerie silence and Emily brought the officer into Miranda's domain once again. The editor looked up from her computer, glasses perched on the bridge of her prominent nose. "Officer Sachs." The simple greeting, soft and hushed. The editor looked to Emily, "That's all." The assistant scurried off, shutting the glass door behind her.
" ," Andy replied. "You can call me, Andy."
Miranda scoffed. "Andy," She peeled her glasses away from her face, the arm of one finding its way to her bottom lip as if she was pondering something. "What's your real name?" Her icy eyes seem to pierce through the younger woman.
"I-Uh, it's Andrea.."
One of Miranda's eyebrows raised at this discovery. "Andreá," A smirk formed on her face. "Andreá Sachs, much more...fitting." Andy felt heat rise to her cheeks at the unique way she spoke her name.
'Are you seriously blushing? Jesus, Sachs.'
"Please have a seat," Miranda pointed to the couch that sat at the edge of the office. Andy walked over and did as she was asked, sitting down. "I don't want my girls to worry, so while you are staying with us…" She turned back to her computer. "I've had Emily pick out a few outfits for you to wear- I can't have my girls fretting over why a police officer is at our home." Andy watched as the older woman typed away at her computer. "Size six, right?"
"How did y- Right… You run a fashion magazine." The officer answered her own question.
The editor continued, never taking her eyes off her work. "You are to tell the girls you are their new chef."
"Chef?" Andy couldn't hold back the laugh that followed. "Miranda, in order to protect you three, I'm going to have to keep my firearm on me. How do we explain that to the girls?" The officer thought for a moment. "Why don't we just say I'm your live-in bodyguard. I won't wear the uniform but I have to keep my gun."
Andy watched Miranda closely, her hands stilled their typing- Her lips had pursed once more. "Fine." She whispered. "The girls are staying at their father's for a few days, anyhow."
The rest of the evening at Elise-Clark was spent in relative silence. Of course, after they ironed out the details of Miranda and the girls' schedules, where they most frequented, etcetera.
When the workday came to an end, Officer Sachs escorted the editor out of the building and to the car that waited outside for her. "You can follow us to my townhouse." The silver-haired woman instructed before getting into the vehicle, Andy shut the door for her once she was safely inside. The officer got into her own unmarked patrol car, did as she was told, and followed Miranda's driver.
~
The editor pushed her key into the door of the townhouse and opened the door. "This way, Andreá," The officer followed her inside, shutting and locking the door behind her. Miranda turned on the light, and the officer looked around astonished by the immaculate state of the home.
'Well, what did you expect? This woman is a fashion editor after all.'
"Miranda, your home i-" Andy stopped. When she noticed Miranda frozen in the middle of her entryway. Her eyes followed the editor's own gaze and the officer paled at the sight. "What in the world…" There laid a Saint Bernard surrounded by a pool of crimson.
Andy watched as Miranda knelt directly in front of the animal, placing a shaky hand on its blood-matted fur. "This i-is Pat-Patricia" She croaked. "Oh God," Angry tears welled up in the editor's eyes. The officer quickly stooped down to be eye-level with the older woman.
"Miranda," She placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. "I am so sorry," Andy used her free hand to wipe away the editor's strayed tears. "Let's stand up." Miranda allowed the officer to help her off the floor. Andy supported the older women's weight, even though she knew the gruesome sight would linger behind the editor's eyelids for the foreseeable future. It wasn't a good idea to keep her in the same room. The officer thought quickly, resuming her role. "Now... go get cleaned up then get somewhere you can sit down for a while, alright?" Miranda nodded, silently agreeing, walking out of the officer's sight.
Andy stood there starring at the scene before her for some time, taking it all in. Now that she wasn't worried about the other woman she allowed an expression of disgust to cross her face. The poor thing was gutted like a fish-a a large gash from pelvis to throat. There were stab marks, she counted at least five, littered across the creature's body. She prayed all of it was done after the animal took its last breath, but she suspected it wasn't. This was clearly the work of a sadist, someone who enjoyed inflicting pain and humiliation onto others. She plugged her nose as the scent of blood and excrement got to be too much. Her eyes roamed over the puddle of blood, hoping for a boot print, fallen hair- something, anything to nail the person who did this. It was then she noticed a piece of blood-soaked paper hanging from the nearest wall.
Andy walked over to it and read the fine print carefully. Her eyes widened in horror, she immediately pulled her phone out of pocket and dialed Chief Miller's number.
'Doesn't hold much weight… my ass..' Andy scoffed.
"Officer Sachs?"
Andy cleared her throat, "Chief, I need another officer right away at the Priestly residence there has been an incident."
When backup arrived the young officer left the scene to locate the editor. She made her way down the main hallway, she saw a lamp glistening which led her into a living room. There she found Miranda lying down on her sofa wrapped in a grey fluffy robe. "Miranda," The officer softly called out, careful not to scare the woman. Miranda looked up at Andy with red-rimmed eyes. The younger woman motioned to the spot next to Miranda, "May I?" The editor nodded, silently answering the latter, moving her legs for the officer to have room to sit down.
"They killed Patricia," Miranda deadpanned.
"I'm sorry for your loss," Andy sighed. "I assure you that we will find the bastard that did this. I have our forensic's crew looking over… ugh... " She paused a brief moment, "..the scene right now." Andy waited for a reply that never came. The two fell silent for a moment before the officer broke the tension. "There was another note."
"How riveting," The editor rolled her eyes. "Well, go on… What did it say?"
Andy practically whispered, "This is just the beginning… You'll pay for what you did to me."
The officer watched as the latter's fingers found their way to her necklace to fidget with the pendant, shaking her head. "Unoriginal."
"Miranda I really need you to help us out here," Andy received a glare in response. "I'm sorry, I know you're unsure on who it could be, but we have to try to narrow the list down. From my understanding, they didn't find a single trace of fingerprints or any identification on the last note we received… Unless we find something in th-"
"You have nothing.." The editor's lips pursed in displeasure.
Andy sighed, shaking her head. "No, we have nothing. Of course, we will continue surveillance." She began. "Chief Miller has officers designated to station the townhouse during the day."
"I'll have Emily send a list of terminated staff over."
Andy placed her hand tenderly on the editor's knee, "That's a great start, Miranda."
Miranda moved from the latter's touch and stood. "I'll be in my study... When they leave, I'll show you to the spare bedroom." Her words, cold and distant. Andy's heart hurt for the editor and she wanted nothing more than to just fix it. Solve this case and give the older woman relief from this nightmare, but she was just a rookie way in over her head. The officer finally stood from the sofa and made her way back to the entryway. The flash of a camera light nearly blinded her.
"Got the photos, Chief." The forensic photographer moved away from the scene.
"Well done!" Miller saw Andy and motioned her over. "Sachs," He sighed. "I'm going to be honest, kid… This isn't looking good. Whoever is behind all of this isn't leaving a shred of evidence behind."
"Miranda said she's having a list sent over of terminated employees," Andy offered. "That's a start."
Chief Miller gave the rookie a nod of approval. "Good work, Sachs. I'll have the team clean up the scene."
"What will you do with the dog...Can I bury her, sir?" She asked.
He gave the young woman a sympathetic smile. "Yes, kid… I'm sure would appreciate that." He patted her back. "I'm going to head out, but they should be done here shortly. Send me that list as soon as you get it. We will get to the bottom of this."
~
Andy picked up the large bag that the late animal was placed in, and made her way outside the townhouse and through the backdoor. She released a shaky breath, squatting to place the large dog into the hole she dug in the small backyard.
"Andreá," The officer turned to see the editor standing on the concrete porch.
"Oh, I'm sor-"
"No," The older woman shook her head moving over to the latter. "Thank you." Andy watched Miranda grab the shovel and begin placing dirt over the hole. "I adopted Patricia when I was pregnant with my girls." Andy could tell she was trying to hold back tears as whispered out, "Twelve years… She's been through it all with me; The pregnancy, two nasty divorces- " Then she abruptly stopped as if she said too much.
The officer gently grabbed the shovel from the woman. "She'll be with you forever, Miranda, I don't think our loved ones ever truly leave us." She finished putting the rest of the dirt back into the earth and the pair fell silent for a moment.
"Lets get inside, it's chilly out here." Andy placed a hand on the woman's upper back and Miranda allowed her to guide her inside.
~
That night the editor got the list within thirty minutes from her assistant and the officer sent it over to the chief right away. The next day Andy rode with Miranda from the townhouse to the Elias Clark building in silence. The officer understood why the older woman would be so distant in light of what happened the night prior, yet she couldn't shake the need to comfort the latter. They got inside the building and Miranda shared the elevator with Andy up to her office. The younger woman watched as the editor began her morning spitting off orders to Emily and other staff. After she got through her demands and received her center-of-the sun hot coffee the editor sat down at her desk and the brunette followed suit on the couch that sat in the corner of the office.
*RING*
The rookie looked felt her cell vibrate in the pocket, she grabbed the device and answered the call. "Office Sachs"
Chief Miller's voice gruffed through the phone. "Sachs the assailant sent the department a little package."
