Abigail Baker
Detective Baker sat at the conference table and adjusted the jacket of her dress uniform as Sean finished with the camera.
"Are you sure that Grandpa isn't going to be back for awhile?" he asked.
"He has meetings all afternoon," she replied.
"Good," Sean replied. "Because I have been dying to tell someone about what I have discovered and how I plan to put my project together."
"You couldn't tell your family?"
"I want to surprise them with it," Sean replied with a shake of his head. "Some of the stories circle around and connect."
"Interesting," Baker said. "Do you want to talk about it now, or after we finish with my story?"
"After," Sean replied. He pressed the button to start the recording. "If you could please state you name and job first.
She nodded. "My name is Abigail Baker and I am a detective and personal assistant to the Police Commissioner."
"Where were you on 9/11?"
"I was at Ground Zero," she said. "I was just out of my probationary period so I was the one that ran errands. The radios weren't working well, so I went back and forth between the towers with messages for the various commanders in both the police and fire departments." She looked thoughtful for a minute before going on. When the South Tower fell, I saw someone grab a confused woman and duck into an alley with her, so I followed them into the cover. When the cloud cleared he took off before I could even so who it was but was able to point the woman in the direction of the bridge." She stopped at Sean's funny look.
"I headed to the North tower where I was told to get as many people as possible and get them heading away from the complex," she went on. "The injured people were being triaged at the chapel so I took anyone that had serious injuries there. Somewhere in there I met your grandfather and John McKenna as they were getting people out. Frank was carrying a woman whose face was covered with blood and John had me follow in case they needed more help. Just as we exited the North Tower, it started to collapse so we took cover behind a pillar." Sean made another face.
Abby shook it off and went on. "I followed them to the chapel and watched them go in. I stayed outside so I could help direct people inside. I saw an officer stop a girl of about sixteen or seventeen at one point. She was in hysterics, but I left them when he calmed her down and took her in the chapel… and what is with the face?"
Sean hit the pause button. "I'm sorry," he said. "Some of the stories have been crossing over. "I mean, most of my family told me that my mom found out she was pregnant with me that day, but the other stuff…" he shrugged. "The confused woman was pulled aside by my dad. He left intent on finding Grandpa and Joe. Grandpa told me the details about the rescue of the woman… who just happens to be the very teacher who gave me the assignment." He shrugged. "And the girl in hysterics? That was Uncle Jamie's partner, Eddie. Her mom was working at the South Tower and was killed. Her school was not far away and she came down to look for her only to be found by my Uncle Joe. I read about that in a journal he kept."
"Huh," Baker said.
"Then, you come along and tie all of them together," Sean finished. "That's what is with the face."
"All this is what you've discovered?" she asked and he nodded. "And you haven't told anyone?"
"Not a soul except you," he replied. "Not even Jack."
"I think a few people are going to be shocked," she said. "I'd almost want to have a film crew there."
"Funny you should say that…" Sean told her about Poppy's desire to have his project on the show.
"I could get with her and make the arrangements if you like," Baker offered.
"As long as no one else minds," Sean said. "I don't either."