Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue or any of the characters…
Author's note: Again sorry for taking a little longer than usual to update. It's been hard to find time to write.
As always thanks for the reviews, favs and follows and for reading. It's lovely that as well as the dedicated reviewers, a few new ones have popped up. I so appreciate hearing from you all of you so please leave a review if you feel inclined. Let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy this installment.
Just a warning – Ellie tells Gail what Trent did to her so there is mention of rape but it is not graphic.
I proof this myself so the mistakes are mine (and sadly I've been short on time so I hope I have picked up the mistakes).
…
'He invited me on a picnic. Sarai and Aaron were coming too. They said it was to apologize,' Ellie explained, glancing down at her hands, which she kept twisting anxiously.
She wouldn't look directly at Gail and Chloe, although occasionally she'd steal glances at the bruises on Gail's neck and then look away. They were seated in the kitchen. Chloe had bustled about making tea but Ellie had left her cup untouched. Gail could make out the sound of someone pacing and murmured voices coming from the corridor outside where Danny was waiting with Andy and Chris.
'Apologize?' Gail prodded gently.
If Trent was repeating patterns, was it possible he took his victims to the same place he had taken Ellie? They needed to act quickly if they wanted to find Melanie Tovy alive, even if Trent said he was waiting for Gail before he began. Gail, however, could sense that Ellie couldn't be rushed. Whatever Trent and the two siblings had done to her, ten years later it was still raw and she needed to tell the story at her own pace.
'I tried to help them, Trent especially. Give him some guidance. I thought things could turn around for Trent if he followed the teachings of the church. He seemed to listen to me. He was actually very attentive and sweet around me, but now I realize it was just to aggravate Danny. Then the three of them posted some degrading things about me on Facebook. I didn't have a Facebook account so I didn't know until the calls began and people started coming up to me at school.'
'Can you tell me what they posted?'
'A photo of me with my phone number and a graphic list of the things I'd be willing to do with guys and girls.'
'And then you agreed to the picnic?' Gail asked, managing to keep the note of incredulity out of her voice.
'They took the photo down the next day and came to my house asking for forgiveness. They said it was a silly prank that got out of hand. They wanted to do something nice as a way of apologizing and suggested a picnic in the woods. You probably think I was very stupid. I was stupid.'
'No,' Gail shook her head and said firmly, 'There was no reason for you to suspect they would harm you.'
'I was very naïve. My parents were extremely strict and I had a very sheltered upbringing. It made me very trusting.'
Ellie faltered for a moment. Her gaze was still fixed on her hands, which she continued to twist in her lap. Chloe wondered if she was always this diffident or whether that day in the woods had made her so. It seemed like this was the first time Ellie had spoken of it since it happened but something about Gail seemed to resonate with Ellie and she was opening up to her. So much so that Chloe thought it best she take a back seat, and let Gail ask the questions.
'Back then I couldn't imagine they would do such things to me. The three of them were like family or so I thought. Danny and I were serious about each other from the beginning and his parents treated me almost like a daughter.'
Abruptly Ellie looked up and directly at Gail, her eyes holding a plea for understanding, 'I mean who does that to their brother's girlfriend?'
Gail nodded understandingly and reached over and very gently stilled Ellie's hands. The gesture was calming, but Chloe could see that Ellie was also reassured by it.
This was a side of Gail most people didn't see. Patient and empathetic as if there was no limit to her compassion or her resolve to make things better. Chloe suspected that this caring, this softer side, had always been there beneath Gail's snark and her peevishness and her intolerance of the idiotic and the stupid. Just as Ellie had surely been changed by that day ten years ago, Chloe wondered if Gail's experience with Perick leant extra weight to the solicitude with which she treated the woman who sat across from her.
'And Danny didn't go on the picnic with you?' Gail asked.
'No. Danny didn't know about it. He and his father were away at the annual church synod in Vancouver. Danny was just in college then, but he knew already he wanted to follow his father into the church.'
'Where was the picnic?'
'Lambton Woods. Trent's father had worked as a green keeper at the Lambton Golf Club. After his wife died, he would take Trent to work with him and Trent would spend the day exploring the woods.'
'And did he take you to a disused building of some sort?' Gail asked.
'Yes. A cabin. It was basic. Just one room. It was very old and completely overgrown. I doubt anyone else even knew it existed.'
'What happened when you got there?'
'It was okay at first. The food was nice. They even laid the picnic out on a red-checkered tablecloth. The three of them fussed around me, insisting I do nothing to help. They'd made a fruit punch and they kept refilling my glass. I thought it was non-alcoholic but there must have been something in it because I began to feel woozy. I noticed Aaron and Sarai kept looking at each other furtively, but Trent was completely calm. I must have passed out because next thing I knew I came to and Trent was on top of me and,' Ellie stopped and bit her lip so hard she drew blood.
'He raped you?' Gail asked softly.
'Yes,' Ellie replied, the word coming out slightly ragged, 'I couldn't do anything to stop it because my wrists and ankles were tied and he was choking me. I thought I was going to die.'
'Could you see what Aaron and Sarai doing while this was happening?'
'Aaron was laughing a high-pitched laugh. I don't think I'll ever get the sound out of my head. It was like he was partly embarrassed but then excited about what Trent was doing. Sarai just watched. When Trent finished with me, he had sex with Sarai. She had just turned 14. They forced me to watch. Aaron would hit me if I looked away.'
'Do you remember what happened after that?'
'I think I passed out. When I came to I was in the woods. They must have dumped me there. I was naked but they'd left my clothes, most of which were torn. I stumbled out onto the highway and flagged down a passing car and they took me home.'
'Is that when you reported it to the police?'
'No. You have to understand my parents were very religious and very conservative. My father thought I'd brought shame onto the family. He blamed me. My mother thought differently. After four days we filed a complaint with the police. Then Danny's father, Pastor Jakob, showed up. He was a very powerful figure in the church and my parents looked up to him. He said if this got out it could destroy the church. He persuaded them he would handle it, so they agreed to withdraw the complaint. My father forbad me to speak of it again.'
'I'm sorry we have to keep asking you about that night, but can you remember where the cabin was?'
'Is that where he's taking these girls?'
'I think it's a strong possibility,' Gail nodded.
'It was near the river. I wasn't paying that much attention when we drove there. But we parked on a side road and walked for about fifteen minutes to the cabin. I saw the street sign on the side road– it was called Mill Road. Later I remember thinking it was such an bland name for a road that led me to such,' Ellie paused and said in almost a whisper, 'to such horror.'
'Ellie, I know how hard this has been for you, but what you've said is really helpful. Thank you,' Gail said.
'I should have spoken up then,' Ellie continued as if she hadn't heard Gail, 'I should never have withdrawn the complaint then none of this would have happened and those girls would still be alive.'
'There is no guarantee of that. Trent and Aaron and Sarai were minors. If they'd been found guilty they may have served a few years in juvy. It's unlikely that would have stopped Trent from going on to this.'
'And I should never have agreed to go on the picnic. My father was right.'
'Ellie none of this is your fault. You are not to blame for Trent's actions or the behavior of the other two. I understand you and Danny work with the victims of domestic abuse.'
Ellie nodded.
'I'm sure you tell them the same thing. They don't ask to be abused.'
Ellie nodded again.
'You didn't either. You are not responsible for what happened to you or these other women. I'm guessing you haven't spoken about this to anyone since this happened?'
Again Ellie nodded in conformation. 'Even Danny said it was best not to talk about it. To put it behind us and move on.'
Jesus, thought Gail, no wonder Ellie seemed so withdrawn. What kind of damage did that do to a person's psyche? How could Ellie move on when she had been made to feel shame for what had happened?
'Here is the number of the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre,' Gail said, handing a card to Ellie, 'they offer free confidential counseling.'
Ellie made a sound that was almost a laugh but which carried no mirth. 'I've referred women there,' she said, 'I know the center well.'
'Okay, if you'd rather not go there, I can recommend some counselors. Here's my card. Call me even if you just need to talk.'
Ellie took the card and studied it for a moment before looking up at Gail. She took a deep breath and said softly 'Thank you'.
Gail stood and Chloe followed suite.
'We need to go now, but I meant it, call me anytime you need to talk.'
Ellie dipped her head in acquiescence. She wasn't a small woman but somehow she looked diminished. She lent forward with her elbows on the table and the lower part of her face resting in her hands so her mouth was obscured. Anguished, she looks anguished thought Chloe.
Just as they were about to leave the room, Gail turned back.
'Would you say that before that day you mothered Trent?'
'Yes, he'd joke about it sometimes. That I was born to be nurturing, which he said was lucky for him because his step-mother didn't have a maternal bone in her body.'
Out in the corridor, Danny stopped his pacing as Gail and Chloe emerged from the kitchen. Gail paused in front of him.
'You need to go to her. You need to be understanding. You need to support her.'
Danny nodded, his face solemn.' My father told me it was best we not speak of it. I should never have listened to him,' Danny said sadly, 'Detective, my father is a good man but he had a blind spot about Aaron and Saria. He never touched me, but he beat Aaron and Sarai. They didn't find it easy to follow the Church. He said they had the devil in them and he needed to beat it out.'
'How often did it happen?'
'At least once a week,' Danny said heavily.
…
In the Morgue, Elaine observed as Holly walked Agent Pearce through each of the autopsies. He had insisted Holly show him the bodies and be as detailed as possible in describing what each woman had been subjected to. When he saw the message scrawled across Patricia Weston's body, he turned to Holly and said 'that must have been disturbing'. His tone was understated as if he were commenting on something quite ordinary.
Holly nodded. She wished she were back at the station with Gail. It was stupid and impractical, but Holly felt if she could keep Gail in sight, better still within arm's reach, then Gail would be safe.
When Frankie had knocked on the door to the interrogation room and told them Gail was staying put, the relief Holly felt was immeasurable. She wasn't sure what she would have done if Elaine had agreed to Pearce's plan to use Gail to draw out Trent. However, when Frankie then said Andy and Chris would give her a ride to the Morgue, Holly had almost refused to leave. Gail must have sensed something was amiss because she asked Frankie for a minute and practically closed the door to the interrogation room in the detective's face.
Gail had reached out a hand to gently cup Holly's cheek and looked at her levelly.
'It's okay. Trent is not going to walk into a police station to come after me. I'm safe here at 15. I'll be chained to my desk anyway. Nothing is going to happen to me. I may fall into a stupor of boredom or make myself sick from eating too many donuts but that's it.'
Holly smiled weakly. 'Gail, I know a bomb went off in 15 two years ago.'
'Trent's not a mad bomber, so I think we're okay on that count,' Gail said, smiling wryly at the realization that of course she should have anticipated Holly would have heard about the bombing. 'Anyway we're going to get these bastards soon.'
'I know,' Holly pursed her lips and tried to stop herself from frowning, 'and I know Trent would have to get through a lot of people before he got to you but still I worry. Maybe you shouldn't stay here. Maybe we should be in hiding. I don't have to go into work. Dr Carral would understand and perhaps we should just go away until Trent and the other two are caught. I mean I know this is your job but'
Quite suddenly Gail had leant in and kissed Holly. Lightly at first so it was like a whisper, a gentle brush that silenced Holly immediately. Gail drew back and looked at Holly before she again leant in and repeated the action. It was slow and deliberate and Holly was overtaken by the sensuality of it, the sheer irresistibility of feeling Gail's lips against her own blanketing out her fears. A rational voice somewhere in the back of Holly's mind told her that it was for exactly this reason, to distract her in moments of crisis, that Gail did this.
That thought was soon forgotten as Gail brought up her other hand so she was cupping both sides of Holly's face and she pulled Holly towards her. This time she intensified the kiss. It was somehow tender and forceful all at once. A kiss that shut out the interrogation room and beyond it the rest of the station and past that the outside world and people like Trent who would do them harm. In that moment their existence became simply this, the two of them, here and now.
It was a kiss to reassure and it was a kiss that carried everything Gail felt for Holly; love and hope and wonder, a little reverence and finally a wistfulness that even now, some hours later, seemed to linger on Holly's lips. This last thing had puzzled Holly. Why the wistfulness? Surely it couldn't be regret? Surely there was nothing about their relationship to cause Gail to be melancholy. Then Gail said 'Until you, I never had a reason to come back,' and Holly understood.
Every time Gail felt like something good was happening in her life, that it was taking a positive turn, it was taken away. Holly left for San Francisco, another family adopted Sophie, Steve went to prison and Gail's parents shut her out. So a part of Gail couldn't help but anticipate that the universe would conspire to deny her Holly. It wouldn't be Holly's doing. Gail knew that and she had made it very clear she had no plans to sabotage the relationship this time round, in fact quite the opposite. So the thing that could conspire against them had to be some outside force. In that moment Holly realized that thing, that outside force, was exactly what she feared, that every time Gail went to work there was a risk she would never return. The wistfulness then came from a yearning in Gail to be allowed this love, this life with Holly, and underlying it was indeed regret that there were no guarantees.
She wondered if Gail would always kiss her like that when she went on shift as if it were for the last time. It was like a love note written by someone conscious this could be their final chance to communicate their feelings, who knew there was no absolute assurance of returning; a declaration so precious had it been a note it would have been secreted away in a treasure box or some other private niche for the eyes only of the person to whom it was addressed. Having fallen in love with a police officer was this then her lot, Holly thought, to always worry that each time Gail kissed her goodbye it was for the last time.
Holly knew the statistics. Most police officers died of old age after a long career in the force. Yet every time Gail went to work, every time she kissed Holly like that, leaving an indelible trace of love, the weight and substance of this sentiment so great it was like a tangible object suspended between them, every time that happened Holly knew she would worry in case it was all of Gail she would be left with. Holly shook her head as if to clear it. No, she had to trust Gail not to put herself in harm's way. She had to believe Gail would always come back to her.
…..
Frankie reluctantly agreed to meet them at Mill Road. She had told Gail to return to the station, but Gail persuaded her that if there was any chance of saving Melanie Tovey they had to act now.
'If Trent's there and he has Melanie we need to move in quietly so as not to alert him. We can't have the whole of 15 descending on Lambton Woods. Get Kennedy and one of the other Detectives to meet us there as well. Then with you and Dov that will make eight of us.'
'Okay, that makes sense,' Frankie said, 'but I'm going to have to inform the Superintendent.'
'Yeah,' Gail said grimly, knowing her mother would not be the least bit impressed that she had sprung herself from the station
It was a twenty-minute drive to Lambton Woods from the church. Gail wished they were in an unmarked car and Andy and Chris weren't in uniform but it was too late now. If Trent caught sight of them there was no knowing what he might do to Melanie, if she was still alive. It was nearly five when they set off for the woods so at least the light had begun to fade as dusk settled in. It would make it harder for them to find the cabin, but on the plus side less likely that Trent would spy them.
As they left the church, Chloe had turned to Gail. 'How did you know Sarai or Stacey was there that day?'
'Patterns. Trent always has two victims. One watches.'
'But it sounds like Stacy willingly participated'
'As much as a fourteen year old can consent, and probably a very angry, mixed up fourteen year old too. Trent had some sort of hold on her, so it was still about exerting power for him.'
'And I guess the beatings gave her and Aaron a reason to rebel against their father and follow Trent.'
Gail nodded. 'It's plausible.'
'But Stacey and Ellie don't look like the recent victims. Stacey has dark hair.'
'Ellie is blonde, but it could be a refinement. Maybe Trent started taking victims who look like his stepmother after she died. It would fit with what the profiler told us. And remember what Ellie told us. He saw her as a mother figure. Maybe that was enough to make her a victim.'
When they pulled off onto Mill Road, Gail told Andy to cut the headlights. The word road was a misnomer. It was more like a track that snaked through thick woodland on either side and which was barely wide enough for one car. The road wasn't sealed and in place of asphalt was loose gravel. Gail cursed the sound the car tires were making as they crunched over it. As they rounded a bend, Chris spotted a white van parked to one side and partly obscured by undergrowth.
Getting out to investigate, Gail saw two sets of headlights weaving along the road towards then. Frankie she guessed. Still she automatically reached down and rested her hand on the gun attached by a holster to her belt. Andy, Chris and Chloe also assumed an alert stance and the four of them moved so the squad car was between them and the approaching vehicles.
…
'You're work is very impressive, Dr Stewart. Quantico needs bright, committed people like you. Have you considered joining the team there?' Agent Pearce said.
Holly smiled, 'I've just returned from the States. I don't have any plans to go back.'
Elaine had stepped out into the corridor to speak to Dr Carral, otherwise Holly didn't think Pearce would have been so bold as to start throwing around job offers.
'Because of Detective Peck?'
'Uh, yeah,' Holly said surprised, 'how did you know that?'
'Classic body tells,' Pearce said, 'in the Incident room you were sitting so you were facing Detective Peck, with your feet pointed in her direction, even your head was titled towards her. When you say her name the corners of your eyes crinkle just slightly which indicates she makes you happy. It's also impossible to miss the way you look at her. Then there was your reaction when I suggested Detective Peck be used to lure Trent out of hiding.'
'Oh,' Holly said, 'was I that obvious?'
'A little. So I guess that means you're staying here.'
As Pearce finished speaking, Elaine re-entered the room.
'There is no point trying to entice Dr Stewart away from Toronto, Agent Pearce. She is quite happy here,' Elaine said with finality.
Holly raised her eyebrows slightly. 'Which is exactly what I was telling Agent Pearce.'
She wondered what Pearce was making of her body language now. Her irritation with Elaine was probably clear enough that he might think he did have a chance of convincing her to consider a career at Quantico.
Elaine started to nod but then her phone rang. She turned slightly away to answer it, speaking quietly at first but then Holly heard her say, 'No, Detective Anderson you should wait for back up. I don't want my, um Detective Peck, involved. Tell her not to proceed and to return to the station immediately. That's an order. I'm on my way now.'
'What's happening? Where's Gail?' Holly asked.
'Gail thinks she's found Trent's hideaway and she's on her way there.'
….
When Frankie and Dov came into view, followed by Matt and Garcia, Gail and the other three officers relaxed their stance. Gail wished Frankie had also thought to cut their headlights. With nothing but forest for miles all around them, the car lights shone like a beacon. God, she hoped Trent didn't know they were coming for him.
As Frankie got out of the car, she said, 'Gail, the Superintendent wants you back at the station. It's an order.'
'It's too late for me to go back. Trent could have seen the headlights. We need to move in now. We can't afford to wait for backup. There are eight of us. I think we've got Trent outnumbered so let's not waste any more time.'
Frankie sighed heavily.
'I'll deal with my mother,' Gail said, 'you won't take the blame for this.'
Frankie considered for a moment. 'You won't go back unless I force you will you.'
Gail nodded.
'Geez I don't know why I'm agreeing to this. But okay. Dov took a look at Google Earth and identified two places where the cabin might be.'
'Both of them are not far from here,' Dov indicated to his iPad and pointed to two spots where the tree canopy was interrupted by a darker smudge that could be a cabin roof.
'So I think we should fan out in a line across the area between these two spots but stay in twos. Only use the radios if absolutely necessary. Gail, you don't have a radio?' Frankie said.
Gail shook her head.
'Okay you're with Chloe then, the rest of us with our partners. I'd guess we have about a fifteen-minute start. Then your mother will be here with the cavalry.'
'Gail,' Matt said, retrieving something from the backseat of his car and tossing it to Gail, 'here's your vest.'
'Thanks,' Gail said, catching it. As she pulled the vest over her head, she muttered, 'let's hope I don't need it.'
Chloe and Gail had been walking for about ten minutes when they reached a small clearing. It was very much like the one in Gail's dream where Perick had strode up to her and, pointing to a shallow grave beneath some trees, said he intended to bury her there. Gail stopped and looked around a little wildly, half-believing she might see some freshly dug earth.
'What is it, have you seen something?' Chloe asked.
'I don't know. I can't explain it but I think we're close.'
'Okay,' Chloe nodded, 'should I get Frankie and the others over here.'
'Not yet. It's just a hunch.' Gail shook her head.
What had Perick told her in the dream? To go back to the bar and find a companion. Then he would kill her. Was it a fluke her subconscious had picked up on that? Had the dream forecast this, that in the end it would come to a showdown between her and the killer, and the only thing keeping she and Melanie alive was the fact that Trent wanted them together before he killed them. She'd had the dream before she'd gone undercover at the FindLove event or even encountered Trent. Had her experience with Perick made her weirdly attuned to the depravity of serial killers? It was this thought and the strange familiarity of her surroundings, even though she knew she'd never been to these woods before, that all at once made Gail feel discombobulated. She stood completely still and took a deep breath to shake the feeling. After a moment, she realized Chloe was looking at her with concern.
'This way,' Gail said decisively.
She pointed across the clearing to a dense thicket, beyond which was a copse of white birch trees and behind which rose huge oaks. It would have been picturesque if Gail hadn't been so terrified about what they about to walk into.
They heard the screaming just as they reached the thicket. It rang out in the silent forest. Loud and desperate and agonized. Gail and Chloe could tell from the pitch and volume that it came from somebody who was in excruciating pain. Without hesitating they plunged into the thick undergrowth and scrambled in the direction of the screaming, heedless of the twigs and brambles that scrapped against any exposed skin. As they cleared the thicket the cabin came into view, nestled beneath the birch trees.
'Radio Frankie. Then wait for her here,' Gail said, unholstering her gun. 'I'm going in.'
'We should both wait for Frankie and the others,' Chloe almost pleaded.
Before Gail could reply, a scream so loud and so plaintive it literally sent chills down her spine, came from the cabin. In the distance she could hear the wail of police sirens. Her mother with back up.
'No time,' she said, taking off at a run towards the cabin. The screaming had stopped, although Gail was sure she could hear someone whimpering. When she got to the door she wondered if she'd need to kick it down, but saw that it was slightly ajar so nudged it open with her boot, her arms extended in front of her with her gun gripped firmly in both hands.
'Police don't move,' Gail yelled.
Trent looked up. He was standing at the head of a table where Melanie Tovey was strapped down by the wrists and ankles. She was naked and her torso was covered in little rivulets of blood. With horror, Gail realized the reason for the bleeding. Trent had done away with using a black marker to write his message. No, he'd used a knife to carve out words across Melanie's stomach.
'Ah, Detective Peck, so good of you to join us,' Trent said coolly, 'we've been waiting so long for you. Melanie had started to despair but I never doubted you would come to me.' With that he picked up a gun and pointed it at Gail.
