Chapter 6 – Learning to Move Forward
January 22, 2008
Nearly a week after the snow started, Philly was blanketed under a foot and a half of snow. It was darn well near impossible to get out, but for those who lived here, knew how to get around anyway. So Lilly had managed to get to work. Sometimes she wondered why she kept on, despite the odds, but then her mind would cross back again to a beautiful young girl lying dead on a Philly alley, her life taken from her in a cruel manner and knew that this was what kept her going.
Stepping inside, she shivered and removed her coat, scarf and gloves thankful for the warmth that was radiating around her now. It was nearly Arctic like outside now. She went for a cup of coffee and then sat down at her desk.
As she was going over some paperwork, Scotty came over and said, "Lil, we've got to go back out. I know...I know. It's cold outside and you just came in from it, but I've found Daniel McKellar, the dancer who partnered Miss Nicole Miller. Did you know that I found out that he and Nicole danced the debut of 'Sleeping Beauty'?"
Lilly looked up and said, "Well I knew that Miss Miller had, for she said so the other day when she was in with myself and the Boss."
Scotty sat down and said, "Yes but she didn't mention that Tony Galletti couldn't dance the role; that Danny McKellar stepped in and partnered her on opening night."
This case certainly took some strange twists, and now, Lilly thought, she couldn't even finish a damned cup of hot coffee. She set it down, after taking another large gulp, and stood up and said, "Well let's go Scotty."
Lilly put her coat back on; not relishing the cold that she would have to go back out into.
Pennsylvania Ballet
As they parked outside the ballet company, Lilly said, "If we'd known he was here, we could have interviewed him the same day as Ms. Taylor."
Scotty said as they walked up the stairs, "The point is Lilly, and this is where the story gets really weird, Danny McKellar hasn't danced with PB in over a decade. He left and no one knows where he went either. This is a mysterious ballet company; dancers that disappear and are never seen again; young ballerinas that are brutally murdered. And... wait Lil. It gets even better..."
They stepped inside the foyer, where Mandy the receptionist sat and before moving forward any, Scotty took Lilly by the arm and led her over to a small waiting area and said in a low voice, "You're not going to believe this."
Lilly stared at him and waited expectantly while he stared around for a moment, then he said, "This particular ballet hasn't been performed in nearly 30 years. I mean from the 1980 performance that is. Prior to 1980's performance, it hadn't been performed in 30 years. The last one dated back to 1950 and unbelievably Lil... another young ballerina was murdered just prior to that performance."
Lilly gasped and said in a shocked voice, "You mean Scotty that we have a serial killer here?"
Scotty nodded, took Lilly by the arm and moved over to the receptionist's desk, where Mandy looked up. When she saw the same two detectives that she had seen last week, she smiled and said, "Well...well, what can I do for Philly's finest?"
Scotty smiled at her, although Lilly could see that it was a fake smile and said,
"Detectives Valens and Rush, but I'll bet you remembered that. We're here to see Mr. Daniel McKellar."
Mandy said, "I'm sorry but Mr. McKellar isn't seeing anyone. He's only just returned to the PB after a long absence."
Scotty pushed his coat aside somewhat so that she got a glimpse of not only his badge, but of his holstered gun as well; and Mandy saw it and said shakily, "Very well, I'll see if he can see you now. Please wait and I'll be right back."
As she walked away hastily, Lil laughed softly and said, "You shouldn't have done that Scotty. There was really no need to intimidate the receptionist. She's only doing what she's told to do."
Scotty winced and said, "Yeah I know but I just ain't gonna take that shit. I know he's here and we've got business to deal with. I want to know where he's been and why he went away, and most importantly why is he back."
Soon Mandy came back and behind her came a strikingly handsome older man, with strands of silver in his hair now but the way he walked, convinced Lilly that this man had to have been a dancer once, and what a dancer he must have been she thought, thinking to herself that she must go see a ballet someday soon.
Danny McKellar stepped forward and said quietly, "I'm Daniel McKellar. I understand that you two are detectives. How may I help you?"
Scotty said, "Let's move over here and talk." He didn't care to have the nosy young receptionist sitting there listening in, and it was obvious that she was trying desperately to hear what was being said.
Danny chuckled softly and said, "You shouldn't mind Mandy; she's understandably curious."
Once they took seats in the waiting area, Scotty launched right in and said, "I'm Detective Scotty Valens; this is my partner, Detective Lilly Rush. We're investigating the 1980 murder of Patricia Pearson. I'm sure you've heard of her."
Danny's eyes took on a faraway look as he said in a hushed voice, "Yes of course, I remember Patty Pearson. She and her friend Nicole Miller were the new dancers that Tony and I were to partner in 1980. It was funny really, because we were talking about the girls when they walked in and overheard us and Patty... well it was funny because she started talking in this uppity, clipped sound of voice. I could tell she was furious..." and he was lost in thoughts.
Scotty waited a moment then said, "How was she furious? What was said?"
Danny regained his composure, for he was saddened at the thought of poor, beautiful Patty Pearson being murdered in such a manner. Then he said, "It was January 10, 1979, the day we first met Patricia Pearson and Nicole Miller. Tony and I were waiting for the girls to show up and we were discussing our new dance partners. We hadn't meant to be unkind of course, but Tony had been talking about Patty as the 'baby' he had to dance with, and then I said that it was okay for I had gotten a newbie as well..."
Danny paused for a moment, Scotty and Lilly waiting. Then he resumed..." next thing I know there were two beautiful girls standing there, and the one who it turned out to be Patty Pearson said, "I'm your 'baby' ballerina partner, Mr. Galletti, and this is my friend Nicole Miller, the newbie, Mr. McKellar. If she were still alive, I'd laugh about it as it was quite humorous; however I don't find any memories of Patty to be anything but painful and I've had to learn to move forward. It's not easy losing someone that you care about so much."
From what he had said, Scotty and Lilly both assumed that Danny McKellar had been in love with Patty Pearson.
Scotty then said tactfully, "Were you in love with Miss Pearson, Mr. McKellar?"
Danny's head came up, and he stared at the young detective and said fiercely, "I cared about her but no, I wasn't in love with her. I knew from the beginning that it was Patty and Tony and I would never have gotten in their way. Besides I came to care a great deal about my own partner, Nicole Miller. She was fiery, spirited, loving and a gifted dancer too. I fell in love with Nicole."
Lilly said, "Did she return those feelings, Mr. McKellar?"
Danny stared at her, hurt showing in his eyes as he said, "No, Detective Rush, she did not."
Then Scotty said, "Well I guess I need to know where; you've been for the last ten years and why you are back at PB now?"
Danny said softly, "I've been abroad; teaching ballet in Ireland. I'm Irish in case you don't know by my last name. Anyway I had found some relatives in Belfast and I went over there and lived there for the last ten years. When my aunt and uncle were both passed on, I moved back here to the States. My uncle died a few years after I got there, but I stayed on to help my aunt. While I was there, I took to teaching ballet classes for a local group of school children. It was quite fulfilling and I wouldn't mind going back to teaching; perhaps here at the School of Ballet."
Danny stood and then said, "Now, is there anything else that I can do to help you with Detectives?"
Lilly said, "Have you seen Nicole Miller since your return?"
Danny shook his head and said, "No, but I'd love to. I know that she left the ballet just months after Patty's death. Do you know where she is or what she's up to?"
Lilly nodded and said, "Yes, she's still living here in Philadelphia. According to Miss Miller, after she left the ballet, she went to school and got a Bachelor's Degree in education and is now teaching kindergarten at a school in East Philly."
Danny nodded and said, "That sounds so much like Nicole. I'd love to meet up with her again. Do you know the school where she teaches at?"
Lilly said, "Lyndon Elementary School, in East Philly. Do you need directions?"
Danny said, "No thank you Miss Rush. I grew up here and I know my way around. I'll find it on my own. I'd like to surprise Nicole."
They thanked the man for his time and then turned and left.
Danny stood there for a moment, watching as the detectives left the room and then he turned and headed back upstairs. He was going to resume teaching, only this time he would be teaching professional dancers, a far cry from teaching little Irish girls in a school; but just as fulfilling. He had meant what he said when he had told the detectives that it had been satisfying teaching little girls. How many of whom he had taught over those ten years would go on to become great ballerinas? Now he would teach partnering classes. It was as if he had come full circle; and it would be if he could meet up with his love, Nicole Miller again.
