Chapter Four

Steve decided to sit and have a look through some of the stuff his dad was looking over. His sister had photographed the evidence that had been stolen. Maybe he could give Mary a job with the unit, he smirked. She was like a bulldog when she set her mind to something.

She had meticulously documented all the pictures and names of all the Yakuza associates present in his dad's red box. Some of them popped out at him indicating the big players, but some were also small fries in the underworld. Now he needed to try and find a way to get information out of the weakest link. Easiest way would be to lean on a few of the small fries but they usually were the ones who knew the least. It would be a real coup if he could get his hands on one of the big players, but that is something that will take time.

One of the big connections was a guy called Moretti based out of New York, though there was no other information such as what he was, what he did. According to his fathers investigation a son of his was in business with an export company in Hawaii. Now if Steve could find out who the guy was, that would be progress.

Just then his phone rang, it was Danny, "Hey, what's going on?"

"Just a dead kid. Suspected gang killing. Happened at a high school. I'll pick you up on my way" Danny disconnected the phone leaving Steve to go for his shower. His dad's investigation would have to wait.

Exactly twenty minutes later Danny and his car showed up, as usual Danny in his tie and shirt munching on a greasy donut. "Glad to see you've started the healthy diet you were talking about" Steve ribbed him.

"Thanks buddy thought you'd never notice. I figured, there is one good thing I like about this place, therefore I will indulge in that for a while" he gave Steve a shit-eating grin.

"Okay, let's go Pillsbury Dough Boy", Steve made his way out of the house. He could hear Danny, "That is totally uncalled for. I will tell you I have abs, maybe not as sharp and chiseled as yours, and I don't think I can grate cheese off them, but I do have abs". All this was said while he munched on the piece of grease.

They drove to the school while Danny filled him in. Not much help since they didn't know much. They pulled up in front of the school and had to make their way through the paramedics and kids that were flocking around the crime scene that had been cordoned off by the uniforms.

Once they reached the body, Kono was kneeling close by examining the shell casings. "What do we have here Kono?" Steve asked her kneeling down next to the body. He lifted the sheet from the body and had to brace himself for the impact of facing a dead body so young.

"Hey boss. The victim, David Gilbert got into a fight with Matthew Koloi, teacher tried to break up the fight. Matthew then pulled out a gun, shot the teacher in the arm and then shot the victim twice in the chest and took off". Kono came and stood next to him showing him the shell casing she had collected.

He took the evidence bag from her, "standard Glock 9mil. Where is the teacher?" he asked as he handed her the bag.

"She's there in the ambulance. She got shot in the arm but she'll live" Kono pointed to one of the ambulance busses. Steve made his way toward it and as he got a glimpse of the teacher he felt as if his heart come into his throat.

It was Sarah and she was wrapped in a blanket. Her hair all over the place and her face was swollen on one side; she had probably taken a hit to the face while trying to stop the fight. In spite of that she looked rather calm, the entire incident had not yet sunk in for her. He had seen a lot, but seeing Sarah like this shook him somehow.

As he approached the bus his steps turned to a slight jog, "Sarah?" he was close enough not to yell and when she turned toward him her expression at first was dazed, then cleared and recognition set in.

"Steve?" she brushed aside one of the paramedics hands tending to a cut on her head. "Oh my God" he heard her whisper and then to his shock and hers as well, she burst into tears.

By the time he reached her, the medic was done with her head and checked on her arm. "Hey, hey. Its fine, you're alright" he touched the side of her face that wasn't swollen, stroked her soft cheek and wiped her tears. Women's tears had never affected him unless they were Mary's. He could usually handle himself without getting overly emotional, but the sight of her crying like this had him reaching for her and enfolding her in his arms as carefully as he could, taking care not to jar her arm.

"We need to get her to the hospital. We got the bullet out but she needs to be checked in for observation" one of the medics said.

Steve let go slightly and asked what hospital they were taking her to. "Alright here's my card in case I get stuck and am not able to come in a couple of hours", he stroked her hair and looked into her black eyes. "Sarah you listen to me. I will come as soon as I am done and we'll talk alright?"

She could only nod her head, though her crying had waned. The paramedic helped her to lie down on the stretcher and then loaded her into the bus. Steve watched while they shut the doors and they took off in the direction of the hospital.

"You wanna explain the romantic display?" Danny walked up behind him.

Steve turned toward Danny, "I met her the other day. Her name is Sarah, I don't even know her last name" he gave a grunt crossed with a laugh.

"Its Sarah Morrissey. She's new here. She's a favourite with the students, and when she saw the fight she jumped in, but didn't see the gun" Danny supplied, "Can you imagine her jumping into a fight to stop it. Those guys are easily six foot plus and she couldn't be more than five feet tall. Gutsy chick".

"Yeah well, let's get this sorted out. Anyone see if the shooter escaped in a car? What kind was it?" he asked Danny.

Danny looked at his notepad, "Kid jumped into a blue sedan, no one saw plates and the make ranges anywhere from a Toyota to a Dodge. It looks like he came prepared to run since witnesses are pretty sure there were two others in the car".

"I want all witness statements, and any mobile phone videos that have been taken. Everything we can get will be useful" Steve said, "I'm headed to the hospital where they took Sarah. I'll meet you back at the office".

"Hey hold on a second. You're being weird. We need to get started on the investigation and question witnesses, not running after some girl. Okay granted the girl also happens to be a victim but Kono already questioned her, you can't get anything more from her for a while" Danny waved his hands around like he always did during one of his speeches.

"Look, I don't know what it is but ever since I met her I can't stop thinking about her. She doesn't have any family here and from what I gathered not many friends either, so I just want to be there for her" Steve explained the turmoil that he had been going through.

Danny only smiled at him, "Okay, fine. You go ahead but keep in touch and be back soon. Man I've never seen you like this about a girl. I have to say it's nice. Reminds me that you're human after all".

"Very funny, Danno" Steve turned to leave. All he could think about at this moment was Sarah and the way she had burst into tears. And when he had taken her into his arms, the way she had clung to him had invoked a feeling he had never felt before. And it was not a feeling he welcomed.