Why wouldn't Catherine, Sara, Morgan, Greg, Finn or DB tell me this? Why would they let me hear it from a stranger? Jackie thought to herself, suddenly angry at her husband's coworkers who normally she loved dearly.
"Mrs. Stokes, I'm Dan Simmons and this is Fred Altburg, we are Nevada highway patrolmen."
Jackie felt like she was going to pass out, she took another deep breath, once again bracing herself.
What Dan Simmons asked her next though shocked Jackie.
"Mrs. Stokes, do you have a daughter named Jasmine?"
Jackie's eyes got wide.
She shook her head yes, so shocked she was unable to speak.
"Ma'am I am so sorry to have to tell you this but your daughter rolled her car last night, right outside the Vegas city limits she didn't make it, I'm so sorry."
"No she didn't." Jackie said, thinking that her hearing was totally screwing with her.
The highway patrolmen laid a comforting hand on her arm.
"I'm so sorry." Patrolman Simmons said.
He'd had to tell way to many mothers this before and he knew denial was a normal reaction.
"No, you don't understand. I have a daughter named Jasmine but she's just a little girl, she's only in first grade, she certainly wasn't driving a car." Jackie said.
This time it was officer Simmons that had a shocked expression on his face.
On cue a little girl walked into the living room.
"Mommy we are hungry." She said.
Jackie turned around to face her.
"Ok sweetheart, I'll make you all a grilled cheese sandwich in just a minute." Jackie told her before she turned her attention to the officers.
"This is Jasmine." Jackie informed the officers as she turned her attention back to them.
"Hi." Jasmine said innocently with a smile.
"Hi." Officer Simmons told the little girl with a huge smile.
This little girl was adorable and more importantly just as her mother had claimed she was very much alive.
"Do you know my daddy?" Jasmine asked him, noticing the clothing he was wearing was similar to what Nick wore.
Smart kid Jackie thought to herself, proud of how observant Jasmine was.
"What?" The officer asked as he looked from Jasmine back to Jackie.
"My husband is a CSI for the LVPD." Jackie told him.
"Oh, now that she mentions it I think I have worked with CSI Stokes before, Nate right?"
"That's not his name." Jasmine informed him, sounding slightly annoyed.
Jackie smiled at the officer.
"Nick." Jackie corrected.
"Nick, I'm sorry." He told Jasmine, trying to smooth things over with her.
Jasmine smiled at him, apparently she forgave him for his slight mistake.
"Jazz, would you go wait in the kitchen, I'll be right there." Jackie promised her.
"Ok mommy." She replied, and without another word Jasmine wandered back into the kitchen.
With the little girl out of earshot the officer got back to questioning Jackie, both officers were very confused.
"Mrs. Stokes, do you know of any other Jasmine Stokes' around, perhaps maybe a cousin or something that Jasmine was named after?"
"No, I'm sorry." Jackie replied.
Nick had just turned down his street, he was in a great mood, their case was wrapped up and now he'd have all day to spend with Jackie and the kids, he just hoped Jackie hadn't taken them to the park yet so he could go with them.
When he pulled into the driveway though his good mood evaporated and a pit formed in his stomach after he saw the highway patrol vehicle.
He barely had stopped his truck before he jumped out of it.
"Jackie" he screamed as he raced up the driveway.
TBC…