'Mac I've got some news on the blood drop found on Maddie's clothing. The DNA is from this guy, Joseph Shepherd.' Lindsay said as she handed Mac an iPad showing Joseph's details.
Joseph was in his mid to late forties and was of Caribbean or African descent. He had no known convictions, but the find had come from the blood and organ donors' database.
'Danny and Flack are on their way to interview him. We're not bringing him in as a suspect yet, but we believe he may have been a witness and that he was the one who called 911.' She explained and he appreciated his team taking the initiative. 'How's Jo and Maddie doing?'
'They're both OK, each as strong as the other. They will get through this together, but it'll take time.' He replied.
-CSI: NY-
At the address Lindsay had given them, Flack and Danny were waiting for Joseph to answer his door. They'd already knocked on the door twice but received no answer. Just as they were about to turn and leave Joseph appeared from round the corner of the corridor of in his apartment building.
'Can I help you?' He asked suspiciously as he hovered at the entrance of his corridor.
'NYPD.' Flack said as they both held up their badges. 'Are you Joseph Shepherd?'
'Yes I am.' Joseph replied as he walked towards them.
He led the two detectives into his apartment but didn't invite them to sit down. They stood in the centre of the apartment and watched as the older man walked round the open planned apartment. He looked nervous and uncomfortable in their presence.
'So how can I help you officers?' He asked as he rubbed his hands together.
'Last night a young woman was raped and beaten on Madison Avenue. An anonymous caller dialled 911 and evidence from the scene suggests that may have been you.' Danny explained.
'Look I don't want to get involved. I have a family to support and care for. I did my bit by calling 911 now that's all I have to say.' Joseph said rather sharply.
'Mr Shepherd…' Flack began to say before he was cut off.
'What happened to that girl was awful and I am truly sorry about that, but I don't want to get involved. I didn't see anything; all I did was call 911. So if you'd now excuse me my wife is due back soon and I'd like to have my shopping put away before she does.' Joseph replied as he showed them to the door.
As the door slammed behind them Flack and Danny looked at each other.
'Do you think it's something we said?' Danny said, his strong New York accent prominent.
'Well it's the last time I take you anywhere.' Flack replied jokingly as both men smiled.
-CSI: NY-
At the hospital Maddie was once again awake and pleased to see her mom was still sat beside her. Jo had stayed with her all day, almost too frightened to take her eyes off her. Part of her felt guilty for allowing this to happen to Maddie, but deep down she knew that there was nothing she could have done; although this did not stop her from wanting to protect her daughter.
'Mom can I get a drink of water please?' Maddie asked, her voice sounding croaky, pulling Jo from her thoughts.
Jo stood up from the chair next to the bed and moved round to the table on the other side, pouring some fresh water in a glass. She then tried to pass it to Maddie, who winced in pain as she tried to grab the glass. Maddie had been so independent before this that it pained Jo greatly to see her so reliant on the help of other people, although she was glad that she was able to mother her again.
'Don't worry, I'll do it.' She said as she placed the glass to Maddie's lips and helped her to drink.
'Thanks.' Maddie said with a smile once the glass was pulled away from her lips.
Jo returned to her seat once she was sure her daughter was once again comfortable, just as her other daughter arrived.
'Ellie what are you doing here?' She asked with surprise.
'Well I went to the crime lab to see you and they said that you weren't there; that guy told me you were here.' Ellie replied a little frantically, not realising that it was Maddie who was in the hospital bed and not her mom.
'Aw honey did you think it was me? I'm sorry I should have told you where I was; I've just been so busy here that I forgot. Anyway, which "guy" do you mean?' She said as she hugged her other daughter.
'You know, the old one.' Ellie said, making both Jo and Maddie smile.
'You mean Mac? I'll give you old young lady…' Jo replied as she began lightly tickling/play fighting with her younger daughter. '…he's only a year older than I am.' She added.
Maddie was pleased to see her baby sister, and watching her and her mother together gave her some light relief from her pain. She remembered the day that Jo adopted Ellie, and she remembered how happy she was to be getting a little sister. She'd been ten years old when Jo and Russ had split up, and much to Jo's surprise their split hadn't really affected Maddie. Maddie had hated it when they used to argue, which had been almost every other day in the last six months of their marriage; it reminded her of the arguments her own mom and dad used to have. Not that Jo and Russ's arguments were ever violent.
Once she'd stopped trying to tickle Ellie Jo turned her attentions back to Maddie, who once again wanted some water. Ellie sat in the chair next to the bed, so Jo sat on the edge of the bed next to Maddie's legs. Maddie suddenly felt very self-conscious when she saw Ellie staring in horror at her injuries.
She knew that Ellie meant no harm, she figured that she must look a horrid sight, but it still reminded her why she was stuck in hospital.
'Mom I don't want to stay here, I want to come home with you.' She said quietly as tears formed in her eyes.
Jo looked at her daughter with empathy and moved higher up the bed, turning herself round so that she was sat next to Maddie; she placed her arm around her shoulders and hugged her tightly.
'I know you hate hospitals, but the doctors want to keep you in for observation overnight.' She explained softly, placing a kiss to her head.
'Can you ask them if I can go home please Mom? I really don't want to stay here.' Maddie replied as a single tear ran down her swollen face.
Jo placed another kiss to her daughter's head and left her daughters alone to find the doctor dealing with Maddie. She was grateful that she didn't have to look far when she saw him talking to a nurse at the nurses' station.
'Excuse me doctor, do you mind if I have a quick word?' She asked.
'No of course not. How can I help?' He replied.
He was a young doctor in his late twenties with olive skin and dark hair. Jo had liked how patient he'd been whilst dealing with Maddie, especially since she'd been so reluctant to let him look at her injuries at first.
'Maddie is insistent that she wants to return home tonight, she can't bear the thought of being in here any longer than she feels is necessary.' She said with a small smile.
'She seems a pretty determined girl; I have no doubt in my mind that she'll make a full recovery in next to no time. I'll come give her an examination just now and see how she's doing. If I'm happy with what I find then she can go home, but I don't want her alone. She will need to remain under observation.' He advised.
'Oh don't worry, that's not a problem. I have no intentions of letting her out of my sight any time soon.' She joked although she felt deadly serious.
The doctor smiled and nodded as he led her back to the room to begin his examination. As he entered the room Maddie felt apprehensive. She knew that in order for her to go home she had to let him examine her cuts and bruises, but she still hated the idea of being touched. Although this was the case she sat still and hardly made a sound as he looked at her. Once his examination was complete he turned his attentions to the hopeful mother and daughter.
'I'm satisfied that you can go home Miss Danville, but you must take it easy; plenty of bed-rest and fluids. If at any time your symptoms appear to be worse or you develop any nausea or other symptoms you must return.' He said with a friendly yet forceful tone, making it clear to them both what he expected. 'I'll just get your release papers now.
Maddie was delighted, as was Jo. At least if her daughter was at home she could keep a close eye on her.
-CSI: NY-
The journey home had been very quiet. Maddie was exhausted and had fallen asleep on the journey, resting her head on her mom's shoulder. Mac had very kindly driven them home and had helped Jo get Maddie inside. He sat in her living room whilst she put Maddie to bed and made sure she was comfy. He looked at the photographs on the walls and by her television and noticed one of Jo and Maddie together when she was about five. The pictured showed Jo holding on to her daughter tightly in front of her, both of them wrapped up warmly against a snowy DC backdrop. He picked the photograph up and held it in his hands, just as Jo walked in.
She smiled when she saw him looking at that particular photograph. It was taken on their first Christmas together after the death of Maddie's mom, and Jo remembered how smiley and excited Maddie was that Santa was coming; her spirit had been infectious and is exactly what had gotten Jo through her own loss.
'That's my favourite picture of us together. She'd been hoping we'd get a white Christmas and was so disappointed when she went to bed on Christmas Eve and there wasn't any snow; on Christmas morning she woke up, ran straight passed all her presents and ran to the window. She was delighted when she saw all the snow.' She recalled fondly.
'How's she doing?' He asked as Jo became silent and he could see that the stress of it all was getting to her.
'She's settled in her room; took her a while to drop off though.' She replied sounding exhausted and the worry was also evident in her voice.
'Well you take off as much time as you need to be with her; she needs your support right now, and I understand that means you being with her.' He said with a small, supportive smile as they sat down on the sofa, a tired sigh escaping Jo's lips. 'You look exhausted Jo; you should go get some rest.' He added.
'I will soon, I just need some down time first.' She explained.
Now that she had Maddie home and she was resting in her living room she felt more relaxed. Truth be told she hated hospitals herself, they made her feel uneasy, so to have been in one all day only made her feel ten times worse about the situation.
'How's the case going?' She asked, knowing there wasn't much he'd be allowed to tell her, confirmed by the look he gave her.
'Flack and Danny spoke to a witness this afternoon and we've got a BOLO out for our suspect, but we haven't got a lot to go on at this time. Flack is going to go through all of the CCTV from the surrounding area tomorrow and Danny is going to speak to the bar staff. Unfortunately that's all I can tell you just now.' He explained as he felt a pang of guilt that he couldn't give her more information.
'I'll see if I can't get more information from Maddie tomorrow. I'm hoping that now she's in familiar surroundings and once she's rested she may be able to recall some more information.' She said, her mind changing into detective mode for a split second. 'Do you want a cup of coffee or something?' She asked as she very quickly returned to Jo mode.
'Thanks but I should be heading off, let you get some rest.' He replied as he stood up and walked towards the door.
Jo walked with him and held the door open for him. They said their goodnights before Jo closed the door behind him. Although she was sad to be losing his company for the night, she was glad to have a few moments of piece to herself to quietly contemplate her day.
It had been a stressful day, one of the worst she'd experienced in a long time, but at least it was coming to a close and now she could concentrate on helping her daughter get better.
She decided not to stay up any longer than was necessary. She was exhausted and it had been a long day. She switched off all of the lights and removed the plugs from the sockets in the walls, before making her way to her own bedroom after checking up on Maddie and Ellie, who were both fast asleep in their beds.