Disclaimers: Please see Part One
Saturday, February 07, 2015
Boston Is Burning

Part 40 Waking Nightmare

Emma ran as fast as she could. So far she had not found Rondo. That was not exactly unexpected as the man had a tendency to wander the streets. However she hoped she would not have to run all of Boston to find him. She spotted the bus pull up and she ran to catch it. Maybe she go to St Mary's as he was known to help out there. She was grateful for the bus pass she had gotten from the sisters at the church. It meant she'd not have to run the whole way. Twenty minutes later she Emma was getting off the bus and heading to the church. She prepared to jump off the bus. Harold caught her arm and handed her a small paper bag. "Here you go Emma I hope this will help you out some."

She smiled and waved at the elderly driver. He was a decent sort. He often gave her small gifts of food or other supplies. He and his wife had even offered to take her in but she knew they really could not afford it and if they did they risk getting into trouble and that she never allow. It was enough to know someone cared. Plus she liked being on her own. She waved to him and said "Thanks Harold I appreciate it. Sorry I cannot stay to chat but I promised to meet Rondo."

Harold Sanders nodded at the child and said. "Take care Emma don't forget the last run I have is at 7."

"Ok but I may come back later depends on the work Rondo has for us."

Harold nodded and closed the door not liking leaving the child on her own but he knew he could not force her to accept anything more than the meager help he and his wife did. It was not much but he knew it was better than nothing. Emma was just too afraid to trust the system that had let her down to many times. Maybe she was right but that did not mean he and his Julie could not help her now and again. She was a delightful child one he would have gladly claimed as a grandchild if he had been so blessed. With a sigh he pulled the bus out of the lane and prepared to finish his run. He talk to Julie again maybe she have some new ideas on how to help that stubborn child.

Emma ran off and around the building then she stopped out of sight of anyone and opened the small bag. She grinned when she found what was in it. Harold and Julie were old softies. She loved them both dearly. Inside the bag was a new toothbrush and toothpaste the small folding kind so it fit in her pouch. A small bar of soap, four no five power bars and two cans of sterno with a pack of lighters and a small sewing kit there also was a twenty dollar bill and a roll of quarters and one of small pack of laundry soap and a roll of toilet paper. It was a treasure trove of gifts. While thirty dollars might not seem like a lot to her it was a fortune. It meant she could wash her clothing and perhaps buy some milk or juice. She grinned this was wonderful. Emma pulled off her pack and quickly put the new supplies into her back pack and the money into the money belt that was around her waist. No taking chances with this fortune. She then carefully folded the bag and added it to the pack it might be useful later. Emma headed inside and looked around.

Rondo was helping fill boxes with canned food. He came around St. Mary's to help fill the boxed and to help carry the goods out for some of the elderly patrons. He spotted Emma and frowned. It was not like her to be here at the food back on delivery days. She tended to stay away on those days as social workers tended to pop in to help connect with those that needed their services. Her being here sent off alarm bells in his mind. He looked over at Sister Rosa and said. "Sister I need to help someone." He tapped her shoulder and pointed to Emma.

The Spanish nun nodded. "Si Senior Rondo go check on your charge."

Rondo nodded and slipped away not wanting to draw attention to Emma as there were several social workers there. The child was terrified of ending up back in foster care and while Rondo hated her being on the streets he worried what she would do if she was forced back into care. The panicked look warned him that she might do herself harm if she was back in care so to his mind it was better she be out on the streets and free then penned in. He looked after her the best he could and he had to admit the kid was smart and fast. She was as odd as it seemed thriving for having been on the streets for over six months. He walked to her and she caught his arm.
"Rondo I need to talk to you private like."

"Sure let's go to the confessionals."

That made Emma giggle but he had a point it would be private and she so did not want to get caught.
"Ok let's go."

Five minutes later both were hidden from view.

"Rondo I was down at the docks today you know fishing and stuff."

Rondo froze as he knew of the fire. Any chance of it being an accident was now gone. "What happened?"

"Two men they caught a girl carved her up and burned her. She a witch I think and they called some demon. It scared me to death. I hid I …I could not get to her to save her so I ran then the warehouse blew up. The men they were old and then not."

"Did you recognize the woman?"

"I don't know her name but she went to the shop and she was nice. She helped out here last month remember she brought all those fresh tomatoes from her greenhouse."

Rondo sighed deeply and felt pain as he knew or suspected who the woman might be. She was indeed a witch and a very nice lady to boot. He heard Emma begin to cry and told her to step out. "Emma come out of there not girl. Rondo has you."

Not carring anymore about being seen she ran into the old Jazz man's arms. He hugged her as she broke down. "Easy there now child Rondo has you. I think I have to call Vanilla in on this one Emma."

Emma stiffened but nodded into Rondo Chest she knew it end up this way. She hated the idea but those crazy men had to be caught so that meant the police hopefully she not be in foster care by the end of the day. With a sigh she said. "Yeah I know, but maybe could you put in a word for me. I won't go back into care I won't."

"I know Emma but Vanilla and her lady are stand up people. They can help and I know the Doc was friends with the ladies so she will want to know the truth."

"All right I guess…I ah ok." Emma said as she felt tears flowing.

Rondo held the preteen to offer comfort even as he tried to figure out a way to get the new to his police allies without endangering the child in his arms. She was scared to death and he knew something had happened in the last foster home but she never said what. So he simply let it be not digging to deeply because he did not want her to run from Boston. At least here he and some others could keep a loose eye out for her. It was not ideal but it was better than if she was completely alone. It had taken months for her to trust them even a little and he would not betray that. He let her go and went to find the sister. He hoped she let him use the parish's phone to call Rizzoli or the doctor. They had to know what was going on.

Bbbbbbbbbbbb

An old man pulled on his line and cursed. Of course he have to catch a big one on the one day his friend stayed home. He pulled hard and reeled in the line then froze and almost puked. He wanted to toss the pole away but he knew that was not an option. One it was expensive and two it was a gift and three the poor soul whose body he hooked deserved better, he reeled it in and tied off the line and then pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. Boston just had one more body pulled from the bay.

Xander Harris was not happy. He looked over the reports. He pulled up the computer files and wondered how they had never learned of this before. Just when he thought that they found the depths of depravity of the old council and Travers something more popped up. He was sickened by the file he read. It had come in over two hours ago from Scotland Yard and it showed a mass of killings spanning decades. When they had put in the relative search data it had all popped up. Worse yet were the files coming in from Interpol. It seemed the council had a long reach and the bodies were piling up. If he was glad Travers was dead because if he was not well then Xander would have had an Axe to introduce him to. He sipped his coffee and knew Buffy and the others were so not going to be happy. He just hoped that this was all a nightmare and that they would wake up but somehow he had a feeling it would only get worse. He looked up and Andrew came in carrying paper files. Yep it just got worse.

TBC….