Chapter Forty Four:

Matthew had found some other kids from his school and they were off playing a game of soccer, while his parents looked on. Bo was leaning against the tree with Nora lying down; her head in his lap.

“So what was with the sketch artist?”

“We caught a huge break in the serial rapist case. His last victim remembers everything so she’s meeting with the sketch artist to help us with a description, and she was even able to scratch him at some point during the attack, so we’ve got DNA to match up once we have a positive ID.”

“That’s great, honey. I knew you’d catch a break.”

“I just wish we would’ve caught one earlier. There have been way too many victims.”

“You can’t beat yourself up about it though. Whatever he was giving them was some powerful stuff. Look at what happened with Nick Manzo, and look how long it took for me to remember what Colin did to me. (pauses for a moment; speaks quietly as though she’s lost in the memory) and what I did to him….”

“Nora, please don’t go back there….”

“I’m sorry…It’s just sometimes it sneaks up on me and I realize that I actually took a life…I know it was self defense, but….”

“No buts, okay.”

“There is just something about this case that gives me the creeps besides the obvious. I mean all of these women have red hair…all of these women have some of my features, my height, that sort of thing….What if…”

“Nora, Colin’s dead and as for as it being a copy cat, I just don’t see that as a possibility. We have a sicko on our hands that has a thing for red-heads. It’s that simple, there’s nothing more to it.”

“I don’t think so, commish. There’s something we’re missing and I hope this woman is able to help us find it, before it’s too late…”

Their conversation was interrupted by their daughter’s cries for attention…

Picking her up out of her carrier, “Hey princess, are you getting hungry?”

 

“I’ll go get Matthew while you get her ready to go. You can feed her in my office when we get back to the station before you head home.”

They arrived back at the station ten minutes later. Nora shut herself in Bo’s office to feed Madison while Matthew played computer games at Antonio’s desk. Bo was sitting behind his desk going through some paperwork but he couldn’t concentrate on what he was doing with her sitting across from him feeding their little girl. He would look up and occasionally the blanket would fall and he would see her and his heart would begin to race. The sight of their daughter in her arms bonding in that intimate way was something he never thought he’d witness and it brought tears to his eyes….

Noticing him staring at her, “What’s up, Buchanan? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I was just thinking about how beautiful you look sitting there and how lucky I am to have you guys in my life. I don’t know what I would do if anything was to ever happen to any of you.”

“Hey now, I already told you, you’re stuck with us. (looking down at Madison) Well this one is out and your lunch is over.”

“Here let me take her for a minute.”

Handing him the baby, “I’m going to go get Matt before he keeps all your officers from getting any work done.”

Nora walked out into the station and saw Matt sitting up on one of the desks; a police hat on his head and he was giving the officers assignments. Everyone was laughing as the little boy pretended to be his dad. Nora looked back into Bo’s office and motioned for him to come out. They stood there together for a moment and watched their son at play…

“Okay people listen up…we have a 111 in progress and we need…(noticing his parents watching him he jumps down off the desk and runs over to them) I was pretending I was the ‘missioner of Police.”

“Well you did an excellent job. I better watch out or the mayor might give you my job.”

“Dad, I’m only 6 years old.”

“Oh, well then I guess my job is safe for a few more years.”

“Alright little man, time to get going, your sister is tired and it’s time for your nap. Go give Officer Simmons his hat back and grab your stuff.”

“Kay, mom.”

Bo kissed them all goodbye and watched them walk around the corner. He walked back into his office and waited for the sketch artist to arrive.

Nora arrived home twenty minutes later. She laid Madison down in her crib and tucked Matthew in for his nap. She walked downstairs and went into the kitchen to try and see if there was anything she could possible make for dinner that she wouldn’t destroy. Finding nothing, she decided to sit down at the kitchen table and jot down some notes from the case files that she picked up from her office before leaving the station. She was going to be heading back to work in a few days and she wanted to be up to date on the newest cases.

As she sat there looking over the files the front door quietly and slowly opened as he walked in the door. He looked around at the house wondering where she was. He heard some commotion in the kitchen and figured he was safe to make his move. He walked past the desk glancing at the family pictures that were sitting there taunting him. He just scowled and continued to make his way upstairs. He walked past the master bedroom and looked in. He looked over at the bed and could feel his anger rising up. She’s shared that bed with him and it made him hate Bo Buchanan more than ever…

He continued to make his way down the hallway towards Matthew’s room. He looked in on the little boy he once thought he’d be helping Nora raise. He fingered the syringe in his pocket regretting what he was about to do, but it was the only way. He walked over to the side of the bed and sat down. The movement of the bed caused Matthew to stir but before he could shout out a hand covered his mouth as he fought against the prick of the needle. He removed his hand from Matthew’s mouth as he fell under the effects of the drug. He left his room and walked towards the other bedroom. He quietly opened the door and walked over to the crib. He looked down at the little red haired baby and smiled. He carefully picked her up. The movement caused her to stir but she quickly settled back to sleep….

Nora was sitting in the kitchen when she suddenly felt an urge to check on her children. She walked upstairs and checked on Matthew who was still asleep in his bed. Nora walks towards Madison’s nursery; an uneasy feeling coursing through her body. She slowly pushed open the door and gasps as she sees him standing there holding her little girl in his arms….

At the same time back at the station Bo is sitting behind his desk as the sketch artist walks into his office.

“Sir, I have the sketches for you.”

Taking the sketches and sitting back down, “Let’s see here….Oh, my God. Antonio!!!! Get in here…”