Unraveled

Chapter Ten: Jane Doe: Part One.

"A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman."

Melinda Gates.

★★★★★★★★★★★★

"Our Jane Doe is around twenty four years old. Bruises around her neck, indicate asphyxia. After further examination, I can say the cause of death; is decreasing cerebral oxygen delivery. Rigor Mortis was present on all body parts upon arrival." The pathologist was explaining to Sam and Diana.

"English please, Doc" Diana said.

"Your victim was strangled to death. Based on the prints around her neck, the culprit used their hands. They must have been stronger than her"

"Did you find anything under her fingernails? She must have struggled. Maybe she scratched whoever did this to her and we can find some DNA?" Sam questioned the doctor.

"I've already sent the samples to forensic. Detectives, there is something you need to know… The victim was thirteen weeks pregnant."

Sam's blood was boiling in her veins, waiting for the results of the DNA test that will tell them the identity of the victim. And they might get lucky and have some DNA results from her nails as well. Her mind drifted back to her aunt Jasmine and her little bump.

              " Mama, am I going to have a baby sister? I really don't want a brother. Boys are gross!" little Laura asked her mother and made a grossed out face.

Jasmine laughed at her daughter's eagerness to find out what the gender of the baby is.

" We will find out next week, my angel. But you will be the best big sister, whether they'll be a girl or a boy." Laura smiled at the thought of being a big sister and nodded her head.

"Aunt Jasmine, can I touch your belly?" young Sam asked shily.

"Sure thing dear" chuckled Jasmine and held her small hand and placed it on her bump.

" I want to touch your belly too, Mama" pouted Laura.

Back then no one knew what was happening to Jasmine behind closed doors. All Sam knew was Jasmine's beautiful and motherly smile. She always considered her a second mother.

She saw the bruises on Jasmine's body. The black and blue colors forming around her eye. Seeing her nest-like hair, unlike her usual tied-in-a-perfect-bun hair. And the blood that was trickling down the corner of her mouth. While holding a bleeding unconscious Laura and sobbing loudly. Jasmine's image shattered in Sam's eyes. Her heart clenched at the site in front of her making her forget her fear for a second. Forgetting the monster in front of her that she once called her uncle shortly after that Jasmine lost her baby and what was left of her sanity.

"Our victim's name is Vanessa Fauvrelle." Diana started, bringing Sam back from her memories. She is in the system. It says here, she was caught shoplifting when she was nineteen. There is an address. Let's go"

Sam grabbed her black leather jacket and keys. Both detectives got in the car before someone knocked on the passenger's window.

" What the…" the women were startled for a second. Sam's hand flew to her chest before realizing who it was.

"Captain hot stuff" Diana winked at Sam who felt like she was going to turn into a very ripe tomato.

" Behave D!" she rolled down the window. "Good morning, Jack" she smiled with a hint of shyness, that not many would have noticed.

"Morning, Sam" Anyone could tell that the guy was smitten. " Warren " he nodded politely.

" Please sugar, call me Diana. No need for formalities. You're not my captain after all. Unfortunately" she whispered the last word.

Jack smiled awkwardly, while Sam laughed at her friend's boldness." You're heading out? Of course you are. Why would you be in your car and starting the engine if you weren't?!" Jack did not look like a dorkey unconfident man. On the contrary, whoever knew him or even saw him could tell he was never nervous. Always collected, and handled himself and others with authority and class. But at that moment he was so nervous and talked so fast that even he didn't recognize himself. Sam knew him too well to know he was embarrassed, so she decided to save him.

" Yeah, lead on a new case. I thought you were going back to Jade City…"

" I am. I just wanted to see you …To talk to you before leaving."

"Oh my! I just remembered I didn't have coffee yet" Diana exlclaimed.

"What are you talking about? You terrorized Chuck into giving you his!" Sam pointed out. Not taking the hint. Diana facepalmed herself. Sometimes Sam could be so clueless. She ignored her friend and opened the door, holding it for Jack "Keep my seat warm" she winked at him and left towards the coffee shop across the street. Jack got in the seat next to Sam and they both turned to face each other.

"So…"

" Listen… Sam…" he hesitated for a second "We're both adults so I'm just going to say it. I am so happy that I finally got to see you after so many years. And I know you, I just want to be your friend again. Please" he didn't give her a chance to answer as he continued " All I'm asking is to not ignore each other. I would like it if I got to talk to you again, like I used to.

" We're going to see each other and talk Jack. We are working on the same case."

" You know what I mean Sam" his magnetic eyes pleading her to understand and accept his offer.

" Give me your phone" he looked at her confused "Just give me your phone jack. Promise I won't look through it." she teased. He handed her his phone after unlocking it.

" Here's my personal number."

" Thank you Sam."

"Now get out Captain. You have a precinct to go back to. Take care" he chuckled and turned around to open the door.

" Sam …"

" hmm?"

"I've missed you" she only gave him a sad smile and waved him goodbye.

"So, what's the deal with Captain loverboy?!" asked Diana. They were on the way to the to Vanessa's house.

" Nothing" Sam's answer was too quick.

"Sure! Listen, I understand that you don't like to talk about your past. Is he the reason why?" Diana was worried. Even though she knows her friend is capable of protecting herself if Jack was a threat.

" What! No! To be honest, Jack was the only good thing in my past." Diana waited for her friend to continue but she didn't.

Both detectives got out of the car and headed towards the victim's house. Sam knocked on the door and waited a few minutes before an older woman opened the door. The few wrinkles around her eyes and mouth indicated she was The smiling type of person.

" Ms Fauvrelle?"

"Yes. Can I help you?" the woman smiled politely and sounded welcoming.

" I'm detective Starling. This is my partner, detective Warren." They both showed her their badges. "May we speak with you?"

"Of course. Come on in"

****************

"I don't understand…"

" Kelly, I'm so sorry but we need you to come with us and identify the body. Mrs Kelly was still in shock and wouldn't believe the detectives who were sitting in her living room, were telling her that her only daughter was dead.

"She came to visit me yesterday. She was okay! She was actually happy for the first time in the last couple of years! This can't be true. You obviously made a mistake! My Vanessa is alive. I'll call her right now and you will have to apologize for being insensitive" Sam and Diana looked at each other. They both knew that this was the saddest part of their job. It was so difficult telling someone that a loved one had been murdered. Kelly grabbed her phone and dialed her daughter's number. But the call wouldn't connect. Diana sat next to her and took the phone gently from her.

" I'm so sorry …"

Seeing her daughter's pale and bruised body, Kelly finally broke down. Her knees couldn't hold her up anymore. A desperate scream came out of her throat and tears flooded her face.

"Here's some water, Mrs Fauvrelle" Sam offered after the mourning mother had quieted down and was able to answer a few questions.

" You mentioned earlier that Vanessa came to visit you yesterday?"

"Yes. She moved out of the house a year ago, but still visits… visited me every few days. She came over around five in the evening. She was so beautiful. I mean she was always beautiful, but yesterday was like she was glowing. And I thought maybe she found happiness again.

"Did she tell you anything happen to her? Did you notice anything that was strange?"

" She was happy. But didn't want to tell me why. She did say she had something important to do, and had to leave."

" Do you know where she went?"

" No. she said she'll tell me later when she is done with whatever she had to do."

" Did Vanessa have a boyfriend? Or someone significant in her life?"

" She'd always deny it, but I believe she had"

" We'll need her address Ms Fauvrelle"

" Kelly, did you know Vanessa was pregnant?" She looked at them shocked. Answering their question without words and started crying again.

****************************

Both detectives didn't find any sign of struggle at Vanessa's apartment. It looked like she didn't go back home after visiting her mother. The apartment was small but cozy. With essential furniture and a few decorative lamps, glassware and other accessories that made the place look elegant and extra fancy. Kelly had told them her theory about her daughter dating a very wealthy guy. She had those suspicions since she knew her daughter wouldn't be able to afford getting her own apartment. Especially in this part of the City, without having a stable job. Everything in the apartment indicated that Vanessa had spent a lot of money on it. Looking around and searching the two rooms and the kitchen opened to a living room. Opening every drawer and looking inside every vase, neither Sam nor Diana found anything to prove she was living with someone else. Diana however, did find a yellow envelope while looking through the closet. She found it in a bag behind the hanged clothes.

" Sam, check this out" she handed the envelope to her partner.

"It's the apartment lease contract" Sam declared after reading what was on the important paper. " It says that the tenant is Miss Vanessa Fauvrelle." she continued while checking what else was in the envelope.

" So either Vanessa had a job and saved enough money without anyone knowing. Or whoever rented this place had enough trust in her to put it under her name. Isn't that strange?" Questionsed Diana. Sam didn't answer she was too occupied being suspicious about the amount of cash she found in the envelope.

" This sure is enough to pay next month's rent and still have some cash to spend." exclaimed Diana inspecting both the lease and the cash.

After searching the apartment thoroughly, and CSI collecting a few things like toothbrushes and tissues, both detectives headed back to the station.

" A security guard at Vintage Room Furniture is here and has requested to speak with the detectives who are handling Veda Miller's case" Chuck informed Sam and Diana as soon as they walked in.

" Where is he?" asked Sam.

" Interrogation room" answered Chuck. Sam and Diana rushed to the interrogation room.

"Captain" Sam nodded.

" Detectives, please come in. These are detective Sam Starling and Diana Warren."

" Are you the ones handling Zack's wife's case?" asked the man sitting comfortably in the chair behind the desk.

" That's correct" Diana answered and took the chair next to the captain.

" I have some information. Although I'm not sure if it's relevant or not. But I felt like I should tell you anyways." the man said hesitantly as if rethinking what he was about to say. Sam noticed him running his hand on his bald head. Although there were no wrinkles on his face indicating he was not an old man. In fact he looked young despite his bulky muscles and bald head. She felt like she needed to encourage him to tell them whatever he wanted to tell them. But she didn't want to intimidate him so she decided to stay silent and observe him some more.

"Please do. If it's irrelevant then at least it won't hurt anyone." Diana was always the 'nice' one. That's why they were a perfect team.

" I've been working as a security guard at Vintage Room Furniture for three months now. My shifts vary between days and nights, so I've met Zack a few days after I started. I've always felt this weird vibe to him and I can't really explain it." Sam didn't know his name but was interested in what he was saying. She too had a weird feeling about Zack. She didn't interrupt him since she knew the captain must have already taken his information. They heard a knock on the door, so the man stopped and they all look towards the interrogation room door. Sam opened the door and a woman's voice was heard.

"Captain, you're needed in your office"

" Excuse me. Please continue Mr Stewart. Both my detectives will stay here with you. If you need anything let them know."

"Thank you" with that he exited the room.

Sam took the opportunity to sit where the captain was a few seconds ago.

" You were saying…" encourage Diana.

" Can I just say that you both are just stunning! I mean like whoa!! Are you sure you're directives? You're not models?!" Diana tried to bit back a smile. She always liked being complemented and her beauty being appreciated. Sam was frowning. She hated being flirted with, especially while working. She did not appreciate it. I can assure you we are both detectives and take our job seriously!" Sam's tone was slightly harsher than she intended it to be.

Stewart raised his hands in a surrounding motion "I'm sorry. It's just that not every day you see such beauty" despite his words, he looked rather serious as he didn't wait for their reply " The night before Zach's wife went missing…" he straightened his back and squared his shoulders, putting his elbows on the table " I saw Zack hopping in one of the our trucks" he forrowed his eyebrows, as in concentrating or remembering something. Which formed wrinkles on his dark-skinned forehead "Last time I checked, driving a truck is not something an accountant does. I was going to ask him if he had permission but by the time I got out of my office he had already taken off."

"Was it the first time he's done something like this?"

" As far as I know, yes"

" Did you confront him when he came back?"

" It took him a while… I didn't see him when he came back… Shìt! To be honest, I was out with some friends before my shift, and had a few drinks. So I fell asleep for a while. When I woke up, the truck was already parked in its place and there was no sign of him. I was going to inform my boss the next day. But he had already received the news of Zack's wife being gone. I didn't feel like it was the right time."

****************************

"So, we got a drunk security guard as an eyewitness. Witnessing something that is not entirely illegal. And no proof, since the parking lot camera wasn't working. So basically we got nothing!" spoke the captain after both detectives told him what Mr Stewart informed them.

" Well now that you put it that way…" started Diana but stopped mid sentence, when the captain glared at her.

" Yes Captain" spoke Sam. Even though they couldn't verify what the man informed them, for her it meant that Zach definitely had something to do with Veda's disappearance. The question was whether he's keeping her alive or already killed her.

**********************************

It has been exactly three days since they found the body of Vanessa Fauvrelle. But still they found nothing. Four more days till the DNA results of Vanessa's fetus come back and hopefully they can match it to the system. Sam had already spoken to the landlord and he had told her that it was Vanessa who paid him every month and always in cash. And since he didn't live in the compound he couldn't confirm nor deny if she had visitors or a special someone. Everything they investigated lead to a dead end.

Frustration took over her. She dreaded being home alone after a long day of not figuring out anything. She contemplated on calling Jack. After all, it's been so long she didn't know what to say. How could she just call him and chat? With a groan she threw her phone on the bed and headed to the kitchen to make herself a nice cup of coffee. Her mind drifted to earlier that week. When she saw her handsome old friend. He looked even more divine than he was all those years ago. She hated that she left without telling him where to. She even regretted it! She had to restrain herself from calling him one too many times. He was always there for her he was, her rock. And even though she knew she could trust him fully, she which she did, she was too scared to accept it. She was too scarred to surrender to her feelings.

Sipping on her coffee she heard her phone ringing. Putting the cup down on the counter, she rushed to her room and grabbed her phone. To her surprise it was none other than Jack.

" Hello " she answered hesitantly.

" Hey " his voice alone made her relax a bit. Something she never understood.

" How are you?" Jack broke the silence. Did she take too long to say something?

" Good. You?"

" I'm good now that I'm talking to you. I've been waiting for a couple of days now, but knowing you I decided to be the first to call." Sam chuckled and rolled her eyes.

" I'm actually glad you did."

" Oh. That's a change …"

"What is?" she asked confused

" You are telling me your true feelings without me begging you to" he sounded amused "I like that. Tell me what's going on? I can tell something is bothering you."

" Well, it's this case ..."