Marked for Love

by Hannah West

  Noelle smiled, trying to reassure the four-year-old. "I have a couple pictures to show you, okay?" she said, shifting so that she could take the case file that Riley handed her. "I just want you to tell me whether or not you know the people in the pictures."

  "Okay." Julia's voice was quiet, but she didn't seem scared.

  "If you don't want to answer, or you want to stop, say so," Noelle said gently. She glanced up at Mel on the other side of the bed, receiving a nod in return. Reaching into the case file, Noelle took out the three pictures of the man that had been caught on the surveillance tape. She spread them out on the bed in front of Julia so that the small child could reach out and grab them if she wanted.

  Julia took a look at the papers, her face as serious as a four year old's could get. She bit her bottom lip gently, frowning in concentration. Eventually she pointed at one of the pictures and looked at Noelle. "Papa," she said, her voice solemn.

  Noelle kept the frown off of her face, she didn't want Julia thinking that she had done something wrong. "Papa?" she asked, tilting her head and keeping her expression soft.

  Julia nodded. "He came to visit Momma and Mommy sometimes," she said, navigating the longer word carefully.

  "Did he come lots?" Noelle asked, gathering the pictures and placing them back in the file.

  Julia considered the question. "No," she said simply, watching Noelle. Noelle gave her a reassuring smile.

  "You did a really good job," she said, gingerly patting Julia's hand. "Your Aunt, Doctor Sara, and I are all really proud of you." Noelle was rewarded with a shy smile.

  "Will you come back?" Julia asked. She reached up and rubbed her eyes, yawning.

  Noelle looked up to see Laura adjusting a few of the IV bags. "Pain meds," the nurse mouthed to Noelle.

  "I will," Noelle promised. It didn't hurt that she would be able to see Sara, too. Julia tentatively reached out and touched Noelle's face, studying her for a moment until her hand dropped to the bed and her eyes fluttered closed.

  "She'll be out for a while," Laura murmured. "She needs her rest."

  "Do you have a moment?" Riley asked Mel.

  "Of course," Mel answered, standing and following the two detectives out of the glass room.

  Sara was standing just outside of the door. "I had a conference room reserved," she said simply. Riley and Noelle exchanged glances. "Follow me."

  It was a short walk, a minute or two, before they were settled in a small conference room. Sara and Mel sat on one side, Riley and Noelle the other. "Have either of you seen this man before?" Riley asked, pushing the photos to Sara and Mel.

  Mel shook her head, but Sara studied the photo for a few moments. "He came with Aria and Claire, once. Near the beginning of Julia's hospitalization. I didn't hear what they were talking about, but all three of them seemed upset. I just assumed it was due to Julia's hospitalization."

  "This photo was taken from a security camera that caught the face of this man, who was trying to enter Julia's room yesterday." Riley's voice was calm and level, comforting despite the seriousness of the conversation. "We're going to run it through the database and see what we can find. Dr. McClaire, can you think of the nurse who was on duty that day?" He tapped the picture gently. "They might remember something else about him."

  Sara's eyes unfocused for a moment as she thought. "Ariel. One of Julia's primary nurses. She's on today, just not working with Julia." She stood, heading towards the door. "I'll go grab her for a moment."

  "Thank you," Riley said. Sara nodded and headed out the door. "You're free to leave if you're comfortable doing so," he told Mel. "Or you can stay, in case you have any more questions."

  Mel was glancing between them. "What -" She took a deep breath before she continued. "What would happen to Julia, if I can't take custody of her?"

  Riley folded his arms on the table. "She would be placed up for adoption, and we would work with our family services in order to place her in the best home possible."

  Mel swallowed. "Would I be able to see her? Would she - would she know what I did?"

  "That's up to you, and the adoptive parents," Riley said gently. "There are open adoptions."

  Mel nodded, thinking, and she focused on the table. Noelle watched her, compassionate. It couldn't be an easy decision, giving up the only living memory of your daughter. "You're good with her," Mel said, looking at Noelle. Noelle blinked, startled.

  "I couldn't -" Noelle stammered.

  "Single parents have historically adopted," Riley said, shrugging. "It's not an automatic disqualifier."

  Noelle poked him in the ribs, frowning. "Whose side are you on?"

  Riley smiled. "Julia's. And yours." He chuckled. "Before you say anything, no, they're not mutually exclusive."

  Noelle fidgeted in her chair, tapping her fingers and not looking at either of them. She liked Julia, that was certain. Julia seemed to trust her. But raise a child? As a detective? It seemed rather difficult. Sara's appearance at the door caused Noelle to shove the issue out of her mind. She could worry about that later when she wasn't working. "Ariel's here. Do you need anything else?" Sara asked.

  "No, not at the moment." Riley smiled warmly. "Thank you for your help." Sara nodded and headed out the door, closing it behind her.

  Ariel sat at the table at the position that Sara had vacated. "Dr. McClaire said you were asking about the man who came with Julia's parents?"

  "Yes," Riley said, pushing the photograph towards her. "Is this him?"

  Ariel studied the photo for a moment. "Yes, that is. Bit grainy, but that's him."

  "Do you remember anything about the time that he visited?" Noelle was the one who asked this time, gaining an approving nod from Riley.

  The nurse leaned back in her chair, ignoring the fact that everyone was staring at her. She stared at the ceiling, thinking. "They were upset, that much I remember. I had to remove them from the room at one point because they were distressing Julia and it was causing issues with her vitals." Ariel shook her head, irritated. "Arguing in front of a sick child is the absolute worst thing you can do.”

  Riley nodded as Noelle made a sympathetic noise. "Do you remember anything else about that day?" he asked. "Did you hear a name at all, or was there anything else that happened that seemed out of sorts?"

  Ariel tapped her chin, thoughtful. "I remember hearing Horace, which I think was his name. I remember it because it's so strange," Ariel explained. "There's not many Horaces in the world."

  "No there isn't," Noelle said, amused.

  "Both Aria and Claire seemed upset by him being there. I can't remember what they were talking about, though." Ariel wrinkled her nose. "Something about claims, maybe? Origins, something like that. Whatever they were fighting over, he wanted it and they had it." She shook her head. "I only caught bits and pieces when I was going in and out of the room."

  Riley and Noelle exchanged a glance. "Thank you very much for your time," Riley said, shaking her hand. "You've been vital to our investigation. If you remember anything else, please don't hesitate to call us." Noelle passed her one of their cards.

  Ariel nodded and left the room without a word. Noelle couldn't help but wonder if she had learned that trait from Sara or if Sara had learned it from her. Riley turned to Mel, who was sitting there rubbing her forehead. "You're free to go as well, ma'am," he said politely. "We will contact you if we have any updates."

  "Thank you." Mel smiled a faint smile. "I appreciate your diligence."

  "We will see justice done," Noelle promised. She reached out and gently squeezed Mel's hands. "We'll keep you updated." Mel nodded her thanks, closing her eyes. Noelle and Riley stood, gathering their case file and photos and heading out the door.

  "Custody battle," Riley said, his voice low. "If that's the case, then he's going to try again. We'll have to go to court for this - if we can prove it."

  "You think he killed them over a custody dispute?" Noelle kept her voice down so that others couldn't hear them.

/>   "Yeah," Riley said, grimacing. "It's not uncommon when someone has fathered a child that proves to be exceptional in any way. They feel like they have a claim to the child no matter their actual legal claim. Sometimes it goes as far as murder."

  "That's disgusting," Noelle muttered as she pressed the elevator button.

  "We'll need to find her a home," Riley said nonchalantly, casting a sideways glance at her.

  "I - I couldn't," Noelle protested. "I'd be a horrible parent. Besides, I'm single and a detective. Not exactly the best family life."

  "Perhaps," Riley said, tilting his head as they stepped onto the elevator. "But you can't think that Elsy or I would leave you hanging. We have contacts that work as babysitters and we could get her enrolled in a good daycare until she went to elementary school next year."

  "I -" Noelle stuttered. "I'll think about it," she finished lamely.

  Riley smiled as they stepped out of the elevator. "Good."

  Chapter Five

  Noelle blocked a blow that Loryn aimed at her, and switched so that she was attacking and Loryn was defending. For all that Loryn was older, she could kick Noelle's butt any day. "So have you seen her?" Loryn asked when they stopped to take a breath. Noelle took her time uncapping her water bottle and taking a long drink, avoiding the question.

  "Saw her at the hospital when we went to see Julia yesterday," she said evasively. Capping the water bottle, she wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. Could she tell Loryn what Riley had said? It wasn't like Loryn would be offended. Maybe she would even help. "Julia's going to need a permanent home," Noelle tried cautiously, feeling out Loryn's reaction.

  The olive-skinned woman glanced at her, eyebrows raised in speculation. "You can't think I would be a good parent for her," Loryn said between drinks of her water. "I'm more married to my job than you are."

  Noelle glanced away, uncapping her water to take another drink. "Riley thinks I should adopt her. Her aunt agrees."

  "The aunt won't take her?" Loryn asked thoughtfully.

  "Her husband has cancer. She can't take on Julia, not right now." Noelle shrugged. It was bad timing, all involved. Mel was dealing with multiple losses and dealing with the potential loss of her husband - Noelle wouldn't wish that on anyone, much less someone who seemed as decent as Mel does.

  "They're right, you know," Loryn said before they fell back into an easy back-and-forth routine. Practice was winding down enough that they could talk without worrying about becoming too exhausted to breathe.

  "About?" Noelle asked, crowing with delight when she nearly knocked Loryn down.

  "You'd be a good mother." Loryn smiled faintly as she blocked Noelle's next attack, going for the legs and knocking Noelle on her bum. "Guard your legs," she chided. "You're easy to take down when you're distracted."

  "I'm going to be single for the rest of my life and I work a job with ridiculous hours," Noelle argued as she stood, putting a bit more force in her attacks and blocks than she should. Loryn raised her eyebrows, chiding, and waiting for Noelle to calm before they went back into their rhythm.

  "You are not doomed to be single the rest of your life and I guarantee that there are parents who work more ridiculous hours than you do," Loryn said. "Any other stupid questions?"

  Noelle sighed. "I just." She paused, considering. "Julia deserves someone who can take care of her. I - it's just me, in my home. Plus I work."

  "And those are both things to think about." Loryn blocked one last block from Noelle and stood, beginning their stretch routine. "Weigh the pros and cons. It's important to not rashly jump into this - Julia is a living, breathing child, after all. She does deserve a good, stable home. And things with Sara would change a bit, if you adopted Julia."

  "She knows Julia," Noelle said, stretching her arms first. "Sara is her doctor." She hesitated. "We had dinner at her house. And watched a movie."

  "Watched a movie?" Loryn asked, sinking to the floor. She kept her voice neutral, and for that, Noelle was grateful.

  "We did actually watch the movie," Noelle said wryly. "I'm not - we're just friends, right now." Noelle rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, glaring at the floor as she stretched out her hamstrings. "Lydia was too recent."

  "You didn't even know her." Loryn wasn't judging, wasn't assuming - her voice was speculative, curious. Noelle considered her words for a moment, sitting down to more properly stretch her legs.

  "I didn't," Noelle admitted. "But I still - part of me is gone, because of her. Part of me will always belong to her." She shrugged. "It still hurts."

  Loryn nodded, seemingly pleased by Noelle's answer. Noelle studied her for a moment, gauging her reaction. "Time heals all," Loryn said sagely.

  Noelle laughed. "You sound like a fortune cookie," she teased. Loryn raised her eyebrows, teasing back. "Not like that," Noelle said hastily.

  "I'm aware," Loryn drawled.

  "Sorry," Noelle said, chastised.

  "It's fine," Loryn said with a nod. "Are you going to see Sara again?"

  "I was thinking of bringing her coffee at work, maybe tomorrow." Noelle fidgeted. "I know her order, and she seems to like the coffee shop we went to. Thought it might be nice for her to have before work."

  The corner of Loryn's lips quirked up in her faint smile. "I'd text her to make sure she's working." She stood, patting Noelle on the shoulder. "Give it time. She'll wait."

  "I hope so," Noelle said before she could stop herself. She blushed and looked at the mat, finishing up her stretches. She stood, feeling limber and loose, like a limp noodle. All she wanted to do was go home and flop onto bed. Which was good, because she didn't work until tomorrow and could afford to take the night off.

  "Later," Loryn said as she turned around and strode to the locker room where she kept her stuff. Noelle didn't store anything at the academy when she trained, but Loryn lived slightly outside of the city and it was most convenient to put her purse and whatnot in a locker while she trained.

  Noelle watched her go, sighing. She should probably text Sara. Noelle shivered as she headed outside, feeling the chill of the air against her sweat-soaked skin. She wanted to talk to Sara, wanted to see her, wanted to hear her laugh and see her smile. There was something about the dark-haired woman that made the world brighter, made things slightly less confusing. Sara was one of the kindest people that Noelle had ever met. Maybe they could visit Julia again.

  "I wonder if she likes books," Noelle said to herself as she started her car. She could read to Julia next time she was at the hospital. Maybe her mother could ship her some of the colorful picture books she had enjoyed as a child.

  It was strange to think about how much she wanted to see Sara again. Yet the hurt from Lydia was easing, the hole in her chest feeling smaller as time went by. It hadn't been long, and it still hurt, but Noelle felt that maybe, just maybe, she would be happy someday. There was a life outside of what destiny promised - and if she was lucky, maybe there was love, too.

  Noelle didn't look anxiously at her phone, nor was she checking it every few seconds just in case it had accidentally switched itself to silent. She wasn't nervous, not at all. She had simply texted Sara and asked when a good time would be to drop off some coffee and maybe visit with Julia and she was waiting for a reply. It had been all of three minutes and Noelle was already on edge.

  She rubbed her forehead and sighed. "It's not like she's not busy," Noelle told herself, trying to convince the smarter part of her brain to get her back to work. There were other, more important, things that Sara had on her to-do list, like managing her patients and talking to their parents. Whatever doctors got up to when they were at work.

  Her phone sounded and she grabbed it, immediately opening the message.

  Drop by at 6pm. We can visit Julia, then grab some dinner?

  Noelle's stomach twisted. Dinner. It wasn't bad, she reminded herself, thinking of the last time they had had dinner and a movie. It had been at Sara's apartment, and things had gone fine. Maybe that was
what Sara meant. More friendly discussion, and maybe casual touch. Noelle thought she could do that.

  Sounds good. And it did. A glance at the clock revealed it was barely one o'clock. Five more hours until she’d see Sara.

  "Any progress on the Dawkins case?" Riley asked, leaning against her cubicle and looking down at her with a smile.

  "Nothing," Noelle said, setting aside her phone and pulling out the relevant file. "We can't find anything in the database. There's no sperm donor listed for Julia, which is unusual in itself. I'm thinking it might have been an unofficial sperm donation, especially since both parties seemed to know each other."

  Riley nodded along as she spoke. "Could've been a friend, something like that. It's not common, not anymore, but it used to be big before the Donor Bank was nationalized."

  "Ah." Noelle flipped the page, studying the information. "I'm visiting Julia today, and I might try to see if she can tell me any more about him."

  "She calls him Papa, right?" Riley asked, peering over her shoulder.

  "Yup." Noelle leaned back in her chair. "No updates on the Robbins or the Day case, either. I'm pursuing a potential witness on the Robbins case, but she's dodging my phone calls and pretending she's not home."

  Riley beamed. "Isn't the life of a police detective so glamorous?"

  Noelle whacked him with a folder, playful. "Oh so glamorous. Be careful, you're blinding me."

  "Be nice to your elders, kidlet," he advised her.

  She stared at him, raising her eyebrows. "Are you calling yourself old?"

  Riley chuckled. "Not quite. Calling you young, yes."

  She rolled her eyes, exaggerating the moment, and put the file back down on the desk.

  “Try finding out if your witness has any talkative neighbors that might have overheard anything,” Riley advised. “They might be able to give you some tips on how to talk to your witness, too.” He pulled the Day file from Noelle’s case and skimmed it. “Check out a couple of the local gun shops again, for a murder weapon.”