The Forbidden Script (8 page)

“Okay, Miss Barnes, give me a Sec.”

He slowly raised the sheet covering the girl and lifted up her left jeans leg. Danny saw the tattoo just as Kate predicted.

“Miss Barnes,” came Danny’s voice over the cell phone.

“Does she have a tattoo?” Asked Kate.

“Yes! Some sort of star, what do you call them?” Asked Danny.

“It’s called a pentagram,” Kate said, “does it have a flame around it?” She continued.

“How did you know?” asked Danny.

Jason spoke up, “the girl from the beach has the same tattoo.”

Danny covered the girl with the sheet again and went to meet up with Jason.

Two days have passed and still no clues to whom the two dead girls were. Blood samples were taken, and even DNA and prints were fed to computers.

Sarah Masters left her apartment with no I.D. and cell phone. She had the rent paid for the next three months in advance. No letters were overflowing in her mailbox, and no one came knocking on her apartment door. It was as if the girl never existed.

The other girl found at the beach was found practically naked. She was only wearing underwear when discovered in the early morning hours. She never entered the water, as no salt water deposits were found on her body which eliminated a late night swim. It seemed she was just dumped there on the sand as if someone was disposing of garbage.

Jason was at home getting ready to go to work. His house was always neat with hardly anything left laying around. His biggest challenge for was to get his daughter Sally to clear up her own mess. Jason and Sally have been alone for the past few years. Her mother Anne had filed for divorce and left Miami. Jason took the break-up hard, having no idea why his marriage had failed. He always provided for his family and did his best to be a father towards Sally.

Anne knew being married to an FBI agent would be difficult. The couple had been sweethearts from college. Anne graduated in English literature, hoping to become a writer one day. She never showed any sign of unhappiness and was always a loving, caring mother to Sally, resulting in a very strong bond with her daughter.

Both Jason and Sally could not believe it when one night while having dinner at home, Anne unexpectedly announced she was filing for divorce. Sally was heartbroken by her parents break-up and to this day never understood the reason why her mother had left her. Despite the circumstances, mother and daughter were on the phone every night, chatting away about their daily activities. They always kept in touch and the mother-daughter relationship grew stronger. Anne had moved to Atlanta. She tried to visit when she could, but soon the visits were becoming less frequent, she just could not afford the long trips to visit Sally that often.

One evening Sally was at home waiting for her mother to call before heading to bed. The call she got was not from her mother, but from the Atlanta police department. Jason and Sally were informed that Anne was involved in a freak traffic accident and passed away while being attended by the medics on their way to the hospital. Sally felt shattered by the news of her mother’s death. She never got a chance to say goodbye and tell her how much she loved her.

Sally came down for breakfast before leaving for university. Studying to be an anthropologist, she spends most of her time at school, or on field trips with other students that could last for days. Sally had always been interested in other cultures and was fascinated by ancient people. Her room is mostly cluttered with DVD documentaries and magazines. Jason rarely enters her room knowing what he will find behind that closed door. Having her mother’s good looks, and quick thinking has made her quite popular at school, especially with the opposite sex. She has had a few boyfriends, but nothing serious.

“Morning Sally, I made you scrambled eggs on toast, you help yourself to the coffee,” said Jason.

Jason made it a certainty to give his daughter the support she needs after Anne left.

“Thanks, dad. Coffee smells good but will eat on my way to school. Jackie will soon be here to pick me up. We’re planning another trip and need to stop for some stationary before class starts.”

Giving Sally her space was important, but Jason still asked the usual parenting where and when questions. It took some time for her to get back to her usual self, and Jason has never been more protective towards her. She is his life and will always be there for her no matter what.

“Well, that’s great. Where will you be heading this time?” asked Jason drinking his coffee.

“Not very far this time dad, just to a neighboring college. We will be comparing our work together from our last trip.”

Jason felt relieved. The last outing was for five days over at the Letchworth Mounds, some native-American culture dating back 450 AD.

“That sounds interesting, hope you enjoy it.”

Sally said, “thanks, dad. Don’t worry about me. I will text you when I get home tonight.”

She left on hearing her friend Jackie pull up the driveway.

Jason cleared the dishes, set the burglar alarm and headed for the office.

Danny was already at the gym lifting weights. He ate healthy food and watched his diet. Keeping fit was important to him. It would not be the first time he heard of overweight cops losing a chase with some common thug.

He left the gym and headed to the office always taking the same route, but today he decided to take the long way since he was earlier than usual. After a couple of miles driving, he saw a shop sign which he had never seen before. It was half way up an alley and barely visible. He would not have noticed it if it weren’t for the small traffic jam he got stuck in. What caught his attention was the symbols printed on the sign. He decided to check it out, found a space to park further down the road and headed towards the alley.

Danny stood in front of the small shop which was still closed for business. He took a look through the window and saw tattoo symbols printed on all the walls. He has been to a tattoo parlor before, but never one with only symbols and no pictures. He checked the opening hours and decided to come back later to have a word with the owner.

Danny arrived at the office and went over to Jason, who was at his desk checking addresses.

“Hey Jason, do you know about that small tattoo joint over at 12th Street?” Asked Danny.

“I had no idea there was one in that area. Did you go in and check it out?”

“It was still closed, but I’m planning to go back later on.”

Danny and Jason have been checking out tattoo parlors, asking questions about the tattoo the two deceased girls have, but unfortunately they all turned out to be dead ends.

Chief Berks was in his office waiting for Jason and Danny to arrive. On hearing them, he called for them to come over.

“We might have a lead on the last girl,” Matt said.

Both agents looked at each other with looks of relief.

Matt continued, “a shop assistant at the local DVD place recognized the girl who was run over. He saw her picture on TV and phoned the Miami PD, leaving the address where he works.”

Jason was already half way out the door.

“Both of you keep together from now on and watch your backs.”

Matt sat down waving them out the door.

They reached the police department in no time. Jason entered first asking to speak to who was in charge. Danny recognized detective Mark Andrews and went over to speak to him.

“Good morning, detective Andrews.”

Mark looked up and greeted Danny.

“Special agent Langley if I’m not mistaken. I was expecting you. I talked with chief Berks about the kid who says he knew the hit and run girl.”

Danny was impressed that detective Andrews remembered him.

“Matt told us you have an address to where the kid works,” said Danny, “this is my partner special agent Jason Mallock.”

Jason leaned forward, shaking Mark’s hand.

“Well, the kid’s name is David Wilmore. He works over at video rentals on Park Boulevard.”

Jason asked, “did he mention how he knew the girl?”

Mark replied, “the kid said the deceased girl has some overdue rentals. The owner keeps at photo near the cash till of those with overdue DVDs.”

“Thanks for your help detective Andrews,” said Jason.

“Always a pleasure to help the FEDS,” said Mark as they shook hands.

The agents were quickly on their way, sirens on whenever they met traffic. They were not about to lose another witness.

       On their way, Jason said to Danny, “don’t you think it’s kind of odd. As soon as we get back from Mexico we end up with two dead girls, and still have no clues to Helen’s whereabouts. It’s too much of a coincidence if you ask me. There has to be a connection somewhere.”

“Maybe there is a connection. I just hope the same thing doesn’t happen to Helen though,” said Danny.

On their arrival, Jason stops to look at the front of the store.

“This is the same place where Sally rents her movies,” he said.

Both agents entered the store and were amazed at the collection of videos. There were titles dating back to the beginning of movie making. They walked among the isles of DVDs neatly placed on countless shelves.

Danny said, “I’m thinking of becoming a member here.”

Jason walked over to the front desk. The shop assistant was stacking movie discs on racks under the counter.

“Good morning,” said Jason, trying not to startle the kid.

The assistant on hearing a voice just above him bumped his head against the racks while looking up to see who it was. He wasn’t expecting customers this time of the morning.

“Good morning, how may I help you?” asked the geeky looking assistant.

He had to gaze up at Jason as he was short, just reaching the five feet mark.

Jason said, “quite a place you have here, you must have hundreds of titles.”

David looked over to where Danny was and asked, “you two cops or something?”

Danny walked over saying, “no, we’re FBI. This is agent Mallock, and I’m agent Langley. Are you the person who called the police department about the hit and run girl? Are you David Wilmore?”

David took a step back, thoughts running through his mind, hoping he has done the right thing.

“I need to see some I.D. before I answer. You could be two mobsters for all I know!”

Jason was becoming impatient.

“Show this kid some I.D. before I yank him out from behind the counter,” said Jason staring the boy in the eye.

Danny took out his badge and showed it to David.

“You can calm down now. Are you David Wilmore or not?”

“Yes, I’m David, and it was me that called the police. I’m sorry about that girl. She was shy but seemed very bright though, never late with her rentals.”

Jason asked, “do you keep an address of your clients? A membership form or something?”

David shuffled through the membership files and found the surname in alphabetical order.

“Here it is. Name and addresses. Sarah Masters. Addresses, 4 peacock apartments, W 37th street.”

Danny wrote it down is his notebook. On their way out of the store, he picked up a membership form. They contacted chief Berks letting him in on the info they got from David Wilmore. It took about twenty minutes to arrive at Sarah Masters address. The neighborhood was quiet with palm trees neatly trimmed, and the streets were clean from any garbage.

Nice place thought Jason.

Danny found the apartment block and whistled to Jason to come over. They climbed the open stairwell to the apartment. Danny knocked on the door while Jason placed his hand on his firearm.

Nobody answered the door, and Danny suggested calling the proprietor to come open, but Jason thought otherwise and picked the lock. After a few seconds, a familiar click of the lock was heard, and the door opened a couple of inches. They entered cautiously keeping their backs to the wall. The blinds were closed, making it difficult for Danny to see in the dark. He fumbled for the light switch while Jason went to open the blinds.

“My god, what is that smell?” said Jason.

They both searched the rooms trying to identify the bad odor.

“It seems to be coming from the bathroom,” said Jason.

As he slowly opened the door, the smell was much stronger. Jason pulled the shower curtain open to find the remains of a pet cat.

Danny looked in, saying, “poor thing must have got stuck in here and died of hunger.”

They searched Sarah’s apartment going through her drawers, cupboards, closets. They found nothing out of the ordinary. Jason saw something under the lounge table.

“Found her handbag. She must have left in a hurry, dropping it under the table.”

Danny came over to have a look as Jason emptied the bags contents onto the table. A makeup box, hand wipes, gum, etc.…

Jason noticed a black leather binder among the possessions.

“What have we here? Must be her notebook,” said Jason, opening it.

He read the first few pages which were simple reminders of things to do and buy. No names or addresses were written down. They continued searching, positive they will find something of importance to help them.

Danny found the overdue rentals placed on the TV table. They were documentaries about supernatural behavior dating back to the 1800s.

“Hey Jason! At least we know we’re in the right apartment. I found the overdue rentals, and they’re all about that supernatural garbage. One of the covers has a picture of that weird tattoo the girls have.”