“What do you have, Sarge?”
He heard a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. “Well, it seems that a mother has murdered her child, and on Mother’s Day of all days, of course.”
“Oh my God, are you kidding me?”
“No. We need you on this one. Let Meredith come out if she wants to. I don’t want any mistakes made on this one. She can make sure every I is dotted and T crossed.”
“We’re on our way.”
He hung up and turned toward his girlfriend. “Meredith, honey, we gotta go.”
Half asleep, Meredith asked, “What? Why am I going?”
“C’mon babe, I’ll explain on the way.”
In the car, Mike explained what little he knew of the case. Meredith was horrified at what he had told her.
When they arrived on the scene, Sergeant Smith met with them.
“The father came home just a little after midnight. He assumed the family was asleep, but then he heard a strange noise coming from the nursery and went to investigate. When he entered the room, he found his wife standing in the middle of a large red pentagram and holding their baby. As he ran toward her, she said ‘This is for my Mistress.’ The father said she then plunged a bull’s horn dagger into the child’s chest. He tackled his wife, but it was too late. He’s been transported by EMS. He had to be sedated.”
Mike was dismayed, and stood with a blank expression on his face.
“Now Meredith, I don’t expect you to go inside. I just wanted you on scene to review everything we do, to make sure there aren’t any mistakes made. I don’t want this psycho walking on a technicality,” Smith told her.
“Of course, anything I can do to help,” she answered. “Are you gonna be okay, honey?”
Mike replied, “I should be okay. I’m glad you’re here with me. I don’t want you to come inside. I expect it’s a pretty awful scene.”
“Just be safe. If you need a break, come out here with me. I’m worried about you.”
“I’ll be okay sweetheart, knowing you’re here with me.”
“I am here, honey. Now get going. Let’s put this woman away.” They kissed and Mike went inside.
Inside, Crime Scene technicians were snapping photos, and Mike spoke to Sergeant Smith on the front porch. “Where’s the wife?”
“Mrs. Carmen Lopez, 27-year-old Hispanic female. She’s at the station. She hasn’t said a word. No one has interviewed her yet. I’ll leave that to you.”
“Thank you, Sarge. I wish Robert wasn’t on vacation. I could use him on this one.”
“Anything you need, I’m here for you.”
“And the father?”
“Rafael Lopez, 31-year-old Hispanic male. He’s at Merciful Heart Hospital. I understand he had to be sedated and can’t be questioned for a while.”
“And the child?”
“Six-month-old Miguel Lopez. He’s still on the floor in his room. He hasn’t been moved or touched yet. EMS never touched him because there were obvious signs of death. Mike, I gotta warn you,
it’s bad in there. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
“Thank you, Sarge.”
Mike took a deep breath and stepped into the single story ranch- style home. It was simply appointed with what looked like rental furniture. He saw one of the crime scene technicians exit the nursery, and she was visibly shaken.
Mike asked her, “Are you okay, Samantha?”
She approached Mike and said with tears in her eyes, “It’s a mess in there.”
With great trepidation, Mike walked down the long, narrow hallway. It was quiet, and grew quieter as he distanced himself from the outside commotion. He entered the nursery. What was once a peaceful, happy place with eggshell-colored walls and a decorative border with fire trucks under a chair rail that wrapped around the room was now a dreadful scene. Red blood saturated the once light blue carpet around the baby’s tiny body. The two colors mixed looked dark purple. The baby’s tiny corpse lay motionless, crusted in dried blood, face up. The garish ritual blade was still plunged into the miniature cadaver. Mike had become all too familiar with this sort of blade—the tool of choice in the cult murders. Then there was the equally familiar red pentagram that had been crudely painted with red spray paint on the carpet. The empty can sat on the floor in the corner of the room. Mike took a step back. His eyes watered. There was no way he could go any further. He had seen enough.
Mike quickly exited the residence. He was pale and sobbed out of control. Meredith rushed over to him. “Honey, are you okay?”
Tearfully, Mike said, “I’ll be fine. I just need a minute.”
After several minutes, Sergeant Smith approached him. “Are you ready to go interview the mother?”
“As ready as I’m going to be, I suppose.”
Mike, Meredith and Sergeant Smith went to the station.
“She’s in the room, Mike,” said Sergeant Smith.
“Give me a few minutes alone. I need to prepare myself for this.”
Mike stood on the other side of the one-way mirror, staring at his adversary. He thought, Your baby . . . how could you murder your innocent baby? What kind of a monster kills her baby, and on Mother’s Day? Suddenly, the Legion of voices thundered forth from the woman. “Welcome back, Michael. We’ve been waiting for you. Your time is close!”
Mike stumbled backwards and fell against the opposite wall.
Rattled, he ran out of the dark room.
“Mike?” Sergeant Smith asked.
Mike responded with tears streaming down his face, “I’m sorry, Sarge. I can’t do it. I just can’t. I’ve seen too much. I’m done.”
Meredith came over and hugged him. “Shhh, it’s okay, baby. It’s okay.”
Sergeant Smith responded, “I can’t blame you, son. You have seen a lot of shit lately. I’m going to reassign this case to someone else.”
Meredith said, “Thank you, Sergeant. I’m going to get him home now.”
“You do that, hon. Take good care of him.”
Mike would never again return to Major Crimes. He met with Lieutenant Peterson and Sergeant Smith. He had seen too much over the past year and a half. It had finally broken him.
“I’m sorry. I can’t keep doing this.”
Lieutenant Peterson said, “Mike, don’t be ashamed for making this choice. You saw more in the fifteen months you were here than most of us will ever see in a whole career. You are one hell of a detective. I hate to lose you, but I’d rather see you happy again.”
“Thank you, sir.” Mike shook both of their hands and walked out to start his vacation.
Mike spent a month in counseling. The department put him on administrative leave with pay. Once Mike was cleared to return to duty, he was reassigned back to road patrol.
He enjoyed being back on the road again. He and Meredith were still doing great. He was finally putting the nightmares behind him. Occasionally, he would be involved in a case that would bring back some of the nightmares, but he had learned some techniques to deal with the stress.
Mike continued his studies over the next year, and with Meredith’s assistance he finished law school.
***
Friday, December 3rd, 2004. “C’mon babe, we’re gonna be late!”
This was the big day. He was finally graduating law school. Unlike his graduation with his bachelor’s, Mike allowed this to be a big deal. He would celebrate his accomplishment with those closest to him.
Meredith said, “Your mom called. She and Frank are already downstairs in the lobby. They checked in late this morning and rushed to get ready.”
Mike came out of the bathroom and Meredith said, “Don’t you look nice? You better get used to wearing a suit more often. And you certainly do that suit justice. Do you have your cap and gown?”
“Right here.”
” Let’s go then,” Meredith said. “We need to get Cynthia and my parents before we go downstairs.”
Mike and Meredith collected her parents and Cynthia,
Meredith’s best friend. The five took the elevator downstairs. When they exited the elevator, there stood Nancy and Frank. Due to a recurring knee injury, Frank had had to retire from professional football and was now a sports consultant. He had played for ten years, a long time for a center. He had put on about sixty pounds since he stopped playing ball, and was bigger than ever. But he was still the same old Frank.
When the five exited the elevator, a bellowing howl echoed throughout the hotel lobby. “WHAT’S UP, DOUCHE BAG?” The big man came running up to them.
Mike laughed, and the two old friends hugged. Then Frank picked Meredith up off the floor and hugged her as she screamed, “Don’t crush me, Moose!” Frank laughed.
Nancy then hugged Mike and Meredith. Meredith’s parents had never had the occasion to meet Frank, and were taken aback at first.
Frank announced to her parents, “Hi, how you folks doin’? I’m Frank, but you can call me Moose!”
Frank went up and hugged Rebecca, Meredith’s mom. “I can see where Merry gets her hotness from!” Frank would often refer to Meredith as Merry, a coined name she became fond of in time.
When Frank shook Henry’s hand, Meredith’s father, his destructive bear paws swallowed the surgeon’s delicate instruments of healing and he said, “What’s up, Doc?”
Then Frank’s attention turned to Cynthia. “And who’s this vision of loveliness?”
Cynthia blushed and Meredith said, “Frank, this is my best friend, Cynthia.”
Frank was mesmerized. In an uncharacteristically gentle manner, Frank took Cynthia’s hand and kissed it.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Frank. I’ve heard a lot about you. I had forgotten how adorable you are, though.”
Mike couldn’t believe it when he saw his giant blush.
Frank asked Cynthia, “Have we met before?”
Cynthia and Meredith looked at each other and laughed, recalling the night Frank assaulted Meredith’s hood.
“We have never met in person, but I saw you around the campus once or twice back in college.”
Frank was smitten by Meredith’s best friend and seemed almost speechless at times. But within short order, he was back in his form. Cynthia thought he was charming.
While Frank entertained the Porters and Cynthia with his antics, Nancy said to Mike, “I’m so proud of you, sweetie. Your father would be so impressed by you right now. You have accomplished so much.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’d like to think he has been my inspiration.”
Then she whispered to Mike, “So what about you two? When are you going to make her an honest woman?”
Mike shrugged and said, “Oh, Mom, not that again. One of these days I might surprise you.”
“Well, just don’t let this one get away. I like her a lot. She’s good for you, honey.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Mom. I love her more than you can imagine. But don’t worry, things are good between us. We’re doing great.”
Nancy then got the opportunity to finally meet Rebecca, Henry and Cynthia. She could see the look of repulsion on Rebecca’s and Henry’s faces regarding Frank. She smiled and told them, “Don’t worry, he’ll grow on you. You’ll find he’s truly a sweet man.”
After the graduation ceremony, they all went out to dinner. While at dinner, Mike got up to excuse himself. “I gotta go to the bathroom. You need to go too, Frank?”
Distracted by Cynthia, Frank said, “No, I’m good.”
Mike punched Frank in the arm. “You need to go, too?!” Mike raised his eyebrows and Frank said, “Oh yeah! Yeah, I really need to piss!”
Meredith, Cynthia, Nancy, Rebecca and Henry sat together, looking at each other suspiciously. Nancy said, “I wonder what those two are up to?”
Meredith quipped, “If Frank’s involved, I don’t want to know.”
Cynthia laughed like a school girl. Meredith could see that she was intrigued by Frank.
Walking away and laughing, Mike said to him, “Dumbass, did you forget the plan?”
“No buddy, I got your back. Just a brain fart, that’s all.”
“Must be because you’re all google-eyed over Cynthia. Just don’t blow this, knucklehead! Did you remember the ring?”
“Right here, shithead.” Frank pulled a black velvet hinged box from his pocket.
Mike opened it to examine the simple solitaire diamond ring that held a brilliant one carat round stone. Meredith had, in a roundabout way, implied several times that she preferred a simple solitaire ring over an ornate, gaudy setting.
“It’s beautiful, bro. Just like your lady.”
“You think?”
“Yeah! She’s hot, dude!”
“I mean the ring, you asshole!” Mike laughed. “You’ll never change, Frankie.”
“Hell no. Change is something that gets thrown on the floor and walked on. And no one is walking on me!”
“Geez, no one could even step over you if they wanted to, big boy.” “I ams what I ams.” Frank laughed in his best Popeye impression.
“Let’s go, Popeye,” said Mike.
Mike signaled the maître d’. It was show time.
Mike returned to the table with Frank. They both sat down when a single violin player waltzed by them, quietly playing Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. Meredith looked at the violinist, bewildered, thinking that it was a strange song to play in a restaurant.
When she turned back around, Mike had gotten on one knee and held the box open. Meredith was shocked and the violinist stopped playing. Mike asked, “Meredith, it’s been two and a half years since we met, and you have seen me through some of the worst times of my life. Through it all, though, you’ve always reassured me with your love. I couldn’t have made it the past few years without you, and I don’t want to waste another day without you being my wife. Meredith Porter, will you do me the honor of being my bride and sharing my life with me?”
With tear-filled eyes, Meredith responded, “Yes! Yes, a million times yes!”
Frank howled, “WOO HOO! She said yes!”
Nancy, Rebecca and Cynthia all cried with joy, and Henry congratulated them both, hugging Mike.
Frank, of course, stepped in and hugged Henry. “We’re gonna be family, Doc!”
Henry had been standoffish all night, but finally relented and smiled at Frank’s boyish charm.
The entire restaurant erupted in applause.
Mike winked at Nancy. “I told you one day I’d surprise you. How does today work for you?”
“Oh Mikey, I can’t wait to help her plan the wedding. I’m so excited! I love you two so much.”
Nancy then hugged Meredith and they cried tears of joy together. There was a small dance floor, where Mike and Meredith danced. Nancy said to Frank, “How is it you knew about this and I didn’t?”
“He swore me to secrecy, Nance. I couldn’t tell you anything or he’d kill me.”
She smiled and said, “You’re a good friend to him, Frankie. Thank you for being in his life. I love ya, big guy.” Nancy reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
Frank blushed. “I love you too, Nance. Since Momma passed, you’re like a second mom to me and I love that guy like a brother. Now it looks like I’m gonna have a little sister to watch out for.”
Nancy watched her son and new daughter celebrating. She joyfully reflected on the night Big Mike had proposed to her, and she smiled contentedly, recounting their happy life together and how he would have loved to be here. At one point, she became a bit melancholy, wishing her man was there to enjoy this special night with her.
Henry and Rebecca swelled with pride that their beautiful daughter had found such a wonderful man. They were not so sure about their loyal protector, Frank, though. Henry looked at Rebecca and smiled.
“Honey, I think this could be a good thing for our little girl.”
Rebecca smiled and nodded in agreement. “But the Moose?”
“Yes, dear. Look at him, he’s a gentle giant. I think our little girl’s in
good hands with these two.” They knew their little girl would be well cared for and loved.
And lastly, due to all the excitement about the engagement, two people sat relatively unnoticed. What everyone failed to notice was that Frank, “The Moose,” Peterson and Cynthia Sanders sat alone in the corner of the room, staring longingly into each other’s eyes. Frank was being unusually reserved and well-behaved, which went unnoticed to all but Mike. Even through all his excitement, he was watching his best friend and thought to himself, I can’t believe it. The Moose is falling in love. I never thought I’d see the day.
The seven of them celebrated long into the night. It was a happy time. Mike seemed to have everything falling into place, better than he could have hoped for.
Later that night while Meredith lay in his arms, Mike reflected on his life and was confident that all was going to be okay now. Things were a far cry from his days as the pathetic, shy, chubby teenager getting beat up in middle school. Life was good; he was happy.
The nightmares would finally be over.
MEREDITH
A UGUST 1992, THE FLORIDA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY. An ambitious young woman was starting her first day as a new student. Meredith Porter was a year younger and two years ahead of her fellow students. Due to her advanced intellect, she was allowed to test and skip a grade in high school. Due to a special program that her school offered gifted students, Meredith also graduated high school with a two-year degree from the local community college. She earned her high school diploma and degree concurrently while attending high school. Meredith entered FTU as a seventeen-year-old junior.
Meredith, a beautiful young woman with long, auburn- colored hair and green eyes, always had plenty of suitors, but never experienced a serious relationship. She was too goal-oriented to waste time on dating boys in high school. College would prove no different for her, and while she was ogled by many men, she would pay no attention to their advances. She gave many the impression of being unapproachable. She was not necessarily a prude, but just extremely ambitious and determined to achieve her goals before ever considering a relationship.
Meredith was the only child of Dr. and Mrs. Henry Porter. Her father, Henry, was an accomplished orthopedic surgeon in her hometown. Her mother, Rebecca, was an astute and feared local attorney. For as long as she could remember, Meredith had wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a lawyer. She had worked with her mother after school and during the summers at her law firm, and had developed a love and respect for the law. Currently, her immediate goal was to become the youngest female to pass the bar exam in the state of Florida. This would require her to remain focused on her studies.
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