NIP 9

“Hughes…enough. ENOUGH!” Brad grabs Hughes by the arm, impeding his rant to command eye contact. “The victim is Ainslie Clarke. Sari’s sister.”

The ‘ah’ in unison is followed by deafening silence. I collapse to the ground. Brad falls with me, never letting go of his embrace. I wail an empty mind and empty heart. Brad strokes my hair as he places his lips on my forehead.

“Shhhh Sari…shhh...I will not let go.” Brad’s eyes shift to the sky. “Oh Sari…oh Sari…”

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“Officer Peabody please escort Miss Clarke to the Command Center bus.” Calmly instructs Detective Hughes. “Callahan, you come with me.”

My face is buried in Brad’s chest. He lifts my head to force eye contact and without a word offers encouragement. The leaves rustle as the crowd begins to disperse.

Officer Peabody hoists me up. I wobble to my feet. My head is so heavy. I am in a daze, a dream, a nightmare.

“Sari! Sari!” Sam sprints towards me. “Hun, you okay?” I can barely shake my head no. I cannot look at him. At any of them. They didn’t know Ainslie. That body is just some ‘vic’ to all of them!

“Sam, call Mark. Head over to the bus with Peabody and make sure she is okay and chills. I’ll be there when I finish up here.” Brad is a purposeful wall between Sari and Ainslie’s body.

“Will do. But Brad, tell me this…what the hell is going on?” Outwardly fishes Sam.

“Go.” Demands Brad before he is engulfed in a private huddle with Detective Hughes.

“Come here babe.” Sam pulls me to his side. He supports my dead weight by wrapping his around me. My body is limp, lifeless and merely hangs in Sam’s clasp.

Ainslie. Tears drip from my eyes. I no longer sob but rather whimper. I am so sad. My sister. My wonderful, beautiful, thoughtful and kind sister was murdered. In cold blood. Why Ainslie? Who could be so cruel? GOD! I cannot believe it! I am so angry. I feel rage boil my blood. From the tips of my toes to prickly hair follicles on my head…a surge charges through me. I grit my teeth daring them to shatter.

“AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!” I scream. I scream from the bottom of my heart, the depths of my soul, the root of my being. “SHIT!”

Sam lets go of me. I stand stiff with clinched fists roaring at the sky. “NO!” Come back Ainslie, please give her back.

I crumple to my knees. I fall forward, my hands catch my fall. I hover in a plank, searching for my breath as I bleed out tears of sorrow.

“Keep going.” Sam whispers in my ear. “Let it out.”

I hear his words but I do not listen. I am frozen. As if time is standing still. I swallow my anguish. I digest my grief. I absorb my duty. I literally rise to the occasion.

“Sam, phone the studio. Tell them we will be ready to go live in 5 minutes.” I fight to control my facial muscles. I will not flinch, I will not cry, I will do this.

“Um, don’t think so.” Sam’s expression clearly illustrates he thinks I am crazy.

Officer Peabody grabs my arm. I yank it away from him.

“Miss Clarke, please come with me.” Politely orders Officer Peabody.

“No.” I say flatly. “Whoever did this to my sister is going to run for his goddamn life. I will go on the air, I will face this fucker and he will pay.”

“Sari…come on. You can’t be serious. Holy jesus, you are serious.” I tilt my head in confusion and glare at Sam. This is not the time for him to get soft. Of all people.

“Oh please, you….Sam. YOU! This is hot shit, remember? This is career changing. This is what we live for. Now you get cold feet? Drop the school boy act. We are doing this.”

With trembling fingers I fumble in search of my phone. I have to call my youngest sister. My heart cracks knowing I have to break this horrific news to Lizi over the phone. But I have no choice. All I want is to hold Lizi and cry for hours. I want to look into her eyes and see Ainslie. They share bright, blue sky colored eyes outlined with a dark rim. My lips quiver as I sigh. I cannot be with her right now. I simply cannot. I need to hunt this bastard down. I have the advantage of a captive audience. The entire city of Chicago will be on this case in about 4 minutes.

“Lizi, this is Sari. Please, please, please call me back immediately. This is an emergency. Hurry up and get this message!” I have no idea what to say on her voicemail. I hate this. I’m so tense. Who in the world knows how to handle this! I have to call Aunt Clara too. I stare at my phone. I wish I knew what to say, how to say it. Damnit. Damn this.

“Aunt Clara. Please call me back. It’s an emergency. It’s Ainslie. She’s been…she is…oh god. Please call me back.” I hang up. Well, that was even worse.

My fingers automatically dial Mark’s phone number. I memorized it the moment he gave it to me. I never put him on speed dial. I never wanted to lose the feeling of knowing his number by heart or the building anticipation with each number dialed. Especially right now, I need to hear his voice on the line more than ever before. My family has always been my rock, but he is my cushion.

“Sari, we are in 2 minutes.” Sam cues.

Crap. I press the end button just as it was about to ring Mark. I’ll have to wait. ‘I love you Mark. I need you!’ I trust the wind to instantly deliver my message.

“Thanks.” I take the mic he is holding out to me. I firmly grip it. I close my eyes. The mic is my weapon. I am prepared to use it. My heart is threatening to pound of my chest. Inhale slow, slower, hold it, deeper, release.

“On the count of three. One, two, there.” Sam points at me and the camera is rolling.

“Good morning Robert and Tonya. I am standing in the Lincoln Park Zoo where a gruesome murder is being investigated. Ainslie Clarke, my beloved younger sister, was murdered here some time last night or this morning in cold blood. This crime is truly horrendous and revolting. We are first on the scene and little is known of how my sister was murdered, who did this to her or why. Please listen to me closely. I am begging every of one you tuning in to please report any suspicious activities you may have witnessed yesterday or leading up to the murder of my sister, Ainslie. Call 911. No, better yet call me directly at 773-870-68…….”

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