FanStory.com - Spirited Justice Chap 14by Begin Again

Aware of the security cameras surrounding the FBI Headquarters, Eleanor materialized in a narrow alleyway between a bustling coffee shop and an antique store. Trash bins, discarded boxes, and a few pieces of broken furniture cluttered the alleyway. Near a dumpster, a man in a rumpled, mismatched suit lay sprawled out, sleeping off the remnants of last night's drunk.

Her sudden appearance startled two stray alley cats rummaging in the dumpster for food. They jumped and landed squarely on the man's chest, jolting him awake.

Eleanor, adjusting her suit and smoothing a stray wisp of hair, watched as the man sat up, gently picking up the cats and nuzzling them.

He groggily mumbled to the cats. "It's okay, pals. We weren't expecting company, now, were we?"

Eleanor offered a warm smile. "Sorry to disturb you, but I guess I made a wrong turn."

Rubbing his eyes, he stared at her, still not sure he was seeing her. "You sure did, lady. Ain't no Hilton back here."

Eleanor stepped around him carefully to avoid the scattered garbage. "Actually, I'm looking for the FBI Headquarters."

"Those folks don't exactly have a reputation for their hospitality," he said, shaking his head and pointing down the alley.

Eleanor chuckled. "I think I can handle them." She turned to leave.

He grinned. "Yeah, I bet you can. My pals and I wish you a good day."

Eleanor answered, "Thanks, you, too!"

With a snap of her fingers, the man found a steaming Styrofoam cup of coffee in one hand and a hot breakfast in the other. The aroma of sausage and bacon filled the air. Two cans of tuna fish appeared by his leg for the cats.

The man stared at the food in disbelief. "Lady, am I hallucfying?"

Eleanor suppressed her laughter. "I think you mean hallucinating, and no, you aren't. It's just a little trick I picked up. Enjoy!"

As Eleanor walked away, the man quickly grabbed a piece of bacon and shoved it into his mouth. He stared at Eleanor as she disappeared around the corner.

He mumbled, That's some trick." and yelled at her. "Thanks! Come back anytime!"

He scratched the cats' heads as they feasted on the tuna.

He shook his head and smiled. "Kit and Kat, we must be dreaming in technicolor. Let's eat before I wake up, and it's gone." He shoved another piece of bacon into his mouth, letting a satisfying moan escape through his lips.

*****

As their morning began, FBI agents and staff filled the bustling lobby. Eleanor spotted Tango and Poppa chatting with a few other agents near the reception desk as she entered through the front entrance.

Trying to appear unaware of their presence, Eleanor approached the receptionist. "Excuse me. I have an appointment with Garth Woodman."

The young woman checked her computer but didn't find anything. She smiled at Eleanor and asked, "I'm sorry. I don't see anything on his calendar. Could you have gotten the wrong day?"

Eleanor's voice rose a bit as if she was distraught. "Oh dear! Are you sure? I just flew into Washington D.C. specifically to see him."

"I'm sorry, but Mr. Woodman isn't available. Maybe someone else could help you." The receptionist glanced toward Tango and Poppa, hesitant to interrupt their conversation but concerned about the agitated woman.

Eleanor fanned her face. "I - I don't know what to do. He promised to meet with me." She dropped her hand to her chest, dramatically staggering against the desk.

The receptionist's eyes widened with concern, and she called out to the nearby group. "Tango, Poppa, this lady needs your help."

Hearing his name, Tango turned and hurried toward the two women. As his eyes rested on Eleanor, he immediately recognized her. "Hey, aren't you the woman from that international art case?"

Eleanor offered a small smile. "Yes, I am." She extended her hand toward him. "It's nice of you to remember. I'm Eleanor Bennett."

A look of confusion flashed across Poppa's face as he joined them. "I thought you were —"

Eleanor interrupted him. "Here to see Garth. You're right. I have an appointment, but the young lady can't find it."

Poppa exchanged a look with Tango. "He didn't mention anything about a gh—"

Tango looked strangely at Poppa and took Eleanor's arm, leading her away from the desk and all the prying eyes toward a private conference room.

Once the door was closed, Poppa couldn't contain himself. "I thought you were dead."

"Technically, I am."

Poppa stepped backward, putting space between Eleanor and him. "How can you — be standing here — talking to us?"

"Easy! I come and go as I please." Instantly, Eleanor's earthly form faded and then reappeared on the other side of Poppa. She tapped him on the shoulder. "See how easy it is?"

The agent's mouth dropped open, and he stared at his partner. "Are you seeing this, or am I losing touch with reality? If you see it too, we both must have lost it."

Tango chuckled. "I thought you knew."

"Knew what?" Poppa swallowed hard. "It's some kind of trick, right?"

Eleanor smiled. "I'm afraid not. I'm an honest-to-goodness ghost, and I need to talk to Garth as soon as possible,"

Poppa dropped into one of the chairs, muttering, "I need a vacation." He raised his head and stared at his partner. "Why aren't you freaking out?"

"Maybe because Garth told me about Eleanor. It was hard to believe, but if the boss could accept it, I could too."

"Would have been nice if someone had given me a heads-up."

"Poppa, you wouldn't have believed us anyhow? Now, she's right here in front of your own eyes."

"And I still can't believe it." He shook his head and turned to Eleanor. "So, you just pop in and scare people, like a Halloween ghost?"

Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "Halloween ghost? Not hardly. I am an advisor with the police department and have assisted your boss once or twice."

"No wonder he hasn't been himself lately. He probably thinks he's losing his mind, too."

"I assure you Garth's problems have nothing to do with me."

Poppa's eyes narrowed as he continued to stare at Eleanor. "You sure you didn't get things mixed up? The boss has been —" He glanced at Tango for backup. "Well, he's been a bit off lately."

Eleanor nodded. "I'm aware it's the anniversary of Allie's death, but I need his help on an important case."

Tango sighed. "He took some time off. Said he needed to be alone."

Eleanor couldn't hide her concern. "Do you know where I might find him?"

Tango nodded. "My guess is the cemetery. He visits Allie's grave a lot when he needs to talk."

Poppa stared at the floor. "The boss isn't himself. I'd say that's where you'll find him."

Eleanor thought for a moment and then spoke, "Thanks, boys. I'll see my way out."

Poppa gasped. "You're not going to do that disappearing thing again, are you?"

She grinned. "No, Poppa, I'll walk out the same way I came in."

"Whew! You'll have the whole place freaking out otherwise."

"Not to worry! I'll wait until I'm in the middle of the square."

"What? No, don't do that!" Poppa yelled.

Tango laughed at his partner. "I think she was kidding, Poppa." He quickly glanced at Eleanor. "You were kidding, right?"

"Yes, I'll be quite discreet when I disappear." She opened the door and stepped out into the reception area. As she left, her voice carried back to the two men. "I'm disappearing now."

Poppa jumped up and hurried to the door, sighing as he watched her leave the building.

*****

Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery was nestled behind rolling hills and tall rows of Washington D.C.'s tree symbol, the scarlet oak. When one entered the cemetery, it felt more like a park with its beautifully manicured hedges, wide gravel walking trails, not to mention the rippling waters of Rock Creek. Eleanor could easily understand why Garth had chosen this as Allie's final resting place, where the hustle and bustle of the city was left behind.

She stood on the sloped hill, watching him. He sat on a weathered bench, staring at the water. Off to his left was Allie's marker, adorned with fresh bouquets of pink roses. He held a beer in one hand and tossed pieces of his uneaten sandwich to the pigeons with the other.

Eleanor approached quietly, hesitant to disturb him but knowing she must. Her footsteps crunched against the gravel as she moved down the hill toward him.

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she stopped near the bench. "Hello, Garth."

Barely glancing up, he said, "Eleanor! I didn't expect to see you here."

"I wasn't sure I would find you at all. You've been — hard to reach."

He took a sip of his beer and gazed at the river. "Guess I've been busy."

Eleanor joined him on the bench. "Busy feeding pigeons and drowning your sorrows?"

He tipped his Stetson up, exposing his face. She could see how tired he looked and heard it in his voice. "Something like that. Sometimes, I wonder if this is all there is left. Talking to her, feeding the pigeons, and waiting for the next case to distract me from — everything."

"You were never one just to sit and wait, Garth. You've always been a man of action. It's what makes you — well, you."

"Was, Eleanor. It's what made me who I was." He glanced toward Allie's headstone before he spoke again. "Allie... she was everything, you know? And now she's gone, and I don't know who I am without her."

Eleanor laid her hand on his knee, reassuring him. "You're still Garth. The man who's seen more cases through than anyone else I know. The man who doesn't quit, even when things get tough. You haven't lost that, Garth. You've just — misplaced it for a while."

"Tell that to Tango and Poppa. They think I'm falling apart."

"They're worried about you. So am I." She leaned against him, her concern evident in her voice. "It's okay to grieve, Garth. It's okay not to be okay. But you're still here, and some people need you. I need you."

Garth finally forced himself to look at her. The pain in his eyes was raw. "What do you need, Eleanor? Another case to keep me busy?"

"No. I need you because you're the best at what you do. But more than that, I need my friend back. The one who doesn't give up, even when things are hard. The one who fights, not just because it's his job, but because it's who he is."

Garth looked at Allie's grave. His voice was barely a whisper. "I don't know if I have any fight left in me."

"Then let me help you find it. We'll take it one step at a time together. There's a case — a big one. But first, let's get you out of here, Garth. Let's get you back to the living. This case — it's exactly the kind of challenge Allie would have loved. You know that, right?"

"Allie — she always had a nose for the impossible. She'd dig until she uncovered the truth, no matter how deep it was buried. She was relentless."

"Exactly. She couldn't resist a good mystery, especially if it meant helping someone who couldn't help themselves. This case — it's about more than just helping some girls and solving a murder. It's about justice. It's about uncovering the truth, the way Allie always did. She'd want you to do this. She'd want you to dig deep, not just for the case, but for her."

"She was always better at seeing the big picture. I — I don't know if I can do it without her."

"You don't have to do it without her, Garth. She's still with you in everything you do. This is your way of honoring her, of keeping her spirit alive. Think about how she'd tackle this and want you to tackle this. For the truth. For the people who need it."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "She never let anything stand in her way, did she?"

"Not a chance. She was fearless, just like you. And right now, these girls need someone fearless on their side. They need someone who can dig out the truth, no matter how deep it's buried. They need you, Garth. Just like Allie would have."

"What about Donatelli? Does he know you're here?"

"No, Matthew is having a little trouble of his own, too. Whether you believe it or not, you need each other."

"Me need Donatelli? Not on your life." He pushed his Stetson down over his eyes.

"For whatever reason, two fantastic law enforcement men have let the fire inside burn out. Together, we can stoke those embers, get them roaring, and save some lives."

"Eleanor, you'd have made one heck of a saleswoman. Did they teach you motivational speech before you became a ghost?"

"Nope, it all just comes from the heart. I believe in both of you." Eleanor paused. "So, are you going to get on that bull and come out riding it hard, or will you let Donatelli do it alone?"

"Fat chance! He couldn't even get on a bull. He needs me!"

"And — so do I." She stood and smiled at him. "I've got a girl in a cabin holding onto life by a thread and another one with Donatelli, who was almost raped and murdered. Don't take too long packing."

Garth shook his head. "I don't know, Eleanor. I'll talk to the guys and see what we've got going on. But I'm not making any promises."

"Think about it, Garth. Just don't take too long. I'd hate to see another girl get murdered." Eleanor stood and let her gaze study him before telling him, "I've got to go. It's your decision. I hope you don't let me down."

He watched as she faded away and then turned to Allie's headstone, muttering, "I'll bet you had something to do with that visit." Staring across the water, he added, "I told her I would think about it, okay?"