A Companion -- A Forever FanFic

Ten

A/N: Hello, faithful readers! I'm not dead!

I just couldn't get this chapter to work right... if that makes sense....

Anyway, I'd like to thank everyone who has sent me a cover! You can still keep sending them in at any point in time.

So, I can't decide between two covers and I need your help. I'll post one of the covers on this chapter, and the other cover on the next chapter.

Please comment or PM me which one you like best!

Thanks again!

-fallingleafviolinist
#SarahLives
(Comment if you understood that reference)

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Kathryn was shocked by the body in front of her. The body was definitely feminine, however, it was missing it's arms, legs, and head.

"I'm not even sure this should be called a body..." Kathryn shouted, struggling to keep her breakfast down.

"Definitely female. Missing all extremities. There's blood, but not enough for the cause of death to be blood loss. No apparent wounds on what remains of her." she reported down to Henry.

Henry looked up at her. "Are there any defense wounds? Hair? Thread?"

"The body is unscathed. Well, except for the extremities, obviously. No threads. There's one hair on her sweater. Long, blonde by the looks of it. Likely her own, but we won't know until we check DNA."

"Okay. You can climb down now." Henry said.

Not wanting to disagree, Kathryn began her descent. When she finally hit the ground, all eyes were on her.

"How did you know what to look for?" Jo asked.

"Before my mom and I came to New York, she was a homicide detective in my hometown." She lied smoothly.

"Your mom?" Jo asked, confused.

"Yes. In our second week of living in New York, she committed suicide. I freaked out and took to the streets." Kathryn clarified.

"Kathryn, if we gave you glove and a few evidence bags, do you think you could go back and gather any evidence you find...?" Henry asked slowly, thinking it out as he said it.

"Probably. Let's just hope I can keep my balance..." she replied.

Soon enough, she was equipped with the necessary equipment and ready to climb up again. She picked her hoodie up off the ground, and once again embarked on her assent.

She nimbly crawled between branches, occasionally bagging something that could turn out to be worthwhile. Making her way back to the body, she noticed something.

There was a direct path in the branches. It went all the way to where the branches ended several feet above the ground.

"Henry, I think I can get the body down." she called.

"Bring it down then!" Hansen shouted, perhaps a little bit louder than he needed to.

"Kathryn, wait! You could destroy vital evidence in the process!" Henry informed her.

Pretending not hear him, Kathryn picked up the body, an experience she hoped she would never have to go through again, and slid down to the next branch. Since her arms were full, she had to use her legs to keep her grip on the tree.

By the time she had reached the last branch, a medical team was waiting for her at the bottom of the tree.

Securing her hold on the tree, Kathryn leaned down, lowering the body as far as she could reach. One of the taller men on the medical team could just barely reach it.

Once the body was safe and the medical team moved away, she jumped from her branch. She made a firm landing on the ground and was immediately greeted by Henry and Jo.

"You're not throwing up. I'm impressed." Jo joked.

Henry just looked annoyed.

"Like I said, my mom was a homicide detective." Kathryn said, ignoring Henry's glare.

"Thank you, Kathryn. Now I think you should go back to Abe. He said he wanted your help appraising something." Henry said.

"I'll do that, Henry. But before I do, I think you'll be wanting these, Detective." She said, handing off the evidence bags.

"Do you want me to get you a cab?" Jo asked.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'll walk. After being a street rat, I know the streets of New York better than anyone. I'll be safe." Kathryn quickly refused.

With that, Kathryn was on her way back to the antique shop. As soon as she was out of sight of the crime scene, she let the hurt show on her face.

That was probably her only chance to help in an investigation. Nobody was going to let a fourteen-year-old under the yellow tape. Henry had just ruined her chance.

Shivering, she continued walking to Abe's Antiques. When she finally reached the familiar store, she masked her hurt and stepped through the door.

"Abe, I'm back!" She called.

When she got no reply, she went downstairs to read.

•.•.•.•.•.•.TIME LAPSE•.•.•.•.•.•

Henry arrived back later that night. He greeted Abe and went downstairs.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he was surprised to see books strewn all over the place.

Henry picked up each book and put them against the wall for the time being.

Only then did he notice Kathryn. She was curled up in a corner, fast asleep. Although she was asleep, she looked far from peaceful, like most people did when they were asleep.

In fact, she looked quite angry.

Henry couldn't help but wonder what she was angry about...